Boston Herald

February 10, 2005

Page 20

Mass. dad asks N.H. gov for help finding daughter

By Marie Szaniszlo

The father of a University of Massachusetts at Amherst student who vanished a year ago on a New Hampshire road asked Gov. John Lynch yesterday to release records of the investigation and accept the FBI's offer to help find her.

"Right now, I am the investigation," Fred Murray said "That's why I want the information."

New Hampshire state police have declined the FBI's offer to help find Maura Murray, saying there is no evidence of foul play, even though the nursing student and former West Point cadet left behind her car and belongings after it skidded into a snowbank on Route 112 in Haverhill.

From his home nearby, a witness called police, who arrived within 10 minutes, but by then, she was gone.

"She didn't just vanish into thin air," her mother, Laurie Murray, said.

Lynch said he would consider the family's request and contact them "as soon as I possibly can."

Family and friends have started a Web site, www.mauramurray.com, and are offering a $40,000 reward.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.