Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #14

[Cassady]

Right. If the missing person was 5'6" and corpse is only 5'1", that would be the fastest way to rule out someone when you are dealing with a body found in water. Every corner/medical examiner I have dealt with all say bodies found in water are the worst and often the skeleton is the only thing left in tact.

 

[10ofRods]

If they used GP sonar under a consensual search and found an anomaly, that could lead to PC for SW. However, any one who watches Curse of Oak Island gets to see these devices at work. Sometimes the find something and other times they do not. Still, they are a valuable investigative tools and perfect for the application in the search of the job site.

It appears little associated with the case was found during the search. However, evidence could still be in process of being analyzed and could lead to future SW's or subpoenas that lead to other evidence.

I think we can assume that anything gathered from the phones, cars, property searches is either being analyzed or in some cases has already been analyzed.

At this time, it does appear that nothing from the search is associated with Suzanne's case at this time. IME, judges vary on how well the underground imaging has to show the sought after object. A body sized deformity is difficult to define, and the radar isn't all that specific. IOW, a natural deformity is often mistaken for a body sized deformity. But I've still seen judges be convinced pretty quickly. They often decide in context. At least, where I am.

I did wonder if it was something like a weapon, not yet associated with this particular case. They did put up a tent, so we didn't get to see all that they were doing.

 

[Seattle1]

Here you go Oviedo, it’s in the DailyMail May 14, 2020:

Missing Colorado mom: Husband offers $100,000 reward as FBI joins search for her | Daily Mail Online

“Morphew's husband Barry has also put out a $100,000 reward for his wife's safe return, 'no questions asked', according to FOX 31.

He declined to make a public plea when asked by the local news station, saying it was simply 'too soon'. “

Thanks @Janeumayer -- I think we're back at square-one where we started this search after DM was the only source we could find to verify the "too soon" comment attributed to BM.

I believe the difficulty here to locate the actual network audio between TN and reporter is that this comment was part of a live phone audio clip between a Denver network and nephew TN [on May 14]. Listening live, I certainly got the impression that BM was in the background with TN when the reporter, talking to TN, offered BM an opportunity to make a live, audio-only, public plea. It was TN that responded, seemingly on behalf of BM, that it was too soon for him to comment or speak publicly.

Personally, I believe that this portion of the audio was removed or edited by the network at the request of TN before the audio clip was shared and/or distributed to the AP.

We learned from reporter Lauren Scharf (DWAP interview) that TN imposed several conditions on the media during the few days he was active and before going dark around May 17.

MOO

ETA: Adding credit to @Shiloh28 for initial link
CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #13

 

[carbuff]

Several years ago in northern Wyoming, hunters found a body in a ditch that had been shot and then decapitated and the hands were removed. Nobody had been reported missing, but LE were able to go straight to his trailer to question the wife of the deceased, who said she was just about to go to town to report him missing. She and a co-conspirator were convicted of murder. The deceased had been in trouble with the law, and LE recognized his belt buckle. IMO

Oh is that how they solved that one? I had read about it and thought that was going to be a really difficult case, and then before it was even in the news much it was marked as solved.

But it does go to show how the perpetrators can overlook a detail that seems insignificant to them but turns out to solve the case. We can hope for something similar here.

 

[carbuff]

Salida offers world class biking, hiking, kayaking and snowboarding. Many residents, and even more visitors have made a serious lifestyle choice to get there. There have to be bikers that combine Monarch crest and downtown Salida trails. They are just doing their own thing!
My own impression is that SM was happy doing Monarch Crest on a mountain bike, by herself............but it's MOO

I can certainly see how that might be. I think the locals who ride mountain bikes for routine cycling are motivated as much by (relative) poverty as by any idea of what's suitable for the trip. A good bike is wicked expensive.

Salida is sounding better and better all the time.

 

[OldCop]

I think LE is finally beginning to realize they went about this backwards and that their initial focus on BM may have been in error. Searches focused on him have turned up nothing, so now they start canvassing neighbors in the area? That should have been done the second day.

But here’s the really telling thing—the poster shows Suzanne in a bike helmet. If they didn’t think she disappeared while on a bike ride, why in the world would they put out a poster a month after she disappeared showing her wearing a bike helmet????

I think they’re coming around.

I read this very differently from you @Bridger. For the first week, LE spent hours upon hours searching the area. Over 100 LE searched on foot and ATV, there were 8 tracking dogs, divers in rivers, creeks, and ponds, SAR, the CBI and FBI. This tells me they were trying very hard to find a person who had been reported as missing while riding her bike. During that time frame they may have found the bike, (not confirmed), and did find “personal items” belonging to SM, (confirmed by LE). We know they also talked to at least one neighbor, the one who reported her missing. There are very few homes in the area, so it is not like going door to door in a city or suburban neighborhood.
LE, for reasons unknown to any of us, have pretty much ruled out animal attack, accident, and suicide. This was likely due to evidence or lack of evidence.
I have not seen LE zero in on any one person to the exclusion of others. They have named no POI’s. They did search a site where BM once worked but so did many other construction workers. We do not know what evidence led LE to search this site.
Several weeks ago LE did ask that people save video from 5/8-5/12. Those dates are pretty specific. I believe that as they follow the evidence they are able to narrow down time frames and narrow down suspects. Perhaps this recent canvassing for possible new evidence is being done to review certain videos collected by area residents and/or businesses.
As for the helmet, maybe that was one of the personal items they found. Perhaps they are trying to jog a memory. Or perhaps they are finding out that not one single solitary person can report seeing SM on a bike that day.

 

[carbuff]

Perhaps the height of the corpse does not match the height of the missing person from Wichita?

Could be! Good thought.

 

[Cassady]

Height, maybe. Skeletal remains are of a 6 footer, she was 5 feet. Hair color. Age.

At this time, it does appear that nothing from the search is associated with Suzanne's case at this time. IME, judges vary on how well the underground imaging has to show the sought after object. A body sized deformity is difficult to define, and the radar isn't all that specific. IOW, a natural deformity is often mistaken for a body sized deformity. But I've still seen judges be convinced pretty quickly. They often decide in context. At least, where I am.

I did wonder if it was something like a weapon, not yet associated with this particular case. They did put up a tent, so we didn't get to see all that they were doing.

It could also be trace evidence like hair or carpet fibers or other items that would be out of place in backfill.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Things I wish we knew:

Whether SM's usual bike rides were

• an hour's or two hour's exercise along roads or calm mountain bike trails
• fast/wild/gnarly singletrack adventures
• many-hours-long treks akin to a long hike

Whether BM is a volunteer firefighter or paid.

Where BM gets the fill dirt for landscaping jobs, if the property needs more than it has.

Of course lots of other things I wish we knew too, but those three keep coming to mind.

 

[TechGirl]

Two dozen law enforcement officials were scheduled to conduct a Suzanne Morphew case canvass Wednesday (yesterday), and the canvass was announced ahead of time. There has been no video released by media or any mention of law enforcement observed yesterday in Chaffee County. You would expect the media to be in Chaffee County yesterday looking for a scoop or at least report about what was going on. I find that interesting...

CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Salida, Colorado
PRESS RELEASE
June 10, 2020

On June 10, investigators plan to conduct a community canvas in the county to contact residents and others to not only share information about Ms. Morphew’s disappearance, but also focus on obtaining any new information in her case. Nearly two dozen members of law enforcement will take part in this comprehensive effort on Wednesday.

 

[carbuff]

But...if they could already r/o that woman then shouldn’t they also already have been able to r/o SM using same methods? I would think KBI & CBI would work together to also make sure it wasn’t SM but maybe not? Or they did check but made no announcement that it wasn’t her because it’s farther away in another state? If it was SM would they hold that information within LE pending further investigation to determine cause of death and notification of family before releasing a positive identification to the media? Ok, sorry...obviously I can’t let it go. I don’t mean to disrupt the thread with a long shot that nobody cares about. But I think there are still few of us who are interested in f/u on this body. Thanks for your patience and I won’t bring it up anymore unless there is something definitive to report.

I agree that it can't be ruled out, and I don't have an answer for most of your questions.
I think you're right that even SM's LE is looking into the possibility, they wouldn't tell us. I think that unless there's something we don't know to connect the two cases, they're probably just keeping an eye on it the way they would any other possible case and won't do anything until the autopsy indicates a connection.

It's like most things with most cases. We have to wait

 

[oviedo]

Things I wish we knew:

Whether SM's usual bike rides were

• an hour's or two hour's exercise along roads or calm mountain bike trails
• fast/wild/gnarly singletrack adventures
• many-hours-long treks akin to a long hike

Whether BM is a volunteer firefighter or paid.

Where BM gets the fill dirt for landscaping jobs, if the property needs more than it has.

Of course lots of other things I wish we knew too, but those three keep coming to mind.

I’d like to know if she Ever actually rode a bike let alone on the day (which we don’t know) she went missing - like maybe hearing from a bike group or a friend she rode with? So far nothing in MSM so the bike is meaningless to me - she’s a missing woman who we have yet to know the last day and time she was seen ( from LE) And that’s odd to me
JMO

 

[10ofRods]

It could also be trace evidence like hair or carpet fibers or other items that would be out of place in backfill.

Which would be weird.

But could explain their techniques. Perhaps they have evidence of a burned body and figured there was a chance some parts got mixed in with the fill.

One would expect to find Morphew house carpet fibers in a Morphew piece of equipment, so I'm not sure how that helps the case but perhaps it tells a story of a big chunk of carpet being shredded and put in the fill - if it's just a few fibers, not much help.

Suzanne's hair could be there too, but isn't there a benign explanation for that? (He's her husband, he wore clothes that he wore around her and around the house, etc). As part of a larger picture, though, it could be significant - if they know something else about how the hair got there. Of course, if there's hair there, then my burn theory is wrong.

 

[Cassady]

I read this very differently from you @Bridger. For the first week, LE spent hours upon hours searching the area. Over 100 LE searched on foot and ATV, there were 8 tracking dogs, divers in rivers, creeks, and ponds, SAR, the CBI and FBI. This tells me they were trying very hard to find a person who had been reported as missing while riding her bike. During that time frame they may have found the bike, (not confirmed), and did find “personal items” belonging to SM, (confirmed by LE). We know they also talked to at least one neighbor, the one who reported her missing. There are very few homes in the area, so it is not like going door to door in a city or suburban neighborhood.
LE, for reasons unknown to any of us, have pretty much ruled out animal attack, accident, and suicide. This was likely due to evidence or lack of evidence.
I have not seen LE zero in on any one person to the exclusion of others. They have named no POI’s. They did search a site where BM once worked but so did many other construction workers. We do not know what evidence led LE to search this site.
Several weeks ago LE did ask that people save video from 5/8-5/12. Those dates are pretty specific. I believe that as they follow the evidence they are able to narrow down time frames and narrow down suspects. Perhaps this recent canvassing for possible new evidence is being done to review certain videos collected by area residents and/or businesses.
As for the helmet, maybe that was one of the personal items they found. Perhaps they are trying to jog a memory. Or perhaps they are finding out that not one single solitary person can report seeing SM on a bike that day.

This is a good run down IMO.

It is also possible that FBI did targeted canvassing around the home of the missing person, contacting neighbors and others in the immediate area and in Maysville while the ground searches in the area around the bike was covered during the first week of disappearance.

Yesterday appeared to be general canvassing event in the Salida area. The flyer was so void of any real information about the case that it is unclear what recipients of the flyer would make of it.

Eye witnesses testimony is iffy shortly after an event, let alone 4 weeks later. Video systems only store data for so long. The poster handed out might give people the impression she disappeared from Salida....and perhaps she did?

 

[Nerissa]

OH to be a human, much less fly on the wall, of a home in Mayville, CO

I really would like to know what LE is sharing

ETA...."sharing"....

JMO

 

[carbuff]

I would think things like:

His alibi wasn't solid.
His wife told someone she was scared of him.
There is evidence they were separating.
There is evidence he had a temper.
No evidence she actually went on a bike ride.
His cell phone was uncharacteristically off during the time she went missing.
Yes, possible cadaver dog hits.
Evidence of an affair.

Yeah but don't they have to have a specific reason to search that particular location, not just suspect him of general evildoing?

 

[carbuff]

At this time, it does appear that nothing from the search is associated with Suzanne's case at this time. IME, judges vary on how well the underground imaging has to show the sought after object. A body sized deformity is difficult to define, and the radar isn't all that specific. IOW, a natural deformity is often mistaken for a body sized deformity. But I've still seen judges be convinced pretty quickly. They often decide in context. At least, where I am.

I did wonder if it was something like a weapon, not yet associated with this particular case. They did put up a tent, so we didn't get to see all that they were doing.

The fact that they had multiple stations sifting the dirt made me think they were looking for something significantly smaller than a body.

 

[gitana1]

Yeah but don't they have to have a specific reason to search that particular location, not just suspect him of general evildoing?

He was there, per the property owner. If there was a lot of other evidence indicating a reasonable suspicion of foul play, they’d probably have enough grounds to search his house, where he worked, etc.

 

[Seattle1]

The fact that they had multiple stations sifting the dirt made me think they were looking for something significantly smaller than a body.

Absolutely. After the Jennifer Dulos case, investigators may have been searching for discarded and/or destroyed evidence ranging from electronic equipment to documents to faux license plates to SM's personal property. Investigators may have located similar evidence on the property that warranted them digging deeper. MOO

 

[Cindizzi]

Thanks @Janeumayer -- I think we're back at square-one where we started this search after DM was the only source we could find to verify the "too soon" comment attributed to BM.

I believe the difficulty here to locate the actual network audio between TN and reporter is that this comment was part of a live phone audio clip between a Denver network and nephew TN [on May 14]. Listening live, I certainly got the impression that BM was in the background with TN when the reporter, talking to TN, offered BM an opportunity to make a live, audio-only, public plea. It was TN that responded, seemingly on behalf of BM, that it was too soon for him to comment or speak publicly.

Personally, I believe that this portion of the audio was removed or edited by the network at the request of TN before the audio clip was shared and/or distributed to the AP.

We learned from reporter Lauren Scharf (DWAP interview) that TN imposed several conditions on the media during the few days he was active and before going dark around May 17.

MOO

ETA: Adding credit to @Shiloh28 for initial link
CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #13

Ellen Killoran also said that TN had stopped responding to media in this 5/23 tweet:
https://twitter.com/ellenkilloran/status/1264189902775820288?s=21
Early in the investigation, a man who said he was Suzanne's nephew said he was the family spokesperson. But he stopped responding to media requests a week ago, and hasn't updated the Facebook page dedicated to the search.