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

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  • #1,001
Has it been mentioned what time the presser is?
No, but apparently they started searching there around 7:30 this morning so I hope they found something by now.

Someone will post the time of the PC as soon as they announce it, I'm sure.
 
  • #1,002
  • #1,003
Completely agree.

They haven’t shared even the most basic information, such as Suzanne’s height, weight, or hair color. That’s virtually unheard of in missing person cases, IMO.

As to the tip-line, it is possible, IMO, that they decided to set one up, so as to avoid being accused of focusing on a particular person(s) or investigative theory prematurely and failing to investigate alternatives, should there be an arrest(s), and not necessarily because they are in need of additional information for investigative or prosecutorial purposes, IMO.
Even if LE thinks (or knows) what happened, wouldn't they still want input from any potential witness? Anyone driving the road around the time she would have been riding? Some sort of public statement with a description of what to look for would seem like normal protocol to me. This could at last corroborate a timeline and back up neighbor's statement. Am I missing something? All moo, of course.
 
  • #1,004
Actually after relooking at what they have blocked off, I think it's blocked off from around where their house is all the way to Sargents.

So quite a big area.
Wow, it seems unusual to block off such a large section of the road. Could it be just to keep the media away?

I wonder if there is another reason.
 
  • #1,005
ADMIN NOTE:

While we wait for the presser, a reminder:

Family and loved ones of a missing or deceased person are considered victims unless they are officially named by LE to be a POI/suspect.

Insinuations and/or direct accusations against a family member or a person who has not been officially named a POI are not allowed.

One of the very basic principles at Websleuths is that WSers are victim friendly. If members violate that principle by suggesting family members or innocent people are involved, they face a temporary or permanent loss of posting privileges.
 
  • #1,006
Even if LE thinks (or knows) what happened, wouldn't they still want input from any potential witness? Anyone driving the road around the time she would have been riding? Some sort of public statement with a description of what to look for would seem like normal protocol to me. This could at last corroborate a timeline and back up neighbor's statement. Am I missing something? All moo, of course.
Unless something happened and it is very evident somewhere else?
IMO
 
  • #1,007
Wow, it seems unusual to block off such a large section of the road. Could it be just to keep the media away?

I wonder if there is another reason.

If they're searching right around the highway, the safety of the searchers may be a factor.
 
  • #1,008
ADMIN NOTE:

While we wait for the presser, a reminder:

Family and loved ones of a missing or deceased person are considered victims unless they are officially named by LE to be a POI/suspect.

Insinuations and/or direct accusations against a family member or a person who has not been officially named a POI are not allowed.

One of the very basic principles at Websleuths is that WSers are victim friendly. If members violate that principle by suggesting family members or innocent people are involved, they face a temporary or permanent loss of posting privileges.
there is some discussion on her media thread - I think some sleuthers got lost
CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020*MEDIA,MAPS,TIMELINE*
 
  • #1,009
  • #1,010
Do we know how far this road closure today is from SM’s home and the HWY 50 & Co Rd 225 roadblock they had a few days ago?

TIA
upload_2020-5-15_14-8-6.png
 
  • #1,011
I'd think the road closing would be needed just to keep traffic jams and lookie-loo's from backing up, if there's a significant LE evidence along the road.
 
  • #1,012
Completely agree.

They haven’t shared even the most basic information, such as Suzanne’s height, weight, or hair color. That’s virtually unheard of in missing person cases, IMO.

As to the tip-line, it is possible, IMO, that they decided to set one up, so as to avoid being accused of focusing on a particular person(s) or investigative theory prematurely and failing to investigate alternatives, should there be an arrest(s), and not necessarily because they are in need of additional information for investigative or prosecutorial purposes, IMO.

Yeah, good points. Add in the closing of the road, and the expanded search. I wonder if there was a confession regarding where items can be found (being intentionally vague). I can see how that could lead to the closure.

Of course if there is a confession, we don't have a clue as to who that would be at this point.
 
  • #1,013
I'd think the road closing would be needed just to keep traffic jams and lookie-loo's from backing up, if there's a significant LE evidence along the road.

Yep they normally block it off back to major intersections in order to re-route traffic. And keep people back

I was kind of surprised though that they seem to have closed it down all the way back to Sargents some 18 miles South from U.S. 50 and county road 225.

But I think a lot of that probably has to due with Re-routing traffic etc.

There aren't a lot of major intersections in these parts
 
  • #1,014
  • #1,015
I’m still confused b/c Heavy.com is saying it was listed for $895,000 but never sold. Zillow says it sold for $750,000 in May 2019. Three acres sold for $750,000 but they still own the house? No way. It probably doesn’t matter but it’s so confusing!

What does the county auditor site say?

(I personally think it's unrelated)
 
  • #1,016
I have also been trying to find the exact location of their home as compared to 225 and 50 and from this map that was on the Media thread, it does a really good job of pinning the home if this is accurate.

It looks pretty close to be able to make a bike ride from the home along 225 up to 50. It looks like it could be less than 8 miles on this map.

ETA-It says it is 0.73 miles along the marked trail so that is less than 1 mile to get to 50 from the home.

https://www.websleuths.com/forums/attachments/upload_2020-5-15_10-17-3-png.246864/
 
  • #1,017
Even if LE thinks (or knows) what happened, wouldn't they still want input from any potential witness? Anyone driving the road around the time she would have been riding? Some sort of public statement with a description of what to look for would seem like normal protocol to me. This could at last corroborate a timeline and back up neighbor's statement. Am I missing something? All moo, of course.

I think some are skeptical that there ever even was a bike ride on the day she went missing.

Or well, at least I am

ETA:
I say that because yes if she went missing on a bike ride and they suspected a stranger abduction or hit and run, or even an accident that didn't involve another person.

I would absolutely expect them to be asking the public for help. Did anybody see SM she looks like etc etc. We believe she was riding in the area of. We need your help!

They aren't investigating this as a typical missing person case IMO

Which leads me to believe this is an active Criminal investigation.

They already have the pieces of the puzzle, they are just trying to put them all together.
 
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  • #1,018
Yeah, good points. Add in the closing of the road, and the expanded search. I wonder if there was a confession regarding where items can be found (being intentionally vague). I can see how that could lead to the closure.

Of course if there is a confession, we don't have a clue as to who that would be at this point.
If so, there would likely be a suspect or someone in custody. And the search would be for corroborating evidence. JMO

Perhaps they have someone in mind but not enough evidence. Still I'd think they'd be looking for witnesses. Again, JMO
 
  • #1,019
Only 3 acres of land was transferred to the seed company. They still own the house and the 10 acres that it's on.

Thank you. So Zillow must’ve been wrong in saying the sale was 750,000. The Hamilton County public records show the 3 tilliable acres transferred have 2018 - 2020 assessed values of 3900 - 4900.

And the remaining 10 acres with the house show 2019 taxes (payable in 2020) with a May bill of 3660.12 and Nov bill of 3660.12.

So somehow SM came into money that wasn’t related to her teaching profession. Whether by inheritance, a settlement, lottery, or marriage, I guess we will find out.
 
  • #1,020
Is it just me, or does it seem a bit invasive to anyone else, digging into the family's real estate holdings? I mean, maybe it's important but maybe it's not, and since LE haven't said a word about it, I'm not even sure how it factors in, or if it does at all?

Just me?
 
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