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mauramurrayevidence · 3 years

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Maura Murray: Extended

See also mauramurrayevidence3 on reddit (timeline is in the pinned post at the top: https://www.reddit.com/r/MauraMurrayEvidence3/)

Maura Murray was born May 4, 1982 in eastern Massachusetts.

Maura was born May 4, 1982 to Fred Murray (Frederick J. Murray) and Laurie Murray (née Laurie A. Merhman).

(after the divorce) lived with her mother Laurie Murray in Hanson

Maura is from a family of 3 older siblings Fred, Kathleen and Julie and a younger brother Kurt (Kurtis). Julie is 2.5 years older; Kurtis is 6 years younger; Kathleen 5.5 years older.

Mother (Laurie) was a nurse (R.N.); father (Fred) worked as a nuclear medicine technician.

Grew up in Hanson, Massachusetts

Parents divorced when she was 6 years old

Close with her father Fred Murray

Involved in youth sports, track meets, often went camping and hiking, usually in the mountains of New Hampshire

In third grade, Fred would teach her and her friends to play basketball.

Soccer was her best sport but loved basketball and running the most. Maura was an “outdoor enthusiast”.

Had a close group of friends (7 total) growing up and through high school and college

The family would spend two weeks in NH every year; the first week would be spent camping at Jigger Johnson, the second week Fred would rent a cottage in Edelweiss Village (JM/MMM 71) [Edelweiss is in Madison, NH near Conway].

(Fred) and Maura used to visit the area (Bartlett) four to five times a year and would hike area mountains in the region. "We've been going there ever since I changed her diapers in the woods," Fred Murray said.

Julie considered Maura her “best friend” and noted that although they were fierce competitors they were each other’s “number one fans”.

Kathleen was born October 14, 1977. She was a graduate of the Hanson Regional High School Class of 1997.

High school (1996-2000)

Attended Whitman-Hanson Regional High School

As a freshman in high school, Maura was the starting point guard on the high school varsity team. She was also a “good softball pitcher”.

As a freshman, threw a free throw in Boston Garden after winning a contest

During sophomore year, she gave up all sports to concentrate on running track and cross country

‘‘Top notch. She was one of my brightest students,'' said John Souther, Murray's advanced placement calculus teacher at Whitman-Hanson.

"She's a very academically talented, gifted student," said Jim Daley, Whitman-Hanson basketball coach and social-studies coordinator. "She's very organized, very diligent. She was a steady-eddy, very consistent, very focused, a lovely young girl.”

“She was extremely driven … she always wanted to be the best. Her freshman year, she broke the record in the two-mile. I thought, Wow! She’s got big things going for her. Then she kind of matured and her speed was never the same. What she had was endurance. She was an icon.” (Coach Mike Driscoll)

Qualified for US nationals in 2 mile in high school

“Shattered every school record”

Co-captain of the track team in senior year

Won District in the mile in senior year (Oxygen)

“... in high school her reputation as a star runner (she ran a five-minute mile) was known throughout Massachusetts.” (Seventeen)

One day took off to Boston - friends were looking for her all day (ID Disappeared)

Maura first car was a Cutlass Supreme.

1996: at the Catholic Memorial Invitational, Maura set the record for the 2 mile at 11:34 (record still stands as of 2021)

October 6, 1998

Oct 6, 1998

Hi there,

My name is Maura Murray from Hanson MA and I've been going to Jigger Johnson's campground, which is clearly the best, and hiking in the White Mountains ever since I was too young to remember. I would like to know if anyone out there has ever climbed Mt. Tripyramid (the trail starts at Sabaday Falls) because I had quite an experience. I also want to help out at the huts during the summer or manage trails if there are any available jobs that someone knows about. Does anybody have any bear or moose stories to tell because I would love to hear them. Great website-bye

July 28, 1999: Saturn

Purchased used Saturn in Weymouth, MA

3/15/1996 Original purchase in Quincy, MA

7/28/1999 Purchased (assume by Fred) in Weymouth, MA

10/02/01 Inspected in Weymouth, MA

10/10/02 Inspected in Weymouth, MA

10/17/03 Inspected in Weymouth, MA

Last odometer: 149,486

2000 Graduated from high school

Graduated fourth in her high school class

Earned $400 award at graduation (Disappeared)

Scored 1420 out of 1600 on the SAT (740 in math)

Accepted at US Military Academy West Point as a cadet (Senator Kennedy wrote her recommendation)

Recruited by Harvard

West Point (fall 2000 to January 2, 2002)

Spent 1.5 years at West Point majoring in Chemical Engineering before transferring to U Mass Amherst

Ran track (Julie also ran track so they saw each other multiple times a day)

Met Bill Rausch sophomore year through older sister Julie in 2001; began dating fall 2001

Bill was in Julie’s class (2 classes ahead of Maura)

Maura met Bill’s parents, younger sister and her husband in 2001 at the Army/Navy football game in Baltimore, MD; met entire family summer 2002 in Ohio

Spent 3-6 weeks each summer at the Rausch home in Ohio

Accused of theft at the Fort Knox PX August 2001 - $4-5 dollars of lip gloss in her pocket - had to go through a cadet honor hearing (was with friend Megan at Fort Knox)

Withdrew from West Point January 2, 2002

How Bill and Maura met (clarification Dec 2020 from Bill Rausch)

“Julie introduced me to Maura in 2001.”

“I was not assigned to Maura, was not her mentor, and was not associated with her honor hearing or case in any way.”

“I was a Cadet Honor Representative at West Point. It's possible that people have taken that fact and incorrectly assumed that I was officially involved in Maura's case.”

"I also spoke with her about whether she wanted to stay at West Point; an option she could have pursued despite her honor violation."

"Our conversations were informal and not related to my official role as Honor Rep. I had no role or influence over her case. It was common to have such conversations with siblings or friends of friends who were facing difficult decisions, e.g. to stay or leave West Point."

Letter from Maura to Bill - 2002

According to Chuck Theodore: The road goes ever on. The Kancamagus Hwy goes a long way -> 35 miles?! I only know that because of the "No Gas For the Next 32 Miles" sign - Anyway - OUR road better go ever on - and that means more than 35 miles worth Stud

- New day deserves a new color - I was pumped when I found this pen in dads car - probably from my last letter to you!

So even though we had overcast days up north - and everyone was bummed, it actually worked out for the best - A news reporter informed us that overcast weather actually brings out the contrast in colors more than sunshine - but I didn't buy it - Don't get me wrong - the foliage was breathtaking in the 5 feet of our visual field! Ha I would have been bummed anyway - cause Ain't no sunshine when you're gone esp. For the whole damn weekend! It was a success for you though - dad was wary of having Red Stripe as recommended by his daughters Boyfriend - and he actually LIKED it - same taste. Whohoo - all you need now is History Channel debate discussions and lots of Mozart score for me Ha

I love you Bill - missed talking to you last night - mistimed naps and getting up in crazy hours of the night to finish homework is no way to function - although I'm surprisingly well rested - I'd do it over just to talk to you though.

Dad & I took guesses as to which road this was - if it turned left - it was 302 - I said it could've been Bear Notch but dad was right on w/ the Kancamagus - I think I'm anxious to have you up there to see your reaction to the place I love so much. Even if you hated it, NH is my other home - I've gone there every year of my life and would hate for that to suddenly stop - I think it was a major part of who I am today and the things I love to do - And for me to have known you for a year - you being the man I want to be with for the rest of my life - And yet to not have experienced that huge part of me brought about from hiking/jumping off Indian leap just tells me of how little we do know about each other - how much there is to learn - lets get started! I love you -Maura

UMass (2002 to February 2004)

Attended UMass Amherst/Nursing starting 2002 (month/day?)

She was set to graduate from Nursing in fall of 2005

Maura had arranged a summer (2004) job at a hospital in Oklahoma (unknown date)

When (Bill) Rausch visited Amherst during vacations, they'd do what many couples do on the weekends: hiking in the mountains, shopping for antiques and visiting book stores in Western Massachusetts.

Bill R bought a 1999 Saab 9-3 for $13,500 in 2002 (in Northampton, MA). Fred and Maura visited the same dealership, among others, on the Saturday before her disappearance. He owned it until 2009 when he traded it in on a new car.

Spring 2002

Noted rocky point in Maura and Bill’s relationship (reported 2005): “Raush’s (sic) mother, Sharon Rausch, reiterated that statement in a recent interview. She said there was a point where the couple’s relationship was rocky in the spring of 2002, but they had resolved their problems by summer and had a good relationship since then.”

Is this the time the email was sent that was found in Maura’s dorm room?

UMass Spring 2002

Classes start Tue Jan 28

TBC It is reported that Maura was injured and did not participate in track this semester

September 4, 2002

Fall classes start at UMass

Thanksgiving 2002

UMass official break: Wed Nov 27-Sunday Dec 1

New Years Eve “December 31, 2002”

“... about a year before the disappearance, Maura spent New Year’s Eve at the house of a friend of the Connollys in Goshen, New Hampshire”.

2003 (general)

Julie spent the year in South Korea in the military (deployed from Fort Bragg, NC). Would receive care packages from Maura.

January 2003

Sharon reports that Maura is at their house in January (and is overheard crying after Bill returns to the Army)

July 3, 2003

Fred bought the Toyota Corolla

Late Summer 2003 (is this the July 2003 vacation?)

Fred, Maura and Bill stayed at a condo in Bartlett, NH (Salamones own condo in same complex)

Possibly got speeding ticket during this trip (see below)

On July 31, 2003, Bill had been back for 3 days (per letter from Bill)

On August 2, 2003, Maura was still in NH (per letter from Bill)

July 27, 2003 - Speeding ticket

July 27, 2003, 7AM, Hooksett PD, 99 in a 65 on route 93 north

Driving father’s car

Dropping Bill at the airport?

Maura paid hefty fine (around $300)

Had to appear in court July, 30, 2003 at the 6th district court in Hooksett, NH - she pled no contest and paid the fine and court fees - suspended her license for 30 days in NH (starting 8/27)

August 27, 2003-Sept 27, 2003 - her license was suspended in NH (just NH)

There is also a reinstatement fee that many people don’t know about

UMass Fall Semester

Starts September 2, 2003 per letter (or September 3)

Maura was a Junior

Lived 0415 Kennedy Hall/413.546.7439

Enrolled in classes in Pharmacology, Mental Health, Maternity and a Research Class (TCA)

Maura had Clinicals 2 days a week at Norwood Hospital Labor and Delivery Unit and Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke [Norwood is S of Boston and 93 miles from Amherst est 1:43 drive; Holyoke is 15 miles est 26 minutes)

Students are in groups of 6-8 for Clinicals; TCA has a list of 5 names of Maura’s group (unknown if it’s a complete list)

Clinicals spanned from 7AM-2PM; she would carpool with her group

Maura was injured this semester and didn’t participate in track; she planned to return for spring track

Maura had made arrangements in January 2004 to be employed for the summer of 2004 at a hospital near Billy in Lawton OK.

[At some point Maura stayed over at Erin M’s place in the Boston area and borrowed some clothing - not sure of the complete story - possibly related to the Clinicals at Norwood - a snowstorm?]

Columbus Day Weekend 2003 (est October 10-13)

Maura and Fred took a trip to 4 peaks in VT/NH

“(Fred) remembers a hike they took not long before she went missing. These are some of his most cherished memories. Maura tailed him along the steep pitches of Bond Cliff, a three peaked mountain trail in New Hampshire's White Mountains, Fred explains. The two climbed 23 strenuous miles of ascents and descents. When they finally reached the last peak, Maura pulled a Long Trail beer out of her backpack and handed it to her father. It was a celebration of their accomplishment together.” (Conway)

October 17, 2003

Saturn passed inspection in Weymouth, MA

October 20, 2003: credit card incident at UMass

Date of Offense: 10/20/2003/Place of Offense: Amherst, MA (report taken 11/03/03)

Name of Complainant: Patrolman Carlos Rivera

Con't until 5/30/04

Amherst Police Department/111 Main Street/Amherst, MA 01002

Court Use Only: A hearing upon this complaint application will be held at the above court address on (Date of Hearing) December 16, 2003 at (Time of Hearing) 12:00 noon. Court Use Only.

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2003

Sharon: Maura had been off of school for a month, but in that time, she traveled to NY and back, to OH and back and several times to CT and back during which time each trip involved parties and get togethers plus the usual hub bub of the Holidays: shopping, cooking, wrapping etc. I recall she looked tired over Thanksgiving and Christmas

Sharon gave Maura 2 prepaid calling cards at Thanksgiving

Bill came to UMass 12/20/2003 (end of finals week)

January 2004 was the last time Sharon saw Maura

Christmas 2003 (January?) was the last time Bill saw Maura

Bill gave Maura black gloves for Christmas

Maura received a cell phone for Christmas (per Miles to Nowhere Bill gave her a cell phone for Christmas and paid the bill; it was on the Rausch family plan) - I think this was Maura’s first cell phone (?) and once she had a cell phone Bill verifies she did some texting also

Spent winter break in Hanson - full itinerary in Dec 15 email below

Duke University Blue Devils basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University Blue Devils basketball coach) met Murray and Bill Rausch around Thanksgiving time and provided them with basketball tickets during the Christmas holiday basketball tourney.

[There is a story that the Saturn became disabled in December (in Boston area?) and Fred drove it back to UMass]

Question: there is a story of Maura becoming upset at her mother on Thanksgiving before she went missing - however, it seems she was with the Rausch family Thanksgiving 2003

December 15, 2003 - email to friends

Hey ladies! One more final and a paper. Did everyone get tons of snow? UMass sucks at plowing and my little Saturn got stuck. Now I’m screwed for tomorrow. Parking services can shove it. Anyway, I feel like I haven’t seen anyone in years but the stories are great. Carly, I hope you feel better and the same to Erin Jones. I had that in Florida on spring break. Anyway, Bill is coming up the 20th and we’re seeing a Duke game in NY, then heading to Hanson. Actually, Hanover to stay with Kathleen. Julie is coming home on the 23rd. Wahoo!!! And we plan on going to see Dane Cook. I hope everyone can come. Then off to Ohio. But when do you girls go back to school? My 8:00 a.m. final got moved to 6:30 p.m. which didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped because I slept all day. Ha! Screw it! I’m in a great mood. I hope you all have more motivation than I do

See you soon, Maura

December 16, 2003 - Hearing on credit card issue at 12 noon

December 20, 2003 - Bill arrives UMass (per email)

December 20, 2003 - (Bill and Maura attend) Duke vs Texas basketball game at Madison Square Garden.

December 23, 2003 - Julie comes home (per email). Julie saw Maura during this break and they exchanged gifts, etc.

UMass January 2004

January 28, 2004: Classes started at U Mass

https://www.fivecolleges.edu/academics/academic_calendars/academic_calendar_03-04

UMass has “Welcome Back Week” last week of January into the first week of February

Lived 0415 Kennedy Hall/413.546.7439 (same as prior semester)

Worked two jobs: UMass security (“security receptionist” - supervisor Karen Mayotte) and art gallery (supervisor “John”).

Clinicals in Norwood on Tuesdays

Boyfriend Bill Rausch (was) a second lieutenant with C Battery, 119th Field Artillery at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla

“Fred Murray told me personally that he drove the Saturn back to UMass and put it in the lot. Lot 12” (John Smith/twitter July 2020) - unknown when this happened

Mid-January - Maura called AAA because she locked her keys in her car - the spare key was places outside the car at this time. This was “before the mechanical problems” (Sharon’s notes)

Thursday, January 29, 2004 - Email to friends

Maybe I can lighten the email mood. UMass had crosswalks with pretty much railroad barriers because so many people have gotten hit/had accidents. I think there were seven last year. Not much to say about the rashes, though. Katie, what do crabs eat? Do they need a little aquarium? Ha! I’m jealous. Are you ready for this? Dane Cook is playing at UMass and we went to get tickets but it was sold out. I missed out AGAIN! But I did some research and he plays in Storrs, Connecticut February 12th not too far from UMass Worcester Providence. Tickets are ten bucks and go on sale Monday. So let me know if anyone’s interested. I imagine they will be hard to get as usual

Take care, girls

Maura

Thursday Feb 5

7:00 PM Maura’s shift starts (security)

7:17PM - Maura talks to Bill (20 minutes) - cell phone records

(two more short calls to Bill)

9:56 Maura calls Bill (6 minutes)

10:10pm Maura calls Kathleen (28 minutes) - “burst into tears about 3 hours later”

12:07am calls BR for 7 minutes

Karen Mayotte (supervisor of dorm receptionists) is told that Maura is upset - walks to Melville

Maura doesn’t initially respond - finally says “my sister” - crying softly

Karen walks Maura back to her single room in Kennedy (note: next week KM is called by her supervisor told Maura had a car accident and is asked to call UMass police - gives a statement)

340am Domino's pizza

Friday, Feb 6

Classes cancelled due to snowstorm

Saturday, Feb 7

Walk through of the day

Fred arrived (at her dorm) est 12-1230pm called, waited for her to come outside to go car shopping

Maura and Fred went car shopping (Maura's black 1996 Saturn was in rough shape)

Started car shopping in Hadley - Fred had 4k “on his person”. Then went to Northampton where Bill had had luck. Then went to Rt 10 west of Northampton.

Interested in a 3 year old Geo Prizm (I believe they had decided to purchase this car but didn’t have enough $ at the time).

According to Julie: they found 2 cars that day. The first was around $4K; the second at a different dealership was $6K (doesn’t remember dealership but it was red) - that’s the one Fred wanted to purchase but he “deals in cash” so didn’t have enough on him.

According to Julie: his bank was in Connecticut or eastern Mass - had limits on withdrawal; wanted to incentivize the dealer, told her he would come back (her nursing program required her to travel to clinicals)

Came back to the Quality Inn - hung around; Maura exercised in the weight room.

Dinner at the Amherst Brewing Company on North Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst

Got a call from Kate who had just returned from a track meet. Picked her up at a student parking lot around 9PM.

Went to Liquors 44 after picking up Kate (either before the next trip to ABC or after) - Kate and Maura looked for wine. [It seems that all 3 went inside.]

Went back to Amherst Brewing Company upstairs with Kate.

Fred was staying at Quality Inn on Russell st. in Hadley (237 Russell St, Hadley, MA - subsequently Comfort Inn and Rodeway Inn, now closed permanently)

Maura dropped off Fred and drove Fred's Toyota Corolla to UMass

Attended dorm party

After leaving the party, had an accident along Route 9 in Hadley ($8,000-10,000 worth of damage; Fred paid about $500 out of pocket)

Maura was not cited in the accident. She got a ride in the tow truck back to Fred’s motel which was next door to the car repair.

Maura had left her phone at the dorm (possibly in Sara’s room?) so she used Fred’s phone to call Bill in the early morning hours.

According to Bill: “She told me she had been in an accident. She was never afraid of Fred.” and on the calls over the next days: “I was worried about Maura after she called me crying having just wrecked Fred’s Toyota. I called Maura and her best friend to see if she was okay. You ask “why so many calls” but for me I ask why I didn’t try harder to see if everything was alright given she drove to NH on Monday without telling anyone.”

Times:

12-1230 est Fred arrived at Maura’s dorm

4:13 PM Calls Reliance Auto

9:01 PM Maura calls Kate

10:00 PM Drops Fred at motel

11:00 PM Arrive at Sara A. dorm room

2:30am Maura left the party (Sunday)

3:33AM Hadley accident

536AM Maura calls Bill (father’s cell phone) for 11 minutes (4:36 on BR phone records)

548AM Bill calls Maura for 5 minutes (4:48 on BR phone records)

Sunday, February 8

Fred woke up at approximately 10AM - Maura was asleep in the room

Maura woke up around 10:30AM told him about the accident

Spent the day with Fred; Worked 4 hour shift at UMass Art Gallery

Fred called insurance company, looked into rental cars; I believe he found a loaner

Fred went to North Amherst Motors around 12:30PM

Fred dropped off Maura at her dorm around 1-1:30PM

Fred returned to Bridgeport, CT - arrived est 3:30PM

8:30pm Maura checks messages (has phone back from SA at this time?)

11:26pm Fred talked to Maura remind her to pick up accident forms “in triplicate”

Maura agreed to call Monday 8PM to go over the forms

“Just after midnight on Monday morning, Feb. 9, she conducted a Map Quest search of the Berkshires and Burlington, Vt., on her personal computer.”

3:32AM Maura emailed her nursing cohort

https://imgur.com/enuBhU3

Searched Mapquest for Burlington and Bartlett; researches effects of alcohol on pregnancy

4:00am finished working on computer

There are rumors that she made additional searches about alcohol and pregnancy after finishing her schoolwork. I don’t have a good source on this.

Monday, February 9

Maura got back onto her computer on the afternoon for a couple of hours - searched several sites including getting directions from Amherst, MA on to Burlington, VT

That afternoon she spent a "couple of hours" searching sites to include getting directions from Amherst, MA to the Burlington, VT area.

“It appears she got back on her computer on the afternoon of the ninth and during the course of a couple hours searched several sites to include getting directions from Amherst Mass to the Burlington Vermont area”

1255pm call to phone owned by Dominic and Linda Salamone (3 minutes)

1PM sends email to Bill Rausch

February 9, 2004

Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2004 13:00:06 -0500

From: [email protected]

Subject: hey hey

To: "Bill Rausch"

I love you more stud

I got your messages, but honestly, i didn't feel like talking to much of anyone, i promise to call today though

love you

maura

1:13pm calls Erin O'Neil (Murphy) about returning clothes “crying” (note: Erin Murphy was in Patterson 354; phone number 413.545.1466).

1:24pm emails teachers (UMass Nursing School) and boss at a local art gallery - gone for a week “death in the family”

[1:24PM] A police investigation later revealed that Maura also emailed teachers at the UMass Nursing School and her boss at a local art gallery to let them know she would be out of town for several days due to a death in the family. (Conway)

2:05pm 1-800-GOSTOWE (system out of order; could only listen to recordings) - 5 minutes

2:18pm Call to Bill leaves message (along the lines of "I love you, I miss you, I want to talk")

[230 Maura seen w beer cans recycling per witness (sunday? monday?)] - this is unverified

Around 3pm? Erin M received knock on door, later found clothes in baggy

After Patterson? Maura went to parking lot to get into Saturn

3:15pm withdrew $280 from ATM

3:43 left liquor store - $40 of alcohol (Bailey’s nip, Kahlua, Vodka)

(picked up accident forms unknown time/place) in SR notes, it mentions the forms were from the Hadley PD at 15 East Hadley Dr.

[Rausch said a dorm mate saw her leave the campus about 4 or 4:30 p.m. Feb 9]

[“Murray, who is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 120 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes, was last seen on the UMass campus between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9.”]

4:37 checked voicemail

New Hampshire/Saturn accident timeline

7:27 Faith Westman calls 911 (Ronda Marsh) - 1 minute 18 seconds

7:29 CS dispatched

7:42 Butch calls 911 after several unsuccessful attempts (time from Chuck West) - call is 3 minutes

7:42 ambulances/fire engines toned out

7:43 Hanover calls Grafton (Ronda Marsh) clarifies one female

7:46 CS arrival logged by Anthony Stiles 7:46:20

CS has dispatch run license plate; owned by Fred Murray of Weymouth, MA

CS had Grafton call the residence listed, left message

7:54 First BOLO 5’7” to neighboring fire stations

7:56 Dick Guy (EMS) arrives

7:56 Ambulance arrives stays 6 minutes (departs 8:02)

7:57pm woodsville fire rescue pumper truck arrived w department officers

8:02 EMS cleared

(during this time) cursory search up and down 112, Old Peters Road, game trail

8:49 fire crew left

8:50 Tow truck leaves; Maura's car was towed ten miles to Lavoie's Auto Care Center on Route 10 in Haverhill

9:27 CS dispatched to Pike and leaves the area - Lime Kiln Road (suicidal teenager)

11pm smith made second attempt to phone fm residence

11pm Byron Charles and Mac Cashin assisted Smith w obtaining the search warrant

First BOL

Narrative:

H2 REQ ALL FIRE UNITS BOL FOR A FEMALE ABT 507 ON FOOT. VICTIM OF CRASH.

Tuesday, February 10

New Hampshire: Search of Saturn, BOL and phone calls

9:30am search warrant issued by Judge Timothy Mckenna of Haverhill District Court to search Saturn

Charles and Cashin complete search; Maura is identified as the driver

1:30pm BOL through VT, NH and MA for “Maura Murray” (dark coat with black hair; 5-5, 120 pounds) - see below

320pm CS leaves message on Fred’s machine (in MA - he is in CT).

3:30pm CS called Weymouth Police Department - directed to Laurie Murray

3:40pm CS spoke to LM; gave CS Maura cell phone and dorm number

Smith again tried Fred, left another message.

3:51pm CS spoke with Hanson PD

440pm CS spoke to Kathleen Murray, requested photo of MM

5pm Fred gets message from Kathleen - he is sitting in a parking lot when he listens to the message

5:17pm Maura referred to as "missing" by Haverhill police

6pm Grafton was contacted by FM

7PM CS called UMass campus security asked to check dorm room

8PM CS spoke to FM

8:25pm Haverhill PD called Fish and Game

8:40pm Haverhill received a call from UMass campus security (note room packed)

9pm Fish and Game reported to Haverhill PD that they would begin search at daylight if she had not shown up

Second BOL: Grafton County Sheriff Logs:

12:04 - Phone - Be on the Lookout - Services Rendered 2

Call Taker: D19 - Adams, Daniel

Location: (HAV) - Haverhill PD

Calling Party: Charles, Byron - @ +++UNKNOWN+++

Narrative: Needs BOL on Maura Murray (redacted). Apparently this individual was involved in a MVC yesterday in Haverhill. Upon officers arrival, found the car, no driver with a rag stuffed in the tail pip. Waiting on descriptors of individual.

Narrative: H6: black hair past shoulder length, wearing a dark coat, about 5'5", 120 pounds, Last seen in the Wild Ammounoosic Rd area......

Narrative: BOL put out at 12:21 on Graf A, Hav, Lit, and Lis locals

UMass/Maura’s dorm room

It is reported that Maura’s alarm was going off, prompting an RA to enter her room to shut it off

According to someone living on Maura’s floor, it is reported that they were “going through her stuff” that afternoon

New Hampshire/112

The Westmans walked around their property on Tuesday and did not see any footprints belonging to Maura.

Bill Rausch/Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Receives phone call from Fred (per phone bill options include 443CST (5 min), 459CST (4 min), 525CST (18 min), 538CST (8 min))

It is noted by Peabody that the AMRC confirmed on the evening of 2/10 that they had contacted (his) commander in arranging his emergency leave from the US Army to go to NH.

Bill Rausch 2020: “ . . . I had just finished eating dinner and received a call from Fred and Fred told me that Maura’s car was found on the side of the road in New Hampshire and she was missing. And like Julie, I asked a bunch of questions. Like Julie, I didn’t get many answers. Fred told me what he knew, which wasn’t much. He was going to New Hampshire and so I told him - hey man, I’ll be there soon. So, um . . . hung up the phone. I immediately went into my Commander’s office because I had to get permission to leave. He wasn’t there, so I spoke with first sergeant and - you know . . . for the rest of the night that was the conversation between my commander . . . my battery commander, my battalion commander - I mean it’s pretty uncommon for someone’s girlfriend to disappear, right? So, it was a pretty unique situation but that was a big focus for the rest of the night, until I was on a flight the next morning and so the other sorta stream of activity was calling my parents. So I called my mom and dad . . . their landline had me get on the line and told me what had happened, which, was, Maura’s car was found on the side of the road in New Hampshire. We don’t know why she was there. She is nowhere to be found and I’m going to New Hampshire and they said “Got it, we’re going to go out, too!” And so mom and dad, I said we’re going to drive east. It’s about an eight hour drive - nine hours maybe to Connecticut. So I got on my computer and looked at some flights, found a flight from Oklahoma City to Hartford for the next morning. Booked the flight. Asked a buddy, “hey man, can you take me to the airport tomorrow morning? No problem. I mean I was really fortunate, I don’t know what Julie’s situation was at Bragg but at Ft. Sill I had a really good support group and so I spent all my time with them. Packed, got things ready, argued to my command why they needed to ensure I could leave. Mom was working on a Red Cross message which is required to leave. We had some experiences with because while I was at West Point, there were some deaths in the family and so mom knew that process well. ll call the Red Cross and give them the five W’s; who, what, where, when and why? And so by the time I got my command sorta on board, they were going to let me go, reluctantly. Mom’s working the Red Cross thing. They’re in the car driving east, I got my flight booked, I’m packed, I’m freaking out because I don’t know what the hell is happening and my friends are all telling me, “man, it’s gonna be okay, gonna be okay, it’s going to be okay.” And that’s how I found out. So the next morning, my buddy drove me north up to Oklahoma City. Boarded the plane and we went from there. Obviously a lot happened after that and you know that’s probably a conversation for another time.

Wednesday, February 11

Fred Murray

Starts the drive in the early hours; arrives at Haverhill PD before dawn

Heads to 112, combs the street

Sees the official search (NH Fish & Game) headquarters being set up near 112/116

Is held at the police station on Wednesday

Talks to the dog handlers after the dog track when they return to the police station

(Apparently was not consulted about scent article given to bloodhound per quote “If they had asked me …”)

Bill Rausch (also Sharon and Bill Sr.)

Bill is driven by a friend from Fort Sill (Oklahoma) to the OKC airport. Flies to BDL (Hartford/Springfield) - layover is unknown.

Receives whimpering call while going through security at OKC (it is left as a message which he retrieves after going through security)

His parents drove from Marengo, Ohio and picked him up at the BDL airport

They drive together up to Haverhill, NH

Arrive at Haverhill PD est 5PM

"Billy was extensively interrogated in private, and then Bill and I were questioned in the room with Billy" (Sharon Rausch)

Whimpering Call (These are Central times)

Bill calls Red Cross at 5:34AM

Bill checks voicemail at 5:46AM

Bill calls his parents at 5:55AM (tells his parents at this time?)

(It is noted that Bill calls the FBI on 2/11 re this call - see below)

Bill played it for police that night (possibly called with a landline and played over speaker?).

Detective Todd Landry told Bill on the evening of 2/11/04 that the call originated from the Red Cross

Other family members

Kathleen, Freddy, Kurtis arrive

Julie is at Fort Bragg, NC and flew up later (22nd?)

(subsequently) siblings drove E on 112 to North Woodstock and Lincoln, then across the Kancamagus Highway to Bartlett and Conway (tourist towns the family knew) checked motels, handed out flyers - posted at bus stops, gas stations and police stations

All family and friends stay at the Wells River Motel in VT.

First official search by Fish and Game (there were 5 searches in 2004)

Fish and Game arrived with their helicopter; Haverhill police, NHSP and K-9 team gathered on the ground.

Fish and Game team led by Todd Bogardus was brought in 36 hours after the crash on a clear cold morning

Lt. Scarinza received call at 6AM on this day; reportedly flew in the helicopter

Fish and game pilot flew above the treetops scanning for footprints

“(we) searched the immediate area and we had them tone out and go several miles away from the area. That helicopter is also equipped with a FLIR unit which is forward looking infrared – so had she been out there and giving off any heat signal we would have been able to pick that up. after covering the significant area at least 112 and outlying roads over probably 10 miles distance the end result was we had no human foot tracks going into the woodlands off of the roadways that were not either cleared or accounted for. At the end of that day the consensus was she did not leave the roadway” (Bogardus)

10 miles of roadway checked just on that first official search and not a single footprint that could have been Maura’s

“a NH state police bloodhound that was brought in on our first day of searching. That dog did run a track off the crash site. He actually did it twice. And each time he ran a track from the crash site it ended at the intersection of Bradley Hill Road which is just within sight of the crash site. It’s possible she may have been picked up by a vehicle there.” (Bogardus)

5PM+ Haverhill PD

Police spoke to Rausch and Murray families

Fred Murray was asked if Maura had experienced any traumatic events

Haverhill PD had a meeting that night speculated Maura was suicidal or had planned to run away.

Family search party returned to Wells River Motel

Other/FBI:

Peabody notes that the FBI offered their assistance to NH LE on Wednesday, February 11th “The FBI’s offer was the result of Lt Bill Rausch contacting them regarding a call from a prepaid calling card very early the morning of 2/11/04”.

UMASS/Karen Mayotte

Date unknown but “before her disappearance was known to the public” Karen Mayotte to Clint Harting: "I don't know which day it was, but it was the week that she went missing. Her car accident/ disappearance was not known yet to the public. I was visiting a dorm in upper central when I was radioed to call the office. On the phone, they patched me through to the police department. That is when they told me about her going missing, and I remember almost being sick at that moment knowing I should've done more for her emotionally days ago. Worst feeling ever, and that is before I knew more details about this case. The officer asked me if I could come in to the station the next morning to write a statement. Which I gladly did. And in that statement I shared exactly what happened the last evening I saw her. "

Thursday Feb 12

New Hampshire/police

Police issued a press release - Maura may be enroute to the Kancamagus Highway area and was "listed as endangered and possibly suicidal" (first press on the case)

3:05PM press release faxed to the Hanson, Mass PD

First newspaper article: 200 word news brief from the Manchester Union Leader.

Fred and Bill met with reporters in an outdoor press conference in Bethlehem NH. Fred pleads with 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."

Search efforts continued in NH. Fred and other family members posted flyers and canvassed the area: hotels, motels.

[Scarinza] said the Major Crimes Unit, and specifically, Sgt. Charles West, has been involved in the Murray disappearance since three days after she disappeared.

By Thursday, the search had expanded into Vermont.

Fred and Maura’s boyfriend held a news conference that evening.

News segment that night (Karen McNamara saw this)

(reported July 1) He said the Major Crimes Unit, and specifically, Sgt. Charles West, has been involved in the Murray disappearance since three days after she disappeared.

(move) Just over a week after the disappearance, the FBI began assisting with the investigation by interviewing friends and family in Massachusetts, trying to ascertain anything that would clarify Maura’s decision to leave without telling anyone.

New Hampshire/family search (specific start unknown)

(Bill Rausch) Surprised folks don’t know more details about the actual search. We hit darn near every business in NH with a flyer. From VT to ME and Canada down to MA. In fact, we were going through flyers so quickly, a printing press co. in OH cranked out an additional 5k and overnighted them to us in NH – the local office store in NH couldn’t keep pace with flyer production. Heck, one big reason (there were many) the McDonald’s came up to help was bc we wanted more boots on the ground to intensify our search.

We walked Rt 112 on foot heading east and did not see any foot prints in the snow between the rd and river. As someone mentioned, there was a section or two where the river and road were side by side but even there we did not see footprints in the snow or a break/gap in the snow and ice on the river.

We walked most of the ~20 mi between the accident site and Lincoln. Thank you for asking.

Rob McDonald and his wife Christine drove up Thursday or Friday “as we heard Maura was missing”. Christine drove home to work the next day (Monday); Rob stayed in NH/VT for a couple of days possibly until Wednesday.

Later in the week Umass police and college counselors met with students from the nursing class. Dean Eileen Breslin sent out an email.

Friday, February 13

UMASS

Search underway of Maura's dorm room (the following individuals went into the room: Chris Thrasher, Brian Davies and Bill Rausch)

Two UMPD officers, Detectives Chris Thrasher and Brian Davies and two counselors from Mental Health Services visited a junior nursing class, Parent-Child Nursing, on Friday afternoon. Joan Cully, administrative director of the Office for the Advancement of Nursing Education and Eileen Breslin, dean of the school of Nursing were also present at the meeting.

In addition, an email was written by Breslin, and released to the UMass nursing community. According to the email, Murray sent an email to her faculty Monday afternoon at 1:24 p.m. indicating she was heading home for the week due to a death in the family and that she would contact everyone when she returned.

(estimated around this day) Maura’s high school friend Katie recounts getting an “away message” that read “...if you have seen Maura in the past 2-3 days please contact UMass PD.” (MMM episode 21, minute 51, thanks wimpx for finding).

New Hampshire

Family members planned to search into Vermont (Burlington, Stowe).

Fred walked into Vermont police stations on Friday: (Vermont) LE knew nothing

Fred went to LaVoie’s to see Saturn. Used spare key stored under the bumper. Car started right up. Maura’s belongings were on the cement floor behind the trunk spread out on the floor.

Per Sharon/Disappeared some of Maura’s car contents given to Bill this day (running clothes, bag school books)

Note: car contents returned to family moved to 2/19

New Hampshire/News

“Anyone who might have been driving on Route 112 Monday, Feb 9, between 7:30pm and 8pm is asked to contact state police about anything they might have seen. The number is (603) 846 3333.”

Julie Murray (move to 22nd?)

Julie Murray got leave - went to the scene of the accident

"I wanted to see it as Maura had seen it -- after dark. I got out of the truck and walked up and down

the road, looking at different angles and perspectives. There was a constant thought in my mind as I did this -- if I was Maura what would I have been thinking," (email to Conway).

Sunday, February 15th

Report that family friend interviewed CW

Sgt. Cecil Smith of the Haverhill, N.H. Police Department filled out the accident report on Feb. 15, six days after the incident.

Monday, February 16th

Christine McDonald interview with Butch Atwood (note that the “whimpering” phone call was mentioned in the NH Union Leader on 2/13 which is how Butch could have known about it)

Tuesday February 17th

Official investigation

FBI became involved this day per Chuck West

(Per Whitewash) HPD set up a road block the next Tuesday night for 2 hours.

Family

Bill Rausch is on CNN American Morning from the Wells Motel

“February 17, eight days after the disappearance, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien interviewed Maura’s father, Fred Murray, and her boyfriend, Bill Rausch, who flew in from Oklahoma.”

UMass

First University article about Maura’s disappearance: “Nursing Student Missing for Days”.

Wednesday, February 18th

(in the newspaper the 19th indicating it happened the 18th) “A couple of drivers along Route 112 yesterday afternoon got a surprise when they took a curve then had to hit the brakes quickly as they encountered one tall police chief and two state troopers walking toward them in the roadway. Williams and Lt. John Scarinza, the Twin Mountain troop commander, plus his second-in-command, Sgt. Tom Yorke, examined the crash scene and the surrounding area once again.”

(per Valley News 2/19) Butch interviewed by press as he stood in his driveway

The FBI has offered to help investigate the case of a University of Massachusetts nursing student who vanished in the White Mountains nine days ago. But local New Hampshire authorities so far have declined the bureau's help, the woman's family and friends said yesterday. Gail Marcinkiewicz, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Boston, said the bureau has offered to help search for 21-year-old Maura Murray of Hanson, Mass., who disappeared after her car slid into a snowbank on Route 112 in Woodsville, N.H., on Feb. 9.

Thursday, February 19

New Hampshire/police investigation

Car inventory given to family by police (taken back June 28, 2004)

RF first questioned by police "10 days"

TBC: other neighbors questioned by police starting this day

Possibly when NHSP (Scarinza) became involved - to be confirmed

New Hampshire/Official search 2 of 5

A second major search was organized 10 days after Maura’s disappearance to inspect the woods. Three canine teams (this time cadaver dogs) were brought in – two from the New England K-9 Search and Rescue Group and one from the New Hampshire State Police.

According to Bogardus, the dog teams went into the woodlines and searched different segments on both sides of route 112 within the half mile radius.

Fish and Game Lt. Todd Bogardus, in a press conference at the Haverhill Police Department Thursday afternoon, said the three canine teams, two of which were part of the New England K-9 Search and Rescue group, and the other from the state police, were unable to come up with any clues. Two of the canines were air scent dogs.

Friday, February 20, 2004

Vermont/Official Search of Burlington, VT

A search of Maura’s computer revealed a map of Burlington (unknown date but possibly 2/19?). This led to a search of the Burlington area: “Vermont State Police, Burlington police, and other local agencies have canvassed motels in Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, Shelburne, and surrounding towns to see if she checked in anywhere around”.

Boston/FBI

Boston FBI agents have joined in the search for Maura Murray, a University of Massachusetts student from Hanson who disappeared more than a week ago after an accident on a snowy New Hampshire road. ‘‘What we asked the FBI to do was to do a background investigation, talking to family members, so hopefully we can generate ideas as to what she was thinking or where she was going. Other than that, we're doing all we can,'' Lt. John Scarinza, commander of New Hampshire State Police Troop F, said.

Fred/Good Morning America

Fred Murray, who is scheduled to appear on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" today to discuss his daughter's disappearance, said the FBI involvement is a good start, but not enough.

New Hampshire/Official Search

Scarinza: "Hopefully, by the close of [today] we will have talked to everyone at least twice within a reasonable radius of the area. We're talking 5 miles, give or take,".

Saturday, February 21, 2004

(reported 2/20) Her son (Bill Rausch) must report back for duty in Oklahoma tomorrow, she said, and other family members who have put their lives on hold must also return to their homes. But, she said, that does not mean they are giving up trying to find her.

New Hampshire investigators, which include the Haverhill police department, state police and Fish and Game, also have been working with Massachusetts law enforcement, including the UMass campus police. The FBI also has been providing assistance in Massachusetts in developing a timeline of Murray's actions in the week before her disappearance.

Murray's family has offered a reward for information and has created a website, www.spbowers.com/mauramissing.html.

(the 22nd) An award fund for any information about Murray is now more than $20,000.

Sharon Rausch, the mother of Maura’s boyfriend, said Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has donated an undisclosed amount to the fund. Rausch said the coach met Maura at Madison Square Garden over the holidays. Krzyzewski’s daughter is friends with Maura and her boyfriend, Army Lt. Bill Rausch.

Sunday, February 22, 2004

Fred Murray’s statement to UMass police department is dated 2/24/04.

Dad of missing Mass. woman now suspects foul play. Her father, Frederick Murray, believes his daughter was given a ride from a person who won’t come forward since he helped her leave the scene of an accident, or a person who gave her a ride and then abducted her.

Lauri Murray's daughter Julie, an Army officer at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, is taking emergency leave and is expected to arrive on Sunday to help in the search.

Leave is up for Maura Murray's boyfriend, Army Lt. Bill Rausch of Oklahoma, who is heading back to his military post. Maura Murray's father Frederick and her brothers and sisters are still handing out fliers in Vermont and New Hampshire.

(note: Kathleen and brother Fred are still in NH)

Police and family members are also trying to gauge the significance of a phone call that reduced Murray to tears while working her campus job at UMass-Amherst on Feb. 5. She was so disturbed by the call her supervisor had to take her home.

Police are also investigating a message on Maura’s phone from a friend she talked to the day before she disappeared.

(reported Friday 2/27) Eventually, life continues, bills need to be paid, and last weekend Fred Murray had to get back home. "The worst part was driving home alone," he said. "Then I stopped in her room at UMass, and that was pretty awful."

Monday, February 23, 2004

Reported 2/21 “(Sharon) Rausch and her husband must return to their Ohio home on Monday, but she said their efforts would continue to find Murray.”

Tuesday, February 26, 2004

Kathleen finds women’s underwear near French Pond. Sent to NHSP for analysis

Maura's hair brush and a toothbrush were provided to the state police crime lab in Concord along with the underwear for testing.

February 27, 2004

R.C. Stevens of PSII Inc., a Northampton, Mass., private investigation agency, is digging into what has happened.

Reported March 24 that it (underwear) did not belong to Maura

March 2, 2004

New Hampshire

Maura's siblings checked out of the Wells River Motel

Kathleen brought Maura’s belongings to her house in Hanover

Car remained at Lavoie's garage in N Haverhill

Fred checked out of the WR Motel after 3 weeks searching

Returned every weekend for the next year “After about 3 weeks, Fred continued the search with a group of key volunteers, many with expertise in search and rescue. This is discussed in the Missing Maura Murray interview with Rick Graves which describes how Fred Murray and searchers came up “every weekend for the first year”. They did a circle, moving out (this describes a spiral search). Rick Graves estimates they searched a 15-20 mile perimeter around the crash site. He says it was a team of 4-6. He notes that some distant cousins and relatives who would come out to support them. Graves notes they “beat the hell out of those woods” and mentions gravel pits, etc.”.

Newspaper mentions R.C. Stevens of PSII Inc of Northampton, MA became involved

March 3, 2004

First mention of red truck “Sgt. Beausoleil said another tip, from a woman who was walking on Route 112 in Bath, N.H., on Feb. 9, also could not help investigators develop a criminal case. The woman reported a suspicious man in a red pickup truck with Massachusetts plates eyeing her near the Stage Stop general store in Bath at about 7 that night. According to the woman, the man left when she went into the store and headed east toward the accident scene. Ten minutes later, the woman saw Haverhill police go by in the same direction, responding to the accident.

March 19, 2004

Brianna Maitland goes missing in Vermont

March 24, 2004

15,000 8- by 10-inch color posters printed (reported by SR). Bethlehem Fire Chief Jack Anderson, agreed to have firefighters throughout the twin states help distribute about 1,000 of the posters. "We will try and help through our 26 towns," Rausch said she also has enlisted the help of Beth Drewniak of Hanson, Mass., to help distribute the posters. She said Drewniak's daughter grew up with Murray. "We are hoping $40,000 will (jog) someone's memory," she said. Poster says $40,000 will be paid for any information leading to her safe return.

April unknown

New Hampshire/John Monaghan follow up investigation

John: - and hopefully I won't [00:23:00] leave anything out by mistake. So, um, I, I, and a number of people went along Route 112 and basically checked every residence and if people lived there we'd talked to them and asked them if they'd seen anything. If anything appeared odd or suspicious. And, nobody did. And so, we also went into the um, the hunting camp areas just to see if anybody had kicked in door or busted a window and none of those had been broken into and then I was [00:23:30] also asked to go to ... I think I went to Cumberland Farms, Shaws and DP Quick Stop, I believe? Those are the 3 places that had surveillance cameras -

John: - and I pulled the tapes. I didn't review the tapes but I pulled the tapes. Um, just to see if perhaps she had stopped there on her way through. Those were just turned over and detectives would've reviewed those, not me. Um, and then I think later on I had also gone and checked ... the Mountain Lakes area is sort of this ... somebody [00:24:00] had an idea that it would be a great resort area at one point and it really never took off so ... But, there's a ton of houses out there. Some are lived in, some aren't. So, I went and ... I have a map and I would checked off every residence that I checked. If it was occupied I'd talk to the owner. If it was unoccupied, I'd make sure nobody broke in. If I found an unoccupied structure that had an open door, I would check the inside and, uh, again, didn't find anything.

Art: How [00:24:30] shortly after the accident was that? [inaudible 00:24:38]

John: I think that was, that was a month or two later. I believe those reports are dated like April. Um, and these things that I did, I did at the request of whoever was leading the investigation. Usually, Lieutenant Skorenza would call me and say John, are you busy and even if I was, here's what you're gonna go do so, so I would just be assigned these followup investigations to do.

April 2, 2004

New Hampshire/ongoing official search efforts

On April 2, 2004, Gary E. Lindsley reported. “Although an official air and ground search was declared concluded by New Hampshire Fish and Game and Troop F State Police officials in February, K-9 teams from the Adirondack Rescue Dog Association will resume their search of the Haverhill area this weekend.”

It was noted that one of the dog teams was Marilyn Greene, a team trainer and private investigator, and her K-9, Buddy, from Guilderland, N.Y. We also learn that similar search efforts took place the prior weekend: “This weekend, like last weekend, K-9 teams from the Adirondack Rescue Dog Association will conduct a search of the area surrounding the accident site.”

Email planned for UMass

(This must be Sharon) Rausch is asking them (UMass) to send an e-mail message to the university's 40,000 students through a blind e-mailer between April 15 and 20. The e-mail will read, "Please help us find Maura. Please forward this to all the contacts in your address book." The e-mail will contain information about what Maura looks like as well as information about the accident which she was involved in the night of Feb. 9. "It will literally (reach) hundreds of thousands of people," Rausch said. She is holding off sending out the e-mail right now because about 15,000 posters are being distributed in Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as at UMass.

Plan for Maura’s birthday May 4th: family and friends will ask people to tie blue ribbons around trees as well as to their car antennas. The following message also will be released May 4: "Maura's family prays for her safe return on her birthday."

April 8, 2004

Seventeen magazine makes plans to cover Maura’s story

April 10, 2004

Carla Baron, psychic

April 29, 2004

New Hampshire/CW sighting

April 29: RF interviewed by SP Lt. John Scarinza checked out RF time records at his job in Franconia and confirmed that his story was credible

May 2004

Fred petitioned Gov Craig Benson for help

May 4, 2004

Release of balloons

May 6, 2004

On May 6, 2004, the Caledonian Record reported that a man had come forward with a possible sighting of Maura:

Scarinza said a man, whom he declined to identify, was returning from a construction job in the Franconia area when he spotted a young woman matching Murray\’s description hurrying east on Route 112, about an hour after her accident.

May 8, 2004

New Hampshire/Fred Murray

Fred held press conference at the Woodsville American Legion Hall with the parents of Brianna Maitland

New Hampshire/Official search 3 of 5

Following the information about the CW,, a search took place on May 8, 2004 involving about 15 Fish and Game officers and 6 dogs. A helicopter was also used. These teams searched the woods about 5 miles east of the accident site. This site is near the intersection of 116 and 112.

“A dozen people resumed the search yesterday on foot and in a helicopter. Scarinza said that was more than enough manpower to scan the rural terrain. It was likely the last time a search crew will venture into the woods. If Murray had wandered off the road, finding her would be easy because there is about 1½ feet of snow on the ground, Scarinza said. and it has not snowed since Feb. 9.”

May 17, 2004

New Hampshire/Official Search 4 of 5

I have no information about Search 4 aside from the date captured from the infographic displayed on the Oxygen episode. I have found no information from newspaper reports from this date.

May 21, 2004 (reported 2005) - or May 26, 2004

Fred Murray, sent a letter to New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson on May 21, 2004 asking him to persuade State Police to receive assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the search for his daughter. Murray never received a response.

Letter mentions CW sighting at around 8PM https://mauramurray.createaforum.com/evidence/newspaper-articles-57/?message=496

May 29, 2004

According to a document released after the NH Supreme Court hearings, Maura’s possessions were removed from her dorm room May 29, 2004. “Officer assisted family member removing items from student’s room”.

June 8, 2004

Vermont State Police, NHSP and FBI met at the VSP Barracks in St. Albans VT to continue to review the Brianna Maitland and Maura Murray cases

Lt. John Scarinza is the “F” Troop Commander of the New Hamsphire State Police. He and Detective Sgt. Bob Bruno also of Troop “F”, participated in the meeting.

Based upon the evidence gathered to date, New Hampshire State Police investigators strongly feel that the disappearance of Maura Murray does not have a common link with the investigation into the disappearance of Brianna Maitland in Vermont.

June 25, 2004

Report drafted to repossess car contents

June 28, 2004

Massachusetts/Kathleen and Tim’s residence in Hanover, MA

This is the date of the NHSP repossessed property report (car inventory)

“... NH state police turned up on the doorstep of Maura's sister Kathleen's home in Hanover. The trooper requested that all items found in Maura's car be returned. Maura's belongings had been given to the Murray family within two weeks of the accident. Police also confiscated the hard drive of Maura's computer and took custody of Maura's car. Police explained that a major crimes unit of the SP was stepping into the case and wanted to conduct forensic tests of Maura's car and personal belongings.” (Conway)

New Hampshire

“It appears Trooper Todd Landry requested the search warrant for the cell tower ping in June of '04' when the Major Crimes Unit became involved and went to Kathleen's to re-claim the items in Maura's Saturn”.

June 29, 2004

Fred Murray receives a denial of his FOIA request to the NHSP.

The New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit is now involved in the disappearance of 22-year-old Maura Murray.

Newspaper articles highlighting the book “Not Without Peril” asking “what does this mean?”

July 12, 2004

Fred Murray receives a denial of his FOIA request to UMass PD.

July 13, 2004 (Tuesday)

New Hampshire/Official Search 5 of 5

The fifth and final “official” NHSP/NHFG search took place July 13, 2004 involving nearly 100 people including 60 state troopers, conservation officers, and volunteers from search and rescue organizations. It is noted they conducted “line searches”. This search involved a one mile radius of where the Saturn was found. It was noted that police were “looking for anything Maura may have left behind, such as the black backpack she was believed to have been carrying when she left the scene.”

July 13, 2004 — About 90 searchers continue to look for possible clues at and around the accident site in Haverhill. The search, which again includes use of a State Police helicopter, is focused in a 1-mile radius from the accident site. Search areas include parking sites, wooded areas and roadways along Route 112 to the town of Woodstock; and Route 118, from the Junction of Route 112 south to the height of the land at the Woodstock/Warren town line. Investigators do not believe any of the items collected to be relevant.

Ninety people in five teams fanned out over a one mile radius from the crash site on Tuesday.We have them going through drainages..anything that encompasses within that one mile radius," said Lt. Todd Bogardus of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Authorities say there is no one thing that led them to search the area again, but they are looking for items Murray had with her when she left Massachusetts that wintry night. One was a backpack.

HAVERHILL -- Search teams fanned out through fields, woods and drainage ditches yesterday on another search of the area where a Massachusetts woman was last seen more than five months ago.

Nearly 100 people, including 60 state troopers from as far away as Exeter, conservation officers, and volunteers from search-and-rescue organizations, spent the day on line searches, painstakingly looking for any clue that would shed new light on the disappearance of Maura Murray.

Search was 9am until dark

August 5, 2004

(Sharon) Rausch said she has sent out 350 e-mails to churches in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and across the country (asking for them to pray for Maura’s return).

Late 2004

Rusty knife from Larry Moulton

Fall 2004

(October) Sharon and Fred decide to go to square one and examine Maura’s cell phone records. Sharon calls Linda Salamone and realizes she has not been contacted by the police. (Seasons at Attitash)

Laurie Murray was diagnosed with throat cancer last month and is undergoing 30 days of chemotherapy and radiation. [reported in November so diagnosed was October].

October 29, 2004

In November he (Fred Murray) appeared on the Montel Williams Show to publicize the case

November 19, 2004

(reported 11/19 but happened in October) At 1 p.m. on Feb. 9, Maura Murray called a Wakefield couple who own a condominium at the Seasons at Attitash resort in Bartlett, N.H., that was for rent. Murray's family has stayed at the resort. But the couple, Dominic and Linda Salamone, say they have never heard from investigators.

A new website launched last week, www.mauramurray.com, offers information about the case and a forum for people to chat. "We've already had interest from people," said Kerri Doble Gingras of Marshfield, a relative of Murray who developed the web site with her husband.

Jan 9, 2005

A New Hampshire state police investigator did not contact Salamone until after the Patriot Ledger newspaper in Quincy, Mass., ran a story in November that reported she was among the last people to talk with the missing woman. Salamone said the state police officer told her he was following up on an earlier call. "He said they had tried to contact me before, but had not left a message then and that their investigation had since taken a different turn." She said she explained to the investigator that the condo is booked months ahead and she could not remember what was said in the 90 seconds or so that she and Maura Murray spoke nine months before.

For Fred Murray, it's logical that his daughter would seek to stay at the condominium complex at Attitash, where the family had vacationed in the past, and disturbing that investigators did not follow through on the call until prompted by a newspaper story.

Feb 9, 2005 -

at the tree; Fred headed to NH State House in Concord to hopefully meet with Governor John Lynch (met 10 minutes)

March 2005:

Fred made another push for FBI intervention and release of records. Met with AG Kelly Ayotte, Jess Strelzin, Robert Bruno and John Scarinza

April 7, 2005

Email from Helena to Witness A

April 24, 2005

Family meets with Witness A (Weeper/Frank Kelly present)

late 2005: Fred’s lawsuit

Fred filed lawsuit

frustrated and irritated with having been denied access to certain police records, he filed a lawsuit against various law enforcement agencies, including the state police

He requested thousands of pages of records, including accident reports, an inventory of items taken from Maura’s vehicle, a copy of her computer hard drive and the surveillance tape from the liquor store she visited before leaving.

October 3, 2005

Letter from Sharon Rausch to Maura (on or around October 3, 2005)

"Dearest Maura, Please trust me, and please, please listen to me. I would like to speak for so many people that I have met that I know that love you. But, I will not presume to know their inner thoughts and feelings, so I speak only for myself and for Big Bill. We have this discussion over and over. We want you to know that there is no problem that you may have that we cannot understand; there is no problem that you may have that we find cannot find help for you; there is no problem or action on your part that we cannot forgive. Very simply: we will always love you.

We wish you knew how very much our family loves you and longs to know that you are well. There is nothing that you have done or could possibly do that would diminish the love we have for you. We will always be here for you or to help you. There are times we feel guilty - and we play over and over so many things in our minds: if we ever caused you to feel insecure in our love or to doubt that we wanted you to be a part of our family, please forgive us. If you are choosing to be away, then I know that guilt does its number on you too. Don't be afraid to come home, to come to Ohio.

I recall the fear and love in your voice when you called for advice when Billy was so ill during Jan 2002. Do you recall that fear? It pales in comparison to the fear we experience because you are missing. Because you have been gone for so long, you surely must have doubts and fears about returning. This is understandable. But here nothing has changed the way Big Bill and I feel towards you. We just regret that we didn't openly share with you how much we love, admire and respect you.

Most of all, we just want to hold you and smother you with our love and hugs while you blush and giggle. Call us collect; email us; write us with no return address; contact us in any manner you choose, but please let us know that you are among the living. Hopefully, you will return soon: your old room is waiting; the Beretta is waiting. Most of all, we are waiting. And, if God forbid, you are being held against your will, trust in God, be strong, do what you can to get away, and if possible, get word to us. Be confident that your Dad will never rest in his search for you, and many more of us will never give up our pursuit until you are home.

All my love and prayers, Sharon

PS - Thought that you would want to know: 'Joseph' is comforted with 'Harry' on the opposite side of shredded navy - I know you get it :-) “

end 2005/beginning 2006:

December 7, 2005

Filming for 20/20 episode (see Jan 6, 2006)

Dec 7, 2005: NHLI Maura Murray Task Force

The New Hampshire League of Investigators formed the “Maura Murray Task Force” on December 7, 2005 by 4 members (guess: Healy, Tate, Shamshak, Kelly)

Kelly: "... on December 13, 2005 we drove to Weymouth Massachusetts and we met with Fred Murray and his family for the first time and explained what we wanted to do (of nine “missing persons cases, this was the one we chose) and began the tedious task of gathering background information and what facts were available at that time."

Seemed to end officially in 2008-9

Did backgrounds on everybody. Interviewed the entire FD who responded 2/9. Healy traveled to Florida to interview Atwoods (didn't answer any questions).

3 major searches: October 2006, July 2008, date of 3rd unknown

Utilized medium Maureen Hancock

The NHLI collectively agreed that Maura's disappearance was the result of a crime.

They ruled out suicide and accidental death. They also checked and ruled out all sightings that had been reported (up to whatever date in 2008).

They had three reasons for concluding that this was a crime: 1) contradictory witness statements, 2) their assessment of a staged accident scene, and 3) referral of the case to the Major Crimes Unit.

Healy said nationally, statistics show if someone is harmed, their body is usually left within five miles of where they disappeared.

(Healy) and his team will utilize topographical maps and compasses to conduct a search within five miles of the crash scene. They will visit Haverhill in January and February and drive along the area's roads to learn where someone might feel safe while dropping off a body. That information will be entered into a GPS system. Then, during warmer weather, searches will be conducted using search dogs.

The team will also look at Murray's cell phone bill and the last 20 to 30 calls in an attempt to determine what was going on in Murray's life before her disappearance.

According to Healy, STALK Inc., a team of profiling professionals, has also offered its services to help find Murray.

December 19, 2005: Fred sues for the records

Bill In Equity Filed on Behalf of Fred Murray (17 Pages) Dated December 19, 2005

Memorandum of Law in Support of Preliminary Injunction Filed on Behalf of Fred Murray Dated December 19, 2005 (14 Pages)

Order of Notice - Expedited Hearing From Grafton County Superior Court Dated December 20, 2005 (2 Pages)

Special Appearance of Attorneys For State of New Hampshire (Devine, Millimet & Branch) Dated January 4, 2006

Memorandum of Law in Support of Objection to Motion for Preliminary Injunction Submitted on Behalf of Fred Murray Dated January 18, 2006 (9 Pages)

Rule 7 Notice of Mandatory Appeal Filed by Gallant & Ervin on behalf of Fred Murray With Supreme Court of New Hampshire Dated February 16, 2006 (7 Pages)

Supreme Court Remand and Order For A New Hearing Dated December 20, 2006 (6 Pages)

Grafton Superior Court to Timothy J Ervin Esq Notice of Hearing to take place March 16, 2007 Dated February 1, 2007 (continued to April 13, 2007)

Notice of Decision From Clerk Dated June 12, 2007

Supreme Court Order Denying Fred Murray Appeal After Second Hearing Dated May 2, 2008 (2 Pages)

2006

January 3, 2006

NHLI: Some of the volunteers have met with members of the family to review the case and have reviewed all of the press coverage associated with the case. The volunteers then held a team meeting in New Hampshire, on Jan. 3, 2006, to further review the case and determine future action.

January 5, 2006

NHLI: Shamshak, who is the former police chief in Spencer, said he has spoken to Murray's friends, family, acquaintances and boyfriend. He said detectives from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine will use all public records associated with the case. He said the New Hampshire state police have done a "considerable amount of work" on the case, but the volunteer detectives have the time to re-examine leads. "When things go cold, that's where we step in," Shamshak said. "Anything that is generated from us will certainly be passed along to law enforcement."

A team of private investigators is joining forces with the family of Maura Murray to help find the missing 22-year-old Hanson woman. John Healy, a retired New Hampshire State Police trooper, is leading the 12-man group of volunteers. They are already focusing on a few leads police might not have looked into, Healy said yesterday. ‘‘There are a couple of remote parking areas and fishing areas two to three miles from the highway and those areas may not have been searched yet,’’ Healy said.

The team has gathered all of the media coverage for study as well as topographical maps of the area and are in communication, regularly with the family. They also hope to serve as an interface between the family and law enforcement.

January 6, 2006: 20/20 episode on Maura

Rausch said she and her son were flown to ABC headquarters in New York, Dec. 7 for two days. They were interviewed from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. She said Fred Murray, Maura's father, was interviewed in Wells River, Vt., and at the site of the crash.

January 8 2006

Interview of the Westmans by APN (in collaboration with NHLI)

January 2006

Fred Murray went to the Grafton County Superior Court to obtain the case files relating to Maura’s disappearance

January 18, 2006

Grafton County Superior Court Judge Timothy Vaughan heard the case in Haverhill a few miles from where Maura Murray, 21, disappeared after a minor car accident on Route 112 in February 2004, the Valley News reported.

January 19, 2006

Judge Timothy Vaughn wrote in his decision yesterday that release of the records could compromise the case and lead to the destruction of evidence.

January 27, 2006

Grafton County Judge Timothy Vaughn issued a five-page decision yesterday, a little more than a week after Frederick Murray sought an injunction for the release of papers relating to the disappearance nearly two years ago of his daughter, Maura. Murray's attorney, Timothy Ervin of Chelmsford, Mass., said yesterday he would not comment on the decision until he conferred with his client.

January 27, 2006

Nancy Grace show: SHAMSHACK: All right. The investigative team, consisting of a dozen retired law enforcement investigators, is doing three things. We're looking to do investigative research on what has been written in the public domain. We're conducting interviews of percipient witnesses. And we're conducting a scene investigation, looking at the crash dynamics, and then again looking in the area, what possibly could have happened here.

March 17, 2006

20/20 episode

May 2, 2006

Circle of Hope: Fred Murray, Maura’s father held a ‘Circle of Hope’ on Route 112 at the accident site in New Hampshire. A ‘Circle of Hope’ met in Maura’s hometown of Hanson, MA and was attended by Maura’s mother Laurie Murray, sister Kathleen, brothers Freddie and Kurtis, Grandmother Ruth Mehrman, aunts, cousins, numerous dear friends and neighbors. A ‘Circle of Hope’ was held by Fred Murray’s family and friends in Weymouth, MA. Laurie Murray’s brother, Ricky Mehrman, family and friends met in their ‘Circle of Hope’ in Yankton, SD. Maura’s sister Julie and Maura’s boyfriend Bill Rausch, both lieutenants in the army, joined in their ‘Circle of Hope’ at their respective army posts of Fort Bragg, NC and Fort Sill, OK. In Marengo, OH, Bill’s parents Bill and Sharon Rausch invited their family along with friends of Maura for a ‘Circle of Hope’ at their home. The UMass Track Team also met in a ‘Circle of Hope’ while participating in The Atlantic 10 Track Meet in Richmond, VA.

July 28, 2006

Letter from family posted on North Country News

September 22, 2006

Fred Murray is asking the state Supreme Court to rule on his right to-know request for police records.

October 21-22, 2006: New Hampshire/Search 1 of 3 by New Hampshire League of Investigators

Note: we have additional material on this search, including the sites searched.

October 21-22: The first NHLI search was a two day search (Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22, 2006). They used dog teams from the Connecticut Canine Search (Al and Marian Beland and their dogs Taz and Tracer) and Dukes County Search and Rescue out of Martha’s Vineyard. They searched multiple areas in the vicinity of the crash site. The furthest site was Beaver Pond – 12 miles away. Although I have a list of 11 sites, it has been stated that cadaver dog teams were sent to 6 sites (from this list). We have heard separately that cadaver dogs went to the A-frame, French Pond and Old Peters Road so three of the six are effectively known.

Don Nason of the New Hampshire League of Investigators said the dogs picked up some scents, but nothing conclusive.

Police dog teams, including Connecticut Canine Search and Dukes County Search & Rescue from Martha's Vineyard, along with the New Hampshire League of Investigators, volunteered to search for Murray Saturday and Sunday.

When Maura's father, Fred Murray, arrived Saturday, he spent some time with the investigators being updated on the searches so far.

Murray was hopeful the weekend's search would rule out some possible sites, including area gravel pits and the Mountain Lakes area.

Don Nason, a member of the New Hampshire League of Investigators, said six areas were chosen, including a wooded area near the search site, because of information Fred Murray and other people have provided. He declined to reveal the areas.

Nason did talk about why they were searching a sand pit. He said it is not far from where Maura had her accident and went missing.

"We are not necessarily looking for Maura's remains, but something that belongs to her," he said. "The important thing is to keep [the investigation] going. If someone knows something but is afraid to open his mouth, give [state police] a call. Or contact [Maura's] Web site."

A brother-and-sister team, Al and Marian Beland, along with their canines Taz and Tracer, were part of the search teams during the weekend. The Belands have about 18 years experience in search and rescue between them.

An area near a dam and a snowmobile corridor in Warren also was searched, he said, but nothing was found and it did not look promising.

November 2006

Family forum created

November 14, 2006 (Tuesday)

Concord, N.H.-- The father of a missing Massachusetts college student asked the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Tuesday to release police records and evidence in her disappearance.

Murray's lawyer, Timothy Ervin, argued that while exemptions to the state Right-to-Know Law and the federal Freedom of Information Act allow police to withhold evidence in open investigations, they cannot withhold all 2,500 records indefinitely. He asked that a judge review the records to determine whether some should be released.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Nancy Smith argued the records, including witness interviews, phone records and police reports, could become critical evidence in a criminal prosecution.

November 16, 2006

(presumed unrelated/possibly related to the Tom Conrad case) Pike, n.h.-- Police and a dive team spent three hours yesterday searching for "evidence" in the waters of an abandoned quarry on Lily Pond Road, less than a mile from a murder in September 2005 that remains unsolved.

Members of the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department and the Fire Marshal's Office were also at the abandoned slate quarry, immediately off the west side of Lily Pond Road, about two miles north of Route 25C.

Also there was Mike Conrad, whose brother, Tom, was shot dead on the porch of his home on Lily Pond Road on the night of Sept. 28. Authorities have declared his death a homicide but have charged no one and have released little information about their investigation.

December 20, 2006

CONCORD, N.H. -- The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday state police must give more detailed descriptions and reasons for withholding their investigative files in the disappearance of Massachusetts college student Maura Murray.

State police "have not met their burden to demonstrate how disclosure of the requested documents could reasonably be expected to interfere with any investigation or enforcement proceedings," the court said in a unanimous decision.

A superior court judge had agreed, ruling in favor of state police after he reviewed a list outlining 20 categories of records that were being withheld, such as "photographs," "correspondence," "maps and diagrams" and "tax records."

The high court said those categories were too vague for anyone to determine whether disclosure would compromise the police investigation or future criminal prosecution. They said the law clearly puts the burden on government agencies to justify withholding documents from public scrutiny.

"If the respondents continue to resist disclosure, they must make a presentation that will allow the superior court to determine how disclosure of the requested information could interfere with an ongoing investigation or enforcement proceedings," Associate Justice Richard Galway wrote for the court.

However, the ruling stopped well short of giving Fred Murray what he sought: either an index describing every record being withheld and the reason for keeping it confidential, so he could challenge the nondisclosure; or a requirement that a judge review the records and rule on each one.

Effectively, the court incorporated into state jurisprudence a six-part test provided for by the FOIA. These include the ability to withhold information that may hinder an investigation, deprive someone of a fair trial, invade someone's privacy, identify confidential sources, disclose certain investigative techniques or endanger someone's life or physical safety.

The court found while the Attorney General's Office might have grounds to withhold investigative records, it has not shown that releasing the records would "interfere" with that investigation or eventual prosecution.

"Put another way," wrote the court, "merely because a piece of paper has wended its way into an investigative dossier created in anticipation of enforcement action, an agency . . . cannot automatically disdain to disclose it."

2007

In 2007, a national missing persons organization offered $75,000 to anyone with information leading to Maura’s whereabouts.

February 9, 2007: 3 year anniversary

John Healy, who is a member of the team of investigators working on the Murray case in concert with the Molly Bish Foundation, said the team has come up with other theories about what happened that dark February night. John Healy, a private investigator, said a team of investigators working with the family isn't ruling out that scenario, but they also have other theories. For instance, he said he and other investigators believe the woman the neighbor saw may not have been Murray and that the accident scene may have been staged.

Healy said although police have said Murray crashed her car into the trees, he and the other investigators do not believe it to be true.

He said, based on the damage to the Saturn, that it appears as if the car was traveling at a slow speed when it may have struck the underside of another vehicle; the actual crash site may have taken place somewhere else. Not only that, they believe Murray may not have been the young woman then-First Student school bus driver Butch Atwood saw. They believe the scene where the Saturn was found by Atwood may have been staged.

(Helena) said a lot has happened during the time Maura has been missing. Maura's sister, Kathleen, got married and Maura's boyfriend and unofficial fiance, Billy Rausch of Fort Sill, Okla., was promoted to captain and sent to Iraq.

What has really frustrated Fred Murray is that he says he has turned over potential evidence to state police with nothing resulting. One example is that a man came forward and told him that the man's relative may have been involved. The man also turned over a possible weapon.

April 13, 2007

Record of a hearing on the Fred Murray matter

Grafton Superior Court Notice of Hearing to Timothy J Ervin Esq Hearing on the Merits to take place April 13, 2007 Dated February 15, 2007

July 12, 2007

“Maura is Missing” is published by the Whitman & Hanson Express by Maribeth Conway & Josh Cutler (10 parts)

August 6, 2007

An Arkansas-based group, Let's Bring Them Home, is trying to bring to light what happened to Murray, who was an accomplished athlete in track. The missing person's advocacy group is offering a $75,000 reward to help accomplish its goal.

Besides the reward, Let's Bring Them Home is also offering a toll-free tip line: 1-866-479-5284 for people to call in with tips about Murray's whereabouts.

October 30, 2007

Scarinza wants people to search their memories yet again for clues they may have missed, anything at all unusual on or near Route 112 that night.

"The other component we have encouraged over and over again is, if anybody thinks they saw Maura Murray or anybody on Route 112 -- or, more importantly, gave somebody a ride -- it would be extraordinarily helpful to us," he said. "Also, if anyone remembers picking up a hitchhiker. Maura doesn't have to be on 112."

Scarinza believes Maura had a destination in mind when she left the University of Massachusetts-Amherst about 4:30 p.m. the day she disappeared. She knew Route 112 because her family had often camped and hiked along there since she was a child.

"Clearly, she had a destination point, and we have not been able to determine what that is. It's fair to say if anyone has anything on that, we'd like to know," Scarinza said.

Update on Fred

Since his daughter, Maura Murray, 21, disappeared after crashing the 1996 black Saturn she was driving Feb. 9, 2004, in Haverhill, he has spent many weekends scouring northern New Hampshire for any hint of her fate.

"I think a dirt bag grabbed her. I said that right off the bat," Murray said.

A few weeks ago, he tracked down tips that Maura had been murdered and her body parts buried in a sand pit.

"It makes me pretty mad. This involves the same people who are my chief suspects and the cops say, 'We looked into that,' but I don't know what that means," Murray said.

Murray talks with people on the street, private investigators and psychics and goes to local bars to find any tidbit of information to lead him to a new search. Many have led nowhere -- like a stained knife someone turned over to Murray, and a search volunteer private investigators conducted of a vacant A-frame. "That's been debunked," he said.

Murray has been to most surrounding towns on the prowl for "dirt bags" and "renowned dirt bags" in Littleton, Lisbon, Landaff, Bethlehem and Whitefield. He cruises rural roads, looking for turnoffs and secluded areas a killer might seek out.

2008

May 2, 2008: Supreme Court Denies Fred Murray’s appeal

Supreme Court Order Denying Fred Murray Appeal After Second Hearing Dated May 2, 2008 (2 Pages)

July 3-4, 2008: New Hampshire/Search 2 of 3 by New Hampshire League of Investigators

This past Friday and Saturday a group of licensed private investigators from NH, VT and MA, along with K-9 teams from as far as Connecticut searched wooded areas in Haverhill, NH in search of Maura Murray.

This weekend's search was the third ground search performed by the team for Maura's case.

Local private investigator Nanci Mahoney, who was not part of the Maura Murray Task Force, donated her townhouse and obtained her neighbor's townhouse to house all the K-9 teams and some of the investigators as well as providing a home made breakfast for all Saturday at 5:30am.

Shannon Door owners Tom and Tess Mulkern donated the Friday night meal for the teams. Betty Jane Newton donated a case of "Doggie Yogurt" for our K-9 partners and Starbucks Manager Kim Elliot donated the Saturday morning coffee.

lPeabody on websleuths: “Her family and friends are so grateful for the professionals who gave up their holiday weekend (July 4th and 5th) for another search.”

August 14, 2008:

20/20 special - Vanished: Two Coeds, Two Horrifying Mysteries - What Happened to Brooke Wilberger and Maura Murray?

2009

Maura’s case was added to the newly established New Hampshire cold case unit.

February 8, 2009

Mention of NHLI: “Healy said his crew of volunteer investigators has found some possible evidence over the years, such as a human scent picked up by search dogs, but he's uncertain if it ever led to anything. Although he continues to occasionally examine the area where Maura Murray disappeared, Healy thinks the best bet police have in solving the case is if someone new comes forward.”

May 4, 2009

Maura’s mother passes away from cancer (Maura’s birthday)

September 4, 2009

Butch Atwood (Arthur Everett Atwood) dies from cancer

December 11, 2009

A Cold Case Unit, newly created by the New Hampshire Department of Justice, now lists the name of a college student from the South Shore on its Web site.

2010

New Hampshire/Search of French Pond Road by O’Connell team

In 2010, FAR archaeologists and volunteers made an effort to systematically search the area around the pond and the pond itself. Working in cooperation with the Murray family and local NH police, the perimeter of the pond was surveyed using probes. With the help of the Quincy, Massachusetts Police dive team, the entire pond was surveyed using side scan sonar (Fig. 8.19). There were a series of anomalies, three in total, that were observed at the bottom of the pond. The divers were able to more clearly define the targets using ROV robotic cameras (Fig. 8.20). Due to the poor visibility underwater, the divers were put in the water to explore the anomalies (Fig. 8.21). The divers determined that the anomalies were natural features and not human remains. This area was ruled out and our team moved on to explore other scenarios.

February 7, 2010

Tests are being performed on possible new evidence in the mysterious disappearance six years ago of University of Massachusetts nursing student Maura Murray in Haverhill, according to Lt. James White, head of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit.

As a result of the new leads, White said, police collected items that are now in the process of being tested.

February 8, 2010

Investigation Discovery “Miles to Nowhere”

February 25, 2010

Violet Atwood dies: Violet V. (Corbishley) Atwood died Feb. 25, 2010, at the age of 91 in Harrisonburg, Va. She was a long time resident of Raynham, Mass., and Woodsville, N.H. She was married to Myron (Deke) Atwood and had two sons Arthur (Butch) and Barry.

March 18, 2010

Neighborhood Watch Groups Starting Up In Haverhill, N. H.

May 10, 2010

Black box is analyzed at the Troop F barracks (by Daniel Parkka working with Terry O’Connell).

December 8, 2010

Update on cold case unit: "The case of Maura Murray has not been ruled a homicide and still a missing persons case, but circumstance lead us to believe that she is missing because of foul play," he said of the 2004 case of the Massachusetts woman who disappeared without a trace between a minor accident on Route 112 in Swiftwater, N.H., and the response of a Haverhill police officer a few minutes later.

2011

April 2011: SOCO Magazine, April 2011, What Happened to Maura Murray? - A Missing Person Case With More Questions Than Answers, Kerry Miller

2012

September 27, 2012: Investigation Discovery (Disappeared), Miles to Nowhere : Maura Murray, September 27, 2012

2014

January 28, 2014: Boston Magazine: Will the Internet Find Maura Murray?, Bill Jensen

With no trust in local law enforcement, Fred welcomed volunteer citizens to join in the search. A year into the case, former New Hampshire state police lieutenant John Healy met a relative of Maura’s named Helena Murray at a conference on missing persons. Having a college-aged daughter himself, and knowing he had the tools to help, Healy organized a group of experienced private investigators and began to make trips to Route 112, even bringing cadaver dogs to the scene.

Fred Murray initially worked closely with Healy’s group. In 2005, though, he sued the state police in an attempt to make public all of the reports pertaining to the investigation. He was unsuccessful, and what’s more, Healy and his volunteers publicly disagreed with his effort. Fred says more conflicts arose, so he stopped working with them. “He shut the door on me and the whole group of volunteers ever since,” Healy says. Healy’s group is still trying to find Maura and, by his estimates, has spent thousands of hours following leads. “We’re doing this for their whole family,” Healy says.

In Maura Murray’s case, Strelzin will not say how often law enforcement monitors online forums, but concedes that the police are “aware of things that are said.” He adds that “nothing fruitful” has ever come from the DIY detectives.

“All we ask is that they do not interfere in the investigations,” Strelzin continues. “You would expect that if people had information they would contact the authorities.”

Renner has just completed a 300-page book about his search for Maura, and can rattle off minute details about the case as if they were baseball stats

February 5, 2014: 10 year anniversary

"Our office and the state police do receive information from people," said Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Strelzin. "Unfortunately, none of that has turned out to be fruitful. We haven't had any credible sightings of Maura since the night she disappeared."

"I've been asked if we've had any credible sightings since she disappeared," said Strelzin. "The answer is no."

2015

July 6, 2015: First episode of Missing Maura Murray (now “Missing”)

2016

March 15, 2016: Fred Murray’s Open Letter to James Renner #1

By Fred Murray

FOR BOTH OF US

My family and I will forever be thankful for the kindness and support of all compassionate people from around the world for these many years now. You’ve helped us struggle through some trying times more than you could ever know. Not everybody is as decent as you are however, so this is to provide you with some insight as to the base level to which a rank opportunist can sink. I’ve never responded to any of this type of fiction before because you don’t need to defend yourself when you’ve done nothing wrong but this particular aspersion is just way over anybody’s edge.

I’ve recently been shown two very early comments by the author of a blog about my daughter, Maura, that represent the most insidious and reprehensible tactic that I can possibly imagine. This is from November 3, 2011, “she came to his single bed motel at 2:30 in the morning,” and was reinforced on March 19, 2012, with “sleeps in the bed.” Again, the bed reference is singular, indicating two people in one bed. The insinuation here is one hundred percent clear and could be interpreted as an obvious ploy by the blogger to create a scenario in which the reader can be influenced and encouraged to envision something unspeakably horrible.

To contrive an allusion to the worst thing that a person could possibly be accused of in the history of mankind is beyond despicable. Is the blogger trying to create a sinister character to embellish the “narrative” he hopes to peddle? Is he attempting to shape his “story” toward the direction he wants it to go for promotional purpose? Mark Twain used to agonize for hours over the inclusion or exclusion of a single word because of it s powerful effect on the image he was building.

The reality is that this canard is manufactured and is unreservedly false. The motel in question is still there and would be very easy to check if you were interested in getting this right. There were two beds in each room in the old section in 2004 and staff has attested to this. There still are as nothing has changed since and I can even provide the actual room number. The blogger was in Hadley, Massachusetts, and should know this, so to misrepresent this fact appears to be haphazard research at best or an intentional ruse at worst. If you had to bet your last dollar on this, which would you pick?

Remember now, he isn’t just talking about me here but also my daughter. If he can find it within himself to promote something like this, then absolutely anything else wouldn’t need even a second thought. He is only limited by the bounds of imagination concerning how he chooses to dupe his unsuspecting readers.

These immortal lines from the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954, “I think I have never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” and “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” are as apt here as they were there.

What kind of “journalism” would you call this? Can it even be called journalism? Could this be a vindictively designed retribution for noncooperation? What kind of publisher would print this? What a black eye to a once proud profession a guy like this is. If my daughter could be here with me today she would ask, “Dad, are you just going to let this creep get away with that?” If he made this allegation to anyone who actually knows me they most likely would laugh in his face and call him a really special kind of punk. Anecdotal contributions from the community on this matter include such phrases as “two minutes in a phone booth with this puke,” and “whack him in his fork tongued mouth” which seem to indicate the locally pervasive public sentiment.

The inaccuracies throughout are too numerous to detail here but to show that this “style” is no accident I direct you to the “What we have learned so far” section of the blog. There are five references to me and each one is false, inaccurate, and orchestrated to distort and deceive in how it relates to me personally and can be readily discredited. One is a particularly easily demonstrable example of an attempt to mislead. You don’t have to be overly sharp to find a clear indication of this in Maura’s phone records for Saturday, February 7th, 2004, which he carelessly presented on his blog on Sunday, January 11, 2015, thus undercutting the main bulwark of his own position concerning our not looking for a used car. The Reliance Auto Sales call at 4:13 p.m. refutes his stance on there being no evidence of this search. I also hold unassailable tangible proof obtained that day from there and elsewhere for support.

This would all be absolutely laughable and quickly forgettable if it weren’t so perversely sneaky and rampantly full of ill intended innuendo. Can you agree with me that exploitively misusing someone’s missing daughter as the means toward enhancing your hoped for professional advancement is reminiscent of Glen Campbell’s lyrics, “there’s been a load of compromisin’ on the road to my horizon?”

It seems you folks are being led through a carefully crafted tale with me as its intended foil. It appears as if the blogger could be redeploying a form of the infamous “Big Lie Theory” which postulates that if you tell a big enough lie, and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed. This is from Mein Kamph, “and thus, in the primitive simplicity of their minds, they more readily fall victims to the big lie rather than the small one.” This scheme reveals his insultingly abysmal regard for the reasoning capacity he arrogantly estimates his targeted audience to possess.

The motivation, well, let’s all take a wild guess. Maybe this devious exercise will be enough for this literary tomato can to get his old job back at that lightweight tabloid in Cleveland.

Fred

P.S.

I’ve included a reference to a critique of a previous performance by this fellow for your perusal. http://renneriswrong.blogspot.com/2008/11/defense.html. Something to consider: Excerpt from Society of Professional Journalists. Code of Ethics - http://www.spj.org/>

May 2016

True Crime Addict by James Renner published

June 30, 2016: Fred Murray’s Open Letter to James Renner #2

By Fred Murray

I wasn’t going to bother with the rest of this guy’s drivel because I’m totally immersed in finding my daughter, Maura, and the dirtbag who grabbed her but it’s clear that you deserve to hear the truth from me personally.

He has asserted as basic fact that I asked Maura’s friends to not talk to him. This, of course, is another false allegation taken from his list of misrepresentations that he’s tried to foist on you. The reality is that I said the girls should “play it the way they saw it”. I wasn’t going to chance it because I didn’t trust him based on his unfounded and mean spirited hatchet job on his personally manufactured suspect, Dean Runkle, in the Amy Mihaljevic case. I don’t think unjust collateral damage matters to him if it is likely to enhance his readership and thus his profit.

Another mainstay that he hangs his hat on is his beyond absurd claim that I ducked talking to the police for over two years. The record shows I spoke to the state police early and often because of their own performance both collectively and individually and also their intransigence concerning their non-acceptance of the Boston F.B.I’s offer to enter the case. I was at their Twin Mountain station several times in the first few months and on a couple occasions with a roomful of the top police brass around trying to talk me out of seeking the F.B.I. I always went alone.

I compared the situation to the fire department asking for assistance from other agencies when the fire has them outmanned and overmatched. My request was doomed because there can be no major crime in the north country with its near total economic existence dependent upon unafraid tourists. The missing weren’t grabbed by one of the area slimeballs but instead got lost in the woods or committed suicide. Downplaying and delaying has always worked in the past as the families of the victims get discouraged and drift away. That couldn’t work this time since all the heat you folks put on kept their feet to the fire.

He seeds his tale with inaccuracies all over the place. An example is his implying that Sara Alfieri told me the whole story. Sara told me during the only time I talked to her that she was “asleep the entire time” and nothing more.

Another would be his constant reference to my brother’s home in Weymouth as “Fred’s house.” This is a false platform erected to support establishing me as the owner of an adult magazine he says he found in the backyard in 2012 when I had moved out in early 2002. “Fred’s house” has been in Hanson since he bought it in 1974.

Something that rankles me is that a former senior police official who was supposed to get the red stained carpet samples from the A frame to the state police lab still hadn’t done so two and a half years later according to high state police officials.

He repeatedly mentions a hanger on want to be track coach named Hossein something who said he never knew Maura’s father was alive when he met Maura and me while we were watching a race and told me of his prospective book about a runner. Maura had no interest what so ever in this guy. It seems the author starts with the finished product he wants and then back fills in anything he thinks might support the desired image he wishes to create. He’s a real phony.

It’s insidious how he tries to sell the notion that Maura was always camping alone with me when all my kids would go with me on every trip and no kid ever went alone. He gets this from my former sister- in-law who is his twin in spirit as exemplified by her claiming that Maura and I would share a tent when camping when she very well knows there was always the girls tent and the equipment tent which doubled as my quarters. She referred to me as being “odd” but why then did she let her own daughters go vacationing with us numerous times? She mentions an argument during which he “really reamed her” when no such event ever took place. Screaming at kids is counter productive and is not how I’ve ever handled anything at any time. Her characterizing herself as Maura’s confidant and frequent advisor is intellectually dishonest.

Tim Carpenter has never been considered the brightest bulb on any circuit to begin with. He severely compounded that status with a progressively increasing alcoholic debilitation reportedly resulting in borderline incompetence and near death last year. You need look no further than the bizarre “drunk and naked on a mountain top” statement he made to see there’s not much left. Ironically, Carpenter himself has been mentioned concerning a yet unresolved highly suspicious incident in nearby Warren, New Hampshire, in April of 2004.

Everything the writer concocts about me is designed to imprint and project his desired negative image of me on his audience. His specialty is carefully crafting illusion that he hopes only someone who actually knows me very well can detect.

In my opinion, this guy redefines the term “pathetic” and is the literary equivalent of a carny-barker. His writing philosophy seems to be to keep repeating junk over and over and hope that it will eventually be accepted as fact. Just keep throwing you know what against the wall and hope some of it sticks. Throughout my life I’ve always thought that the worst thing you could possibly call someone is a sneak. This guy is a sneak!!!

Thank you,

Fred

P.S.

My family and I remain deeply appreciative for the unfailing support you folks have given us throughout this continuing struggle and also for your constant digging for information and following possible leads. We couldn’t have continued and we’d be nowhere without you.

September 2016

Debut of 107 Degrees Blog

2017

February 11, 2017: Boots on the Ground

initiative started by Nancy Cory after attending John Smith’s meeting at the VFW in Littleton February 11, 2017. This is the first time she met Fred Murray.

(I will add the BOTG searches for each year when I get the dates)

April 22, 2017

Helena Dwyer Murray dies from cancer

Fall 2017

Chuck West assumes the responsibility as lead investigator in the case

August 19, 2017

First podcast - 107 degrees

September 2017

Oxygen debuts 6 part series: The Disappearance of Maura Murray.

October 2017

ATM photos released

(Dorm photos released @ Crimecon) date?

December 2017

Erinn Larkin releases interview with Fred Murray (to confirm - I believe part 1 was put out December 2017 and part 2 in early 2018)

2018

February 2018

Vigil (Family, Boots on the Ground)

July 8, 2018

GB Geotechnics of NYC used ground penetrating radar July 8, 2018

2019

February 2019

Vigil (Family, Boots on the Ground)

April, 3, 2019: search of basement of home on 112 west of Saturn

NHSP and FBI agents finished up investigation of home on 112 (100 yards west of accident site)

3pm press briefing by Strelzin at Grafton County Superior Court

Associate Attorney General Strelzin reported that a team of a dozen agents and detectives went into the basement area and had searched several feet down. He said they located nothing other than a small piece of what may have been pottery and an old piece of piping.

The furthest search from the Ground Zero area on Route 112 has been about 25 miles out from the scene, they’ve also looked at areas of the Kancamagus Highway and at some areas in the town of Bartlett.

2020

January 2020

Julie Murray does a 2 part interview the True Crime Garage “The Captain”

February 2020

Vigil (Family, Boots on the Ground)

May 4, 2020

On Maura’s 38th birthday, the family launches a new website: https://www.mauramurraymissing.org/

October 2020

Boots on the Ground 2020 (3 days: October 16, 17 and 18)

October 16, 2020

an official application was submitted to the NH Division of Historical Resources (DHR) for a State Highway Historical Marker to be erected near the location on Route 112 in Haverhill, NH where Maura was last seen. If granted, the Marker would formally recognize the historical significance of Maura's disappearance.

October 28, 2020

Community member went to court to attempt to obtain the 7 photos taken by Cecil Smith on 2/9/04. Request later denied.

2021

March 9, 2021

The request for a historical marker was denied. The family filed an appeal.

September 13, 2021

(per NHSP) a small number of bone fragments were uncovered in the ground during a construction project in the area of Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. The fragments appeared to be human and did not appear to be recent.

October 16-17, 2021

Boots on the Ground search

November 10, 2021

The bone fragments found at Loon Mountain were determined to exclude Maura: “Further investigation has revealed that the fragments do not appear to have been recently transported to the site where they were located, but were, instead, found in existing soil. In addition, based on radiocarbon dating, the date range for the bone fragments is as follows: a 95.4% probability of the individual dying anywhere from 1774 to 1942; and a 68.2% probability of anywhere from 1718 to 1893. Based on the results of the investigation and the testing, the bone fragments do not appear to be related to any open missing person case or recent criminal activity. Instead, the bones are likely historical in nature. Also based on the small amount of fragments recovered it is tentatively believed that the sex may be of an adult female or small statured male. There was no apparent trauma indicated on those same fragments. Unless new information is developed no further press releases are anticipated in this matter.”

Maura family press release: Press Release: Bone Fragments Discovered at Loon Mountain are not Maura Murray - Maura Murray (mauramurraymissing.org)

November 25, 2021

Maura’s older sister Kathleen died from cancer.

“Julie Murray: With great sadness, we said goodbye to Kathleen this morning after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully with us by her side. Life is beautifully tragic, she went too soon and will be missed terribly by those touched by her kind soul. On this Thanksgiving, my family is thankful for the love and support this community has shown us heartbreak after heartbreak without fail. Thank you ”

#maura murray #missing person #nhsp #true crime #missing new hampshire #university of massachusetts #umass #disappearance #unsolved true crime #mauramurray #maura murray evidence #maura murray timeline #maura murray facts #maura murray reddit #maura murray accident timeline

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thefinalcinderella · 4 years

Text

Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru Chapter 4 - The Track Meet (Part 1)

Full list of translations here

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The period from spring to early summer was the season for tournaments; it seemed that every week there was a track meet organized by a university or an athletic meet sponsored by a corporation.

With track meets being their immediate goal, there was also more commitment to practice. Now only Prince and King jogged with Kiyose in the mornings and evenings. Everyone else was now actively completing the training regimen, with Kiyose almost never having to drag them out of bed anymore.

Kiyose casually instructed them according to each of their personalities. For Shindou, who found joy in steadily completing quotas, he created a detailed regimen, and he responded to discussions about training methods until the scholarly Yuki was convinced. Jouta got more motivated when he was praised, so Haiji frequently cheered him on during training, and for Jouji, who ran even if left alone, he purposely didn’t bring up any topic related to running.

Kiyose basically let the residents run however they liked. He thoroughly explained the plan for the training to them and only gave a little advice on what was needed. That way, he skillfully brought out each resident’s motivation. Kakeru felt like he was seeing magic. Without coercion, without setting up penalties, Kiyose waited so patiently to an almost persistent degree until they felt like running. Until now, Kakeru hadn’t known there was such a way of doing things.

If Haiji-san had been my coach when I first started doing track, maybe I could have been a faster runner by now. That was what Kakeru thought. In fact, the residents of Chikusei-sou were slowly but certainly shrinking their times.

On the other hand, Kiyose’s attitude also felt too lenient. The people he was dealing with were impromptu runners; no better than amateurs. He had to have them train even harder or they wouldn’t be good enough for the qualifiers. Kakeru was irritated, wondering if Haiji really was serious about going to the Hakone Ekiden.

“Most of you have now gained the ability to safely run five-thousand meters in under seventeen minutes,” Kiyose said to the gathered residents, who were in the midst of having a drinking party in the twins’ room. No matter how exhausted they got from training, everyone drank together once every ten days—there were no non-drinkers in Chikusei-sou. Since they were a group that liked alcohol, when everyone drank together it was good stress relief in and of itself.

“It’s just that we have many beginners here. You’re probably also worried for your first race. I’ve signed us up for some track meets, so just take it easy and get a time under seventeen minutes at some point.”

Prince, who was reading a manga next to Kakeru, stealthily asked, “Why is Haiji-san so fixated on seventeen minutes?”

“You need an official record of five-thousand meters within seventeen minutes in order to participate in the Hakone Ekiden qualifiers,” Kakeru whispered to Prince, who didn’t seem to have remembered any of the rules at all. “We’re participating in official tournaments and track meets in order to get that official record.”

“Did you forget that even though it was explained before?” The rim of Yuki’s glasses glittered, as though he was saying, But you sure do remember manga titles well. “No matter how you look at it, it seems like Haiji’s strategy is only focused on participating in the qualifiers.”

“It seems like it.” Kakeru nodded at Yuki’s words.

“Well, I also think that’s reasonable, though.” Yuki somberly took off his glasses and wiped his lenses with a handkerchief that didn’t have a single wrinkle. “Kakeru, shouldn’t you be in an intercollegiate?”

Kakeru was silent. Instead, Prince asked, “What’s an intercollegiate?” Yuki immediately went over to the corner of the room where Nico-chan was making wire dolls. Prince was still waiting for an answer, his manga open in his hands.

“It’s a track-and-field championship between universities,” Kakeru said. “The Kanto Intercollegiate is in May, and the All-Japan Intercollegiate is in July.”

“Why don’t we join too?”

“It’s a tournament for top-level student runners, so the base time that’s the standard for participation is stricter than for the Hakone qualifiers.”

“Hmm,” Prince seemed puzzled and returned his gaze to the manga on his lap. “But Kakeru, you can clear that time, right?”

Of course he could. However, Kakeru ended the conversation with only a vague smile.

Kiyose passed around a handout to the residents, who were all sitting wherever they liked. It had the schedule of various track meets organized by universities and Kakeru immediately put the paper down on the tatami mats like it was something awfully heavy. He was hesitant to go to a track meet, much less an intercollegiate; the people who he was with on his high school track team would surely be in places where strong schools gathered, and Kakeru still didn’t want to face his old teammates yet.

Kiyose continued to explain with the paper in hand.

“First is the Tokyo Sport University track meet. The Douchidou University track meet is at the start of May. The Kikui University meet is two weeks later. If those don’t work out, there’s a TSU meet again at the end of June. I want you all to take your time breaking through the seventeen-minute wall, without rushing.”

“There’s meets during Golden Week?”

“The end of June is rainy season. I don’t wanna run in the rain.”

Jouta and Jouji complained, but it was all talk. Because they were already gaining confidence in training as it was, their eyes were filled with a determination that said “I’ll definitely get a time within seventeen minutes at the earliest stage!”

“But, if you want to take part in the intercollegiate, you’ll need to go full throttle starting from the first TSU meet. The deadline for creating a standard participation record for the intercollegiate is this meet,” Kiyose said. “We won’t get intercollegiate points, but as track athletes, it’s important to join intercollegiate competitions. What do you think, Kakeru?”

Kiyose had called out to him, but Kakeru’s mind was elsewhere. When he was asked another question—“Kakeru, what’s wrong?”—his gaze jumped up from the handout.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Hey, hey, what’s an intercollegiate point?” Because Jouji asked that, Kakeru was able to escape from Kiyose’s probing gaze.

“I’ve been keeping quiet until now, but...” Kiyose straightened his back and raised his voice to convey it to everyone, not just Jouji. “The Hakone Ekiden qualifiers aren’t just a competition based on the pure combined times of ten people running twenty kilometers.”

The residents, who were all chatting as they pleased, shut their mouths. The room fell into silence, and gazes filled with doubt and confusion focused on Kiyose.

“There are ten spots in the main race for teams that advance from the qualifiers, but one of them is actually the ‘selected team’. Even among the universities that don’t advance to the main race, there will be some runners with good times in the qualifiers; that team is a relief measure for them. It’s not a very good choice of words, but it’s basically a mishmash team.”

“So in actuality, there’s only nine schools that can take part in the Hakone Ekiden through the qualifiers?” Shindou said.

“Exactly. Among those schools, the universities that are ranked seventh or lower have their final ranking determined by adding intercollegiate points to their total time in the qualifiers. It’s a huge pain to explain, but to put it simply, how it works is that schools that produce good results in intercollegiates will get points accordingly, and seconds will be deducted from their total time. There have been cases where, thanks to intercollegiate points, the final total time was more than five minutes less than the actual time.”

“So, does that mean that even if you’re in the top rankings just from your results in the qualifiers, it’s possible for you to not be able to compete in the main race because of sudden turn-arounds due to intercollegiate points?” Jouta asked.

“Yeah. The Hakone Ekiden is broadcast on TV in January, so it’s good publicity for universities. So, the schools tend to think that all they need to do is recruit a bunch of good runners and compete efficiently in the Hakone Ekiden. The intercollegiate point system is meant to discourage those schools from doing that. It’s telling them to participate in competitions properly and develop runners who can not only handle a long-distance road relay race but also the track itself, which is the main focus in track and field.”

“Sounds pretty fishy,” Nico-chan smiled wryly.

“I guess money is involved no matter what world you’re in,” Shindou sighed drearily, perhaps thinking about the importance of publicity.

In defiance of the daunted atmosphere in the room, King spoke.

“Alright. Haiji, Kakeru, go out to that intercollegiate and earn those points.”

“They can’t do that,” Yuki cut him down coldly. “We’re a small club. The points are based on the ranking of each university in the intercollegiate and the number of participants. No matter how hard Haiji and Kakeru work in the intercollegiate, it’s hopeless.”

“We are in a difficult situation. We have no money, and apparently we can’t take part in intercollegiates either. What in the world are we going to do?”

“Don’t worry.” Pulling himself together, Shindou encouraged Musa, who had his shoulders slumped. “We just have to get within the top six at the qualifiers. The intercollegiate points won’t matter that way. A weak school should act like a weak school and compete proudly with their total time alone.”

“Well said, Shindou,” Kiyose nodded, looking pleased.

“I think that total time is the biggest problem we’re currently facing, though,” Yuki pointed out quietly.

“Well, let’s assume that we go to the meets and gradually improve our times,” Nico-chan said while producing wire dolls. “Kakeru and Haiji should go to the intercollegiate and blow away those guys from the other schools.”

“Alright. Kakeru, Haiji. In any case, earn those points,” King said again.

“I told you…it’s impossible for just two people to earn points.”

“King-san isn’t listening to anyone at all.”

Jouta and Jouji reproached King. Kakeru continued to say nothing; he couldn’t afford to mind King, who was encouraging him to take part in the intercollegiate. While looking at the letters “TSU”, he remembered something.

I’m pretty sure Sakaki got into TSU… His high school teammate’s face appeared in his mind. He felt gloomy, like the rainy season had come slightly early.

If he took part in the TSU meet, he would definitely come face to face with Sakaki. I wonder what would happen when that time comes. Can the current me beat Sakaki, who got into a powerhouse track school?

Kakeru, who left the twins’ room pretending to go to the washroom, immediately went down the stairs and opened the sliding door of the entrance. The gravel in the yard glowed under the starlight. It was as though it was inviting him—to a shining white road—to a place deep within Kakeru’s very heart.

Reflexively, he was about to start running, but then noticed that he was in his orthopedic sandals and stopped. He sensed Nira coming out from beneath the veranda. Kakeru breathed a sigh and then slowly walked towards the main house. Nira’s wet nose pushed against his toes, and Kakeru knelt down and stroked his warm fur.

Nira suddenly wagged his tail vigorously. The sound of gravel being stepped on came from behind him. He knew who it was without turning around; it was Kiyose.

Kiyose, who knelt down next to him, tickled Nira between his ears. Nira snorted happily. He waited for a while, but Kiyose kept silent, so Kakeru was the one who broke the ice.

“Are you really going to make me compete in the meets and intercollegiate?”

“Of course. We’re ultimately going to the Hakone Ekiden, after all.”

“It’ll definitely be a bad experience. I’ve been told that a lot.”

“Why?” Kiyose asked with a mild tone, working the meat around Nira’s neck. Kakeru looked at his face from the side.

“Haiji-san, you know, don’t you? You’ve probably heard about my reputation in high school.”

“About how you’re very fast?”

“That’s a good reputation. I’m talking about…”

“Kakeru,” Kiyose interrupted him. “Listen, your past or reputation aren’t the ones running. You yourself right now are the one running. Don’t be fooled. Don’t turn around. Become stronger.”

Kiyose stretched his knees and stood up while saying “ow ow ow”. Kakeru and Nira looked up at him. Above his head, the spring constellations glittered like a noble crown.

“Stronger…?” Kakeru asked.

“I believe in you.” Kiyose smiled. He tread over the gravel again and returned to Chikusei-sou.

Kakeru contemplated for a bit while rubbing Nira’s back with his palm. Until now, most people had told him to be faster. But this was the first time he had been told to be strong. What did it mean to be strong?

He wasn’t sure. But Kiyose said he believed in Kakeru.

In his chest, which had been frozen for a long time, he felt a small fire being lit. It kept back the torrent of violence that was always surging within him and kept away the voice of temptation that pushed him on into dark places. Kiyose’s words were filled with a quiet power; it was as though they blew off the fear and trepidation within him.

“Alright.”

Muttering, Kakeru also stood. He wasn’t very good at thinking about the details anyways. That was why he should just run—just run, without caring about whether he might meet someone unpleasant or have bad experiences. That was the only thing Kakeru could do.

Kakeru told Nira good night.

His fear and hesitation towards taking part in meets faded. On the contrary, he was almost looking forward to seeing how much he could run.

As the TSU meet approached, Kakeru became more and more excited.

It was his first battle in a long while. He was confident that his training until now had been flawless, but even so, every night before he went to bed, various thoughts passed through his mind. If I ran into my old acquaintances, I might get shaken and lose my ability to concentrate on the race. My competition instincts might have gotten dull and I might get the spot where I should make my decisive move wrong. I was able to set a time that grabbed attention in the high school track world, but will that still apply in university?

Bad thoughts came up one after another when he closed his eyes, so he pushed aside his futon and got up. Desperately suppressing the urge to jog right that instant, he steadied his breathing. “Don’t panic, don’t panic.” He stood in the middle of the dark room by himself.

Don’t think about anything. Just imagine. Kakeru told himself. All you have to do is run. While feeling every muscle in your body moving, just keep moving forward.

When he recalled the heat from that time, his anxieties immediately receded, and now he felt unbearably restless and eager, like Nira when he was taken out for a walk.

Alongside the training, Kakeru also diligently attended his classes. Someone who can’t even get their credits can’t get results from running. That was Kiyose’s pet theory. But because he had training, he had to constantly turn down get-togethers and drinking parties. The other residents of Chikusei-sou were also enthusiastic about the meets, so they came home punctually without making side trips and immediately tackled training.

For that reason, it started to become known not only to the shopping district, but also to the people at the university: “Those guys who are living in that rundown apartment seem to be running pretty intently.”

The day before the TSU meet, Kakeru asked a friend from his foreign language class to answer roll call for him in several of his lectures the next day.

“What’s going on, Kurahara? Are you taking a day off tomorrow?”

“I’m going to a track meet.”

“Oh. That’s right, I heard you’re running a marathon, right?”

“No, it’s not a marathon…”

I’m aiming for the Hakone Ekiden and the track event tomorrow is the five-thousand meter. Kakeru thought, but left out the explanation.

It wasn’t until he entered university that Kakeru discovered this: people who had nothing to do with track didn’t know the difference between marathons and long-distance relay races. When it came to track events, people would laugh like they were shocked, “You’re running five kilometers? Running round and round the track?” Apparently to them, it seemed like a ritual of uncertain origin that they had no idea why anyone would do.

Even though it’s so important to me, track and field is treated surprisingly plainly by the general public. That was his thought when he learned what was to him a shocking truth. At the same time, he felt somewhat amused. So, every day we’re desperately pursuing something most people don’t even care about?

That was why he decided to laugh and be vague this time as well.

“Yeah, well, it’s a meet that’s like a shortened version of a marathon. I’m counting on you.”

“Leave it to me. Good luck,” his friend said with a serious expression. Even though they didn’t understand the situation well, he could tell that they were supporting him wholeheartedly.

That night, Kakeru lay still in a shallow sleep. It was a light, sharp, taut sleep. Good. Kakeru thought in the space between dreaming and waking. This sensation of all the useless and unnecessary things that remained until the end being scraped off, and transforming into a body and mind made for running overnight.

That was something he had pretended to forget for a long time—the fighting spirit before a competition.

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#Kaze ga tsuyoku fuiteiru #kazetsuyo translations #run with the wind #kazetsuyo

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