http://www.newtimes-slo.com/archive/2003-09-24/archives/cov_stories_2003/cov_03202003.html
The "missing person" joins the ranks of Americans who mysteriously go missing every year. At any given time, according to U.S. Justice Department data, the whereabouts of 40,000 adults in this country is unknown. Each person leaves behind loved ones and friends who can do nothing but ponder their absenceand worry.
People drop from sight for almost as many reasons as there are disappearancesbroken marriages and dreams, shattered romances, disappointing occupations, financial problems, general dissatisfaction with life, fear.
With many others, the departure is not at all voluntary.
When an adults disappearance is reported to law enforcement agencies, details provided by the reporting party and by relatives will be used by investigators to place the case in one of seven different categories: "lost," "catastrophe," "stranger abduction," "suspicious circumstances," "
voluntary missing," and "dependent adult."
In 2001,
841,266 cases were reported to the FBI, but
861,918 were cleared, reflecting closure of old cases.
Experts agree that the number of missing adults reported in the United States each yearalmost 200,000 in 2001is low because local police routinely take a wait-and-see approach. Cost-effectiveness is said to be the reason.
And without sound evidence of foul play, a disappearance case probably will not get much attention.
MaineSearch: I can understand your "desperations.
We are strongly looking at a few people in the area that maybe attributed to Maura's disappearance. If anyone has any information, as trivial as it may be, please let us know!
She was last seen running away from the accident scene along routes 112/116, avoiding a passing car. She was fine and "avoiding" any involvement of LE.
Are you "objectively" looking at people. What is the criteria you are using to determine this. Are you asking people for alibi's, to "furnish personal details", what exactly are you doing. I would be VERY careful when you are dealing with others, not because they are a danger, but because they can call a lawyer or real LE.
If you cross a very thin line, you could see yourself in trouble.
Maura's case is determined to be a voluntarly missing adult, why are you looking at others as to the source of her "disappearance".
You should consider the "Murray family fortunate" as Maura clearly indicated that she went voluntarly missing.
Other people go voluntarly missing, but they leave no clues. Then of course the "family" suspect the worse.
Those would be the "unknown" cases.
Julie: What makes you "sure" that Maura is or was a victim of foul play. Please provide me with your argument or evidence.
Remember Melissa Kennedy from New York.......she gave no indication of "voluntarly" going missing.
She had "emotional" problems and was "stressed from school". She knew people were looking for her and that her parents were "filled with anxiety and distraught". She also called them, but her parents did not tell LE this.
What makes people think that they know exactly what others will or will not do. What kind of pressures they are under, what is going on in their life, expecially when they won't talk about it or admit they have problems.
Who knows what they think.? What goes on in their minds? What reasons they do the things they do.?
Granted Maura has not used her Cell phone for the past year. That does mean that she has not used a cell phone for the last year, she could have used or bought a new cell phone.
Her Credit Cards can be replaced with new ones too.
New number also, all she has to do is report it lost and it will be replaced with new Credit Cards. She can also apply for other credit cards.
Has her SSN number been used, has her name been entered into a Peoplesearch.com database to determine if her name is associated with any public databases.
Did she open up a new bank account and is cashing cheques on this new account after taking out MOST of her money from her old account.
Like I said the above noted ideas are a lot more productive then looking "at people".
Use databases, Credit Reporting agencies, etc.
How do you know she is in the area.?
After all did she not have a note card associated with Burlingston, VT.
Have you checked all of the little towns in and around the Burlington Area.
I for one have not "written" her off for dead, or a victim of foul play. She is a smart, self reliant women who clearly is an adult who can take care of her self in an adult world.
Without her family..........they want to locate her, but who is to say that she wants to be found.
Unfortunately, it happens a lot more than you think. The missing person can live without their family and can do quite well, but the missing person can't live without the missing person.
The missing person family want the missing person located and "brought" back to us, but the missing person does not want to be "located and brought back".
Even IF Maura is located by LE, they would need her permission to tell the family where she is.
If she chooses not to tell them, to the family she is still missing and they are right back to square one, because they cannot "locate" her and she is still "missing from her family".
There is always two sides to every story.
Circumstances are rulers of the weak and instruments of the wise.