James Renner's Blog, page 30
November 22, 2011
Who lived in New City, NY *2 UPDATES*
What you see here is a screen cap from the episode of Disappeared that showcases Maura's case. It's a quick shot of Maura's cell phone bill (which was paid by Bill Rausch's family). Some late calls to a number in New City, NY in the days leading up to her disappearance.Anyone have a clue?
**UPDATE**Several readers have pointed out that New City, NY is not far from West Point. So, it's possible it could be a classmate, her sister, Julie, or even Billy. Though if they're on the same plan, I'm assuming that would be apparent.
**UPDATE 2**Some readers have pointed out the 3:40 am phone call Maura made the day she broke down at work. That appears to be a call to the Domino's in Hadley, which is open till 4 a.m.
Who lived in New City, NY *UPDATED*
What you see here is a screen cap from the episode of Disappeared that showcases Maura's case. It's a quick shot of Maura's cell phone bill (which was paid by Bill Rausch's family). Some late calls to a number in New City, NY in the days leading up to her disappearance.Anyone have a clue?
**UPDATE**Several readers have pointed out that New City, NY is not far from West Point. So, it's possible it could be a classmate, her sister, Julie, or even Billy. Though if they're on the same plan, I'm assuming that would be apparent.
Who lived in New City, NY
What you see here is a screen cap from the episode of Disappeared that showcases Maura's case. It's a quick shot of Maura's cell phone bill (which was paid by Bill Rausch's family). Some late calls to a number in New City, NY in the days leading up to her disappearance.Anyone have a clue?
November 20, 2011
Request for info: Maura's Last Weekend at UMass
I'm running up against a bit of a vacuum in my reporting, specifically when it comes to that final weekend at UMass (in between the upsetting phone call Maura received Thurs night and her accident in New Hampshire on Monday.) This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most times, when I've investigated a story and run into a lack of facts it usually means the narrative we've been given is not accurate. I'm beginning to suspect that is the case here. And I could use some help.
Here's the problem: Most of what we assume about Maura's last weekend comes from one source, her father Fred. The only proof we have that the reason for his trip into Amherst that weekend was to help her look for a used car is his word. No one has publicly verified their supposed trips to used car lots, or anything else about that weekend. If they were looking for used cars, why didn't they purchase one? There would be a lot of used cars for sale in a college town like Amherst. Why spend a weekend looking for cars if they didn't have money to buy one? More to the point, how do we know her car was even acting up?
Here's what I can verify about that important weekend in Maura's life:1. Her father came to visit.2. They went to dinner with Kate Markopoulos.3. Maura went to a party in the dorms with Kate and was walked back to her dorm by a guy (Kate claims she cannot remember the name of a single person who attended the party.)4. Maura decided to not call her dad, but to drive out to his motel at 2:30 in the morning.5. She got in an accident along the way.
Help me fill in the missing info. Is there anyone else who can speak to what happened in the spaces between what we know?
Is there anyone who attended the party with Maura and Kate?
Here's the problem: Most of what we assume about Maura's last weekend comes from one source, her father Fred. The only proof we have that the reason for his trip into Amherst that weekend was to help her look for a used car is his word. No one has publicly verified their supposed trips to used car lots, or anything else about that weekend. If they were looking for used cars, why didn't they purchase one? There would be a lot of used cars for sale in a college town like Amherst. Why spend a weekend looking for cars if they didn't have money to buy one? More to the point, how do we know her car was even acting up?
Here's what I can verify about that important weekend in Maura's life:1. Her father came to visit.2. They went to dinner with Kate Markopoulos.3. Maura went to a party in the dorms with Kate and was walked back to her dorm by a guy (Kate claims she cannot remember the name of a single person who attended the party.)4. Maura decided to not call her dad, but to drive out to his motel at 2:30 in the morning.5. She got in an accident along the way.
Help me fill in the missing info. Is there anyone else who can speak to what happened in the spaces between what we know?
Is there anyone who attended the party with Maura and Kate?
November 13, 2011
Forget the Skull in the Horse Cemetery
Ever since New Hampshire reporters broke the story in July that human remains were found in an old horse cemetery in Littleton, 20 miles from Haverhill, the rumor mill has wondered loudly if it was Maura Murray.
Though officials have still not commented publicly, I can tell you the Murray family has been told the remains are not Maura's.
My hunch is it's just an old family cemetery.
The search for Maura Murray, alive or dead, continues...
Though officials have still not commented publicly, I can tell you the Murray family has been told the remains are not Maura's.
My hunch is it's just an old family cemetery.
The search for Maura Murray, alive or dead, continues...
November 11, 2011
About that alcohol in the car...
Some people have pointed to the alcohol that Maura bought the day she disappeared as evidence that she intended to drink herself to death. Sometimes, we don't see the forest for the trees, as this Websleuth points out in the screen cap above (click to enlarge).
In case you're interested in the Penn State story...
I investigated the disappearance of Ray Gricar, too.
His connections to the Penn State scandal and a long-unsolved murder there are detailed on my Coldest Cases blog over here.
His connections to the Penn State scandal and a long-unsolved murder there are detailed on my Coldest Cases blog over here.
November 10, 2011
Why Maura Left West Point
Two investigators who worked Maura Murray's case (one public, one private) say she committed an honor code violation at West Point shortly before she transferred to UMass. Drinking was a factor. It's unclear whether she was forced out or simply chose to transfer to avoid a hearing.I would be interested to hear more about Maura's experience at West Point. If you knew her there, please contact me.
November 8, 2011
NH police: We would tell you if she was alive.
If Maura Murray is alive, the NH state police don't know about it.
There's been a lot of speculation lately that Maura may have made it out of Haverhill, alive, after getting into the car accident. Some people have suggested that the police may know of her whereabouts, but, since it's not a crime for an adult to run away, may be protecting her privacy by not saying they've found her.
Not true, says Jeff Strelzin, a prosecutor with the NH AG's office.
"If we knew she was alive, we'd let you know. We'd close the investigation. We don't know where she is."
There's been a lot of speculation lately that Maura may have made it out of Haverhill, alive, after getting into the car accident. Some people have suggested that the police may know of her whereabouts, but, since it's not a crime for an adult to run away, may be protecting her privacy by not saying they've found her.
Not true, says Jeff Strelzin, a prosecutor with the NH AG's office.
"If we knew she was alive, we'd let you know. We'd close the investigation. We don't know where she is."
November 6, 2011
Fred, at the beginning.
This is from Maribeth Conway's 5-part article that appeared in the Whitman-Hanson Express, Maura's home paper. It references a press conference held on Feb 12, 2004 in New Hampshire.
Three days after her disappearance, Fred was sure Maura had run away. There's no mention of foul play, that he talks about later. At that time, he's sure she's run away, even though the only real evidence anyone has at that time is that she got into a wreck, was alone for less than 10 minutes, and has not been seen again.
Even in light of the ATM withdrawal and the note to her teachers explaining she was leaving, her car has been found abandoned in the middle of the North Country. And she's missing.
What does he know that makes him so sure she's run away from the crash site? What motive would cause Maura to run away, not just from school, not just the accident, but from him as well?
After wrapping up their own search that day, Fred and Billy met with reporters in an outdoor press conference in Bethlehem, N.H. on Thursday night. "This is very unusual," Fred explained to reporters. "It's not like her to just take off."
Fred pleaded for Maura to come home. "I don't know what the matter is, or the trouble you think you might be in, but it isn't anything we can't solve," he said through the media. "It's me - you can tell me. We'll work it out until we solve it."
Three days after her disappearance, Fred was sure Maura had run away. There's no mention of foul play, that he talks about later. At that time, he's sure she's run away, even though the only real evidence anyone has at that time is that she got into a wreck, was alone for less than 10 minutes, and has not been seen again.
Even in light of the ATM withdrawal and the note to her teachers explaining she was leaving, her car has been found abandoned in the middle of the North Country. And she's missing.
What does he know that makes him so sure she's run away from the crash site? What motive would cause Maura to run away, not just from school, not just the accident, but from him as well?
