Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #26

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  • #561
I was hoping BM would start his own YouTube channel. He could have all the scoops, interviews with family, guided tours of what probably happened, official paid sponsors, etc. But at least he's gonna start with LS. I'm not expecting much at all.
 
  • #562
I see too much silence from Salida. That makes me wonder if something illegal i.e. grow, gambling, trafficking, drugs has got the hood scared of retaliation as well as the family quiet. Reminds me of NYPD or Chicago PD shows where nobody saw anything.

One of the first things I do at the beginning of a case is to look up the demographics of the area and search the obits.

I'm speculating the population of Salida about 5500, there are about 5.5 times more whites than nonwhites, and median income about $47k.

I don't think the mob industry (NYPD & Chicago PD shows which I love) at play in Chaffee County.

MOO
 
  • #563
I’ve added all your links to the media thread regarding Lauren’s interview tonight
 
  • #564
Welcome, @NatKingCola. You made some good points that got me thinking. What if BM had one of his workers, or two, take his truck and trailer and asked him to go pick up a piece of equipment at that job site and bring it to Denver for the other job prep. While this was going on it gave him opportunity to stage a bike, drop a personal item, and dispose of a body in a vehicle that wasn’t his and which, potentially, had no GPS. He may have taken the worker’s older vehicle and told him he would swap back when he got to Denver. The workers may have had no idea they were being used as pawns. This may have been another one of BM’s false trails.
When LE confronted him about the dig site, he could say, “No, that wasn’t even me. I was home with my wife until 5:00 a.m.”
Theoretical scenario.

Wow, OldCop.
Love your ideas.:):):)
Following these thoughts, BM perhaps was able to act, having others involved, without their knowledge to have LE on different trails.
MOO.
 
  • #565
**Disclaimer: I ain't no Miss Cleo.**

Here are some things I'm predicting we might hear from BM in the upcoming interview, though:

Denial that he is in any way responsible for SM's disappearance.
Statement that he doesn't know what happened to her or where she is.
Statement that she was alive and well when he last saw her on Sunday morning.
Statement that he and the girls miss SM and need her home.
If asked by LS, a glowing description of who SM is as a person and/or as a mother.
Statement re: the 210k reward offer and/or an appeal for anyone who knows anything, thinks they've seen SM, etc., to contact the authorities.
Statement that he can't get into specifics about the case because the investigation is ongoing.
Denouncement of SM rumors.

What I’m paying close attention to/listening for in this interview:
  • Does he answer questions directly?
  • Is he specific in his responses?
  • Does he pause before responding to questions?
  • Do his answers make sense?
  • Does he use distancing language?
  • Does he attempt to misdirect/steer the interview away from any subjects?
  • Which questions, if any, does he refuse to answer?
  • If the subject of the "bike ride" comes up, what does BM say about it?
JMO.
 
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  • #566
holy cow. i had not watched that video in quite some time. is that entire driveway around the house a dirt driveway? with BM being a professional landscaper, i'm wondering about a possibility. what if he say, dug a hole, absolutely anywhere on that property, but especially on a dirt driveway like that (with a bobcat?), do you think he would be able to cover it up and make it look completely undisturbed and/or like it currently did? what all kinds of things can you do with that type of machinery? (i don't have a clue). can you lift massive rocks and put them back down?
I wouldn't say the Bobcat seen at the house is a great digging tool, that would be more along the lines of a backhoe or excavator. That piece would be used for small scale moving of dirt or material, but it could be used to excavate if you were making a shallow trench type of hole. I think you could push a rock into place, but again, the bucket is so small not sure lifting massive rocks is feasible.

MOO, Suzanne is not buried anywhere near her home.
 
  • #567
  • #568
I wonder if this will be a true one on one style interview, or if it will be set up in a way that affords Barry more control. Something like: he provides to LS a written statement to read, Barry reads a prepared statement through audio only, or he provides written answers to the questions of his choosing. I guess we’ll see.
The teaser video shows Lauren knocking on the door of the home, then walking away. Segways into a phone call where she says "Hi Barry, this Lauren Sharf ...
Bet he will not be on camera :)
 
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  • #569
**Disclaimer: I ain't no Miss Cleo.**

Here are some things I'm predicting we might hear from BM in the upcoming interview, though:

Denial that he is in any way responsible for SM's disappearance.
Statement that he doesn't know what happened to her or where she is.
Statement that she was alive and well when he last saw her on Sunday morning.
Statement that he and the girls miss SM and need her home.
If asked by LS, a positive description of who SM is as a person and/or as a mother.
Statement re: the 210k reward offer and/or an appeal for anyone who knows anything, thinks they've seen SM, etc., to contact the authorities.
Statement that he can't get into specifics about the case because the investigation is ongoing.
Denouncement of SM rumors.

What I’m paying close attention to/listening for in this interview:
  • Does he answer questions directly?
  • Is he specific in his responses?
  • Does he pause before responding to questions?
  • Do his answers make sense?
  • Does he use distancing language?
  • Does he attempt to misdirect/steer the interview away from any subjects?
  • Which questions, if any, does he refuse to answer?
  • What does he say about the bike ride?
JMO.
Hope he's not reading here, you just gave him his next script ;)
 
  • #570
I found a News Site video that shows the Bobcat Tractor at the SM home.

Go to 3:07 in the video and then hit PLAY and it comes up clearly. Its a small white Bobcat Tractor with a bucket attachment on front.

ETA - And a trailer that can be used to haul it around is sitting right there next to it. It really makes me wonder now if this was the equipment taken from the Salida work site and was needed for maybe nefarious reasons. JMO

The News 9 YT video quoted did not work for me so posting similar but shorter.

May 22, 2020 - This video also depicts the Bobcat and trailer. Also a very good view of the new/repair walkway work in progress including the pedestrian bridge over the brook.

In this video, the flatbed trailer with slate and mountain rock I recall from previous videos of the property is missing. Only the equipment trailer visible.

 
  • #571
The teaser video shows Lauren knocking on the door of the home, then walking away, then segways into a phone call where she says "Hi Barry, this Lauren Sharf ...
Bet he will not be on camera :)
After the way his other “in person” videos were received, I believe you are right; “he will not be on camera”.

Thank you for the added detail on the teaser :)
 
  • #572
bbm
Thanks everyone for the updates !
Wow.
Searching today , no volunteers needed.
That sounds like 'no volunteers wanted' since LE know what or where they need to look.
Or someone was persuaded to talk ?
Sadly it's not an abductor but someone closer to home.
Imo.

This case is far from cold.
Justice for Suzanne !
Is there seaching right now?
I dont see it on twitter?
 
  • #573
Interesting if he is on video, interesting with audio too. MOO.
 
  • #574
Can 'missing'= 'incapacitated?' Grounds for guardianship in IN? <Yes. Conservatorship in MN????
I agree! I’m trying to understand IN Guardianship laws. I’m a paralegal in MN and I have worked on many Guardianships and Conservatoships. In MN Guardianship is of the person- Conservator is of assets. I could see doing a protective order or something for the transfer of the real estate and that’s it. (IMO- I haven’t researched if either proceeding is allowable in MN if person is missing.) MN Courts are hawkish when it comes to supervising G/C. We use Uniform Probate Code and given my experience I don’t see how you could get Guardianship of a missing person. For justice sake and Suzanne’s sake I am glad CO law is different than IN law and moving it to CO it would be under more scrutiny. IHOO
@RealForReal Welcome to Websleuths.:) Always good to have input from professionals in the legal field w experience in the topic under discussion.
MN law.
On its face the MN. section below seems imo to grant authority to MN ct. to appt a conservator on basis of person being "missing, detained, or unable to return to United States." Similar, but not identical to IN.* Just my2cts, could be wrong.
As always I welcome comment, clarification, or correction, esp'ly from our legal professionals, including you, @RealonReal.
W a very, very quick review, I did not see MN's I/P definition including the same criteria as IN re absent or missing persons but noticed this:
"524.5-409 FINDINGS; ORDER OF APPOINTMENT.
§ Subdivision 1.Limited or unlimited conservator.
(a) The court may appoint a limited or unlimited conservator for a respondent only if it finds that:
(1) by clear and convincing evidence, the individual is unable to manage property and business affairs because of an impairment in the ability to receive and evaluate information or make decisions, even with the use of appropriate technological assistance, or because the individual is missing, detained, or unable to return to the United States;...
" * bbm sbm ubm
from Sec. 524.5-409 MN Statutes
*"This section has been affected by law enacted during the 2020 legislative session. More info..."
"524.5-409 has been amended by Chapter 86, Article 1, Section 28"

Newly adopted section 1, paragraph (1) language remains unchanged.

A
nd afaik, SM has no property in MN, so above is not relevant to this case, just gen fyi. Where is SM?
__
_____________________________________________
* IN statute. Quoting from IN definition of Incapacitated Person.
Indiana Statutes, Title 29 Probate, Article 3. Indiana Code 2019 - Indiana General Assembly, 2020 Session
GUARDIANSHIPS & PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS
"Sec. 7.5. "Incapacitated person" means an individual who:
(1) cannot be located upon reasonable inquiry; ...." bbm sbm ubm
^ Section continues definition of "incapacitated person"as a person unable to care for self, manage property, because of mental/physical illness, etc.<---the usual kinds of things we think of in connection w guardianships or conservatorships.
 
  • #575
Part of me thinks SM was taken deep into a hidden cave or mineshaft. The timeline was too short to play bobcats, trucks and atv’s. All that and/or doing something to the body itself is just too many moving pieces, for that amount of time. MOO.
 
  • #576
Is there seaching right now?
I dont see it on twitter?
Unfortunately, no.
The link was from an earlier date and it was too late for me to edit, sorry.

Not saying LE couldn't plan more searches in the future based on tips or evidence received, though.
Hoping.
 
  • #577
  • #578
Part of me thinks SM was taken deep into a hidden cave or mineshaft. The timeline was too short to play bobcats, trucks and atv’s. All that and/or doing something to the body itself is just too many moving pieces, for that amount of time. MOO.
BBM:

I've been worried about abandoned mines, in particular.

I just don't know whether/ how many abandoned mines are in proximity to their home.

I definitely think she's somewhere that the perp knew and had been to himself prior to her disappearance.

It would have been a location that occurred to him as being the ideal place to hide a body.

I think she's in a spot that's both remote, and difficult to access.

JMO.
 
  • #579
The News 9 YT video quoted did not work for me so posting similar but shorter.

May 22, 2020 - This video also depicts the Bobcat and trailer. Also a very good view of the new/repair walkway work in progress including the pedestrian bridge over the brook.

In this video, the flatbed trailer with slate and mountain rock I recall from previous videos of the property is missing. Only the equipment trailer visible.

Do you think the Bobcat and trailer were part of the LE search at the home? I've considered that because it was off the trailer. If it were Barry's what did he do, bring it back with him at 9:00 Sunday night? Was he doing work at his house in the week after Suzanne went missing? I guess with what we've seen that wouldn't be surprising, but super poor form when your wife has been abducted to be working on your driveway o_O
 
  • #580
LE's Diligence
Very interesting. So if a body is burned hours after death no cadavarine smell. When you said sifting and sifting it reminded me of the FBI at the dig site...they sure were looking hard for something small.
@Lilypad13.
Recently read a book re a teen's remains discovered 50 ft off a highway 30+ yrs ago. When sifting materials around remains for personal belongings of victim or perp, LE worked w screens so fine, that they located a contact lens. Amazing.
 
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