🧩 Maura Murray: A Timeline of Her Strange Disappearance
Maura Murray Timeline
🧩 Maura Murray: A Complete Timeline of Her Disappearance
Maura Murray was a 21-year-old nursing student when she vanished under highly mysterious circumstances on February 9, 2004. Her disappearance became one of the most enduring and heavily discussed cold cases in American history. What makes her story so compelling? It's the layers of secrecy, contradictory clues, and bizarre timing that have fueled endless speculation.
In this timeline, we’ll explore the most critical events that led to her disappearance, the aftermath, and what may have happened that snowy February day. ✨
🌟 Who Was Maura Murray?
Born May 4, 1982, in Hanson, Massachusetts, Maura was the fourth of five children in a close-knit Irish-Catholic family. She was a former West Point cadet, later transferring to the University of Massachusetts Amherst to study nursing. Maura was known for being smart, athletic, and driven. But she also had her struggles. In the months leading up to her disappearance, there were signs of stress and inner turmoil.
⏰ February 5–8, 2004: The Buildup
📅 Thursday, February 5
🚊 Maura was working a campus security job when she received a call that deeply upset her. A supervisor later found her in a dazed state, repeating: "My sister, my sister." Her sister later denied anything major happened between them.
🤔 This breakdown is considered a key red flag in her mental state.
📅 Friday, February 6
📏 Maura caused a minor car accident with her father Fred's new Toyota Corolla. He was in town for a visit and lent her the vehicle. She crashed it after a night of drinking with friends.
🚫 Police cited her for the accident, but she was not breathalyzed.
📌 February 7–9: Planning and Disappearance
📅 Saturday, February 7
🗳 Maura spent most of the day with her father shopping for a new car.
📅 Sunday, February 8
📲 Maura called various places in Vermont and New Hampshire about lodging. She also emailed her professors claiming there had been a death in the family and she'd be away for a week.
🚫 No one in her family had died. The excuse was fabricated.
🤯 This has led many to believe she was running from something—or to something.
🗓 February 9, 2004: The Disappearance
⏱ 3:30 PM
🛋 Maura left UMass Amherst after packing up her belongings. She printed MapQuest directions to Burlington, Vermont.
🚗 She withdrew $280 from an ATM and purchased $40 worth of alcohol.
⏱ 7:00 PM
🌬️ Driving through Woodsville, New Hampshire, Maura crashed her black 1996 Saturn into a snowbank on Route 112.
📲 She reportedly spoke to a local bus driver who offered help. Maura declined, saying she had already called AAA. But there was no cell service in the area.
⏱ 7:27 PM
🚓 A 911 call reported the accident. When police arrived just after 7:45 PM, Maura was gone.
📍 Her car was locked. The airbags were deployed. Her belongings, including a box of wine and her favorite stuffed animal, were still inside. Her cellphone and debit card were missing.
💩 No footprints were found leading away from the scene.
🛍️ The Initial Search
📰 February 10–11, 2004
🤍 Police initially treated the case as a missing person/voluntary walk-away.
🚨 Maura's family became concerned and drove up to New Hampshire to search. Fred Murray insisted that something was wrong.
📻 February 12–16, 2004
🚩 Dogs traced Maura's scent about 100 yards east of the crash site before it vanished. No signs of struggle. No signs of injury.
🚁 Helicopters, thermal imaging, and snowshoe searchers canvassed the area. Nothing was found.
🔎 Clues and Theories
🔍 Red Liquid and Rag in Tailpipe
A red-stained soda bottle was found in Maura’s car. Some believe she had been drinking while driving. A rag was found stuffed into the Saturn's tailpipe—a trick her father taught her to stop smoke from a faulty engine.
🤔 Could the car have been a decoy? Or had it simply broken down?
🕵️♂️ Running Away
Some theorize Maura left to escape personal problems: academic trouble, legal issues, or a desire for a fresh start.
But why leave everything behind in a crash and vanish on foot in the cold?
🌪 Abduction or Foul Play
Others believe Maura accepted a ride from someone who harmed her. Locals, transient workers, and known criminals in the area have been scrutinized. No one has ever been charged.
🌿 Accidental Death
Some think Maura succumbed to the elements after wandering away. But cadaver dogs and ground searches have never found remains.
⚖️ Law Enforcement Challenges
📄 The case has suffered from:
Jurisdictional confusion
Early assumptions of voluntary disappearance
Lack of physical evidence
Fred Murray has fought for years to get police records and better cooperation.
📰 Media and Pop Culture
Maura’s case was one of the first internet-driven true crime obsessions. Blogs, forums, and Reddit threads have dissected every second of her final day.
Documentaries and podcasts include:
"The Disappearance of Maura Murray" (Oxygen)
"Missing Maura Murray" podcast
20/20 and Dateline segments
Her story remains one of the most heavily discussed missing person cases of the 21st century.
📶 Recent Developments
🧹 2017
A search near the crash site was conducted based on new information. Cadaver dogs reacted in a basement, but no remains were recovered.
⏳ 2021–2024
Multiple digs, interviews, and FOIA requests have yielded little new information. The family continues to hold annual vigils.
📅 Final Timeline Summary
Feb 5: Maura has emotional breakdown at work
Feb 6: Crashes father’s car after drinking
Feb 8: Lies about a family death, contacts lodgings in NH/VT
Feb 9, 3:30 PM: Leaves UMass, withdraws cash, buys alcohol
Feb 9, 7:00 PM: Crashes on Route 112 in NH
Feb 9, 7:27 PM: Police called; Maura vanishes before they arrive
💔 Where Is Maura Murray?
The question remains unanswered. Over 20 years later, her fate is still unknown.
Her family continues to fight, refusing to let her story fade. What happened to Maura Murray may never be fully known, but one thing is certain: she deserves answers, and her memory deserves to be honored.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Maura Murray, please contact the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at (603) 223-3856.
🥂 Never forgotten. Still missed. Always searched for.