Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #23

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  • #901
Personally, I am not making an issue of BM using the word ‘safe’ in his video. If you suspect BM of being responsible for her disappearance, what difference does it make if he used the word ‘safe’? It was just a word in a speech he gave, possibly put together hurriedly. I don’t see the significance in using this word in his speech or not using it, even if you believe he is completely innocent. That’s just my take on it.
The reason his use of the word “safe” bugs me is because Barry uses it as a reward qualifier when he is the one who likely caused Suzanne to be unsafe in the first place. It’s disingenuous because he knows there is no chance of Suzanne’s “safe” return. His reward is a prop in service of his facade as a concerned husband. That’s why it bugs me. He could offer money for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator. Who pays out 100k to have themselves arrested?

IMO
 
  • #902
JMO
Ive been thinking back to why it bothered me so much. Here is my take on it and its like Gitana said, that it happened in context with other things.

Right after the news broke she is missing on May 10th, we were all on pins and needles waiting to hear more news. And especially if anything came out from immediate family as we always look for that.

Finally it comes three days later on 5/13th, but instead of direct family, its a family member who notifies a news media about a huge reward of 100K. We poured over the words and a couple things stood out. A stipulation that she would have to be returned safely along with a "no questions asked".

Hmmm. I sure would have questions. But anyhow, throw that out and the large amount itself was a little unusual to me right off the bat and then the large amount combined with the safe return stipulation sort of negates itself, if the person offering the reward knows she is not alive.

So it was the combination of all of it combined along with a family member being used as a go between to the media, it just came off as unusual. It still seems unusual.
 
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  • #903
I don't understand why many members are having an issue with the reward offered for Suzanne's "safe return". IMO it is an attempt to keep a potential abductor from harming the victim.

There are many cases where families have offered rewards for the safe return of their loved ones. To name just a few of many:

Sarah Townsend

Julia Madsen
Mekayla Bail
Jamie Tull
Irene Campbell

Agree, he is appealing to both the "potential kidnapper" as well as to SM. Suggesting she was either kidnapped or she chose to run away under her own volition.

The part of the reward that seems off to me is the phase "for SM's safe return, no questions asked".

Would it be realistic for BM to pay the reward and then promise - no questions asked? At this point LE is involved.

I'm thinking LE would have a lot of questions to ask and perhaps charges.......

JMO, MOO, etc.
 
  • #904
Only two of those are offering rewards for the safe return of their missing loved one. The rest are offering a reward for “information”, from what I saw.

But again, it’s the totality of the circumstances. It’s not one thing that makes people suspicious. It’s a variety, all combined:

1. Statistics- women are most likely to be murdered by a intimate partner.
2. Demographics - Suzanne is not in a high risk category for murder/abduction by a stranger. (Age, race, income, profession, location).
3. The only evidence we know of that Suzanne went on a bike ride on Mother’s Day is the statement by Barry that the neighbor went to check and saw that Suzanne’s car was there but her bike was not.
4. Extensive searches were conducted that found Suzanne’s bike relatively close to home, and a “personal item” that LE won’t disclose to the public or the family (per Barry’s words in the hidden video). But no evidence or trace of Suzanne being there was found, from what we can tell, except those two things.
5. Three days after she disappeared, local LE got the CBI and FBI to be involved in the case.
6. Barry floated multiple scenarios including abduction, wandering off and falling in a stream (or something to that effect), and a lion attack, suggesting one was seen in the area. He seemed stoic and calm when discussing these possibilities.
7. LE started early on that a mountain lion attack was unlikely.
8. Nine days after she went missing, Suzanne’s home with Barry was held, and searched via a sealed search warrant.
9. Three days after that, a work site of a Barry’s was excavated after ground penetrating radar was utilized.
10. LE stated Barry was cooperating and they hoped he would continue to do so.
11. LE has not released any statements or flyers that would indicate they believe SM was riding her bike that day and are thus searching for information from people who may have seen her or her bike or anyone near her on the day in question.
12. However, LE has requested ring camera footage from neighbors for the day she was reported missing AND the days leading up to that date AND FOR TWO DAYS AFTER.
13. Barry didn’t make the 911 call. He asked the neighbor to.
14. There were two, varying accounts of where Barry was that day, reported to the media.
15. LE has not made any statements to anyone who possibly has her, to release her.
16. Other than one 26 second statement, neither Barry nor the family have begged a possible abductor/killer to release her or confess or come forward AND no one has come forward from the family to talk about suzanne.
17. “Oh Suzanne...”.
18. Neither Barry nor the family are in the public eye begging for help from the public. They’re very quiet.
19. LE have not publicly cleared Barry.
20. A Barry sought and obtained a temporary guardianship over Suzanne in their former state of residence and an order selling a property of theirs, without her signature, filing the request 20 days after she disappeared, at a time when he would presumably be despondent and scared of what happened to his missing wife. But he had the wherewithal to speak with and participate in the action in another state, communicating with counsel and signing documents, for likely at least a week or so prior to the June 1st filing date. So we know money was inexplicably important at that time, to him.
21. In six weeks LE has failed to come up with a vehicle description or other description of someone or some vehicle in the area that was seen, that they want to follow up on.
22. Barry failed to issue any public statement until a week after Suzanne disappeared, stating, reportedly, that it was “too soon”.
23. According to the reporter who got his conversation on hidden camera, Barry threatened him if he later found out the guy was a reporter.
24. Barry offered a reward for her safe return, not just for information or to find her.

It’s almost always a combination of factors. Not just one.

Your list is well-researched and encapsulates the weird actions on Barry Morphew's part during this saga. And yet, all the factors you mention are circumstantial; none of them physically tie Barry Morphew to Suzanne's disappearance.
 
  • #905
So it was the combination of all of it combined along with a different family member being used as a go between to the media, it just came off as unusual. It still seems unusual.

RSBM...

Because it is unusual, no expert here, but I keep searching for something similar. All I find are people desperate to find their loved ones, whatever it takes...they are willing to do, tangling with the media (?)...how they would love an opportunity.
 
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  • #906
Your list is well-researched and encapsulates the weird actions on Barry Morphew's part during this saga. And yet, all the factors you mention are circumstantial; none of them physically tie Barry Morphew to Suzanne's disappearance.
Yeah, makes me ask myself how many cases based mostly on circumstantial evidence have been successfully prosecuted?? V
 
  • #907
Agree, he is appealing to both the "potential kidnapper" as well as to SM. Suggesting she was either kidnapped or she chose to run away under her own volition.

The part of the reward that seems off to me is the phase "for SM's safe return, no questions asked".

Would it be realistic for BM to pay the reward and then promise - no questions asked? At this point LE is involved.

I'm thinking LE would have a lot of questions to ask and perhaps charges.......

JMO, MOO, etc.
I agree, but then why wouldn't the monies be put in an escrow account with the authorities?
 
  • #908
I agree, but then why wouldn't the monies be put in an escrow account with the authorities?
I just lost Optimum again, damn it.
Now I'm on my phone.
I tried to add that the fact his supposed reward was conditioned with "a safe return".
That will never bode well with me.
 
  • #909
  • #910
Perhaps he did leave some of his DNA on the bike? MOO
Depends on the DNA.
If it's not blood DNA, which I doubt it is, he could've left trace DNA helping her take it out at anytime.
 
  • #911
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  • #912
Your list is well-researched and encapsulates the weird actions on Barry Morphew's part during this saga. And yet, all the factors you mention are circumstantial; none of them physically tie Barry Morphew to Suzanne's disappearance.
Ah yes....
It is circumstantial. And yet circumstantial evidence is a fact that can be used to infer another fact.
 
  • #913
I have never requested a thread for a crime on WS. Has there been a thread dedicated to the Nick Cordova case from Gilbert AZ?

IMO with all of the collective experience and skill here this could be helpful finding the responsible party(ies)..

Police seek help in probing Scottsdale man’s slaying
 
  • #914
I agree, but then why wouldn't the monies be put in an escrow account with the authorities?
Excellent point.

Why didn't BM put his reward $ behind a reputable organization like Crimestoppers? Oh, that might be because he would need to actually put the $ up in an escrow account.

IMO, BM knew the reward would never need to be paid out, he had taken care of that....

JMO, MOO, etc.
 
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  • #915
Lauren called in to PE live tonight. @ 54:00

Not much new, except they ask her if she’s learned anything in the past couple days and she says yes, investigators have been “poking around “ in Indiana asking questions about SM and BM’s previous life there.

 
  • #916
Excellent point.

Why didn't BM put his reward $ behind a reputable organization like Crimestoppers? Oh, that might be because he would need to actually put the $ up in an escrow account.

IMO, BM knew he would not ever need to pay out a reward. BM was probably bluffing that he even had that amount of cash/liquid assets.

The reward would never need to be paid out, he had taken care of that....

JMO, MOO, etc.
At this point, the only way for Barry to seem like an innocent person would be a reward for information that leads to: Suzanne’s location, her remains or the arrest of the perpetrator. It would have to be coordinated through Crimestoppers, and in conjunction with LE. Anything other than that is a fictitious effort on his part.

IMO
 
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  • #917
Lauren called in to PE live tonight. @ 54:00

Not much new, except they ask her if she’s learned anything in the past couple days and she says yes, investigators have been “poking around “ in Indiana asking questions about SM and BM’s previous life there.

I'm so lacking my phone skills but wanted to add that I think this is really good news.
 
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  • #918
Excellent point.

Why didn't BM put his reward $ behind a reputable organization like Crimestoppers? Oh, that might be because he would need to actually put the $ up in an escrow account.

IMO, BM knew the reward would never need to be paid out, he had taken care of that....

JMO, MOO, etc.

I don't believe Crime Stoppers presents rewards offered by the public that are not authorized by LE.

Requesting assistance from Crime Stoppers

How can I get Crime Stoppers involved in my case?
  • Ask the investigator assigned to your case if they think a Crime Stoppers reward would help.
  • If they say yes, ask them if they would submit a media release to Crime Stoppers of Houston.
Why would law enforcement not want help from Crime Stoppers?

There are a few instances when law enforcement might not want a Crime Stoppers press release:

  • They would like to exhaust existing leads first
  • They have a suspect in mind and don’t want to drive them further into hiding
Can Crime Stoppers offer a reward if law enforcement does not provide a media release?

No, Crime Stoppers works hand in hand with law enforcement and the community. Releasing information that has not been approved could jeopardize the case and future prosecution.
 
  • #919
Personally, I am not making an issue of BM using the word ‘safe’ in his video. If you suspect BM of being responsible for her disappearance, what difference does it make if he used the word ‘safe’? It was just a word in a speech he gave, possibly put together hurriedly. I don’t see the significance in using this word in his speech or not using it, even if you believe he is completely innocent. That’s just my take on it.

He had a week to prepare for a 26 second video. I do not think he was hurried. Jmo
 
  • #920
The reason his use of the word “safe” bugs me is because Barry uses it as a reward qualifier when he is the one who likely caused Suzanne to be unsafe in the first place. It’s disingenuous because he knows there is no chance of Suzanne’s “safe” return. His reward is a prop in service of his facade as a concerned husband. That’s why it bugs me. He could offer money for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator. Who pays out 100k to have themselves arrested?

IMO
He had a week to prepare for a 26 second video. I do not think he was hurried. Jmo
It doesn’t mean he started on it on day 1.
 
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