Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #31

[JosieMae]

I do. It could be a worrisome factor. MOO.

Unless she loses the next election.

 

[ajaylee]

For some reason, I have a hard time with any wood chipper theories. MOO

-Would someone that does mostly hardscaping, dirt moving and retaining wall work need a wood chipper in the normal course of their job?

-Using a wood chipper at night to dispose of a body seems like it would leave some type of dna evidence somewhere. Not to mention the brashness of using a wood chipper to dispose of a body with neighbors reasonably close by.

-I kind of default back to everything BM does seems influenced by two traits we know of him: 1. Hunter 2. Sub Contractor. With the hunter, it seems like that is where his mountain lion theories come from(and possibly why he was baiting animals onto their property). As a sub contractor, we can tell that he is very handy with a bobcat. So I think in disposing of a body, he’d be most confident in using what he knows best: a bobcat, and moving earth & rocks.

Some landscaping jobs start with scraping off existing vegetation. Where I live, they collect that debris and haul it off to the landfill. Depending on the area, they get a permit and burn it. The only folks using on-site chippers are the tree removal guys.

A chipper would be a particularly unwise option, IMHO. I can't see anyway a chipper could ever be cleaned of all DNA/blood traces.

 

[Warwick1991]

Pin code maybe for the door?

Depending on the brand of lock, some don’t have pin codes. They have key overrides, and master key cards, but don’t necessarily have pin pads or a method of entering a pin.

 

[10ofRods]

I think JP only told a wee portion of the Hotel Room Saga to the DM. We got the Cliff Notes of the Reader's Digest Condensed Version.

I think BM did whatever he did at the house and used the hotel not only to put himself elsewhere, but to do clean up. Kind of gross, but I wonder if JP also found nail clippings in the trash? If BM were smart, he would have flushed those or thrown them out a window. That's assuming he had the foresight to clip his nails after he did whatever he did to Suzanne. I wonder as well about any scratches or marking he may have had. Maybe another reason he didn't want to show his face to the media so quickly?

Still thinking BM may have soaked something in the sink or tub at the hotel, hence the strong smell.

And if I were JP and got called out to repair a job, and found out my boss left me no tools, and then I didn't get instructions from him because he had a family emergency, but then heard his wife was missing? I'd be all kinds of suspicious.

Also keeping in mind, they have a resemblance that on a blurry CCTV, might be confusing.

All of this is speculation and MOO.

I think the bathtub soaking of something (in bleach) and then wiping that something off with towels is one of the tidier explanations.

I am not convinced LE has the actual towels used, as they would have been tossed in the laundry at the hotel by Tuesday night or Wednesday after JP left - I don't think JP had interacted with the FBI at that point.

I do think LE has looked into the drains, etc., of that room - but belatedly.

Some here have said that bleach doesn't destroy DNA - but it does if it is used directly and in strong enough solution. It breaks the bonds that hold the DNA together. It doesn't destroy hemoglobin proteins, but it can destroy/wreak havoc on DNA.

Effect of luminol and bleaching agent on the serological and DNA analysis from bloodstain - ScienceDirect

Species determination from remaining blood can apparently still be done, but profiling to whom the DNA belonged may be seriously inhibited by the use of (household) bleach.

Other chemicals work better, it's true - but bleach can do considerable damage to DNA evidence.

 

[COHinkyMeter]

agree- JP is important here just to show the
evolution of 'the alibi'.
If BM were a smarter bear, he would have left
cash money for JP at the motel. These workers loves to be paid in cash cause many don't even have a bank account and now banks charge to cash a check, even if the bank's own check.
That little favor endears many contractors to their worker bees. Harder for the employer but a real favor for the worker.
IMO- and I have a family member worker bee.

IMO- For all we know, perhaps BM actually DID leave cash for JP in the hotel room. He was quoted as saying he was paid. Maybe this is why JP stuck around for 2 days - paid to sit around and wait for the job.

 

[Cindizzi]

That's what I expected from Lauren, to nail down the details.

Kudos to DM for breaking the story, but I want Lauren to verify the critical deets. Wonder when the full interview will air?

It will air at 9:00 pm Mountain time tonight.
Here’s a video of last night’s newscast about it :

Suzanne Morphew's husband left cheap Denver hotel room reeking of chlorine, littered with insurance letters, co-worker claims

 

[swedeheart]

By... speaking to someone at the front desk and showing your ID to prove you are who you say you are. You do still have to actually speak to someone once you arrive, even if you never have to, to book the room.

you could always get someone ELSE who worked for BM to check in for you, too, like another employee, perhaps a woman, that was supposed to be there for the "job" fixing the wall. if she was an employee, surely they would have let her sign into a room early, if her name was on the list of workers.

 

[ajaylee]

For some reason, I have a hard time with any wood chipper theories. MOO

-Would someone that does mostly hardscaping, dirt moving and retaining wall work need a wood chipper in the normal course of their job?

-Using a wood chipper at night to dispose of a body seems like it would leave some type of dna evidence somewhere. Not to mention the brashness of using a wood chipper to dispose of a body with neighbors reasonably close by.

-I kind of default back to everything BM does seems influenced by two traits we know of him: 1. Hunter 2. Sub Contractor. With the hunter, it seems like that is where his mountain lion theories come from(and possibly why he was baiting animals onto their property). As a sub contractor, we can tell that he is very handy with a bobcat. So I think in disposing of a body, he’d be most confident in using what he knows best: a bobcat, and moving earth & rocks.

Some landscaping jobs start with scraping off existing vegetation. Where I live, they collect that debris and haul it off to the landfill. Depending on the area, they get a permit and burn it. The only folks using on-site chippers are the tree removal guys.

A chipper would be a particularly unwise option, IMHO. I can't see anyway a chipper could ever be cleaned of all DNA/blood traces.

 

[Knox]

Admittedly, I don't stay in hotels often but how do you get the room card?

We check in at the front desk, get our key cards. But leave them in the room at check-out, no one would know when we left, but for the cameras.

Most hotels these days have exits onto the parking lots.

 

[10ofRods]

Admittedly, I don't stay in hotels often but how do you get the room card?

The new systems don't use a card - they use your phone. You hold your phone up near the lock and it opens. Apparently doesn't require new locks, just some kind of add-on to the lock. There are a bunch of companies selling systems like that right now, of course:

Contactless Check-In for Hotels, Casinos, and Resorts | INTELITY.

 

[NervousNellie]

Holiday Inn Express is owned by IHG:

Introducing IHG® Mobile Check-In

The power to check in and out, right at your fingertips


As an IHG® Rewards Club Elite member, you deserve to get the most out of your travels. Now you can check in or out of your room when it’s convenient for you, right from your mobile device with IHG® Mobile Check-In . You can even request an early arrival time and we’ll send you a text when your room is ready. Mobile Check-In is currently available at select hotels for Elite members who download the IHG® App.

This. I have used this mobile check-in service, and received my "key," via iPhone app at both Hilton (in NYC) and Holiday Inn (in a small town in SC). In NYC, it was difficult to get a signal on my phone in the hallway, so actually opening the door with the app was challenging; I got a "card" room key after one day.

LE will know when the reservation was made; I think this is key. (stating the obvious, I know)

Edited for typos

 

[Seattle1]

Although at some point you still need to speak to someone at the front desk to prove you are who you say you are, to collect your room key/keycard.

Believe it or not, this is no longer true. It's been about 4 years since I was able to bypass the traditional front desk check-in (and check-out). Use my phone app for elevator access, unlock doors, etc. This YT is dated Nov 2014.

 

[MrsWatson]

DBM answered already

 

[Lilypad13]

I just saw another real case on TV where the perp used a meat cutter of some type used by butchers and processors of large game.
Considering all the hunters in the area and that
BM considered himself a big game hunter, would he have had access to one of these?
Would probably be quieter than a wood chipper, maybe not as efficient though.
edit- here's some of the more popular butcher saws available to hunters-
must be popular as some are out of stock-
Butcher Saws

Why oh why did I just look at those saws? I told myself nope don’t click on that...but I did so no willpower I guess. That gave me a full body shiver imagining the sound it makes going back and forth. Ugh I hope she wasn’t dismembered. I think if someone did that to my sister I would kill them myself and take a chance with the jury convicting me.

 

[happyday]

I’ve always considered financial issues that BM was hiding from SM or a side chick.

Or both!

 

[DizzyB]

Well if Barry used his phone for check in, that means he had his phone with him. Damned if you do... Regardless of the method, Barry’s presence would be recorded and time stamped unless he had someone else check him in. In which case, they are recorded in one way or another. It’s the darned digital footprint.

I think Barry is a construction/landscaper guy first and a hunter second. I see him excavating and burying, not hacking his wife into little pieces or throwing her into a wood chipper.

 

[muppethead]

Although at some point you still need to speak to someone at the front desk to prove you are who you say you are, to collect your room key/keycard.

Also, as someone who used to work in a city high rise hotel, there are security cameras everywhere. Liability is enormous. We used to try and figure out how we could move around the property and escape the cameras, including stairwells, through the kitchens and maintenance areas and such, and there was just no way. This Colorado property is new and must be very up to date with its security techology. Comings and goings will be noticed and recorded.

 

[happyday]

I've changed my mind and no longer think JP is the employee Barry fired.

I’m pretty sure he is not. JMO

 

[DetectiveFoyleWannabe]

I wonder if JP is the former employee that BM accused of having a drug problem? Maybe he was trying to set him up? Also, I believe that LE has given JP the go ahead and talk tot he press to increase pressure on BM and let him know the extent of what they know. In hopes that BM will come to the table on SM's whereabouts. Or maybe just to shake the tree and track his response to the pressure for clues as to her whereabouts. I think that is the key at this point. they still have no idea where she is. MOO.

 

[ajaylee]

We check in at the front desk, get our key cards. But leave them in the room at check-out, no one would know when we left, but for the cameras.

Most hotels these days have exits onto the parking lots.

They'd have a pretty good idea when you left the room (if not the property) for the last time based on keycard access records.