Although this is the first time I have seen this thread on Maura, I remember when this happened, and if I remember right, around the same time, there were a few other women that disappeared around the same time in NH.
Please see my thoughts in bold...
I haven't read all the comments.I have read some of the 15 "hard facts."
This is all speculation on my part, but I think she was picked up by a stranger. Why?
First, there was snow on the ground, and if she drifted into the woods, she would have left tracks. There were no tracks.
Second, she locked her doors. Her possessions were in her car, and if she was planning on running away and leaving them behind, why bother locking the doors? I believed she had planning on returning to gather her belongings at some time, possibly at the tow yard after she sobered up (if she was drinking) this is a habit she may have had and it was done almost unconsciously. It was discovered that she had filled up her gas tank shortly before her trip. Even if she went to NH to kill herself, thus making a full tank irrelevant, it may have just been habit. When people are in panic mode (which it sounds like she was) they go on autopilot.
Third. I do believe she was drinking, and I believe she just wanted to leave the scene before the cops showed up. agree.
So she locked her car, started walking after she told the bus driver she needed no help, a car stopped and asked her if she needed a ride. Desperate to get away from the scene, she took the offer.
Fourth. I don't believe there was a tandem car that was following her waiting to give her a ride to Canada, because the bus driver would have seen said car at the scene. I'm not sure if she had a cell phone or not, but I believe if any plans on running away was discussed, LE would have all cell phone history by now. I agree, I have never bought this theory and I don't think many do.
Fifth. If she did have a cell phone, I don't believe she set out on foot to get help ie. calling for a tow. She could have set in her warm car and called from her cell . The temps were below freezing that night. Again, I believe she was trying to flee the scene and took a chance with taking a ride from a stranger. I believe that stranger offered her a place to stay for the night until she sobered off, and something happened to her there Butch Atwood (bus driver/resident of Haverhill) said there was no cell service in that area which is why he called police even after Maura claimed she called AAA as he knew that was false. My two theories (both have Maura deceased within 24 hours of the crash) are 1) picked up by a local creep about an hour or two after the crash. At this point she was freezing and desperate and had no choice but to accept. A local would know the area to dump the body. 2) she is in the woods and died of exposure. I know there were no tracks and that dogs did not track a scent but I still think this is slightly more likely than #1