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

[MassGuy]

One step further, what are the odds on premeditated vs crime of passion?

I’m open to either. I may be in the minority, but I tend to think this was a crime of passion though.

It may look premeditated because of the circumstances (they were alone), but I think the fact that there was potentially quite a bit of time between her murder and the report of her disappearance, gave her killer time to build an alibi, stage the scene, and conceal her body.

I also think crimes of passion tend to open the door to the killer making more errors than in a premeditated scenario.

I’m absolutely convinced that there was a huge oversight on the part of the killer, as that’s the only logical explanation I can come up with for how this was handled.

They weren’t buying what the killer was selling (staging).

 

[al66pine]

Locating SM w Dogs. Vanessa G, Ft. Hood, TX. Apples & Oranges?
IIRC local, st, & fed LE agencies brought in dogs to find SM late-ish Sunday the first day reported missing & for several more days. IDK what kind of dogs specifically, but IIRC, dogs used for tracking live subjects & detecting human remains, cadaverine, and putrescine (@10ofRods, terminology? TiA). W variety of search dogs, seems chances of finding SM should have been very good, if she was in search zones(s).
But reading briefly about searches for Vanessa G at Ft. Hood since April, I saw that humans (ranchers/workers surveying/repairing/installing fence) became suspicious of a smell last week, which turned out to be VG's remains (officially verified yet?), that dogs did not alert on. Does anyone recall (w link & quote, pls) how close the ppl or dogs were to remains site?
Since many factors affect success rate for dogs locating humans & remains, was SM in a search zone, but multiple dogs did not alert? Or should I (some of us) backtrack to earlier thoughts: SM was not anywhere close to search zones (no bike ride, etc) ? just my 2 cts.

 

[Seattle1]

One step further, what are the odds on premeditated vs crime of passion?

Historically, the odds favor a crime of passion. Given the family travel during a pandemic, I'm not so sure.

 

[Truecolors]

One step further, what are the odds on premeditated vs crime of passion?

I’ll be completely shocked if it were premeditated. I’m 99.9% in crime of passion with this scenario.

MOO

 

[Madeleine74]

Premeditation can be formed in a matter of seconds. An example of that is strangulation. It takes up to 4 minutes to strangle someone to death. The perp knows if he continues to cut off the airway of the victim, that victim will die. If he continues to do so, he has intent to kill and thus has met the premeditation burden for first degree homicide.

I think what folks are thinking is "pre-planning" the crime.

 

[MassGuy]

Premeditation can be formed in a matter of seconds. An example of that is strangulation. It takes up to 4 minutes to strangle someone to death. The perp knows if he continues to cut off the airway of the victim, that victim will die. If he continues to do so, he has met the premeditation burden for first degree homicide.

I think what folks are thinking is "pre-planning" the crime.

Yes, but in the context of the discussion, I think everyone knows what we’re talking about.

A planned event, vs something more spontaneous. As opposed to the legal definition of “premeditation.”

That’s what I’m referring to anyway.

 

[Madeleine74]

A planned event, vs something more spontaneous. As opposed to the legal definition of “premeditation.”

That’s what I’m referring to anyway.

I've got no opinion on which of the 2 it could be (preplanned or spur of the moment), if in fact that's what did occur.

 

[marylamby]

I'm just going to put this out there. Please don't mind my postulating.
I think about this case everyday. I try not to but here I am.
I can't help thinking about that abandoned small house that TD went past in his travels. I'm sure there are many like it, and other hovels that could inhabit a recluse. Unless, 'someone' put her there by design in order to hide her.
IMO, that is the only way SM could be alive.
There have been two cases where I can recall someone 'stole' a woman, only two but I'm not as adept as the rest of you.
And, I do believe they could put a bike up against a tree toward a creek, or whatever it is, whichever the case.
I, like everyone else, would love to hold out hope that SM is alive.

But then there's another thorn (actually a few) in my side, so to speak.
I know that the DM or the DF (as it's been called) can really mess up in it's reporting, however, I fail to believe that they made up the original story of BM being at a fire dept training session in Denver out of whole cloth.
Someone had to have said that for the fire chief to correct it, otherwise it would've been moot, IMO.

 

[Dave F.]

An article today from the NY Post about people disappearing in the wilderness
https://nypost.com/2020/07/04/why-hundreds-of-people-vanish-into-the-american-wilderness/
Would the area Suzanne disappeared from be considered the "wilderness" ?

Yes, IMO. Hwy 50 is a very thin slice of civilization through vast, very steep roadless areas that very definitely are devoid of any human habitation, present, past or in the foreseeable future. They are clear of smog, water pollution, litter and any other signs of human influence.
I don't like the word "wilderness" used in association with a crime because it implies that the only safety for human beings is in numbers, and I believe that whatever happened to SM is an extreme exception to the veil of personal safety that normal people enjoy. It could have happened anywhere.
IMO

 

[GordianKnot]

I’m open to either. I may be in the minority, but I tend to think this was a crime of passion though.

It may look premeditated because of the circumstances (they were alone), but I think the fact that there was potentially quite a bit of time between her murder and the report of her disappearance, gave her killer time to build an alibi, stage the scene, and conceal her body.

I also think crimes of passion tend to open the door to the killer making more errors than in a premeditated scenario.

I’m absolutely convinced that there was a huge oversight on the part of the killer, as that’s the only logical explanation I can come up with for how this was handled.

They weren’t buying what the killer was selling (staging).

I'm waffling on the question of planned/premeditated v. crime of passion, too.

I can make a case for either based on the known facts.

While I agree completely that crimes of passion tend to lead to more errors due to a panicked response, we've definitely seen cases where murderers who planned their killings out months in advance made monumentally mind-boggling mistakes that led LE directly to their doorstep. (Looking at you, Frazee).

PF even wrote himself out a handy to-do list of the steps he'd take to give himself an alibi the day of the murder.
And. Saved. It.

So, the amount of planning doesn't necessarily preclude huge "whoopsies" on the part of the killer.

While I'm completely on the fence with regard to the question of whether and/or how much premeditation went into SM's disappearance, I suspect LE has a pretty solid idea now whether or not SM's disappearance was a pre-planned event.

JMO.

 

[FelicityLemon]

There are antisocial creeps who commit horrendous acts of violence from opportunity. The opportunity of a lone woman in many cases.

Women riding bikes are attacked, abducted, raped, some murdered... a variety including “older” women.
https://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/woman-attacked-while-biking-on-popular-trail-punched-man-in-groin-to-get-away/990037513/

A 28 year old woman riding her bike is an “older woman” to a 14 year old rapist
https://www.dailynews.com/2014/12/17/14-year-old-boy-arrested-for-attempting-to-rape-woman-riding-bike-in-reseda-2/

Not on a bike, but walking on a bike path: attacked and raped
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/local/raped-woman-found-near-la-jolla-bike-path/2093230/

Not on a bike, she was jogging and she had a black belt in Taekwondo. A 59 year old woman was abducted, raped and murdered. The 27 year old rapist “...had hit the 59-year-old with his car twice before abducting her, raping her and abandoning her...” “...he admitted ramming into the American twice with the intention of incapacitating her and abducting her....”
https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/greek-police-arrest-suspect-after-us-biologist-was-hit-by-car-raped-and-murdered/news-story/d42c12427b601ccbddeb5fac77b176e3

Serial Rapists Targeted Women on Bikes
Two Detroit-Area ‘Serial Rapists’ Arrested for Targeting Female Cyclists | Bicycling.com

I remember this from 1991. Hawaii. “Murder in Paradise” On her bike, hit by car, then reversed over again just to start.
JUSTICE STORY: Yuletide Death in paradise

This, from another attack and rape on a bike path: “police don’t know whether the attacker followed the victim along the bike path or whether he was lying in wait and jumped her as she passed by. But he said that the attacker was not someone the woman knew.”

It happens.
It doesn't fit with LE digging up the spouse's jobsite, but until we know more, it's a theory that can fit some of the things we do know.

 

[k-mac]

I’m open to either. I may be in the minority, but I tend to think this was a crime of passion though.

It may look premeditated because of the circumstances (they were alone), but I think the fact that there was potentially quite a bit of time between her murder and the report of her disappearance, gave her killer time to build an alibi, stage the scene, and conceal her body.

I also think crimes of passion tend to open the door to the killer making more errors than in a premeditated scenario.

I’m absolutely convinced that there was a huge oversight on the part of the killer, as that’s the only logical explanation I can come up with for how this was handled.

They weren’t buying what the killer was selling (staging).

i get the same vibe as the barbara thomas case.

....... crickets ........

moo

 

[marylamby]

[QUOTE=" That’s kind of far with no one noticing a person who is hurt. MOO[/QUOTE]
Edited, if you don't mind...

I'd like to add, on a busy highway, no less.

 

[k-mac]

PF even wrote himself out a handy to-do list of the steps he'd take to give himself an alibi the day of the murder.
And. Saved. It.

JMO.

rsandbbm

right.. everybody knows
step 1 write note
step 2 complete tasks on note
step 3 EAT NOTE.

what a doofus!! thankfully

 

[Dave F.]

Maybe, but it just seems contrary to human experience for all of a couple's family & friends to (a) have the same positive view of them and (b) not speak out.

Who are they going to speak out to? They live in Salida, Pagosa Springs or Buena Vista, Colorado. Seriously, reporters are NOT going to drive a news crew from Colorado Springs or Denver looking for a human interest angle. When they heard LE was digging for a body..........sure! At least a dozen showed up, sticking a microphone in everyone's face they could find. They all missed better live stories happening in their own towns during their absence. The news business is not fun and games anymore. It's backbreaking hard work and the budget is super tight. IMO

 

[lamlawindy]

Who are they going to speak out to? They live in Salida, Pagosa Springs or Buena Vista, Colorado. Seriously, reporters are NOT going to drive a news crew from Colorado Springs or Denver looking for a human interest angle. When they heard LE was digging for a body..........sure! At least a dozen showed up, sticking a microphone in everyone's face they could find. They all missed better live stories happening in their own towns during their absence. The news business is not fun and games anymore. It's backbreaking hard work and the budget is super tight. IMO

No, what you mentioned definitely does not surprise me. What surprises me is that none of their family and friends (none here in Indiana that I've read about anyway) have mentioned anything being out of the ordinary, not even a "they would argue in front of people to the point that I was uncomfortable" or "she had to put up with a lot of household demands from him in terms of cleaning, laundry" or some such anectdotes.

 

[marylamby]

I’ll be completely shocked if it were premeditated. I’m 99.9% in crime of passion with this scenario.

MOO

While I tend to lean in that direction, the entire move to CO, away from family and friends, could've been premeditated.
I'm not ruling out anything.

 

[GordianKnot]

rsandbbm

right.. everybody knows
step 1 write note
step 2 complete tasks on note
step 3 EAT NOTE.

what a doofus!! thankfully

PF should have included a self-reminder to "Flush when your[sic] done" on his to-do list.
Like he did on all the kindergarten, block-lettered notes he wrote to another inmate begging him to kill witnesses for him.

I'm sensing that the person who disappeared SM made at least one monumental screw-up rivaling that of PF himself.

I'll bet he's mentally replaying things over and over again trying to figure out where and how he messed up.

JMO.

 

[marylamby]

Who are they going to speak out to? They live in Salida, Pagosa Springs or Buena Vista, Colorado. Seriously, reporters are NOT going to drive a news crew from Colorado Springs or Denver looking for a human interest angle. When they heard LE was digging for a body..........sure! At least a dozen showed up, sticking a microphone in everyone's face they could find. They all missed better live stories happening in their own towns during their absence. The news business is not fun and games anymore. It's backbreaking hard work and the budget is super tight. IMO

I disagree. I do think they'd make the trip, especially if it was a close relative, friend or even BM himself. The latter would be ideal.

 

[marylamby]

No, what you mentioned definitely does not surprise me. What surprises me is that none of their family and friends (none here in Indiana that I've read about anyway) have mentioned anything being out of the ordinary, not even a "they would argue in front of people to the point that I was uncomfortable" or "she had to put up with a lot of household demands from him in terms of cleaning, laundry" or some such anectdotes.

I would venture to believe (and, I have many sources that would agree) that most women who are controlled and abused do not share that with family and friends. I'll add that most have been cut off from those relations, whether by demand or self-preservation. There can also be threats to children or these friends/relations if they do speak out.