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

[oviedo]

Here it is:

"Have you read the CCSO press release pages as it pertains to the updates on the investigation and all the searches, and all of the agencies from local, state and federal that are a part of, and that have already gone into SM's disappearance?

I'll try and keep this as brief as possible:

May 11th: Sheriff personnel called members of Chaffee County Search and Rescue South and North and a search began immediately. The Department of Corrections was contacted and a request was made for tracking dogs to assist. They responded and joined the search. The search continued into the early morning hours with no results. The search resumed in the early morning hours of May 11 with Search and Rescue. They once again scoured the area. Members were then called from the Chaffee County Tac Team along with search parties from the Department of Corrections and the area was once again scoured.
Missing Person - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 13th: A search began immediately. ...Chaffee County Search and Rescue, Department of Corrections, and the Chaffee County Combined Tac Team have scoured the area. Numerous Drones have been used for countless hours to assist in the search. 8 different tracking and scent dogs from the Department of Corrections and the Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado were deployed to aid in the search. Members from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the South Ark Swiftwater Rescue Teams have searched area watersheds and Reach Air Ambulance flew search missions as well, however Ms Morphew has yet to be located.
Update on Suzanne Morphew search Tipline established - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 14th: ...continue to search for Suzanne Morphew(age 49), who was reported missing on May 10, 2020. In addition to efforts by the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and assistance from local and regional partners, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been requested to provide resources to aid in the effort.
Search continues for Suzanne Morphew - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 15th: While the search for Suzanne Morphew continues, a specific area just west of County Road 225 and Highway 50 (outside of Maysville), is being targeted by investigators after they located what’s believed to be a personal item of the missing woman.On Friday, May 15, members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) plan to launch a comprehensive search of the area.
HWY 50 Temporary Closure for Search for missing woman - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 15th (update): ... investigators searched a 2.5-mile area near County Road 225 and Highway 50 in search of clues into the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew (age 49) of Chaffee County, who went missing on May 10, 2020. Local, state and federal investigators searched steep and rugged terrain in an effort to attempt to locate additional items of Ms. Morphew after investigators believed to have found a personal item of the missing woman on Thursday. May 15 update on search for Suzanne Morphew - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 16th: ...continue the search for Suzanne Morphew.
Ms. Morphew is a Chaffee County woman reported missing on May 10, 2020. While Saturday’s efforts didn’t involve a large-scale search similar to the one that took place on US Highway 50 on May 15, investigators continued to follow-up on tips and conduct targeted searches in the area based on information provided to those working the case. Search continues for Suzanne Morphew - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 17th: ... continue the search for Suzanne Morphew. Sunday, May 17, members of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue Team searched water sites in the area.
May 17 Search Press Release - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 18th: ... continue the search for Suzanne Morphew. Ms. Morphew is a Chaffee County woman reported missing on May 10, 2020. On Monday, 18, investigators continued to review and follow-up on tips reported to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office. There have been more than 150 calls to the tip line since the phone line was activated last week. There were no targeted searches conducted on Monday.
May 18 Press release - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 19th: ...continue the missing person search for Suzanne Morphew. On Tuesday, May 19, investigators continued to review and follow-up on tips reported to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office.
May 19, press release - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 20th: ...continue the missing person search for Suzanne Morphew. To clarify media reports about the Morphew residence, the house continues to be held by law enforcement during this open investigation through a search warrant that has been sealed by the court. According to Sheriff John Spezze, it is not unusual in these types of investigations to start at the home and extend outward, in an effort to seek clues surrounding the disappearance. The Morphew residence is just one of many areas of focus as part of this open investigation at this time.
May 20, 2020 Press Release Suzanne Morphew missing person case - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 21st: ...continue the missing person search for Suzanne Morphew. On Thursday, May 21, investigators continued to review and follow-up on tips reported to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office.
May 21, Investigation continues for missing woman - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 22nd: Based on information developed during the Suzanne Morphew missing person case, investigators with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are conducting a search at a residential property on the east side of the Salida.
May 22 Press Release - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 22nd (update): A search being conducted at a residence on the east side of Salida in connection with the Suzanne Morphew missing person case has concluded for the day. Investigators with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, CBI and FBI plan to return to the site to continue the search on Saturday, May 23, 2020.
5:00 PM updated press release 05-22-2020 - Chaffee County Sheriff

May 26th: ...continue the missing person investigation involving Suzanne Morphew. On Tuesday, May 26, investigators’ efforts involved review and follow-up on tips reported to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office. May 26th Press Release - Chaffee County Sheriff

Sorry that was so long, but it sort of had to be, to answer your question.

Ontario Mom, Yesterday at 9:42 AMReport
#117Like+ QuoteReply"

Thanks I’m going to tag that post at the end of the timeline

 

[Ontario Mom]

And that information would likely have been very valuable had the canvassing occurred on May 12. A month later, memories being what they are, it’s likely useless. If I saw a woman biking around a month ago, covid lockdowns making pretty much every day the same, how would I ever know at this point exactly what day I saw her?

Between Sunday May 10th and Wednesday May 13th these are the people/resources that were actively looking for & utilized in the search Suzanne:

Chaffee County Search and Rescue
Department of Corrections
Chaffee County Combined Tac Team
Drone Operators
Tracking and Scent Dogs
Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
South Ark Swiftwater Rescue Teams
Reach Air Ambulance
Chaffee County Sheriffs Office
Investigators from the 11th Judicial District
CBI
Salida PD
Fremont County Sheriff
FBI
Update on Suzanne Morphew search Tipline established - Chaffee County Sheriff

I would surmise, with that many experts in their fields, actively working this case, they might actually know what they're doing, without any assistance, or input from the general public. Which is why, I will guess, they have not asked for the public's assistance. (except for the tip line, they have not asked for any help searching, as in volunteer searchers)
I trust them to do what they're trained to do, conduct this investigation the way they know how to do it, and bring justice for Suzanne.
No matter who it ends up being that disappeared her, or how long it takes.

jmo

 

[Megnut]

Canvassing now shows due diligence, plus it's a tactical move too IMO.

They may have a piece or string of evidence they did not have in the first few days, something to present to locals to see if it shakes ant recollections loose.

They may be hoping to keep that discovery out of the public eye so as not to alert any POIs. Same with the poster. Surely to solicit credible tips but IMO to relax any POIs. We're looking over here, not there. Conversely the poster and canvassing could also serve to ramp up pressure on any would-be POI, one who might desperately want to know what LE knows.

I'm reminded of that odd response -- it's too soon. Of course it'd be too soon if one was waiting on LE to tip its hand. As in, I will make a plea of some sort just as soon as I see which of my stories LE buys.

All JMO

 

[10ofRods]

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.

This is not their first canvasing effort. They did in fact canvas in the first days.

This time, they're widening their efforts. Mayville, where the Morphews live, has about 135-150 residents, some of whom are part time residents.

Salida is about 20 minutes away by car. It has 5000 people. And that's where one might go to research rumors and grapevine knowledge. It's possible that BM is not their only suspect, it's possible there's some convoluted story behind Suzanne's disappearance. But going door to door in Salida is a very specific tactic.

Keep in mind that LE has also followed up on every tip to the tip line, so they've already started talking to people in Salida. Now, they are out to find out more. If I were an investigator in this case, I'd also be interested in talking in person to the sources of some of the social media rumors - and to their friends and so on. I'd be just as interested in who didn't want to talk to LE, especially if it was known they were a source of so-called information on social media.

 

[MrX]

They may have a piece or string of evidence they did not have in the first few days, something to present to locals to see if it shakes ant recollections loose.

Or they really have nothing - perfect crime, or no crime.

 

[MsBetsy]

Was it stated that he was there Sunday or just that he had been there recently ?

I don't think it was ever mentioned which day they had seen him there. I just wondered if it would be enough for police to get a warrant if they were told contradicting stories. If the homeowner or any witnesses said they saw him there and he told police he was in Denver that day it would look suspicious.

I guess I didn't explain that very well since it was late and I was exhausted last night. Or this morning, I mean!

 

[Dave F.]

I also have not completely ruled out an abduction/assault theory yet either but I would think if a car made contact with the bike or was stalking her bike, there would be some evidence of that (tire tracks on dirt road? damage to the bike?). Also the fact that she was mountain biking (but it seems wasn't on a trail at the point the bike was found?) makes it less likely to encounter a car/human predator. It would be a bold attack to have happened down their driveway as she was leaving the house on bike, grab her (and possibly the bike?) then toss bike a short distance further? Without more details on the personal item and possible route, it is hard to hypotesize plausible scenarios. In the Amy Bechtel disappearance, the husband was under suspicion for years and years until they finally linked her disappearance to serial killer Dale Wayne Eaton. She was out in remote Wyoming backroads when she disappeared.

The only "red flag" to me personally about BM is the self-produced video and mostly it is just strange. The other youtube interview, in my eyes, could be interpreted in a lot of ways (guilty or innocent) because I have no idea what his baseline behavior is. There are some cases, like Leticia Stauch, where the second they opened their mouth, there was no longer a fence to sit on. In this case it is mostly LE's response and statistics that make me lean towards BM involvement.

There do seem to be striking similarities between this case and the 1997 disappearance of Amy Bechtel. Since that era, LE has made huge developmental changes in the resources available to small, remote police units for investigating big cases. The most important lesson for today's LE is to always be vigilant to the possibility of an investigation being derailed by initial pre-conceptions.
People wanting to more about that case should be advised to search using "Amy Wroe Bechtel" or "Amy Wroe". News media used her maiden name; in an unintentional, but blatant effort to disassociate the victim from her spouse, who is "always the POI until proven otherwise". IMO

 

[Truecolors]

Wouldn't the homeowner have to live in the area at this time in order to have that knowledge? Homeowners don't schedule subcontractors, the general contractor does that. It's his/her job. IMO

The homeowner told a reporter that he’d known BM for 3 weeks. I thought that was odd, but it sounds like the homeowner must’ve been present at the building site.

Finding Suzanne Morphew: Investigators Search Husband's Job Site Near Salida


SALIDA, Colo. (CBS4) — A residential construction site is now the focus of the search for Suzanne Morphew, a Colorado woman who was reported missing from her Chaffee County home on Mother’s Day. The property owner confirmed to CBS4’s Rick Sallinger that Suzanne’s husband was hired to lay dirt on the riverfront land, located east of Salida.

The owner of the property told CBS4’s Rick Sallinger that he has known Barry Morphew for three weeks. The river front property was undergoing improvement. Concrete was laid over the dirt.

 

[dspdenver]

SBM

Not a friend or relative has offered information that the BM/SM marriage was happy, healthy and loving.
IMO

‘We’re in the dark’: Missing Suzanne Morphew’s family waits and worries two weeks after Colorado mom’s mysterious disappearance [EXCLUSIVE]
Unnamed "Suzanne's relative:"
[The relative said they have never seen or heard about any specific issues in the Morphew’s marriage, and that the couple seemed happy.]
[“Barry always seemed to be a good guy and a supportive husband,” the relative said. “I’d be surprised if anything happened. But sometimes we don’t know people as well as we think we do.”]

Police search and carry out evidence bags from the $1.5M home of missing Colorado mom | Daily Mail Online
[Other friends spoke of the family in glowing terms, noting that Suzanne had been happy living in Colorado since moving to the state from Alexandria, Indiana, in July 2018.]

[Barry's uncle told Fox21 that he believes his nephew is innocent, saying: 'They’re a loving couple and I’ve never seen any kind of unhappiness with each other or produced by either one of them.]

 

[MsBetsy]

BBM
But it doesn't say re-canvass.

"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.
The public is asked to continue to report any information about this case by calling (719) 312-7530."

I wonder if this relates to the surveillance video they had asked people to save. Maybe they are working on a timeline and they are looking for information about a certain vehicle or the movements by a certain suspect. Since it says residents and "others" they may be collecting surveillance videos from stores and other businesses in the area they are focused on.

 

[GordianKnot]

I'm not sure what to make of the press release yesterday. Does this mean LE has checked out 400 tips and none of them were fruitful?

BBM:

No, that isn't what that means.

It means that LE has checked out >400 tips, and they're not going to reveal whether and/or how they tips they've received have helped them with their investigation.

LE may not have received that one tip that will lead them to finding Suzanne yet, but that doesn't mean that the info that's been submitted to them hasn't assisted them re: the who/what/when/why questions surrounding her disappearance.

Probably a lot of the tips been big, fat nothingburgers.

But I have no doubt there's been juicy meat for LE to chew on in at least a few of those tips.

JMO.

 

[Warwick7]

What clinches it for me was LEs response in the first few hours after SM was reported missing. It was still light out yet they involved multiple agencies in a search and had the house taped off in under 6 hrs. They either found something or heard something BIG. IMO

Tate, excellent post!
I didn't realize "and had the house taped off in under 6 hrs."

 

[carbuff]

Fair enough, but a few questions about this theory:

1. this stalker waited down the road and snatched her off her bike? how did he know what time she would be going for a ride? how did he know she'd be alone?
2. how long was he waiting there? did he have a car? if so, wouldn't passersby have seen this car?
3. how exactly do you abduct someone who is riding a bicycle? please describe how you think this might have occurred & how this matches up with what we know about the placement of the bike.

Quite a large circle of people might have known she was home alone on Mother's Day. She might have mentioned it to friends, people at church, neighbors. BM almost certainly told his work crew while he was making arrangements for Sunday, and might have told his firefighting friends. That <modsnip> fire chief might have told anybody. Any of those other people might have mentioned it to somebody else.

waited down the road--somewhere along the route, anyway. There aren't a lot of options and we've been told that some parts of it had quite a few cars. If it's somebody local, their vehicle wouldn't have been out of place. And there seems to be one report of a suspicious vehicle, though again that's reported, not known for sure.

How? I don't have a particular theory. A woman in this area was raped last year after some guy jumped out of the shrubbery in front of her, forcing her to panic stop. Then he shoved her over and dragged her back into the shrubbery. In this case it would be shove her into the car, throw the bike down the hill. He might have waited until she passed him, then followed her and when he reached a spot with no cars, bumped her from behind. Etc.

Or even the less violent approach. "Hey, Suzanne, didn't expect to see you out here today!" as she rides by. And grabs her when she stops to talk.

Here's a case in Detroit from a couple of years back where two men forced two different women into a vehicle and drove them to another location for assault. 2 Detroit men charged in kidnap, rape of bicyclists

 

[Warwick7]

It was from here: CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020

But she's since deleted that from her FB.

May 13: When Colorado Channel 2 reporter asked Mr. Morphew if he’s interested in making a public plea, Mr. Morphew said “at this point it’s simply too soon”.

This still blows my mind.
:0/

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

SBM


‘We’re in the dark’: Missing Suzanne Morphew’s family waits and worries two weeks after Colorado mom’s mysterious disappearance [EXCLUSIVE]
Unnamed "Suzanne's relative:"
[The relative said they have never seen or heard about any specific issues in the Morphew’s marriage, and that the couple seemed happy.]
[“Barry always seemed to be a good guy and a supportive husband,” the relative said. “I’d be surprised if anything happened. But sometimes we don’t know people as well as we think we do.”]

Police search and carry out evidence bags from the $1.5M home of missing Colorado mom | Daily Mail Online
[Other friends spoke of the family in glowing terms, noting that Suzanne had been happy living in Colorado since moving to the state from Alexandria, Indiana, in July 2018.]

[Barry's uncle told Fox21 that he believes his nephew is innocent, saying: 'They’re a loving couple and I’ve never seen any kind of unhappiness with each other or produced by either one of them.]

Are these all unnamed and anonymous?

 

[Bridger]

It wouldn't have occurred to you once you heard about a woman "who went on a bike ride" in the area you had just seen someone around that same time to report it when the alert went out and call in that info?

I think it would be remembered by many people because:

1. Salida/Mayfair is a small town
2. A woman disappearing was and is big news
3. Repeated public messages with the tip line phone number were broadcast and published, especially in the first 2 weeks.
4. Her picture has been published and broadcast.

Well of course it would occur to me and I imagine most anyone posting on or reading this website. But that’s not who this canvass is targeting. This is for the people who don’t follow the story slavishly and don’t know they have seen something of interest but, when prompted, might remember seeing a woman with a teal helmet riding at some point a month or so ago. But at this point, the exact day they saw her has to be lost to the vagaries of memory.

 

[K9Enzo]

And from what we know nothing came of these Early searches IMO So does that mean she was never there recently? How long does your scent stay ?

Honestly, my stance in regards to the search for SM - I would stand firm that we do not know what the dogs did or did not track.

IMO, perhaps she was tracked down her driveway to her mailbox - because she got the mail that day. Maybe she was in the driveway, then gone because she got into a car and left. Maybe those were aged tracks, maybe not. Maybe there was no indication that she went down her driveway at all recently. Maybe a track led to the water search or these other organized searches, maybe not. The recovered personal item - I'm going to assume they closed that area off to give the dogs the best shot in searching that area.

IMO, the time duration scent stays around also depends. Again, the environment and weather makes a difference. The training of the dog & handler matters. Some might say 2 days in a wilderness setting, a little under 24 hours in an urban setting. Many dog teams have successfully performed beyond that.

I believe we have a verified mantracker on the board. Perhaps they could provide some insight. I cannot remember the name however?

 

[Warwick7]

And that information would likely have been very valuable had the canvassing occurred on May 12. A month later, memories being what they are, it’s likely useless. If I saw a woman biking around a month ago, covid lockdowns making pretty much every day the same, how would I ever know at this point exactly what day I saw her?

If I lived there, believe you me I would remember everything from the moment I heard about it.

LE has told the community: "Someone has that key piece of information in this case that will help us locate Suzanne."

LE also said: "No matter how small or insignificant something may seem, it could be that key piece of information that help investigators locate Suzanne."

Onterio Mom and oveida and others have put together an extensive search productivity that LE has accomplished/ing.

That said, searches were being accomplished. MOO is with the information they have a acquired, now they are honing in on targeted areas to speak one on one with individuals.

 

[Truecolors]

One thing about LE in this case is consistency. That press release was in the same measured style as all of their public actions in this case. If they are feeling the pressure of having followed an unproductive path, they aren’t showing it.

That leads me to believe that they are making good progress.

I had some other thoughts. Maybe there was a bike ride, possibly on the 8th or the 9th. A bike ride for 2, but only one person and one bike came back. I wonder if there are any unaccounted for bikes in the M home?

I’m also having some thoughts in the Mark Sievers direction. That could explain how someone knew where they could interrupt her bike ride and grab her.

MOO

 

[Warwick7]

Or they really have nothing - perfect crime, or no crime.

Yes, and Patrick Frazee thought so too.