Clues with Morgan Absher & Kaelyn Moore
Podcast: Crime House
Episode: MISSING: Maura Murray
Date: November 19, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore explore the case of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old nursing student who mysteriously vanished after a car accident on a rural New Hampshire road in February 2004. The discussion dissects Maura's background, her final days, odd clues, police response, and the subsequent web sleuthing phenomenon, highlighting new possible suspects and the persistent efforts of her family—especially her sister, Julie Murray—to keep the search for Maura alive. The episode combines empathetic storytelling with methodical breakdowns of evidence and theories, aiming to separate fact from speculation while keeping the victim at the narrative’s center.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why the Case Matters: A Viral Missing Person
- Maura Murray's disappearance was one of the first missing persons cases to "go viral" on early social media platforms. At the time, "Facebook was like four, five days old" (03:25, Morgan Absher).
- Julie Murray, Maura’s sister, has been a powerful advocate in keeping the case in the public eye and believes it can still be solved (04:45, Kayla Moore).
2. Maura Murray’s Background
- Born in 1982, Maura was a high-achieving student and athlete, former West Point cadet, and later a nursing student at UMass Amherst.
- From a family that valued academics and athletics, Maura "scored in the 95th percentile of her SATs" and "made it all the way to the cross-country nationals" (07:38, Kayla Moore).
- She transferred from West Point to UMass amid growing personal struggles, including reported eating disorders and pressure-coping mechanisms, possibly compounded by post-9/11 changes at the academy (11:00, Kayla & Morgan).
3. Leading to Disappearance: Maura’s Troubles
- A pattern of stress and risky behaviors emerged: a minor shoplifting incident at West Point, using a stolen credit card to order pizza, and a speeding ticket that led to her license suspension in New Hampshire (14:39, Morgan Absher).
- Her black Saturn sedan was in disrepair, with her dad warning her not to drive it and suggesting she use a rag to hide smoke from the exhaust (20:57, Kayla Moore).
4. Events Before the Vanishing
The Breakdown:
- Thursday, Feb 5, 2004: Emotional phone conversations at work, culminating in a "mysterious meltdown" after speaking with her sister about a painful relapse (22:21–24:43).
- Saturday, Feb 7, 2004: Car shopping with her dad, then a small dorm party.
- Sunday, Feb 8: Maura crashes her dad's car late at night, uncertain timeline between leaving the party and the accident. She was "distraught," according to her father (27:10, Morgan).
Notable Quote:
"Mara was distraught after giving him the news. She was mumbling, 'this is the worst,' and making whimpering sounds. Fred reassured her... but his words weren't really getting through." (27:10, Morgan)
5. Maura’s Final Known Movements (Feb 9, 2004)
- Searches MapQuest for Vermont and New Hampshire vacation destinations in early morning hours.
- Withdraws $280 from ATM, purchases $40 in alcohol (Black Russian ingredients).
- Lies about a "death in the family" to get excused from classes.
- Drives toward the White Mountains, with her phone checking voicemails at 4:37 pm and an unanswered call from the Londonderry, NH area at 5 pm.
- By 7:27pm, local resident Faith Westman sees a black Saturn crashed—no sign of Maura after the bus driver’s brief, odd interaction. "It appears as though... Mara Murray, has vanished without a trace." (05:01, Kayla)
6. Clues and Theories
Witness Testimonies and Law Enforcement Response
- Witness A reports seeing a police SUV at the scene before the official time any officer was dispatched, fueling theories of either a timeline mix-up or an unreported officer presence (38:07, Kayla Moore).
- Local police initially consider Maura a "DUI walkaway"—someone fleeing an accident scene to avoid legal trouble.
Crime Scene Details
- Boxed wine found spilled, but the hard liquor she bought was missing along with her purse, phone, and backpack.
- A "rag in the tailpipe"—initially seen as a suicide attempt—was likely her father's advice to conceal car trouble. The hosts discuss possible effects of carbon monoxide and how it may have impaired her (46:05–49:45).
The Scent Trail & Dorm Room
- Delayed, limited search means only a weak scent trail to a nearby intersection is found. The gloves used for tracking may not have carried Maura's scent well (55:10, Morgan).
- Dorm room was packed, but possibly not due to intent to disappear—she may not have unpacked yet (57:25, Kayla).
7. Law Enforcement Frustrations and Family Advocacy
- The Murrays are critical of the police’s delayed response and lack of coordination with resources like New Hampshire’s Fish & Game, which only joined after 24+ hours (54:44, Morgan).
- Efforts to obtain case files via FOIA were denied, with courts siding with law enforcement on withholding investigatory documents (60:22–61:06).
- The family has remained deeply involved: Julie has a podcast and advocates for both empathetic discussion and continued search efforts.
Notable Quotes & Standout Moments
-
On Maura’s Character:
"She was one of a kind. She would literally jump from a treetop into the Saco River one day ... the next day be the most radiant woman at any formal event."
— Bill Rauch (66:56) -
On Web Sleuths and Public Attention:
"There were these things called Maura Murray celebrities... notable names in the true crime community for their search efforts and their digging." (58:04, Kayla Moore)
-
On Police Theory:
“The police really believe she walked away and took her own life. They point to this book that she had in her car... on one of the pages..., there was one sentence that you could interpret... as a depressed person talking about ending their life. But it was like, such a stretch.”
— Kayla Moore (68:02) -
On Family’s Determination:
“Fred and Julie are the last members of the immediate family left, but they’re determined to find Maura, while Fred, who is now in his 80s, is still here to witness the moment this mystery is finally solved.” (75:11, Kayla Moore)
New Developments & Theories
1. Surprise Fingerprint Match
- 2020: A former West Point classmate, Stefan Baldwin, now a convicted criminal, had fingerprints matching those found on a CD in Maura’s car. No known relationship, and unclear how significant the clue is (62:42, Morgan & Kayla).
2. Investigations into Bill Rauch
- Allegations of violence and abuse against Maura’s boyfriend, Bill, reported by other women years after Maura’s disappearance. Nonetheless, Bill had an alibi (was in Oklahoma) and the family does not support the focus on him as a suspect by some writers and sleuths (65:43–66:56, Morgan).
3. All Theories on the Table
- Police: Most likely scenario is Maura leaving to avoid trouble, walking off, and possibly dying of exposure or suicide.
- Web Sleuths: The murder/abduction theory (possibly by a passing stranger or an unaccounted police vehicle) remains alive, especially given the lack of physical evidence—no footprints, belongings missing.
- Family: Maintain hope for answers, advocate for cautious, empathy-centered discussion, and ongoing public support.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Case Background: 03:25–05:01
- Maura’s West Point Years: 07:38–13:48
- Shoplifting & Pizza Incident: 14:39–17:28
- Car Problems & Dad’s Advice: 20:57–21:17
- Emotional Breakdown at Work: 22:21–24:43
- Crash in Dad’s Car: 27:10–31:20
- Final Day Search History: 31:20–32:06
- ATM & Liquor Purchases: 32:02–35:13
- Details from the Crash Scene: 36:19–37:53
- Police Response & Timeline Confusion: 38:07–41:18
- Rag in the Tailpipe Discussion: 46:05–49:45
- Frustrations with Police & FOIA: 54:44–61:06
- Surprise Fingerprint & Other Suspects: 62:42–66:07
- Exploring Major Theories: 68:01–70:48
- Family Advocacy & How to Help: 72:39–75:11
Family Advocacy & How to Help
- The Murray family, primarily Julie, continues to urge the public to engage with empathy and caution to avoid harmful speculation (72:39).
- To support, visit maramurraymissing.org for ways to get involved, including supporting a campaign for a permanent marker at the crash site.
- Anyone with information can contact the New Hampshire State Police Cold Case Unit at coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov or 603-271-2663.
Conclusion & Call To Action
Hosts Morgan and Kayla encourage the Crime House community to continue discussing Maura's case with empathy, critical thinking, and respect. They emphasize the importance of keeping unsolved cases in the public eye and supporting families still searching for answers, urging listeners to share missing person posters and contribute real insights, avoiding baseless speculation.
Final Thoughts:
"It's so important to address these cases that still go unsolved... to raise awareness." (77:41, Morgan)
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