Portsmouth Herald

February 10, 2005

Missing lady’s dad visits gov. - Fred Murray asks that investigation records be released

By Anne Saunders

Associated Press

CONCORD - The father of a Massachusetts woman who disappeared a year ago met with Gov. John Lynch on Wednesday to ask for his help in getting records of the investigation.

Fred Murray, whose daughter, Maura, vanished after a minor car accident in Haverhill, wants state police to release their records so he can pursue leads himself.

“I asked, failing that, to have it declared a criminal investigation rather than a missing person investigation, and, if he didn’t want to do that, I asked him to accept the offer of the FBI to come in,” Murray said after the meeting with Lynch.

Lynch made no commitments on the specific requests.

“I told Mr. Murray that I will look into the situation, and I promised to get back to him as soon as I possibly can, and that’s how we left it," he said.

Maura, a nursing student at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, was last seen on Feb. 9, 2004, walking away from her car on Route 112 in Haverhill. Police said they have no evidence of foul play and have searched the area repeatedly.

“Literally thousands and thousands of hours have been invested in the search for Maura Murray,” said state police Lt. John Scarinza, of Troop F, which is handling the investigation.

Murray was highly critical of state police and said he’s heard nothing from the investigators in six months.

“I am the investigation. That’s why I want the information," he said. Scarinza said his troopers talk with Murray on a regular basis when new leads appear.

Murray’s claim he hadn't heard from them in six months is “absolutely inaccurate.” he said.