NH NH - Maura Murray, 21, Haverhill, 9 Feb 2004 #16

[bessie]

21-year-old Maura Murray disappeared on Monday, February 9, 2004 following a minor 1-car accident on Route 112 near Woodsville, New Hampshire.

Previous threads:
Thread #1 Thread #2 Thread #3 Thread #4 Thread #5 Thread #6 Thread #7 Thread #8 Thread #9 Thread #10
Thread #11 Thread #12 Thread #13 Thread #14 Thread #15

Other links:

<modsnip - no longer a working source>

NamUs - The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Charley Project - http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/murray_maura.html

 

[Knitty]

Please continue here.

 

[Austin023]

I haven't posted on this forum in a long time, but I've read many posts on this case. I went to UMass Amherst at the time Maura went missing. I was actually up in the same general area of NH the day she went missing, as I had taken a slightly early trip to the UMass Ski Lodge in nearby Franconia.
Maura leaving campus, having sent that email to professors about a "death in family" which was untrue, and looking up a few lodges, condo rentals in northern VT, NH, have been suggested as here intent to kill herself. No, I believe she was in need of an escape for several days and jumped the gun a bit on the upcoming University February vacation week. Some have suggested she was even headed for the UMass Lodge, which , yes Route 112 would lead to, though by no means the only way. We went a somewhat more northern route from I91.
She left Amherst and a car drive up to Haverhill, NH normally takes about 2 hours. A small Saturn would likely be in need of refueling by then....so, I've long wondered, did she get off at the 302 exit for Woodsville to get gas? Is there any known confirmation she used a gas station or store there, before going east and onto 112? I'm wondering a bit about timeline here.

The car accident changed whatever plans she had, that's safe to say. My take it this: she either fled the scene and either succumbed to the elements either willingly or not...or she got a ride somewhere down the road from the accident and was met with foul play.

Why have NH authorities, multiple agencies, been so secretive? Why have they been treating this case as a crime? Sure, some might be formality, but the amount of resistance to reveal info even to the Murray family is odd. It seems like it's indeed being treated as a crime. I think something was discovered that made police suspect foul play being possible....from my own experience of being in that area, it's absolutely possible. Frankly, probable in my opinion.

 

[Austin023]

And one more thing I want to add, regarding my post yesterday: while some have suggested (or insisted) Maura was planning on suicide before her leaving Amherst (like looking at various rentals further north), there are things in her behavior that go against the idea of planning suicide:
For one, Maura emailed multiple professors and her boss at the art gallery she worked in part time in campus. While she gave a false reason for needing to take a few days off, going through the trouble to inform each one implies she had plans on returning to UMass within several days.

Secondly, Maura picked up DMV accident forms at the Hadley Police department within about an hour of leaving for NH...in fact, she almost certainly did this while she was en route to the Interstate 91 just west of Hadley. That also suggests she had every intention of returning in a timely manner.

Thirdly, the removal of $230 from her ATM in Hadley, as well as locking her car doors after the accident also point towards someone intending on returning. But I'll put the majority of the weight of my argument on parts 1 and 2.
It's possible the accident pushed her over the edge, but why take the time to not only take a few items from her car, but also secure it? That backpack she apparently took would have been cumbersome if she intended on running far or into virtually pitch black forest that was thick with snow. I would still not rule out someone giving her a ride out of the immediate area, at least

 

[jackornaught]

IMO it was not a suicide. I'm not as deeply involved in this case, except for listening for hours on the formerly called Missing Maura Murray podcast, and watching the Oxygen documentary.

It sure seems like she hopped in a car, and it was with a predator.

 

[buyerninety]

@Austin023
Just pointing out that if she went into the dark forest,
her mobile phone (the model of which I've seen stated
anywhere) screen could have provided her with a useful
source of light to walk onwards with (on the snow).

 

[Austin023]

@Austin023
Just pointing out that if she went into the dark forest,
her mobile phone (the model of which I've seen stated
anywhere) screen could have provided her with a useful
source of light to walk onwards with (on the snow).

Maybe, though let's remember this was back in 2004. Cellphones of the time had small, fairly dim screens. They'd provide a bit less light than a smartphone screen would, not to mention no flashlight on them. But that would have been her only means of illumination. It's a literal pitch black environment there, and as I recall, no moon light (we went star gazing up on one of the mountains where there is an observatory).

Snowfall was considerabe, at least 10 inches if not more. As you went up onto the mountains, I recall it was 6 feet by the UMass cabin; by the highway at least a foot without drifts. Entering the woods under all those conditions plus a backpack with liquor bottles would have been a challenge. I'd expect there to be more evidence of that really had been the case. Though you never know.

 

[Austin023]

IMO it was not a suicide. I'm not as deeply involved in this case, except for listening for hours on the formerly called Missing Maura Murray podcast, and watching the Oxygen documentary.

It sure seems like she hopped in a car, and it was with a predator.

I tend to agree foul play was involved. The chief reason is how the authorities have treated this case: secrecy with little offered to press, little info being shared even with Murray family, the number of times has acted on tips, even several years after her disappearance. Just to be clear, the whole A-frame house search I have been highly skeptical about in regards to being relevant to Maura.
However, I suspect the authorities have some sort of info that leads them to believe foul play was a distinct possibility aside from just a possibility. Specifically, the SUV that one witness saw at the crash scene shortly before first responder arrived. Though it could be something else. It's the way NH authorities have treated the case is what stands out the most in my opinion.

 

[Tarik]

I haven't posted on this forum in a long time, but I've read many posts on this case. I went to UMass Amherst at the time Maura went missing. I was actually up in the same general area of NH the day she went missing, as I had taken a slightly early trip to the UMass Ski Lodge in nearby Franconia.
Maura leaving campus, having sent that email to professors about a "death in family" which was untrue, and looking up a few lodges, condo rentals in northern VT, NH, have been suggested as here intent to kill herself. No, I believe she was in need of an escape for several days and jumped the gun a bit on the upcoming University February vacation week. Some have suggested she was even headed for the UMass Lodge, which , yes Route 112 would lead to, though by no means the only way. We went a somewhat more northern route from I91.
She left Amherst and a car drive up to Haverhill, NH normally takes about 2 hours. A small Saturn would likely be in need of refueling by then....so, I've long wondered, did she get off at the 302 exit for Woodsville to get gas? Is there any known confirmation she used a gas station or store there, before going east and onto 112? I'm wondering a bit about timeline here.

The car accident changed whatever plans she had, that's safe to say. My take it this: she either fled the scene and either succumbed to the elements either willingly or not...or she got a ride somewhere down the road from the accident and was met with foul play.

Why have NH authorities, multiple agencies, been so secretive? Why have they been treating this case as a crime? Sure, some might be formality, but the amount of resistance to reveal info even to the Murray family is odd. It seems like it's indeed being treated as a crime. I think something was discovered that made police suspect foul play being possible....from my own experience of being in that area, it's absolutely possible. Frankly, probable in my opinion.

It was indicated based on the amount of fuel she had in her tank when the car was abandoned that she likely got gas about 10 to 12 miles from the crash site. There is however no known confirmation of anything and definitely no way of verifying which gas station or store she stopped at especially now after all these years. The only way we will find out more about this is if someone miraculously comes forward with new information or if police reveal something that they previously kept to themselves.

 

[arielilane]

@JamesRenner


Much to my surprise, I have important news in the Maura Murray case that will change everything. I’m devoting tomorrow’s episode of True Crime This Week to the story. More soon!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1900182874579402830

 

[Tarik]

I wouldn't trust a single thing coming from him, if there was anything truly important he wouldn't wait 24 hours just collect clicks later.

 

[Austin023]

Id be very skeptical of whatever Renner says "will change everything" about the case. He's the one who clung to the Maura is alive in Canada theory for quite a while.

 

[jackornaught]

Yeah, its a shame. He's very knowledgeable about the case, but is also very into sensationalism.

 

[Tarik]

On a sidenote, if you want to learn something potentially important given recent developments, please re-listen to Episode 4 of Media Pressure especially around the 5:30 minute mark when Julie Murray mentions two guys (she calls them Dan and Tom) that Maura knew from West Point.

Julie claims Tom communicated with Maura on AIM days before she disappeared. She claims Maura had his home address and that Tom invited Maura 'multiple times'. When she asked him whether he ever visited Maura at UMass, he denied it but Julie had in her possession a picture of them together. When she showed it to him, he stopped responding. Could Tom be the guy Renner mentioned in his video? It's something to think about.

Then at the 21:10 minute mark she says about the dorm party at Sara Alfieri's: 'We know her cousin and a few other guys who didn't go to UMass were there'. Again, does she mean Tom? Something to think about...

 

[sony12]

Yeah I listened to the whole report. The entire thing revolves around people she knew at West Point. Not UMass (where she was going to school at the time she disappeared).

Unless she had secret plans to get together with one of those guys it would be hard to connect any of them to the disappearance.

The only thing this really does indicate is that it is further proof that Maura didn't run with a very good crowd. So it is very possible the disappearance did involve someone (or some people) she knew but that the public just doesn't know about yet.

 

[Tarik]

Yeah I listened to the whole report. The entire thing revolves around people she knew at West Point. Not UMass (where she was going to school at the time she disappeared).

Unless she had secret plans to get together with one of those guys it would be hard to connect any of them to the disappearance.

The only thing this really does indicate is that it is further proof that Maura didn't run with a very good crowd. So it is very possible the disappearance did involve someone (or some people) she knew but that the public just doesn't know about yet.

Of course, the investigation is still ongoing. The overall point is that guys who weren't for UMass (not necessarily from West Point either but still) were at that dorm party and that Maura was possibly still hanging out with some people from West Point AFTER she left.

 

[Austin023]

Also, another thing:

I've long thought Maura's trip up into New Hampshire that evening was at least half-planned. Even though she made no known reservations, I find it interesting that she would get off I-91 at Boltonville/US302. Did she get gas at that exit? Not really much else around there.

There is (and was then) a major truck stop called P&H at the exit for Boltonville/US-302, though it's immediately west of the interstate, within sight.

However, since Maura was last seen several miles from here on lonely 112, where was she going? I'm wondering if she got off at the Boltonville VT exit for gas, as by then she'd driven about 140 miles from Amherst; a small Saturn would likely be in need of refueling by then. Her car was found to have plenty of gas in it, meaning she had to refuel at some point in between Amherst and Woodsville, NH (user Tarik, post 3/9/25, indicated Maura's car was found with enough gas so that she'd probably driven about 10-12 miles from a full tank, which is, if accurate, the approximate distance from the crash site by the barn on 112 and the I-91 exit at Boltonville, VT if one took 302 East to Route 112). There's never been anything said by LE or otherwise, if Maura was seen or evidence found, that she'd gotten gas in that area around Woodsville or anywhere else along her journey. But it would be helpful to know where she apparently refilled the car. Even if she had at the truck stop by I-91, she then would have needed to drive East on 302, over the bridge into Woodsville, NH and drive about 8 or 9 miles to get to Route 112, which is even less traveled than 302....it seems to be she was heading somewhere with a purpose, a specific plan. I will note, that route she was taking, 112, does lead to Route 116, which if you head north, leads to Franconia and Bethlehem, where the UMass Cabin is. That week, the cabin was in use by students, including myself, so I have long wondered if that was her destination. Perhaps on a whim. There's no known evidence she was driving in tandem with anyone. But knowing where she stopped along her journey would be very helpful I think.

 

[Tarik]

Also, another thing:

I've long thought Maura's trip up into New Hampshire that evening was at least half-planned. Even though she made no known reservations, I find it interesting that she would get off I-91 at Boltonville/US302. Did she get gas at that exit? Not really much else around there.

There is (and was then) a major truck stop called P&H at the exit for Boltonville/US-302, though it's immediately west of the interstate, within sight.

However, since Maura was last seen several miles from here on lonely 112, where was she going? I'm wondering if she got off at the Boltonville VT exit for gas, as by then she'd driven about 140 miles from Amherst; a small Saturn would likely be in need of refueling by then. Her car was found to have plenty of gas in it, meaning she had to refuel at some point in between Amherst and Woodsville, NH (user Tarik, post 3/9/25, indicated Maura's car was found with enough gas so that she'd probably driven about 10-12 miles from a full tank, which is, if accurate, the approximate distance from the crash site by the barn on 112 and the I-91 exit at Boltonville, VT if one took 302 East to Route 112). There's never been anything said by LE or otherwise, if Maura was seen or evidence found, that she'd gotten gas in that area around Woodsville or anywhere else along her journey. But it would be helpful to know where she apparently refilled the car. Even if she had at the truck stop by I-91, she then would have needed to drive East on 302, over the bridge into Woodsville, NH and drive about 8 or 9 miles to get to Route 112, which is even less traveled than 302....it seems to be she was heading somewhere with a purpose, a specific plan. I will note, that route she was taking, 112, does lead to Route 116, which if you head north, leads to Franconia and Bethlehem, where the UMass Cabin is. That week, the cabin was in use by students, including myself, so I have long wondered if that was her destination. Perhaps on a whim. There's no known evidence she was driving in tandem with anyone. But knowing where she stopped along her journey would be very helpful I think.

I don't think even she knew where exactly she was going, route 112 is a weird route to be driving on in the winter if you are heading to a "bigger" town like Lincoln or Bartlett especially from the south. Everything we know from her trip indicates that she was possibly lost and that her final destination wasn't necessarily set in stone. The amount of gas found in her tank after the car was abandoned confirmed that she got gas some place 10 to 12 miles from the crash site.

Also, I've always believed she was going somewhere with someone or going somewhere to meet someone, we can almost confidently say that by the amount of alcohol bought and found in the Saturn.

 

[sony12]

I don't think even she knew where exactly she was going, route 112 is a weird route to be driving on in the winter if you are heading to a "bigger" town like Lincoln or Bartlett especially from the south. Everything we know from her trip indicates that she was possibly lost and that her final destination wasn't necessarily set in stone. The amount of gas found in her tank after the car was abandoned confirmed that she got gas some place 10 to 12 miles from the crash site.

Also, I've always believed she was going somewhere with someone or going somewhere to meet someone, we can almost confidently say that by the amount of alcohol bought and found in the Saturn.

Her going to meet someone (likely someone that she wanted to keep secret) is incredibly likely. Dating sites were just starting out at that time but they were still around and in general people were much more naive about them back then than they are now. You also had chat systems like yahoo chat that people used to meet individuals as well.

So the chances of her planning a rendezvous with someone would have explain why she was traveling in such a strange location. Doesn't mean they would have murdered her but it would give reason to why she was traveling where she was.

 

[Tarik]

Her going to meet someone (likely someone that she wanted to keep secret) is incredibly likely. Dating sites were just starting out at that time but they were still around and in general people were much more naive about them back then than they are now. You also had chat systems like yahoo chat that people used to meet individuals as well.

So the chances of her planning a rendezvous with someone would have explain why she was traveling in such a strange location. Doesn't mean they would have murdered her but it would give reason to why she was traveling where she was.

The thing is, there is no evidence of it, no trace online or anywhere else of her planning to meet someone in New Hampshire or elsewhere at that time. That means that whatever she planned (if she planned anything) likely took place in one or many face-to-face discussions. We know she hooked up with a guy shortly before her disappearance, it's one thing to consider.