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AG: No New Evidence From Search Related To Maura Murray's Disappearance

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Investigators say they have found no new evidence in connection with the disappearance of Maura Murray, following a search of a house in northern New Hampshire Wednesday.

A student at the University of Massachusetts, Murray was last seen in 2004 after she crashed her car into a snowbank along on a rural stretch of road in Haverhill. Her disappearance has generated numerous theories from amateur sleuths over the years. On Wednesday state investigators tried to put one of those theories to rest by announcing they had completed a search of a nearby house that some have argued would contain Murray’s body.

Associate Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin says state police never believed the theory was credible. But he says he hopes the search, which turned up no new evidence, will finally put the theory to rest.

Credit Lauren Chooljian / NHPR
Associate Attorney General Jeffery A. Strelzin said no evidence was found in the Maura Murray case after a search of a home April 3, 2019.

Strelzin said the home owners gave the state consent to do the search. In March, state police and FBI agents examined the building, including a survey of the basement, and a team went into the home and searched the basement again, including cutting through concrete where ground-penetrating radar had detected a disturbance. But that search turned up nothing other than some apparent pottery shards, Strelzin said.

 

"It certainly is a drain on resources, at times, to have to follow what really seem to be purely speculative leads and things like that," said Strelzin, "but the state police and our office have continued to follow up on all the leads in this case."

It’s unclear how much the announcement will tamper the intense interest that surrounds the case, however. Just minutes after the press conference ended, Strelzin had a heated exchange with amateur sleuth John Smith who called the state’s investigation a “mess since night one.”

"Lots of people have said a lot of things," Strelzin replied, "not much of it credible, but you've had a lot to say."

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