Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #18

[lamlawindy]

Right One would think so anyway

So...we’re back to the beginning. How would the defense introduce this? It could go quite haywire, right?

A trial can always go haywire! We're dealing with human beings under pressure, after all!

However, if -- during the discovery process -- it becomes clear that investigators did not just rush to judgment on a single person, then the defense would most likely use a different theory.

However, if the defendant was still intending to introduce such a defense, then perhaps the defense would attempt to show -- again, probably through cross-examination -- that the investigation's real target was always Barry Morphew from the beginning.

One thing that still appears to be a
a problem for the State is a seeming lack of motive on Barry Morphew's part. People have speculated a lot regarding finances & marital relationship, but there has been next to no evidence made public as to why Barry would harm Suzanne. While motive is not an element of an offense, juries reasonably want to know why a person would hurt a loved one. IF the State eventually charges Barry Morphew with anything & it does not also have good motive evidence, then -- regardless of how thorough the investigation may appear -- the defense may decide that the "narrowed-too-soon" defense is viable.

 

[lamlawindy]

Right! And in regards to Indiana friends/acquaintances, Barry and Suzanne lived for years together and raised their girls in Indiana, I think most of it in the same town. Having kids brought up through school and church and all of the activities that kids/parents have in a smallish community, I am stunned that even people who must have known them peripherally are NOT even talking.


As for Barry, he had to be incredibly well known in the area because of his landscape business.

Where is everyone? People talk, they just do. Certainly not everyone can be coerced or warned to be silent. What gives?

Where is Suzanne?

Well, I'm here in Indiana. Hamilton County is one of the counties where I practice law. There have been some MSM articles on Suzanne's disappearance, but even the Hamilton County Reporter and The Herald Bulletin (in Madison County, which is adjacent to Hamilton County) have
had only 4 or 5 articles that I could find.

If reporters are attempting to interview Morphew family/friends, then family/friends aren't talking, something that I find very odd & unlikely: Is it reasonable to believe that the hundreds of people who know a couple through neighborhood, church, work, school, extracurriculars all are remaining mum? I doubt it. More likely, the MSM is instead focusing on covid-19 cases at nursing homes, how schools will handle busing in the fall, and whether county fairs will take place.

 

[GordianKnot]

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To all my fellow American WSers:

Here's hoping this is the last Independence Day that *whoever* is responsible for SM's disappearance celebrates as a free man.

 

[Tate123]

There are 25 Registered sex offenders in Chaffee County, 183 in Fremont county (which begins a short distance east of the concrete pad search) and 14 in Saguache county (which begins at the top pf Monarch Pass above SM's home, and wraps around to the top of Poncha Pass a few miles south of Salida. Only one of them is a fugitive at this time. IMO
CBI: Sex Offender Registry

bbm
This always bothers me.

 

[Dave F.]

Well, I'm here in Indiana. Hamilton County is one of the counties where I practice law. There have been some MSM articles on Suzanne's disappearance, but even the Hamilton County Reporter and The Herald Bulletin (in Madison County, which is adjacent to Hamilton County) have
had only 4 or 5 articles that I could find.

If reporters are attempting to interview Morphew family/friends, then family/friends aren't talking, something that I find very odd & unlikely: Is it reasonable to believe that the hundreds of people who know a couple through neighborhood, church, work, school, extracurriculars all are remaining mum? I doubt it. More likely, the MSM is instead focusing on covid-19 cases at nursing homes, how schools will handle busing in the fall, and whether county fairs will take place.

I think the only problem is that:
"I knew both of them. They were very popular in school. They seemed to be an ideal couple, leading the perfect life. Wonderful kids, too."
is not newsworthy in today's instant news message byte world, even in the heartland. IMO

 

[Truecolors]

Usually it's the media talking to locals and family, friends, etc. in the missing person's city/town, but I've not read a single word from anyone in Salida, in any MSM (or even social media) saying they know her. Something about that just really makes me sad.

It makes me sad, too. SM is missing. If this were my friend, and I believed she’d been abducted by a BG, I can’t see me being quiet. I think of cases of abductions where women and girls were found, and I would be vocal about my missing friend. Nobody speaking up to keep her face and story in the news makes me think her friends don’t suspect abduction by a BG.

I’m not talking about public comments on the marriage. I wouldn’t expect that. I’d expect desperate pleas for media coverage of her abduction.

MOO

 

[Minordetails]

Just for discussion purposes, are there any reasonable scenarios that don’t involve criminal activity, other than the ‘cat theory’ that could provide an explanation for SM’s disappearance?

 

[Love Never Fails]

It makes me sad, too. SM is missing. If this were my friend, and I believed she’d been abducted by a BG, I can’t see me being quiet. I think of cases of abductions where women and girls were found, and I would be vocal about my missing friend. Nobody speaking up to keep her face and story in the news makes me think her friends don’t suspect abduction by a BG.

I’m not talking about public comments on the marriage. I wouldn’t expect that. I’d expect desperate pleas for media coverage of her abduction.

MOO

It’s also possible SM’s life was centered on BM and her girls and she let go of friends and family long ago. That also happens when living with a “controlling” spouse. Sometimes people from the outside have no idea what you are going through. Add to that, she suffered with cancer twice.

 

[Minordetails]

Just another crazy idea. What if SM wasn’t happy and she planned the perfect disappearing act? And it actually worked?? And what if BM suspects that she planned it and knows that he is partly responsible? I know, highly unlikely, but we are going to need to talk about something, if what some sleuthers are predicting is true, and that is that it might be ‘years’ before we find out anything.

 

[Love Never Fails]

Just another crazy idea. What if SM wasn’t happy and she planned the perfect disappearing act? And it actually worked?? And what if BM suspects that she planned it and knows that he is partly responsible? I know, highly unlikely, but we are going to need to talk about something, if what some sleuthers are predicting is true, and that is that it might be ‘years’ before we find out anything.

Then good for her. Maybe she felt it was the only way she could survive?

In any case, I’m sorry for her daughters.

 

[Goldenseal]

Just another crazy idea. What if SM wasn’t happy and she planned the perfect disappearing act? And it actually worked?? And what if BM suspects that she planned it and knows that he is partly responsible? I know, highly unlikely, but we are going to need to talk about something, if what some sleuthers are predicting is true, and that is that it might be ‘years’ before we find out anything.

I've considered that, too, but I doubt she'd do that to her kids. It's certainly possible, though, especially since she has had two cancer scares already. Experiencing two brushes with death in such a short time really concentrates the mind and makes you question your present life.

 

[susiQ]

Just another crazy idea. What if SM wasn’t happy and she planned the perfect disappearing act? And it actually worked?? And what if BM suspects that she planned it and knows that he is partly responsible? I know, highly unlikely, but we are going to need to talk about something, if what some sleuthers are predicting is true, and that is that it might be ‘years’ before we find out anything.

SM may not have been happy, but we don’t know that for sure. However, I absolutely do not see her wanting to pull off a “disappearing act.” Good, loving mothers don’t do that. Our children are our everything. She could never do that to her girls.

I don’t think wild speculation just to have something to discuss is advantageous. It really boils down to:

1) Those of us that believe he’s innocent of any wrongdoing.
2) Those of us that have no doubt he is involved in SM’s disappearance.
3) Those of us that just aren’t sure what to think and prefer to remain on the fence.

I’m fine with that

 

[susiQ]

I've considered that, too, but I doubt she'd do that to her kids. It's certainly possible, though, especially since she has had two cancer scares already. Experiencing two brushes with death in such a short time really concentrates the mind and makes you question your present life.

I can certainly see her questioning her life after having been through so much, but I cannot envision her deserting her children or killing herself. Why fight cancer just to commit suicide. I know what it is for someone to fight for their life, I’ve witnessed it a number of times and there’s no way any of them would have committed suicide had they won that battle. No, something else happened here. SM was murdered and it is my belief it was someone very close to her. JMHO

 

[GordianKnot]

SM may not have been happy, but we don’t know that for sure. However, I absolutely do not see her wanting to pull off a “disappearing act.” Good, loving mothers don’t do that. Our children are our everything. She could never do that to her girls.

I don’t think wild speculation just to have something to discuss is advantageous. It really boils down to:

1) Those of us that believe he’s innocent of any wrongdoing.
2) Those of us that have no doubt he is involved in SM’s disappearance.
3) Those of us that just aren’t sure what to think and prefer to remain on the fence.

I’m fine with that

BBM:

I agree with you about that.

I think it would be more helpful to review known facts to see how they tend to support or refute theories about the case.

It would also be helpful to identify what would make people revisit their theories about what's happened to SM, as it tends to show where either the prosecution or the defense would need to focus their arguments to a jury, if a no-body case were to be brought to trial.

For me, my concerns about this case were immediate, and they began with this one sentence:

"A neighbor reported her missing."

From that point on, it was nothing but red flags.
The entire account of the circumstances around her disappearance was horribly, horribly "off."
In my very first post about this case back on Thread #1, Page 5, I posed the following questions:

• When was the last verified independent sighting of SM?
• Where was her husband last weekend?
• What's her current marital status, i.e, married, separated, living together or separately, etc.?
• Was SM's cell phone found at the home or not?

I'm still asking those same questions.

It was also in my first post back on Thread #1 that I noted the following:

Any time there's a whiff of money around a case, I get concerned.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil."

I've quoted that exact verse at least 10 times since then (or around 400 times in BM terms), because it's become clearer and clearer, to me at least, that the love of money has absolutely everything to do with SM's disappearance.

Re: your breakdown of where people here stand, I'm firmly in the second camp. Huge surprise, I know.

For me to move away from Camp 2, I would need to hear the following from LE at some point in the future:

• They have proof positive that SM was alive on Sunday, May 10.
• They have eyewitness and/or video evidence proving that SM went for a bike ride on Sunday, May 10.
• They have ruled out/cleared BM.

I do not expect any of those 3 things to happen.

Ever.

JMO.

 

[Feistyomi]

Friendships require effort. It’s possible the move occurred soon after the latest cancer treatment, and SM didn’t have the energy to do that yet. She may have embarked on her own continued healing process, and felt her biking community supported her as much as she needed for now.
Friendships require time. The Ms had not been in the Salidas area all that long. I’m sure the genuine friends they have made in Salidas are probably reluctant to over ride the Indiana friends and family, however they have been very positive in their comments.
Given the distance of their new home from town, it’s not as simple as walking a dog and striking a conversation with another dog walker.
When my kids were at home, many of my closest friends were the moms of THEIR friends, car pooling, etc.
What I suspect is that SM was happy in her new home. She didn’t feel any urgency to develop new friendships beyond her church and biking community, she was content.
I have observed this also, in my own and my friends marriages. Retirements, empty nests, couples seem to be get back to those days when you first met, spending time together.
IMO we diminish Suzanne, when we speculate on BMs guilt. I continue to think, she is a strong kind woman. She raised two strong daughters and beat cancer, twice. She would not have stayed in an abusive marriage, for her daughters sake.
SHE is the best judge of BMs character. She was with him, longer than the 27 years they were married.
Perhaps, Barry was her best friend, and it’s as simple as that.

 

[susiQ]

BBM:

I agree with you about that.

I think it would be more helpful to review known facts to see how they tend to support or refute theories about the case.

It would also be helpful to identify what would make people revisit their theories about what's happened to SM, as it tends to show where either the prosecution or the defense would need to focus their arguments to a jury, if a no-body case were to be brought to trial.

For me, my concerns about this case were immediate, and they began with this one sentence:

"A neighbor reported her missing."

From that point on, it was nothing but red flags.
The entire account of the circumstances around her disappearance were horribly, horribly "off."
I immediately questioned who had seen her riding her bike that day.
I immediately questioned where her husband was at the time she was reported missing.

Re: your breakdown of where people here stand, I'm firmly in the second camp. Huge surprise, I know.

For me to move away from Camp 2, I would need to hear the following from LE at some point in the future:

• They have proof positive that SM was alive on Sunday, May 10.
• They have eyewitness and/or video evidence proving that SM went for a bike ride on Sunday, May 10.
• They have ruled out/cleared BM.

I do not expect any of those 3 things to happen.

Ever.

JMO.

I’m with you on this one!! I too am firmly set in Camp 2. Also, no surprise to anyone, I’m sure
BBM - exactly what I would need to see to move to another camp.

 

[DizzyB]

I think the pandemic may also be changing up the optics of this. Friendships are different right now-you aren’t visiting and chatting. Some friends may never wish to post their personal stuff online, and they don’t wish to discuss Suzanne in a public SM format. Sharing causes all sorts of people to leave comments. Reporters aren’t knocking on doors. Public prayer vigils are not being held. I have kept my own circle small since the beginning of the pandemic. Maybe Suzanne’s friends are private people.

 

[Lilypad13]

bbm
This always bothers me.

Ditto!!!

 

[Lilypad13]

Just another crazy idea. What if SM wasn’t happy and she planned the perfect disappearing act? And it actually worked?? And what if BM suspects that she planned it and knows that he is partly responsible? I know, highly unlikely, but we are going to need to talk about something, if what some sleuthers are predicting is true, and that is that it might be ‘years’ before we find out anything.

I know! Don’t you wish we had more to talk about?! I too have also tried to come up with the wildest possible scenarios I can think of during this time of silence & waiting. But IMO she would never leave her daughters. I have a 19 yo and there have been plenty of times that I wanted to run away...but it passes. It may be possible if she planned it well and put aside money...but where would she go? And how would she survive? She couldn’t go get a job using her real name. She would need two forms of ID to verify citizenship like DL, SS card or passport. How would she get those? Would she give up her medical insurance after cancer dx? Could she have help? Met someone online in another state or country? If it weren’t for the girls...maybe. I give more thought to the suicide theory than the run away theory. But with suicide I come up against again she wouldn’t do that to her children, she wouldn’t kill herself after fighting cancer twice (unless maybe it recurred?) and also she is a Christian so I don’t believe she would take her own life because no matter how bad things are hell would be a lot worse! I get where you are coming from though...I’ve also just been grasping at straws trying to think of the wildest possible theories. I have even come up with really crazy things like she went into the witness protection program and she was abducted by aliens! Anyone want to discuss those? Lol...doubtful! Sadly theres no way around suspecting the two most likely scenarios: spouse (premeditated or crime of passion) & abduction (by mentally ill person and/or sexual predator). IMOO

 

[Lilypad13]

I think the only problem is that:
"I knew both of them. They were very popular in school. They seemed to be an ideal couple, leading the perfect life. Wonderful kids, too."
is not newsworthy in today's instant news message byte world, even in the heartland. IMO

Or “BM was the boy every girl wanted in high school” gag