Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #13

[Jackielee09]

BM offered the reward only if she’s returned alive. That’s why he can put 100k on the line. He knows he’ll never have to pay it. IMO

Exactly.

 

[Madeleine74]

Thank you for this understanding. We only get one bite at the apple. Why jump the gun if we don't have to?

I'm *so glad* you commented! I know from following cases off and on over 25+ years, the reality of the job is so vastly different than what people think it is (including the infamous "CSI Effect").

I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that LE is not going to share any info they don't have to, and most of it is not known until a trial occurs. Of course we all want to know all the details (I sure do), but it's part of the deal of following a case, and for a thorough investigation and fair trial for the defendant and the state, it's worth it.

 

[Acorunadepor]

As I read the (contradictory) fine print in "Fire Restrictions in Chaffee County", a campfire would be permitted currently if it's in a pit no wider than 3ft in diameter.
The relevant line item seems to be this:
"7.4 Stage I Restrictions: Forbid building, maintaining or attending any Open Fire within Chaffee County. The following are exempt from Stage I fire restrictions and excluded from a Stage I ban:
• Campfires, warming fires and charcoal fires within a permanent constructed fire grate in a developed public campground or picnic ground or permanent constructed fire grate or fire ring in a commercial campground or on private property."

Later edit: But NO. The ordinance is for a Stage 2 ban beginning on May 8. Campfires seem only to be exempt during Stage 1.

The clauses of the ordinance are murky, however, so someone may need to correct me on this. Good luck!

There likely would be similar restrictions all over the state, but BM, volunteer firefighter, would know whether or not a specific area is affected. He likely was also familiar with fire restrictions related to construction.

Colorado Emergency Management: Fire Bans & Danger
Here is a map of the counties with restrictions. The county adjacent to the west, Gunnison has or has had no fire restrictions.

 

[Tate123]

Complete different set of circumstances here.

When JD was initially reported missing, her vehicle was also missing.

SM's vehicle was back at the residence.
The bike was also located the evening she went missing
What possible use would releasing a vehicle or bike description be?

Had LE been able to verify an independent sighting of SM on Sunday or any time thereafter, they would have released that to the public, along w/ a description of her clothing, when and where she was last seen, etc.

The fact that LE has not released any of this information clearly indicates that they don't want someone to know how much progress they've made in determining the timeline of her movements leading up to her disappearance.

They're keeping the perp in the dark, which is a brilliant strategy.

The less that person knows, the more likely they are to trip themselves up in more and more lies.

JMO.

I'd be interested in BMs whereabouts as well... did anyone see him Fri/Sat/Sun? Did he stop at his usual deli for breakfast? Show up for work? All important details we dont hear a peep about. Guarantee LE knows all of these answers.

 

[Whiteorchids]

Exactly.

BM might have originally thought about offering a million dollar reward knowing no payout would ever happen but then he realized it would be a (red flag) if he made it that high. LE will be going through his finances with a fine tooth comb. Even BM immediately offering a $200,000 reward but yet a GO F account? That’s a red flag too. JMO

 

[Deleted member 718]

Missing Mom: Suzanne Morphew Disappeared 4 Weeks Ago

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) — It has now been four weeks since Suzanne Morphew was last seen. Morphew reportedly went for a bike ride near her home outside of Salida on Mother’s Day and never came home.

 

[riolove77]

I'm *so glad* you commented! I know from following cases off and on over 25+ years, the reality of the job is so vastly different than what people think it is (including the infamous "CSI Effect").

I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that LE is not going to share any info they don't have to, and most of it is not known until a trial occurs. Of course we all want to know all the details (I sure do), but it's part of the deal of following a case, and for a thorough investigation and fair trial for the defendant and the state, it's worth it.

Believe me, as a DA, I'm DYING to know what they have. But I'm not entitled to it!

I ALWAYS voir dire on the "CSI effect" when I'm seating a jury. And it always gets a chuckle out of potential jurors, but I tell them, especially in not-so-exciting cases, I need to know if there is anyone who is going to be upset that this doesn't play out like an episode of CSI.

Is there anyone who is going to be disappointed that I don't have a DNA expert here to testify? Anyone going to be mad this investigation wasn't handed to me with a bow on top and zero doubt? Anyone not going to be able to convict, despite me proving the case BRD, simply because the cast of Criminal Minds wasn't brought in to help us solve this?

I really want to know. I don't want those people on my jury. I don't want someone who thinks, well that's not how it happened last night on CSI, so there's reasonable doubt. No! That's not how it works in real life!

Sometimes we gather evidence for months and years before we think we have enough. It is an ethical duty we take an oath to uphold that we will NOT even file charges on a case we are not certain we can prove BRD.

We do not file cases to appease the public, to "get back at" a defendant we don't like, or to play games with anyone. It's really not like that. We don't do it to win, we don't do it to just get a conviction, and we don't do it willy nilly.

Most of us are ethical humans who believe in the oath we took to uphold the US and our respective state constitution, and to get actual justice, no matter how long it takes or where our investigation ultimately leads us.

Okay, off my soapbox.

 

[BeachSky]

My thoughts..... I think LE is on to him but I believe he's the type, that will go down with the ship....in other-words don't think he will crack that easy. The silence with LE is sure to bring out the voices in his head. I think that is one tactic LE is using to put pressure on him to bust...

Just my moopinion

BBM

I agree.
He can *have it all* if he can paint himself as a victim.
( Which he very well may be ...IDK )
All that stuff he served up in the impromptu interview is nonsensical.
BM ,so you’re offering a 210K reward for her return from a mountain lion kill?
Pick a story dude.

MOO

 

[Acorunadepor]

Missing Mom: Suzanne Morphew Disappeared 4 Weeks Ago

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) — It has now been four weeks since Suzanne Morphew was last seen. Morphew reportedly went for a bike ride near her home outside of Salida on Mother’s Day and never came home.

Those 400 calls must have something among them. Locals who ran into her. People who drove along Highway 50. Stores and shop owners who possibly interacted with her.
I mean the restrictions were just lifted (although not completely) What does “Safer at Home” look like for Salida?

So everything started to go back to ''normal'' a week and a half before she disappeard.

 

[Seattle1]

The vast majority of what you've mentioned here, I can almost guarantee none of us ever really give a second thought to, because we are law abiding citizens with nothing to hide from the police. (I confess, I had no idea the fobs contain data, now that does sort of creep me out). That said, that's exactly the problem for those who are normally a law abiding citizen, and then one day decide to I dunno, kill someone and hide the body. They also don't think about all these ways they've been tracked all along, but it's the FIRST thing investigators will start gathering to look over - all the electronic evidence.

Despite the fact I follow so many cases where digital evidence comes into play, I still find things all the time that are "tracking" me that I never knew about previously. One example is with google Chrome. Loads of people use it, and most know you can delete your search history. What some folks might not know, is that clearing your history is all well and good but you better take a look here https://myactivity.google.com too, after you've cleared your history. Then, you need too look at your synced phone's history too, because it doesn't always actually clear everything. This is just 1 tiny little thing, and there are 100 of them, if not more, tracking us all over the place, as you've mentioned. Quite literally from my front door to my car in the driveway, I am tracked by my phone, my fitbit, and my Ring cam that recorded me leaving the house. Once I get in the vehicle and turn it on, GPS is on as well. I haven't even left my driveway yet and I've been tracked by 4 separate devices - not to mention whatever home security cams folks next door and across the street might have. It's kind of mind boggling really, but here we are.

^^bbm

The above various locations alone could pose a significant issue for LE regarding cell phone and interstate cell towers analysis after the Supreme Court ruled that a search warrant is required to track an individual's cell phone location. The previous routine court order long relied upon by police that they were "seeking relevant information" from your phone carrier no longer works. The Supreme Court cited that an individual has a privacy interest in the day-to-day, hour-to-hour and even minute-to-minute records of his whereabouts — a privacy interest that requires the government to get a search warrant before gaining access to that information.

It is mind-boggling! And to think that it was a suspect in a robbery of a Radio Shack store that brought the quality and quantity of our minute to minute tracking to light when his defense showed how the Government was able to obtain 12,898 location points cataloging the suspect's movements of 127 days -- an average of 101 data points per day.

At trial, the defense moved to suppress the data, arguing that the Government's seizure of the records without obtaining a warrant supported by probable cause violated the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed this degree of whereabouts is a privacy interest that requires the government to get a search warrant before gaining access to that information. Prior to the 2018 ruling, LE relied on only a court order (subpoena) served on wireless carriers for a suspect's cell phone records under the Stored Communications Act.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-402_h315.pdf

 

[Deleted member 718]

Stephanie (Butzer) Rose

@stephaniebutzer

While there aren't any new developments to announce as of now, the CBI spokeswoman acknowledged it's been a while since the sheriff's office shared a news release. She said she'd reach out today to see if they would do that. We'll keep an eye out. #SuzanneMorphew
7:57 AM · Jun 8, 2020·

Stephanie (Butzer) Rose

@stephaniebutzer

Just had a quick conversation with the spokeswoman of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. As of now, #SuzanneMorphew has not been found and there are no arrests in this case, she said.
7:53 AM · Jun 8, 2020·


Stephanie (Butzer) Rose
@stephaniebutzer
Digital producer at
@DenverChannel

 

[Dave F.]

We don’t know when Suzanne was last seen alive.

We don’t know if she went on a bike ride.

I'm sorry, my intention was to post about a bike shop in Salida that appears to serve women who love recreational mountain biking. Sorry if I screwed it up. IMO

 

[LietKynes]

My thoughts..... I think LE is on to him but I believe he's the type, that will go down with the ship....in other-words, I don't think he will crack that easy, not like others did. The silence with LE is sure to bring out the voices in his head. I think that is one tactic LE is using to put pressure on him to bust...

Just my moopinion

Ita. ^^^

Have to look out for those voices , esp. the ones that might make you pace back and forth and look out the windows.....per the fire chief Bertram's words !
That's the only hint we have as to BM's thought process these days.
If BM was looking out of a window --- he sure as heck wasn't outside searching.
Just saying and Imo.

 

[BeachSky]

Those 400 calls must have something among them. Locals who ran into her. People who drove along Highway 50. Stores and shop owners who possibly interacted with her.
I mean the restrictions were just lifted (although not completely) What does “Safer at Home” look like for Salida?

So everything started to go back to ''normal'' a week and a half before she disappeard.

If it is foul play, I’m praying she confided in someone among those 400.

MOO

 

[LietKynes]

BBM

I agree.
He can *have it all* if he can paint himself as a victim.
( Which he very well may be ...IDK )
All that stuff he served up in the impromptu interview is nonsensical.
BM ,so you’re offering a 210K reward for her return from a mountain lion kill?
Pick a story dude.

MOO

bbm
Love this ! ^^^

 

[K9Enzo]

IMO, I don't believe the CO Morphew home is ground zero for whatever event caused her disappearance.

 

[LietKynes]

If it is foul play, I’m praying she confided in someone.

MOO

Exactly.
I'm thinking this could be possible, based on the actions of LE and we just aren't being told anything.
I'm fine with that.

It could be she spoke with family and/or friends and LE know who and what was said in confidence !
LE hopefully have a ton of information imo and are keeping it quiet.
Much respect to them.

They are going to get justice for Suzanne.
It could take a long time , but we will be patient and if someone has harmed her or worse they'll not get away with their deeds .

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Suzanne Morphew Case Archive is updated.

Suzanne Morphew -CO- by amanda reckonwith

Cell phone users, click here and scroll:
NamUS Site = National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

 

[Tate123]

BBM

I agree.
He can *have it all* if he can paint himself as a victim.
( Which he very well may be ...IDK )
All that stuff he served up in the impromptu interview is nonsensical.
BM ,so you’re offering a 210K reward for her return from a mountain lion kill?
Pick a story dude.

MOO

210,000 reward while adding his name for a hand out on G** ...the irony!

 

[Seattle1]

Thank you for this understanding. We only get one bite at the apple. Why jump the gun if we don't have to? There's a reason on a felony (in California) we have a three year statute of limitations to charge (not counting murder of course). I might know on day three of an investigation what the deal is, but why not take the extra time to gather my evidence? The second you charge someone, they can invoke their speedy trial rights. Why would I cut myself down to a mere 60 days on a homicide when I can have a lot more?

There is no doubt TONS of evidence in this case to go through. I'm not sure why people think they need to either arrest him NOW or announce he's been cleared and they need help after all. It's likely neither of those things. Just because we don't know what they're doing does not mean they don't know what they're doing.

Consider the intricacies of defendant rights once they've been charged. You (as a DA) do yourself no favors but jumping the gun, just to appease the public.

Hear, hear!

Please, pipe in anytime. (I'll carry the box for you).