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

[Seattle1]

If though the husband is the one offering the reward, doesn't mean its coming from his pocket. It could be a family member as well. I am agreeing with most of you, without knowing the location/condition of the bike, LE and family not talking, they have an idea as to who/what is going on. IMO

To be clear, the husband initially offered $100K reward for the safe return of his wife, and today a family friend matched the reward for a total of $200K.

Also, this does not mean that either party is sitting on $100K . It's basically a pledge to pay.

Although rewards serve to motivate and keep the media's attention, statistically, it's extremely rare for a cash reward to ever be paid out.

 

[Ontario Mom]

To be clear, the husband initially offered $100K reward for the safe return of his wife, and today a family friend matched the reward for a total of $200K.

Also, this does not mean that either party is sitting on $100K . It's basically a pledge to pay.

Although rewards serve to motivate and keep the media's attention, statistically, it's extremely rare for a cash reward to ever be paid out.

It seems mighty reckless to pledge to pay a large amount of money like that, if you don't even have it to pay out.

 

[MinnyPin]

So the neighbor called 911 immediately? If my neighbor didn’t show up the same day I’d probably call family members and maybe the police department, not 911. Thoughts?

Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, CBI, FBI now investigating disappearance of Maysville area woman

 

[Jmoose]

Not insinuating anything but a $200k reward for information leading to her safe return means nothing if someone knows she won’t be returned safely.

Maybe it just means that he loves his wife and wants her back?

 

[Poedelini]

So the neighbor called 911 immediately? If my neighbor didn’t show up the same day I’d probably call family members and maybe the police department, not 911. Thoughts?

Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, CBI, FBI now investigating disappearance of Maysville area woman

It is a rural area, maybe these kinds of small follow up on neighbors is normal in those places?

 

[Seattle1]

Amber Jo Cooper‏Verified account @AmberJoCooper
I spoke with Suzanne's nephew on the phone this morning and he said Suzanne’s husband put out a reward of $100,000 and a family friend has matched the amount, totaling $200k for her safe return.

8:46 AM - 14 May 2020

Amber Jo Cooper‏Verified account @AmberJoCooper
Just spoke with the Chaffee County Sheriff, and he said they are out searching again today, including additional area nearby. I asked if they were using drones and dogs again, to which he said they are using "everything we can use." No further updates.

8:57 AM - 14 May 2020

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

About the family stating the information for Suzanne's safe return...no questions asked ; what the bleep ????
I've heard that statement before in the disappearance and possible death of Barbara Thomas -- made by her husband.
It didn't sit well with me then and it doesn't now.
Imo.

If she's been abducted yes there are going to be questions.
If she left of her own volition--the family deserves some answers.

Yes, I remember too that statement... and just short of a year later still no clues despite plenty of questions still being asked, but not answered. I hope it won't be the same
here.

 

[Tbone144]

My first thought was mountain lion. Attacks are rare but they do happen. Puma is her street name (address, not nickname)

This one was able to drag an adult through the trees in WA
Mountain bikers in fatal cougar attack did everything right, authorities say

runner attacked in CO
A Mountain Lion Attacked a Runner. He Choked It to Death and Escaped.

Adult male dragged away in CA:
Mauled Man May Have Been Fixing Bike

this one sites April and May as time cougars go into urban areas.
Colorado mountain lions on the prowl: Here's what you should know
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-10-me-lion10-story.html

• 
  
  
  • April and May are prime months for mountain lions to venture into Front Range city fringes looking for prey.
  • The mountain lion population in Colorado is estimated at 4,000 to 5,500.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-10-me-lion10-story.html
I know she’s more likely to encounter a two legged predator but I wonder what they have that they are dismissing animal attack so quickly.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-10-me-lion10-story.html

 

[GordianKnot]

To be clear, the husband initially offered $100K reward for the safe return of his wife, and today a family friend matched the reward for a total of $200K.

Also, this does not mean that either party is sitting on $100K . It's basically a pledge to pay.

Although rewards serve to motivate and keep the media's attention, statistically, it's extremely rare for a cash reward to ever be paid out.

BBM:

That's some friend, that's all I gotta say!

 

[whitelilac]

So the neighbor called 911 immediately? If my neighbor didn’t show up the same day I’d probably call family members and maybe the police department, not 911. Thoughts?

Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, CBI, FBI now investigating disappearance of Maysville area woman

Maybe they were good friends, and maybe Suzanne expressed concerns about a possible stalker. Maybe the neighbor found the bike, or maybe a daughter called her because she couldn't reach her mom..maybe daughter and mom had planned a particular time for face timing and it alarmed the daughter.
We just don't know.

 

[LietKynes]

My first thought was mountain lion. Attacks are rare but they do happen. Puma is her street name (address, not nickname)

This one was able to drag an adult through the trees in WA
Mountain bikers in fatal cougar attack did everything right, authorities say

runner attacked in CO
A Mountain Lion Attacked a Runner. He Choked It to Death and Escaped.

Adult male dragged away in CA:
Mauled Man May Have Been Fixing Bike

this one sites April and May as time cougars go into urban areas.
Colorado mountain lions on the prowl: Here's what you should know


I know she’s more likely to encounter a two legged predator but I wonder what they have that they are dismissing animal attack so quickly.

bbm

Maybe her bike sustained significant damage and LE think someone ran her off the road ?
Idk.

I'd like to know like others here have commented... when was the last time anyone saw her in person ?

Did the neighbor who called an hour and a half after she left to go on her bike ride actually see Suzanne ?

I admit that although we're on good terms with out distant neighbors (we live in a semi-rural area) they wouldn't know when I rode my bike or even if I was late getting back.
We don't keep tabs on each other very much....but we did some house-sitting for the neighbors a few times.
Didn't stay overnight or anything, just went to let the dog out and water the plants.

 

[GordianKnot]

Suzanne Morphew Missing: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

SABBM:

It’s Unclear How Long Morphew Had Been Gone Before a Neighbor Reported Her Missing & Investigators Say It’s Unlikely She Was Attacked By an Animal

A neighbor told deputies Morphew had gone for a bike ride and never returned home. It was not immediately clear what time Morphew left her house or how frequently she may have taken long bike rides or hikes. <snip>

A family friend matched the offer, bringing the reward to $200,000 for info leading to Morphew’s safe return, “no questions asked,” according to the Denver Channel. Morphew’s family did not identify the friend. The Chaffee County Sheriff has not mentioned the reward and whether the department is coordinating with Morphew’s husband. <snip>

Morphew wrote that the house sat on 13 acres of land and that the listing price was $895,000. Property records from Hamilton County, Indiana, indicate the property never sold and the Morphews still own it.

Property records in Chaffee County, Colorado, show Suzanne and Barry Morphew purchased their current home in April 2018 for $1,575,000.
<snip>

Morphew’s husband, Barry, is a business owner. According to Indiana business records, he started a company called BLM Enterprises in 2004. He is also listed as an agent with BLM Landscaping in Indiana.

According to his Facebook page, Barry Morphew is a volunteer firefighter in Colorado. He wrote that he is a wildland firefighter at Chaffee County Fire Protection District.

 

[Seattle1]

It seems mighty reckless to pledge to pay a large amount of money like that, if you don't even have it to pay out.

You have to admit that the offer is working as intended -- people can't stop talking about it!

Rewards are not like earnest money that have to be on deposit. The money could be raised within days with a campaign or GF, liquidating one's retirement, selling assets, a loan, etc.. As I said before, it's extremely rare for a reward to be paid out.

ETA: They've already raised more than $23k in less than 24 hours.

 

[happyday]

With the little info we do know, I can’t shake the gut feeling that her disappearance is money motivated in some way. Maybe more will come out to change that feeling, but that’s where I am at the moment.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

There are so many possibles and ponderables always in cases like these and you can come up with all sorts of theories, and many times the simplest is the answer. Here that would be an accident, given the terrain.

On the other hand, to get into shadier waters, what better time to disappear someone when you know they are going to be all alone that day, with both daughters out of state and husband away too.

Questions. She obviously had life insurance? Who would benefit? When did husband leave, what was the exact purpose for being away, and when was he due back? How long had that absence been scheduled, for a week or two, or just a sudden thing? Had any strange vehicles or people been seen hanging around in days before she went missing? Did anyone have a grudge against either of them? Were one of them having another relationship?

 

[Knox]

Noel says her bike was found that evening, but Morphew was nowhere to be found. Sheriff John Spezze has told CBS4 it was “probably not” animals. Noel urged people to question the sheriff about the condition of the bike.
'We Want Her Back': $200,000 Reward Offered In Search For Suzanne Morphew

Just catching up.

I assume the urging from the nephew means the Sheriff is not sharing information about the investigation and he wants to apply pressure?
Not criticizing him, I'd want answers too. Today marks day five of their nightmare

 

[K9Enzo]

Man, reading some of these comments makes me wonder if I'm a terrible person for not spending every moment of every Mother's Day at home with my mom...

Do we even know that she was alone all day? Maybe they had spent the morning with her. Maybe they all celebrated on Saturday instead of Sunday. Maybe they don't like all the commercialism around Mother's Day so the day just isn't a big deal to them even though they love their mom.

I also don't think it's weird at all that Sheriff's Office isn't getting into details about how much contact she had with family that day, and I don't assume that their silence on it means that they didn't visit or even call her. I'd actually be surprised if they did talk about that stuff at this point.

I feel like some are being a little prejudgmental towards the family here and flirting with blaming them.

Edit: also the fact that he's a firefighter makes the Mother's Day thing seem even less weird to me. One of the first things fire families get used to is missing holidays or celebrating them on other days. I can't even remember the last actual Thanksgiving I spent with my husband. Everything about holidays changes.

Yeah, I personally don't put too much into these designated days such as Mother's Day or Father's Day and that does not mean that my parents are not loved or dear to me. They absolutely are.

In regards to this story, it's not a marker for me as to her worth to her family if they had not planned to all be together on Mothers Day. At first glance, I would say good for her for enjoying a solo bike ride.

Tragically, I believe this day will have a dark cloud over it for the future of this family.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

I hope phone data can give them some info to go on in this case.

Were all her personal belongings still left at house? Even if she was on a bike and not in a car, would she not at least have taken her phone, key or door fob and a bottle of water?

 

[Mind your biscuits]

I wonder what she was doing in the days before she went missing? What do we know so far?

 

[Poedelini]

Were all her personal belongings still left at house? Even if she was on a bike and not in a car, would she not at least have taken her phone, key or door fob and a bottle of water?

I was unsure to ask but even in those area's people always take their phone with them right?