Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #7

[TKG]

Do we know when was the last time anyone spoke to or texted with her? Ie do we know she wasn't already gone the night before?

MOO
List of what we know definitively:
Suzanne Morphew is missing
Suzanne is married although she referred to as Ms. Morphew in all PR by the Chaffee County Sheriff
Suzanne has two daughters
A 911 call was placed by JR (a neighbor) reporting her missing after “checking” on her. Reported May 10th at 5:46 p.m.
Bike was found
personal item or item(s) located in an undisclosed location
Last heard from May 9th, the method is unknown

@BoatyMcboatface is the best username I’ve read thus far.

What we do not know for sure:
Everything else

 

[cody22]

Did yall know that Suzanne Morphew's former Alexandria, Indiana home is only a 90 minute drive from Delphi, Indiana ?.....Why do I keep getting drawn to these Colorado and Indiana cases ?....moo

 

[insearchoflight]

I wonder if they found evidence in the dirt but now need time to test it to be sure it’s Suzanne (thinking very small evidence that could have dna extracted).

So they have what they need for now to test, hence no search for tomorrow and hence no need to completely tear up everything.. yet.

 

[GordianKnot]

Search in Salida for missing Chaffee County woman concludes, no searches scheduled for Monday

SABBM:

Investigators with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, CBI and FBI went to the site to follow-up on leads they had received in connection to missing 49-year-old Suzanne Morphew, who had reportedly gone for a bike ride in the Maysville area on May 10 and didn’t return home.

Investigators searched several locations on the property, but say they were unable to make any connection to Morphew’s case at this time. <snip>

“Someone has that key piece of information in this case that will help us locate Suzanne, and I’m asking our community members to continue to use the tip line to provide any information, no matter how inconsequential the tip may seem,” said Sheriff Spezze.
________________________

Reading between the lines, I'm thinking there's a fairly high probability that this search was based off of a credible tip that LE received, likely coupled with electronic/cell/gps data putting someone connected to the case in that specific location around the time of SM's disappearance.

A credible tip + digital data would have been enough to get a judge to sign off on a search warrant.

Clearly, the search wasn't conducted as a result of a confession.

JMO.

 

[10ofRods]

It’s possible to think they didn’t find anything of importance in the search but also think LE likely had good reasons for the search and it wasn’t a waste of time. You have to rule things out. You can’t not follow up on good leads.

Things they could have found not connected to SM at this time (but maybe connected later): gloves or some personal belongings belonging to a suspect that can be tied to SM forensically. I don’t think they found any remains or they’d have the coroner. I don’t think they found anything directly belonging to SM or it would have been “connected to SM.”

Either way they had to check it out if they had sufficient evidence to establish probable cause. But IMO it is a weird way to phrase it if they actually found something. If they asked me I would have just said the investigation is ongoing. No need for a comment about what was found or not found at this time or some time in the future!

Great post. Wish I could like many times.

They got 200+ leads - they have to follow *all* of them to any reasonable conclusion. Who wouldn't dig up concrete recently poured on a worksite known to be visited by someone close to the victim? That doesn't mean they did it. It does mean that LE are looking in nooks and crannies, listening to tips.

A picture may or may not be starting to emerge. I sure hope it's emerging, because if not emerging by now, it's worry. I want Suzanne to have closure and justice..

 

[10ofRods]

I wonder if they found evidence in the dirt but now need time to test it to be sure it’s Suzanne (thinking very small evidence that could have dna extracted).

So they have what they need for now to test, hence no search for tomorrow and hence no need to completely tear up everything.. yet.

Could be. Perhaps found something on day 1 or 2, continued for yet another day, and then thought that was all they'd get.

Or, perhaps they found nothing. The fact that various FBI personnel are there should make us hopeful - although in these very trying times, we probably can't expect everything to be speedy.

I'm still very concerned about that campground and the Fire Camp not far from the Morphew house. And other possibilities that will be hard to investigate. I hope the Cloud information has been generous to Suzanne.

 

[Gizmo3]

The sheriff's press reports (including the one today) have continued to stress the importance of the tip line and information provided by the public. LE has, however, given the public very little information - information that could potentially help lead to a tip. The previous thread discussed the possibility of a potential defense using "tunnel vision" or the like against LE - could it be that LE's current emphasis on the tip/public information (despite giving very little detail about SM) is a way to bolster their own argument against an anticipated accusation of tunnel vision? For example, LE could state that they kept their options open by continually appealing for information. Apologies if this rambling is convoluted - I'm still new to sleuthing!

 

[payitforward3000]

I wonder if they found evidence in the dirt but now need time to test it to be sure it’s Suzanne (thinking very small evidence that could have dna extracted).

So they have what they need for now to test, hence no search for tomorrow and hence no need to completely tear up everything.. yet.

My thoughts too. Well my hope anyway... regardless of who did it. Those poor girls need answers and closure

 

[otto]

I would ask, how did the daughter now that SM went on a bike ride? Did they contact another family member that suggested or “planted” the idea that she may have gone on a bike ride or did SM religiously go on a bike ride every Sunday morning and the girls just assumed that’s where she would have gone?

If I were a betting gal, I know where I’d put my money.

Exactly. How could anyone know what she was doing when she disappeared while she was offline for 24 hours? She was reported missing May 10, and it's been posted here several times that last contact was May 9 (DailyMail?).

That's 24 hours where no one can account for her, but someone reports her missing, mentions the bike ride, and sure enough her bike is easily found but there is no sign of her.

I did see something suggesting that Suzanne routinely cycled before Sunday Church, but look at the temperatures. She was a 2 time cancer survivor. I can understand cycling for better health, but not Winter cycling like a triathlete.

Just how long was she a fan of Sunday morning bike rides? At what temp did she opt for the indoor trainer? How long were the outdoor rides in March and April?

<modsnip: No link to images>

 

[al66pine]

Seattle1 said (post 1175 on last thread): "The named beneficiary could not be more clear. I don't understand why you're speculating about the daughters. They're also off-limits on the thread."

@Seattle1, altho a few ppl here said beneficiary had been changed, IDK, if that was or was true. As you say, the Gimme crowdfunding a/c beneficiary (ShMor) is clear, at least now.

Why did I post about this initially? A poster (@vaporlass?) said, re Gimme $, why not put it in daughter's name?
My earlier post replied to this idea ^ about some potential logistic issues in doing that.
Sorry if anyone interpreted my post as saying who should or should not be designated as beneficiary/ies.
I did not intend to speculate about the daughters (except mentioning that they are teens).
I know they are off-limits. Sorry, my apologies for any confusion.

 

[susiQ]

So much of this discussion is just rumor. Rumors come from whispers, and maybe some things that people were privy to, but LE has said almost nothing.
Missing person, “reportedly” did not return from a bike ride. Neighbor made the call. Personal item recovered. Home was “held”, then search warrant was issued for home. A construction site was excavated looking for Suzanne. Those are just about the only true facts.

Well, rumours don’t get to stay here. WS TOS. MSM only. However, we do learn from all the things that are not said and done by LE and therefore we “speculate.”

 

[Feistyomi]

Agree! This comes up in most cases I follow -- there's usually a phase when frustrated case followers lash out, insisting LE doesn't really know what they're doing, and LE and the FBI are doing it all wrong. Perhaps some think investigators should be taking direction from armchair sleuths. But whatever it is, it seems to be fairly common to see an escalation of anger at LE for not keeping case followers up to date with all the details and not solving the case within several days or within a few weeks. If only life were as simple as an episode of CSI that's solved in 42 min, not counting commercials.

Gannon...
You quite literally took the text I was typing when thread closed and it was deleted out of
the twilight zone!!! Only I said 1 hour minus commercials...oooohhhh, scary

Sooooo, I must say “well said! Great post etc...”
Only addition I have, we are understandably limited by the tools and info we have, still we seem to think we could do a better job...

JMO, my purpose here is to assist, not critique LE....
Neither my friends here

 

[cody22]

Well, rumours don’t get to stay here. WS TOS. MSM only. However, we do learn from all the things that are not said and done by LE and therefore we “speculate.”

We are good at it too...............moo

 

[gliving]

It’s possible to think they didn’t find anything of importance in the search but also think LE likely had good reasons for the search and it wasn’t a waste of time. You have to rule things out. You can’t not follow up on good leads.

Things they could have found not connected to SM at this time (but maybe connected later): gloves or some personal belongings belonging to a suspect that can be tied to SM forensically. I don’t think they found any remains or they’d have the coroner. I don’t think they found anything directly belonging to SM or it would have been “connected to SM.”

Either way they had to check it out if they had sufficient evidence to establish probable cause. But IMO it is a weird way to phrase it if they actually found something. If they asked me I would have just said the investigation is ongoing. No need for a comment about what was found or not found at this time or some time in the future!

I think the search also helped establish a timeline. Get every contractor on site showing what they did and when they did it. Who was on the job site?

It appears BM's trip to Denver is verified or LE would be asking for Rings there. So, it will be interesting to see what way the search for Suzanne goes.

 

[MinnyPin]

It’s kind of unsettling to realize today, May 24, marks 1 year since the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. The timelines are so similar in the early days of that investigation compared to this. Forgive me if I counted days wrong.

JD Case:

6 days to search Waverly Park (where car found)

7 days to search dumpsters

8 days for warrant to search house

8 days for arrest of FD & MT charged with tampering with evidence

12 days to ask residents to save surveillance video

19 days to search Avon Pond


SM case:

5 days to grid search 2.5 mile area of Monarch Pass (US Highway 50) - where bike found?

7 days to search water sites

8 days for reverse 911 call for residents to preserve surveillance video

10 days for warrant to search house

12 days for warrant to search property (concrete)

No arrests yet.

I think LE most definitely has a #1 suspect.

 

[Sillybilly]

There was, and I believe it was reported to the neighbor, by SM's daughter(s) that she might have been out on a bike ride.
And that's what the neighbor reported to 911.
I mean, since no one actually saw her, there's really no where else that information could have come from.
There was a convo between the daughters and the neighbor, then the neighbor called 911.

jmo

If I was the neighbour that was asked to check on SM, I would go and check. Was the house locked or unlocked? Neighbour knocks and when no answer finds the door unlocked? ... goes in, calls out, and when no answer then, has a look around. Only thing she sees is that Suzanne's bike is gone so it would appear she went for a bike ride?

 

[cody22]

If I was the neighbour that was asked to check on SM, I would go and check. Was the house locked or unlocked? Neighbour knocks and when no answer finds the door unlocked? ... goes in, calls out, and when no answer then, has a look around. Only thing she sees is that Suzanne's bike is gone so it would appear she went for a bike ride?

That could well be what happened................moo

 

[DizzyB]

It’s kind of unsettling to realize today, May 24, marks 1 year since the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. The timelines are so similar in the early days of that investigation compared to this. Forgive me if I counted days wrong.

JD Case:

6 days to search Waverly Park (where car found)

7 days to search dumpsters

8 days for warrant to search house

8 days for arrest of FD & MT charged with tampering with evidence

12 days to ask residents to save surveillance video

19 days to search Avon Pond


SM case:

5 days to grid search 2.5 mile area of Monarch Pass (US Highway 50) - where bike found?

7 days to search water sites

8 days for reverse 911 call for residents to preserve surveillance video

10 days for warrant to search house

12 days for warrant to search property (concrete)

No arrests yet.

I think LE most definitely has a #1 suspect.

And it was months before they charged Fotis Dulos, even though there was a bloody crime scene, zip ties with her DNA, camera footage of Dulos and his girlfriend dumping Jennifer’s belongings at various locations along highways. And she still is missing.
What kind of evidence would be enough for a judge to allow them to spend days ripping up a private citizen’s land? I honestly don’t know-anyone? Has to be more than just a tip saying some guys worked there after hours, right?

 

[GordianKnot]

My thoughts too. Well my hope anyway... regardless of who did it. Those poor girls need answers and closure

BBM:

I don't think the answers here will bring any comfort whatsoever to her daughters.

I think the answers r/t what's happened to their mother will be even more painful than the questions.

That doesn't mean that LE should stop searching for those answers.

I was hopeful when news of this search first broke that LE would locate SM on that property.

Unfortunately, LE's efforts were not rewarded in this instance, although I have no doubt whatsoever they were acting upon solid leads and credible information.

I do think there's a very strong possibility that this is going to become a mother no-body case, as we saw with Kelsey Berreth.

SM's body may not be recovered, or even recoverable, at this point.

No-body cases can still be prosecuted.

And won.

JMO.

 

[NuttMegg]

The question was asked in the last thread, how was it known SM was known to go for a bike ride on Sundays:

"Bertram went on to say that Suzanne and Barry were both well-respected members of the community, and active in their church. He said Suzanne was known to go for a bike ride on Sunday mornings before church, and said he did not believe she attended church on May 10, though he could not be certain." ‘Pacing around, staring out windows’: Chaffee County Fire Chief addresses questions about missing Suzanne Morphew’s husband Barry Morphew

Hmm. I wonder why Bertram didn't believe she had gone to church?

Another bit from that article: "A source told the Daily Mail earlier this week that Suzanne’s daughters had become concerned that they could not reach their mother that weekend, and asked a neighbor to check on her."

But the earlier DM article referred to says: "Morphew’s daughters contacted a neighbor when they were unable to reach her." And further says: "the only reason they found out [she was missing] is because the girls called the neighbors and said, ‘we never heard from Mom – can you go check on her?'” the friend’s stepmother said".

So the reports are not clear on whether or not the girls had not heard from her "all weekend".
‘Nobody actually saw her on her bicycle’: Questions persist amid changing reports on the investigation into Suzanne Morphew’s Mother’s Day disappearance

Does anyone remember where it was reported....the last time she was seen or spoken with?