The Patriot Ledger

July 5, 2004

Cop comments anger missing Hanson woman's mother: Laurie Murray rejects suicide, runaway theories

By Dan DeLeo

Maura Murray's boyfriend and her mother say they are angry that police are suggesting that the young woman who disappeared five months ago killed herself or ran away.

The 22-year-old nursing student from Hanson has not been seen since she was involved in a minor accident in Haverhill, N.H., on Feb. 9.

‘‘She would never run away and she would never commit suicide,'' her mother, Laurie Murray of Hanson, said yesterday.

Murray said she believes her daughter was abducted.

Maura Murray's boyfriend, Army Lt. William Rausch of Weymouth, said he told police from the beginning of the investigation that he does not believe she would take her own life.

‘‘In no way shape or form did I say that was the most likely explanation. They should be focusing on finding Maura,'' said Rausch, who is stationed at Fort Sill, Okla.

Rausch complained that local police did not bring FBI officials onto the case once they ran out of leads.

‘‘It's been disheartening to see the many mistakes they've made,'' he said.

Murray's family was outraged last week when New Hampshire State Police Lt. John Scarinza linked the discovery of a book about tragedies in the White Mountains to the possibility that Murray committed suicide.

The book, ‘‘Not Without Peril,'' was found in Murray's abandoned car, along with diamond jewelry, clothing and alcohol.

In an interview last week, Scarinza said, ‘‘What does that mean? I don't know.''

Laurie Murray said the book is one of her daughter's favorites. She said Maura and her father met the author, Nicholas Howe, while hiking in the region.

Murray took offense at Scarinza's comments.

‘‘What he is saying on the news is slanderous and it is interfering with the search for her,'' she said. ‘‘It's upsetting the whole family more than we already are.''

Scarinza could not be reached for comment.