Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #47

[10ofRods]

I find the legalities very interesting.

Those aside, face value, I wonder what was BM's intent? Was he going hunting? (Surely not, with searchers about). Was he cleaning it? (Strange timing.)

I do think it was an act of machismo, my land, my property (my wife..). This is what happens if you cross me.

I dont know, but I think it's another insight into his ego whatever legal line he may have been treading.

JMO

Hey there - obviously, I find them very interesting as well. I think LE could easily have cited BM that day, but realized it was not going to be a good look for them.

I totally agree that here we see him treading on the legal line. IIRC, he wasn't living there at the time (had moved to Poncha), desired privacy, etc. Then he got activated on the day of the search (I wonder why he didn't put the cameras up where he wanted them...earlier? Waiting for his Amazon order to arrive? Didn't believe anyone would show up and search for Suzanne?)

I think he frequently trod the lines of legality. I am skeptical of all his various (shell?) companies back in Indiana, because people who do what he did are constantly trying to skirt the law (especially employment law).
People do this to avoid paying benefits to minimum wage workers. The worker can work for 3 of their companies, each job part time, but total hours way more than full time. They cannot get benefits (even workers' comp in some situations) due to their hours for each business being so few.

The people he assaulted in Indiana could have also come after him - he was getting closer and closer to risking his "empire" with his foolhardiness. He did another foolhardy thing that day he took the rifle out to greet the searchers.

Personally, I think there's a story involving the lot in Salida (wasn't that before he moved out of the Big H0use)? BM knows exactly how close he is to being arrested. If he were innocent, he would have no worries in this regard. But I think he's saving his money for his actual defense, on the (foolhardy) view that there's no point in having a lawyer right now. I wonder if something was found on the search (the blanket?) that made him uneasy.

If he did use a blanket and any blanket was found, he must be quite nervous and really wanting to get out of town. I would think that the DNA results on that blanket would be coming back right about now. I'm not optimistic that this blanket is related to the case, but it is just one example of how much work LE has to do before an arrest.

If I were LE, I'd wait until coronavirus issues eased up, otherwise the expenses of the case go up as well. There's no hurry. BM isn't going anywhere and I bet there are still tips and people to talk to. But BM, himself, he really should try to toe the line and not do any other actions to mess things up. The two men who talked to MG were out of line, and if either of them tells LE that BM instructed them or encouraged them to intimidate her, that's just another piece of the cooked goose.

no way to use solemate..... all the 'foot tracks' were covered up by LE

Respectfully snipped for focus

But that's according to BM - who wasn't there. You're basically saying that the police screwed up, didn't follow a well known procedure, and that BM (who wasn't there) knows better (perhaps because his amazing military buddy with the 400 tours of duty told him?)

Yet - that person did not arrive simultaneously with LE - unless BM had asked him to go stand around and wait (!) For all GD knows, LE had taken pictures of the prints immediately. Why wouldn't they? A woman is missing, her bike is in a ditch. She's not near the bike.

Of course they would take footprint pictures. And tire track impressions. We have no information whatsoever about when each police car arrived or what efforts they made to investigate the scene. I, for one, am not particularly convinced of BM's truthfulness throughout these events.

 

[Warwick7]

no way to use solemate..... all the 'foot tracks' were covered up by LE

02:41
sheriff's department they screwed
02:44
everything up they shouldn't have
02:45
touched it
02:46
left it it's evidence
02:52
and we had cars over here well the
02:55
sheriff let everybody
02:56
drive through here covering
02:59
all or messing up all the evidence they
03:02
were walking all over this area
03:04
which if somebody abducted her they
03:06
would have had foot tracks
03:08
they would have fingerprints on the bike
03:10
and they're like they let ten other
03:11
people touch the bike
03:13
oh man i mean we was really upset that
03:15
first night

I can't take anything that BM says at face value.

I'll take @OldCop 's anytime.

 

[MrsWatson]

Every chance Barry has had to make the optics better, he chooses the wrong path.

I think Barry is a shell, everything is fake, his alleged business success is a front, his Godly man thing is an insult to true Christians, his finances are a tangled house of cards.

His beloved wife is having a hard time emotionally and he browbeats her for taking antidepressants. His beloved wife is suffering a second bout of a very serious cancer. He won't let her eat a gummie or smoke a joint to ease her suffering. Doesn't that really say everything we need to know about what type of husband he is?

MOO

 

[skyvoyager]

But that's according to BM - who wasn't there. You're basically saying that the police screwed up, didn't follow a well known procedure, and that BM (who wasn't there) knows better (perhaps because his amazing military buddy with the 400 tours of duty told him?)

Yet - that person did not arrive simultaneously with LE - unless BM had asked him to go stand around and wait (!) For all GD knows, LE had taken pictures of the prints immediately. Why wouldn't they? A woman is missing, her bike is in a ditch. She's not near the bike.

Of course they would take footprint pictures. And tire track impressions. We have no information whatsoever about when each police car arrived or what efforts they made to investigate the scene. I, for one, am not particularly convinced of BM's truthfulness throughout these events.

As I was quoting BM, I am not 'basically saying' LE screwed up. Next time I will use the sarcasm [on] and sarcasm [off] buttons for clarity.

 

[darring21]

It's a bit more complicated in Colorado (and many other Western states). His first recourse is supposed to be calling the police (who would have come to his house and advised the searchers). He could speak to the searchers and warn them away.

He can't use a weapon, as others have said, to defend his property line - only his house. Now, he didn't actually use the weapon, but if his intention was to use it as a warning, it's in a gray area. Naturally, LE isn't going to go after a potential murder suspect for a minor thing like "brandishing" and the very word "brandishing" is something juries usually decide (although...brandishers usually give a plea to a lesser charge).

Because brandishing (which is, I believe, still on the books in Colorado) is a problem, Colorado has another law about "menacing":

Consequences of menacing with a deadly weapon | The Foley Law Firm

Brandishing implies that the gun is "out and waved around," menacing includes verbal threats or showing a weapon. Intent needs to be shown (the menacer had to mean to scare people - and so far, nothing I've read indicates that BM did this for any other reason than to scare people off).

In fact, you seem to think his goal was to scare people off his land by showing a weapon. It would be a minor charge (a misdemeanor, most likely), but the person who was scared would have to complain to police directly about it.

Perhaps BM is operating under his views of Indiana laws, but I can tell you that in Colorado, as well as many other states out West, you cannot do this legally. It is illegal to walk around with a weapon in some states, even in your own yard (and in CO and CA, "weapon" in this case includes bows and arrows, and in CO, if the person is "menacing," it can include other common objects like baseball bats, hammers, power tools, etc.

Colorado is an open carry state.

 

[Fireflize]

As I was quoting BM, I am not 'basically saying' LE screwed up. Next time I will use the sarcasm [on] and sarcasm [off] buttons for clarity.

Don't worry about it, we've all told jokes that fell flat or unrecognized use of sarcasm. It's hard to convey our meaning in print sometimes.

 

[MassGuy]

Agreed.

In fact, I'm not sure what it would take at this point to sway me back to the fence re: BM. While it feels like we actually know very little, it's amazing how everything points back to him. To believe BM is innocent, you have to believe that:
a) the bike ride happened
b) SM was alive at 5 am on Sunday
c) it's simply bad luck/timing that BM hastily planned a job for the morning she went missing

And that's not taking into account the strange social media activity, discrepancy in BM's accounts ("the mechanical thing"), strange noises that go bump in the night, etc., etc. - not to mention whatever other digital evidence LE has that may be at a minimum suspicious.

I'd love to be convinced that BM is innocent, but at this point it's hard to wrap my mind around what would get me there..... so much of what we think we know would have to be wrong. MOO, JMO.

I’d throw in that you’d also have to believe CBI and the FBI are incompetent, and their actions are being guided by something other than evidence.

You’d have to believe they never treated this as a kidnapping, because they took a guess.

That’s not how they operate, and that’s now how this works.

 

[Seattle1]

@NWLady said: ↑
Just wondering- if SM had any unpaid medical bills at the time of her "disappearance," would BM be responsible for those??

Yes. The debts of a married couple are shared, unless there's some really unusual pre-nup. I seriously doubt that SM and BM had a pre-nup that kept their assets and debts strictly apart.

This is yet another reason that I don't believe this was planned out extensively. I don't think there was a financial motive. I think his actions since Suzanne disappeared were partly planned by both of them beforehand, but that now he has some reason why he's liquidating assets. Perhaps he initially planned to build a more modest (tract style) home on that new lot (I don't really believe that though).

I think he now plans to sidle out of Dodge as soon as is practical. He does have a daughter in high school whose life should not be disrupted further, surely.

Regarding medical expenses and/or health insurance, Colorado State is one of the best states to reside for the number of insurers licensed to serve the state and the affordable premiums, in comparison to the entire country.

I've previously uploaded the actual 2018-19 insurance guidelines in earlier posts but I believe it's safe to say that depending on the grade of plan selected by the family (i.e., Bronze - Gold), the maximum annual out of pocket medical cost for the entire family ranges from $10,000 to $16,300 and max deductible per family $5,000 - $14,000. (Annual out of pocket Individual cost at $5,000 - $8,150; and the maximum deductible $2,500 - $7,000 Individual plan).

There is no fear that Morphews have unpaid health costs due to SM's earlier cancer diagnosis.

Also, Colorado has already approved the premiums residents will pay for 2021 which represent an overall average rate DECREASE of 1.4% (versus a 2.2% increase proposed by insurers).

Colorado health insurance marketplace: history and news of the state’s exchange: Obamacare enrollment

 

[tmar]

There has been not only MSM articles, but we've had interviews, videos, podcasts... I can't keep up with the different avenues to receive information on this case.

That said, I don't think we have detailed information on what he did do or didn't do.

However, just "letting someone know you are armed – whether it’s resting a hand on your pistol grip or sweeping back your shirt to let the other person know you’re armed – can and will be construed as a threat."

Brandishing can be something as simple as making sure you "show" them your weapon.

What Does Brandishing Mean? And Why You Should Never Do It… - USA Carry

BBM above.
Gun being a threat, depends on the circumstance.
Being in Australia, I do not see guns in public, unless carried by the Police.
Traveling through USA, I was terrified on a bus, when a 'rough in appearance' person, facing me, moved her shirt, to reveal a gun.
I quickly got off at the next stop.

So BM's action, with his rifle on his property, would be understood by searchers.
"My property, keep OFF".

 

[Ontario Mom]

Here's what makes me think LE knows a lot more and did from the moment the bike was found. 1) It is almost impossible that there were no footprints around where the bike was found. 2) The forensics team would have entered all of the prints around the bike location into Solemate software to determine brand and size. They would have done a search to determine what stores sold this footwear. The would have also noted "accidental indicators" that made these prints unique to the individual. 3)When LE searched the home, they would have taken note of any footwear belonging to the alleged actor and compared it to the forensic evidence developed at the bike location. If there was a footwear match, the footwear would have been checked for the "accidental indicators" seen in the prints. Its as accurate as a finger print and just as easy to prove in court. It would make me a happy person if the actor was reading this and had an "Oh ****" moment.

Link to solemate: https://www.officer.com/command-hq/...te-fpx-30-footwear-mark-identification-system

First, the Solemate software is fantastic. That said, some questions:

1. In those first few hours, it was just the CCSO on site - no FBI ERT team, yet. That being the case, would the LE on site that first evening have the same evidence collection training that the ERT team does? (no, I'm not giving any credit to the accusation made that the CCSO doesn't know how to treat a crime scene). In other words, would the CCSO use the same software or is that why the FBI's ERT was called in?

2. Is it possible they ID'd footware tracks through this process, then found the same brand of footware in the house that very same night?

I'm just wondering how fast they would have had evidence that points right at BM, through this process.

 

[Goldenseal]

Ted Kaczynski has an IQ of 167. He killed three people and injured twenty three.

To be fair, it took the FBI a long time to capture him, eighteen year manhunt, but eventually he was arrested.

IIRC, Ted's brother turned him in to the FBI; the FBI didn't 'catch' him. The brother's wife read the manifesto in the newspaper and said to her husband, "Hey, doesn't this sound like your brother?"

 

[Seattle1]

Once again, I'm going to say I need proof that BM ever employed anyone (as defined in tax law). Nor do I believe he issued his crew 1099 forms. I say this because I know so many people in both California and Colorado who work "under the table," so much so that it's really the norm. Sure, you can get an actual contractor (although landscape contractors do not typically pass the contractor's exam, and if they do, they are no longer "landscape" contractors - they are general contractors. Landscape businesses need only a business permit.

Did he have liability insurance? I wonder (I doubt it).

Did he pay payroll taxes for the "meth heads"? (I doubt it).

Did he write off so many expenses annually that he didn't pay much income tax? I bet he did.

Maybe he did file 1099's for his subcontractors - but that wouldn't make them employees.

^^RSBBM
In my opinion, BM is responsible for disappearing SM. I also do not believe SM is alive. If one is capable of executing their spouse, I don't think obeying employment law will be a priority so I'm not speaking for BM.

However, as one that does business in Colorado, I take exception to the statement that it's the norm for contractor personnel to work under the table.

Colorado has a short building season and a good majority of employees and independent contractors are laid off or experience downtime during the winter and are dependent on unemployment benefits. One does not qualify for these benefits working under the table. Colorado State also does not underwrite Workers Compensation for on the job injury claims -- this is another employer and/or independent contractor mandate.

In my experience, unless you're an undocumented worker, or non-drug tested, freeloader, sponging off your grandmother while living in her basement, working under the table in 2020 (especially in an employment-at-will state) will not be the norm.

MOO

 

[Madeleine74]

This article also verifies her cancer treatments in Colorado!

Yes it does. Good article, lots of details.

 

[nyvictoria]

Making divorce hard resulted in a lot of DV and murder, as well. And suicide.

Spousal murder rates have declined steadily (along with all other murder rates). The decline started before no fault divorces became widely legal. Murder rates declined before then too.

However, the rate in the decline of wife-killing dropped steadily after no fault divorce came in. Because women can now leave their abusers:

Uxoricide - Wikipedia

Thanks for answering. I was curious about this.

 

[Minordetails]

I’d throw in that you’d also have to believe CBI and the FBI are incompetent, and their actions are being guided by something other than evidence.

You’d have to believe they never treated this as a kidnapping, because they took a guess.

That’s not how they operate, and that’s now how this works.

Let’s say that the CBI and the FBI have in their possession a reasonable amount of evidence against BM but they’re aware that the handling of the bike recovery scene that first night may raise some doubts.

If, and a big if the bike recovery scene was not handled in a professional manner by the Sheriffs Department, it opens a can of worms. Could this be a factor in delaying charges and could it also be putting pressure on LE to find even more evidence than what they already have?

 

[MassGuy]

Let’s say that the CBI and the FBI have in their possession a reasonable amount of evidence against BM but they’re aware that the handling of the bike recovery scene that first night may raise some doubts.

If, and a big if the bike recovery scene was not handled in a professional manner by the Sheriffs Department, it opens a can of worms. Could this be a factor in delaying charges and could it also be putting pressure on LE to find even more evidence than what they already have?

No, because if a bike ride didn’t happen then the bike being handled poorly doesn’t matter.

There is no forensic evidence on the bike that could help them if they know that Barry dumped it. His fingerprints or DNA can easily be explained away, and prove nothing.

Every investigation has mistakes, and no investigation is perfect.

I believe they can prove that bike was dumped, and that’s the value of the bike. Planted evidence is important in that it tells you who the killer is likely to be.

Only someone close to the victim commits staging like that.

 

[CemeteryHunter12]

The location and condition of the bike and helmet show a high probability of being staged. I can't put a percentage on it as I have not seen the print evidence around the bike.
I put abduction at around 5% as in my professional experience, the FBI is publicly much more involved and engaged with the spouse at this point than what we are seeing here.
Most suicide individuals don't hide their body, and the spouse in this case would have no reason to do so. While a note is not always left, I would think there would be one in this situation to the daughters and SM's family.
I put a professional hit at near 0% as the hitman/woman have no interest in hiding the body, they want to get out of dodge without being seen. Remains that are the result of a clearly professional hit would actually clear the alleged actor.
A mountain lion attack is laughable. As Dr. Phil noted (correctly), wild animals don't clean up after themselves. Print evidence would have clearly shown if this was a mountain lion attack, and even the most inexperienced CSI tech would have noted this and LE would have publicly announced the same.

That puts a high probability in only one scenario, and to a much lesser degree, a walkaway.

Respectfully BBM...I do recall there was a thread for a female who committed suicide and was found in a tree but I don't remember her name.

 

[Warwick7]

Let’s say that the CBI and the FBI have in their possession a reasonable amount of evidence against BM but they’re aware that the handling of the bike recovery scene that first night may raise some doubts.

If, and a big if the bike recovery scene was not handled in a professional manner by the Sheriffs Department, it opens a can of worms. Could this be a factor in delaying charges and could it also be putting pressure on LE to find even more evidence than what they already have?

No, because the bike scene was ficticous. A fiction created by an actor.

 

[marylamby]

^^RSBBM
In my opinion, BM is responsible for disappearing SM. I also do not believe SM is alive. If one is capable of executing their spouse, I don't think obeying employment law will be a priority so I'm not speaking for BM.

However, as one that does business in Colorado, I take exception to the statement that it's the norm for contractor personnel to work under the table.

Colorado has a short building season and a good majority of employees and independent contractors are laid off or experience downtime during the winter and are dependent on unemployment benefits. One does not qualify for these benefits working under the table. Colorado State also does not underwrite Workers Compensation for on the job injury claims -- this is another employer and/or independent contractor mandate.

In my experience, unless you're an undocumented worker, or non-drug tested, freeloader, sponging off your grandmother while living in her basement, working under the table in 2020 (especially in an employment-at-will state) will not be the norm.

MOO

I very much agree, unless you're in the practice of hiring a certain 'type' of employees. Who knows with this character.

 

[Madeleine74]

Let’s say that the CBI and the FBI have in their possession a reasonable amount of evidence against BM but they’re aware that the handling of the bike recovery scene that first night may raise some doubts.

If, and a big if the bike recovery scene was not handled in a professional manner by the Sheriffs Department, it opens a can of worms. Could this be a factor in delaying charges and could it also be putting pressure on LE to find even more evidence than what they already have?

It's not up to the CBI, the FBI, or the Sheriff. They investigate and collect evidence and turn it over to the DA's office.

Only the DA can determine when there's enough evidence. Only the DA or an assistant DA will present the case in a courtroom. A smart DA or Assistant DA can and will easily get around the handling of the bike, especially since the first responders were looking to help a potentially injured and missing woman when they found her bike, they weren't walking in assuming "abduction."

I can think of several questions they could ask each first responder on the stand, which would preempt and mitigate any accusations made by the defense about the bike.

Also, just because BM said the bike was mishandled doesn't make it true.

IMO