NH NH - Maura Murray, 21, Haverhill, 9 Feb 2004 - # 6

[McSpy]

Thanks for all the intelligent comments, insight and info on the car.

I apologize in advance for my question -- I have followed this case from the beginning, but I don't have a link or don't remember where I read this...BUT...wasn't there some talk about a possible sighting of Maura at a church on Father's Day (the first Father's Day after she disappeared). Do any of you remember that, and if so... thoughts?

This case has haunted me from day one. I suppose she reminds me of my own daughter.

TIA.

I got this from wikipedia:

June 2005. A girl with blonde hair resembling Maura was seen at a church in Barton, Vermont. A witness said that the girl said her name was "Raykel" and took off quickly when the minister started a Father's Day sermon.

This siting was not confirmed to be Maura. I would think there would have been additional sitings in the Barton area, if this girl was Maura, because it is a small town. I also wonder, if the person who had reported this siting told the girl that she looked like Maura, which could explain why the girl took off in a hurry. Meaning, the girl was Maura. Anything is possible at this point. I wish there were more details on this possible siting. The interesting thing about the siting is that the girl comes across as new in town. One would think that most people in that area know of each other in some capacity or another. Although, if the person, who reported this siting was elderly, they may not know many of the young people in town.

 

[*zoe*]

its been a while since i've stopped by this thread so im sorry for my ignorance... who's this contractor? the only witness i was aware of actually speaking with maura after the accident was the bus driver.

 

[carterkatt]

I got this from wikipedia:

June 2005. A girl with blonde hair resembling Maura was seen at a church in Barton, Vermont. A witness said that the girl said her name was "Raykel" and took off quickly when the minister started a Father's Day sermon.

This siting was not confirmed to be Maura. I would think there would have been additional sitings in the Barton area, if this girl was Maura, because it is a small town. I also wonder, if the person who had reported this siting told the girl that she looked like Maura, which could explain why the girl took off in a hurry. Meaning, the girl was Maura. Anything is possible at this point. I wish there were more details on this possible siting. The interesting thing about the siting is that the girl comes across as new in town. One would think that most people in that area know of each other in some capacity or another. Although, if the person, who reported this siting was elderly, they may not know many of the young people in town.

Thanks, McSpy, for finding that info. I guess the mystic of the "sighting" on Father's Day, of all days, makes it all the more interesting, knowing she had a close bond with her father.

And, you're right. If this was a new person in town... where did she go? Never to be seen again? If she was just traveling through, no one else saw her? Not at a gas station, restaurant, etc? Unless she did not want to be seen? I think I just want her to be alive and and I am looking for any possible way for that to be true.

 

[btf100]

I agree. A surveyor or road construction crew are about the only possible people, who might find her, if she did perish in the woods in that area. Another possibility of finding Maura in that area: a vehicle breaking down and the motorist needing to take a pee break off the road, while he or she waits for help. This is about it. I can't see that any other activity would bring anybody into the thick woods that close to the road.

Hikers and in particular Hunters come across remains probably most often.

Bill

 

[carterkatt]

Thanks, McSpy, for finding that info. I guess the mystic of the "sighting" on Father's Day, of all days, makes it all the more interesting, knowing she had a close bond with her father.

And, you're right. If this was a new person in town... where did she go? Never to be seen again? If she was just traveling through, no one else saw her? Not at a gas station, restaurant, etc? Unless she did not want to be seen? I think I just want her to be alive and and I am looking for any possible way for that to be true.

I apologize for quoting myself... I just noticed I wrote mystic instead of mystique at 5 am today.. .that's my exuse.. up too early! Sorry! Generally, I CAN spell! I think!

 

[scaredtopost]

This case has always haunted me, as well. I'm close to her age and I have wrecked a few cars, myself. The other reported sighting was at a gas station. An older woman thought she saw Maura in a truck with an older man, mouthing the words "Help me."

It just blows my mind that a living, breathing human being could dissapear within the two minutes it took for LE officials to arrive. I pray she is found and this case has a resolution.

 

[NHwoodsman]

I do wonder how thoroughly those woods were searched. I mean, it was February, lots of snow, tough terrain, and if you look at those photos of the windshield...if the cracks were from the inside out as the photo claimed, then Maura probably had a pretty good head injury going on (whether she was bleeding or not). Intoxicated, possibly with a head injury, not enough clothing...she could have walked just far enough to get permanently lost, and perished. Let's not forget, this girl ran cross-country...she was in great shape physically.

I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't still out in those woods somewhere. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one (even if they've gone over those woods with a fine tooth comb, they still could have missed something).

Bingo, the simplest answer, that's what I've been advocating on forums also. The head injury, the alcohol, the fatigue, and stress and the turmoil of 2 accidents and ruining Dad's car. I have seen instances where it doesn't take much for some people especially under these circumstances to go totally over the deep end.

The only other mystery is what was her destination, I often wonder if she did make reservations somewhere and didn't use a credit or debit card to hold it. Maybe she was told by some local motel there were plenty of vacancies so she didn't reserve a room in her name and never gave her name. Hypothermia creeps up on people and in some instances they recognize it too late. Maura was a prime candidate for hypothermia especially if she was the person seen running 4-5 miles away.
I would be very surprised if there was another outcome to her demise.

 

[NHwoodsman]

I agree. A surveyor or road construction crew are about the only possible people, who might find her, if she did perish in the woods in that area. Another possibility of finding Maura in that area: a vehicle breaking down and the motorist needing to take a pee break off the road, while he or she waits for help. This is about it. I can't see that any other activity would bring anybody into the thick woods that close to the road.

Ironically I had searched for the missing Lear jet from Connecticut years back and had given up one mountain north after several month's and mountains of where it was found by a surveyor. I had just retired from the Air Force and was feeling like the Maytag repairman so I figured I might as well get some exercise. When one considers the size of a jet and the amount of manpower that was put into finding it and it wasn't found and then it was located only by a fluke encounter. Tracks fade in hours let alone days, and for anyone to say they searched every foot of rt112 and every driveway and turn off is ludicrous.

 

[NHwoodsman]

This case has always haunted me, as well. I'm close to her age and I have wrecked a few cars, myself. The other reported sighting was at a gas station. An older woman thought she saw Maura in a truck with an older man, mouthing the words "Help me."

It just blows my mind that a living, breathing human being could dissapear within the two minutes it took for LE officials to arrive. I pray she is found and this case has a resolution.

That sighting in Hillsboro N.H. Cumberland farms was eventually proved to be mistaken, ironically I live not far from there and there's a girl that's a dead ringer for Maura but it isn't her. Wears her hair the same and if you didn't know for sure it would be an easy mistake to make.

 

[NHwoodsman]

Hikers and in particular Hunters come across remains probably most often.

Bill

Agree, the only problem with mauch of that area is the river and terrain, most guys don't want to drag theirself out of that type of terrain let alone a deer. I live in a rural area and have 3 game cameras in the woods, the terrain isn't bad, much better than rt112 and in 3 years I have seen one other person, and that was in hunting season on my cams and one cam is on an old grown in logging road.

Many places don't see human traffic at all, and then they would have to notice bones or items she had and put 2+2 together. It amazes me how many people aren't even aware of the Maura Murray case locally. As far as hikers, many come from out of state and if they saw clothing, belonging's or bottles of Maura's they most likely wouldn't pay a second thought. Even bones are often misidentified and they could believe it to be the remains of a deer, moose or bear, only the human skull really sticks out to most people.

 

[McSpy]

Hikers and in particular Hunters come across remains probably most often.

Bill

I agree that hunters or hikers find remains in most cases, but the areas most likely Maura had disappeared are not areas hikers and hunters prefer. I'm thinking she may be off the side of a road (rt. 112, rt. 116, or Bradley Hill Rd. etc.). There are much better areas for hunting and hiking, so the chance of these people finding her along the road are slim. For example, she could be 10 miles east from the accident site off Rt. 112. There are so many better areas for hikers and hunters than right next to the road.

 

[theforgotten]

Does anyone else find it odd that she was in two car accidents so close together?

 

[btf100]

I agree that hunters or hikers find remains in most cases, but the areas most likely Maura had disappeared are not areas hikers and hunters prefer. I'm thinking she may be off the side of a road (rt. 112, rt. 116, or Bradley Hill Rd. etc.). There are much better areas for hunting and hiking, so the chance of these people finding her along the road are slim. For example, she could be 10 miles east from the accident site off Rt. 112. There are so many better areas for hikers and hunters than right next to the road.

Well yes and no. You are likely talking about Deer hunters as is NHwoodsman. I hunt small game as well as deer. Those types of areas I would likely be going through to get to spots where I would do small game hunting. So again, hikers and hunters and most likely hunters most often find remains. They have a tendency to walk off trail, would recognize the evidence for what it was and be in areas that no one else often walks.

Bill

 

[McSpy]

Does anyone else find it odd that she was in two car accidents so close together?

I don't find it odd. I think she shouldn't have been driving (alcohol) the night she got in the first accident. The second accident happened, because she was in a hurry to get to her destination, while she was drinking. I think she let her emotions take over and that is why she took off to NH. Everything snowballed. One thing lead to another. She should have stayed put.

 

[NHwoodsman]

Does anyone else find it odd that she was in two car accidents so close together?

Most certainly, and as much as I hate to say it I have to wonder how much alcohol played as a factor because her first accident was after she left a party with her dads car and the second she had an open container.

I am not trying to blame Maura, college seems to seduce one into drinking as a lifestyle to fit in and perhaps blow off steam. I think alcohol is somewhat of an epidemic on college campus's.

I think accident number two was the final straw for her emotionally.

 

[McSpy]

Well yes and no. You are likely talking about Deer hunters as is NHwoodsman. I hunt small game as well as deer. Those types of areas I would likely be going through to get to spots where I would do small game hunting. So again, hikers and hunters and most likely hunters most often find remains. They have a tendency to walk off trail, would recognize the evidence for what it was and be in areas that no one else often walks.

Bill

Good to know about the small game hunting. I was thinking about deer. I hope someone finds her, if she is there. The family needs closure. Does anyone know, if there are bulletin boards in the parking lots at the trail heads in that area?

 

[NHwoodsman]

Well yes and no. You are likely talking about Deer hunters as is NHwoodsman. I hunt small game as well as deer. Those types of areas I would likely be going through to get to spots where I would do small game hunting. So again, hikers and hunters and most likely hunters most often find remains. They have a tendency to walk off trail, would recognize the evidence for what it was and be in areas that no one else often walks.

Bill

Agree that small game hunters do tend to hunt brushy areas more so than deer hunters. Bill, have you seen the area we are talking about, it is pretty rough in many spots and when deer hunting years ago when there were actually more hunters than today I almost never saw anyone in that area. I hunted in Warren and Wentworth mostly and when traveling rt.112 during hunting season it was pretty much void of hunters. Hikers may be different, some prefer to bushwhack off trail, but if Maura had gotten across the river not many people seem to trek on the river side of the road.

I guess if one of us comes up with a working crystal ball, there may be hope of solving this, but other than that I am not real optimistic and less so as the years pass.

 

[McSpy]

This case has always haunted me, as well. I'm close to her age and I have wrecked a few cars, myself. The other reported sighting was at a gas station. An older woman thought she saw Maura in a truck with an older man, mouthing the words "Help me."

It just blows my mind that a living, breathing human being could dissapear within the two minutes it took for LE officials to arrive. I pray she is found and this case has a resolution.

I know what you mean! When I was around that age, I blew the engine on my mother's car and hitch-hiked home. I just left the car on the side of the highway. Too make it even worst, I had lied to my mother about where I was going when I borrowed her car. She didn't speak to me for a year!

When I think about it, I'm so glad nothing bad happened, when I hitched the ride.

 

[btf100]

Bill, have you seen the area we are talking about, it is pretty rough in many spots and when deer hunting years ago when there were actually more hunters than today I almost never saw anyone in that area.

I have driven through the area many times but I haven't actually worked it, hunting, hiking or searching. I know the Whites pretty good. I have hiked and camped in the area for decades. I can't say that hunters actually hunt the area, I don't know that, but it might happen that way if she is in that area.

Bill

 

[NHwoodsman]

I have driven through the area many times but I haven't actually worked it, hunting, hiking or searching. I know the Whites pretty good. I have hiked and camped in the area for decades. I can't say that hunters actually hunt the area, I don't know that, but it might happen that way if she is in that area.

Bill

Some hunt the easier sections, one thing I've noticed throughout the years, hunters seem to stay closer to civilization than years past, and the quirky thing is they now have better technology such as GPS. Maybe its just a social shift in hunting methods or we just don't have the old die hard hunters of years ago. I can remember when N.H. had a split season, north and south and there were hunters everywhere, not anymore.

It is amazing how easy some people do get lost, when we first moved out in the woods my wife went 100 yards behind our house and got lost, she came out a mile away on a logging road that feeds off our road. She didn't know where she, but thankfully she brought our dog with her and the dog eventually led her home. Damn I've hated that dog ever since LOL, Only kidding been happily married 39 years.