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

[McSpy]

Possibly "old" as in a from the 80's, etc? I can't see anyone around here taking a classic car out in the winter. The salt and snow do horrible things.

Yeah, I can't see anyone taking a classic car out in the winter, especially a restored car. Yet, I know a guy who buys old cars (late 80s, 90s--not really classic yet) and just makes them operable (pass state inspection). They don't look pretty. He even parks them outdoors during the winter.

It's possible a younger person inherited the car from an older person too.

 

[OldSteve]

Just when I thought there was everything to know about this case, I read on James' blog today:
"Fred Murray was losing his home the week Maura vanished."
http://mauramurray.blogspot.com/

I wonder if there's some mistake in what is reported there?
But even if so, is it just more "white noise" that we've talked about?

 

[EyesOnSunday]

Yeah, I can't see anyone taking a classic car out in the winter, especially a restored car. Yet, I know a guy who buys old cars (late 80s, 90s--not really classic yet) and just makes them operable (pass state inspection). They don't look pretty. He even parks them outdoors during the winter.

It's possible a younger person inherited the car from an older person too.

That's what I was thinking too. A lot of people around here will buy "beaters" to drive in the winter and save their nicer cars for better weather.

 

[McSpy]

Just when I thought there was everything to know about this case, I read on James' blog today:
"Fred Murray was losing his home the week Maura vanished."
http://mauramurray.blogspot.com/

I wonder if there's some mistake in what is reported there?
But even if so, is it just more "white noise" that we've talked about?

It looks like it was an inherited house. Maybe there was a disagreement between him and his siblings on how to handle the taxes and upkeep costs. Sometimes one sibling wants to sell and the others do not. Maybe the house was in arrears and in disrepair before he inherited it. Situations like this are actually common dilemmas in families. I don't think it is related to Maura's disappearance at all.

I think Fred probably did okay as far as salary, but he did have 5 kids and probably had to finance a few college tuitions and 2 households (child support, etc.) over the years, so things could have been tight. I don't think he was totally broke though.

This is just my opinion--- no facts.

 

[Wisteria Vine]

Please bear with me - I haven't read all the pages of this thread or followed this case all that closely - but are people speculating that Maura's dad somehow had something to do with her disappearance?

That's what I'm getting from some of the posts on that blog.

 

[McSpy]

Please bear with me - I haven't read all the pages of this thread or followed this case all that closely - but are people speculating that Maura's dad somehow had something to do with her disappearance?

That's what I'm getting from some of the posts on that blog.

In my humble opinion, I really don't think he has anything to do with it. He could have downplayed his reaction of Maura crashing his car. He could have been angrier about it than he admitted to the media. He may have said cruel things to Maura that night -- I really don't know. Things seemed to be fine when he, Maura, and her friend went out to the pub. I think her friend would have said something to someone by now if that outing seemed tense or weird.

I've been studying this case for at least 3 years now. I believe something happened to her after her car crash in NH. The rest is white noise. We already know she was emotional and there were reasons for her to be upset (credit card fraud aftermath, crashing dad's car, etc.). Why dig any further into her past??? I don't get it. It is just hurting the grieving family.

Let's say that Maura left because of her dad. Perhaps he was hard on her and lets say he complained about her college costs and the car damage that night. It still doesn't tell us where she is and what happened to her. This is what I am trying to say. There is evidence of Maura calling and emailing people throughout that day. She was caught on video buying alcohol on her drive up to NH. Where does FM fit in?? Wouldn't he have been missed at work? Wouldn't his employers and coworkers have come forward, if he was missing that day??? Where does FM fit in this scenario if he harmed her?

My personal opinion is that she went up to NH, because she was upset with herself and needed to sort things out. I don't believe she was meeting anyone.
It was an impulse trip.

Keep in mind, my opinion can change with new solid information.

JMO

 

[Riot]

In my humble opinion, I really don't think he has anything to do with it. He could have downplayed his reaction of Maura crashing his car. He could have been angrier about it than he admitted to the media. He may have said cruel things to Maura that night -- I really don't know. Things seemed to be fine when he, Maura, and her friend went out to the pub. I think her friend would have said something to someone by now if that outing seemed tense or weird.

I've been studying this case for at least 3 years now. I believe something happened to her after her car crash in NH. The rest is white noise. We already know she was emotional and there were reasons for her to be upset (credit card fraud aftermath, crashing dad's car, etc.). Why dig any further into her past??? I don't get it. It is just hurting the grieving family.

Let's say that Maura left because of her dad. Perhaps he was hard on her and lets say he complained about her college costs and the car damage that night. It still doesn't tell us where she is and what happened to her. This is what I am trying to say. There is evidence of Maura calling and emailing people throughout that day. She was caught on video buying alcohol on her drive up to NH. Where does FM fit in?? Wouldn't he have been missed at work? Wouldn't his employers and coworkers have come forward, if he was missing that day??? Where does FM fit in this scenario if he harmed her?

My personal opinion is that she went up to NH, because she was upset with herself and needed to sort things out. I don't believe she was meeting anyone.
It was an impulse trip.

Keep in mind, my opinion can change with new solid information.

JMO

I agree with pretty much all of this.

I highly doubt her father had anything to do with her disappearance, primarily because he continued to search for her in NH for years after the accident. To do so and be the person responsible would take a special kind of psychopath that I just don't see FM being. I can't find the article now, but I seem to recall reading that Maura was on a scholarship at UMass, so college costs might not have even been an issue.

Even though we don't have exact details to more perfectly frame MM's state of mind that weekend (Did she pack up her room, or not? Was she having problems with her boyfriend, or not? etc.), I think we know enough to say that she was not likely suicidal and probably wasn't planning on leaving her life behind. This leaves her fate to an accident or foul play. All this business with potential lovers, mysterious phone calls, and family dysfunctions makes for a great story, but will probably never do any good in determining the events that occurred between the Bus Driver leaving and the police arriving that night. Life is bizarre sometimes though; maybe one day Maura will come back and tell us one hell of a story.

 

[OldSteve]

I agree with pretty much all of this.

I highly doubt her father had anything to do with her disappearance, primarily because he continued to search for her in NH for years after the accident. To do so and be the person responsible would take a special kind of psychopath that I just don't see FM being. I can't find the article now, but I seem to recall reading that Maura was on a scholarship at UMass, so college costs might not have even been an issue.

Even though we don't have exact details to more perfectly frame MM's state of mind that weekend (Did she pack up her room, or not? Was she having problems with her boyfriend, or not? etc.), I think we know enough to say that she was not likely suicidal and probably wasn't planning on leaving her life behind. This leaves her fate to an accident or foul play. All this business with potential lovers, mysterious phone calls, and family dysfunctions makes for a great story, but will probably never do any good in determining the events that occurred between the Bus Driver leaving and the police arriving that night. Life is bizarre sometimes though; maybe one day Maura will come back and tell us one hell of a story.

Agree and yes, life sure is bizarre sometimes!
Maura's case intrigues me the most of all the cases I've followed - but it is
sad.

Besides this case, I the McStay case is another that baffles me.
I see for that one "The FBI is taking over the search" :

http://ktla.com/2013/04/09/new-developments-in-search-for-missing-mcstay-family/#axzz2YZ57JjdD

Better late than never...

 

[T9D]

When I saw the circumstances to me it seemed so very obvious what happened.

Maura was going to meet someone for a rendezvous. A romantic one.
I say this because I've seen this exact same scenario. I've done this same scenario (well not cheating though). It played out in many ways just like it has with me or women I've met.

There has been many times where if I went missing that people would have no idea where I was. If they found me they would be baffled why I had suddenly left (and vice versa with the women I was meeting). I'm talking hours away from home. Would have had no idea who I was going to meet.

The thing is that I've had women who have come to meet me suddenly that I barely know. Driving an hour and half even. Bringing wine or alcohol at times. Or I've suddenly shot off after talking briefly and we just decide at that moment to get together. They have also done the same thing.

Anyway my point is I've had this same scene happen quite a few times with different women over the years. Made VERY quick plans and shuffled out real fast. I went to the store before and got wine and other alcohol. I also brought very little to wear in a small backpack. And as coincidence the last time I did it it was snowing and I was on the other side of the state line. Some place I'd never driven before. Was even worried about crashing. I've had women do the same and come see me a long drive away. Bringing booze and all. So this is very very plausible and likely. If something happened to either of us everyone would have been baffled.

***********************

Ok so here is what I feel happened. I think Maura has another phone. Since she is cheating she's using a prepaid phone. That way she doesn't get random texts on her normal phone and it can't be traced. Possibly it's a teacher from school maybe even. Maybe he's married and they both have prepaid phones. This would explain why she was upset on other days or stressed out too. Perhaps it bothers her to cheat or it's just to stressful of a situation. Perhaps he wanted to call it off at one point or maybe they almost got caught. Or shoot maybe the wife found the phone and set it all up messing with her. Who knows.

She had previously lied about a family death because she needed a sure way to have the time off. You don't do that for just some random trip. You lie to set up something special. And it's not a suicide thing or she would have not said anything at all and just not showed up. Especially wouldn't have given a time when she'd be back by.

Either way now she's excited for a nice night with him to get away from it all. she makes the plans. Most likely just for a day or two. Maybe just the night (for starters). This is why she didn't tell anyone. she'd be back soon anyway. And it was supposed to be secret. She didn't get the first place she called but perhaps she knew another spot or just a hotel that would be vacant and can just show up. Perhaps she'd let him find the spot. She definitely had a destination though and this is important. So she gets the wine he requests (more romantic) and the booze for the white russian that she likes to drink for after.

She heads on out. The accident happens. No way she planned or staged that accident. Not on some random road right there. Anyway she had already started to drink while driving to loosen up to have fun when she arrives. After the accident she doesn't want police to catch her so doesn't want the bus driver to call the police. She also doesn't want to go with the bus driver because she knows she can call whoever she is going to meet to come pick her up. Perhaps he is not all that far behind her even on his way up to meet her. Think about it, she had to have had someone to call or was expecting someone soon otherwise she wouldn't have stayed up on that empty cold dark road alone. No way.

Not having cell service she hikes up the road some to get service. But she grabs the booze and has enough stuff for the night. That's all she needs for the night for when he picks her up on the side of the road after she calls. Or if he's on his way up behind her or not far ahead she'll just stay where she has cell coverage to make or take calls. She'll call AAA later when she's safe and warm in his car.

But what happened after that? Most likely someone driving by abducted her and that was the end of it.

But perhaps this person she's meeting did come pick her up. Maybe they get into an argument, maybe he doesn't want the cheating to get out. Maybe she threatens to expose him. I don't know. But he gets angry and kills her. She can never tell on him and he's safe if he hides the body. It all just goes away.

But if she was abducted by someone else while on the road before he got there he's still not going to come forward because maybe he's married or is a teacher or something from her school (plus that gives him motive, and he has no alibi). He may have been calling her prepaid phone that she had on her over and over but nobody would know this since no one knows of this other phone. Or shoot maybe he got cold feet and never showed anyways so she was stuck on that cold dark road until someone else picked her up and abducted her or she got lost in the cold and died. Maybe that really was her that called her other real boyfriend on that prepaid phone mumbling. After being abducted or actually dying from exposure.
-So she had a destination

-She had a motive (this is important)
-She had a reason not to tell anyone else
-She had the alcohol and wine for a reason (this ties in with the motive)
-She had a reason not to go with the bus driver
-She brought the booze with her for this motive when she left the car
-She had just enough clothes for that motive

To me this is the far most likely scenario. She was on her way to meet someone. People literally go missing/abducted after 90 seconds from being out of someone elses sight all the time. So once that bus driver left anyone could have happened on her.

To me everything she's done just screams secret relationship. Up to and including her missing. Most likely a teacher and a married one at that. Even without phone calls they could have solely communicated at school or some place else prior to that. It was imperative to keep it quiet and a lot was at stake.

 

[McSpy]

When I saw the circumstances to me it seemed so very obvious what happened.

Maura was going to meet someone for a rendezvous. A romantic one.
I say this because I've seen this exact same scenario. I've done this same scenario (well not cheating though). It played out in many ways just like it has with me or women I've met.

There has been many times where if I went missing that people would have no idea where I was. If they found me they would be baffled why I had suddenly left (and vice versa with the women I was meeting). I'm talking hours away from home. Would have had no idea who I was going to meet.

The thing is that I've had women who have come to meet me suddenly that I barely know. Driving an hour and half even. Bringing wine or alcohol at times. Or I've suddenly shot off after talking briefly and we just decide at that moment to get together. They have also done the same thing.

Anyway my point is I've had this same scene happen quite a few times with different women over the years. Made VERY quick plans and shuffled out real fast. I went to the store before and got wine and other alcohol. I also brought very little to wear in a small backpack. And as coincidence the last time I did it it was snowing and I was on the other side of the state line. Some place I'd never driven before. Was even worried about crashing. I've had women do the same and come see me a long drive away. Bringing booze and all. So this is very very plausible and likely. If something happened to either of us everyone would have been baffled.

***********************

Ok so here is what I feel happened. I think Maura has another phone. Since she is cheating she's using a prepaid phone. That way she doesn't get random texts on her normal phone and it can't be traced. Possibly it's a teacher from school maybe even. Maybe he's married and they both have prepaid phones. This would explain why she was upset on other days or stressed out too. Perhaps it bothers her to cheat or it's just to stressful of a situation. Perhaps he wanted to call it off at one point or maybe they almost got caught. Or shoot maybe the wife found the phone and set it all up messing with her. Who knows.

She had previously lied about a family death because she needed a sure way to have the time off. You don't do that for just some random trip. You lie to set up something special. And it's not a suicide thing or she would have not said anything at all and just not showed up. Especially wouldn't have given a time when she'd be back by.

Either way now she's excited for a nice night with him to get away from it all. she makes the plans. Most likely just for a day or two. Maybe just the night (for starters). This is why she didn't tell anyone. she'd be back soon anyway. And it was supposed to be secret. She didn't get the first place she called but perhaps she knew another spot or just a hotel that would be vacant and can just show up. Perhaps she'd let him find the spot. She definitely had a destination though and this is important. So she gets the wine he requests (more romantic) and the booze for the white russian that she likes to drink for after.

She heads on out. The accident happens. No way she planned or staged that accident. Not on some random road right there. Anyway she had already started to drink while driving to loosen up to have fun when she arrives. After the accident she doesn't want police to catch her so doesn't want the bus driver to call the police. She also doesn't want to go with the bus driver because she knows she can call whoever she is going to meet to come pick her up. Perhaps he is not all that far behind her even on his way up to meet her. Think about it, she had to have had someone to call or was expecting someone soon otherwise she wouldn't have stayed up on that empty cold dark road alone. No way.

Not having cell service she hikes up the road some to get service. But she grabs the booze and has enough stuff for the night. That's all she needs for the night for when he picks her up on the side of the road after she calls. Or if he's on his way up behind her or not far ahead she'll just stay where she has cell coverage to make or take calls. She'll call AAA later when she's safe and warm in his car.

But what happened after that? Most likely someone driving by abducted her and that was the end of it.

But perhaps this person she's meeting did come pick her up. Maybe they get into an argument, maybe he doesn't want the cheating to get out. Maybe she threatens to expose him. I don't know. But he gets angry and kills her. She can never tell on him and he's safe if he hides the body. It all just goes away.

But if she was abducted by someone else while on the road before he got there he's still not going to come forward because maybe he's married or is a teacher or something from her school (plus that gives him motive, and he has no alibi). He may have been calling her prepaid phone that she had on her over and over but nobody would know this since no one knows of this other phone. Or shoot maybe he got cold feet and never showed anyways so she was stuck on that cold dark road until someone else picked her up and abducted her or she got lost in the cold and died. Maybe that really was her that called her other real boyfriend on that prepaid phone mumbling. After being abducted or actually dying from exposure.
-So she had a destination

-She had a motive (this is important)
-She had a reason not to tell anyone else
-She had the alcohol and wine for a reason (this ties in with the motive)
-She had a reason not to go with the bus driver
-She brought the booze with her for this motive when she left the car
-She had just enough clothes for that motive

To me this is the far most likely scenario. She was on her way to meet someone. People literally go missing/abducted after 90 seconds from being out of someone elses sight all the time. So once that bus driver left anyone could have happened on her.

To me everything she's done just screams secret relationship. Up to and including her missing. Most likely a teacher and a married one at that. Even without phone calls they could have solely communicated at school or some place else prior to that. It was imperative to keep it quiet and a lot was at stake.

Hmmm, so this secret lover decides to drop everything on a weekday to go up to NH to meet Maura? Didn't he work? Didn't he live with his wife? What kind of excuse did he conjure up for dropping everything to disappear for a few days? Wasn't he concerned about Maura driving her rickety car? Why did she empty out her bank account? Didn't he have money? Why didn't he buy the alcohol? She was just a student with limited income. Hmmm, I don't think the female in this secret lover scenario usually pays for much, so I doubt it happened. Maybe I'm old fashioned . . . .

JMO

 

[The Farm]

T9D I think that could be a very likely scenario.

McSpy people always can find a reason to slip away and it is done more times probably than we can imagine.

I also think she was going to meet someone. If I remember correctly didn't the dogs track her in the road and then her scent just disappeared? As if she had got into a car?

Either way I hope someday there is an answer.

 

[McSpy]

T9D I think that could be a very likely scenario.

McSpy people always can find a reason to slip away and it is done more times probably than we can imagine.

I also think she was going to meet someone. If I remember correctly didn't the dogs track her in the road and then her scent just disappeared? As if she had got into a car?

Either way I hope someday there is an answer.

I don't know . . She went from crashing her dad's car to running off with a secret lover. I guess I'm missing the connection.

 

[shadowdancer]

I don't know . . She went from crashing her dad's car to running off with a secret lover. I guess I'm missing the connection.

For me the connection there is the fact that both things would be indicative of a young woman going through a stage of her life where things are spiralling out of control.

We know about her getting thrown out of her previous college, the credit card fraud and the crash. Having an ill-advised, secret affair with an unsuitable lover would fit in very well with this sort of phase. It was probably all very heady and exciting, as these type of affairs tend to be (been there, done that) and heading off for a secret weekend of 'fun' is something that people who are having this type of affair would do.

When I say an 'unsuitable lover', I mean somebody who was almost certainly married and possibly a college tutor or maybe the husband of someone she knew.

 

[McSpy]

For me the connection there is the fact that both things would be indicative of a young woman going through a stage of her life where things are spiralling out of control.

We know about her getting thrown out of her previous college, the credit card fraud and the crash. Having an ill-advised, secret affair with an unsuitable lover would fit in very well with this sort of phase. It was probably all very heady and exciting, as these type of affairs tend to be (been there, done that) and heading off for a secret weekend of 'fun' is something that people who are having this type of affair would do.

When I say an 'unsuitable lover', I mean somebody who was almost certainly married and possibly a college tutor or maybe the husband of someone she knew.

I mean no disrespect, but I'm not buying it. Besides, it wasn't a weekend--it was a weekday. I think she loved her boyfriend too and was hurt when he cheated on her. Like I said, I'm having a hard time connecting the crashing of her dad's car and a sudden decision to run off with a lover. In truth, I think she had personal demons which have nothing to do with secret lovers or boyfriends. I know I could be wrong, but it seems like an easy answer to say she ran off with a guy. It's a classic answer, but often not true, especially when she hasn't turned up anywhere since. I'm more inclined to think she ran into someone new after her accident in NH and started a new life.

There is absolutely no evidence she had a secret lover. In fact, why would she need to keep it a secret? She was single. Her boyfriend didn't even live in the area. The male secret lover was the one who needed to keep it secret if he was married---not her. Besides, usually a friend of one of them catches on, so it isn't that much of a secret (people witness the secret lover hanging around Maura at her jobs or they see him enter her dorm room, etc.). In other words, someone usually has an idea that they were getting close, especially when she turns up missing! Wouldn't they talk to police about their suspicions??

I also find it too complex. I think the answer to what happened to her is simpler. The secret lover is an added element with no evidence to back it up. It's junk, IMO. I could be wrong, but with no evidence to support this scenario, I have to cross it off the list for now.

JMO

 

[shadowdancer]

I mean no disrespect, but I'm not buying it. Besides, it wasn't a weekend--it was a weekday. I think she loved her boyfriend too and was hurt when he cheated on her. Like I said, I'm having a hard time connecting the crashing of her dad's car and a sudden decision to run off with a lover. In truth, I think she had personal demons which have nothing to do with secret lovers or boyfriends. I know I could be wrong, but it seems like an easy answer to say she ran off with a guy. It's a classic answer, but often not true, especially when she hasn't turned up anywhere since. I'm more inclined to think she ran into someone new after her accident in NH and started a new life.

There is absolutely no evidence she had a secret lover. In fact, why would she need to keep it a secret? She was single. Her boyfriend didn't even live in the area. The male secret lover was the one who needed to keep it secret if he was married---not her. Besides, usually a friend of one of them catches on, so it isn't that much of a secret (people witness the secret lover hanging around Maura at her jobs or they see him enter her dorm room, etc.). In other words, someone usually has an idea that they were getting close, especially when she turns up missing! Wouldn't they talk to police about their suspicions??

I also find it too complex. I think the answer to what happened to her is simpler. The secret lover is an added element with no evidence to back it up. It's junk, IMO. I could be wrong, but with no evidence to support this scenario, I have to cross it off the list for now.

JMO

Apologies, weekend/weekday it still stands IMO. No friends would know about an affair if it was that ill-advised. An awful lot of affairs are conducted in complete secrecy and other people never know about them.

In what way do you find it a complex scenario? I only ask because I find it to be pretty straightforward. This scenario would have involved a very, very typical affair, i.e, must be kept secret so lets sneak off some place where we can avoid people we know and make some excuse beforehand so nobody suspects where/why we have taken off.

She may have only intended to be away for one night.

 

[McSpy]

Apologies, weekend/weekday it still stands IMO. No friends would know about an affair if it was that ill-advised. An awful lot of affairs are conducted in complete secrecy and other people never know about them.

In what way do you find it a complex scenario? I only ask because I find it to be pretty straightforward. This scenario would have involved a very, very typical affair, i.e, must be kept secret so lets sneak off some place where we can avoid people we know and make some excuse beforehand so nobody suspects where/why we have taken off.

She may have only intended to be away for one night.

To me, carrying on in a secret relationship is complex. I don't think it is straight forward at all. The hiding, sneakiness, and dishonesty makes it complex, but it also adds another element to the story with no proof to support it.

I can see her wanting and needing a shoulder to cry on, but a secret lover? I don't know . . . I guess I'm having a hard time seeing it, especially without any evidence.

JMO

 

[The Farm]

Apologies, weekend/weekday it still stands IMO. No friends would know about an affair if it was that ill-advised. An awful lot of affairs are conducted in complete secrecy and other people never know about them.

In what way do you find it a complex scenario? I only ask because I find it to be pretty straightforward. This scenario would have involved a very, very typical affair, i.e, must be kept secret so lets sneak off some place where we can avoid people we know and make some excuse beforehand so nobody suspects where/why we have taken off.

She may have only intended to be away for one night.

It makes sense, it really does. I could see it as a definite possibility.
She obviously had enough issues going on in her life and I would/could see how she would want to be incognito on an affair.
Whether is was married, a professor or just someone she met on line even.
It would have gone against the grain of her supposed goals I feel.
It is a possibility and unfortunately maybe he was not what she thought him to be. In other words he was a psycho.
My daughter's best friend is an avid hiker and is always up in N.H. hiking here and there. She could be hidden and buried anywhere and never be found.
As I said I hope someday we get the answer.

 

[The Farm]

To me, carrying on in a secret relationship is complex. I don't think it is straight forward at all. The hiding, sneakiness, and dishonesty makes it complex.

I can see her wanting and needing a shoulder to cry on, but a secret lover? I don't know . . . I guess I'm having a hard time seeing it, especially without any evidence.

JMO

But McSpy there just might not be any evidence. There might not be no black & white.

 

[shadowdancer]

Fair enough, I can see what you mean by complex now.

Honestly, I think there is as much circumstantial evidence for this scenario as for any other scenario. One of the things that keeps people so absorbed with Maura's case is that there is no concrete evidence for any scenario. Its a complete mystery and everyone is just trying to make sense of it.

For what its worth, I'm not trying to paint Maura as a bad person here. She was only 21. If she was having an illicit affair, she was probably just caught up in the excitement of it all and this would have perhaps been heightened by her personal problems which the affair provided an escape/distraction from.

I had a similar affair when I was 19. We snuck off together and nobody we know ever found out about it. He fed me some of the oldest lines in the book, i.e "My marriage is over in all but name", "We will be getting a divorce soon" and "We don't love each other any more".

I wasn't a bad person, I was simply besotted with an older man who seemed so sophisticated and who promised me the world. I was very naïve about it all and fell for his lies hook, line and sinker.

He was my boss and he is also a good friend of one of my uncles.

 

[McSpy]

Fair enough, I can see what you mean by complex now.

Honestly, I think there is as much circumstantial evidence for this scenario as for any other scenario. One of the things that keeps people so absorbed with Maura's case is that there is no concrete evidence for any scenario. Its a complete mystery and everyone is just trying to make sense of it.

For what its worth, I'm not trying to paint Maura as a bad person here. She was only 21. If she was having an illicit affair, she was probably just caught up in the excitement of it all and this would have perhaps been heightened by her personal problems which the affair provided an escape/distraction from.

I had a similar affair when I was 19. We snuck off together and nobody we know ever found out about it. He fed me some of the oldest lines in the book, i.e "My marriage is over in all but name", "We will be getting a divorce soon" and "We don't love each other any more".

I wasn't a bad person, I was simply besotted with an older man who seemed so sophisticated and who promised me the world. I was very naïve about it all and fell for his lies hook, line and sinker.

He was my boss and he is also a good friend of one of my uncles.

I see what you mean. I can see how this could happen to a young woman. I guess in Maura's case I'm having a hard time connecting her dad's car crash with running off with a secret lover. Seems like the catalyst for her running off to NH was the crashing of her dad's car. It seems like it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Makes me think she was upset with herself. As if she felt unworthy, because she messed up again. This is how I see it. I could be wrong, because I have no clue what happened to her and I don't know her.

JMO