Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #51

[PhoebeTries]

Barbara Thomas has been found, when I had given up hope, dear Lord please let Suzanne be next...

 

[OldCop]

I still think so, @OldCop! That property is the only place he would have had possibly days(?) to dig and cover his tracks meticulously, without it even looking strange. The fact that the yard and driveway have both (obviously, from pics) been recently worked on by BM just gives this line of thinking more credence, in my opinion. Couldn't he have raked flat- flat- flat any tracks his Bobcat made? Is that possible to do @Trackergd with such precision that LE might have missed it back in May?

I wonder if there were Bobcat tracks around the yard and driveway on May 10. Shouldn't there have been some since it was parked in the driveway, and not on the trailer? Absence of tracks would be fishy, too.

When was the driveway prepared for resurfacing? Before or after Suzanne disappeared? It's definitely been resurfaced now, bc it looked totally different in the realty photos.

Moo.

Lots of good questions here, @swedeheart. @Trackergd made some good points about dirt analysis as well as the Bobcat tracks.

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

I’m not an expert in wood chippers. Never used one myself, so maybe I’m way off base on this; but it seems like a messy form of disposal. Wouldn’t blood, crushed bone and human tissue seep into any seam on the machine? It seems like pulverized human would coat every surface. Gah, sorry it’s so morbid.

 

[Minordetails]

True, but suppose there had been an MSM news preview video clip showing the neighbor’s son stating that he arrived from out of town to visit his mother on Saturday and she had told him about hearing the noises? Suppose that clip has been taken down so we can’t talk about it?
If there had been such a clip, was the news station asked to remove it as LE was trying to see if BM tripped up on his timeline?
MOO

I’m not a cop, so I’m asking, is this a regular occurrence? Where LE would communicate with a MSM news company and ask them to remove a particular video?
I feel that this is extremely rare and a dangerous precedent for companies to follow, unless something false has been reported.
It cant be just a matter of of calling the company and asking, “Could you please remove that video? It would really help us.”

 

[LietKynes]

I’m not an expert in wood chippers. Never used one myself, so maybe I’m way off base on this; but it seems like a messy form of disposal. Wouldn’t blood, crushed bone and human tissue seep into any seam on the machine? It seems like pulverized human would coat every surface. Gah, sorry it’s so morbid.

Emph. mine.
I understand and agree.

At the end of the day this is a true crime site and there will be speculation about how the perp tried to get away with the crime and what may have happened to the missing person.
The facts of what was done to many victims are difficult to follow.
I think Kelsey Berreth's case was one of the most heinous.
Wish I could say Suzanne's will be different.

But let's say a fight happened and she fell and hit her head and passed away.
No outright murder and no visible injuries.
Why hide her and lie about one's whereabouts ?

Warning-- Graphic post follows :



In the R. Crafts' case his wife was frozen for a time but thank god some fingernails and bone slivers were recovered.
I had read that he didn't freeze her long enough.
Despicable monster.
And to think that he's up for parole.

If this or any other horror happened to Suzanne, I want everything the perp did to be laid out at a trial and no escape or lying his (the perp's) way out of it !
Imo.

 

[OldCop]

I’m not a cop, so I’m asking, is this a regular occurrence? Where LE would communicate with a MSM news company and ask them to remove a particular video?
I feel that this is extremely rare and a dangerous precedent for companies to follow, unless something false has been reported.
It cant be just a matter of of calling the company and asking, “Could you please remove that video? It would really help us.”

No, it’s not common, but LE has done it before. LE is well aware of freedom of the press and would not/should not ask the press to pull a story. They might ask a news outlet to temporarily hold a story that may effect a criminal investigation. Larger departments have personnel assigned to a Media Relations Unit. Smaller departments may have a media spokesman or not. If it is not a story that will greatly affect the public or that might indicate police wrongdoing, the reporter or press organization may be willing to withhold some information for LE. Most reporters that cover the police and crimes know that a good relationship with a Department will give them good leads and breaking news alerts, sometimes an inside scoop.
On the flip side, LE agencies that have a good relationship with the local media know that cooperation is also an indication of transparency, that good media relations will help contribute to unbiased reporting.
In this particular hypothetical that we were talking about, I don’t think anyone besides BM and LE, (and we WSers), would have a lot of interest in that tiny, but important tidbit. MOO

 

[OldCop]

When interviewed by LE, I assume BM would have been asked questions like...
Were you and Suzanne together on the evening of May 9? How did you spend the evening? Was Suzanne on her phone? Did you go to bed at the same time? When did you first ask her if it would be alright if you left early Sunday morning to prep that Broomfield job site?

Is there a possibility that a video of BM’s answers to these questions would be shared at a trial, if he’s caught lying?

All good questions, @Minordetails, that I’m sure were asked. I think that videos of these interviews very well could be shown at trial, particularly if they could prove that he was lying. I’ve always thought BM left his phone at home with SM’s while he ran around on Saturday evening/early Sunday. And he thought he was very smart to do this.
“Yes officer, I was home with my wife all night. We had a quiet evening talking and reading.”
Did he forget about the gps in his truck or possibly on the Bobcat?
At what point did BM’s and SM’s phones separate? What time was SM’s phone shut off? LE knows.
MOO

 

[kittythehare]

I agree, @Minordetails. There are definitely holes in the Friday night theory. The wedding conversation plays a big role in this. The bff became concerned about something in their conversations. Was there a sudden cutoff as has been reported with an impersonation attempt by BM later? If SM died suddenly Friday night, the bff may have been texting her and getting no reply. When BM realized this on Saturday, did he then attempt to converse with the bff to (unsuccessfully) make her think she was talking with Suzanne? The strange friend requests and PYMK posts that went out to some of BM’s contacts from SM’s account late on Saturday could indicate that BM signed into SM’s account from his own phone. All speculation of course.
The other hole in the Friday night theory is the alleged lunch of BM and SM on Saturday afternoon in Salida. This was reported by AM but has never been confirmed. According to MG, BM was running around Salida Saturday afternoon and he was alone. Also, JP never mentioned that SM was with BM when BM approached him in Salida on Saturday afternoon about the Broomfield job.
In the Friday night theory I’m trying to use the bits of info we have: BM worked at the Salida site on Friday night, BM had MG rake out the beach area on Saturday morning, BM cut the Saturday workday short with MG saying he had to go home and make his wife happy by taking her hiking or biking. Why was BM acting so anxious at the job site Saturday morning? Had he done something bad Friday night? Or was he planning on doing something bad on Saturday night?
Of course we have all the bizarre behavior on Saturday night to shore up the Saturday night theory as well as the possibility that she was talking to her friend on Saturday morning, (and having lunch in town).
Although I’m on the fence, I’m starting to lean towards a Friday night murder. I don’t think it was preplanned, probably a fit of rage over something. Saturday was spent cleaning up, disposing of evidence, and forming an alibi. I think BM went to the Salida worksite on Saturday morning and tried to pretend everything was normal. His talk about taking SM out was meant to show she was alive and well at that time. I think his nerves were obvious. He had lots to do and couldn’t keep up with the charade any longer. That’s why he sent MG home.
I think the 4:00 a.m. call or visit to MG’s house on Sunday morning was because he was at his breaking point. He was exhausted. He was trying to remember if he covered everything. I think he was appalled at what he had done; it was really sinking in. I think he thought of telling MG but then thought better of it. He pulled away and then called about working in Broomfield on Sunday. Asked her to pull a crew together. Told her that he had already talked to JP about it.
He was a wreck. I think that’s why MG said it sounded like he had just had the worst night of his life.
This is another reason why I’m leaning towards Friday night. Why wouldn’t BM tell MG on Saturday morning about the Broomfield job? I think he hadn’t totally thought his plan through yet. By the time he ran into JP in Salida later on Saturday afternoon, he had formulated the plan. He wanted to be out of town when she was reported missing.
All these theories are my mental exercises; trying to make the pieces fit. Some of the pieces are missing. Some might even belong to a different puzzle.
MOO

Brilliant reading! I like your Friday night theory too. It 'fits'.

 

[MassGuy]

I’m not an expert in wood chippers. Never used one myself, so maybe I’m way off base on this; but it seems like a messy form of disposal. Wouldn’t blood, crushed bone and human tissue seep into any seam on the machine? It seems like pulverized human would coat every surface. Gah, sorry it’s so morbid.

It’s incredibly rare on the whole, and probably the worst way to dispose of a body. It leaves tremendous evidence in its wake, and would require that machine to disappear as well.

If anything like that happened, I absolutely believe we would have seen an arrest months ago.

 

[CocoChanel]

MOD NOTE:

PLEASE STOP DISCUSSING THE CHILDREN OF SUZANNE MORPHEW. THEY ARE OFF LIMITS ON THIS DISCUSSION BOARD.
DOING SO WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR MEMBERSHIP AT WEBSLEUTHS.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I agree, @Tumbleweed. We know a Bobcat has a role somewhere in this case. If it wasn’t important, it wouldn’t have made BM twitchy enough that he brought it up himself.
As for the PP landscaping, I am not impressed with this millionaire landscaper. It has more hardscaping and looks very blah. A lot of the work there looks recent, but he couldn’t have been that stupid to bury his wife there. Or could he?
I wonder if @Trackergd has any thought on the gravel and Bobcat tracks?

Depending on the gravel size (screen size) and how well it's compacted, the bobcat may not leave much in the way of tracks. It may be off the trailer so that it does not leak oil onto the trailer deck. I would be much more interested in any dirt that may have been washed off of the bobcat and now in the gravel. Is it consistent with the PP property, the river bank or somewhere else? Same with any dirt on the bottom or any openings in the frame.

Your posts have brought a few thoughts to mind. I am more and more inclined to agree with your Friday night theory. If we consider the possibility that the BFF was fooled into thinking she was conversing with SM when it was actually BM, all Saturday, is there anything else that doesn't fit with a Friday night murder theory?

I can think of two reasons why the Bobcat wasn't parked on the trailer.

One would be if the trailer had been needed for some other purpose.

Another would be if the last use of the Bobcat was there at the property itself.

Which brings me to something else that's been bugging me. If the yellow tape being tied to the Bobcat isn't intended to protect any evidence on the Bobcat itself (in which case I assume the tape would have gone AROUND the Bobcat without touching it), then what WAS the tape protecting?

It appears to be blocking the upper part of the path from the house/patio down toward the creek. So I wonder, is there anything unusual about that path? Did they find some of the rocks disturbed or recently replaced?

Presumably they didn't find SM buried there or we would know that, but perhaps there is something else of significance relating to that path?

If not, what was the purpose of that zig-zagged yellow tape?

MOO

 

[al66pine]

WD Verdict Preceding Crim Trials: A Unicorn? Family Ties.

I believe in the Gary Triano/Pam Phillips case a successful wrongful death suit was filed by two of Triano's children against his ex-wife Phillips and the hitman well before they were arrested. They ended up being awarded $10 million. I don't know that any new evidence was uncovered by the suit, but I think some people credit it with giving the prosecutors the confidence to file murder charges. If nothing else, it's a chance to see how the evidence plays to a jury, even if the burden of proof is different. And it obviously brings attention to the case again.

@O.Incandenza Thx for your post, esp'ly for link and a good observation about a sneak preview of sorts for the prosecution. Parties in Triona case had different relationships from (hypo) WD case re SM: Triano's 'children' who brought WD action did not file against their natural Mother for Father's death, but against their deceased father's ex-wife (is she ex StepMother or StepMother?) & hitman. Thanks for finding a death in which civil WD verdict preceded crim murder trial. Unicorn.

Back to SM.
___________________________________________________________
Twists & Turns. An unusual sequence of events.
- Nov. 1993 divorce Gary Triano from Pam Phillips.
- Nov 1996 Gary's car bomb death.
- Nov 2007 Gary's children (then age 21+, from marriage #1) file WD civil case vs (ex?) step-mo. Pam & hitman Ron Young,
- Nov 2009 jury award of $10 mil. for children.
- AZ arrests for Gary's murder: Oct 2008, hitman Ron; Dec 2009, Pam.
- AZ trials: Feb-Mar 2010 Ron found guilty, original sentence = Life, after appeal, modified to 25 yr - Life.
May 2014 Pam found guilty, sentence = Life-WOP.
^ info from Associated Press & CBS News, copied at Pamela Phillips | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

 

[Boxer]

I'm still trying to picture a scenario where a person would first, have the stomach to perform this action (woodchipper) and have the absolute privacy to do so. I'm sure their are some cases that can be cited where the person used a woodchipper on a person while their neighbor was right there, close by. IMO, this is not a common way to dispose of a body and would leave an enormous mess. I also don't even know if a woodchipper would honestly be able to push through human bones, especially weight bearing bones. Wood is completely different.

I feed my dogs an all raw diet. My senior boy gets his ground now, bone and all. We have an actual meat grinder. It's a process even with that. IMO

True, but suppose there had been an MSM news preview video clip showing the neighbor’s son stating that he arrived from out of town to visit his mother on Saturday and she had told him about hearing the noises? Suppose that clip has been taken down so we can’t talk about it?
If there had been such a clip, was the news station asked to remove it as LE was trying to see if BM tripped up on his timeline?
MOO

IIRC the son said he arrived on Sunday for Mothers' Day.

 

[Dalgliesh]

Justice is often sought most by those closest to the victim. When those who are closest to the victim are silent, or appear indifferent, then what’s the rush? We got a distant brother, a couple of retired cops, some youtubers, a between jobs reporter, and some websleuthers who are all vocalizing their desire for justice. Where are the voices that matter?

All voices matter, IMO. As for BM, he has been more forthcoming than many in his position, not hiring a mouthpiece, giving press interviews that criticize the investigation and proclaim his innocence, posting a substantial award announcement, etc. and he's rewarded by a chorus of boos from the social media crowd, harassment from drones and investigative journalists, severe criticism from the talking heads of true crime media, and a continuation of the focus on him to the apparent exclusion of all other alternatives. I don't have any particular sympathy for him at this point, but I understand why a reasonable person in BM's position - and his family and friends - might not continue an activity that has only negative results.

In contrast, family members who are not the subjects of an investigation get admiration, sympathy, support, and amplification from everyone. It's easy to see how they can sustain their efforts to keep the issue in the public eye, even in the face of their grief.

I really can't credit the criticism that BM isn't speaking out on media, demanding that LE find his wife.

 

[Minordetails]

All voices matter, IMO. As for BM, he has been more forthcoming than many in his position, not hiring a mouthpiece, giving press interviews that criticize the investigation and proclaim his innocence, posting a substantial award announcement, etc. and he's rewarded by a chorus of boos from the social media crowd, harassment from drones and investigative journalists, severe criticism from the talking heads of true crime media, and a continuation of the focus on him to the apparent exclusion of all other alternatives. I don't have any particular sympathy for him at this point, but I understand why a reasonable person in BM's position - and his family and friends - might not continue an activity that has only negative results.

In contrast, family members who are not the subjects of an investigation get admiration, sympathy, support, and amplification from everyone. It's easy to see how they can sustain their efforts to keep the issue in the public eye, even in the face of their grief.

I really can't credit the criticism that BM isn't speaking out on media, demanding that LE find his wife.

If BM didn’t do it, then he didn’t do it and he has nothing to fear. He should be able to do a live interview with LS or Dr. Phil and answer all their questions. He wouldn’t be comprising the investigation in any way. He could even shed a tear or two and tell the world he misses Suzanne. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Dalgliesh]

If BM didn’t do it, then he didn’t do it and he has nothing to fear. He should be able to do a live interview with LS or Dr. Phil and answer all their questions. He wouldn’t be comprising the investigation in any way. He could even shed a tear or two and tell the world he misses Suzanne. What could possibly go wrong?

Much could go wrong, when you're a relatively inarticulate hardscaper with no media training, and when everybody but the coast guard is trying hard to make you look guilty and look good themselves.

He definitely couldn't expect the AM treatment. If I were him - guilty or innocent - I'd go on doing what he's doing - passing out flyers and in the spring, beginning again to look for his wife and/or conduct his own investigation - all without a press release or photos. Anything else will look like more clumsy media management.

He won't be baited again by criticism that he will "look guilty" if he doesn't play the media's game. There has never been a real opportunity to avoid "looking guilty" in media coverage - only the opportunity to answer "howoftendidyoubeatyourwife beforeyoukilledher" - type questions.

 

[Minordetails]

Much could go wrong, when you're a relatively inarticulate hardscaper with no media training, and when everybody but the coast guard is trying hard to make you look guilty and look good themselves.

He definitely couldn't expect the AM treatment. If I were him - guilty or innocent - I'd go on doing what he's doing - passing out flyers and in the spring, beginning again to look for his wife and/or conduct his own investigation - all without a press release or photos. Anything else will look like more clumsy media management.

He won't be baited again by criticism that he will "look guilty" if he doesn't play the media's game. There has never been a real opportunity to avoid "looking guilty" in media coverage - only the opportunity to answer "howoftendidyoubeatyourwife beforeyoukilledher" - type questions.

In my opinion, innocent people with nothing to hide, behave differently than guilty people. And I don’t think people are trying hard to make him look guilty, he’s doing that to himself.

 

[Dalgliesh]

In my opinion, innocent people with nothing to hide, behave differently than guilty people. And I don’t think people are trying hard to make him look guilty, he’s doing that to himself.

A 40 year study found about 50 people ("wizards") who could tell when people were lying about 80 percent of the time. One of them was a consultant for O.J. Simpson's defense team. The study still doesn't show exactly how they do it.

But, maybe you should join the study. You just might be a wizard yourself!

For the rest of us, I'm afraid all kinds of studies show we might as well flip a coin.

You might find interesting Malcolm Gladwell's recent book, Talking to Strangers, which discusses some of the studies and their implications in his very readable and engaging style. Here's an article summarizing an interview with the author about the book.

 

[Minordetails]

A 40 year study found about 50 people ("wizards") who could tell when people were lying about 80 percent of the time. One of them was a consultant for O.J. Simpson's defense team. The study still doesn't show exactly how they do it.

But, maybe you should join the study. You just might be a wizard yourself!

For the rest of us, I'm afraid all kinds of studies show we might as well flip a coin.

You might find interesting Malcolm Gladwell's recent book, Talking to Strangers, which discusses some of the studies and their implications in his very readable and engaging style. Here's an article summarizing an interview with the author about the book.

Look I don’t claim to know that BM is lying. I suspect he’s lying. I actually respect his maverick, us against the world mentality and would love if he comes out innocent in the end. Having said that, I just don’t feel he’s behaving as an innocent, loving husband would. Every time I rewatch that Draper interview thing, I’m less and less convinced of his innocence.

 

[Quiet Time]

I agree, @Minordetails. There are definitely holes in the Friday night theory. The wedding conversation plays a big role in this. The bff became concerned about something in their conversations. Was there a sudden cutoff as has been reported with an impersonation attempt by BM later? If SM died suddenly Friday night, the bff may have been texting her and getting no reply. When BM realized this on Saturday, did he then attempt to converse with the bff to (unsuccessfully) make her think she was talking with Suzanne? The strange friend requests and PYMK posts that went out to some of BM’s contacts from SM’s account late on Saturday could indicate that BM signed into SM’s account from his own phone. All speculation of course.
The other hole in the Friday night theory is the alleged lunch of BM and SM on Saturday afternoon in Salida. This was reported by AM but has never been confirmed. According to MG, BM was running around Salida Saturday afternoon and he was alone. Also, JP never mentioned that SM was with BM when BM approached him in Salida on Saturday afternoon about the Broomfield job.
In the Friday night theory I’m trying to use the bits of info we have: BM worked at the Salida site on Friday night, BM had MG rake out the beach area on Saturday morning, BM cut the Saturday workday short with MG saying he had to go home and make his wife happy by taking her hiking or biking. Why was BM acting so anxious at the job site Saturday morning? Had he done something bad Friday night? Or was he planning on doing something bad on Saturday night?
Of course we have all the bizarre behavior on Saturday night to shore up the Saturday night theory as well as the possibility that she was talking to her friend on Saturday morning, (and having lunch in town).
Although I’m on the fence, I’m starting to lean towards a Friday night murder. I don’t think it was preplanned, probably a fit of rage over something. Saturday was spent cleaning up, disposing of evidence, and forming an alibi. I think BM went to the Salida worksite on Saturday morning and tried to pretend everything was normal. His talk about taking SM out was meant to show she was alive and well at that time. I think his nerves were obvious. He had lots to do and couldn’t keep up with the charade any longer. That’s why he sent MG home.
I think the 4:00 a.m. call or visit to MG’s house on Sunday morning was because he was at his breaking point. He was exhausted. He was trying to remember if he covered everything. I think he was appalled at what he had done; it was really sinking in. I think he thought of telling MG but then thought better of it. He pulled away and then called about working in Broomfield on Sunday. Asked her to pull a crew together. Told her that he had already talked to JP about it.
He was a wreck. I think that’s why MG said it sounded like he had just had the worst night of his life.
This is another reason why I’m leaning towards Friday night. Why wouldn’t BM tell MG on Saturday morning about the Broomfield job? I think he hadn’t totally thought his plan through yet. By the time he ran into JP in Salida later on Saturday afternoon, he had formulated the plan. He wanted to be out of town when she was reported missing.
All these theories are my mental exercises; trying to make the pieces fit. Some of the pieces are missing. Some might even belong to a different puzzle.
MOO

D@mm, that's good!!