Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #20

[borndem]

It was likely early on. If they had probable cause to search the house, they likely had it to seize his car and phone.

They just had to have had something big on him for them not to handle this the way they handle every abduction, so something pointed them in his direction.

Rut-roh...
Hmmm...

 

[Feistyomi]

OP stated “he lost a few job opportunities” I was wanting links to that. Where is that on MSM? And the subsequent information?

ETA- you were the OP. Just went back to see who stated he “lost a few jobs”. Where did you get this information? Please I’m genuinely interested.

that is why I IMO,MOO, JMVHO, thru most of my posts. It’s easy to believe something is a fact without those qualifiers.

Especially here, most of the facts I have are from sources not allowed her, so I struggle. JM

 

[DizzyB]

I was just meaning the attorney was probably hired to advise about the searching of his house, taking his phone, all that stuff, that's all ..... not being nit picky .... it's just an explanation why he got one. I'm no expert, lots of experts here who can answer though. Cheers

Please don’t take anything I write as a slam against anyone. I just meant that as in all things here, we can take stuff one way or another. We have so few facts and so many suppositions. I know that snark can come across but really it’s just my way. I never mean to criticize anyone’s posts. I love the debates. I can think I’m totally right on something but if you can show me the other side, I appreciate that. I love to see all angles. That’s why this place is so cool. Even if you think that Barry is as pure as the driven snow, hey, it’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. No shade. Maybe some side eye but you can’t see that in print.

 

[susiQ]

ITA
YES, innocent people do hire attorneys. It serves no purpose to do more interviews, etc. The two videos have brought a lot of scrutiny, much of it negative. Neither seem to have produced any breaks in this case.

we have seen nothing to indicate BM has not cooperated fully with the investigation. IMO
Given the tight lid LE has kept on this investigation, IMO BM is following their lead. I believe LE has been the force guiding and controlling the narrative, since the beginning.

I’ll tell you what would quell some of the scrutiny directed at BM. Offer $210,000 for ANY information leading to the recovery of Suzanne. That I would respect, NOT a paltry offer of her “safe return!” I doubt very much that LE would object to that offer. JMVHO

 

[lamlawindy]

Why would you advise an innocent person to NOT reach out for help in finding his wife????
Would you suspect him as the person who killed her?

Because -- as we've seen in this case -- his/her attempts to reach out for help may simply become fodder for suspicion: his tone is too flat; he didn't say "I need you;" he only spoke for 26 seconds. This is particularly true these days when it's axiomatic that the spouse is the first person people consider as possibly responsible.

Even if I suspected that my client was involved in a disappearance, my advice would be the same. In fact, I would advise that a family member with an ironclad alibi -- one of the Morphew daughters, for example -- be the "face" of the family if public appearances are necessary.

 

[marylamby]

Because -- as we've seen in this case -- his/her attempts to reach out for help may simply become fodder for suspicion: his tone is too flat; he didn't say "I need you;" he only spoke for 26 seconds. This is particularly true these days when it's axiomatic that the spouse is the first person people consider as possibly responsible.

Even if I suspected that my client was involved in a disappearance, my advice would be the same. In fact, I would advise that a family member with an ironclad alibi -- one of the Morphew daughters, for example -- be the "face" of the family if public appearances are necessary.

But, one of his family is NOT the face of public appearances.
BTW, my question was mostly rhetorical. I understand your defense attorney stance.
We are here to try to decipher how SM disappeared. If you think as a juror or investigator would, would you still be defending this man, or any man in this particular situation?
Or, how about a person you loved who went missing? Would you have no opinion other than a defense attorney's or even a once prosecutor's? I think you might. Just supposing here.
IMO

 

[Gigi3]

Please don’t take anything I write as a slam against anyone. I just meant that as in all things here, we can take stuff one way or another. We have so few facts and so many suppositions. I know that snark can come across but really it’s just my way. I never mean to criticize anyone’s posts. I love the debates. I can think I’m totally right on something but if you can show me the other side, I appreciate that. I love to see all angles. That’s why this place is so cool. Even if you think that Barry is as pure as the driven snow, hey, it’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. No shade. Maybe some side eye but you can’t see that in print.

Good post and I totally agree!
Even in doing my own sleuthing elsewhere, I can poke holes in other people’s theories. I WANT to believe there is another explanation to SMs disappearance besides BM.

We are ALL speculating based on the little known facts.
SM is missing and LE’s actions do not equate to an abduction, at this point. LE has NOT cleared anyone as of now, and in the last few days, they have lead us right back to the Morphew home. It doesn’t look good for BM, IMO.

 

[susiQ]

Because -- as we've seen in this case -- his/her attempts to reach out for help may simply become fodder for suspicion: his tone is too flat; he didn't say "I need you;" he only spoke for 26 seconds. This is particularly true these days when it's axiomatic that the spouse is the first person people consider as possibly responsible.

Even if I suspected that my client was involved in a disappearance, my advice would be the same. In fact, I would advise that a family member with an ironclad alibi -- one of the Morphew daughters, for example -- be the "face" of the family if public appearances are necessary.

Well, let’s pretend BM IS your client and he has made an offer of $210,000 for SM’s safe return. Would you advise against him altering his reward offer to “any information leading to the recovery of SM, dead or alive?” Let’s be honest, the chances of SM being alive are slim to none. JMO

 

[al66pine]

BM's $ Reward. IN. Procedure: Gdn'ship? CO. Procedure: Presumed Death?

Is the reward money still in play? ....

sbm I have not read or heard of any reward changes/updates, but I could have missed them. When BM offered $100,000 reward (thru nephew, iirc?), there was a lotta discussion about why so big & soon.
IN. Procedure: Gdn'ship?
At time of making $ offer, did BM know/suspect, or had he been advised -
Q1. He'd have to seek gdn'ship to complete IN sale, or did he think a PoA would suffice?
Q2. Gdn'ship chapter definitions include: "incapacitated person" i.e.,"cannot be located upon reasonable inquiry."*
Q3. What evidence did BM/atty present to support BM's claim that she could not be located?
Could he have simply signed an affidavit or given testimony/oral stmt at hearing about her disappearance & his personal search (w buddies) for her? And/or CCDO, CBI, FBI searches?
Q4. Did he think/hope a large, early reward could be given as evd that he tried very hard to locate SM, i.e., he went waaaay past just "reasonable inquiry?"
Clearly the evd presented was sufficient for judge to make findings & issue letters/appt for a single IN sale to be completed. Wonder what will happen at next hearing? Sept or Oct. jm2cts.

CO. Procedure: Presumed Death?
If a CO. MisPers is not located until 5 years after ~MoDay 2020, someone can file for declaration of presumed death. Could big reward be part (not all) of a long term plan? The state statute** allows declaration of death after five years continuous absence, during which he or she has not been heard from, and whose absence is not satisfactorily explained after diligent search or inquiry. Hmmm. jm2cts.
...........................................................................................
* IN. Article 3 - GUARDIANSHIPS AND PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS
29-3.5-1-2 Definitions
(7) "Incapacitated person" has the meaning set forth in IC 29-3-1-7.5 with respect to an adult.
Sec. 7.5. "Incapacitated person" means an individual who:
(1) cannot be located upon reasonable inquiry;..."
^ Indiana Code 2019 - Indiana General Assembly, 2020 Session
** CO. "Evidence of Death or Status"
" (e) An individual ...who is absent for a continuous period of five years, during which he or she has not been heard from, and whose absence is not satisfactorily explained after diligent search or inquiry, is presumed to be dead.  His or her death is presumed to have occurred at the end of the period..." sbm
^ CRS, Title 15. Probate, Trusts, and Fiduciaries § 15-10-107. Evidence of death or status
^ https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-15-probate-trusts-and-fiduciaries/co-rev-st-sect-15-10-107.html

 

[Feistyomi]

Thank you! MOO to all of it- got it. I had read other posts that referenced lost jobs - those were probably MOO’d too- hard to keep track of verified, speculated, theorized, fantasied- or other-wised - Like what happened with the notion that a house was listed or a bike was found- so difficult to keep it separated fact from fiction.

So to answer another’s burning question something about do I have any hesitation that BM is not the perp- heck, I don’t even know if there was a bike or a ride, and I’m not shamed to admit this. And I can theorize until my head blows up- give me some CW, PF, FD, LS kind of hinkiness - and flat out textbook 101 lying, cheating, utterly strange backgrounds, info that came right out, etc- mofos ( as someone here long ago so wonderfully used that term, who I miss dearly, their witty posts) - BM has played this well if it’s him- to me he is FAR from the above mentioned full blown creepers/freak shows who had all but a neon sign pointed to their evil heads -

Many of you have done a commendable job at comparing, speculating, theorizing and rationalizing how it must be him, and I digress, it must, who else is there right? Yet because of my life experiences I am waiting on facts. Of oh I have little to none. I hope to one day know just why this is-for Suzanne, not me.

IMO, we have no real evidence BM is guilty, indeed, the searches of house, Vehicles, and electronics could be consent searches. I’ve actually done a little research on this topic. IANAL, my analysis of initial sources, indicate if documented that the search was consented to with witnessed Miranda, some investigators could do consent searches. CO law has been modified, but these are possible under certain perimeters. We’ve discussed also the possibility concrete search may have been from tip.
The only evidence we have is LE investigators actions, open for interpretation. IMO
I’ll continue to research, but it just seems to me LE should have ability to search the first three items, based on the probabilities, ASAP. Otherwise it’s a big handicap. Especially in a missing persons case, where there is possibility person may still be alive.

My money is on the stalker type abductor, local. my hope was an imprisonment scenario. Time has marched on and almost extinguished that hope, I continue to pray.
IMO, random drifter predator is much less likely, and is hardest to pursue; still I have two recent similar cases, geographically close.
We have another very real threat, not sure if this was off the record, or msm yet. This one, would certainly account for LEs actions.
All three alternatives are just as factually possible as BM.
This case has been different from the beginning, usually KISS would mean BM is guilty, this doesn’t feel that way. MOO.

 

[branmuffin]

I couldn’t agree more with your thoughtful post.

I posted before about why I don’t think BM would resort to murder, considering the length of his marriage and his age. By BM’s point in life, he’s seen friends and family divorce and move on. Lots of ended relationships would have been observed, and learned from.

I’ll ask the question. I’d like to hear the opinions of other Websleuthers who have been married 25+ years. Do those of you with long term marriages think BM would take the route of murder at this stage in the game?

I don't think it's how long you've been married, but the kind of marriage you have. I don't believe my marriage, which is the only one I can safely refer to, has the possibility that I may end up dead at the hands of my spouse. We don't have guns in the house, neither of us are physically imposing, we each have our own money sources with which we contribute to the household but also maintain independent accounts, neither of us are religious, we have a love of animals, we both come from small immigrant families where we were basically the only ones who emigrated to Canada, we (mostly) like the same kind of music (except when he plays Pink Floyd continually when he's working on the house), we argue, but that's an outlet rather than a build up to violence. We agree on the important things but have wildly differing opinions on non-essentials.

I never gave up my independence to become a wife. I never gave up having a job outside the home. I liked to work. I will always have my own bank account. Before I became a wife and a mother I was me. I wasn't an army brat but I went to 17 schools before I graduated. Always being the new kid in school has a tendency to force you to adapt.

I can safely say the relationship I have with my spouse sounds like it's light years away from the M's marriage. I wonder how many times someone said to Suzanne, "Tell us how you really feel."

The only thing I can't profess to know about is the issue of a terminal illness entering the picture. It seems the law of averages is against me because it appears many men can't adjust to the role of nurturer/caretaker plus I've seen it first hand with some coworkers. Based on the effectiveness of my husband trying to 'help' when we want to trim our cats' claws, it's not looking rosy.

 

[Feistyomi]

Well, let’s pretend BM IS your client and he has made an offer of $210,000 for SM’s safe return. Would you advise against him altering his reward offer to “any information leading to the recovery of SM, dead or alive?” Let’s be honest, the chances of SM being alive are slim to none. JMO

I’m not certain I follow your thought. I think you are saying, he only wants to pay out the money, if she is unharmed?
I interpreted it from the five stages of grief, he was “bargaining” with an unknown abductor, and he was saying simply not to hurt her.
I understand the desire to have her body recovered, but I wouldn’t pay one penny to her killer for her body.
I’d use every penny plus to find her and her killer. The reward was an incentive to keep her alive. It has become less of an issue as time has passed on. MOO

 

[marylamby]

I’m not certain I follow your thought. I think you are saying, he only wants to pay out the money, if she is unharmed?
I interpreted it from the five stages of grief, he was “bargaining” with an unknown abductor, and he was saying simply not to hurt her.
I understand the desire to have her body recovered, but I wouldn’t pay one penny to her killer for her body.
I’d use every penny plus to find her and her killer. The reward was an incentive to keep her alive. It has become less of an issue as time has passed on. MOO

Nothing changes the reward stipulation of 'safe return'.
IMO

 

[Traymar]

Agreed:

A man described as a devout Christian who volunteered at a local church was charged this week with killing his wife and two young daughters after their bodies were found in a home in western Canada.
Christian volunteer charged with killing wife and daughters, 7 and 8


Devout Christian was convicted of persuading his wife to kill herself so he could get her insurance money:
Australian jailed for aiding wife's suicide


Super religious Chris Coleman (the worst word his mother heard him use was “piss”) whose life revolved around religion. Murdered his whole family so he could be free to have a secret affair:
A Family Erased: The Chris Coleman Story


Devoutly Lutheran John List also killer his whole family:
John List - Wikipedia


The BTK serial killer was elected president of his church council. He worked at his church.
Dennis Rader - Wikipedia


I can provide link after link.


It is untrue that religiosity protects someone from violence or criminal behavior. Sociopaths or psychopaths can be born or created with any background. Religion sometimes acts as a front for criminals who want to prey on vulnerable people. Think of all the pastors and priests who have molested children or young women:


Plante casually claims that religious people are "better citizens" and "behave better." And without citing any sources, he tells us: "Research has consistently found that religious people are less likely to engage in criminal behavior, marital infidelity, alcoholism, unprotected sexual activity. . ."

Fortunately for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists, there is no factual basis for Plante's claim that "research has consistently found" secular individuals to be more prone to such antisocial behavior. Consider, for example, a March 2009 academic article in Sociology Compass that extensively researched the subjects raised by Plante. The article, by Phil Zuckerman of Pitzer College, is entitled "Atheism, Secularity, and Well-Being: How the Findings of Social Science Counter Negative Stereotypes and Assumptions" and, unlike Plante's article, it cites detailed studies of the areas in question.

Zuckerman analyzed a wide array of data comparing religious nations to less religious nations and also, interestingly, religious states within the United States (i.e. "Bible-belt" states) to less religious states. While I encourage readers to examine the article directly through the link above, here are just a few of the highlights:

Criminal Behavior:

Citing four different studies, Zuckerman states: "Murder rates are actually lower in more secular nations and higher in more religious nations where belief in God is widespread." He also states: "Of the top 50 safest cities in the world, nearly all are in relatively non-religious countries."

Within the United States, we see the same pattern. Citing census data, he writes: "And within America, the states with the highest murder rates tend to be the highly religious, such as Louisiana and Alabama, but the states with the lowest murder rates tend to be the among the least religious in the country, such as Vermont and Oregon."

And these findings are not limited to murder rates, as rates of all violent crime tend to be higher in "religious" states. Zuckerman also points out that atheists are very much under-represented in the American prison population (only 0.2%).

Marriage and Family:

Zuckerman cites a 1999 Barna study that finds that atheists and agnostics actually have lower divorce rates than religious Americans.

He also cites another study, in Canada, that found conservative Christian women experienced higher rates of domestic violence than non-affiliated women.

Misinformation and Facts about Secularism and Religion


More at link.

This atheist thanks you very kindly.
MOO

 

[susiQ]

I’m not certain I follow your thought. I think you are saying, he only wants to pay out the money, if she is unharmed?
I interpreted it from the five stages of grief, he was “bargaining” with an unknown abductor, and he was saying simply not to hurt her.
I understand the desire to have her body recovered, but I wouldn’t pay one penny to her killer for her body.
I’d use every penny plus to find her and her killer. The reward was an incentive to keep her alive. It has become less of an issue as time has passed on. MOO

I’m not talking about giving the killer anything. My take on his offer is, it’s easy to offer a $100,000 reward for her “safe return” when he’s certain she isn’t coming back. He’s got nothing to lose and he thinks it makes him look good. Miscalculation.

At this point in time, he’s had no takers for her “safe return” and we all pretty much know she isn’t coming back. So, if he is innocent of any wrongdoing, why not change the conditions of the offer, in the hope someone has knowledge of what happened to her and pay out the reward to bring her home and bury her with the respect she deserves and give her family the closure they need? What is preventing him from doing that?? He is without excuse!

 

[Murphy1950]

Well, let’s pretend BM IS your client and he has made an offer of $210,000 for SM’s safe return. Would you advise against him altering his reward offer to “any information leading to the recovery of SM, dead or alive?” Let’s be honest, the chances of SM being alive are slim to none. JMO

Sadly, I'd say the chances are none to none.
Heck...If at this point a crime solvers type organization Offered a 50K reward for information leading to the recovery of SM dead or alive (and Barry was behind the reward) I couldn't help but think he's really trying to solve this . It would put a whole different light on things. And from his perspective he has absolutely nothing to lose. If he did it and acted alone...no money's going anywhere. If he didn't do it, what an opportunity to get people talking possibly sharing information with LE, like KK.

If it were me, and my husband didn't do it, and had the resources available for a reward, my hope would be.... Please help solve this, it may be too late for me, but it could be someone else's wife or daughter in 6 months, or God knows how many women/people down the road over time.

And if the reward caused the recovery of her body, at a minimum it would be worth it for the closure IMO. I couldn't put a price on wondering for the rest of my life where my loved one was, how they were, injured or ill, are they still alive? I couldn't imagine not laying my loved one to rest...searching and wondering the rest of my life, not to mention his young daughters also have that burden of wondering/ searching for an answer to, where is mom, the rest of their lives. How do people live with that(?)

 

[gitana1]

RSBM
Well that’s bad news for me since I live in the South in one of those “Bible Belt” states. I feel safer here than in Colorado though.

Right?

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I’m not certain I follow your thought. I think you are saying, he only wants to pay out the money, if she is unharmed?
I interpreted it from the five stages of grief, he was “bargaining” with an unknown abductor, and he was saying simply not to hurt her.
I understand the desire to have her body recovered, but I wouldn’t pay one penny to her killer for her body.
I’d use every penny plus to find her and her killer. The reward was an incentive to keep her alive. It has become less of an issue as time has passed on. MOO

I don't think the assumption is that a reward will cause the bad guy themselves to bring information to LE, but that it would motivate others -- potential witnesses -- to think more carefully about what they might have seen or overheard etc. So the money isn't presumed to go to the perp. If a reward prompts someone to check their dashcam or to call in that odd sighting they think is "probably nothing", wouldn't her family want that? Even if it doesn't save her life, but if it allows them to find her body, to have certainty/closure about whatever happened?

IMO, "safe return" is for known kidnapping situations. But for other situations, including just plain accidents, "any information leading to finding her" makes more sense.

IMO JMO MOO

 

[susiQ]

Sadly, I'd say the chances are none to none.
Heck...If at this point a crime solvers type organization Offered a 50K reward for information leading to the recovery of SM dead or alive (and Barry was behind the reward) I couldn't help but think he's really trying to solve this . It would put a whole different light on things. And from his perspective he has absolutely nothing to lose. If he did it and acted alone...no money's going anywhere. If he didn't do it, what an opportunity to get people talking possibly sharing information with LE, like KK.

If it were me, and my husband didn't do it, and had the resources available for a reward, my hope would be.... Please help solve this, it may be too late for me, but could be someone else's wife or daughter in 6 months, or God knows how many women/people down the road over time.

And if the reward caused the recovery of her body, at a minimum it would be worth it for the closure IMO. I couldn't put a price on wondering for the rest of my life where my loved one was, how they were, are they still alive? I couldn't imagine not laying my loved one to rest...searching and wondering the rest of my life., not to mention his young daughters also have that burden of "wondering" where is mom, the rest of their lives.

I agree. Chances are none to none. Waiting anxiously for this case to break. I believe it will. I must. Suzanne deserves justice even if her remains are never located. <modsnip> MOO

 

[BeckyF]

I’m not talking about giving the killer anything. My take on his offer is, it’s easy to offer a $100,000 reward for her “safe return” when he’s certain she isn’t coming back. He’s got nothing to lose and he thinks it makes him look good. Miscalculation.

At this point in time, he’s had no takers for her “safe return” and we all pretty much know she isn’t coming back. So, if he is innocent of any wrongdoing, why not change the conditions of the offer, in the hope someone has knowledge of what happened to her and pay out the reward to bring her home and bury her with the respect she deserves and give her family the closure they need? What is preventing him from doing that?? He is without excuse!

BBM. This was my thought about the reward since he first announced it. His speech did not seem sincere. IMO