Haverhill-

The car accident that happened on Feb. 9, 2004 along the Wild Ammonoosuc River changed not only Maura Murray's life but that of her family, friends and definitely the entire community along Route 112 in Woodsville. The mystery of what happened to Murray, 21, a University of Massachusetts nursing student who disappeared that night is still plaguing everyone. Too many questions still swirl around about what happened that tragic night.

Area residents have been barraged for three years with police, private investigators, reporters, Murray family, friends and supporters all searching, questioning and frustrated. The residents have been caught up in an investigation just because it happened in their neighborhood. Every turn in the case has led to another question.

Despite thousands of hours spent by law enforcement, fire and rescue, family and friends and a whole host of forum members on her website www.MauraMurrayMissing.Com everyone has the same two questions, "Where is Maura" and "What happened to her?" Helena Murray, spokesperson for the Maura Murray website states the website was started to generate tips for Searching for Maura. Murray states many people assume law enforcement or the family knows all there is know when in fact they do not. Murray hopes that the information discussed on the website may jog someone's memory. Information discussed vary from the fact that Maura's favorite super market was indeed Shaw's. Maura believed in flossing and brushing even after snacks. Murray took a leave absence from her own career to assist the Family with the Website and to serve as Media Resource for many. Since stepping into Role Murray has served the family in keeping the Search for Maura going forward.

There has been much focus on what was not done and little on what was done by those who attempted to assist Ms. Murray that evening.

Across from the Weathered Barn on Route 112 is the Tim and Faith Westman home. The Westmans have been caught up in the flurry of activity that stemmed from that Feb. 9 when a young woman vanished. Only three people may have been the last to see Maura Murray. Faith Westman may be of the three. If it is Murray they all saw that night.

THAT NIGHT

The Westmans Share

Faith and Tim Westman were working in their home office in the front of their home which faces Route 112. "We heard a thump," Faith Westman states and she went to her kitchen window and saw a car parallel-parked across the road with no lights on and called 9-1-1. Faith Westman states she believed she was one of the three 9-1-1 call received about this accident. Her call is received by Grafton County Dispatch approximately at 7:29 p.m. While on the phone with Dispatch, Faith witnesses a school bus driven by one of her two neighbors that Drove for First Student Busing. Westman was unable to tell which of the Atwoods Where driving that night. Westman saw the school bus approach the car within minutes to her phoning 911. Westman claims the bus driver opened the door and spoke to a driver who was out of the car. The school bus driver remained on the bus and Faith states the conversation seemed to be 1-2 minutes in length. Westman notes that the car driver activated the four-way hazard lights. She saw the school bus leave and Westman noted the driver was at the trunk of the car, then returned to the vehicle inside and Westman saw the interior lights flashed on and off. Westman recalls seeing a "red dot" moving around the front of the car. It was at this point that Faith assumed the driver was fine and returned to her own business she believes still on the phone with 911 as nothing appeared to be out of the normal and with in minutes Westmans states they heard a car pull up and Faith checked out the kitchen window and states she sees a Haverhill Police Department cruiser and ends the call with 911.

Faith Westman resumed her computer work with her husband. Since the Westmans have lived in their home some 35 years such an occurrence is not that much out of the norm so a compelling need to continue to watching didn't seem To occur to either her or her husband Tim Westman.

So when Sgt, Cecil Smith showed up at their door later asking about the vehicle's driver, Faith Westman was shocked. Faith remembers going to the kitchen window and checking the abandoned vehicle in disbelief for herself.

Faith Westman told Sgt. Smith that they had seen one of the Atwoods stop to check if the driver was OK. The Westmans stated they could not tell whether the driver was male or female. Westman informed Smith they saw the driver turn the four-ways on and was moving about the interior of the car. That was their first initial interview about the incident.

After a period of time, Sgt. Smith returns to check their Weathered Barn and parking lot . Tim Westman assisted Smith. Tim Westman states that on scene fire personnel are searching Old Peter's Road. Further inspection occurred of the gaming trail that runs along the Westman backfields that runs the length of their property to their neighbors' the Atwoods' property. Tim reported that he remembers no footprints were found other than deer tracks along the gaming trail.

Tim Westman recalls that the road that night was as dry as it would be on a sunny day. Tim Westman, "I'm as baffled today by the fact the driver indeed cleared the corner" and noted that Murray's vehicle was not at the usual resting place of most vehicles that do not make the sharp corner of the road.

Tim Westman recalls the car was several feet up the road from the corner and not resting at the brightly ribbon-covered tree. He remembers the vehicle was at a set of three trees which leads him to believe the driver was indeed going too fast for the corner and was over the yellow line correcting themselves perhaps too much. The thump they heard was indeed that of something striking the trees.

The vehicle was completely locked when Sgt. Smith found it. It remained locked even after a local towing company impounded it. A warrant was secured and the car was inspected by law enforcement authorities. The vehicle was released to it's rightful owner Fred Murray. Both Fred and Billy went through the car that week. Eventually the car was turned it over to law enforcement officials when the case Turned from a missing persons to an investigation.

The Woodsville Fire Department was holding its monthly officers meeting on 2/9/04 which started at 7 PM that evening. For Grafton County, it is standard procedure to tone a fire department to the scene of a motor-vehicle accident to check for leakage.

Fire personnel involved state they received a BOLO that reached some 63 agencies on the way to the scene by Grafton County Dispatch ordered by Sgt Smith for a female, 5 feet 7 inches who had left the scene of the accident they were responding to.

Other Eyewitnesses

There are statements confirming that New Hampshire State Police did stop one resident walking from the Stagecoach Store in the area of Bunga Road along with returning rescue personnel who had been cleared from the scene. It was This same local resident also reported to local authorities that she had seen a red truck, with what she believed to be Massachusetts licensed plates, go by her when she was walking and had slow down enough to make her uneasy. She then saw the same red truck sitting in the parking lot at the Stagecoach Store. When she reached the store lot, the red truck left.

Another Bradley Hill resident returning from a school board meeting stated they were stopped prior to Weathered Barn by responding personnel still on scene who informed them there was a missing driver and asked to search their property which borders Route 112 and Bradley Hill when they arrived home.

Most residents can produce numerous business cards from law enforcement officials to private investigators, and the media who over the past three years all have revisited all residents asking questions, looking for leads with no avail as another year passes with all asking the two same questions "Where is Maura" and "What happened to Maura Murray on February 9, 2004" regardless of the theory the same two questions still remain. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit at (603) 271-2663 or (800) 852-3411 or the website listed above.