What happened to Maura Murray: Her disappearance and ongoing search
What happened to Maura Murray? Maura, a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, vanished on 9 February 2004 after crashing her car on a remote road in Haverhill, New Hampshire. Despite extensive searches and countless theories, no one knows what happened that night. In episode 8 of The Untold Story of Maura Murray podcast, her sister Julie stated the following:
Until we find Maura, it's hard to say what happened. However, I will say the overwhelming consensus within my family is she was met with foul play at the hands of someone.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Maura Murray was born on 4 May 1982 in Brockton, Massachusetts.
- She was the fourth child of Fred and Laurie Murray, who divorced when she was six.
- Maura lived with her mother and was studying nursing at UMass Amherst.
- She vanished on 9 February 2004 after crashing her car on a remote road in Haverhill, New Hampshire and has never been found.
Maura Murray's profile summary
| Full name | Maura Murray |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 4 May 1982 |
| Disappeared on | 9 February 2004 |
| Age | 21 (at the time of her disapearance) |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Place of birth | Brockton, Massachusetts, USA |
| Place of disaperance | Wild Ammonoosuc Road, Haverhill, New Hampshire, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in inches | 5'7" |
| Height in centimeters | 170 |
| Weight in pounds | 120 |
| Weight in kilograms | 54 |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Father | Frederick "Fred" Murray |
| Mother | Laurie Murray |
| Siblings | 3 |
| Relationship status at the time | Dating |
| High school | hitman-Hanson Regional High School |
| Collage | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Status | Missing for over 21 years |
What happened to Maura Murray?
On the evening of 9 February 2004, Maura, a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, vanished after crashing her car on Route 112 near Haverhill, New Hampshire. Since then, her disappearance has sparked countless theories, inspired documentaries, and led to extensive searches—but no definitive answers.
Events leading up to Maura Murray's disappearance
In the months before her disappearance, Maura faced personal and legal troubles. In November 2003, she admitted to using a stolen credit card to order food but avoided jail through a diversion program.
On 5 February 2004, while working a security shift, she cried after a phone call with her sister Kathleen. Two days later, she crashed her father Fred's car after attending a dorm party. Despite visible damage, no sobriety test was recorded. She stayed with her dad at a motel, and he reassured her that insurance would handle the damage.
Fred confirmed his insurance would cover the damage the next day, and Maura returned to campus. They agreed to speak on Monday evening to complete insurance paperwork. Maura was under pressure—her nursing program required a reliable vehicle, and she had been using her father's car due to issues with her own.
Source: Original
Her sister Julie later recalled Maura being very self-critical about the accident. She said:
[My dad] was disappointed, but there was nothing he could do or say that would be harsher than what Maura told herself. She hated to disappoint my dad, and she was her own worst critic. She never wanted to burden anybody, and I know she beat herself up over crashing my dad's car.
On Monday, 9 February, Maura made calls and looked up directions to Vermont, booked lodging, and emailed her professors claiming a family emergency. She withdrew $280 from her bank account and purchased alcohol—all alone, as confirmed by surveillance footage. She also packed personal items into her car, suggesting she had plans to travel.
The night Maura vanished
At around 7:27 PM, Maura crashed her black Saturn on Route 112 near Woodsville, New Hampshire. Witnesses said she appeared unharmed and declined help. A nearby resident called the police, but Maura was gone when they arrived minutes later.
Inside the vehicle, police found packed belongings, school books, and spilt wine. Her cell phone and ATM card were never recovered.
Investigation of Maura Murray's disappearance
Initial theories included self murder or voluntary disappearance. Police searched areas like the Kancamagus Highway, and the FBI joined the search ten days later. Despite leads, including a nearby abandoned house, no strong evidence emerged. Several searches were conducted in the following months and years, but they yielded nothing substantial.
The case remains open, and in 2021 and 2022, further efforts were made to locate Maura. In 2024, on the 21st anniversary of her disappearance, her sister Julie launched a podcast titled The Untold Story of Maura Murray to present new insights and highlight flaws in the initial investigation. Julie shared on Instagram:
The goal for this season is to cut out the noise and reveal who Maura really was.
Julie criticised authorities for failing to follow up on crucial leads, including a phone number and address found in Maura's car. She said the man connected to the number, who owned a condo near the crash site, had never been contacted by police. Julie also revealed that police didn't search east of the crash site—the direction Maura was believed to be headed. She said:
When I contacted the owner of the number, they claimed this was the first time in 19 plus years anyone had ever mentioned that their number was found inside a high profile missing woman's car.
She also added:
For my family, it's incredibly frustrating that no one, the night of February 9th, searched east.
Source: UGC
Family suspicions and theories
In Episode 7 of her podcast, Julie discussed a disturbing claim: a local man's brother reportedly handed over a knife to their father, believing it was connected to Maura's case. The man linked to the knife refused a polygraph test. The knife was reportedly tested for DNA, though the results remain undisclosed.
Her brother Kurtis theorised that Maura accepted a ride from a stranger and met with foul play. He said:
I think Maura was taken. I think she most likely got in the car with the wrong person and nothing good came from that ... She is most likely dead now.
Their father, Fred, echoed this, believing someone took advantage of Maura's trusting nature. He said:
That is not even a question in my mind. I tend to think she got picked up by someone. Maura was very trusting, naive in a way in certain situations ... Because of those aspects of her personality ... [she was] probably looking for help out of the situation she was in, and she got in with the wrong person. I strongly, myself and many many others, suspect foul play.
Julie summed up her current belief in an interview with The Sun in June 2024, stating:
The fact her body has never been found leads me to believe she took a ride with someone from the scene of the crash and was met with foul play.
FAQs
- Who is Maura Murray? She was a 21-year-old nursing student at UMass Amherst who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004.
- What happened to Maura Murray? Maura crashed her car in Haverhill, New Hampshire, and vanished minutes later before police arrived. Her disappearance remains unsolved despite years of investigations.
- Who are Maura Murray's parents? Her parents are Fred and Laurie Murray. Fred has been especially vocal and active in the search for answers.
- Where is Maura Murray from? Maura was originally from Hanson, Massachusetts. She had moved to Amherst to attend university.
- Have they ever found Maura Murray? No, Maura Murray has never been found. Her case is still considered open and unsolved.
- What did Maura Murray hit? Maura crashed into a snowbank along Route 112 in Woodsville, New Hampshire. Her car sustained front-end damage.
- Has there been a documentary about Maura Murray? Yes, Oxygen released a six-part docuseries titled The Disappearance of Maura Murray in 2017. The case has also been widely covered in podcasts and the media.
- Where exactly was Maura Murray's car found? Her car was found along Route 112 near Woodsville in Haverhill, New Hampshire. It was abandoned, and some belongings were still inside.
Wrapping up
Over 20 years later, the mystery of Maura Murray's disappearance continues to haunt her family and the public. Her fate remains unknown despite numerous efforts—from search teams to documentaries to podcast investigations. What happened to Maura Murray? It's a question that still grips many. But her loved ones are committed to keeping her story alive and seeking the truth.
Tuko.co.ke recently shared the story of Cristina Ase, a 62-year-old nursing director at Rose Linn Care Centre in West Linn, Oregon. Known for her dedication and long-standing service, Cristina was a cherished member of the facility's team. On the morning of 26 March, 2024, she left her home in Vancouver, Washington, headed for work—but never made it.
Ase was born on 26 April 1962. After completing her nursing education, she launched her career in healthcare. Eventually rose to the position of nursing director at Rose Linn Care Center, where she managed both staff and patient care. But what led to her sudden disappearance—and where is she now? Read on to uncover the mystery.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
