Where is MAURA MURRAY

gvmeabrk wrote:

<quoted text>
As she promised her father, Maura obtained accident forms before leaving town; the forms were later found in her vehicle. Maura may have stopped at the Registry of Motor Vehicles on Route 9 in neighboring Hadley or she could have downloaded them from the Registry website

Excellent point. I know where the registry on Rt 9 is. Not sure whether they have security cameras. I assume the crash reports are just lying around the office for fast pick up. No need to see anyone or take a number. But if the forms were not downloaded, which should be fairly easy to tell because ususally downloaded forms include the web address as the source of the DL.

So if Maura travelled west on Rt. 9 toward Northampton, she was also quite possibly going in the direction of someone she knew who lived locally, maybe on the west side of the Connecticut River. Otherwise, she would likely have headed north on Rt. 116 through Sunderland and onto I-91 North in Deerfield, just like the news reports speculated.

FireCat wrote:

A quick trip to the web site informs us that this is actually handled by (wait for it here)....PARKNIG SERVICES.
http://parking.umass.edu/index.php/home/

Right, that would be the administrative office or subdivision of a department. What I'm getting at is that if Maura's job were placed on an organizational tree or chart, there would be some kind of proximity to those who either routinely call in illegally parked cars or those who ticket or tow them - beyond the actual sworn UMass police. I'll call and ask about this. I also know a couple of UMass professors I can pump for info on this, too.

Here's another interesting link.

http://www.masslandrecords.com/malr/controlle...

sophie bean wrote:

anyquestion, you're exactly right. There are so few facts, we need to do everything we can to establish more.
You are correct - and it's often overlooked - that we have no positive, credible identification of Maura in NH. There is one and only one apparent, recorded "eyewitness" to Maura's presence in NH - the SBD, who gave innumerable and widely varying accounts of that night, as well as claiming to be
"former LE."
We don't know for a fact that Maura's car was not stolen in Amherst (or elsewhere) and abandoned in NH.
The last place that Maura was seen for sure was in Amherst.
It appears that something had happened in her life that was upsetting to her. We do not know for a fact the degree of her upset or its cause - trying to determine a cause for her stress is pure speculation.
It is taken as a "fact" that her supervisor knew that Maura was extremely upset, but we have no way of knowing whether that was merely the supervisor's opinion and classification and the degree to which it is correct if at all.
I think it's been established as most nearly a fact that the Saturn, contrary to Smith's opinion, did not sustain the damage it did by impact with a snowbank, tree or trees, or anything other than a sharply angular, heavy object.
What else do we know that isn't hearsay or conjecture?

Excellent summary. Really hits the important points precisely and keeps us on the right path. Thank you, Sophie.

BeagleBart wrote:

<quoted text>So... you're going transparent, too? lol!!! I remember a Judge surnamed Wrong, and a Catholic Cardinal named Sin (St. Louis, I think).[Joke, just a joke.]

I can usually tell a joke when I see one. Actually my USUAL professional title is Professor Obvious. Moron was my married name....can't decide whether to revert back....

FireCat wrote:

<quoted text>
I can usually tell a joke when I see one. Actually my USUAL professional title is Professor Obvious. Moron was my married name....can't decide whether to revert back....

How about a hyphenation?[Sorry, couldn't resist. Hope you have thick skin.]

BeagleBart wrote:

<quoted text>
How about a hyphenation?[Sorry, couldn't resist. Hope you have thick skin.]

No, but I *do* know how to say "Jesus doesn't love a smart-ass" in American Sign Language.

:-p

FireCat wrote:

<quoted text>
No, but I *do* know how to say "Jesus doesn't love a smart-ass" in American Sign Language.
:-p

I thought you intellectuals always pointed with your heads.

Hello all,

As several previous posters have underlined, there is, in fact, precious little firm evidence that Maura herself ever left Amherst, MA, on that fateful February 9th 2004.

The last known footage of her (the bank and the liquor store) is from Amherst or close nearby, while we only have the wavering testimonies of the school bus driver (Mr A) that the young lady he saw in the darkness of the Saturn at the Weathered Barn curve on Route 112 in Swiftwater, NH, was in fact Maura.

As far as we know there is no witness/surveillance camera observation of Maura anywhere in MA, VT or NH on/by the I-91 or anywhere else in that area for that matter.
If we presume that some other person than Maura might have driven the Saturn in Amherst at least once and perhaps on several occasions, that certainly puts another angle on many things.
Also:
Is it only me who thinks that the description of the supposed contents of the Saturn as found on the 112 in Swiftwater seems somewhat "arranged" in more ways than one? Like a theatrical set of objects arranged in order to dupe and confuse?

Any input appreciated -
thanks for reading!

Anone know anything about a Mountain Lodge Development, Inc. in Lincoln? It's a time share place, apparently. Is this a possible destination that could have been reached by driving Rt. 112?

BeagleBart wrote:

Anone know anything about a Mountain Lodge Development, Inc. in Lincoln? It's a time share place, apparently. Is this a possible destination that could have been reached by driving Rt. 112?

http://www.manta.com/maps...

BeagleBart, LvsNH & all,

There are apparently a good deal of various lodging alternatives in the Lincoln/North Woodstock area close to the junction of I-93 and Rt 112.

The Mountain Lodge Development would seem to be a fairly expensive place for Maura to stay, even if she had brought more than the known 280 USD with her.
Just browsing through a list of the various hotels, motels, etc in the Lincoln/N Woodstock area I came across this site:

www.parkersmotel.com

What´s somewhat interesting here is the route directions given for people driving from southern VT on the northbound I-91:
Turn off at the Wells River Exit, follow US 302 through Woodsville and - very explicitly - turn off on Rte 112 East for Lincoln/North Woodstock.

This seems to me a rather rare case of out-of-state tourists being recommended to use the winding and narrow 112 rather than being advised to drive the much better (but in this case slightly longer) US 302 and then go south on I-93 for Lincoln/N Woodstock.

What do you say?

Eurobserver wrote:

BeagleBart, LvsNH & all,
There are apparently a good deal of various lodging alternatives in the Lincoln/North Woodstock area close to the junction of I-93 and Rt 112.
The Mountain Lodge Development would seem to be a fairly expensive place for Maura to stay, even if she had brought more than the known 280 USD with her.
Just browsing through a list of the various hotels, motels, etc in the Lincoln/N Woodstock area I came across this site:
www.parkersmotel.com
What´s somewhat interesting here is the route directions given for people driving from southern VT on the northbound I-91:
Turn off at the Wells River Exit, follow US 302 through Woodsville and - very explicitly - turn off on Rte 112 East for Lincoln/North Woodstock.
This seems to me a rather rare case of out-of-state tourists being recommended to use the winding and narrow 112 rather than being advised to drive the much better (but in this case slightly longer) US 302 and then go south on I-93 for Lincoln/N Woodstock.
What do you say?

I say... go to the Grafton County Registry of Deeds. I think it's someone else, though, but the thought of the directions is intriguing.

Some questions about the Saturn:

Anyone know the VIN? 4 or 6 cylinders? Why was one cylinder not working? Rings? Valves? Injectors? No compression? No fuel?

Some speculation:

If the Saturn had been running on only 3 out of 4 cylinders, it would have been a pretty rough ride to Haverhill, one far better finished during daylight hours, especially in February. 5 out of 6 cylinders would still make most people nervous.

If the Saturn had sustained its hood and headlight damage before arriving in Haverhill, it is almost impossible that the car would have been driven there. With one cylinder out, a cockeyed headlight, and a very noticeable dent/fold in the hood, it's pretty unlikely that it would not have been spotted by a cop - possible, especially after dark, but it's a heck of a chance to take by even most daring. And it is virtually certain the damage was not caused by trees.

So if the Saturn was driven there, it would have to have been driven for about 150 miles, in about 3 hours, with very poor performance. Which is possible - it seems to have been done in tandem with Fred's car while driving up from Connecticut at some time prior to Feb. 5. I think Maura drove one car and Fred the other car. Not sure. Still, it would have been a nerve-wracking trip.

Given the fact that the dent in the hood resembles very closely the damage a tow truck could have made (not that it could not have happened otherwise), and given the direction the Saturn was facing - west in the eastbound lane - it seems that the most likely way the car arrived at the Rt. 112 crash scene was by tow truck.

Regarding use of the AAA card. The card holder has to be there when the vehicle is picked up, but that's it. I've given instructions to a driver for delivering my vehicle to a location that I would not be going to myself until a couple of days later.

Also - and I agree this is kind of far out - but if you're low on money and need to get somewhere on a bum engine - why not use your AAA card? Saves gas and gets you near where you want to go? That's why I was wondering about backtracking 100 miles from the Rt. 112 crash scene. Now that's a serious long shot, but maybe it will be of interest later on. Just a thought.

hi Beagle and all.AAA will pickup if you are not at your car.what if you are on your way to an E.R.could Muara have made the bank the liquor store and the dmv before the dmv closed.university liquors is the closest i have seen to kennedy.greenfield savings is 30 paces away.who tppk pictures of the saturn please lets compile a ist and ask where are the picture.Amelia Kunhardt took some pictures up there. I think Bernie Marvin took some also .when i mentioned Bernie Marvins pictures to Helena on the old forum she thsnked me for rminding her he had told her he would send her pictures and never had?..wh else took pictures .can we as agroup make a list.what about concord monitor and boston globe pertaining to Petrit Vasi.lots to look at just need the pictures take care philip

BeagleBart,

Two very interesting points of yours there.

I totally agree with you that the Saturn was most likely towed to the spot on the Rte 112 where it was found and that the damage to the car was most certainly not caused by it hitting the trees or a snow/ice bank along the road.
A guard-rail crash might certainly be one other possibility here, but hitting a pick-up truck, a towing-truck, a SUV or whatever similar looks even more likely in my mind.

Considering the damage to the Saturn, at most it could have been driven (by whoever the driver might have been) for little more than a mile or two in the darkness and on a slippery winter road surface.

If we go for this scenario, then I would say it´s highly unlikely (but not quite impossible) that it was Maura that the school bus driver spoke to.

Your second suggestion would certainly be worth examining more closely, in my opinion.
Where would 100 miles south of Swiftwater be placing the Saturn if we accept that it was driven north on the I-91 from Amherst,MA,?

Not sure it means anything, but the towing service that towed Fred's Corolla is right next to the Amtrak station in Amherst. The Amtrak Vermonter leaves Amherst at 4:11 PM headed north toward Montpelier and St. Albans. 4:11 PM would be a little after Maura was last seen on tape. The times coincide with the departure of the train. And the tow truck service, with which Maura was already familiar, is right beside the train station.

Maybe the Saturn was towed north as a diversion, while Maura met someone in northern Vermont and they went either east into Maine or West into upstate New York? The most similar kinds of environments to the White Mountains are Baxter State Park/Moosehead Lake area to the east and the Adirondacks to the west.

Maybe she knew someone in one of those areas? Montpelier seems to make the most sense as a starting point because it is centrally located between Moosehead and the Adirondacks with relatively good roads running to both locations.

So maybe Maura took the Amtrak train north to Montpelier and then took a ride with someone from there?

Or maybe she left campus, stopped at the ATM on University or Russell, stopped at Liquors 44, stopped at RVM, headed west on Rt. 9 in Hadley, crossed the Coolidge Bridge, took a right at the lights, and got only as far as the Lane Construction sand pit in Northampton. Hard to say.

Eurobserver wrote:

BeagleBart,
Two very interesting points of yours there.
I totally agree with you that the Saturn was most likely towed to the spot on the Rte 112 where it was found and that the damage to the car was most certainly not caused by it hitting the trees or a snow/ice bank along the road.
A guard-rail crash might certainly be one other possibility here, but hitting a pick-up truck, a towing-truck, a SUV or whatever similar looks even more likely in my mind.
Considering the damage to the Saturn, at most it could have been driven (by whoever the driver might have been) for little more than a mile or two in the darkness and on a slippery winter road surface.
If we go for this scenario, then I would say it´s highly unlikely (but not quite impossible) that it was Maura that the school bus driver spoke to.
Your second suggestion would certainly be worth examining more closely, in my opinion.
Where would 100 miles south of Swiftwater be placing the Saturn if we accept that it was driven north on the I-91 from Amherst,MA,?

Cross Creek Farm, 378 Westminster Road, Putney, VT?

whiston wrote:

hi Beagle and all.AAA will pickup if you are not at your car.what if you are on your way to an E.R.could Muara have made the bank the liquor store and the dmv before the dmv closed.university liquors is the closest i have seen to kennedy.greenfield savings is 30 paces away.who tppk pictures of the saturn please lets compile a ist and ask where are the picture.Amelia Kunhardt took some pictures up there. I think Bernie Marvin took some also .when i mentioned Bernie Marvins pictures to Helena on the old forum she thsnked me for rminding her he had told her he would send her pictures and never had?..wh else took pictures .can we as agroup make a list.what about concord monitor and boston globe pertaining to Petrit Vasi.lots to look at just need the pictures take care philip

If you're injured in a crash, the police call the duty wrecker, not AAA. AAA will reimburse you. Ask them again, but I don't think you can just tell them to pick up your car across town while you're having lunch with friends. They need a signature and a photo ID. Otherwise, I'd pay the hundred something bucks and have Mike Kittredge's Bentley towed to my house. While I was shopping at Yankee Candle.