Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #27

[ivegotthemic]

Half the cases I have followed on here were Colorado ones. The silence is standard.

I take it as a very positive sign, as frustrating as that is. If we were seeing frequent press conferences, then I’d actually be concerned. That would be a sign that law enforcement isn’t remotely close to making an arrest; it would be a sign that they need a great deal of help.

In the Berreth case, they initially handled it as if all options were on the table (detailed missing persons flyer, last known video, major press conference).

We didn’t see that here, and I have to believe there’s a solid basis for that behavior. This isn’t the CBI and FBI’s first rodeo.

Good to know and I appreciate your insight, it seems like this summer the FBI has jumped into action pretty quick on every big crime case, of course i could have just not been paying enough attention before, but ive been impressed. federal resources can make such a huge impact on cases occurring in jurisdictions with limited staff or funds for overtime. sometimes adult missing persons cases arent taken as seriously and im really glad to see that wasnt the case here. timing is so important in preserving evidence.

I actually haven't heard of the Berreth case, is it on WS? Always interested in hearing about new missing person cases. sadly patience is not one of my virtues, but alas I will try to have faith in the system

 

[LovesPeace2]

Half the cases I have followed on here were Colorado ones. The silence is standard.

I take it as a very positive sign, as frustrating as that is. If we were seeing frequent press conferences, then I’d actually be concerned. That would be a sign that law enforcement isn’t remotely close to making an arrest; it would be a sign that they need a great deal of help.

In the Berreth case, they initially handled it as if all options were on the table (detailed missing persons flyer, last known video, major press conference).

We didn’t see that here, and I have to believe there’s a solid basis for that behavior. This isn’t the CBI and FBI’s first rodeo.

. I bet fbi and cbi have a wealth of electronic data plus have probably been told a heck of a lot from SM Family and friends .LE will get their man soon until then it’s probably crickets we hear unless there’s more interviews in the future. Jmoo . Nice to see ya mg

 

[GordianKnot]

If I knew what the ______ you were asking, I might ________ be able to ________ ________ your question.

All's I know is, if @MassGuy were to take a stab at these fill-in-the-____ blanks, it would take an entire _____
3-pack of Lifebuoy soap to wash out his mouth.

Trust me.
You don't want to let your kids play Mad Libs with that guy.

Live and learn and pass it on.

JM__ O.

 

[ivegotthemic]

My personal opinion and thoughts as a Crime Hag going way back.

I think LE used to be much more "out" to the public, asking for tips, leads, nuggets. Now, with electronic data so very on-the-nose, they don't have that need so much. It's very hard now to NOT leave some sort of electronic footprint, and I think, takes a tremendous amount of research and willingness or ability to leave a lot behind, like a phone, watch, current vehicle, debit card,etc. It's really difficult to be untraceable these days. Which also creates suspicions.

I also think a lot of the crazy social media impedes cases now. NOT WS, I'm talking the crazy reddit, FB groups, whatever else. Creates a lot of distraction for LE. So, the less they say, the less chance of it getting muddied and muddled. Some of the FB stuff I am reading about this case right now is just laughable, it's just so ridiculous and out there. And the lesser crime You Tubers? Oh my giddy aunt. I want a unicorn, too! They are that level of credible.

So, I understand LE keeping it quiet. It hurts my dark crime hag heart, but I get it and I believe in justice, so, there we are.
xo

you make a fair point and lmao it hurts my dark crime hag heart too

 

[NuttMegg]

Premeditated or rage. Seems like there is a missing, halfway between theory, (someone else alluded to it).....not "premeditated" to occur at that specific TIME, because of all the loose ends. Rage, yes, building up over the years, joint production of assets that he couldn't fully control, she was the "nice" one, he was the bossy one, cancer reoccurring, when the first time it was just a part of her background and didn't impact his life.

So premeditated in knowing it would be done sooner or later, but rage ruining a well-planned murder.

I would be arguing for purely a rage killing had he not seemed to have disposition of her assets all ready to go on some spreadsheet. And his lack of even pretending to be shook up.

ETA the hinting about her encountering someone she knew "well", and that producing a bad outcome......speaks for itself......it was all her own fault....

 

[MassGuy]

Good to know and I appreciate your insight, it seems like this summer the FBI has jumped into action pretty quick on every big crime case, of course i could have just not been paying enough attention before, but ive been impressed. federal resources can make such a huge impact on cases occurring in jurisdictions with limited staff or funds for overtime. sometimes adult missing persons cases arent taken as seriously and im really glad to see that wasnt the case here. timing is so important in preserving evidence.

I actually haven't heard of the Berreth case, is it on WS? Always interested in hearing about new missing person cases. sadly patience is not one of my virtues, but alas I will try to have faith in the system

It is. In that one, the killer did himself in due to the fact that he had no idea how cell phones work.

He told law enforcement a story, but he was done in by his cell phone data. He was traveling and communicating with the victim’s cell phone, even texting and making phone calls to make it appear she was still alive.

It’s a bad idea to do that from the exact same location, when the victim is supposed to be elsewhere.

CO - CO - Kelsey Berreth, 29, Woodland Park, Teller County, 22 Nov 2018

 

[Warwick7]

Good on you @Goldenseal that you survived the disease and are here to tell us about it.

We also had a first-person account of BM attending one treatment with his wife. According SM's fellow patient, BM seemed annoyed he was there (esp. in comparison to her daughters that usually accompanied Mom to treatment).

I agree that BM's distancing and discard had already started. I would not be surprised if SM confronted BM about it on Saturday -- given the opportunity that their daughters were away and would not be subject to his narc rage.

MOO

Since SM was so involved with the exciting wedding planning, I wonder if it was BM that did the confronting.

Or asked what she was doing and then he said "No" to her going (covid allowing). Then maybe an argument began and then escalated...

 

[susiQ]

I respect everyone’s thought on a “crime of passion” vs. “premeditation.” I am, and have been for a couple of weeks firmly in the premeditated camp. As @MassGuy pointed out, BM didn’t get up that morning knowing he was going kill her that day. Fair. I on the other hand figure if it wasn’t that day, it would have been another. He needed her gone. He needed control of the family assets for whatever reason. I have a few suspicions, but that’s all they are.

So I concede, I could be wrong, but I just don’t see this coming out of nowhere. I feel there are two main reasons he needed her gone, but I can only speak of one here, money. He needed her money for the other reason.

JMO

 

[ivegotthemic]

It is. In that one, the killer did himself in due to the fact that he had no idea how cell phones work.

He told law enforcement a story, but he was done in by his cell phone data. He was traveling and communicating with the victim’s cell phone, even texting and making phone calls to make it appear she was still alive.

It’s a bad idea to do that from the exact same location, when the victim is supposed to be elsewhere.

CO - CO - Kelsey Berreth, 29, Woodland Park, Teller County, 22 Nov 2018

lmao that damn cell phone will get you every time. Sometimes the lack of forethought criminals have is truly astounding. I assume this is how it went down in court

 

[DizzyB]

I think that if Suzanne remained the “good wife” in his eyes, and he could completely control every aspect of their lives, he might be okay with that. I think he wanted to spend their money in whatever way he wanted, live where he wanted, do what he wanted to do, step out if he wanted to... I feel like Suzanne might not have gone along with that, and that’s why she’s missing.

 

[GordianKnot]

I respect everyone’s thought on a “crime of passion” vs. “premeditation.” I am, and have been for a couple of weeks firmly in the premeditated camp. As @MassGuy pointed out, BM didn’t get up that morning knowing he was going kill her that day. Fair. I on the other hand figure if it wasn’t that day, it would have been another. He needed her gone. He needed control of the family assets for whatever reason. I have a few suspicions, but that’s all they are.

So I concede, I could be wrong, but I just don’t see this coming out of nowhere. I feel there are two main reasons he needed her gone, but I can only speak of one here, money. He needed her money for the other reason.

JMO

I really keep see-sawing back and forth mentally on the question of whether this was a crime of passion or premeditated.

Based on what little we know, I can make a case for either/both.

I'm fairly confident that LE is in possession of enough facts to have a solid theory as to whether or not the crime against SM was a spontaneous crime of passion or planned in advance.

I think we may be looking at a mixed bag here.
I think the perp had been weighing different options related to how to handle things if SM wasn't willing to resolve issue "X" the way he wanted it to be resolved.

I think the perp had a Plan A and a Plan B, and if SM had been willing to go along with Plan A, she would have been spared.

I think SM resisted or outright rejected Plan A ("Oh, Suzanne…."), and that's when the perp executed Plan B.

So the crime itself may have been premeditated as a contingency plan, but the timing of its execution may have been spur-of-the-moment.

JMO.

 

[susiQ]

I really keep see-sawing back and forth mentally on the question of whether this was a crime of passion or premeditated.

Based on what little we know, I can make a case for either/both.

I think LE is in possession of enough facts to have a solid theory as to whether or not the crime against SM was a spontaneous crime of passion or planned in advance.

I think we may be looking at a mixed bag here.
I think the perp had been weighing different options related to how to handle things if SM wasn't willing to resolve "X" the way he wanted it to be resolved.
I think the perp had a Plan A and a Plan B, and if SM had been willing to go along with Plan A, she would have been spared.

I think SM resisted Plan A r/t Issue X, and that's when the perp carried out Plan B.

So the plan itself may have been premeditated, but the timing of its execution may have been spur-of-the-moment.

JMO.

Yes, well said!

 

[Fireflize]

I have been saying that I thought it was not premeditated. But I think I was unclear in my thoughts about all the various scenarios for premeditation.

I feel BM was fantasizing about her dying when the cancer came back. Maybe even spent money foolishly, made plans for future projects, fully expecting to have control of all their assets soon. When she didn't die, I don't think murder was his answer. I think he thought that if he could get her all to himself, he could break down her will and get control of the finances. But I think it backfired and she decided that she had had enough and wanted out.

I don't think he planned to kill her. I think he got angry and physical, leaving her injured. Then murdered her to cover that up. So, that would be premeditation. It also leaves him in a pickle, what to do next, no plan in place for hiding a body. He was having to make fast decisions and he was sloppy. Moo

 

[Puzzles8]

Half the cases I have followed on here were Colorado ones. The silence is standard.

I take it as a very positive sign, as frustrating as that is. If we were seeing frequent press conferences, then I’d actually be concerned. That would be a sign that law enforcement isn’t remotely close to making an arrest; it would be a sign that they need a great deal of help.

In the Berreth case, they initially handled it as if all options were on the table (detailed missing persons flyer, last known video, major press conference).

We didn’t see that here, and I have to believe there’s a solid basis for that behavior. This isn’t the CBI and FBI’s first rodeo.

I agree, the more information LE needs from private citizens, the more they will court the public in press conferences.

IMO, the almost total lack of press conferences tells me LE knows what happened, but can't prove it yet or find her remains.

Boy, the silence must be very anxiety provoking to BM, or perhaps that is the intent.. A useful interrogation technique is the "pregnant pause".

JMO, MOO

@MassGuy good to have you back! You behave

 

[Fireflize]

Since SM was so involved with the exciting wedding planning, I wonder if it was BM that did the confronting.

Or asked what she was doing and then he said "No" to her going (covid allowing). Then maybe an argument began and then escalated...

I think you're right, he would not have wanted her to go to that wedding. He didn't want her to be around her friend... or her family. Moo

 

[Teche]

I absolutely do. The issue is we don’t know what they have in order to prove that Suzanne is in fact dead. If the physical evidence isn’t there, then this could take a while. Time is your friend in that regard, as the longer Suzanne is missing without any signs of life (witness sightings, financial activity, etc), the more likely it is that she is dead.

A crime like this doesn’t lend itself to getting away with it. There are just too many things to overcome (cell phone data, surveillance footage, witness sightings, GPS).

Had the CBI and FBI not been called in as fast as they were, and had this case been investigated solely by the sheriff’s department, I wouldn’t be anywhere near as confident.

Whatever it was that seems to have influenced law enforcement’s reaction from early on (they didn’t appear to be lost), just has to be damning.

The clock is ticking, and it’s only a matter of time.

Missed you MassGuy!

 

[Puzzles8]

Since SM was so involved with the exciting wedding planning, I wonder if it was BM that did the confronting.

Or asked what she was doing and then he said "No" to her going (covid allowing). Then maybe an argument began and then escalated...

An abuser will tell you your thoughts are trivial, unimportant and darn right stupid.

They will strive to belittle any joy in your life.

I think SM had had enough, and BM knew it.

JMO

ETA - Big BAM - complete with exaggerated arm movements

 

[Seattle1]

I think that if Suzanne remained the “good wife” in his eyes, and he could completely control every aspect of their lives, he might be okay with that. I think he wanted to spend their money in whatever way he wanted, live where he wanted, do what he wanted to do, step out if he wanted to... I feel like Suzanne might not have gone along with that, and that’s why she’s missing.

I think this case fits a common profile of a certain era. Here, SM and BM married young almost 30 years ago. Fast forward 2020 and I speculate and suspect the accepted, controlling behavior and narc rage were finally being questioned-- most likely by a newer generation.

We do better when we know better.

After recovering from cancer, I think SM very much preferred to grow old with an empathetic partner. I also think she did not want her daughters to make the mistakes she made.

BM did not want to play by new rules. That was never going to happen.

MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

I don't believe he woke up that Saturday planning this, but I do think he's likely thought about life without her for quite some time, possibly even getting rid of her himself.
From all I've read about them both, they were in very different places mentally/spiritually and that likely annoyed him a great deal.
So whatever the catalyst was that evenin, he went ahead and did what he did, then started creating the story in his head.

jmo

 

[ivegotthemic]

I have been saying that I thought it was not premeditated. But I think I was unclear in my thoughts about all the various scenarios for premeditation.

I feel BM was fantasizing about her dying when the cancer came back. Maybe even spent money foolishly, made plans for future projects, fully expecting to have control of all their assets soon. When she didn't die, I don't think murder was his answer. I think he thought that if he could get her all to himself, he could break down her will and get control of the finances. But I think it backfired and she decided that she had had enough and wanted out.

I don't think he planned to kill her. I think he got angry and physical, leaving her injured. Then murdered her to cover that up. So, that would be premeditation. It also leaves him in a pickle, what to do next, no plan in place for hiding a body. He was having to make fast decisions and he was sloppy. Moo

Just to play devils advocate, technically premeditation may only take a few minutes. States vary by length of time so I looked it up and Colorado law says

"While deliberation requires that design to kill precede killing, length of time required for deliberation need not be long; what is required for deliberation is that decision to kill be made after exercise of reflection and judgment concerning act." "People v Bartowsheski (1983, Colo) 661 P2d 235.

They dont specifically define it, but it could be just a few minutes. That being said I honestly dont know how I feel. There are alot of things that seemed to really line up for BM coincidentally, and it seems hard to believe it just happened that way. On the other hand, his total failure to answer basic questions about the situation makes it seem like this wasn't really well thought out. He didnt seem to consider LE might not just take his word for it when he gives them an alibi or shares information...so Im not getting the vibe this was a master plan. Truly I could be convinced either way. Im sure as more time passes, he'll reveal more secrets of all the bad decision making that went on