Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #32

[Synergizer Bunny]

...He may not have been physically abusive or really given indication that he was capable of THIS, and yes, looked like a good guy, but I do think he had the “monster” inside. It just finally came out.

What if SM was the type of person to "go along to get along." What if BM was used to having the final say in every decision. What if BM told SM that he didn't want to go to IN for the wedding because he had a lot of work projects. Perhaps, SM decided (against BM's wishes) to go any way.

He comes home and "catches" her eagerly planning the wedding and her participation with her friend? BM might have said something like, "I told you we weren't going." SM pushes back and says, "I am going." This could have been a personal affront to BM's authority.

Some people who don't have complete control or feel as if they are losing control resort to violence to force the other person back into compliance.

This is what could have happened. If it were a physical fight that got out of control, now would be the time to step up to the plate and admit it.

All speculation and could be totally off base.

 

[Stripehaven]

Ah-ha. Thank you. So this was a commonplace means of communicating with friends?

I am old as the hills and I use FB Messenger a LOT, for quick and for long back-and-forth convos. I tend to text if I just need to send one thing quickly. I very rarely actually phone anyone. I like the convenience of sending a message whenever, without concern about catching someone at a bad time for them.

It also just occurred to me that perhaps SM didn’t convo by phone so she couldn’t be overheard.

 

[Dr.StClements]

MOO I can’t help wonder if it was the lack of control over SM that had been a slow build up to whatever transpired on the Saturday? It doesn’t have to necessarily be a suddenly exposed affair or anything that dramatic. Sometimes it’s just small incremental events that drive a narcissistic personality to rage.

The move from her family and friends in IN to a remote house in CO is sometimes something a controlling spouse will do if he feels others are interfering in “his” family business. Plus, certain situations may have caused SM to want to take her life in a different direction. I’m thinking of her cancer battles, her daughters at or close to adult ages and looking at independent lives outside the family home, peri-menopause or menopause, all junctions in life to maybe inspire introspection on SM’s part. Maybe she was interested in going back to school herself? Or thinking about exploring job or volunteer opportunities. This can enrage a narcissistic personality, believe it or not, because all of a sudden their partner is looking beyond them and their needs.

I can picture a scene where BM is at home talking to SM but she’s busy on the phone texting with her friend. After repeated attempts at conversation he may have grabbed the phone out of her hand and thrown it. I know it sounds ridiculous to us but I’ve seen terrible explosions in my family over a lot less. I think maybe events have been building for BM for a while. I also believe he’ll be justifying whatever behaviour ensued by blaming it on SM. She should know by now how he feels. If only she had listened and not kept texting. Whatever happened is not his fault. It never is.
All MOO

Yes - this will be SM's fault in BM's mind.
If I remember correctly - and I could very well be wrong - Suzanne's first bout of cancer was when she was a young adult, before she was married. She has only recently recovered from the second bout. Suzanne had chemotherapy as part of her treatment. She was very poorly again, yet again this amazing woman pulled through.
Narcissists don't like the spotlight being deflected away from them on to someone else. BM would no longer be at the center of his wife's attention; even worse for him, there'd be an expectation that he would need to support her being at the center.
I wonder what happened during this time. Was he a loving, supportive husband who let her know he was there for her 100% and proved this by his behavior and not just empty words? Did what happened during the active phase of her illness/treatment have a bearing on subsequent relations between the Morphews and Moormans? Did BM resent the attention his wife was getting? If so, did their marriage ever recover from this?
Very strange time to move to another state. I think the reasons behind this could be the key to unlocking some of the most invaluable information about this case. MOO

 

[foxbluff]

IMO, it’s so clear that the motive was financially driven potentially exacerbated by a planned divorce.

I lean that way, too!
It would be interesting to know if he signed a pre-nup...

 

[Seattle1]

Yes - this will be SM's fault in BM's mind.
If I remember correctly - and I could very well be wrong - Suzanne's first bout of cancer was when she was a young adult, before she was married. She has only recently recovered from the second bout. Suzanne had chemotherapy as part of her treatment. She was very poorly again, yet again this amazing woman pulled through.
Narcissists don't like the spotlight being deflected away from them on to someone else. BM would no longer be at the center of his wife's attention; even worse for him, there'd be an expectation that he would need to support her being at the center.
I wonder what happened during this time. Was he a loving, supportive husband who let her know he was there for her 100% and proved this by his behavior and not just empty words? Did what happened during the active phase of her illness/treatment have a bearing on subsequent relations between the Morphews and Moormans? Did BM resent the attention his wife was getting? If not, did their marriage ever recover from this?
Very strange time to move to another state. I think the reasons behind this could be the key to unlocking some of the most invaluable information about this case. MOO

CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #29

 

[branmuffin]

You’re correct that the YouTube channel is not an approved source.
However, it can be found on SM’s social media which can be shared here. Note it was posted October 2015 and IMO is not the type of cooler missing from the house.

https://twitter.com/srmorphew/status/659895672485888000?s=21

BM appears a lot slimmer in that image. Way less bulk. For some reason I have always thought of him being bigger and bulkier like he is now, due to his occupation.

 

[Poedelini]

Lots of dirt movement on the Morphew house.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Before picture from Google Maps view

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Another before picture

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
missing tree replaced with pebbles.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
rear clearing off and dirt piles

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
weird dirt over rocks

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Lots of black sand added

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Flattened off front

Nice catch!! Love what you did there!

I really think Suzanne is closer then we think. Jmo

 

[Error505]

Lots of dirt movement on the Morphew house.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Before picture from Google Maps view

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Another before picture

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
missing tree replaced with pebbles.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
rear clearing off and dirt piles

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
weird dirt over rocks

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Lots of black sand added

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Flattened off front

Excellent post & fantastic images! Have you thought about forwarding to @ProfilingEvil ? They have a “evidence room“ link! The search will be coming up but this may be something for LE to look at as well!

 

[enelram]

Thank you for this brilliant post.

MOO I can’t help wonder if it was the lack of control over SM that had been a slow build up to whatever transpired on the Saturday? It doesn’t have to necessarily be a suddenly exposed affair or anything that dramatic. Sometimes it’s just small incremental events that drive a narcissistic personality to rage.

The move from her family and friends in IN to a remote house in CO is sometimes something a controlling spouse will do if he feels others are interfering in “his” family business. Plus, certain situations may have caused SM to want to take her life in a different direction. I’m thinking of her cancer battles, her daughters at or close to adult ages and looking at independent lives outside the family home, peri-menopause or menopause, all junctions in life to maybe inspire introspection on SM’s part. Maybe she was interested in going back to school herself? Or thinking about exploring job or volunteer opportunities. This can enrage a narcissistic personality, believe it or not, because all of a sudden their partner is looking beyond them and their needs.

I can picture a scene where BM is at home talking to SM but she’s busy on the phone texting with her friend. After repeated attempts at conversation he may have grabbed the phone out of her hand and thrown it. I know it sounds ridiculous to us but I’ve seen terrible explosions in my family over a lot less. I think maybe events have been building for BM for a while. I also believe he’ll be justifying whatever behaviour ensued by blaming it on SM. She should know by now how he feels. If only she had listened and not kept texting. Whatever happened is not his fault. It never is.
All MOO

I think you're getting close to some other dynamics that may have been involved in the BM/SM marriage.
I've seen and read about many marriages that
start out when the 2 parties are very young.
Over the years they get into a pattern of how they relate in the marriage, how they work out problems (or not), who's boss, who's the submissive underling, all done in the name of getting along, staying together and raising their family.
I can speak from the female perspective.
As the wife grows and matures, the children get ready to leave home, illnesses affect the family and marriage, the wife may begin to re-think
the dynamics of her marriage.
SM having battled cancer twiced may have realized the fragility of her life. There's now an
obvious end chapter to her book. She had to face that.
In her mind, maybe now that she's more mature she may not be such a pushover with a controlling husband like BM. Maybe she felt it was her turn to make some decisions.
Maybe she was tired of always turning the other cheek in his bad treatment of her.
Maybe she wanted more respect now.
Maybe she was sick of being the little faithful woman, standing by her man.
I think SM grew up but spoiled, entitled BM did not.
I suspect there were many changes on the horizon in the M household and BM couldn't deal with it. So he took what he thought was the easiest way out.

 

[Barry]

I lean that way, too!
It would be interesting to know if he signed a pre-nup...

BBM: Good point!

 

[Charlot123]

I wonder if the Morphews had lived long enough in Indiana for the people around to finally see Barry's true face, and that, in turn, reflected on the amount of his work orders?

Many people knew about his anger. Had there been anything else viewed as "un-Christian" by the community, and it would have been enough.

So they moved to start anew. Some things hint at this, a beautiful house in a prestigious neighborhood and lack of WiFi, or cameras not working. It is as if they over invested to create an image of a successful businessman, and maybe lacked funds for details.

But mostly, you take yourself wherever you go. And the move, ultimately, did not help Barry; he simply couldn't change.

 

[Fireflize]

I feel that underneath it all, it just comes down to greed. I think he began making plans for having access to 100% of their assets when Suzanne's cancer came back. Overextending himself financially because he thought he'd be able to pay it off soon.
I still think Suzanne had found that she could not stay in the marriage and wanted out.
50% wasn't acceptable to BM. He lost his temper. DV covered up by murder. Moo

 

[muppethead]

I feel that underneath it all, it just comes down to greed. I think he began making plans for having access to 100% of their assets when Suzanne's cancer came back. Overextending himself financially because he thought he'd be able to pay it off soon.
I still think Suzanne had found that she could not stay in the marriage and wanted out.
50% wasn't acceptable to BM. He lost his temper. DV covered up by murder. Moo

I would like to know what Suzanne thought of Barry's new CO friends. I am thinking of GD and the GCs on the Salida dirt/river job. Maybe this group had some grand plan for developing neighborhoods all around the area and making a lot of money this way. However, to achieve this reward it starts with great risk and big money. I have a feeling that the money was coming from Suzanne and that she did not want any part of this group of people or the risk to her money. She was thinking of her girls education and getting them set up in life and then of her own retirement. Perhaps there had been other "get rich quick" ideas that cost them money. I do believe that money and their difference in opinion of how to use it is the driving factor here. Whether that led to thoughts and discussion of divorce - who knows. But if she turned off the cash flow and Barry had already promised it elsewhere that could have been a trigger too. MOO.

 

[foxbluff]

Thank you for this brilliant post.

MOO I can’t help wonder if it was the lack of control over SM that had been a slow build up to whatever transpired on the Saturday? It doesn’t have to necessarily be a suddenly exposed affair or anything that dramatic. Sometimes it’s just small incremental events that drive a narcissistic personality to rage.

The move from her family and friends in IN to a remote house in CO is sometimes something a controlling spouse will do if he feels others are interfering in “his” family business. Plus, certain situations may have caused SM to want to take her life in a different direction. I’m thinking of her cancer battles, her daughters at or close to adult ages and looking at independent lives outside the family home, peri-menopause or menopause, all junctions in life to maybe inspire introspection on SM’s part. Maybe she was interested in going back to school herself? Or thinking about exploring job or volunteer opportunities. This can enrage a narcissistic personality, believe it or not, because all of a sudden their partner is looking beyond them and their needs.

I can picture a scene where BM is at home talking to SM but she’s busy on the phone texting with her friend. After repeated attempts at conversation he may have grabbed the phone out of her hand and thrown it. I know it sounds ridiculous to us but I’ve seen terrible explosions in my family over a lot less. I think maybe events have been building for BM for a while. I also believe he’ll be justifying whatever behaviour ensued by blaming it on SM. She should know by now how he feels. If only she had listened and not kept texting. Whatever happened is not his fault. It never is.
All MOO

BBM - and thank you for your brilliant Post !

Your post is so insightful it gave me goose-bumps. Ty.

 

[swedeheart]

Excellent post & fantastic images! Have you thought about forwarding to @ProfilingEvil ? They have a “evidence room“ link! The search will be coming up but this may be something for LE to look at as well!

agreed @Topppps ! great work! Evidence Room — Profiling Evil

 

[marylamby]

I seesaw on premeditation.

I think BM has a temper, as evidenced by not only the charges brought in IN, but in that phone call with Lauren. His voice, with Lauren, was a glimpse into his soul for me. Those are only the times we, the public, know about BM losing his temper. What about the episodes we don't know about?

I also wonder if BM, after SM's most recent cancer diagnosis, expected her not to survive. He had already moved on, in his mind, to a wild at heart widower. Maybe he was disappointed she survived and was by all accounts, doing very well physically. This didn't fit into his future.

I wonder if SM wasn't always the brakes on the car in their relationship; the cautious one, the calm one who smoothed everything over and kept everything going. I wonder how much resentment BM had built up over the years, when she said no to something. Screwed up his plans.

So maybe they were very happy, but maybe BM's expectations had changed since the move to CO and although I don't think he woke up that day and thought today's the day, I do wonder if he wasn't having some of these thoughts rattling around. Something happened that Saturday. It triggered BM's temper and because he'd already entertained the thought of what his life would be like without her, he lost any inhibitions he may have had in the past as far as physically hurting her. And he's a big guy, and although SM looked quite fit, no match for his size or bulk.

Then he had to clean up, both the house and her communications, and we have the Hotel Room Saga.

I think all of his many stories are a result of him not having a specific plan. But I also don't think this was something he'd never thought about before.

All MOO and speculation

I have to wonder where premeditation begins in the mind of a murderer.
I tend to believe that BM was somewhat satisfied with the status quo, so long as SM stayed in line and played nice.
I also think things changed when they moved to CO, for multiple reasons.
If BM had it in his mind to end SM's life, say, for a while, does that add up to a premeditated murder charge?
Did the advent of her daughters being on vacation escalate his plans, even if they were just on his mind for years?
Did SM discover something that precipitated these plans, the ones that have been on his mind due to financial and other personal relationship reasons?
I tend to lie on the side of premeditation, even if it was just one day of planning.
It could've been an escalation of anger that caused it to happen but if this had been premeditated in one's mind?
I'm no psychologist but I'd have to say yes. In a court of law that's is a whole other issue.
Can't wait to see all the players in this game come to the forefront.

 

[Puzzles8]

dbm

 

[Warwick7]

CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #29

Wow!!! @Seattle1
All these great minds are really pulling these puzzle pieces into place!!!

 

[Error505]

or his recent gym membership....

or his training for a Colorado volunteer fireman(wasn't that training MD weekend?) got to be physically fit...

or maybe just trying to keep up with the younger crowd he was trying to run with now....

And obviously, all of the bleach was to touch up his tips

All JMO, MOO, etc.

BBM
Teehee teehee. Thx, needed the laugh!

 

[branmuffin]

As long as I've followed true crime, and especially Spousal Murder Theatre, and having a horrible first marriage myself, I have never understood how murder trumps divorce. Sure, divorce is a failure, writ large for friends and family to dissect; but murder is a better option? It's not like so many of them are so successful, and ride merrily off into the sunset with the new lady friend.

MOO

ETA: Or man friend. Because wives kill, too.

Perhaps in traditional marriages where the wife is an 'obedient' wife, everything is hunky dory as long as the wife does womanly things like staying home to be a homemaker, defer to her husband as the head of household and focuses her attention on the children. She may even give up her career.

So the husband becomes the sole breadwinner. All that is agreeable to the husband until one of them wants out of the marriage. Then all of a sudden the husband immediately trivializes his spouse's contribution to the union and believes she isn't entitled to half of HIS wealth.