Maura Murray: Unraveling the Mystery of Her Disappearance

Maura Murray, a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, mysteriously vanished on the evening of February 9, 2004.

Her disappearance occurred after a car accident on Route 112 in Haverhill, New Hampshire.

The circumstances surrounding her vanishing remain one of the most puzzling, unsolved cases.

Despite extensive searches and ongoing investigations, Maura’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Her disappearance has sparked numerous theories and widespread media coverage over the years.

The case continues to baffle both experts and the public alike.

Here is what we know, along with possible explanations for her disappearance.

What Happened to Maura Murray?

Background and Early Life

Maura Murray was born in Hanson, Massachusetts on May 4, 1982.

She grew up in a family with four siblings and was known for her academic achievements and aspirations in nursing.

Maura was the fourth child of Frederick “Fred” and Laurie Murray.

Her siblings include an older brother named Fred, two older sisters, Kathleen and Julie, and a younger half-brother named Kurt.

Maura primarily lived with her mother after her parents divorced when she was six years old. While the family faced their challenges, they were known to be close-knit and supportive.

Education

Maura attended the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point but later transferred to the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst.

At UMass, she pursued a degree in nursing, demonstrating a strong passion for helping others.

She had initially studied chemical engineering at West Point, showcasing her academic versatility.

Her educational journey reflected her adaptability and commitment to finding her true calling in the medical field.

Events Leading Up to Her Disappearance

As odd are the events surrounding her disappearance, so too are the events in the days leading up to her going missing.

It all began on February 5, 2004, when Maura was working her campus security job.

She spoke with her older sister, Kathleen, about the relationship problems that Kathleen was going through.

After the call, Maura’s supervisor noticed she was not her usual self, so her supervisor escorted her back to Maura’s dorm room.

On February 7, Maura’s father, Fred, visited her, and they went car shopping.

She dropped her father off at his motel and borrowed his car to go to a party on campus.

When she left the party at 3:30am on February 8, she crashed the car into a guardrail, causing significant damage.

Her father rented a vehicle and returned home.

The Disappearance

In the early morning of February 9, Maura searched MapQuest on her computer for directions to Burlington, Vermont.

Fast forward to around 1pm, she emailed her boyfriend, “I love you more stud. I got your messages, but honestly, I didn’t feel like talking too much of anyone, I promise to call today though. Love you, Maura”.

She also called a condo association in Bartlett, New Hampshire, to inquire about renting a condo where her family has vacationed before.

Next, Maura emailed a supervisor, saying she would be out of town for a week for a death in the family.

It was later learned there was no death in the family.

At 2:05pm, she called about booking a hotel in Stowe, Vermont, and left a voice message for her boyfriend.

She packed clothing, toiletries, textbooks, and birth control pills and left around 3:30pm.

At 3:40pm, Maura stopped at an ATM, withdrew $280, then purchased $40 alcohol from a liquor store.

In both cases, security camera footage showed she was alone.

The Accident

Sometime after 7pm in Woodsville, New Hampshire, a resident heard a loud bang.

Upon looking out her window, she saw a car against a snowbank.

The resident called the police at 7:27pm to report the accident.

Several witnesses reported seeing Maura at the crash site.

A school bus driver, Butch Atwood, saw Maura at the accident scene and stopped and offered help.

Maura declined, saying she had called AAA (which was false).

Atwood noted that she appeared uninjured but shivering from the cold. He drove home and called the police at 7:43 PM.

Haverhill police arrived at the scene three minutes later at 7:46 PM, but Maura was gone.

Her car was locked, and there were no signs of a struggle.

Inside the car, police found her belongings, including a box of wine, driving directions to Burlington, Vermont, and some of her personal items.

Initial Search

Authorities began their search soon after arriving on the scene.

They employed search dogs, helicopters, and ground teams to scour the nearby woods and riverbanks but found no trace of her.

It is important to note that the area around Route 112 is rural and can become quite challenging to navigate, especially during winter.

Police initially treated the case as a potential runaway situation, considering the proximity of colleges and the possibility of her seeking an escape.

However, as days turned into weeks and weeks turned into years, the focus shifted towards foul play or a tragic accident.

Despite extensive efforts, Maura’s whereabouts remain unknown, and her case remains unsolved.

Popular Theories

Over the years, various theories have emerged.

Here are the most popular ones.

Voluntary Disappearance

Some speculate that Maura wanted to run away and start a new life.

They point to the fact that she might have been having personal issues and wanted to get away.

Heading north to Stowe or Bartlett could have been a rest stop before crossing over into Canada, where it would be easier to start over and avoid being found.

Also, Maura withdrew close to all the money she had in her bank account, which could mean she was planning to go away for a while.

However, many question this theory.

First, she left her vehicle, which she needed if she was going to travel a great distance.

Another issue is that she left a lot of personal items in her car, which is unusual if you are planning to get away.

Foul Play

The possibility of foul play has always been a significant angle in the investigation.

In late 2004, a man allegedly gave Maura Murray’s father a rusty, stained knife that belonged to the man’s brother, who had a criminal history and lived less than a mile from where her car was found.

The brother and his girlfriend reportedly acted suspiciously after Murray’s disappearance, and the brother claimed he believed the knife had been used to kill her.

Several days after the knife was handed over, the brother allegedly scrapped his Volvo.

Family members of the man who turned in the knife asserted that he had fabricated the story to obtain reward money from the investigation and had a history of drug use.

In 2006, a search using cadaver dogs went crazy when they came upon a house around a mile from the accident.

No further investigation was done as the owners did not allow a search or excavation of the property.

Fast forward to 2019 and an excavation and search was done on the property but turned up no remains.

Serial Killer

In March 2004, Brianna Maitland disappeared in Montgomery, Vermont in a similar fashion.

This was 66 miles away from where Maura disappeared, and people began to question the possibility of a serial killer.

However, police have dismissed this theory.

Suicide

Another theory is that Maura committed suicide.

However, experts have argued that most people do not go to these extreme lengths to kill themselves.

Therefore, suicide is highly unlikely.

Questions Still Remain

To this day, there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the disappearance of Maura Murray.

For one, a few witnesses reported seeing a young woman fitting Maura’s description walking along Route 112 shortly after the crash.

These sightings spurred several search efforts, though none were fruitful.

Another question is how she disappeared.

There was roughly two feet of snow on the ground from a recent storm.

If she had walked through the snow, there would definitely be tracks.

Additionally, seeing how difficult it is to walk in snow this deep, she would not have gotten very far in a short amount of time.

If she was walking for an extended period, the amount of exertion walking in snow that comes to mid-thigh means she would need frequent rest.

Again, this points to the fact that she would not have gotten very far.