Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #6

[RickshawFan]

Keen eye, @Coffiecat! I noted, however, that the same inspector who passed the the Plumbing and Insulation on Monday failed that on Thursday (Aaron). Since there is no other formal inspection, I would guess he was back at the jobsite to see how the curing slab was looking. Caisson/Piers issue was remedied and re-inspected by inspector Chad the next day on Friday. Whatever the cause, it's likely that it happened after the Monday inspections. stretching the event further away from the disappearance of SM. IMO

Nonetheless, the series of inspection quibbles happened AFTER SM went missing, correct?

 

[Zengirl1215]

I just wish LE had collected the video clips-I guess they could be overwhelmed collecting the footage, but how many cameras do you think they are talking about? Out of 6000 people, how many have cameras? Do you think they went to the people on what would have been Suzanne’s most likely ride route and taken a look at them? I guess I watch too much “The First 48”.

That's a good question. And not being out there and only by going by what people say on here and what has been shown, it looks pretty rural, so not sure how many homes there'd actually be. In my development, every other house has a Ring doorbell or cam. And I'm in a low crime area. I think the Ring is fairly popular these days because of its user-friendly capability. So, yeah, maybe LE has already taken a look at them or footage from any home surveillance system.

 

[Hatfield]

As to neighbors preserving camera footage-how does that work? Do you have to download it to a disk? Do you have to cease recording because the system will write over that after a period of time? I assume the data storage isn’t endless. I’m trying to understand how people are making sure this footage is on hand in case LE comes knocking. Can they still use their ring doorbells forever without having to do anything?

JMO
I found that request a little odd because it seems to me that any security camera footage around the area may become important to the investigation. I would have hoped they went to every home and business in the area very quickly to make sure they got what was available.

Some security camera systems are more complex than others and I would not want to rely on individual people to know how to make sure they saved theirs. What if the most important camera happened to be in a person's home and that person only knows how to view their video clips on their smart phone. They may not know how to even change default settings, let alone move videos to a place where they wont fall off.

It was just odd to me but then again, they have shunned people's help during searching too. They also said not to text or email the Sheriff and only use the phone tip line. All pointing that they must not need much of the public's help and seem to have this investigation under control.

 

[GraceG]

The DM pics of them with their sifting trays certainly struck me as interesting. Also, no forensic suits or anything. Normally if looking for remains, wouldn't they suit up?

Suiting up if there are remains that have not been burned is common - even if it's an LE group that doesn't have a lot of equipment they'd normally wear respirators. But honestly I've seen people NOT suit up just because it's such a hassle. Uncommon but it happens.

 

[Kyte]

They are probably tired of all the rumors going around. Maybe they don't want to open themselves up to more criticism, considering everything that's happened in the last few days. This has probably been an emotional rollercoaster for them and they may be losing hope that Suzanne will be found alive.

Regarding the FB page for SM,
If the family or atleast some of them also suspect BM
which IMO is more than likely considering what we can see happening with the searches ect,
and I'm sure the family know a lot more than we do right now such as BM's whereabouts around her dissapearance, when SM was last actually seen and I'm guessing many more facts we are not yet privvy too.
If this is the case it would be awfully difficult to update the FB page, asking for the publics help or even a general update!!
The silence here speaks volumes MOO

 

[RickshawFan]

Yes, pesky helicopters! For a story stirring up as much interest as this one suddenly is, tents would be a necessity.

They would also need shade to work under.

 

[Water12567]

Hi all- I’ve been following this case since the start - just heartbroken for the daughters and hoping for some answers and closure for them. This is my very first post so I hope that all is done correctly!

just throwing this out there as food for thought. (I see where the activity by LE is pointing so am very mindful of how things look... and this is just a theory for thought- I don’t necessarily believe it)

MY OWN OPNION AS A HYPOTHETICAL

This family is obviously very successful financially and runs multiple organizations/businesses. What if what has happened is in fact the rare and more likely seen in movies scenario- business gone wrong. What if for whatever reason things were not going the way they should in their business world. And what if in their business world things were not quite legal to begin with. If this was revenge or consequence for something. AND if it were that, I.e kidnapping and homicide and husband knew because of being involved on the business side of things, he would be nervous to go through LE bc of unveiling the illegal side of business. And perhaps puts out the awkward video bc he feels he is talking to said business associates. There was also a post showing a quote from a private investigator talking about his thought that this was more than family related. With the FBI involved almost immediately. Makes me wonder if the FBI was already investigating something going on. THIS IS ALL MY OWN OPINION (and not necessarily what I believe... just a crazy thought about possibilities)

hope that makes sense. First post!

edited: though I am aware that would mean perhaps BM would know SM had disappeared, but if it were due to illegal business issues, perhaps he thought he would not report it and try to figure it out on his own. Most of which could be figured out on a cell phone and by examining the house. Again all just speculative thoughts. This quarantine has me spending too much time in my brain. And there’s just the other hope like someone else said that faith is not lost in humanity and that the two daughters may have at least one parent still in their life.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Nonetheless, the series of inspection quibbles happened AFTER SM went missing, correct?

True, but I’m viewing the inspection dates with some caution. At my workplace, I often see inspection dates on paperwork that don’t match up with when the inspector was actually at the job site.

 

[RickshawFan]

Yes, now we see the reason for the bike being abandoned away from the home. That would 'prove' she was alive and well AFTER that dirt was poured.

Those d-jammed brakes will get you every time....

 

[steeltowngirl]

Hi all- I’ve been following this case since the start - just heartbroken for the daughters and hoping for some answers and closure for them. This is my very first post so I hope that all is done correctly!

just throwing this out there as food for thought. (I see where the activity by LE is pointing so am very mindful of how things look... and this is just a theory for thought- I don’t necessarily believe it)

MY OWN OPNION AS A HYPOTHETICAL

This family is obviously very successful financially and runs multiple organizations/businesses. What if what has happened is in fact the rare and more likely seen in movies scenario- business gone wrong. What if for whatever reason things were not going the way they should in their business world. And what if in their business world things were not quite legal to begin with. If this was revenge or consequence for something. AND if it were that, I.e kidnapping and homicide and husband knew because of being involved on the business side of things, he would be nervous to go through LE bc of unveiling the illegal side of business. And perhaps puts out the awkward video bc he feels he is talking to said business associates. There was also a post showing a quote from a private investigator talking about his thought that this was more than family related. With the FBI involved almost immediately. Makes me wonder if the FBI was already investigating something going on. THIS IS ALL MY OWN OPINION (and not necessarily what I believe... just a crazy thought about possibilities)

hope that makes sense. First post!

edited: though I am aware that would mean perhaps BM would know SM had disappeared, but if it were due to illegal business issues, perhaps he thought he would not report it and try to figure it out on his own. Most of which could be figured out on a cell phone and by examining the house. Again all just speculative thoughts. This quarantine has me spending too much time in my brain. And there’s just the other hope like someone else said that faith is not lost in humanity and that the two daughters may have at least one parent still in their life.

Welcome to Websleuths Water12567!

I’ve been rolling a similar scenario around in my head. But I have also been binge watching the Ozarks. So there’s that.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Lauren Scharf‏Verified account @LaurenScharfTV
Chaffee County Sheriff says there are NO new developments today in the #MissingPerson case of #SuzanneMorphew Investigators searched a property East of Salida again. Here’s pictures from yesterday of the area. Suzanne has NOT been located. More on @FOX21News

6:50 PM - 23 May 2020

Thanks for these photos. In the second photo I can still see the square well-cover (that was my guess) that I earlier thought had been removed and an above-ground casing installed. I see I was wrong about that. I still guess it's a well as opposed to a root cellar or something else, but I guess I don't really know. Is SW CO tornado country?

Also, as to the neighborhood, I see a few houses in the area but also, just down the road, is the Salida Ranger Station. Even with the pandemic closures, there will still be plenty of activity at that office. Especially as we are approaching fire season.

In all the places I have lived (I am former Forest Service) the local Ranger Station has barracks for their seasonal fire crew. Anyone know where these barracks are located in Salida? It doesn't look like they are at the Ranger Station, from what I can see on the Google Maps aerial view.

This time of year, COVID notwithstanding, that would be an active area with folks arriving, exercising, etc. A good way for nearby activity to be noticed on weekends and holidays. MOO

 

[RickshawFan]

Personally, I believe things at home were not what the photographs showed and that there was enough tension in the home where the entire household desired separation on Mother's Day.

This. My experience with WS is that appearance is rarely consistent with reality. I learned this especially from the Hart family police searches. Also, in that case, security cameras the day of the murder show the presumed perp looking totally different from how she looked in her posts. Almost unrecognizable.
Summary story here:

Inside the Hart family home, police search reveals debts, contradictions

 

[Fireflize]

<modsnip: sleuthing friends is not allowed>

Lauren Scharf (a reporter for FOX21 News) said in her fb live last night that the latest search was the result of a tip. Neighbors of the property involved told her that LE has been working there since Thursday. Even before arriving at the location on Friday, she was told (source not identified) to check another location on Highway 50 and Country Road 240, which she did. State troupers were there (one of them since 3AM) but didn't say why.

Interesting. Could it be that they are securing that road in case someone tries to leave the area ? MOO

 

[MimosaMornings]

JMO
I’m seeing people talking about “usually” or “in the past” or “usual habit”.

Such as Suzanne usually would ride her bike before she went to church.

To me that means prior to March. Or it could mean last year. There is nothing being said about what she was doing or her habits the past 2-3 months. That’s the information that is missing.

 

[vaporlass]

Can you share the link where you read this?
Much appreciated

You can see in Google Earth the older home (possibly a mobile home) that “was” there prior to demolition and you can see in the current photos being distributed by News of what is there now -which is clearly the foundation for another home. But I do believe there is an article out there about present owner discussing the building of his new home.

 

[Dave F.]

Nonetheless, the series of inspection quibbles happened AFTER SM went missing, correct?

The point I was trying to make is that:
(1) Aaron inspected the concrete forms prior to pouring concrete on Monday, the day after SM was reported missing. He saw nothing amiss, and the work progress passed inspection. The concrete pour probably began as soon as he completed his inspection.
(2) Aaron returned on Wednesday. This would have been and inspection of more concrete forms, prior to additional pours. There is a considerable amount of concrete in place on that site, which was undoubtedly poured in stages. This inspection did not pass, the violation was discovered at that point. Chances are great that the work on that second set of forms wasn't finished until Tuesday evening. Workmen would have discovered any disturbance in the compaction and remedied it, including recompacting, prior to calling for inspection.
(3) Whatever the infraction, it was remedied on Wednesday and re-inspected by Chad on Thursday and had been corrected.

My conclusion is that whatever the disturbance was, it was created Monday (the day after Suzanne's disappearance was reported) or Tuesday (the second day of search for SM). IMO

 

[wheatnotchaff]

New DM article: Husband of Suzanne Morphew is having a 'difficult time' as diggers continue construction site search | Daily Mail Online

Not much news in the article, just some more comments about Barry by the fire chief Bertram.

 

[DizzyB]

Missing person cases can have many twists and turns, and many times the person who the public may see as the prime suspect had no involvement. We all need an open mind. We don’t know what LE knows. BM may have a successful business and many employees. An employee/s might see Suzanne as an excellent kidnap victim to hold for ransom. Things could have gone bad after an abduction. Keep in mind that workers also have access to those job sites and might know when BM would be out of town, for whatever reason.

 

[Dave F.]

True, but I’m viewing the inspection dates with some caution. At my workplace, I often see inspection dates on paperwork that don’t match up with when the inspector was actually at the job site.

If you browse the Chaffee County Building Department web site, you will discover and amazing array of reports. They are very busy, and seem to run a very tight ship. IMO
Building Department

 

[pepper 34]

I think the location and condition of the bike is VERY important.
We've heard reports of it being by a bridge. There are three bridges.........one is a road bridge on CR 225 crossing the S. Arkansas River just below the intersection with US 50. It is visible in the drone-like helicopter footage taken By Channel 4 Denver right after the search ended. If the bicycle had been found there, it would appear as if she was heading away from the house toward somewhere when she became separated from it, but the Ch. 4 video shows no evidence tags on or anywhere near that bridge. The second bridge is also a road bridge, over Fooses Creek on CR 225 below the dam. Since CR 225 only leads to the dam at this spot, if the bicycle had been left there it would appear like she was returning toward her house after her ride. The third bridge is a foot bridge over upper Fooses Creek, on the descent bike trail. It is essentially a high speed, dangerous bicycle bridge, with one way traffic going down (in the direction of her house after completing a ride). Today, we heard scuttlebutt that the bike was found i n a ravine. That third bridge (called Fooses Dam Bridge) is the only one located in a ravine. The Colorado trail, which winds for a good portion along the power line clear cut and/or CR 226, is heavily used by hikers and sightseers, and is very near the mountain bike descent trail at the bridge. Again, if she was separated from her bike at this bridge, she would have been returning to her house at the end of her ride. It is highly unlikely that a perp would have carried bike with locked wheels all the way up Colorado trail to the Fooses Dam Bridge, but it is very likely that a perp could have driven to the road bridge and dumped the bike quickly. IMO

The attached Google Earth Aerial View was generated entirely by Google tools, and shows the location of all three bridges and their relationship to SM's house. The red circle indicates the extent of the second day (big) search, as described by the sheriff in a news conference. I believe it was early in this search when the bike when rumors of a bike being found first arose.

Part of your comment BBM. In spite of your great map, I'm still having trouble visualizing everything you've described. Are you saying in the bolded area in your comment that the 3d bridge is in a ravine and would be near the end of a bike ride that could have begun at a higher altitude on the trail? Is it possible that SM was not separated from her bike at the bridge but was separated from her bike much higher up the trail? If that's so... then couldn't SM have been separated from her bike way up on that trail and somebody other than SM rode the bike down to the bridge and left it there? If the bike was found under the bridge or even just placed on the bridge... that might explain why the bike was found there... as someone might have wanted to leave the area immediately if they had attacked SM before taking her bike from her and did not want to be seen riding her bike.