Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #78 *ARREST*

[Lilypad13]

Just seeing this information about the FBI conducting “evidence recovery operation” at Berthoud Pass. The wording is interesting. The short video looks like an agent is repelling down a drop off. And another agent is bringing out a blue tarp.

Does anyone know if the FBI are still there? I wish we had boots on the ground information coming in. I can’t find any local coverage other than that one short video. I checked Lauren’s Twitter too but don’t see anything yet. It sounds like from reading other posts that even if it’s on the way to Broomfield there wasn’t enough time between leaving Johnson Village at 5:37 am and Barry’s arrival in Broomfield.

According to Google maps the distance from Johnson Village to Berthoud Pass is 2 hr 9 min and 112.4 miles. The distance from BP to Broomfield is 1 hr 13 mins and 62.9 miles. So total time from JV to Broomfield via BP is 3 hrs 22 mins (not including stopping & disposal) and 175.3 miles.

Driving a direct route from Johnson Village to Broomfield takes 2 hrs 25 mins and 128 miles. So if Barry left JV at 5:37 am and was in Broomfield at the bus station by 8:10 am that doesn’t seem to be enough time. If it took him approximately 2 hrs 45 mins to get there that doesn’t allow for an extra 45 mins + time he was stopped at BP. Could there be a backroads shortcut?

That doesn’t mean her body wasn’t moved there later though. Or earlier. The distance from Maysville to Berthoud Pass is 2 hrs 34 mins and 139 miles. So approximately 5 hours round trip from PP house. So if Barry left at 10-11 pm for Berthoud Pass he could be back home by 3-4 am in time to leave for his Broomfield alibi job & evidence trash dumping trip. Could he have left his phone at home and used another vehicle to dispose of Suzanne’s body? Could someone have helped him or loaned him a vehicle?

But why would Barry drive so far with all the wilderness around their PP home? It makes more sense if it was on his way to Broomfield. But you never know! Maybe he wanted to make sure she was far from home and he has some connection to Berthoud Pass that made him think it was a good hiding place. Maybe he has hunted near there?

I hope we get more information on this FBI operation soon! It sounds promising and the timing is sure interesting. I would be more excited if a Berthoud Pass detour fit in the timeline from Johnson Village to Broomfield though.

Edit: I see others have posted similar scenarios while I was typing this. It took me awhile because I had to do math and got interrupted. I just didn’t want ya’ll to think I plagiarized your ideas.

 

[Boxer]

Do we know if they are still there?

Seems like it.

FBI Agents Repel Down Berthoud Pass In Recovery Operation

 

[Love Never Fails]

I like your thinking; but my hinky meter is way up. If BM pleaded to M2 with an agreement to reveal where Suzanne is located he is looking at 8 to 48 years, but if he is convicted of M1 he faces the death penalty.

Courtroom observers noted how emotional BM was at the end of court on Tuesday. He may be reaching his own limit of how much a tightwad should spend on a pointless defense vs ripping off the band-aid with a plea.

There is no death penalty in CO.

 

[LandManatee]

I also recall somewhere ( I think associated with that odd photo one of the searchers took of BM laying on the ground during the search) where BM supposedly said something about "maybe they threw her over a cliff." That could have been an "imbedded confession" if in fact he did toss her off a cliff at Berthound pass. I really am intrigued by the FBI search there and wish we could get some more reporting on it. MOO.

Yes this is a good point!

It would be appreciated if someone could post a quick little map showing the location where BM laid down in the picture referenced above and its proximity to Berthoud Pass. TIA.

 

[Puzzles8]

If BM is indeed making a plea deal, does that mean we may never see the AA?

JMO

 

[Boxer]

Just seeing this information about the FBI conducting “evidence recovery operation” at Berthoud Pass. The wording is interesting. The short video looks like an agent is repelling down a drop off. And another agent is bringing out a blue tarp.

Does anyone know if the FBI are still there? I wish we had boots on the ground information coming in. I can’t find any local coverage other than that one short video. I checked Lauren’s Twitter too but don’t see anything yet. It sounds like from reading other posts that even if it’s on the way to Broomfield there wasn’t enough time between leaving Johnson Village at 5:37 am and Barry’s arrival in Broomfield.

According to Google maps the distance from Johnson Village to Berthoud Pass is 2 hr 9 min and 112.4 miles. The distance from BP to Broomfield is 1 hr 13 mins and 62.9 miles. So total time from JV to Broomfield via BP is 3 hrs 22 mins (not including stopping & disposal) and 175.3 miles.

Driving a direct route from Johnson Village to Broomfield takes 2 hrs 25 mins and 128 miles. So if Barry left JV at 5:37 am and was in Broomfield at the bus station by 8:10 am that doesn’t seem to be enough time. If it took him approximately 2 hrs 45 mins to get there that doesn’t allow for an extra 45 mins + time he was stopped at BP. Could there be a backroads shortcut?

That doesn’t mean her body wasn’t moved there later though. Or earlier. The distance from Maysville to Berthoud Pass is 2 hrs 34 mins and 139 miles. So approximately 5 hours round trip from PP house. So if Barry left at 10-11 pm for Berthoud Pass he could be back home by 3-4 am in time to leave for his Broomfield alibi job & evidence trash dumping trip. Could he have left his phone at home and used another vehicle to dispose of Suzanne’s body? Could someone have helped him or loaned him a vehicle?

But why would Barry drive so far with all the wilderness around their PP home? It makes more sense if it was on his way to Broomfield. But you never know! Maybe he wanted to make sure she was far from home and he has some connection to Berthoud Pass that made him think it was a good hiding place. Maybe he has hunted near there?

I hope we get more information on this FBI operation soon! It sounds promising and the timing is sure interesting. I would be more excited if a Berthoud Pass detour fit in the timeline from Johnson Village to Broomfield though.

The place Berthoud Pass that they are searching would be very Leticia Stauch if related ti SM, the area between switchbacks.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Seems like it.

FBI Agents Repel Down Berthoud Pass In Recovery Operation

I think the photos are from yesterday. MOO

 

[10ofRods]

During the time when even gyms were closed due to COVID? And so should have been this pool?

I believe we learned early on that the pool was closed (from Lauren, I believe). It's in an earlier thread. However, that doesn't mean that they drained it. Restrictions were supposed to be easing soon (don't know if the pool ever opened). Indoor pools can be locked off to hotel residents without draining them.

I agree. And how would they even know to look there for evidence?

Phone or truck GPS. Once reset, the truck began to record again. The phone never stopped using GPS, IMO.

i'm still uncertain that BM is paying for his legal team. seems to me he could have placed everthing in a trust for his daughters and its administered by someone other than himself and declared himself indigent. . biggest reason i'm skeptical is that during a hearing prior to this 4 day proof evident if i remember correctly, one of his attorneys told the judge they needed more money because the evidence dumped on them by state was just too much. i'm paraphrasing, but why the heck would the defense tell the judge they need more money? turns out colorado has the office of alternate defense counsel which is a different entity that public defenders office. i've been researching if dru and/or eytan have had any relation to the OADC and have not yet found any cases they had through the office. OADC is setup to provide the best representation for indigents that qualify. anyway, i also founf this article tonight that is a decent read on the latest 4 day hearing.

Morphew Pretrial Hearing Wraps Up, Awaiting Trial Decision - by Jan Wondra - Ark Valley Voice

No way are these two women doing this for free. Scott Reisch (Crimetalk) has mentioned several times how much he thinks is the minimum spent by Barry so far.

Barry probably gave a very large sum of money to his defense team. Under CO law, this cannot be grabbed by the State to pay off a legal judgment (should anyone sue Barry), and the defense can continue to bill against it all the way through appeal (unless Barry fires them). One lawyer here on WS opined that the hourly rate was probably around $600/hour.

I do not remember anything about the defense asking for more money. I do remember the Judge (in his order about the AA) saying that spending time on all the evidence right now (in order to redact the AA) was too expensive.

Somewhat doubtful, all service history is computerized now, definitely at Land Rover.

The only reason I can think of for a service tech to go to the glovebox would be to fix/replace something in that area, e.g. cabin air filters may be in that vicinity or any cooling issue with the glovebox.

When I get my car serviced at the dealer, one of the techs opens the glove compartment, takes out my owner's manual and records the service in the back.

When I go to look at used cars, the salesman always points proudly to this record to prove that the car was properly maintained by a dealer (which gives the ability to buy a cheaper used car warrantee). When I ask a question about the precise HP or milage, the salesman opens the glove box and gets the owners' manual out.

If I give the mechanic I go to now the valet key to the car, he puts it into the glove box. Since this DNA match is partial (and a mix of several persons DNA - including the person at the factory who put the manual in there in the first place), it's worthless at pointing to any particular person. There's one case where manufacturer employee DNA in China confused local LE (made them think they were looking for an Asian perp) and it took a long time to explain and disentangle how this was not an appropriate read of the DNA.

How long would that unknown DNA last on the glovebox? Sorry if I missed it but were the offenses in Colorado?

My receipt goes in the glove box when my car is serviced as well. The manual is in there, and all of the vehicle paperwork is placed inside the portfolio that the manual is in-the sticker that they took from the window, any receipts from service, etc. My car is also washed after each service by the dealership. I have no idea if it is done on site or taken to a car wash. Inside and out.

This is an important question. DNA from people involved in manufacturing processes have been found on items up to 10 years later (and each year, there's more evidence that it can be longer). Over time, the DNA breaks up into little bits, which is why there's "mixed" DNA but actual DNA is pretty hard to destroy (even bleach won't do the job completely, there are better chemical).

Lots of study of how many times something can be washed before all the DNA is gone, too. 8 months in this study:

Persistence of DNA from laundered semen stains: Implications for child sex trafficking cases - ScienceDirect

Naturally, it depends on the original amount. I'd love to know whether the DNA was on the outside or the inside of the glovebox (I predict outside) and whether the daughters ever used that particular RR. We do know from MM2's boyfriend's father that his son was up at the Morphew house quite a bit and I would presume he occasionally got a ride.

Anyway, all the different people who ever touched the glove box might leave DNA for quite a while. Further, some of the people in the mixture could be women. The presence of one Y chromosome (or two) in the sample would make defense attorneys say it was a man, but the rest of the broken up DNA that they are "matching" to men could come from women. That's why it's a very poor technique for finding an unknown subject. Any DNA expert could easily explain this to a jury. But as we know, it only takes one anti-science person to refuse to understand/listen to the explanation.

You are right. Cabin air filter is in the glove box. Needs to be replaced roughly ever other oil change. Still, they would know the techs' names from dealer records and could eliminate them.

If they could find all of them who might have touched the car over the years (it's 6 years old now) and get a subpoena for their DNA. Which would be very very hard to do. Instead, they're using CODIS to run partial DNA through.

But the turnover among the techs at dealerships is fairly high (the guy who changes cabin air filters is probably a trainee, has moved on long ago).

Where did the nose bleed part come from? I had 12 different reporters on my tweet list that I copied all the tweets from and none of them mentioned that her nose bled. Can we have a link for that please?

There was no evidence of a nose bleed - that idea was introduced by a WSer on this very thread.

The coffee and proof of life photo mean nothing. In the proof of life photo, a bikini cannot be scene. No one knows what she was wearing. As for the coffee cup, if it was Suzanne’s, it could have been left there from Saturday.

Wasn't it said that upon digital enhancement, some small part of the top could be seen? Also, there's a time and GPS stamp on it that cannot be altered without the FBI knowing.

I believe it was left their from Saturday and a good going-over by a lab might have been able to show that...

Sounds like it had to have been empty because they said the Investigator was swabbing it and then they mentioned a “plunking “ noise when he set the cap back down.
JMO

My notes say he said "sat something down," not the cap.

 

[Boxer]

The place on Berthoud Pass that they are searching would be very Leticia Stauch if related to SM, it's the area between switchbacks.

 

[Love Never Fails]

Seems like it.

FBI Agents Repel Down Berthoud Pass In Recovery Operation

Those pictures of the terrain look treacherous. They must be acting on a tip of someone who is missing. I’m glad someone somewhere may have closure. I do hope it is Suzanne’s family but I don’t see how he had the time, nor why he would choose such an open road. JMO.

 

[Aloe]

I don't see Berthoud being related to this case, but I hope I'm wrong. Here's why:
1- It is risky to drive 2.5 hours with a dead body in your car, but not implausible. What if he got into an accident or was pulled over? These are scenarios outside of his control.
2- I'd think he'd also be concerned with cameras along the way.
3- 10:17pm-3:25am = 5 hours and 8 minutes- That's extremely tight, but doable.

SM's vehicle was a 2015 Range Rover. 2015 Range Rovers are equipped with EDR (event data recorders), so I doubt it was used. "If your car is from 2013 or later, you are almost guaranteed to have a black box. Less than 5% of new cars came without one in 2013, and they are mandated in all new vehicles since 2014." If it moved 5/9 or 5/10, we would have heard about it in the PH.

I'd love to know if:
1- BM's electronic trail places him near Berthoud during the months and days leading up to SM's disappearance.
2- BM had access to another vehicle which he could've used without anyone noticing it was missing. If LE learned that he did, I'd think that would be a strong point to bring up during the PH.

One theory I have is- he used his dirt bike or an ATV to get to another vehicle on 5/9, drove that vehicle back to his house, and used it, undetected, to dispose of her body. I'm really surprised we didn't hear about another vehicle during the PH, and I'm real curious if it's mentioned in the AA. The other theory is he disposed of her near PP using one of his ATVs.

Ive always thought that he placed her nearby as well.

I don't see Berthoud being related to this case, but I hope I'm wrong. Here's why:
1- It is risky to drive 2.5 hours with a dead body in your car, but not implausible. What if he got into an accident or was pulled over? These are scenarios outside of his control.
2- I'd think he'd also be concerned with cameras along the way.
3- 10:17pm-3:25am = 5 hours and 8 minutes- That's extremely tight, but doable.

SM's vehicle was a 2015 Range Rover. 2015 Range Rovers are equipped with EDR (event data recorders), so I doubt it was used. "If your car is from 2013 or later, you are almost guaranteed to have a black box. Less than 5% of new cars came without one in 2013, and they are mandated in all new vehicles since 2014." If it moved 5/9 or 5/10, we would have heard about it in the PH.

I'd love to know if:
1- BM's electronic trail places him near Berthoud during the months and days leading up to SM's disappearance.
2- BM had access to another vehicle which he could've used without anyone noticing it was missing. If LE learned that he did, I'd think that would be a strong point to bring up during the PH.

One theory I have is- he used his dirt bike or an ATV to get to another vehicle on 5/9, drove that vehicle back to his house, and used it, undetected, to dispose of her body. I'm really surprised we didn't hear about another vehicle during the PH, and I'm real curious if it's mentioned in the AA. The other theory is he disposed of her near PP using one of his ATVs.

I have always leaned towards her being hidden in a mine somewhat close to PP.

This FBI search makes me hopeful. Barry could have hidden her somewhere on his route and then moved her to a more remote location later. I would think LE would have been watching him very closely, but I thought the same about the Stauch case.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

The problem with that area near Berthoud Pass being an ideal steep cliff to drop evidence over, is that the freeway also runs along the bottom of that slope. So maybe not an ideal spot to dump anything big (could be visible from the bottom looking up) or heavy (could roll all the way down and end up on the freeway below, eek).

That said, if it's not SM, let it be Kelsey Berreth's remains, or clues that solve some other important cold case!

 

[Lilypad13]

Yes this is a good point!

It would be appreciated if someone could post a quick little map showing the location where BM laid down in the picture referenced above and its proximity to Berthoud Pass. TIA.

I was thinking about this too. Wasn’t the area where he was splayed out on the ground near Gunnison? Or Crested Butte? I hope someone will post a map showing where he was and the proximity to this pass.

 

[Lyanna]

How many mines?!

https://thediggings.com/places/co0152583265

Dbm - I misread

 

[Deleted member 222031]

There is no death penalty in CO.

It was abolished there again in 2020 and the governor commuted the sentences of all those on death row at that time.

IIRC -While his sentence would most likely be commuted, BM could get the death penalty if convicted of first degree murder because his crime was committed May 9-10, 2020, before the official repeal date.

"The act repeals the death penalty in Colorado for offenses charged on or after July 1, 2020."

Repeal The Death Penalty | Colorado General Assembly

ETA: "It is still possible for someone to be sentenced to death for a capital crime committed before July 1, 2020." Per Wikipedia

 

[MaisieBella]

MOO IMO

As we await more news or some confirmation as to whether the FBI evidence search at Berthoud Pass is related to SM’s case, I thought I would dig into the known timeline we have so far (many thanks to the contributors of this timeline), to determine when BM would have placed SM’s body at this location IMO.


I believe he could have done it in the 6hr window between Sat night 5/9 and Sun morning 5/10.


What we know about BM’s movements, with my notes interjected as indicated by the ^^^^ arrows:

Saturday 5/9


9:25 pm Truck gear goes into reverse and goes back 95 feet in driveway


9:52 pm truck door closes


^^^^ I had previously theorized that this action was BM backing up his trailer from the garage to the spot in the driveway where helicopter news footage would show his trailer and bobcat parked at the house. It took him about 30 mins to unhitch the trailer, unload the bobcat and secure everything.


10:17 pm BM phone out of airplane mode


10:18 pm – 4:32 am (5\10) BM’s phone plugged in at PP*** (d)


^^^^ It is presumed that BM’s phone was plugged in at home for approximately 6 hrs. Therefore, the belief is that his truck was also at home during this time (while he was sleeping next to SM).


^^^^ I theorize he could have taken one of the other family vehicles without GPS tracking and driven to Berthoud Pass. If he was on the road by 10:25p and going above the speed limit, he could have made it there within 2hr and 15min, putting his arrival time around 12:40am. If he tossed SM’s body over the edge of the cliff and then was on the road back home by 1:00am, his arrival time to PP would have been around 3:15am.



Sunday 5/10/21


2:53 am SM Outgoing call on SM’s phone


3:25-3:49 am BM car door opened 4 times and closed 3 times


^^^^ After getting home from his trek to Berthoud Pass, the activity with his truck picks up. He starts to prepare to leave for Bloomfield.


3:58 am BM cell moves from home to near 225/50 where bike found


^^^^ He is now leaving the house to set his Broomfield alibi in motion. He may have headed to MG’s apartment at this point as she had said she heard his truck outside her apartment around 4:30am.


4:22-4:23 am SM last signal from phone, quite away from home, near a park. Not connected to cell tower. (@NoSI)


4:30 am SM’s last phone ping near Poncha Springs (from Tweet)


4:31 am BM phone into airplane mode

^^^^ ETA: He puts phone back into airplane mode so he is not tracked while staging the helmet or disposing of evidence.


4:32 am BM phone unplugged*** (d), contradicts BM cell at 50/225 at 3:58


ETU between 4:32 and 5:00 am BM turns west (left) on US50 because he was following an elk, should have turned east, (right) to go to Bloomfield


^^^^ This would have taken place after leaving MG’s apartment


5:37 am BM phone off airplane mode near Johnson Village turning on 285 heading towards Denver/Bloomfield

^^^^ ETA: He turns off airplane mode after staging helmet and/or disposing of evidence.


5:38 am BM text HMD to his mom


^^^^ At this point he was well on his way to Broomfield via Hwy 285 per his statement. The truck data would not show any association to Berthoud Pass because it was sitting at his home while he used another vehicle to dispose of SM’s body between approximately 10pm on Sat 5/9 and 4am on Sun 5/10.


IMO MOO

(Apologies if others posted something similar already in the time it took me to compile this)

ETA: formatting & removed the line about BM’s phone being in airplane mode from approx. 10p-4a while at home. I was mistaken as his phone was actually OFF airplane mode during this time frame. This is important because it tells me he obviously wanted his phone to be tracked and accounted for as being in the house charging while he was “sleeping”.

 

[NuttMegg]

Catching up here, sorry if this has been addressed. RE Barry accidentally hitting or brushing or whatever the verb was towards Suzanne's nose....why would it be in his interests to tell LE that. Was that because someone else could be proven to have been there at the time? IE a family member?

 

[MaisieBella]

MOO IMO

As we await more news or some confirmation as to whether the FBI evidence search at Berthoud Pass is related to SM’s case, I thought I would dig into the known timeline we have so far (many thanks to the contributors of this timeline), to determine when BM would have placed SM’s body at this location IMO.


I believe he could have done it in the 6hr window between Sat night 5/9 and Sun morning 5/10.


What we know about BM’s movements, with my notes interjected as indicated by the ^^^^ arrows:

Saturday 5/9


9:25 pm Truck gear goes into reverse and goes back 95 feet in driveway


9:52 pm truck door closes


^^^^ I had previously theorized that this action was BM backing up his trailer from the garage to the spot in the driveway where helicopter news footage would show his trailer and bobcat parked at the house. It took him about 30 mins to unhitch the trailer, unload the bobcat and secure everything.


10:17 pm BM phone out of airplane mode


10:18 pm – 4:32 am (5\10) BM’s phone plugged in at PP*** (d)


^^^^ It is presumed that BM’s phone was plugged in at home for approximately 6 hrs. Therefore, the belief is that his truck was also at home during this time (while he was sleeping next to SM).


^^^^ I theorize he could have taken one of the other family vehicles without GPS tracking and driven to Berthoud Pass. If he was on the road by 10:25p and going above the speed limit, he could have made it there within 2hr and 15min, putting his arrival time around 12:40am. If he tossed SM’s body over the edge of the cliff and then was on the road back home by 1:00am, his arrival time to PP would have been around 3:15am.



Sunday 5/10/21


2:53 am SM Outgoing call on SM’s phone


3:25-3:49 am BM car door opened 4 times and closed 3 times


^^^^ After getting home from his trek to Berthoud Pass, the activity with his truck picks up. He starts to prepare to leave for Bloomfield.


3:58 am BM cell moves from home to near 225/50 where bike found


^^^^ He is now leaving the house to set his Broomfield alibi in motion. He may have headed to MG’s apartment at this point as she had said she heard his truck outside her apartment around 4:30am.


4:22-4:23 am SM last signal from phone, quite away from home, near a park. Not connected to cell tower. (@NoSI)


4:30 am SM’s last phone ping near Poncha Springs (from Tweet)


4:31 am BM phone into airplane mode

^^^^ ETA: He puts phone back into airplane mode so he is not tracked while staging the helmet or disposing of evidence.


4:32 am BM phone unplugged*** (d), contradicts BM cell at 50/225 at 3:58


ETU between 4:32 and 5:00 am BM turns west (left) on US50 because he was following an elk, should have turned east, (right) to go to Bloomfield


^^^^ This would have taken place after leaving MG’s apartment


5:37 am BM phone off airplane mode near Johnson Village turning on 285 heading towards Denver/Bloomfield

^^^^ ETA: He turns off airplane mode after staging helmet and/or disposing of evidence.


5:38 am BM text HMD to his mom


^^^^ At this point he was well on his way to Broomfield via Hwy 285 per his statement. The truck data would not show any association to Berthoud Pass because it was sitting at his home while he used another vehicle to dispose of SM’s body between approximately 10pm on Sat 5/9 and 4am on Sun 5/10.


IMO MOO

(Apologies if others posted something similar already in the time it took me to compile this)

ETA: formatting & removed the line about BM’s phone being in airplane mode from approx. 10p-4a while at home. I was mistaken as his phone was actually OFF airplane mode during this time frame. This is important because it tells me he obviously wanted his phone to be tracked and accounted for as being in the house charging while he was “sleeping”.

Excellent theory!!

 

[Gardenista]

Catching up here, sorry if this has been addressed. RE Barry accidentally hitting or brushing or whatever the verb was towards Suzanne's nose....why would it be in his interests to tell LE that. Was that because someone else could be proven to have been there at the time? IE a family member?

I think that is the general consensus. He knew someone else knew about it or was worried someone did.

 

[SeattleStew]

There is no death penalty in CO.

Not anymore, but I distinctly hearing the judge in this case mention that it would fall within the old guidelines.