Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #9

[Birmingplumb]

My husband and I were debating this yesterday. I do white collar defense for a living - fraud, business disputes, counterfeiting, soured business partnerships. I think there's no way a small business landscaper has $1.75 million in cash to buy that house. Small businesses are cash-heavy and service businesses like landscaping are equipment heavy - you usually have loans since those purchases are "assets" and not "expenses" to write off like expensive staplers. My hinky meter went way up. Mortgage rates are so low that financially most people IMO would take a mortgage and use the cash in their business, in other investments. EVEN IF you received a substantial inheritance financially it makes sense to invest that money in literally anything that has a higher than 3% return and take out the mortgage. I think there are only a few reasons you'd put that much cash down and it's because your money has not been reported as income so you wouldn't qualify for the mortgage (no tax filings, etc.) or it's crime proceeds and you do not want the scrutiny that comes from the loans.

My husband disagrees and thinks it's definitely possible for a successful landscaping company owner to have that much cash, particularly if there are corporate contracts - office buildings, plazas. He agrees with me that it's a bad investment but pointed out that there are still rich people who are Dave Ramsey types who even if financially you could make a better return elsewhere, they prefer to have no or low debt. Point taken!

I agree with you 100% on landscapers who do their own shoveling do not make enough to afford a big house even in L.A. ...But can't jump to the criminal activity money washing answer just yet. Where did it come from ? Why family and friends not talking?

 

[MinnyPin]

19 days missing as of today. Or 20. Or 21...

 

[MsBetsy]

ITA - it really makes one wonder what they heck they thought was buried beneath all that concrete (and which apparently they found nothing..) hmmm
JMO

I assumed they were looking for a body, or possibly a weapon. I'm not sure what other reason they would use Ground Penetrating Radar. It's often used to look for disturbed earth, air pockets, or for signs of metal or other substances under the ground. I thought they were sifting to look for small pieces of evidence.

I wonder if they have tested any of the soil, although I'm not sure it would yield anything new since they did not find a body. If there were any signs of decomposition fluids leaking onto the soil, I would think it would be because there was a body specifically where they removed the soil. Does anyone have any ideas about what else they may be looking for if they were to send soil samples to a lab?

 

[MimosaMornings]

My husband and I were debating this yesterday. I do white collar defense for a living - fraud, business disputes, counterfeiting, soured business partnerships. I think there's no way a small business landscaper has $1.75 million in cash to buy that house. Small businesses are cash-heavy and service businesses like landscaping are equipment heavy - you usually have loans since those purchases are "assets" and not "expenses" to write off like expensive staplers. My hinky meter went way up. Mortgage rates are so low that financially most people IMO would take a mortgage and use the cash in their business, in other investments. EVEN IF you received a substantial inheritance financially it makes sense to invest that money in literally anything that has a higher than 3% return and take out the mortgage. I think there are only a few reasons you'd put that much cash down and it's because your money has not been reported as income so you wouldn't qualify for the mortgage (no tax filings, etc.) or it's crime proceeds and you do not want the scrutiny that comes from the loans.

My husband disagrees and thinks it's definitely possible for a successful landscaping company owner to have that much cash, particularly if there are corporate contracts - office buildings, plazas. He agrees with me that it's a bad investment but pointed out that there are still rich people who are Dave Ramsey types who even if financially you could make a better return elsewhere, they prefer to have no or low debt. Point taken!

I could see big money in “landscaping” if there was a yearly contract to perform such services as right of way mowing and weed maintenance for a city/plant type company. But you need the expensive equipment to perform that work.

 

[GordianKnot]

Indiana

SABBM:
ALEXANDRIA — As the search continues for Colorado missing woman Suzanne Moorman Morphew, residents of her hometown of Alexandria are placing yellow bows as a visible show of support to the family.

Amy McCurry, an Alexandria city councilwoman who attended high school with Morphew, organized the placement of bows with help of other former classmates and family and friends.

McCurry described Morphew as beautiful inside and out.

“It sounds like a cliché but she was just the sweetest gal and she truly was beautiful inside and out,” McCurry said. “We focus on trying to remain optimistic and stay away from the rumors and speculations.”

Alexandria Councilwoman Patty Khun, whose daughter was friends with Morphew, said the bows have been catching on as a way to remember Suzanne and pray for her safe return.

“Many people, now that they’ve seen them downtown, are now wanting them for their homes,” Khun said. “It has been successful in keeping Suzanne in their thoughts and prayers.”
________________________

It's wonderful that SM's hometown friends back in IN are taking active steps to show community support for SM.

It's a shame that SM's friends and family in Colorado aren't doing the same…guess they're too busy with their crowdfunding efforts. Or something.

While it's admirable that friends back in IN are trying to "stay away from the rumors and speculations," I'd be very interested to hear the exact nature of the gossip and rumors currently circulating amongst her closest friends.

Best intentions aside, trust me: SM's friends have been comparing notes.
That's just human nature.

Something tells me Sheriff Spezze has reached out to some of her friends back in Indiana, too.

JMO.

 

[oviedo]

My husband and I were debating this yesterday. I do white collar defense for a living - fraud, business disputes, counterfeiting, soured business partnerships. I think there's no way a small business landscaper has $1.75 million in cash to buy that house. Small businesses are cash-heavy and service businesses like landscaping are equipment heavy - you usually have loans since those purchases are "assets" and not "expenses" to write off like expensive staplers. My hinky meter went way up. Mortgage rates are so low that financially most people IMO would take a mortgage and use the cash in their business, in other investments. EVEN IF you received a substantial inheritance financially it makes sense to invest that money in literally anything that has a higher than 3% return and take out the mortgage. I think there are only a few reasons you'd put that much cash down and it's because your money has not been reported as income so you wouldn't qualify for the mortgage (no tax filings, etc.) or it's crime proceeds and you do not want the scrutiny that comes from the loans.

My husband disagrees and thinks it's definitely possible for a successful landscaping company owner to have that much cash, particularly if there are corporate contracts - office buildings, plazas. He agrees with me that it's a bad investment but pointed out that there are still rich people who are Dave Ramsey types who even if financially you could make a better return elsewhere, they prefer to have no or low debt. Point taken!

since we can't really sleuth his business activities my guess from living in IN is that corporate contracts, custom home developments and high end businesses may account for a lucrative source of income for a business owner who has landscape design services. However, I'm inclined to think this may be her money - just my guess.
JMO

 

[10ofRods]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed> ... People disappearing into thin air or being murdered are significant problems. We'd be a pretty weird species if some of us didn't notice and ponder what was up. Just watching the birds in our yard get all interested when someone's baby falls out of the nest too soon, makes me think it's a pretty widespread pattern (and these birds aren't even of the same species and some of them are interested for nefarious reasons - just like humans).

Suzanne's case got lots of traction because we all like to think that fairly well-off, attractive people with the means to have lovely vacations don't just disappear into thin air on Mother's Day. Since she's also a mother who has posted many pictures of herself and her daughters, the case was perfectly timed to grab attention.

But the lack of facts is not unusual at all. It's too early for LE to tip its hand. They need to find Suzanne.

Where could she be?

 

[Rosiebones]

I assumed they were looking for a body, or possibly a weapon. I'm not sure what other reason they would use Ground Penetrating Radar. It's often used to look for disturbed earth, air pockets, or for signs of metal or other substances under the ground. I thought they were sifting to look for small pieces of evidence.

I wonder if they have tested any of the soil, although I'm not sure it would yield anything new since they did not find a body. If there were any signs of decomposition fluids leaking onto the soil, I would think it would be because there was a body specifically where they removed the soil. Does anyone have any ideas about what else they may be looking for if they were to send soil samples to a lab?

I think a cadaver dog would have been taken to the spot that was uncovered and would have periodically sniffed the dirt as it was sifted. They would have alerted immediately even if the body was in pieces.

 

[MrX]

I'd be very interested to hear the nature of the rumors/gossip that's currently circulating amongst her closest friends.

Right?!

 

[LietKynes]

Imo.
Actually no one made anything up.
We are going on what has been in mainstream media.

As well as wondering why there's no recent photo for people to go by, in case she is spotted -- since someone wants the public to think she's been kidnapped.
Never mind the lack of description of what she was wearing and a photo of the bike she was riding.
As well as no one knows when she was last seen !
All of this is troubling.

No one said that the girls should not have left, most were saying it was probably a fun trip but marred at the end by not being able to contact their mom.

Imo, cancer can leave people in a weakened sate, but doesn't mean Suzanne was not back at her full strength.
Her family doubted that she was ever on a bike ride that day and that could just mean she wasn't up for it that Sunday.
Or that she wasn't a mountain biker.

Most of the WS posters have been compassionate about the circumstances involving her disappearance and it's clear there are some anomalies in this case that don't point to an abduction.

This is a good group and we do not 'make things up' ; but refer and link to msm sites for reference.
Imo.

There are so many unknowns in this sad case.
Hoping for answers and justice soon !

 

[ChuckMaureen]

has anyone determined what is enclosed in the evidence bag shown in the attached photo?

it appears to be a section of carpet or underlayment.. it probably isn’t but that’s the first thing that popped in to my feeble brain

<modsnip: Image removed due to no link>

 

[LietKynes]

since we can't really sleuth his business activities my guess from living in IN is that corporate contracts, custom home developments and high end businesses may account for a lucrative source of income for a business owner who has landscape design services. However, I'm inclined to think this may be her money - just my guess.
JMO

bbm
Imo, your guess is spot on.

 

[UnderWhelmed405]

has anyone determined what is enclosed in the evidence bag shown in the attached photo?

it appears to be a section of carpet underlayment.. it probably isn’t but that’s the first thing that popped in to my feeble brain

Looks pretty similar IMO

 

[LietKynes]

And for good reason. People disappearing into thin air or being murdered are significant problems. We'd be a pretty weird species if some of us didn't notice and ponder what was up. Just watching the birds in our yard get all interested when someone's baby falls out of the nest too soon, makes me think it's a pretty widespread pattern (and these birds aren't even of the same species and some of them are interested for nefarious reasons - just like humans).

Suzanne's case got lots of traction because we all like to think that fairly well-off, attractive people with the means to have lovely vacations don't just disappear into thin air on Mother's Day. Since she's also a mother who has posted many pictures of herself and her daughters, the case was perfectly timed to grab attention.

But the lack of facts is not unusual at all. It's too early for LE to tip its hand. They need to find Suzanne.

Where could she be?

bbm
THIS ^^^
Sleuthing and speculation are a good thing and have led to breaks in cases !

 

[LietKynes]

Looks pretty similar IMO

Thanks, UnderWhelmed... I was going to post that but you beat me to it !

 

[susiQ]

Looks pretty similar IMO

Very!! I suspect it was Mr. _____, in the bedroom, with a _____. Just a guess.

 

[cattlekate]

And for good reason. SNIP BY ME
Where could she be?

Does anyone know for sure if recent-model year vehicles have built-in tracking? When I purchased a 2015 vehicle, I was told that the satellite connection only occurred if I hit the red call button. Over the years there were rumors that many recent-model vehicles do have “computer tracking” but my understanding is that it’s only is recoverable a few seconds before a crash.

Any experts out there?

 

[MrsWatson]

Such a lovely gesture on the part of her IN community.

 

[Knox]

My husband and I were debating this yesterday. I do white collar defense for a living - fraud, business disputes, counterfeiting, soured business partnerships. I think there's no way a small business landscaper has $1.75 million in cash to buy that house. Small businesses are cash-heavy and service businesses like landscaping are equipment heavy - you usually have loans since those purchases are "assets" and not "expenses" to write off like expensive staplers. My hinky meter went way up. Mortgage rates are so low that financially most people IMO would take a mortgage and use the cash in their business, in other investments. EVEN IF you received a substantial inheritance financially it makes sense to invest that money in literally anything that has a higher than 3% return and take out the mortgage. I think there are only a few reasons you'd put that much cash down and it's because your money has not been reported as income so you wouldn't qualify for the mortgage (no tax filings, etc.) or it's crime proceeds and you do not want the scrutiny that comes from the loans.

My husband disagrees and thinks it's definitely possible for a successful landscaping company owner to have that much cash, particularly if there are corporate contracts - office buildings, plazas. He agrees with me that it's a bad investment but pointed out that there are still rich people who are Dave Ramsey types who even if financially you could make a better return elsewhere, they prefer to have no or low debt. Point taken!

Interesting argument for both sides of the coin, thank you!

I haven't commented on the potential financial aspect, as we simply don't know what kind of money either of them earned or were gifted (Suzanne).

DBM-Not allowed.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

Looks pretty similar IMO

i doubt le would have selected a random piece of carpet to take as evidence but the piece in the evidence bag (assuming it is the carpet) is not stained although it is difficult to determine given the poor quality of the image

i don’t bm would have processed his hunting game on carpet and i’d assume human blood.. why else would le secure the property and search the dirt job property

MOO speculation