Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o Prejudice* #103

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Any good metal detector would find a spent shell casing, even with a somewhat new detectorist. If the back country behind PP is not private, it would be a good place for a metal detecting club to practice. ;)
Could that have been what Barry was doing when he claimed he was hunting a dead turkey -- picking up spent casings from a gun he planned to rid himself of? A metal detector and a solid hour...

You wouldn't want to call attention to a missing wespon by leaving the spent casings all over the place.

Perhaps hunter Barry's yard was too clean....

JMO
 
I recall the same @Diddian. Here it is from August 30, 2021.

Thanks for this, and to @Diddian for soundness of memory! My question in light of this is, why not convene the Grand Jury via Zoom, as the National Association of District Attorneys have suggested?

I can understand COVID-related uncertainty could be an issue through August 2021, even though Judge M packed the courtroom and more for the PH a month later.

But now, if LS intends to proceed there seems to be no impediment. It might show the public - and BM - that LS is not pulling in her horns after the Morphew case. Heck, I'd include in the jury's scope the investigation of Morphew - some witnesses might just come out of the weeds and add significant information. Just a thought.
 
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I agree. But the errors existed all the way back to the charging, which we know the CBI thought to be too soon. I guess that thought proved to be true.

Everyone thinks a second arrest will be a slam dunk and I don't agree with that. The prosecutors have laid their cards on the table and Iris surely has a formidable defense planned with what she knows. I still think she might bail out if a substantial new piece of evidence is found, but what else is there to find? Seems like all there is to find are Suzanne's remains.

And depending on where they're found and what they're found with could affect the case that the prosecutors have already built.
RBBM. It seems to me the defense has also laid their cards on the table, and that they have lost the element of surprise in future proceedings.

More than adequately funded and supported by nationally recognized legal specialists, E&N threw every conceivable legal argument against the prosecution's case. With infinite time to prepare, future prosecutors will have the very best research and perhaps new experts and evidence to shoot down these arguments. There will be few surprises on either side next time, I suspect, and IMO that's advantage prosecution.

I hasten to acknowledge the possibility there may not be a next time. But as long as Spezze says he's still after BM, and backs it up with actions like hiring Grusing, I will maintain my optimism that we'll see BM behind bars. If it takes a couple of years, that's OK with me. I hope the County Commissioners recognize the importance of FUNDING for the necessary people and technologies, and exercise their leadership in support of LS, JS, and other agencies. If the public wants aggressive law enforcement, leaders have to persuade them to support it with tax dollars.
 
Thanks for this, and to @Diddian for soundness of memory! My question in light of this is, why not convene the Grand Jury via Zoom, as the National Association of District Attorneys have suggested? I can understand COVID-related uncertainty could be an issue through August 2021.

But if LS intends to proceed there seems to be no impediment now. Politically, it might show the public - and BM - that LS is not pulling in her horns after the Morphew case.

I'm afraid I need to call on OP's extended family's experience in Colorado law for help here: if the case is refiled with a brand new charge that BM has never been charged with, I believe deciding probable cause either by preliminary hearing or indictment is required for the brand new charge.

But under what authority and/or regulation would the grand jury be of service if in this case, the same charges are refiled in the same District Court, where probable cause was previously found at the preliminary hearing?

And if a grand jury indictment replaces the preliminary hearing, does the grand jury also decide capital offense proof evident presumption great for the purpose of rejecting or granting bail?

Wasn't it the Colorado Supreme Court that decided grand juries are secret and cannot be recorded and therefore prohibited from convening via virtual session? Nonetheless, I don't think this is the DA's decision.

Looking forward to being enlighted by OP's response.

I think I'll owe somebody a fresh-baked pie. :)
 

Headline 2 months ago:

"Authorities say they are "close" to finding Suzanne Morphew's body but need to wait for snow to melt; charges against husband dismissed"


When we will hear that the authorities have found SM's body? Because if they were "close" to finding SM's body 2 months ago--have they already found SM's body? Or is evidence of unprofessionalism on the part of LE?

 
He admitted to clipping her nose during an argument, and threatening suicide (by far the worst thing he did, and a massive red flag).

The latter is known as "coercive control," and countless domestic homicides have occurred after such a threat.

It apparently worked every time, except for the final one, when Suzanne made it clear she wanted a divorce and didn't bite when he once again made that threat.

Suzanne told her best friend that this was a pattern (or it was in her grievance list), and he had previously attempted to jump out of a moving vehicle during an argument.

Suzanne also said that Barry had once held a gun to his head, and held her down.

Other than being a domestic abuser, controlling jackass, con man, sexual creep (groping and kissing a married woman, virginity conversation, etc), a proven pathological liar, and oh yeah, a killer, he's a great guy.
 
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Headline 2 months ago:

"Authorities say they are "close" to finding Suzanne Morphew's body but need to wait for snow to melt; charges against husband dismissed"


When we will hear that the authorities have found SM's body? Because if they were "close" to finding SM's body 2 months ago--have they already found SM's body? Or is evidence of unprofessionalism on the part of LE?

"Unprofessionalism on the part of LE?"

This was a tremendous investigation that involved some incredible organizations, that put in a tremendous amount of man hours.

We had the premier body finding organization in the world (Necrosearch International), scientists, digital experts, countless search organizations, and legendary FBI profiler Jonny Grusing of Henthorn and Redwine fame.

Just a staggering amount of investigative work in the hardest type of murder case there is.

There are untold numbers of killers walking free who happened to get one thing right: they successfully disposed of a body.

Through the better part of a year, they put all the pieces together, and brought a killer to the verge of confessing (immunity).

Because of that we know why Suzanne was killed, when she was killed, where she was killed, and have a good idea how she was killed.

Most importantly, we know WHO killed her.

Barry may be living his best life right now, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the investigation itself.

Every victim should be so lucky as to see even a fraction of the effort that went in here.

So I couldn't possibly disagree more.
 
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He admitted to clipping her nose during an argument, and threatening suicide (by far the worst thing he did, and a massive red flag).

The latter is known as "coercive control," and countless domestic homicides have occurred after such a threat.

It apparently worked every time, except for the final one, when Suzanne made it clear she wanted a divorce and didn't bite when he once again made that threat.

Suzanne told her best friend that this was a pattern (or it was in her grievance list), and he had previously attempted to jump out of a moving vehicle during an argument.

Suzanne also said that Barry had once held a gun to his head, and held her down.

Other than being a domestic abuser, controlling jackass, con man, sexual creep (groping and kissing a married woman, virginity conversation, etc), a proven pathological liar, and oh yeah, a killer, he's a great guy.
Didn’t he also refer to himself as Suzanne’s ATM? This would lead me to believe there was some abuse/control of finances. Didn’t he use her need for health insurance against her? She had fought cancer twice and he told her that she would lose her health insurance benefits. He denigrated her use of CBD to treat the side effects she experienced due to chemotherapy. Wasn’t there also information about how he used the daughters against her in marital arguments?

I’m not a DV expert, but in my opinion I consider these behaviors to be abusive.
 
Didn’t he also refer to himself as Suzanne’s ATM? This would lead me to believe there was some abuse/control of finances. Didn’t he use her need for health insurance against her? She had fought cancer twice and he told her that she would lose her health insurance benefits. He denigrated her use of CBD to treat the side effects she experienced due to chemotherapy. Wasn’t there also information about how he used the daughters against her in marital arguments?

I’m not a DV expert, but in my opinion I consider these behaviors to be abusive.
Absolutely. There are no shortage of examples of Barry being both controlling, and just a complete garbage human. The manipulation of his youngest daughter during that interview attempt by Lauren, was as sickening as it was insightful.

Besides threats of suicide, Barry wanted Suzanne to believe that she couldn't survive without him.

Turns out, she couldn't survive with him...
 

Headline 2 months ago:

"Authorities say they are "close" to finding Suzanne Morphew's body but need to wait for snow to melt; charges against husband dismissed"


When we will hear that the authorities have found SM's body? Because if they were "close" to finding SM's body 2 months ago--have they already found SM's body? Or is evidence of unprofessionalism on the part of LE?


Everybody reading here truly owes it to themselves to read beyond the Headline. I highly recommend reading the Peoples Motion for Dismissal. JMO
 
Didn’t he also refer to himself as Suzanne’s ATM? This would lead me to believe there was some abuse/control of finances. Didn’t he use her need for health insurance against her? She had fought cancer twice and he told her that she would lose her health insurance benefits. He denigrated her use of CBD to treat the side effects she experienced due to chemotherapy. Wasn’t there also information about how he used the daughters against her in marital arguments?

I’m not a DV expert, but in my opinion I consider these behaviors to be abusive.
Yes, all of that is abusive behavior. He also berated Suzanne when she was depressed after her mom died, according to Andy. He didn't want her taking anti-depressants. I think he saw it as a weakness and likely made her feel that way.
 
He admitted to clipping her nose during an argument, and threatening suicide (by far the worst thing he did, and a massive red flag).

The latter is known as "coercive control," and countless domestic homicides have occurred after such a threat.

It apparently worked every time, except for the final one, when Suzanne made it clear she wanted a divorce and didn't bite when he once again made that threat.

Suzanne told her best friend that this was a pattern (or it was in her grievance list), and he had previously attempted to jump out of a moving vehicle during an argument.

Suzanne also said that Barry had once held a gun to his head, and held her down.

Other than being a domestic abuser, controlling jackass, con man, sexual creep (groping and kissing a married woman, virginity conversation, etc), a proven pathological liar, and oh yeah, a killer, he's a great guy.


It is very well known that abusers admit to minor physical violence to cover more major violence.
 
I think the prosecutor exaggerated that they ‘were close to finding the body’ in order to get the case dismissed with prejudice. They are very lucky the judge sided with them, because I doubt he believed that BM would not be able to bury a body well. All statements are MOO
 
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I don't think they will refile until they are sure they have a slam dunk.

Things have a way of coming out over time. Relationships change over time. People can only behave for so long before they get comfortable and begin to slip up with words or actions. People will be watching Barry and waiting. I think he will eventually crack. He has anger issues, I believe that. Maybe that was mostly hidden from his girls as they grew up, but it will come out over time. They are not perfect and neither is he. He will get angry about something, he will get angry at Sho or a coworker, I think something will happen and someone will speak up. I feel like someone does know something. I don't know if it's Sho, one of the girls, or one of his friends, but someone knows something. It might not be that he murdered Suzanne, but something isn't adding up for one of them and I think like I said over time relationships change and nagging thoughts do eat away at people. Something will break one of them.


I think he will attack some one. Someone who knows something, and goads him.
 
I think some things are just unrealistic expectations. My belief is that families never totally give up the idea that a family member will be found but I also suspect that most families ultimately deal with the reality of their life in limbo regarding a missing loved one. We don't even know if Barry is living anywhere near where they lived...I think locals can keep some pressure on the Sherriff to follow any "new" leads of course. And we really don't know what happened between year 1 and year 2 locally with regard to actually trying to locate Suzanne. I'm just more pessimistic or more of a realist I guess. Although like everyone I really hope DA Stanley wasn't making a false statement when she declared they had a relative location and were just waiting until the area was accessible after snow melt.

I am one who doesn't believe she is near the home and I am one that believes that Barry was sincere when he was upset that LE didn't dredge out the Beaver Pond so I don't believe she is in the water near the house either. I have also always had a funny little twitch in my mind that wonders if Barry actually even knows where Suzanne is leading to me having always wondered if someone else were involved during the middle of night activity. Although who knows if his searching with friends and thrashing around in the brush by the river and all that was fakery in the early months. But is he in Chaffee County searching in year three? I doubt it. Is LE still active. I hope so.




Near to home, because instead of welcoming the search party, he was hostile to them. He could have easily have had volunteers /paid security to guard his property. Any one who was genuinely looking for their loved one would be very grateful to these volunteers. Thanks
 
On behalf of all of us who believe that clown, BM, was smart enough to hide her body well, it is my hope she is found and we all eat crow. Bodies can be found years later. I hope it’s really soon though. I’m waiting every day for the CBI, the sheriff, and the DA to come together with an absolute case and LS can refile.
He committed this murder. No doubt about it.

P.S. and praying for a fair judge who won’t gut the case by taking expert witnesses away.
Not being American, I don't know a lot about its law. My no doubt ignorant opinion is that the above action of not allowing those expert witnesses is reprehensible, should be illegal, and should be reversed, with the judge being censured at the least. How can this be justice? It makes me very angry. MOO MOO etc
 
Not being American, I don't know a lot about its law. My no doubt ignorant opinion is that the above action of not allowing those expert witnesses is reprehensible, should be illegal, and should be reversed, with the judge being censured at the least. How can this be justice? It makes me very angry. MOO MOO etc
I agree with you.

I just don’t get how removing actual expert or witness testimony is a suitable “reprimand” for prosecutors apparently not making certain admin deadlines. It seems really wrong in terms of justice for Suzanne.
 
Near to home, because instead of welcoming the search party, he was hostile to them. He could have easily have had volunteers /paid security to guard his property. Any one who was genuinely looking for their loved one would be very grateful to these volunteers. Thanks
A splendid reminder of Barry's response to offers of assistance back in the early days, when Suzanne's remains were freshly obscurred and most probably [IMO] still close at hand.

Perhaps risking an appearance of immodesty... Friends might consider reviewing Th100/ #858 of 20 April, last.
 
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