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

[OldCop]

I had seen your timeline post but our entries are different.

CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #14

I also had seen OldCop’s timeline but I wanted to add the links to sources. I definitely know where the timeline, media and map thread is lol.

Nice job. The links are always important.
I chose to do a timeline without them just so that it could be referred to at a glance in an easy to read format. Some things are still very much up in the air such as when SM last texted with her BFF. (Any time between Friday night and Saturday night.). The absence of some of the most crucial information has made the making of an absolute timeline virtually impossible at this point.

 

[Area52]

I think that’s a good analysis. What do you think he was trying to accomplish?

I think BM is nothing more than a bully. He didnt have the guts to face the people searching for his wife because he KNOW she will not be found. So instead, he tries to make himself look tough by means of carrying a weapon. I hope he can pull off that tough-guy look in prison, when he is without his side arm and being pursued as someone's side-piece. Karma is just around the bend! Moo

 

[Fireflize]

There were a couple articles written by different outlets (Fox affiliate and Crime Online).

Regardless of the headline, the articles themselves in no way implied that Barry threatened the searchers. They said that he was armed, and advised them of where the property line was.

The optics were awful. He knew full well that a search was taking place, and he was more concerned about where the searchers went, than what they were trying to do.

Find his missing wife.

So my criticism of him is not that he put people in fear, it’s the fact that he would be concerned about people trespassing on his property in the first place.

Why? Because these people were taking part in a search that Barry himself should have organized months prior. He should have been incredibly grateful, and greeted them with a handshake and his gourmet grilled peanut butter, as opposed to a warning and a gun.

It was a bad look, and showed exactly where his priorities are. “Stay off my lawn!”

Controlling. Tone deaf. Callous.

Great post. The point, to me, is not that he threatened the searchers.
Its that, instead of giving them thanks and a hand shake:
He gave them the bird.
He was compelled to do so.
He just couldn't help himself.
Speak volumes about his inner weaknesses.
It's who he is.
Moo

 

[Dalgliesh]

Nice job. The links are always important.
I chose to do a timeline without them just so that it could be referred to at a glance in an easy to read format. Some things are still very much up in the air such as when SM last texted with her BFF. (Any time between Friday night and Saturday night.). The absence of some of the most crucial information has made the making of an absolute timeline virtually impossible at this point.

Your timeline is excellent, @OldCop. A timeline showing all the variances from different sources (or even more from the same source) could be very revealing.

 

[missingm]

The neighbor then allegedly contacted BM and he asked her to go back and check if her bike was there. The neighbor checked, returned home, and called BM on her landline and told him the bike was gone. BM asked her to call LE

Snipped.
If the bike was missing, why call LE? Wouldn't you assume that she was out on a bike ride?

If you were worried regardless, why even ask about the bike?

 

[Fireflize]

Nice job. The links are always important.
I chose to do a timeline without them just so that it could be referred to at a glance in an easy to read format. Some things are still very much up in the air such as when SM last texted with her BFF. (Any time between Friday night and Saturday night.). The absence of some of the most crucial information has made the making of an absolute timeline virtually impossible at this point.

I want to see a time line after the arrest affidavit is released. Tapping my foot. LOL.

 

[OldCop]

I want to see a time line after the arrest affidavit is released. Tapping my foot. LOL.

You and me both.

 

[al66pine]

BM Asking about Bike?
Snipped from post (about 20? posts back) by @oviedo w timeline:
"... The neighbor then allegedly contacted BM and he asked her to go back and check if her bike was there. The neighbor checked, returned home, and called BM on her landline and told him the bike was gone. BM asked her to call LE..."

...If the bike was missing, why call LE? Wouldn't you assume that she was out on a bike ride? If you were worried regardless, why even ask about the bike?

@missingm sbm
Yes, if bike was not in garage, many ppl would conclude/presume SM was on bike ride and not in danger, no need for anyone (neighbor, or dau's or BM) to call 911/LE. But learning bike was missing, in conjunction w BM (or dau's or whoever) purportedly trying to reach SM on her cell but being unsuccessful multiple times, led BM to state he wanted (neighbor?) to summon 911/LE, because he purportedly believed SM was in danger (whether he did or did not explicitly state in his phone call w neighbor that he feared she became ill, had bike accident, was abducted, etc).

And, as you said, if BM was worried, then agreeing, no need to ask whether bike was in garage.

But if BM has some culpability in SM's disappearance, and
if bike was staged,
then BM's inquiry to neighbor about bike bolsters his suggestion/hint ---
- S&R/911 should look for bike and
- bike's location, when found, would be important clue for LE in eventually solving her disappearance.

Whether or not involved in SM's disappearance, BM may have been doing some convoluted thinking.
And either way, I've been doing some convoluted thinking about his convoluted thinking. jm2cts.
ETA: I am not sure who called who or when, and for ^ does not matter, but am focusing ^ on BM's possible thought process.

 

[OldCop]

BM Asking about Bike?
Snipped from post (about 20? posts back) by @oviedo w timeline:
... The neighbor then allegedly contacted BM and he asked her to go back and check if her bike was there. The neighbor checked, returned home, and called BM on her landline and told him the bike was gone. BM asked her to call LE...
@missingm sbm
Yes, if bike was not in garage, many ppl would conclude/presume SM was on bike ride and not in danger, no need for anyone (neighbor, or dau's or BM) to call 911/LE. But learning bike was missing, in conjunction w BM (or dau's or whoever) purportedly trying to reach SM on her cell but being unsuccessful multiple times, led BM to state he wanted (neighbor?) to summon 911/LE, because he purportedly believed SM was in danger (whether he did or did not explicitly state in his phone call w neighbor that he feared she became ill, had bike accident, was abducted, etc).

And, as you said, if BM was worried, then agreeing, no need to ask about the bike.

But if BM has some culpability in SM's disappearance, and
if bike was staged,
then BM's inquiry to neighbor about bike bolsters his suggestion/hint ---
- S&R/911 should look for bike and
- bike's location, when found, would be important clue for LE in eventually solving her disappearance.

Whether or not involved in SM's disappearance, BM may have been doing some convoluted thinking.
And either way, I've been doing some convoluted thinking about his convoluted thinking. jm2cts.

Barry’s version. (One of several.)
Transcription from BM’s video with TD

 

[al66pine]

Barry’s version. (One of several.)
Transcription from BM’s video with TD
View attachment 268994

@OldCop Thanks for locating transcript of BM's version so quickly. And BM's is one of several iterations of the events.
As my post said, some convoluted thinking. Maybe just mine?

 

[Fireflize]

@OldCop Thanks for locating transcript of BM's version so quickly.
As my post just above said, some convoluted thinking. Maybe just mine?

Not convoluted. I think your hinky meter is accurately calibrated.

 

[Error505]

I have been working on this timeline. Each entry is marked with 3 *** asterisks. This is only a portion of it. The rest has been posted in the media, maps and timeline thread and can be seen at this link:

CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 , MEDIA,MAPS,TIMELINE *NO DISCUSSION*

If you can fill out any of the blanks with sources please post the information here and tag me. Same with any errors that are found.

Suzanne Morphew timeline

*Mother’s Day weekend

***“Barry had worked on the beach site Friday evening,” Gentile said. “Saturday, he had asked me to clean it up and rake it out, because we were going to bring it out to level – so it would be a beach sand and not muck.”

https://www.fox21news.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2020/09/Beach-site.jpg?resize=876,492

***Branson said while her memory is sharp, her hearing is going. She said that’s why the loud noise she heard, in the middle of the night on Mother’s Day Weekend, sticks out in her mind.

Neighbors want answers two months into Chaffee County woman’s disappearance | FOX21 News Colorado

*May 9, 2020

***And, although Gentile had agreed to work in that area for the day, she said Barry dismissed her from the job early – at 11 a.m. “He said that he had to go make the wife happy – do some hiking or biking,” she said. “And I found out, like, later that day that he was in town all day.”

Gentile said she heard Barry was out shopping by himself.

“I’m not the other woman”: Second contractor speaks out about Suzanne Morphew investigation | FOX21 News Colorado

***Sometime between 1400 and 2100 hours, Suzanne Moorman Morphew is communicating with her best friend on social media about an upcoming wedding. According to reports, the communication suddenly stops. Sometime later, a number of social media communications occur from Suzanne'sprofile" but seem out of character to immediate family members and friends.

Suzanne Moorman Morphew

***Puckett mentioned he saw Barry in person on Saturday, May 9, and described the work he’d been hired to do, a project involving fixing a wall.

Suzanne Morphew’s husband left Denver hotel, contractor claims room was “reeking of chlorine” | FOX21 News Colorado

***“She was seen in town with Barry getting a sandwich at 4 p.m.,” Moorman said. “At midnight, somebody friended all of the guys my age on her Facebook at midnight.”

Suzanne Morphew’s brother shares new details about her last known sighting and strange activity on his sister’s Facebook page hours before she was reported missing

***Mail Online reports Barry checked into a hotel room on May 9th, 2020 in Broomfield, Colorado. However, this may be erroneous as it is not known when he checked in. Barry claims he last saw Suzanne on May 10th at or around 0500 hours.

Suzanne Moorman Morphew

Broomfield Holiday Inn

*May 10, 2020

***MG stated she heard Barry’s truck revving outside her residence at 4 am.
Andy stated Barry was texting at 4 am on his way to Broomfield.

***Suzanne's husband (Barry) reportedly leaves the home at 0500 hrs for a reported work assignment in Denver, Colorado. He remarks that he doesn't wake Suzanne. Reports say he texts Suzanne a Mother's Day greeting that goes unanswered. Hours later, Barry's daughters contact him and report that their attempts to reach Suzanne go unanswered. Barry contacts neighbor and asks her to check on Suzanne. Neighbor reports that she walked through house and can't locate her. She sees Suzanne and daughter’s vehicle there. According to reports, Barry asks neighbor to return and see if Suzanne's bike is missing, noting she may be on a bike ride. Neighbor confirms the bike is missing and the neighbor calls the local sheriff to conduct a welfare check.

Suzanne Moorman Morphew

***Biker saw a suspicious vehicle, car did not belong there, on Mother’s Day on the same road Suzanne’s bike is found. He reports the siting to law enforcement. This is the link to the interview with the biker: Timestamp 00:40

Authorities cordon off home of missing Chaffee County woman | FOX31 Denver

***Speaking in an exclusive interview, Puckett told DailyMail.com: ‘I got there Sunday night and the room smelled like chlorine real bad.

Husband of missing Colorado mom spent the night before her disappearance at cheap Denver hotel | Daily Mail Online

*** She again consented to the work and traveled with one of his contractors, JP, to the project.

Suspected ‘Other Woman' in Missing Colorado Mom’s Case Denies Affair Accusations

Employee of Suzanne Morphew's husband DENIES they were having an affair after Colorado mom vanished | Daily Mail Online

***Speaking with Fox 21, Barry admitted that the room smelled strongly of chlorine, but claims he had nothing to do with the stench.

'I'm not going to beat around the bush: it smelled [of chlorine] real strong,' he conceded.

Employee of Suzanne Morphew's husband DENIES they were having an affair after Colorado mom vanished | Daily Mail Online

***DailyMail.com can reveal Jeff Puckett, a co-worker of Barry’s, took over his hotel room on May 10 and found it scattered with wet towels and stinking of chlorine

A manager at the property confirmed to DailyMail.com that they do not use chlorine to clean guest rooms

The co-worker also discovered a pile of mail in the room – including a letter about property insurance – and later turned it over to the FBI

Husband of missing Colorado mom spent the night before her disappearance at cheap Denver hotel | Daily Mail Online

***Barry called again around 6:10 p.m. “Barry said that he had been up there all day, like getting the job ready for us,” Gentile said. And, he also told Gentile, he was leaving. There’d been a family emergency, he said. He left some tools behind, at the hotel.

“I’m not the other woman”: Second contractor speaks out about Suzanne Morphew investigation | FOX21 News Colorado

Excellent post. Thank you!

 

[Warwick7]

I think that’s a good analysis. What do you think he was trying to accomplish?

Answer: Being antagonistically passive-aggressive.

 

[Warwick7]

Here is my unasked for take on the article headlined ‘Barry threatened searchers‘.

Personally, I interpreted the article as he was intimidating searchers. Didn’t get the feeling he verbally threatened anyone. Maybe it was a clickbait title, but the report itself was not confusing.

As to fearing people carrying guns. It’s about context. If I’m hiking in the woods and encounter a person with a rifle, I assume they are small game hunting, if in season. Otherwise, it’s for personal protection.

But if I’m hosting a children’s party at an urban McDonald’s and someone comes in with a rifle over their shoulder, my mind goes to a mass shooter. That’s not unreasonable or overly fearful by me. It’s just common sense.

During the search, unarmed citizens were searching for a missing woman. To encounter the very husband of the person I am searching for carrying a rifle would be alarming to me, at the very least. I would feel intimidated.

The husband was within his rights to open carry. Searchers were within their rights to report what they saw. The media was within their rights to make it a story. And we can discuss it here to infinity.

It is what it is.

jmo

Amen!!!!!!!!

 

[10ofRods]

@MassGuy - I see and read in the headline of this attached article that AM was threatened by BM, but I do not read that in the body of the article. The body of the article quoted Andy as saying coming across BM shouldering a gun. AM never used the words threaten, and having a gun shouldered in plain sight (open carry) especially on one’s own property in CO is absolutely legal. There was no perceived threat if BM was shouldering a gun, as is stated/quoted in the article.

if you hike/ ATV, fish, camp etc in CO you are quite likely to come across a person carrying a weapon on their person. Commonplace. I’ve seen it dozens of times, often assault rifles- if they are not drawn or brandished or specifically somehow directed to you, it’s not your business. I know this is difficult for non gun owners or anti gun people to comprehend- understandably. If you are not accustomed to firearms and come across someone shouldering an assault rifle it would be jarring, but it’s not a threat. Even if you “feel” it is. That’s your feeling- it’s not the way the laws are currently written in CO.

The headline of that article is either poorly edited or total clickbait- I choose the latter.

The misinformation/misleading information in this case is starting to pile high - gossip is abound. I loathe when this begins. One must be careful what they read and what they repeat -and the source, not everything is reliable. This is a great example. JMO.

I think you mean assault-style rifles, I hope.

Colorado's law on menacing requires that the weapon-toting person have intent to menace - not that the other party feels menaced. Difficult to enforce and really beside the point in a case like this one.

However, we are perfectly at liberty to hypothesize about what BM was thinking that day.

I have lived with guns around all my life (dad and uncles are from Colorado - many stories). I am perfectly okay with a holstered sidearm, or a shouldered long gun. Neither seems unusual to me. However, there are things about BM that appear off to me and I sure would like to know what the heck he was thinking that day. Did he form the intention to intimidate? Like several others here, I'm interested in BM's psychological states.

If BM was worried for his own safety, maybe one day he'll do more explaining. He seems to like to explain. I find it hard to believe that he just coincidentally showed up at the house (which he no longer occupied on the daily) just to walk around with his rifle. I think he intended to keep searchers off his property and instead of merely using words and gestures, he brought a rifle.

But did he intend to scare people? Did he see the rifle as adding punctuation to a message? I do not for a minute buy that this was just his daily pattern of checking his property. He clearly wanted to keep people off his property - but did he want to scare them off?

We may never know, although at the rate BM keeps talking to various persons, perhaps we will learn more.

 

[ethereal*22]

Answer: Being antagonistically passive-aggressive.

@Warwick7 - Ughhhh! Such a nasty habit!

 

[10ofRods]

Snipped.
If the bike was missing, why call LE? Wouldn't you assume that she was out on a bike ride?

If you were worried regardless, why even ask about the bike?

This is such an interesting question. It belongs to a cluster of questions regarding that first day of "Suzanne is missing." Why would the family think she was missing if her bike wasn't at home? Didn't she go on bike rides frequently? Was she completely rigid about when and how long these rides were?

Everyone else is gone, she's at home alone (according to BM's story). Why not go for a long bike ride? The daughters must have thought something unusual was up. They probably thought she had a mishap on her bike. Calling LE right away (as opposed to calling BM's good friend, GD, who lives nearby and is called to the scene after LE is called) is interesting.

I also think it's hard to explain why LE was so certain that Suzanne was not suicidal. With cheerful people, it's sometimes hard to assess if they are suicidal or not. Marital conflict is a frequent source of depression and suicidal ideation. In fact, if it is true that Suzanne was attending DV group meetings, that's a huge concern. BM suggests abduction or mountain lion - but never suicide. Why not? And why is LE so convinced it wasn't a suicide?

In other missing person cases here on WS, when a woman simply up and disappears, it at least gets discussed - but due to BM's odd behavior, due to him never suggesting such a thing, and due to LE ruling it out early on - I must say I cannot fathom what it was, on those first couple of days, that led them to this conclusion. We even hear that she had a former history of depression and that BM took a negative stance against her using anti-depressants.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I also think it's hard to explain why LE was so certain that Suzanne was not suicidal. With cheerful people, it's sometimes hard to assess if they are suicidal or not. Marital conflict is a frequent source of depression and suicidal ideation. In fact, if it is true that Suzanne was attending DV group meetings, that's a huge concern. BM suggests abduction or mountain lion - but never suicide. Why not? And why is LE so convinced it wasn't a suicide?

In other missing person cases here on WS, when a woman simply up and disappears, it at least gets discussed - but due to BM's odd behavior, due to him never suggesting such a thing, and due to LE ruling it out early on - I must say I cannot fathom what it was, on those first couple of days, that led them to this conclusion. We even hear that she had a former history of depression and that BM took a negative stance against her using anti-depressants.

These are excellent points! And they sent my mind directly to some other thoughts:

One reason, possibly, to not suggest suicide is that if her body is eventually found, it might be immediately apparent it wasn't suicide (ie buried, etc.)

Similarly, he could have claimed she must have left him, which also can be a motivation difficult for outsiders to know if it's realistic or not. Then if enough time passes before her body is eventually found, it could be asserted that something else must have happened to cause her death well after she left, like maybe getting involved with someone else, so that any evidence of violence against her couldn't be conclusively linked to him.

MOO

 

[10ofRods]

@10ofRods - Yet the headline of the article is blatantly inaccurate. It uses the word threaten- upon reading the quote from AM, he does not say he or anyone was threatened.
So did the reporters who printed it lie? Possibly to get “clicks” or views. Or maybe it was completely ethical and all a complete miscommunication. Who really knows?! The truth is so hard to come by.

Nothing I've said is related to the headline - I read the article at another source.

All of my comments are about BM, Colorado law, the difficulty of enforcing or citing for that law, and how I would really like to know what was going on in BM's head.

 

[10ofRods]

These are excellent points! And they sent my mind directly to some other thoughts:

One reason, possibly, to not suggest suicide is that if her body is eventually found, it might be immediately apparent it wasn't suicide (ie buried, etc.)

Similarly, he could have claimed she must have left him, which also can be a motivation difficult for outsiders to know if it's realistic or not. Then if enough time passes before her body is eventually found, it could be asserted that something else must have happened to cause her death well after she left, like maybe getting involved with someone else, so that any evidence of violence against her couldn't be conclusively linked to him.

MOO

You are so smart (over and over). I never thought of the body disposal as related to what BM might have insisted about Suzanne's mental health (she was happy, she was cancer free, it was Mother's Day, she had something special planned for the daughters, etc).

If manner of body disposal is at issue, then I bet manner of death (at least if body was found initially) would be as well.

Your last paragraph is chilling - but yes, definitely complicates this case beyond measure.