Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #79 *ARREST*

[10ofRods]

I am disturbed by any parsing of potential domestic violence.

Either it was or it wasn't. Either we know or we don't.

My comments are not directed at this specific post but to all posts that want to try to explain this particular evidence that we know so little about.

Because there are DV survivors in this forum, I find it disturbing to either discount or classify behavior not defined by the prosecutor as DV either way.

We have Barry's statement and we know his character. That is all we have, right?

Please correct me if I am wrong about the facts. All the rest is MOO.

I am not only one of those DV survivors, also with two daughters, but I have consulted with LE for more than 25 years regarding DV cases and DV education in the community.

We have lots of evidence of the full range of DV in this case. We have family members of Suzanne saying Barry was "controlling." We know that Barry went to CO (without Suzanne) and that Suzanne okayed the house purchase from afar. We know that Barry believed Suzanne did not have an ATM and that he "was the ATM." We know that he considered their debts to her father to be her debts alone. There's so much evidence of financial abuse, I don't even want to say more.

Domestic violence is not just violence. To classify portions of DV only by the severity of, say, bruises does not capture things like "bumping up" against the victim with a big muscular body or pinning someone down on a bed, so that they have to wrest themselves away (Suzanne's communications with SO; her grievance list). You see, caging someone (in anyway) is a form of abuse/violence. If someone is kept locked up, even if no one pushes them around with their body or pins them to a bed or smacks their nose, it's still DV. Deprivation of freedom is DV. And I can parse it that way, and experts parse it that way too. There are some links here on this thread or the last one.

It is in fact these other abuses of power within a marriage that cause the depression, anxiety and inability to make decisions that we see in so many abuse victims. The abuser no longer has to be physical - that's the goal. The person becomes a captive, like a creature in a zoo or a dog that's kept chained up. Even if you feed and water the dog, it's still dog abuse.

Everyone remember when BM was verbally attacking AM? Stating the search for Suzanne was a publicity stunt etc? Wasn't this around the time where he claimed Suzanne would often cry on his shoulder, as she couldn't understand 'why her siblings refused to show her love'? I just find that strange in ĺight of Suzanne's sister’s view on their relationship, Suzanne appeared to trust her enough to confide in her, intimate details and information about the marriage and BM's (alledged) behaviours the day/2 days before she disappeared, I'm sure there was spats/bickering etc. between Suzanne and her siblings, but what if he was recalling an argument that he and Suzanne had, and she used that phrase in relation to him.
It feels like he bases things on truth such as incidents/events but lies about the details. IDK.
Make sense?

moo

Alienation of affection from her family - another abuse tactic. I've seen this one in the field (I've done fieldwork among a group of women living in poverty - most of them single, most of them former marital abuse victims) and the degree to which their relationships with their parents and siblings were destroyed by their former husbands was almost a given.

I haven't posted in quite a while but have watched this case from the start. After learning much more about the timelines and the windows of time that may have been used to dispose of evidence - I want to go back to a theory I had long ago. I am sure that LE has thought of this in all the hours and searches too. So much has been fixated on BM ' s hunting - but he probably also did a lot of fishing. As this outdoorsman, he would know of many places nearby to throw a line out. I direct attention to Colorado's largest reservoir - just down highway 50 and not far out of Gunnison. Well within the timeline to make a night time trip for disposal. There are two bridges where the highway passes over - and the guard rails are not that high. Below the water depth is very deep. Very very deep. At night this is a very low traveled area. Camera's ? I doubt it. But for someone desperate to hide something - a much easier disposal than trying to dig a deep hole.
Very unfortunately, any kind of deep diving or searching would require a heck of a lot of resources.
One thing that I wonder about in regards to items that BM may have used to dispose of evidence. There has been much talk about missing coolers. Maybe with weight that would work - tossing it over into deep water. But I have wondered about a potential tool chest he may have had in the back of his Ford and if it was ever missing ?
I think about a potential tool chest ( many are metal and fit snugly in the bed of a truck. I definitely had a hunter/ fisher friend with one of these in the bed of his Ford. It nestled up next to the cab and was metal. Made for a Ford pickup. My friend sure kept alot of tools and random stuff in there. It had a hinge that he simply used a heavy duty lock on. Like I said - it was metal and pretty good sized. Bigger than a cooler and heavy on its own. Very sinkable - forever - if you catch me.
I have also wondered about all of those random tools left by BM at the hotel in Broomfield. Obviously out of the back of his truck. Obviously not needed for that supposed job that day. Right ? So did those tools have a ' home ' - in the bed of his truck beforehand ? Had they been kept in a tool box that was not there anymore ? Were these random tools left at the hotel vs. brought back in the bed of his truck for a reason ? Not like they were used for something gross and nefarious - but simply because they no longer had a home in the bed of his truck ? And that might set off suspicion ?

I don't know of any evidence about the toolbox, but I've long thought that the only thing that explains him putting all his hand tools in the hotel luggage carts (before he goes to wash his truck), is that he no longer has the tool box (I picture the type that most Ford truck owners have). I wonder what happened to it. Would hold quite a few tools - enough to fill a luggage cart or too. And that's what MG and JP find when they get to the hotel.

I agree with you on a potential water burial. So many sources nearby.

Regarding the hand tools BM allegedly left behind for his crew, I'm recalling a statement by MG very early that makes me think that BM did not have a truck tool box when she said that it looked to her like BM just emptied his truck bed at the hotel. At the time, MG would not have known that his toolbox was missing.

I also don't recall seeing any close-up photos of his truck(s) prior to SM missing. But I'm also inclined to believe that BM did not use his own vehicle when he disposed of SM's body. MOO

Good points. I think MG's statement could include a tool box and that "truck bed" includes all the things normally in a truck bed, for many people who use that phrase. So it's unclear. But tempting to think that there was some criminal reason for the tools to be left in the hotel. Maybe he did just leave tools unprotected from the elements in his truck bed (in which case, I figure he rarely used them and they were not in the best of shape). There's a reason that screwdrivers, saws, ratchets, wrenches, pliers, etc. are kept in tool boxes and Barry ought to have also had various clippers and trimmers. These things are expensive! People usually keep them locked up not just to preserve them so that they can be used, but in order to keep them from being constantly stolen.

 

[Seattle1]

Brought this from media thread and RSBM and RSBM

Suzanne's talking about BM here, right? Isn't she kinda saying 'he's still talking about Arizona' in reference to BM?

Just cos originally I thought she was referring to her and JL, but didn't BM say they could move there - or have I imagined this?

Yes. JL confirmed with LE that SM had no intention of leaving her daughters and wanted to find a place in Salida. JL wanted to help SM get out on her own. There was testimony that SM texted BM info on a house for sale in Salida to BM. It was BM that was talking about a move to AZ, not SM. I'm sure it was to distract SM and it worked -- she told JL about it.

MOO

 

[Lyanna]

Yes. JL confirmed with LE that SM had no intention of leaving her daughters and wanted to find a place in Salida. JL wanted to help SM get out on her own. There was testimony that SM texted BM info on a house for sale in Salida to BM. It was BM that was talking about a move to AZ, not SM. I'm sure it was to distract SM and it worked -- she told JL about it.

MOO

Thanks

 

[BeckyF]

@Tiff23fr Thanks for asking about my (amateur) game plan. I'd love to bounce my ideas off of you (we're in similar fields) and also off the legal eagles here.

(TL;DR - DV; timeline; witness will show motive, means and opportunity to commit the crime of murdering Suzanne Morphew).

Domestic violence and the danger of divorce would be my first topic, with all the evidence of Barry's pre-disappearance control (an expert witness on DV; Barry controlling the money; SO's and Suzanne's sister's testimony about a violent marriage; probably put the daughter who recommended a restraining order on the stand (gently) and I'd also ask her if the door frame had been broken the last time she was at the house; the nose clipping event; the times he pinned her down to the bed; the time he threw her into a closet and held a gun to his head; all his suicide messages; then put the expert back on the stand to give a statement about how suicidal controlling spouses often turn homicidal. The fact that women are most vulnerable to murder (femicide) when they try to leave would get hammered home. I'd also have a chart of all the things that constitute DV (it's not just punching people, shoving and blocking exits and "clipping" in the face while making wild hand gestures, getting in someone's face, yelling, threatening, financial control, sexual control, implicit threats of violence - such as "bumping" one's big muscular body up against someone to herd them around as if they are a deer, religious control, gaslighting, blaming the victim - all of that needs to be discussed and good graphics made). How abusers try to isolate the victim more and more, to control and to silence them.

Then I'd start the timeline of how Suzanne planned to leave (starting with her financial moves to try and get some money to go, constantly reiterating how secretive she needed to be). Starting May 6, the timeline will ramp up and begin to include Barry Morphew's opportunity (daughters gone, Suzanne alone, poor cellular connection, distance between houses in that area and his motivation (financial and she's leaving). I'd go into Barry Morphew's financial patterns (including his dependence on Suzanne for big sums of money). Barry's actions from May 6-11th would be combed over with a fine tooth comb. He has no alibi. I'd try to establish that his financial motivation was huge, that he carried a gun around the house, that he admitted shooting the gun on May 9th, and I'd introduce the broken door frame. I'd have a map of the larger area and another of the PP house. I'd include the elk head with flesh attached outside the house to attract mountain lions, I'd include his rapid move to get conservatorship, his getting rid of Suzanne's things, his bizarre statement about saving just one person, his exchange of his truck for a new one, and his selling of the RR (maybe two RR's) and his sale of the Indiana house. I'd hope that SO has information about Suzanne wanting to move back to Indiana. I'd bring in any witnesses who could explain that Barry believed only death could end a marriage and Suzanne's statements about Barry permitting no discussion of divorce ("because it will never happen.") Here, I believe it's tricky. Surely JL can testify to Suzanne's reasoning about divorce, at least to some degree. Anyway, this would be the timeline section (I'm really good at drawing timelines myself, with color coding and I would have slides and when all the timeline was put together, it would be highly incriminating). Barry had opportunity, he had means, he had motive. The scratch marks would be presented in this part. I'd probably also have a local LE witness talk about how it's a small town and many already knew Barry and that his reputation as a friendly, God-loving man made them reluctant to draw the conclusion that he was a murderer, and have that person tell why their mind changed. I'd include his attempt to influence MG as a witness. I'd include the lies he told to his nephew (put the nephew on the stand).

I'd include the financial forensics in the timeline section. This would include all the evidence the Suzanne did not voluntarily leave.

There'd be quite a bit of testimony, but I'd boil it down to a simple timeline and that timeline would be there at the summation. Obviously, the trash dump would be a big part of it.

Then I'd do all his lies in a big chart (how his story changed many times). The reset of the truck's GPS would be part of this (another set of experts here - to do car and phone GPS, including from a third phone which I believe he used in this crime and evidence of Suzanne's phone from the Cloud). I know Barry made more than just trash run stops and that LE has evidence of him out and about on May 9-10 (the evidence that caused Monarch Pass highway to be shut for a day - even if they didn't find much, they had reason to believe Barry had been in certain places - where Suzanne's body may still be hidden). I'd describe the searches for Suzanne and why Barry was excluded from official searches and how he behaved when Andy tried to search. I'd put Andy on the stand. His lack of cooperation and lying to the investigators needs to be strongly emphasized (not just because of that one charge, but for the whole case). He had knowledge of his own guilt. He also lies. I'd include lies told to the Moorman family about not being part of the loan (despite borrowing money to invest in community property). I'd include his lying about working on Sunday in Broomfield. The reset of the GPS would be emphasized as evidence that Suzanne was disposed of. I'd certainly mention the tranquilizer material, of course and bring in an expert to tell how that would help Barry avoid certain kinds of forensic evidence.

Then I'd wrap up with witnesses who could speak for Suzanne in some way. If that one pastor can be brought to the stand to repeat what Barry said to her, that'd be great too. But I'd have SO back on the stand, Suzanne's sister, one or both of the daughters, anyone who could read out Suzanne's grievance list, the texts between Suzanne and her supporters. If necessary, I'd address the issue of why they left Indiana (if defense claims it's due to the affair, I'd counter with it was due to Barry becoming increasingly violent - even in the workplace, of which there are two examples where there are witnesses). I'd imply that Suzanne wanted out, but that Barry had cornered her.

(And then I think about getting lucky...does the prosecution have witnesses from the gym who might know if Barry used steroids? Because I think he did...did Suzanne reveal anything to the Ritters about the state of the marriage - that would a lucky break; what about that DV group? etc What does SD know? )

I'd take the risk of putting one or both daughters on the stand, or at least Macy (I believe she really did advise her mother to get out and get a restraining order and I believe she's seen way more than we know). I don't think Macy will lie on the stand.

I'm stumped as to whether Barry actually had affairs. We all thought he did, but so far, no evidence that he did - except that he's with SD within two months after Suzanne disappears and SD's BF seems to believe she was already involved with Barry at the time of Suzanne's disappearance - that's just an intuition of mine after seeing his picture in the crowd at the first presser - but I think he knows when they got together).

At any rate, I'd make this trial about the dramatic story of a beautiful young woman who marries a man who truly believes he's in charge of her and that physical intimidation is just how he roles. If Barry is acquitted (by those 1-2 jurors who deep inside agree with him), at least the story of Suzanne's life, her endurance of DV, and the fact that apparently happy, well-to-do families may not actually be happy. That "Godly" men are capable of deception and I'd want to leave the jurors with a strong notion of Barry Morphew as deceptive and the exact opposite of what some members of his community thought him to be.

And I"d fervently hope that he was found guilty of all the charges, but if not, at least of felony possession of an illegal weapon and felony deception of the 8 LE/public officials. Because I do not want Barry to own any guns or be in possession of any guns for the rest of his life.

No more hunting for Barry.

Excellent!

 

[Ontario Mom]

About 7 minutes in…Ms. Stanley speaking…felt a tad odd to be saying now that the preliminary is over. It is the news broadcast from Fox TV the night after the preliminary.

Thanks for the link.
I'd heard all that before and didn't find anything of concern so I wasn't sure what you were referring to.
In just a general sense though, I'm confident that Stanley knows what she's doing, knows what not to say and what can be said, and how to handle herself in an interview. I mean... this is her job. She does know what she's doing.

jmo

 

[TIGER0822]

BM Disconnecting Battery?
@Boxer bbm
I'm wondering what BM told - past tense - LE or anyone else about disconnecting truck battery.
If LE asked BM about this, he may have given a Barry-reason or "I don't recall."
Imo at trial, that's all we'll hear about the reason.
Well, unless BM takes the stand.

We really have no evidence to support the body disposal. MaybeDisposed earlier than thought before he disconnected battery?

 

[MaisieBella]

Bbm. I truly think you should!!

Me too!

 

[MaisieBella]

We really have no evidence to support the body disposal. MaybeDisposed earlier than thought before he disconnected battery?

Yes, my sense says before the disconnect.

 

[Seattle1]

We really have no evidence to support the body disposal. MaybeDisposed earlier than thought before he disconnected battery?

Or later-- and did not use his own Ford truck.

 

[TIGER0822]

Or later-- and did not use his own Ford truck.

Agreed!

 

[al66pine]

I would think resetting the truck data would require more than just disconnecting the battery?
Because otherwise a vehicle would lose data every time an owner replaces a battery or it goes dead. No? IMO

@Auntie Cipation My post related to what BM said or will say about battery disconnection. Sorry for any confusion.

Did not address anything further about mechanics/electronics/technical points. Not stepping into that territory where I would immediately sink straight into quicksand. Never to be seen again.

 

[MaisieBella]

I echo these thoughts.
@10ofRods - You did a great job laying out your perspective and thoughts with a bog box of circumstantial puzzle pieces.
I look forward to seeing what route the state takes with the added insight and evidence they have.

I’m still not certain that I’m responding correctly, but nevertheless, BRAVO @OldCop and @10ofRods. What a team the two of you make!

 

[jakat]

MOO there is no upside for Stanley giving a YT interview, only risk.
A portion of a small audience may understand the case better as a result of the interview, but the criticism of the prosecution can only be met by better preparation of prosecution witness for court.
Offense also has to run effective defense, not doing that loses games.

E&N have divided all the evidence into categories of who is responsible, found the overlapping areas and unfiinished inquiries. They will continue to pound those areas until they meet a wall.

E&N will be tuned in on Monday for sure.

 

[jakat]

Me too, the pillow bothers me. What was the purpose? Was he attempting to plant evidence, because he clearly wasn't trying to get rid of it. Trying to imply that she was suffocated so they wouldn't look for another method? He went out of his way to plant other evidence as a redirect.

On a side note, is anybody else really looking forward to the trial just so we can finally SEE all of the pictures that we've read Tweets about?

The pillow bothers me too, but if he brought it from home, I think he would have trashed it in a dumpster or garbage container not in the room. If it was from the room, why did he put it in the trash?

I'm looking forward to the trial, but hope the aa is released next month right after the 17th, like on the 18th.

Have to wonder why BM thought he'd be released. The judge didn't let that happen, and I hope BM is there forever. JMO

 

[DizzyB]

This is something that would make him so enraged to bust down the door. I really wish we knew if they did in fact have a video call. The texts just prior showed discussing it. He mentioned family was out and she was alone and he said something about getting naked. I really think she went inside after that last photo was sent and possibly was waiting to video call or was on a voice call maybe saying adult type things and Barry arrived home. She didn't answer all those calls he made and it isn't stated that she called him back during that time either. That would certainly make him mad I'm sure.

I’m wondering if the AA could contain something like that-a naked Suzanne video chatting with her lover and Barry breaking into the bedroom. Would a detail like that be redacted to spare the girls on some level until trial, or is that integral to what happened?

 

[steeltowngirl]

I wonder where the master bedroom is located. If it’s on the main level, I wonder if Barry crept around the house and peered in the window to spy on her (that’s a creepy image). If she was doing adult things with JL, she would’ve locked the door, and most likely the windows shades would be down.. maybe he listened from behind the bedroom door, and once she hung up he busted down the door and shot her with tranq dart…
Who knows. Nobody would be able to sneak up on me because my security system makes a loud noise every time an exterior door or window is opened, but we don’t know if they had a similar system.

From what I recall of the PP pictures, the ground level windows were spacious. If SM was in a first floor bedroom, Barry may have decided not to break the door down to get to Suzanne in the bedroom. Possibly he came in through a window. That could explain the phenomenon of data showing he was moving through walls.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Small clarification of note:
I noticed one of the reporter tweets used “Gene” Ritter as the neighbor’s name. In most reports it’s Jean Ritter.

I have no proof of the correct spelling of her first name (other than articles), but I bet it’s Jean, as Gene is usually a nickname for Eugene.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Thanks for the link.
I'd heard all that before and didn't find anything of concern so I wasn't sure what you were referring to.
In just a general sense though, I'm confident that Stanley knows what she's doing, knows what not to say and what can be said, and how to handle herself in an interview. I mean... this is her job. She does know what she's doing.

jmo

I would hope she knows…she has a crew of people depending on her. Sometimes I hear things and think “did I really hear that?” I just think it is alittle late in the game for making that statement. But I am sure that whole group was pretty somber when Lauren interviewed them and might have been in that post event woulda coulda shoulda mood.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Two questions, do you or anyone know if the 18 miles missing is each way or round trip? Please don’t laugh because it’s unclear at least to me.
Your thoughts on a cellphone jammer are extremely interesting to me especially because I live in a state where several years ago a recent widow/school teacher and her 16 year old daughter were brutally murdered in their home. A jail informant contacted the FBI and local LE stating that he knew these two were killed after a cell jammer was installed (?) at their front door prior to the assaults and murders.
The fact that BM’s truck was reset has me totally confused but a cell phone jammer in the house matters. I look forward to what the truck people can add to when and why the truck reset. I bet it’s damning! IMO

The Kathy and Samantha Netherland case? You and I may be the last two on WS still following that case! Still hoping for justice.

 

[steeltowngirl]

I am STUNNED by the number of people who are taking Barry's "clipped her" comment at face value.

Clearly they have been blessed to never have been a victim of domestic abuse or had a close friend or family member who was/is.

If he openly admitted to clipping her on one occasion, he beat the hell out of her on others. Abusers only admit to little things, to try to deflect the big things. From the state of the MBR door frame, he physically assaulted her on more than one occasion.

Controlled abusers are the worst, they're experts at not leaving marks and deflecting.

Barry is VERY controlled.

We have to start talking about domestic abuse openly. It's not always about violence. Honestly, the gaslighting and mental abuse are way more damaging than physical abuse.

I am stunned too. Here we are on a crime site where we constantly discuss unimaginable horrors leveled by humans on humans, and people still need to be convinced that Suzanne was a truly a victim of DV.

It is no wonder so many DV victims suffer in silence. They fear no one will believe them.

jmo