Boston Herald

May 7, 2004

New lead gives hope to missing girl's kin

By Jennifer Rosinski

The family of a missing Massachusetts college student is optimistic about a new witness who claims to have seen the 21-year-old woman after she crashed her car into a New Hampshire snowbank more than three months ago.

"That's very encouraging and hopefully something comes of it," Maura Murray's father, Fred, said last night. "Finally, something to nibble on."

State police Lt. John Scarinza said the witness believes he saw the former West Point cadet the night of her disappearance Feb. 9, when she crashed on Route 112 in Woodsville, N.H.

The man told police he saw someone fitting Murray's description walking along the road four or five miles from the accident scene.

Police will search that area of the White Mountains this weekend.

The man did not come forward earlier because he was not sure about the date of Murray's disappearance.

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst nursing student from Hanson vanished from the accident scene while a witness left to call for help. She appeared uninjured.

A search for Murray began 36 hours after she vanished and dogs lost her scent 100 yards from her car.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.