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

[oviedo]

Yes, of course, and circumstantial evidence is, at times, more credible than direct evidence. The factors @gitana1 mentioned, though succinct and well-organized, do not even amount to probable cause. I will concede, though, that they may constitute reasonable suspicion.

Something gave them two search warrants to the marital home though - wonder what that is???
JMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

"The best thing you can do…find something…if you find anything, don't touch it. Take a picture of it."

RSBM

I'm glad you brought up BM's comment to TD about this.
It makes me wonder, IF the bike was planted and the personal item of SM's also planted, is there more evidence planted that hasn't been located yet?
Just the way BM said that, I immediately wondered if he was annoyed the other item(s) planted were not located yet.

jmo

 

[Ontario Mom]

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 have to wonder if that has anything to do with the non-stop rumors on social media pointing fingers in a particular direction - like we see in almost every case.
I mean, can you imagine being LE these days with non-stop rumors being posted online about the case you're working on, and having to sift thru all that carp to see if there's any real meat to it, or it's all just bluster?
Many cases we've followed in the last couple of years the lead agency involved makes a public comment about how frustrating the social media rumor mill is, but that never seems to stop people from starting & spreading them.

jmo

 

[Ontario Mom]

He had a week to prepare for a 26 second video. I do not think he was hurried. Jmo

That emotional, yet serene setting in the wooded spot next to a swiftly running creek... was anything but hurried.
The location was intentional, the words were intentional.
Unfortunately, it just made him look like he was playing a role.

jmo

 

[OldCop]

Just thinking about the first evening when SM was reported missing. We’ve talked about the early disconnect between BM and LE. But why?
I think right from the git go BM’s attitude did not make sense to LE. If your wife was missing and you got home to find LE all over the scene trying to find her, would your first reaction be to get angry at LE? Yet, BM admits he was angry that first night. I am including here a screenshot of that part of the transcription from the TD interview with BM.
LE’s first priority is preservation of life, secondly would be preservation of evidence. Because it was reported that she did not return from a bike ride, the initial assumption would naturally be accident or injury. Once that bike was found, searchers would spread out to see if they could locate her.
So BM arrives home from Denver and he is mad at LE for searching for his wife. What’s the old saying? A good defense is the best offense.
To paraphrase Shakespeare: “Barry, I think thou doth protest too much.”
MOO

 

[TKG]

RSBM

I'm glad you brought up BM's comment to TD about this.
It makes me wonder, IF the bike was planted and the personal item of SM's also planted, is there more evidence planted that hasn't been located yet?
Just the way BM said that, I immediately wondered if he was annoyed the other item(s) planted were not located yet.

jmo

^^Yes!!!

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

In regard to the deceased females recovered this week near the Salida area:

I was thinking about Barry’s actions and demeanor when he learned of the discovery of corpses. Did he drive to the area to find out ASAP if it was Suzanne? Was he immediately on the phone with LE to determine the decedent’s identity? It would be interesting to know of his actions and behavior around this.

IMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Just thinking about the first evening when SM was reported missing. We’ve talked about the early disconnect between BM and LE. But why?
I think right from the git go BM’s attitude did not make sense to LE. If your wife was missing and you got home to find LE all over the scene trying to find her, would your first reaction be to get angry at LE? Yet, BM admits he was angry that first night. I am including here a screenshot of that part of the transcription from the TD interview with BM.
LE’s first priority is preservation of life, secondly would be preservation of evidence. Because it was reported that she did not return from a bike ride, the initial assumption would naturally be accident or injury. Once that bike was found, searchers would spread out to see if they could locate her.
So BM arrives home from Denver and he is mad at LE for searching for his wife. What’s the old saying? A good defense is the best offense.
To paraphrase Shakespeare: “Barry, I think thou doth protest too much.”
MOO

When I first watched TD's video an heard the contempt in BM's voice when he trash talks the way the investigation was being handled from the very first evening on scene, that was really a big, fat, red flag for me.

His attitude about the LE in charge and on scene spoke volumes.
Same as his attitude about media.

I completely agree with you, and Shakespeare.

 

[Fireflize]

When I first watched TD's video an heard the contempt in BM's voice when he trash talks the way the investigation was being handled from the very first evening on scene, that was really a big, fat, red flag for me.

His attitude about the LE in charge and on scene spoke volumes.
Same as his attitude about media.

I completely agree with you, and Shakespeare.

Yes. Does he ever give a single indication that he was on the same team with LE? From the start BM was at odds with those whose job is to find his wife! Makes no sense, unless he doesn't want her found. Moo

 

[Fireflize]

Just thinking about the first evening when SM was reported missing. We’ve talked about the early disconnect between BM and LE. But why?
I think right from the git go BM’s attitude did not make sense to LE. If your wife was missing and you got home to find LE all over the scene trying to find her, would your first reaction be to get angry at LE? Yet, BM admits he was angry that first night. I am including here a screenshot of that part of the transcription from the TD interview with BM.
LE’s first priority is preservation of life, secondly would be preservation of evidence. Because it was reported that she did not return from a bike ride, the initial assumption would naturally be accident or injury. Once that bike was found, searchers would spread out to see if they could locate her.
So BM arrives home from Denver and he is mad at LE for searching for his wife. What’s the old saying? A good defense is the best offense.
To paraphrase Shakespeare: “Barry, I think thou doth protest too much.”
MOO

Absolutely. Imagine that BM wants Suzanne found... His message would be, 'whoever has taken Suzanne, just know that local LE and the FBI are going to track you down.' That would be the hope of a man that wanted his wife found. Moo

 

[LietKynes]

Just thinking about the first evening when SM was reported missing. We’ve talked about the early disconnect between BM and LE. But why?
I think right from the git go BM’s attitude did not make sense to LE. If your wife was missing and you got home to find LE all over the scene trying to find her, would your first reaction be to get angry at LE? Yet, BM admits he was angry that first night. I am including here a screenshot of that part of the transcription from the TD interview with BM.
LE’s first priority is preservation of life, secondly would be preservation of evidence. Because it was reported that she did not return from a bike ride, the initial assumption would naturally be accident or injury. Once that bike was found, searchers would spread out to see if they could locate her.
So BM arrives home from Denver and he is mad at LE for searching for his wife. What’s the old saying? A good defense is the best offense.
To paraphrase Shakespeare: “Barry, I think thou doth protest too much.”
MOO

bbm
Good catch !

Were LE already ahead of him ?
Had they looked at something BM did not want investigated ?
Did LE smell a rat that very evening ?
Imo.

 

[10ofRods]

Yes, a jury or judge may certainly give both direct and circumstantial evidence the same weight. It may also find circumstantial evidence more or less convincing than direct evidence.

Your list is -- as I said -- excellent, but each piece or even the pieces put together as a whole (a) do not physically tie Barry to Suzanne's disappearance or (b) provide a motive on Barry's part to harm Suzanne. The factors, taken together, perhaps paint Barry as odd but don't even rise to a finding of probable cause, much less beyond a reasonable doubt. I would concede that they may amount to reasonable suspicion, if taken as a whole, but that isn't enough for an arrest.

I get it: these are factors that raise your suspicion, not evidence to guilt for a trial. I merely want to point out that the evidence, as you've ably laid it out, is not sufficient for a conviction or even (at this stage) an arrest.

Maybe you and I are reading @gitana1 's posts differently.

If there are any of those pieces of evidence tying BM to Suzanne's death or disappearance, they would be persuasive (and admissible).

No one is saying these exist, yet. But yeah, if there's blood spatter in the marital bedroom, and part of a bloody fingerprint somewhere on the premises (or even on Suzanne's bike), that's pretty strong stuff.

Gitana is just listing the kinds of evidence that courts admit and juries take seriously. Some of them are far more likely to be present in this case:

If BM is the suspect, here's the list with some notes).

Finger prints. (probably not as useful, one expects a husband's fingerprints to be all over)
Blood spatter. (not good if it's inside the house or garage or vehicles; doesn't even have to be splatter if in a vehicle - still good evidence)
DNA evidence. (could rule out suspects for sure and could be in unusual places)
Tire tracks. (I wonder if BM was up at Fire Camp?)
Foot prints. (I wonder if BM was up at Fire Camp? I wonder if footprints were found near the bike)
A cigarette butt matching what a certain suspect smokes.
Most witness testimony.
A literal smoking gun.
Possession of a murder weapon.
Phone records. (Will be very important in this case, this was a phone-connected family)
Text message (Also very important in this case, IMO).

Whoever the murderer is, if even half those items from Gitana's list are relevant, it'll go to an arrest warrant, IMO.

Right now, most of us aren't too concerned about the trial - we're still involved in the investigation.

In my own imagination, I keep a positive view. LE has found some incriminating evidence - GPS records from the truck for sure, GPS from the various phones. I suspect they've contacted phone companies to get pings from along the highway area.

OTOH, perhaps something was found on May 10...from one of those categories.

 

[10ofRods]

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.

This is a spectacular run down of the various known points of the investigation.

 

[10ofRods]

Absolutely. Imagine that BM wants Suzanne found... His message would be, 'whoever has taken Suzanne, just know that local LE and the FBI are going to track you down.' That would be the hope of a man that wanted his wife found. Moo

But if a man thought his wife was dragged off by a mountain lion, that same man would be hiring dogs and setting up trail cams, amirite?

 

[gitana1]

Yeah, makes me ask myself how many cases based mostly on circumstantial evidence have been successfully prosecuted?? V

Most.

 

[gitana1]

Something gave them two search warrants to the marital home though - wonder what that is???
JMO

Some might like to pretend nothing, but most of us know that it’s much more to add to the list.

 

[Fireflize]

But if a man thought his wife was dragged off by a mountain lion, that same man would be hiring dogs and setting up trail cams, amirite?

Yes ur right!

 

[Murphy1950]

But if a man thought his wife was dragged off by a mountain lion, that same man would be hiring dogs and setting up trail cams, amirite?

Absolutely, like the morning of the 11th.

In regard to the deceased females recovered this week near the Salida area:
I was thinking about Barry’s actions and demeanor when he learned of the discovery of corpses. Did he drive to the area to find out ASAP if it was Suzanne? Was he immediately on the phone with LE to determine the decedent’s identity? It would be interesting to know of his actions and behavior around this. IMO

Very interesting and thought provoking post. I'm sure someone will let us know, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm waiting to see who he will "assign" his reaction to, a neighbor, Trevor, a daughter, maybe dear old moms turn?
Have to keep the distance...

 

[OldCop]

But if a man thought his wife was dragged off by a mountain lion, that same man would be hiring dogs and setting up trail cams, amirite?

Urrite!

 

[BeckyF]

But if a man thought his wife was dragged off by a mountain lion, that same man would be hiring dogs and setting up trail cams, amirite?

Maybe that is what he and his ‘team’ were doing while they did their 200 sq mile searches. Sarcasm intended.