Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #30

[Niner]

Tuesday, September 1st:
*Hearing (re Guardianship via video) (@10am CT) – IN/CO – Suzanne Moorman Morphew (49) (missing May 10, 2020, did not return from bike ride, Maysville, Chaffee County).
On May 10, 2020 at 17:46 hours the Chaffee County Communications Center received a report of a missing female in the area on County Road 225 & West Highway 50. Members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area & contacted the reporting party. They advised that their neighbor, Suzanne Morphew, age 49, from the Maysville area had reportedly gone for a bike ride in the area and failed to return home.
6/3/20 Update: Barry Morphew has applied for guardianship of his missing wife in Indiana. His petition states that his wife is "incapacitated" and "cannot be located upon reasonable inquiry". Motion to Sell real estate; Order Approving Sale of Real Estate entered. Hearing on Petition to Establish Guardianship scheduled for 9/1/20 at 10:00am via video conference. Hamilton Superior Court in Hamilton County, IND.

 

[NuttMegg]

Yes -- AM and PE hosts were asking for cavers and mentioned the mines as well. I only recently learned about the caves in the Salida/Chaffee County area during "Valley of the Damned" on Investigation Discovery.

If those are his main hunting grounds he must know the area like the back of his hand. Someone should pass "area 69" on to PE/ Andy.

 

[ivegotthemic]

BBM
Maybe BM was baiting a cat? I can't think of any other reason to do such a thing, at such a time. Then again, roadkill trophies happen when they do. What a man!

Why am I not surprised BM would be likely to find a roadkill trophy and claim it as his own handiwork

 

[TKG]

Tuesday, September 1st:
*Hearing (re Guardianship via video) (@10am CT) – IN/CO – Suzanne Moorman Morphew (49) (missing May 10, 2020, did not return from bike ride, Maysville, Chaffee County).
On May 10, 2020 at 17:46 hours the Chaffee County Communications Center received a report of a missing female in the area on County Road 225 & West Highway 50. Members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area & contacted the reporting party. They advised that their neighbor, Suzanne Morphew, age 49, from the Maysville area had reportedly gone for a bike ride in the area and failed to return home.
6/3/20 Update: Barry Morphew has applied for guardianship of his missing wife in Indiana. His petition states that his wife is "incapacitated" and "cannot be located upon reasonable inquiry". Motion to Sell real estate; Order Approving Sale of Real Estate entered. Hearing on Petition to Establish Guardianship scheduled for 9/1/20 at 10:00am via video conference. Hamilton Superior Court in Hamilton County, IND.

Sorry, I have my days confused! Crossing my fingers someone objects tomorrow!!

 

[steeltowngirl]

DBM

 

[Ssschu]

Tuesday, September 1st:
*Hearing (re Guardianship via video) (@10am CT) – IN/CO – Suzanne Moorman Morphew (49) (missing May 10, 2020, did not return from bike ride, Maysville, Chaffee County).
On May 10, 2020 at 17:46 hours the Chaffee County Communications Center received a report of a missing female in the area on County Road 225 & West Highway 50. Members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area & contacted the reporting party. They advised that their neighbor, Suzanne Morphew, age 49, from the Maysville area had reportedly gone for a bike ride in the area and failed to return home.
6/3/20 Update: Barry Morphew has applied for guardianship of his missing wife in Indiana. His petition states that his wife is "incapacitated" and "cannot be located upon reasonable inquiry". Motion to Sell real estate; Order Approving Sale of Real Estate entered. Hearing on Petition to Establish Guardianship scheduled for 9/1/20 at 10:00am via video conference. Hamilton Superior Court in Hamilton County, IND.

I had really hoped he would be arrested before this hearing. He's already done enough damage.

 

[Hatch]

Colorado Elk - Unit 69 - Draw Odds, Tag Information and More

 

[Seattle1]

Colorado Elk - Unit 69 - Draw Odds, Tag Information and More

Interesting -- looks like bow season started today -- ends Sept 29.

 

[ivegotthemic]

I had really hoped he would be arrested before this hearing. He's already done enough damage.

Maybe some important information will come out during the guardianship hearing. Im not familar with how a typical proceeding goes but he may have to give an account of the events leading up to SMs disappearance, which could be insightful

 

[LandManatee]

When was the Morphew residence put on lockdown?
I thought it was on Mother’s Day because I read by the time BM got home from wherever (Denver/Colorado Springs) that evening, LE already had the house in their possession and he wasn’t allowed near it. Even if this isn’t entirely accurate and the house was seized by the next day, this Elk incident seemed to happen either on that Tuesday or Wednesday per AM. So if BM put the Elk head himself against the house, not only was the place swarming with LE and search teams by then, but officers were parked outside the home because they witnessed the mountain lion approach the Elk head.
I’m just wondering how BM was able to get close to the house to even put the Elk head away when evidently the premises were supposed to be secured for the search?

 

[Ninja Bunny]

Why am I not surprised BM would be likely to find a roadkill trophy and claim it as his own handiwork

I think that’s all it is. He wouldn’t have used the elk as an excuse to use his gun because it would have been way out of season and poaching carries severe penalties.

Also, I don’t think he’s all that great of a hunter, I think he’s one of those guys who joins a canned trophy hunt where all he has to do is point the gun at an animal and shoot it while other people do the actual planning, tracking, packing, and other hard work involved with hunting. I wouldn’t put it past him to lie about roadkill.

 

[brooks]

Yes -- AM and PE hosts were asking for cavers and mentioned the mines as well. I only recently learned about the caves in the Salida/Chaffee County area during "Valley of the Damned" on Investigation Discovery.

Who is going to take on insurance for all these people? This is not comparable to searching pastures or such places.

 

[swedeheart]

I think that’s all it is. He wouldn’t have used the elk as an excuse to use his gun because it would have been way out of season and poaching carries severe penalties.

Also, I don’t think he’s all that great of a hunter, I think he’s one of those guys who joins a canned trophy hunt where all he has to do is point the gun at an animal and shoot it while other people do the actual planning, tracking, packing, and other hard work involved with hunting. I wouldn’t put it past him to lie about roadkill.

AS did say that BM was a skilled outdoorsman, and having grown up in the country myself, young boys start hunting from a very young age, so by the time they are adults, they usually have had a lot of practice. ONE thing i'm gonna give BM is his ability to kill animals. (and i totally believe it needs to be looked into a lot more deeply!)

 

[Cindizzi]

When was the Morphew residence put on lockdown?
I thought it was on Mother’s Day because I read by the time BM got home from wherever (Denver/Colorado Springs) that evening, LE already had the house in their possession and he wasn’t allowed near it. Even if this isn’t entirely accurate and the house was seized by the next day, this Elk incident seemed to happen either on that Tuesday or Wednesday per AM. So if BM put the Elk head himself against the house, not only was the place swarming with LE and search teams by then, but officers were parked outside the home because they witnessed the mountain lion approach the Elk head.
I’m just wondering how BM was able to get close to the house to even put the Elk head away when evidently the premises were supposed to be secured for the search?

Welcome to Websleuths @LandManatee !
The elk/mtn lion story was a bit confusing so I listened a couple times. They did not really make it clear when BM found the elk and dragged it to his house.

AM says it was the 12th or 13th when the mountain lion was seen by LE.

 

[Seattle1]

Who is going to take on insurance for all these people? This is not comparable to searching pastures or such places.

A very good question if the search is not organized by CCSO SAR (teams mandated by Colorado statute).

Year's ago when I was a student in Colorado, most recreationalists would purchase a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card also known as the “CORSAR Card.” The intent of the card sales was to establish a fund so that everyone that plays or works in the outdoors would keep the county sheriff and the SAR team financially prepared for the next search mission.

I think this program would cover any local participants with liability/accident insurance but I think they are probably going to need a nonprofit to underwrite other nonresident volunteers.

Signed waivers by volunteers are always required but I don't think they are bulletproof to lawsuits against the organizer(s). MOO

 

[Seattle1]

When was the Morphew residence put on lockdown?
I thought it was on Mother’s Day because I read by the time BM got home from wherever (Denver/Colorado Springs) that evening, LE already had the house in their possession and he wasn’t allowed near it. Even if this isn’t entirely accurate and the house was seized by the next day, this Elk incident seemed to happen either on that Tuesday or Wednesday per AM. So if BM put the Elk head himself against the house, not only was the place swarming with LE and search teams by then, but officers were parked outside the home because they witnessed the mountain lion approach the Elk head.
I’m just wondering how BM was able to get close to the house to even put the Elk head away when evidently the premises were supposed to be secured for the search?

During PE session at about 1:00:06 mark, AM confirms he arrived Salida on May 11, and responded to host Robin Parks that BM picked up roadkill and had the antlers resting against the house. AM confirms the date the cougar was seen was May 13.

(I'm assuming this is not the date BM picked up the roadkill because the house was being guarded by LE on May 13).

I'm baffled why BM left these bloody antlers against his home and not against some distant tree on his 12+ acres far from the residence.

^^bbm
^^My comments before episode concluded.

I think Mike King comments at the close of Choir Practice (about 1:50:00) made it clear that BM did not drag roadkill to his home the week of May 10, and also commented that it's not unusual during the spring to come across shedded antlers or piece of skull with antlers, and he didn't seem to think leaving this outside in the yard was strange from a hunter's perspective.

( I don't think they believe this was fresh, recent roadkill as the elk would not likely have a large rack in early May).

 

[swedeheart]

In Colorado it's legal to take roadkill as long as you call Colorado Parks and Wildlife to report that you taking it home within 48 hours and get a free permit for a CPW office within a week or so. That being said, I'd be curious if the elk head was obtained before or after Mother's Day. Either way, if it's got flesh on it, it's an open invitation for bears and lions to come for a visit. Rotting elk carcasses stink like the dickens. I came upon one a month ago in an unexpected area near my home and spooked a coyote feasting on the leathery stinky remains.

and wouldn't a carcass with flesh still attached attract maggots and flies? why would you leave that sitting near your house? (are the types of flies/maggots that would be found on an animal carcass the same as the type that would be found on a human carcass? i would assume so, but i don't know, with certainty, these types of details). moo.

 

[Seattle1]

Maybe some important information will come out during the guardianship hearing. Im not familar with how a typical proceeding goes but he may have to give an account of the events leading up to SMs disappearance, which could be insightful

It's scheduled as a video hearing and I don't know that BM's attorney will not appear on his behalf.

BM certainly would not be asked or required to say anything that would cause him to incriminate himself.

I think the evidence that SM could not be located after a reasonable effort is fairly cut and dry: SM missing is still an open missing person investigation where the CCSO, CBI, and FBI are still searching for SM, and where she has not been seen or in contact with anyone since May 9/10.

However, I still don't agree that missing persons should fall under the IC provision for incapacitated adults, and believe missing persons should be a protected class of their own. MOO

 

[girlhasnoname]

I have to wonder if AM mentioning the 'big 1,000 person search' and widely publishing this narrative isn't part of a plan to rattle BM to the point where he might revisit the site of Suzanne's remains? <if he is indeed the perp >

I think they probably have BM under surveillance.

MOO

 

[ivegotthemic]

It's scheduled as a video hearing and I don't know that BM's attorney will not appear on his behalf.

BM certainly would not be asked or required to say anything that would cause him to incriminate himself.

I think the evidence that SM could not be located after a reasonable effort is fairly cut and dry: SM missing is still an open missing person investigation where the CCSO, CBI, and FBI are still searching for SM, and where she has not been seen or in contact with anyone since May 9/10.

However, I still don't agree that missing persons should fall under the IC provision for incapacitated adults, and believe missing persons should be a protected class of their own. MOO

Yes I agree, I didnt mean to imply that hed have to say anything incriminating, just the the court may ask for specifics - dates, times, etc. and all that still seems to be in flux