Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #42

[Feistyomi]

His workers, two of them, said that the smell of chlorine was overwhelming upon entering the hotel room.
That was from the approved DailyMail.

Respectfully, that is true, however, the “house”reeking of bleach, supposedly came from LE, which would be a leak. IMO

I am reluctant to accept that LE would be so tightlipped for so long, and yet pass this on to anyone.
I prefer to say that AM made a mistake, rather than he lied.
This was my observation of interviews, and my VHO

 

[Knox]

It did.

Suzanne Morphew - Chaffee County Sheriff

CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Salida, Colorado

With the private search by Andrew Moorman concluding on September 29, 2020, the Suzanne Morphew Missing Person Investigative Task Force, consisting of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office provides a recap of the search for Suzanne over the last several days, and since she went missing on May 10, 2020.

As reported previously, the law enforcement team responded to collect several pieces of possible evidence found by the searchers across the county, and will continue to follow-up to determine if there is any connection to Suzanne’s disappearance.

Also this week, members of the law enforcement task force responded to the report of human remains trained dogs “alerting” on three separate properties in Chaffee County. To clarify, none of these properties are owned by members of the Morphew family. One of the locations investigated by the task force was along the Arkansas River in the county. The dog handler used on that private property was interviewed by our team and explained that the dogs did not “alert” to anything on the property but did show interest. Our law enforcement team obtained consent from the property owner, and after further investigation, including working with the private human remains dogs on the property, it was determined this was not a viable lead in this case.

A second property near the Morphew home was also investigated after the same dog team alerted to an area on that private property. Our investigation team, immediately upon being notified, secured the scene and provided around the clock security until investigators from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s office, FBI and CBI arrived. This location of interest on the private property, with the consent of the property owner, was investigated extensively by members of the task force, and found to have no evidentiary significance to the case.

A third location was also identified in unincorporated Chaffee County near Salida on private property where a different pair of human remains dogs alerted. Also, once alerted, our team responded immediately and secured the property providing security around the clock. This morning our team, along with the FBI and CBI, and with consent of the property owner, excavated this location and once again, nothing of evidentiary value to the Suzanne Morphew case was located.

The Suzanne Morphew Missing Person Investigative Task Force remains dedicated to determining what happened to Suzanne. “The level of commitment from the entire team from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, CBI and FBI investigators is unprecedented and unparalleled,” said Sheriff John Spezze. “While the public may not see all of the effort being put forth in this case, I can assure the community that this investigation continues to move forward.”

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to assigning financial and staffing resources to this case, as leads continue to be extensively followed up on by investigators. “The investigative task force remains resolved in their commitment to finding Suzanne, and our hearts go out to her family and friends,” said Sheriff Spezze.

Anyone with information that could assist law enforcement in locating Suzanne Morphew is encouraged to call 719-312-7530.

Suzanne Morphew missing person Investigative Task Force Recap since May 10:

• 1,123 Total tips called to the designated tip line (includes hang-ups and duplicates).
• 180 Interviews conducted in Colorado, Indiana and other locations. This number does not take into account the hundreds of other contacts made between investigators and individuals as part of this case since May.
• 130+ Searches conducted (including warrants, which remained sealed at this time)
• 4,000+ Hours spent by Task Force investigators on the case.

_____________________________________

Now, I can't speak for anybody else, but personally, I take a lot of encouragement from this statement by LE.

I really never questioned their dedication to pursuing justice Suzanne, but seeing the actual numbers r/t the searches and man-hours that have been poured into this investigation, I'm feeling extremely optimistic that LE is going to see this case through to an arrest, no matter how long it takes.

The other hopeful news is that hundreds of people who never even met Suzanne came from all around the country to invest a great deal of time and emotional energy into the search for SM.

Is it disappointing that SM wasn't located?
Yes. It is.

Does the fact that she wasn't found mean the search was a failure?
No. It doesn't.

This very much takes me back to when the landfill search for Kelsey concluded without her remains being found.
It's hard not to feel disheartened.

But, then, I remember all those hundreds of searchers out there for the past week, including WS members here on this thread, working diligently to find Suzanne.
And SM's brother, pouring every last ounce of energy and devotion he could into finding his sister.
And the LEOs who are working so tenaciously to ferret out the truth despite all of the perp's efforts to conceal his crime.
And all of the amazing people here who continue to keep Suzanne's thread alive and active.
I find that pretty inspirational.

And, too, I'm reminded of this fact:

At the end of the day, Goodness does ultimately prevail over Evil.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

JMO.

Beautiful reminder to remain hopeful, thank you!

 

[10ofRods]

bbm
Exactly.

"Who does that" --A spouse who is unwilling to let someone go , as they might feel they "own" that person.
"A rapist" --Domestic abuse ? Andy mentioned Suzanne was possibly in one of those groups to seek help or even to comfort.
After what little we've heard of her--she sounds like a caring person who would reach out to help even in her own time of need.
"A robber" -- Right there.
Spending money that was in Suzanne's name that he had no right to whilst she was alive.
BM may be a thief as well as a killer.
After possibly coercing the daughter to sign it over.

MOO

Brava! Great post.

This is why, in two pictures of the few we have of this couple, I cringe a little at the "abuser hook" that he puts around her neck. I know that it's also part of consensual sexual/romantic play. There's the picture where he has hooked his arm around her neck, pulling her to him by her neck, and his hand almost grazes her breast. It's cute to some people, it's disturbing to me in this case.

Then there's the picture where he blocks her egress (playfully- as abusers appear to do when others are around). That normalizes the behavior and makes the Little Woman feel cute and sweet and protected - but she's also controlled. I know this all too well.

The "abuser hook" is used in sex play and role playing and in movies - and in real life, to create a sense of masculine control and to actually control as well.

Men also use it playfully (or otherwise) to begin a wrestling match with another man. But there is rarely the same use of the hands in that situation (although if you observe closely...I can't predict what you'll actually see).

 

[10ofRods]

I couldn't love this post more @GordianKnot. Thank you.

Me too. Thank you, GordianKnot. Came at just the right moment for me.

 

[marylamby]

Respectfully, that is true, however, the “house”reeking of bleach, supposedly came from LE, which would be a leak. IMO

I am reluctant to accept that LE would be so tightlipped for so long, and yet pass this on to anyone.
I prefer to say that AM made a mistake, rather than he lied.
This was my observation of interviews, and my VHO

I see, you did speak of the chlorine smell in the home AND the hotel which was confusing...

You wrote:

"I take exception to house reeking of chlorine, it is possibly a misstatement of the hotel.."

I find Andy very reliable and have no reason to doubt his word. JMVHO

 

[Moonchime]

Andy makes the point -- they searched and searched and didn't find her -- what does that mean? Somebody went to great lengths to hide her. Who does that? A rapist? A robber?

Without saying it, he said it.

JMO

He certainly did! My heart sure goes out to Andy.

 

[magnetic]

So the CCSO update says none of the 3 properties belong to the Morphews. The video showing digging on DM says it is property owned by BM.

 

[brooks]

In the future, I am only going to rely on official Chaffee County Sheriff's Office news releases.

 

[ivegotthemic]

I really like that.

I like it so much, it's going to be my avatar until the jury's decision is read in court.

Come on WS'ers we've been down this road a time or two. It's just a rock in the slow lane, not a complete wash-out. Barry's going down, just not today.

The wheels of justice are notorious for how slow they turn. I know everyone is disappointed SM wasnt found, but this just means were down, not out. LE/CBI/FBI still have 100's of tips they need to go through and verify, im sure they will find relevant evidence from at least a few of them and without the massive search efforts, people who were previously scared to come forward may not have done so. Itll probably be a while before we get to know the real impact of everyones efforts. plus being about to definitively cross out a location is important to. Thousand of miles of ground have been checked for clues and distributed earth and we can now focus our attention elsewhere. Narrow locations down is super helpful. It makes a real difference even though it doesnt feel like it

No one just disappears without a trace. Someone out there knows something. And whoever did this will not be able to cover it up forever. As things cool down theyll get more relaxed and eventually theyll say or do the thing that makes it undeniable they were the offender. Look how many mistakes have happened so far. Any piece of evidence, no matter how small, can help prove who did this and we owe it to SM to keep looking

 

[Knox]

In the future, I am only going to rely on official Chaffee County Sheriff's Office news releases.

I feel you on that, what a roller-coaster the last 24 hours have been. Hopefully LE will regularly update him back in Indiana, even if they can't share specifics.

 

[Ilovemy3boys]

Dbm

 

[10ofRods]

Respectfully, that is true, however, the “house”reeking of bleach, supposedly came from LE, which would be a leak. IMO

I am reluctant to accept that LE would be so tightlipped for so long, and yet pass this on to anyone.
I prefer to say that AM made a mistake, rather than he lied.
This was my observation of interviews, and my VHO

I think you're missing the point that "leaks" occurred very early on, and in the presence of a brother desperately seeking answers. Andy arrived on Tuesday. There were officers there. One apparently talked to him about a mountain lion, and the other, about a bleach smell (or maybe it was the same talkative guy - I always count each incident of unknown speakers as a potential second incident).

They were not tightlipped yet. They were still in the process of asking many people to come help in various ways. They were talking with the neighbor, who was also not tightlipped.

The way I understand it, the daughters called BM on May 10. He then called the neighbor. Somehow, the neighbor had a way of getting into the house. She doesn't find Suzanne, but her car is there. It's unclear whether the neighbor was asked by BM to check for a bike (presumably in a second call or maybe they were on the phone the whole time).

Then officers arrived during what is at that point a welfare check. The neighbor has been asked by BM to do a welfare check and to call 911. She is in the house.

The officers arrive. Or an officer. We don't know and we don't need to know right now.

Then one of them tells AM about the bleach. Sheriff Spezze is tightlipped, but he has a group of young patrol officers who still need reminders. I think everyone is now on the same page as Spezze, where they should be.

But to characterize the bleach information as a "leak" seems improper to me. If the neighbor knew it (and she would, she was the first in there), the leak didn't have to come from the officer, IUKWIM.

Obviously, if it is an officer, I understand - and don't care. I don't even see why it's important. But as it became clear this was a murder investigation, leaks need to be discouraged - and clearly, they were.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Andy says on PE now “this crime was committed by one person and with no witnesses” and “it’s like searching with a blindfold on”.

edit to add: He insists this is and was a crime.

And the answers come down to FIVE ...

Letters of the alphabet: B A R R Y

Edit to add: IMO

 

[steeltowngirl]

Dbm duplicate

 

[Hatch]

I have hopes after all the dust settles and the searchers are gone family members have gone back home, and Salida settles down back to their normal. LE will make their move on BM quietly without incidence. Then we will all return back here once again rejuvenated to hear the whole story.

 

[Gigi3]

I think you're missing the point that "leaks" occurred very early on, and in the presence of a brother desperately seeking answers. Andy arrived on Tuesday. There were officers there. One apparently talked to him about a mountain lion, and the other, about a bleach smell (or maybe it was the same talkative guy - I always count each incident of unknown speakers as a potential second incident).

They were not tightlipped yet. They were still in the process of asking many people to come help in various ways. They were talking with the neighbor, who was also not tightlipped.

The way I understand it, the daughters called BM on May 10. He then called the neighbor. Somehow, the neighbor had a way of getting into the house. She doesn't find Suzanne, but her car is there. It's unclear whether the neighbor was asked by BM to check for a bike (presumably in a second call or maybe they were on the phone the whole time).

Then officers arrived during what is at that point a welfare check. The neighbor has been asked by BM to do a welfare check and to call 911. She is in the house.

The officers arrive. Or an officer. We don't know and we don't need to know right now.

Then one of them tells AM about the bleach. Sheriff Spezze is tightlipped, but he has a group of young patrol officers who still need reminders. I think everyone is now on the same page as Spezze, where they should be.

But to characterize the bleach information as a "leak" seems improper to me. If the neighbor knew it (and she would, she was the first in there), the leak didn't have to come from the officer, IUKWIM.

Obviously, if it is an officer, I understand - and don't care. I don't even see why it's important. But as it became clear this was a murder investigation, leaks need to be discouraged - and clearly, they were.

Good points. Also, in a recent article AM states it was the FBI that gave him the chlorine smell information. Take it for what it’s worth, but I don’t think AM made that up, as a matter of fact, this small leak was probably done on purpose. JMO

 

[Lilypad13]

The “searching” just seemed too quick IMO - still Feels off to me
JMO

It was nothing like the archaeological dig they did at the river site. What was it that led LE to go to the extreme of cutting through concrete and digging & sifting for three days v. what they did today? Must have been more than a cadaver dog hit...

 

[Warwick7]

.

 

[Knox]

“I’m gonna go home, I miss my family and I’m tired," Moorman said.

The future of the investigation is up to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, CBI, FBI, and Coloradans.

“I think the people of Salida are going to carry it on from here, I really do," Moorman said. "I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ll be out there searching every day. Every time they go hiking, they’ll be looking.”

“If she could talk to me from beyond, I’d ask her to help me find her, and just that I love her," Moorman said.
Few answers in latest search for Suzanne Morphew - KRDO

 

[Knox]

Posted in: Press Releases by Chaffee County Sheriff | 0 Comment
CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
9/29/20
Salida, Colorado

With the private search by Andrew Moorman concluding on September 29, 2020, the Suzanne Morphew Missing Person Investigative Task Force, consisting of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office provides a recap of the search for Suzanne over the last several days, and since she went missing on May 10, 2020.

As reported previously, the law enforcement team responded to collect several pieces of possible evidence found by the searchers across the county, and will continue to follow-up to determine if there is any connection to Suzanne’s disappearance.

Also this week, members of the law enforcement task force responded to the report of human remains trained dogs “alerting” on three separate properties in Chaffee County. To clarify, none of these properties are owned by members of the Morphew family. One of the locations investigated by the task force was along the Arkansas River in the county. The dog handler used on that private property was interviewed by our team and explained that the dogs did not “alert” to anything on the property but did show interest. Our law enforcement team obtained consent from the property owner, and after further investigation, including working with the private human remains dogs on the property, it was determined this was not a viable lead in this case.

A second property near the Morphew home was also investigated after the same dog team alerted to an area on that private property. Our investigation team, immediately upon being notified, secured the scene and provided around the clock security until investigators from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s office, FBI and CBI arrived. This location of interest on the private property, with the consent of the property owner, was investigated extensively by members of the task force, and found to have no evidentiary significance to the case.

A third location was also identified in unincorporated Chaffee County near Salida on private property where a different pair of human remains dogs alerted. Also, once alerted, our team responded immediately and secured the property providing security around the clock. This morning our team, along with the FBI and CBI, and with consent of the property owner, excavated this location and once again, nothing of evidentiary value to the Suzanne Morphew case was located.

The Suzanne Morphew Missing Person Investigative Task Force remains dedicated to determining what happened to Suzanne. “The level of commitment from the entire team from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, CBI and FBI investigators is unprecedented and unparalleled,” said Sheriff John Spezze. “While the public may not see all of the effort being put forth in this case, I can assure the community that this investigation continues to move forward.”

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to assigning financial and staffing resources to this case, as leads continue to be extensively followed up on by investigators. “The investigative task force remains resolved in their commitment to finding Suzanne, and our hearts go out to her family and friends,” said Sheriff Spezze.

Anyone with information that could assist law enforcement in locating Suzanne Morphew is encouraged to call 719-312-7530.

Suzanne Morphew missing person Investigative Task Force Recap since May 10:

• 1,123 Total tips called to the designated tip line (includes hang-ups and duplicates).
• 180 Interviews conducted in Colorado, Indiana and other locations. This number does not take into account the hundreds of other contacts made between investigators and individuals as part of this case since May.
• 130+ Searches conducted (including warrants, which remained sealed at this time)
• 4,000+ Hours spent by Task Force investigators on the case.

Thank You
John A. Spezze
Chaffee County Sheriff