Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #17

[OldCop]

Call me a die hard but what clues lead you to believe Suzanne was killed and not just gone?

I could be wrong. I am not privy to any more information than other folks here on WS.
I formed my opinion based on what LE has done so far during the course of this investigation, what they have said, and what they have not said.
From what we know, LE began an immediate search in response to the report that SM disappeared while riding her bike on May 10th. Local LE called in many outside resources to help in the search. By the following day, they had over 100 LE personnel searching for SM. This included officers on foot, canine, divers, and search and rescue teams. It has been reported that her bike was found the night she was reported missing. Within a few short days both the CBI, and the FBI were brought into assist. LE quickly ruled out animal attack, accident, and had found no evidence of an abduction. Later that week some personal items belonging to SM were found by the HWY. Two weeks later investigators including FBI agents dug up a job site that her husband had worked on.
I believe if SM was just “gone” as you put it. There would be some indication from LE. Typically if a missing adult has been found to be voluntarily missing, LE will make a statement that the person has been located and there will be no further statements. If SM disappeared of her own volition I believe LE would have found her by now.
IMO after 7 weeks, the likelihood that SM will be found alive is highly unlikely.

 

[Dave F.]

This is just MOO, but I have a hard time believing the owner of the searched riverfront property allowed not only for LE to search, but to destroy part of the foundation without a SW.

Early on, LE confirmed there were 10 searches. Each one would have required a SW. We know their home was searched as well as a vehicle, phone and the construction site BM was working on. I don't think any of us know where the rest of the SW's were. Probably because they were sealed.

IMO, MSM only knew and reported on the obvious searches that the public knew about.

JMO

I don't recall LE ever saying how many searches they had conducted, but in the June 10th bulletin the CCSO did state that "a number of searches" had been performed. IMO
Suzanne Morphew update June 10 - Chaffee County Sheriff

 

[OldCop]

bbm
Great point !
Someone obviously put some thought and a whole lot of effort into Suzanne's disappearance.

Not saying who it could be as LE haven't provided an update as they're combing through mountains of digital evidence and possibly interviewing other people behind the scenes.

But Occam's Razor would apply in this scenario.
Imo.

Occam’s Razor is pretty sharp.

 

[Puzzles8]

I don't recall LE ever saying how many searches they had conducted, but in the June 10th bulletin the CCSO did state that "a number of searches" had been performed. IMO

ETA - "Additionally, 10 large-scale searches have been conducted throughout the county."

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/06/10/suzanne-morphew-investigators-canvassing-chaffee-county/

 

[OldCop]

Are you suggesting that just because we haven’t heard about the seizure of any equipment, means that it did not happen?

That’s for sure. We know he had some equipment at his home as could be seen from some of the aerial shots of the property. We don’t know where he might store other equipment. Did he bring any to Denver to prepare his new job site? For that matter, did LE search his Denver job site?

 

[Feistyomi]

Easiest logistics ever. Remove the notion that there was a mountain lion attack. LE did this in week 1. Advertise there's a killer/abductor on the loose, but only if it's relevant. Evidently, LE doesn't think it's relevant. EZPZ.

Respectfully, to both of you, the flyers passed out and banners should alert tourists, the locals have been on alert since SM disappeared and before. The fact that LE was passing out the flyers and recanvassing certainly gives credence to my belief that BM is innocent. IMO
I would leave any warnings up about lions. While this was ruled out in this case, we had enough posts earlier documenting recent lion attacks to leave this warning in place.

 

[MassGuy]

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/06/10/suzanne-morphew-investigators-canvassing-chaffee-county/

Just to quote the relevant portion:

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in this missing person case.

In addition to countless interviews conducted in the last month, approximately 500 tips have been called into a designated tip line in the investigation, along with 10 large-scale searches performed throughout the county.

 

[Feistyomi]

I live in a travel trailer with my husband. We go somewhere, stay for a while, usually 2 months or so, and then take turns choosing the new destination. It has gotten very tricky in the pandemic but that’s another story. We are leaving Silver City July 12 and it’s my husband’s turn to find us a new destination. Turns out we are spending the rest of the summer in Salida. Total coincidence. It looks like a beautiful place, and we love hiking and biking, so I’m sure that’s why he picked it. I however will be a little sad and thinking about Ms. Morphew. If there is a chance to help in any way I of course will be happy to.

Finally, we will have feet on the ground!
You can be our crime reporter, and give us the general public’s ideas for what has happened. Be ready to put on your sleuthing shoes, (following all of WS safety and interference guidelines, of course). July 12 *sigh* I truly thought I was going to have to break covid and drive out to Salidas, no way am I getting on a plane! You can enjoy all the beauty of the area, while undercover. What an assignment!

 

[brooks]

I don't recall LE ever saying how many searches they had conducted, but in the June 10th bulletin the CCSO did state that "a number of searches" had been performed. IMO
Suzanne Morphew update June 10 - Chaffee County Sheriff

Dave F. - Using your extreme knowledge of the area, where do you think SM could be at this point in time?

 

[Itsapuzzle]

Agree. I mean, pleading with your wife's captors on Facebook has to be the lamest possible choice.

It is very odd. If he had of had his daughters and family standing around him that would have lifted it up a notch, but with him by himself there conducting it all himself, hmm, makes you think something’s not quite right here ... it reminds me a bit of the movie Ransom with Mel Gibson ... must have a look for that ....

 

[KLM6]

Agree. I mean, pleading with your wife's captors on Facebook has to be the lamest possible choice.

Also lame is that he is talking to her, and not to "whoever has you". Im pretty sure if she had internet access, browsing FB would be the last thing she would do. I cant figure out what kind of response was expected from that video, if any.

 

[katydid23]

Also lame is that he is talking to her, and not to "whoever has you". Im pretty sure if she had internet access, browsing FB would be the last thing she would do. I cant figure out what kind of response was expected from that video, if any.

Yes, that whole thing seemed really odd.

Why not just speak to the press, on TV, being flanked by your daughters, and ask millions of viewers for help finding your missing wife? It would be so much more credible. JMO

 

[katydid23]

That’s for sure. We know he had some equipment at his home as could be seen from some of the aerial shots of the property. We don’t know where he might store other equipment. Did he bring any to Denver to prepare his new job site? For that matter, did LE search his Denver job site?

I'd really like to know more about his Denver job.

They would have had to verify his Denver alibi, obviously. And I'd think they'd have contacted the Denver client and even had a Denver Officer or Investigator check out the alleged job site.

But as you pointed out, did they actually search the site? I'd think they would be very curious to see if there was a deep hole and then a lot of dirt and concrete covering it all...but ?

 

[Birmingplumb]

I posted that No Reward being offered by family for INFO on finding S.M. is further straws on the camels back. Today it hit me -Still No Reward- but relates to L.E. I think that fact - that L.E. has not used it's power to prompt a reward , supports Old Cops theory (that L.E. knows who did what). They are dotting their I's and crossing their T's. If they needed more info, to lead them in the right direction- a reward for info leading to S.M. would be the norm? Not going cold.

 

[K9Enzo]

IMO, I believe many investigators prefer not offering cash rewards. Also my opinion, they can cause more of a headache especially if the case ends up in court with one being paid out. Then you have the wackos who call in random people, vengeful ex and so on.

Then, sometimes they work and all is good. My thoughts are in most, not all, cases they don’t. IMO

Now with a fugitive on the run, different story. IMO

 

[kay74]

IMO, BM's nephew pushed him to make this video. He should have been just interviewed and said "I don't know what happened or where she is, it's up to LE, FBI and CBI to find out". (end of story)

 

[kay74]

As far as his business dealings going on, he has two daughters, who's future he has to think about and what if by some miracle from God, Suzanne comes back alive (Jayme Closs, Ohio women), he will still be earning money as the only provider. That is what a smart businessman would do.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Still nothing on the location of SM, 7 weeks later?

 

[vaporlass]

Just re the “oh Suzanne”, as someone mentioned a while back in one of the threads, can’t remember who it was now, apologies, that it’s possible he’s saying “hello Suzanne”, I’ve replayed it a few times and slowed it down, and yeah it could be “hello”, I’m no speech expert, but I’m leaning towards “hello” too ...

Hello? If it’s hello, that really bothers me. Ugh. I get the impression that he’s either blaming her with the “Oh Suzanne... I told you not to go bike riding alone ... I warned you about the dangers” OR “Hello, Suzanne... why did you run away and leave ‘your girls’ ... they need you.”
I’ve considered that he should naturally be trying to figure out what happened to her IF he was innocent ... but the contradictions in his scenarios don’t make sense.
For example, if he thought she left on her own, why call 911 immediately? I think he might have expected LE to say they needed to wait 24 hours because SM was an adult.
Was anyone else surprised that they responded so quickly?
And, since BM is an avid hunter - he knows the big cat scenario isn’t very plausible.
And ...surely he realizes IF she wrecked her bike or was struck by a vehicle and wandered into the river that the dogs would have followed her scent.
It’s like he’s “playing dumb.”
But, he mentions the rain washing away tracks. IIRC I looked that up, and it was a minuscule amount that wasn’t even recorded in Almanac...
I would love to know IF rain was in the forecast for that weekend ... is there any way to check that kind of stuff?
If he had been told they must wait 24 hours and the area got a good rain shower the next morning... his “scenarios” might sound much more possible.
I’m going in circles... aren’t I?

 

[vaporlass]

How do you know he had his phone?

And why would anyone in this day and age take their own phone or their own vehicle to commit a murder ... a burner phone and someone else’s vehicle would be more likely.
Personally, I think SM was killed the day before, or even on the 8th BEFORE he ever left so everything he said he did on Sunday - is exactly what he did on Sunday - Mother’s Day. MOO.