Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #16

[Cassady]

Yes. But what they haven’t done is what’s NOT common when they believe a possible abduction is on the table.

Again, those of us who have been following these cases for decades know what we are seeing.

And for those of us who handle actual criminal cases, including murder cases involving the FBI, handing out fliers to general public 5 weeks after murder is usually not part of a murder investigation...especially if LE has a POI or suspect....IMO

 

[LietKynes]

The Chafee County Sheriff’s first press release stated they were informed by a neighbor that SM reportedly went for a bike ride and didn’t return. I think “reportedly” was a key word in this very first press release as well as its position in the sentence. It does not say that the “neighbor reportedly said....”. It says that the neighbor said that SM had “reportedly gone on a bike ride” and didn’t return. I think there is a big distinction here and that it was carefully worded by LE. Who told the neighbor that SM went for a bike ride?

As for whether there was a wellness check at the home at this time is not clear. LE probably walked around the premises, rang the bell, looked in windows to see if anything was amiss. If the bike was gone, they most likely wouldn’t have searched inside right away. On the other hand maybe the daughters or BM asked them to go in and check.
There’s been speculation that someone knew SM was alone in the home and that she was assaulted and abducted from there. This seems highly unlikely because if this was what had happened it doesn’t make sense that the bike was taken and planted up the road. Who would have then started the missing biker narrative?
As for the scope of wellness or welfare checks, LE is limited to looking for the body, alive or dead, of the person they are checking on. If they enter the home they can not search for anything other than the person. If they see something that would cause them to believe a crime had taken place, they would back out and request a search warrant. If a person was walking through the house with them, they may be able to point out things that were unusual. If the daughters arrived and went through it with them they may see things such as the bike helmet or biking gloves, that should have been missing or her rings that should have been there.
Depending on who requested it, and the circumstances, will determine if LE will actually go inside when they conduct a welfare check. If an out of state person reported they couldn’t reach an elderly parent and LE arrived to find mail or newspapers piled up, they would likely make entrance. On the other hand if a friend says she hasn’t been able to reach her adult friend for a few days, there may be some hesitation on whether to enter before they have more facts. After all, who would be happy to come home from a spontaneous mini vacation to find that the police had broken down their door?

bbm
Good post.

If the bike was found planted then LE would've had reason to mistrust the 'bike ride abduction' story as well.
Because what kidnapper takes time to 'plant' the bike ?
More likely they'd hide it.
Imo.

 

[oviedo]

The Chafee County Sheriff’s first press release stated they were informed by a neighbor that SM reportedly went for a bike ride and didn’t return. I think “reportedly” was a key word in this very first press release as well as its position in the sentence. It does not say that the “neighbor reportedly said....”. It says that the neighbor said that SM had “reportedly gone on a bike ride” and didn’t return. I think there is a big distinction here and that it was carefully worded by LE. Who told the neighbor that SM went for a bike ride?
As for whether there was a wellness check at the home at this time is not clear. LE probably walked around the premises, rang the bell, looked in windows to see if anything was amiss. If the bike was gone, they most likely wouldn’t have searched inside right away. On the other hand maybe the daughters or BM asked them to go in and check.
There’s been speculation that someone knew SM was alone in the home and that she was assaulted and abducted from there. This seems highly unlikely because if this was what had happened it doesn’t make sense that the bike was taken and planted up the road. Who would have then started the missing biker narrative?
As for the scope of wellness or welfare checks, LE is limited to looking for the body, alive or dead, of the person they are checking on. If they enter the home they can not search for anything other than the person. If they see something that would cause them to believe a crime had taken place, they would back out and request a search warrant. If a person was walking through the house with them, they may be able to point out things that were unusual. If the daughters arrived and went through it with them they may see things such as the bike helmet or biking gloves, that should have been missing or her rings that should have been there.
Depending on who requested it, and the circumstances, will determine if LE will actually go inside when they conduct a welfare check. If an out of state person reported they couldn’t reach an elderly parent and LE arrived to find mail or newspapers piled up, they would likely make entrance. On the other hand if a friend says she hasn’t been able to reach her adult friend for a few days, there may be some hesitation on whether to enter before they have more facts. After all, who would be happy to come home from a spontaneous mini vacation to find that the police had broken down their door?

Lauren Scharf@LaurenScharfTV
Folks in Salida, CO are telling me that deputies are handing out these flyers at grocery stores asking people for information on #SuzanneMorphew Note there is no reward listed on this flyer. #FindSuzanne


5:46 PM · Jun 10, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

do you have an opinion on why they would have done this (handing out flyers) at this point in the investigation? I'm curious - I think it could be they were using the flyers to solicit information in a "sly" way IMO.

 

[Moonchime]

The firefighters were told NOT to assist. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

You're not mistaken. It's true, the firefighters were told NOT to assist in the search for SM.

 

[OldCop]

do you have an opinion on why they would have done this (handing out flyers) at this point in the investigation? I'm curious - I think it could be they were using the flyers to solicit information in a "sly" way IMO.

Yes, I agree! Not only does the flyer not mention the reward, it does not give SM’s description, it does not say last seen on......... or missing since..... It is about the most sparsely worded, information-free, official missing persons poster I have ever seen. And it is worded very strangely. It does not say, “Have you seen this woman?” It says “do you have information about her disappearance?”

I think handing these out at the local supermarket may have been an “icebreaker” tactic. - Hi! Do you know about this case? Do you know her? Do you remember where you last saw her? Have you seen her with anyone? Have you heard anything around town? Etc. It may have been to get people in a more chatty mood, a little more relaxed.

 

[susiQ]

And for those of us who handle actual criminal cases, including murder cases involving the FBI, handing out fliers to general public 5 weeks after murder is usually not part of a murder investigation...especially if LE has a POI or suspect....IMO

Then again, I don’t find that odd at all. Say cell data puts SM in Salida at a particular day/time, say May 9th, but NO ONE actually saw her. Did they see someone “else” who may have been setting up a “trail” of her activity when in fact she was already missing? Kinda PF syle?

 

[Madeleine74]

And for those of us who handle actual criminal cases, including murder cases involving the FBI, handing out fliers to general public 5 weeks after murder is usually not part of a murder investigation...especially if LE has a POI or suspect....IMO

IMO:

I think the whole "handing out flyers to general public" is for the optics of doing so. It makes it look like LE is not focused on any one person to the exclusion of looking at various alternatives and also being a visual reminder of their work. Looking ahead to some future trial it would be common for a defense team to suggest LE had "tunnel vision," didn't ask for tips or try to get the word out enough. Activities like this may uncover a tip or 2 but just as importantly, it demonstrates them interacting with the local citizens and can help counter a future defense attack. Future litigation by the DA's office is a factor of why LE does certain things, why it's important for LE to keep investigative details private, and why protecting the integrity of a case is one of their missions.

/IMO

 

[MsBetsy]

do you have an opinion on why they would have done this (handing out flyers) at this point in the investigation? I'm curious - I think it could be they were using the flyers to solicit information in a "sly" way IMO.

Maybe they are handing out flyers hoping to trigger the memory of any witnesses who may have seen Suzanne around the time she disappeared.

There may be someone in the community who saw something important but did not connect it to SM at the time. Jmo

 

[Moonchime]

do you have an opinion on why they would have done this (handing out flyers) at this point in the investigation? I'm curious - I think it could be they were using the flyers to solicit information in a "sly" way IMO.

This is how I view their actions as well. It's such a small town that for LE to make their presence known in such a manner is quite telling. For one thing, they're letting the town know that this case isn't going away. They're still actively investigating.

For another, some of the residents may have some information concerning the family that they didn't want to bother LE with, or perhaps they felt uneasy in doing so. For LE to be handing out the flyers is a gentle nudge towards residents to let them know that they're there and ready and willing to hear what townsfolk have to share. IMO

 

[susiQ]

This question for LE types . How long would it take for LE to get a search warrant for phone data? And, how long would it take to actually get it from cell provider?

Does anyone remember when BM’s truck and phone were taken? I ask because a phone may not give an accurate picture right off the bat. Texts are easily deleted as are the phone calls from the phone, but the actual data can be a treasure trove of info/activity.

 

[K9Enzo]

This question for LE types . How long would it take for LE to get a search warrant for phone data? And, how long would it take to actually get it from cell provider?

Does anyone remember when BM’s truck and phone were taken? I ask because a phone may not give an accurate picture right off the bat. Texts are easily deleted as are the phone calls from the phone, but the actual data can be a treasure trove of info/activity.

Not LE but the below link is Verizon's (as an example) VSAT info.

IMO, I would be surprised, if requested, that LE would still be waiting for phone records. Now, the other part of that, IMO, are the folks experienced to dig through those records for any useful information.

Public Safety Outreach Program | Verizon Enterprise Solutions

 

[Murphy1950]

Yes, I agree! Not only does the flyer not mention the reward, it does not give SM’s description, it does not say last seen on......... or missing since..... It is about the most sparsely worded, information-free, official missing persons poster I have ever seen. And it is worded very strangely. It does not say, “Have you seen this woman?” It says “do you have information about her disappearance?”
.

RSBM
Excellent post or not even where she's missing from. The most basic template of a missing persons poster has everything you listed. This isn't a missing poster IMO, it's a conversation starter, yes @oviedo nailed it!

 

[Seattle1]

You're not mistaken. It's true, the firefighters were told NOT to assist in the search for SM.

To be clear, it was long reported that firefighters were not allowed to participate with LE on their official searches for SM but were in fact searching independently with the family.

 

[Dave F.]

do you have an opinion on why they would have done this (handing out flyers) at this point in the investigation? I'm curious - I think it could be they were using the flyers to solicit information in a "sly" way IMO.

I think that when LE is standing in the entry of Safeway grocery handing out flyers that have very little information on them, except the number for people to call if they have a tip; the chances are great that what they appear to be doing is exactly what they are doing. I really don't see anything "sly" about it. IMO

 

[Feistyomi]

bbm
Agreed.^^^

Interesting that someone here (I think it was MG or GK ?) looked at the msm list of outside agencies brought in and neither the fire fighters (nor their helpful and talkative fire chief ) were asked to assist.

One would assume that the fire fighters would be asked to help; given that the fire chief when asked about the possibility of a fire training exercise in Denver on mother's day said no training was planned.
But such exercises happened in the past days or weeks.
So if there were any practice burns, they'd know where to look.
Per. the media thread.
MOO

IMO any time the most likely POI is member of LE and FF, you would expect an investigation to go
beyond a normal routine to avoid even a appearance of conflict. KISS
Now, if anyone is familiar w/ Britanee Drexel case, that took years to “solve”and still may not resolve in conviction. Every time we drive thru Andrews SC on our way to the beach, I see the the missing posters for Crystal Soles, she disappeared years before Britanee, and Imo the same generational gang involved in both.
The point is that abductions of this nature often have years between, so LE wouldn’t necessarily feel a predator was roaming the streets of the towns.
MOO, could be more effective to track the alternative POI, first.

 

[Feistyomi]

Once again, you express my thoughts, too, and you do it so much more clearly!

 

[Feistyomi]

bbm
Good post.

If the bike was found planted then LE would've had reason to mistrust the 'bike ride abduction' story as well.
Because what kidnapper takes time to 'plant' the bike ?
More likely they'd hide it.
Imo.

Who said it WAS planted?

 

[susiQ]

Not LE but the below link is Verizon's (as an example) VSAT info.

IMO, I would be surprised, if requested, that LE would still be waiting for phone records. Now, the other part of that, IMO, are the folks experienced to dig through those records for any useful information.

Public Safety Outreach Program | Verizon Enterprise Solutions

Thanks for that! I doubt they’re still waiting for anything and likely have a “ton” of data to work with. I wonder if they didn’t discover “someone” linked to BM that was able to provide at least a better “picture” of BM and SM’s relationship or lack thereof. Infidelity, is a thing. I’m NOT thinking FD/MT, where MT was directly involved in disposing of JF’s things, but someone involved with BM, yet not at all involved in SM’s disappearance who was perhaps willing to “fill in some blanks” for LE.

 

[MsBetsy]

RSBM
excellent post. The most basic template of a missing persons poster has everything you listed. This isn't a missing poster IMO, it's a conversation starter, yes @oviedo nailed it!

Since it includes the picture of Suzanne wearing the helmet, I wonder if LE are still trying to confirm that she went on a bicycle ride. It could be that they still don't have a witness who saw her.

Although I'm sure they are hoping for any information they can get.

Maybe they have exhausted all previous leads and are hoping members of the community can provide new ones. Or they have a strong lead they are hoping for more information on.

They were also looking at surveillance footage from residences and businesses so maybe that has led to something new.

 

[susiQ]

I think that when LE is standing in the entry of Safeway grocery handing out flyers that have very little information on them, except the number for people to call if they have a tip; the chances are great that what they appear to be doing is exactly what they are doing. I really don't see anything "sly" about it. IMO

Maybe “sly” wasn’t the best choice of words, but I get Oviedo’s point. Maybe it was a way for LE to “encourage” anyone who saw or knows anything to come forward with what they may know. JMO