Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #50

[OldCop]

7 months in and they're still investigating her social media... smh

It’s amazing how long it takes to wade through all the social media stuff. First you have to identify what sites she was on, then you have to be able to show probable cause that the information contained in the sm records could provide evidence in the case, then you have to write affidavits for the search warrants, then you have to wait for the warrant to be issued, then you have to serve the warrants, then you have to wait to get the records back, then you have to start poring over every post and contact. Those often lead you to new sites and new contacts. Then the process starts again with more affidavits and more warrants. You need to identify the contacts who may be using bogus names. You need to do interviews and follow up interviews. Add to this very long delays at the digital forensics labs because of Covid.
I’m not surprised they’re still investigating her social media. In fact, I’m glad they are. It means the investigation is continuing.

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

IMO, this was used. She's buried vertically. It's always been my suspicion for some weird reason. And he pre-dug a hole, then covered it with boulders. It's absolutely terrifying to see that machine in motion. (Just my own personal speculation based on not much, but ugh.)

For some reason, the idea of being buried vertically really gives me the creeps; more so than any of the other disturbing aspects of Suzanne’s case.

 

[coastal]

The hydraulic connections can be tough if there under to much pressure, not lined up right, pop back out, dirty or just trying to hard, most of the time its quick, can also be messy. In simple terms its sliding a 'collar' back on the connector, pushing in the connection and then the collar snaps back retaining the connector and helping it seal. If that makes sense.

What does hydraulic oil smell like, if you know? TIA

 

[Megnut]

You know what would be interesting to see? A list of heavy equipment and any attachments in use around the start of May at the Salida jobsite, in particular what was parked onsite over MDW.

And whether any of it went on an unscheduled, unauthorized moonlit field trip.

JustSomeThingsToThinkAbout JMO

 

[Hoss569]

What does hydraulic oil smell like, if you know? TIA

From my experience the smell is similar to regular motor oil, not much of a scent at all. But if there is a smell there is something wrong.

 

[Dave F.]

Having grown up about thirty minutes from the Salida area, and IMO; it would be tough to quickly auger a hole, bury something, fill it in and make it look like nothing happened. Unless its a construction site... There is very little "soil" above the valley floor and not much in the valley for that matter. Now in Broomfield ...

JMO

Having used a power post hole augur way more than once, I'm in agreement. Certainly not in the Salida area. Perhaps in the foothills, surely in flatland country...........so yeah, Broomfield works. Just bore the hole, pop the body in, and fillerup! Wave at the thousands of vehicles on the Boulder turnpike and vamoose! IMO

 

[Hoss569]

For some reason the idea of being buried vertically really gives me the creeps; more so than any of the other disturbing aspects of Suzanne’s case.

Well, the idea of being buried by a significant other, gives me the creeps.

 

[Dave F.]

I don't want to seem like I'm exagerating the traffic on the Boulder Turnpike at Broomfield. It's somewhere over 74,000 vehicles per day. So, for every minute that he spent doing something suspicious at the Broomfield jobsite, he would only attract 50 potential witnesses. If he has ever used an augur before, he should have been able to do the job in ten minutes, so that's only 500 witnesses that he would have to worry about. IMO

The mother of all cone zones: Reconstruction of U.S. 36 starts this week – Colorado Hometown Weekly

 

[Minordetails]

You have 6 hrs to hide the dead body of your spouse. You have an alibi but police aren’t buying your story. They are on you within 24 hrs and call in the FBI for extra help. Think you could do it?

I don’t care what the terrain is, or what kind of equipment is at your disposal, you need some combination of careful planning, premeditation and blind luck to pull this off.

JMO

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

You have 6 hrs to hide the dead body of your spouse. You have an alibi but police aren’t buying your story. They are on you within 24 hrs and call in the FBI for extra help. Think you could do it?

I don’t care what the terrain is, or what kind of equipment is at your disposal, you need some combination of careful planning, premeditation and blind luck to pull this off.

JMO

...and all of the tools, equipment and machinery, dirt, rocks and knowledge of remote places.

 

[DizzyB]

...and all of the tools, equipment and machinery, dirt, rocks and knowledge of remote places.

Plenty of remote places-CO is vast and wooded. But how to get there without being tracked in any way is the stumper. Could not have carried a cell phone, and had to be in a vehicle that did not have GPS, or didn’t belong to the killer.

 

[10ofRods]

Plenty of remote places-CO is vast and wooded. But how to get there without being tracked in any way is the stumper. Could not have carried a cell phone, and had to be in a vehicle that did not have GPS, or didn’t belong to the killer.

E-bike.


With a trailer accessory.

Would work, has no GPS, can go many places that other vehicles can't go...

 

[Hoss569]

You have 6 hrs to hide the dead body of your spouse. You have an alibi but police aren’t buying your story. They are on you within 24 hrs and call in the FBI for extra help. Think you could do it?

I don’t care what the terrain is, or what kind of equipment is at your disposal, you need some combination of careful planning, premeditation and blind luck to pull this off.

JMO

I dont think it was pulled off.

It would be interesting to see the disclosure statement on the house and if he has placed any restrictive covenant's on the house/property. The timeline, IMO, still has me thinking she is close to home.

I kind of think they(LE) are under the gun with the house being placed up for sale. They may not have enough to stop the sale of the house. May possibly be letting the cat out of the bag if they do stop the sale of the house as well.

The information they need may be in the social media, and they may not be looking for something related to her disappearance; but rather to buy time. I wonder if they prove an incident of DV in the home, could they get an injunction to stop the sale of the home to allow them more time to finalize things? Search it again once they do get more info back? I think forensics and covid could be causing a delay as well.

 

[osu]

E-bike.


With a trailer accessory.

Would work, has no GPS, can go many places that other vehicles can't go...

I’ve read that many elk/deer hunters are now using e-bikes during their hunts. They’re faster to get around with in the woods, extremely quiet and they’re able to easier haul their gear or kill in the little trailer they pull behind.

JMO

 

[MassGuy]

I dont think it was pulled off.

It would be interesting to see the disclosure statement on the house and if he has placed any restrictive covenant's on the house/property. The timeline, IMO, still has me thinking she is close to home.

I kind of think they(LE) are under the gun with the house being placed up for sale. They may not have enough to stop the sale of the house. May possibly be letting the cat out of the bag if they do stop the sale of the house as well.

The information they need may be in the social media, and they may not be looking for something related to her disappearance; but rather to buy time. I wonder if they prove an incident of DV in the home, could they get an injunction to stop the sale of the home to allow them more time to finalize things? Search it again once they do get more info back? I think forensics and covid could be causing a delay as well.

I don’t think that house is going to be sold soon, and I don’t believe law enforcement is worried if it is.

They executed two search warrants there, and likely obtained every bit of evidence they could. That second search warrant could potentially have been based on evidence recovered during that first search.

I don’t foresee a third search warrant being necessary.

 

[mom2chloe]

From my experience the smell is similar to regular motor oil, not much of a scent at all. But if there is a smell there is something wrong.

IYHO would this smell you indicate be a working smell or an equipment charging smell? TIA MOO

 

[al66pine]

Disclosure? Covenant? Delay PP house sale?

...It would be interesting to see the disclosure statement on the house and if he has placed any restrictive covenant's on the house/property.... I kind of think they(LE) are under the gun with the house being placed up for sale. They may not have enough to stop the sale of the house. May possibly be letting the cat out of the bag if they do stop the sale of the house as well... I wonder if they prove an incident of DV in the home, could they get an injunction to stop the sale of the home to allow them more time to finalize things? Search it again once they do get more info back? ...

@Hoss569 sbm Interesting angles.
1. Link to CO. form: Sellers Property Disclosure (Residential) (SPD19) writable.pdf. Anything there that should elicit info about SM's disappearance? Or about __?
2. Sorry to be dense, but what sort of covenant are you thinking about, that a home seller could impose applying only to his buyer or to that home/property? How/what would it help BM?
3. How could LE delay/prevent sale, on what basis? How would it help LE investigation. Anyone?
If LE gathers further info providing cause for a 3rd or further search warrant, and if judge signs, then LE can search pursuant to S.Wt. If it happens pre-sale/pre-closing, a-searching they will go, imo.
After a sale? In some homicide cases where LE suspected owner of leaving/placing/hiding remains or weapon in a house subsequently sold, I recall LE obtained search warrants for the homes, and located or tried to locate certain evd, despite new owners being in home. Sorry no links, just recalling a few where LE searches were not terribly invasive, not digging up acres of lawn, not tearing out drywall in multiple rooms, not busting up concrete slabs. For something that invasive, disruptive, causing extensive damage, requiring expensive repairs, I'd understand a judge's reluctance to sign S.Wt., w a new owner in place. Not saying LE could or could not obtain S.Wt in this case w new owners. Maybe LE could present some verrry compelling reasons for a judge to sign. jmo

Welcoming comment, clarification, correction, esp from our LE & legal professionals. TiA.

_____________________________________
* I'm familiar w types of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, which run w the land and apply to all homes in the subdivision.
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. and Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions - FindLaw

 

[mom2chloe]

Plenty of remote places-CO is vast and wooded. But how to get there without being tracked in any way is the stumper. Could not have carried a cell phone, and had to be in a vehicle that did not have GPS, or didn’t belong to the killer.

An old school landscaper who had previously traversed this or any terrain would know well what he could get away with. He would cover his tracks well unless someone else was onto him. I don’t believe this for a second but I also
Put nothing past BM. Sadly.

 

[Hoss569]

Disclosure? Covenant? Delay PP house sale?
@Hoss569 sbm Interesting angles.
1. Link to CO. form: Sellers Property Disclosure (Residential) (SPD19) writable.pdf. Anything there that should elicit info about SM's disappearance? Or about __?
2. Sorry to be dense, but what sort of covenant are you thinking about, that a home seller could impose applying only to his buyer or to that home/property? How/what would it help BM?
3. How could LE delay/prevent sale, on what basis? How would it help LE investigation. Anyone?
If LE gathers further info providing cause for a 3rd or further search warrant, and if judge signs, then LE can search pursuant to S.Wt. If it happens pre-sale/pre-closing, a-searching they will go, imo.
After a sale? In some homicide cases where LE suspected owner of leaving/placing/hiding remains or weapon in a house subsequently sold, I recall LE obtained search warrants for the homes, and located or tried to locate certain evd, despite new owners being in home. Sorry no links, just recalling a few where LE searches were not terribly invasive, not digging up acres of lawn, not tearing out drywall in multiple rooms, not busting up concrete slabs. For something that invasive, disruptive, causing extensive damage, requiring expensive repairs, I'd understand a judge's reluctance to sign S.Wt., w a new owner in place. Not saying LE could or could not obtain S.Wt in this case w new owners. Maybe LE could present some verrry compelling reasons for a judge to sign. jmo

Welcoming comment, clarification, correction, esp from our LE & legal professionals. TiA.

_____________________________________
* I'm familiar w types of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, which run w the land and apply to all homes in the subdivision.
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. and Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions - FindLaw

From what I understand on number 2, a restrictive covenant could be written into a deed with something as simple as you can only paint the house these certain colors. It could also be something more complex like don't ever move or disturb that retaining wall or that fresh pile of rocks...

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Isn't this just a little far-fetched? This is a Kubota loader with a Land Pride post hole auger attachment........BM doesn't own either and the nearest dealer for them is Monte Vista Co-op Equipment which is 85 miles away. IMO

Kubota by Land Pride | Land Pride

You could be a Verified Insider, Dave, if you know, which machines and tools BM owns.