New Crime Blog!

For anybody that follows this blog, I want to let you know I started a separate one two months ago. I’m focusing more time over at memyselfandmysteries.wordpress.com going over cases like The Golden State Killer and Columbine. If you haven’t checked it out, go see what I’ve written over there. I’m trying to build a bigger following at my new blog. Hope you like what you see. 

Follow, like, share: memyselfandmysteries.wordpress.com 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Me-Myself-and-Mysteries-1571669542958731/ 

Thanks!

Have a nice day 🙂

–Aurelia 

Capping CrimeCon 2018

There are probably two emotions you feel by seeing the massive amount of CrimeCon posts on social media this past weekend: joy or jealousy.

Joy for attending a jam packed and exciting event; jealousy for everyone experiencing the fun without you.

Fortunately I planned months ahead and decided to give the event a second try after attending the first ever CrimeCon in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2017. Nashville is where everything took place this year but you didn’t need to even leave the city. The Gaylord Opryland Resort is seriously massive. The scenery can get you lost like The Shining maze but the structure and visuals are remarkable.

It’s hard to describe but Google isn’t deceptive in the images you would see.

My room wasn’t ready at the check in; I wandered aimlessly around the Opryland.

Must have been 30 to 45 minutes in when I spotted a familiar looking guy with a newsboy hat in the check in aisle.

Lance. Missing Maura Murray, Crawlspace, Empty Frames…

We recognized and hugged each other after I sprinted get his attention. Justin from Generation Why and Tim Pilleri (MMM/Crawlspace) greeted me nearby. I was just happy to see someone I fucking knew.

I stood by wherever Tim and Lance went. Maggie Freleng from the Oxygen docuseries on Maura Murray’s case arrived soon after and they all headed to an outside bar. Not in a drinking mood, I awkwardly escorted myself out to get coffee. I’ll admit I partly distanced myself because I didn’t feel cool next to Maggie. She’s down to earth though. My shyness is the worst but I would have loved having a personal conversation with her.

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ME ON TWITTER 🙂

Strangely enough at the Starbucks line is where Captain from True Crime Garage appeared. We were going over our day and whatnot. He and I headed over to the MM case gang and heard them speak about whatever.

Podcast Row first kicked off things for CrimeCon. That is where I met Rabia Chaudry from the Undisclosed podcast. Serial was my biggest obsession in 2014, along with Rabia’s Twitter feed on anything Adnan Syed. She’s sorta familiar with me and I’ve written a past article on her book chronicling the case. Rabia was very friendly and we took a selfie together.

I said hi to James Renner. The True Crime Garage line was longer than the wall of China. The Golden State Killer session was a hot attraction especially with the jaw dropping news of Joe DeAngelo’s capture occurring nine days earlier. Paul Hole’s surprise appearance spread quickly on Twitter for those who missed the session including myself. Pretty much that was the most popular story all throughout CrimeCon.

#HotForHoles

The main events I attended on Day 1 were the first Missing Maura Murray panel, the Colonial Parkway Serial Killings session, and watching the part one debut of Finding Maura Murray.

Colonial Parkway Serial Killings presentation at the Presidential CDE

This indoor bar and lounge located in the Opryland, Fuse, was the main attraction late at night. Pretty packed, you would notice familiar faces in the true crime podcast world.

Payne Lindsey, Bob Ruff, Justin Evans, Aaron Habel, Susan Simpson, Rabia Chaudry, Captain and Nic from True Crime Garage, Robin Warder, Tim and Lance. Devin from Thinking Sideways complemented my newly adorned acrylic nails and name. She was cool as well as several podcast listeners who said hi but there were a couple of other women in this bar that rubbed me the wrong way.

Day 2 brought out more of the same from the day before.

My well adored pizza shirt on Day 2

Podcast Row was a nonstop commotion. I met John Lordan from Youtube’s Brainscratch. I mentioned my interest in the Maura Murray case and the videos he has subsequently covered over it. Off topic, Jordan stated that AFI was his favorite band or that his favorite song was made by them. I pretty much knew where he was going because AFI released a track called ‘Aurelia’ in 2016. I was super excited when they first released that track, so I appreciated hearing that Jordan really liked this obscure song.

My first session included Callahan Walsh speaking up about his life and professions connected as a criminal justice advocate. Callahan’s father is John Walsh, the star of America’s Most Wanted and The Hunt with John Walsh. Very interesting session and very nice guy. I introduced myself to Callahan after the session concluded. Last but not least I appreciated seeing Darren Kavinoky host the panel, as I have watched his ID channel shows in the past. The dude is charismatic and cool.

Kinda wish I said hi to Darren and complemented his spunky handcuff graphic styled shirt.

The Undisclosed session was another one I hit up since I’m the previously obsessed Serial fan. The basics of Adnan’s case were covered but the presentation was displayed like a literal science project. There was a biology, math, and psychological lesson weaved into their session. Nothing but respect for Susan Simpson, Colin Miller, and Rabia.

The next session I attended was the Dateline panel featuring four famous reporters from the cast: Keith, Andrea, Dennis, and Josh. This was a popular panel as you may imagine. They were awesome.

My last session of the day was Crawlspace. The discussion focused entirely on the Golden State Killer since Billy Jensen and Paul Haynes were the guest speakers next to Tim, Lance, and Maggie. Billy and Paul have researched the case for years and were friends with Michelle McNamara before she passed away.

CrimeCon Crawlspace session

I stopped attending any CrimeCon presentations after that and crashed in bed.

Acme Seed and Feed is where I ventured later at night. My asocial self would have preferred greasy takeout food and Saturday Night Live but being a shut in was becoming too boring. I met the nicest Lyft driver who took me downtown. We bonded and related on a few things: we were both 26, we both had names starting with the letter A, and we are both Hispanic.

The rooftop area of Acme was my main destination. I caught up with Captain and made small talk with Justin and Esther from Once Upon A Crime. I first met Esther in a Sword & Scale meetup in 2016. She has seen the worst out of me: passed out drunk and puking all over the place. Tonight I was keeping it simple with one drink. Moreover my reticence was bugging me. From a distance I noticed Paul Haynes, the guest speaker from the earlier Crawlspace session. With much courage I introduced myself to Paul.

In Michelle McNamara’s L.A. magazine article on the Golden State Killer, she mentions working with a South Florida researcher –later learned to be Paul– back when he was an anonymous source. The geographic detail always stayed with me. As a South Florida native myself, I learned through him that he’s from Fort Lauderdale and used to visit the Tower Theater in Miami where indie and foreign movies are shown; I once lived in the same neighborhood where this particular theater is located.

I appreciated hearing about our shared local roots. That part of the conversation made me comfortable chatting up a stranger like him, especially since he was well spoken and smart. Our main discussion throughout the night was on Joe DeAngelo. Also, Paul introduced me to Billy Jensen, the same reporter from the earlier Crawlspace session. I’ve been a fan of Billy’s ever since he reported the Body Barrel Murders on Crime Watch Daily. 

GSK table

Paul and I eventually Ubered to the Opryland since it was getting late. He had another GSK session to attend early the next morning. Apparently he had already consumed four drinks. I would be disappointed if he didn’t remember our encounter. Anyways let’s keep in touch if you read this.

I found James Renner waiting for coffee at Starbucks when I needed to grab a quick breakfast the following morning. We basically had the same conversation from last year’s CrimeCon: Gators, GSK, and Maura Murray. I’ll say I did a lot better striking up conversations in Nashville than in Indianapolis, even if it was repetitious in this case. Whatever the case I appreciated the small chat with James.

The major GSK panel was the one I saw on the third and final day of CrimeCon. It was my first time hearing Paul Holes discuss the case alongside the survivors Jane, Debby, and Margaret. With the recent news of Joe’s capture, it was bittersweet to see everyone reunited and rejoiced over the whole thing. Last year at CrimeCon I attended a GSK panel when everything was shrouded with mystery; Jane and Debby were there too. It’s humbling to see how things unfolded almost one year later; however, there remains many unknown questions regarding Joe’s whereabouts before, during, and after the rapes and murders he allegedly committed.

Podcast Row was still ongoing after the GSK session. There is this really adorable video I posted on Twitter featuring a bunch of podcasters posing together for a picture during this time. This is one of my favorite moments from CrimeCon.

Podcast row getting candid camera 📸📸📸 @CrimeCon2018 pic.twitter.com/yBoxoXoE0m

— Aurelia✨ (@Aurelia3O5) May 6, 2018

While Podcast Row was emptying out and podcasters were parting ways to go home, Tim and Lance were still conducting interviews. Octavia Zapala just happened to be with them. Seeing her was a surprise because her podcast Missing Alissa wasn’t mentioned in the CrimeCon website. The one thing I was most curious about –which I asked– was her background. Octavia is Italian and not Hispanic like I originally thought.

Octavia stands out between her accent and reporting in a world where true crime podcasts are dominated by white men. We had a pleasant back and forth. 

For the rest of the day I hanged out with Tim and Lance.

Our conversations consisted of sharing a mutual indifference to Star Wars and some privy Maura Murray information. Even I couldn’t let go after checking into the Nashville airport and watched them hilariously circle around for food.

This is the second time they let me tag along for anything. I go with it because fuck it they’re awesome people. 

Nashville was a blast and there is more I would have wanted to explore. The convention was such a whirlwind.

New Orleans is the next big trip since the city will host CrimeCon in 2019.

 

 

My MMM Episode: One Year Later

The mention of episode 43 of the Missing Maura Murray podcast probably doesn’t register with you, even if I told you I appeared in it.

Aurelia, who? Amelia? Aurora?…

Today officially marks one year since my episode premiered. Right now I can’t bring myself to listen again; I decided to scroll on Instagram instead. Here’s what I remember from the show:

Tim and Lance Facetimed with me but they couldn’t record the video because I wasn’t using Skype. Routinely their Youtube page contains video of interviews from MMM and Crawlspace but in a way I’m glad my images aren’t out there for people to nitpick me some more. 

In previous occasions Lance mentioned the possibility of getting interviewed –as early as 2016– until he formally asked me in March 2017 if I would like to go on the show. I was like heck yeah!

I still get psyched that this even happened in the first place. 

Today the podcast has recorded 73 episodes. Honestly I didn’t foresee such a gargantuan coverage on the Maura Murray case like they’ve done in this show. At most I thought the show would conclude in 2016. At some point they’ve probably wanted to throw in the towel but I’m sure the impending release of Finding Maura Murray will determine how much longer they’ll produce the podcast.

I still feel insecure with how some listeners negatively expressed their thoughts on my interview. Even if people criticize you on the internet I’m sure most to none would not say it to your face. Besides if some unknown blogger like myself was interviewed, people will always find umbrage with whatever content Tim and Lance put out. Recently they discussed about an American murderer, Israel Keyes, on his possible connection to the New Hampshire area, and if he might have abducted Maura Murray.

In my eyes I don’t see any ties with Israel being connected to Maura’s disappearance. Some listeners, including James Renner, disagreed with the podcast producing an episode on Israel because the content seemed to stretch past anything concrete about Maura. Hearing about that criticism kinda comforted me. Even though Israel possesses an interesting murder profile, making him the subject for a true crime podcast garnered some flack.

So whether Tim and Lance interview little people like me or discuss potential serial killers is apparently not enough… 🙂

I haven’t blogged since the Oxygen series concluded last year. Since then the 14 year anniversary of Maura’s disappearance has passed. One figure by the initials of J.S. decided to “step away” from the case. For reasons unknown, J.S. started to verbally insult Tim and Lance on Reddit and Facebook. It’s one thing to break away communication but it’s another thing to post their addresses on Youtube. These embarrassing actions make me believe he is one of the least credible and trustworthy people to come across the case. Tim and Lance don’t deserve that treatment, along with the other negative remarks thrown at Art and Maggie.

It’s like why are you getting jealous? They aren’t detectives. Have some decorum for once.

In the height of the Me Too Movement, James Renner communicated with two women who had trysts with Billy Rausch during his marriage. James posted their side by side interviews on his Youtube page. Hearing about the encounters was interesting but these allegations still mean nothing towards the Maura Murray disappearance. These claims seem to show that Billy is a sleaze but James is trying to persuade people that Billy may have caused harm to Maura– whether that is directly or indirectly.

Besides that no more tv specials like the Oxygen documentary has been produced. True Crime Addict was a standalone unique book on the MM case. The only other literary publication I can see happening is one focusing on the disappearance and death of Maura Murray, and the subsequent aftermath of those events if they ever came to light. Arrests, trials, you name it… I would love to read that book.

Speaking of books, I checked out of my local library the Seventeen magazine special edition book that chronicled true crime stories from their issues. Maura’s case was first presented in their July 2004 issue; her story was one of seventeen displayed for this one of a kind book. Out of all the stories, Maura’s is the only one that focused on a missing person investigation. As a former subscriber to the magazine, I loved reading every page but especially the true crime section. It was like one minute OH CUTE MAKEUP TIPS then to OOOO SERIOUS MURDER STORY.

All of the stories displayed in the book were equally fascinating. 

Finding Maura Murray will debut in CrimeCon this year. For anyone who is attending Nashville in May, you should definitely stop by for that. Incidentally the first day of CrimeCon takes place on Maura’s 36th birthday. 

The fascination persists in subtle ways but I’m getting jaded. I want resolution in this investigation. I’m sure Finding Maura Murray will rejuvenate the obsession for people who put the case in a corner.

To this day I could definitively say I made three individuals obsessed with this case and podcast: Captain from True Crime Garage, Jordan from the Night Time Podcast, and a high school classmate of mine. The details of Maura’s disappearance gravitate people for some natural reason. Hands down this is one of the most discussed cases in true crime.

You can’t argue with that.

 

Oxygen Maura Murray Series: Episode 6 – Summit

Six weeks.

Six episodes.

The Disappearance of Maura Murray concluded last night on Oxygen. 

Episode six began with Maggie and Art consulting with famed psychic, Allison Dubois. Allison has spent over 20 years covering crimes due to her “psychic” abilities, which has even earned her career as the inspiration for the one time show Medium starring Patricia Arquette. 

I was already familiar with Allison and the Medium connection beforehand. Allison’s appearance on the Oxygen series is not the first time I’ve seen her on a reality/documentary series. Circa 2010 or 2011, I mindlessly watched many reality tv shows including Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 

During a dinner scene with the ensemble cast, Allison popped up. She and Kyle Richards –one of the cast members– got into an awkward argument that pissed Kyle off completely. Being the so-called psychic, Allison stated directly that Kyle’s husband would “never emotionally fulfill her.” She was kinda talking shit while smoking an electronic cigarette, which Kyle made fun of later on. 

Just petty stuff but still funny. 

I will say Allison came off entertaining and likable during her meeting with Art and Maggie. 

Allison believes Maura accepted a ride from an unassuming guy. Maura was unable to see his predatory element but later he turned on her. This person had a “rapist energy” to him. Allison said that Maura wouldn’t stay away willingly and wouldn’t not come back, if she was running away from her loved ones. 

Normally I don’t give credence to psychics but Allison’s way of describing these so-called events kept my attention like Salem psychic, Lori Bruno, in Missing Maura Murray.

I’ll side with the psychics versus police conspiracy theorists any day.

In the Facebook livestream postmortem for ‘Summit’, Maggie and Art did not reflect much on the psychic experience. 

Tim and Lance listening in on the ‘Summit’ postmortem 

The next topic the show focused on were a series of suspicious emails that Tim and Lance from MMM have received. 

One emailed contained map coordinates where allegedly Maura’s body was hidden. The coordinates are located 48 miles away from the crash site and stand at 6,000 feet in elevation. 

Along with Dustin Cormier, a professional mountain trail guide, Art, Maggie, Tim, and Lance hiked towards the treacherous habitat. Seeing the guys we know from MMM catch their breath during the hours long hike was a funny sight. It was very boots on the ground in comparison to their casual podcast interviews done over Skype.

Spoiler alert: Maura wasn’t found. 

New Hampshire native, Alex C, and Crawlspace podcast co-host, Chloe Canter, actually hiked the mountains this year and reported the same empty findings; however, most people don’t know about their search. 

Seeing how everyone was committed to the coordinates hike in the show is important to see though. First off it proves how ridiculous and unrealistic the location serves as body dumping site. At the same time the vastness of the mountains doesn’t go unnoticed. Maura’s decision to drive through the white mountains are as mysterious as the environment that keeps fueling the folklore on her last known whereabouts. 

Another mysterious side of Maura’s case are the CCTV images kept privately by police from when she withdrew money and purchased alcohol before departing into the north country. The last known images of Maura were publicly shown for the first time during the final minutes of the finale. I braced myself for the unremarkable sight. 

I’m sure so did Fred, Kurt, and Julie Murray.

Seeing them all visually scan the black and white images of Maura is as real as it gets. Julie even said she didn’t recognize the jacket that Maura was wearing at the Bank of America ATM. This scene was the most important one out of the entire series. Their strength and determination while sticking together shows how much they love Maura and want to find her at any cost. 

If you still think the family is somewhat complicit or involved with Maura’s disappearance –after participating in the Oxygen series– I’m not sure what else will convince you to think otherwise. Maura’s family were as transparent as possible. Your conspiracies about Maura running away or dying in the woods continues the white noise that brings down her chances of receiving true justice. For the person or persons involved with Maura’s disappearance and who choose to stay silent, I hope you felt touched or at least a grain of remorse seeing her siblings and father gather the last known images of someone they loved deeply. 

Maura Murray withdrawing money at a Bank of America ATM.

Fred, Laurie (Maura’s mother), and everyone else in the family would have wanted to see her graduate from UMASS that following June. They would have wanted her to get married. They would have wanted her to lead an independent life. Instead, their lives were disrupted on February 9, 2004. 

This is why they’re still at it today. 

Look again at the ATM photos. You probably remember the feeling from that chilly night and seeing the lost woman. She would have wanted your help. If this was your son, daughter, sister or brother stranded on some rural road, you wouldn’t want to be in their shoes. 

Think about your decision in bringing resolution to the case. Sleep on it for a few days. Don’t be afraid to call the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at 603-223-3856. Authorities will assist and help you. 

Call the number. 

603-223-3856

The last known images of Maura Murray, exiting a Bank of America on February 9, 2004.

Oxygen Maura Murray Series: Episode 5 – Something Bad Happened

The penultimate episode of Oxygen’s The Disappearance of Maura Murray brought Maggie and Art together in the rustic cabin to determine the theories into Maura’s disappearance on five index cards.

Ran away.

Died in a police cover up.

Suicide.

Died in the woods.

Murder.

One by one, they crossed off the least likely scenarios until agreeing with murder.

Since I first watched the Disappeared episode in 2013, I believed Maura was murdered. Plain and simple. The most nefarious scenario conveniently comes towards the near conclusion of the Oxygen series.

The show has simply and effectively explained why the aforementioned theories don’t seem to really pan out. Just like the rag in the tailpipe experiment, the cadaver canine run down was very scientific. The freezing weather conditions on Route 112 didn’t cross my mind until I understood the case much more clearly through Missing Maura Murray. I’m oblivious to upstate winters, therefore I didn’t put the chilly weather into account. 

The snow, dropping temperatures, and freezing winds intensified Maura’s plight. Knowing how the conditions played out on February 9th, 2004 and the subsequent days after that are very important to understand.

The cadaver dogs successively tracked Maggie’s scent from the glove she was wearing in the exercise. If the canines from the original investigative search tracked Maura’s human scent down the street near Bradley Hill Road, then it’s safe to say she’s not in the nearby woods. These dogs have special capabilities in detecting scents as long as centuries old. Maura’s drivers license, bookbag, and Samsung cell phone were never traced. Think about that.

I wish I had strong olfactory senses like cadaver dogs. Finding human remains like that would be easier on everyone. The fact behind these dogs accurately finding Maura’s scent down Route 112 always impressed me.

John Smith returned to discuss the murder theory. Locals in Haverhill haven’t stopped speculating the worst. John mentioned the A-frame house, a property located near the crash site. You’re likely already familiar with this house if you’ve listened to MMM. This deserted piece of property looks like squalor. The MMM promo trailer featured visuals of abandoned furniture, objects strewn everywhere and more. Auspiciously a carving of the initials ‘M – M’ rests near a window.

Mostly though John talked about one closet that may have contained blood in the wood chippings. John stated that he submitted some of those chips to police for further testing but no official word was received if blood was detected.

I’m impressed that John saved the remaining chips. Holding this potential evidence for all this time makes him good hearted. Producers consulted with a molecular geneticist. The mystery results of the chip evidence left on a cliffhanger. 

Regardless of positive or negative results, the audience wants to see the Murray family reaction. 

The preview for the final episode is suspenseful and supposed to be directed that way. Oxygen was once a popular reality tv show network after all. The cut and edit is intended to make you anxious and impatient for answers. 

The chip evidence working as a potential breakthrough rests in the same way that another Oxygen series teased about their own breakthrough. 

The cold case of a missing Alabama teenager was featured recently on The Disappearance of Natalee Halloway.

Natalee traveled to Aruba with her fellow high school alumni during May 2005. The new minted graduating class were celebrating their new found freedom before heading to college in the fall. 

Natalee disappeared after leaving a nightclub with a young and handsome local, Joran Van Der Sloot. 

I remember when her case very vividly when it became national breaking news and I wished she would be found immediately. The public would not have imagined the case going unsolved for 12 straight years. 

Natalee’s Oxygen series premiered last summer. This time her father was front and center trying to find answers. The series depended on an informant who was roommates with a man that was friends with Joran. The informant’s roommate allegedly moved Natalee’s remains. Nat’s dad and experienced investigators worked on finding the location of these remains. 

Even before the pilot premiered, breaking news surfaced that bones were discovered in Aruba. 

In between episodes, a new update came about that the remains belonged to a European Caucasian female. 

This seemed promising but I was still apprehensive on the impending confirmation. 

Little luck would turn out that the bones did not belong to Natalee Holloway. A crushing blow. 

The way the remains were teased as a breakthrough reminds me of the wood chips potentially connected to Maura Murray. 

Wrapping up the series in a finely knit bow isn’t how cases get solved. As much as I support for positive results, I don’t believe the chips will lead to any conclusive or groundbreaking. Maura being lured to the A-Frame house is substantiated only by rumors. 

I don’t have any expectations for a resolution stemming from the Oxygen series. People should expect to be underwhelmed. Being underwhelmed is just okay. 

I’m thankful that Maura’s case has received this extended coverage. On one hand action was sprang from Making A Murderer and Serial, but other televisions shows centered on famous cases such as The Long Island Serial Killer didn’t push for concrete results. 

I’m hopeful though. 

Oxygen Maura Murray series: Episode 4 – Code of Silence

Honestly, who is even reading this?

I’m feeling like an audience of one over here.  

The Facebook boards and livestreams dedicated to Maura Murray generate a greater chorus of individuals, pressing for questions and answers after the latest episode comes off the air. 

Here’s what happened in episode four of The Disappearance of Maura Murray, ‘Code of Silence’. 

The rag in the tailpipe scenario went through it’s own Mythbusters experiment. Since a rag was discovered in the Saturn’s exhaust pipe, people have wondered whether Maura placed the rag after the accident or if an unknown party intentionally tried to stall her car for nefarious reasons. 

Using the exact model of Maura’s sedan for the experiment was helpful. The rag flew out of the exhaust within seconds as the speed revved up. So the theory of someone placing the rag for the car to stall is debunked. I always believed Maura probably handed the towel during that “flurry of activity.” Still I wonder if the towel was tested for forensics. There’s a chance an unknown party might have stuck that thing in the exhaust AFTER the crash. 

SUV 001?

The sit down with Jeff Strelzin finally happened. I’ve noticed Jeff for some time through multiple news clips. One of the most mystifying cases I’ve ever read about is The Body Barrel murders of New Hampshire. For two years I’ve been reading and watching material regarding the mass murder, which includes Jeff’s hunt in finding the identifies of the slain four females. 

Between Maura Murray and the Body Barrel cases, I’m already familiar with Jeff as the assistant attorney general. Basically in his interview with Maggie and Art, Maura’s investigation is being treated as a criminal case. Jeff didn’t disclose on a number of questions, including if police has even ruled out suspects in Maura’s disappearance. 

Being tight lipped is necessary. We don’t want to encourage false confessions or tainted statements on leaked information that could benefit Maura’s case in a court of law. 

People were really quick to judge Jeff with his non answers. He has always appeared this way in the many interviews I’ve seen through the years. My friend Captain from the podcast True Crime Garage simply put it, “he talks like a cop.” 

John Smith made his television appearance during this episode. John goes much more in depth with his involvement in Maura’s investigation in Missing Maura Murray but you get the general gist during his sit down with Maggie. 

During this interview, the story behind Witness A is brought up to the screen. Witness A was riding down route 112 when she allegedly rode past Maura’s Saturn. She noticed the strangeness of the scene. An SUV accompanied the Saturn as both vehicle parked were nose to nose with each other. At the time, Witness A did not know what was occurring or that a Massachusetts college student vanished into thin air.

Witness A wanted to help but felt unsure if she should stay or she should go. 

The SUV 001 supposedly belonged to a nearby police chief, who had a reputation of drinking and driving. John has always wanted to explore more into why this SUV was on the scene. The official police report states that another officer, Cecil Smith, responded onsite. 

Witness A was interviewed by Maggie and Art. Her real name is Karen McNamara. It recently hit me that Karen/Witness A is the Asia McClain of the Maura Murray case. 

Let me clarify that Asia McClain was the witness who saw and interacted with Adnan Syed during the time the prosecution claims Adnan murdered his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. This all stems from the popular podcast Serial. Asia initially came forward during the original investigation but she wasn’t further contacted by Adnan’s defense team. When Serial was airing their episodes, Asia learned a lot of insider details of the case. Her witness statements are very crucial because she’s the only person who has tactfully stuck by her claims. Asia has met with skepticism and disrespect through the haters for essentially sticking up for Adnan. 

In some ways I see the same parallel with Karen. James Renner doesn’t buy her story. For the most part people believe Karen saw what she saw. I believe her own claims. 

The biggest moment of the whole episode was introducing officers John Monaghan and Cecil Smith. These guys had never given interviews to the media until Maggie and Art were given special permission by Jeff Strelzen. 

One surprising reveal from Cecil himself was that he drove the SUV 001. Why has this detail been in the dark for 13 years? Why does Witness A’s statements not warrant enough action to investigate further? 

At face value I wasn’t emotional about the reveal but people online reacted very quickly to Cecil’s statements. The only question I have for Cecil is whether he saw Maura Murray on February 9th, 2004. 

His interview will continue onto episode five, coming this Saturday. 

My TV Guide already shows the episodic summary for episodes five and six. DNA evidence from the case is apparently tested and revealed to the Murray family. I’m sure this is the new information springing from the efforts of the Oxygen documentary team. 

 

 

 

 

Oxygen Maura Murray series: Episode 3 – After The Crash

Another Saturday night means another episode of The Disappearance of Maura Murray on Oxygen.

Episode three proceeded into the continuation of Kathleen Murray’s interview with Maggie. Basically Kat discusses her unhappiness with her life back in 2004. Drinking was how she functioned with her problems. Perhaps Maura knowing Kat’s slip ups with sobriety brought sadness to herself.

One interesting quote that caught my attention during this interview was that Kat sometimes dreams about Maura escaping her old life. In her dreams, Kat becomes angry with her sister for choosing the runaway scenario. Naturally this is a reaction any family member should feel for their missing loved ones. Kat, along with the remaining Murrays, would likely feel bitterness —among a host of strong emotions— towards that scenario because whatever was happening in the family unit didn’t suffice enough for Maura to intentionally leave.

Once again Bill the boyfriend is brought up. Bill chose to not correspond with Maggie but his friend, Bob McLean, spoke on camera about the disappearance. Tim and Lance from Missing Maura Murray joined Maggie for the Bob interview.

Bob doesn’t have suspicions about Bill’s potential involvement in Maura going away. Bill’s reticence seems rather normal to his friend because he eventually married and began having kids. From the many news clips I’ve seen involving the case, Bill was interviewed directly in the 20/20 and Montell Williams episodes. Back then he made proactive efforts to find Maura. Naturally through the years Bill needed to move on. He’s not the same early 20’s guy with the glasses speaking on camera. 

Fred, Maura, and Bill

The next sit down involved Fred. The deeply personal question Maggie asked him before the commercial break left every viewer taking a deep breath.

Did he sexually assault Maura, his youngest daughter?

“Of course not,” Fred answered passionately in his defense.

The hard question was brought up because James Renner speculates this issue in True Crime Addict. This intimate issue is one of the reasons James speculates Maura wanted to escape the men in her life.

Maggie was very courageous for asking such a serious question. Fred’s response still held a level of decorum for a salacious question not worth answering. 

The speculation about abuse, the $4000, and more are conversation topics that goes to a side street leading to a dead end in Fred’s words. The white noise is “slowing us down” because people aren’t relying on facts of the case to form constructive action.

Fred’s determination in finding Maura reminds me of another forlorn father trying to bring back his own daughter: Drew Kesse. 

Jennifer Kesse was a Florida financial analyst who disappeared on January 24, 2006. From that fateful Tuesday morning when Jennifer didn’t report to work and failed to answer phone calls from her loved ones, the Kesse family reported Jennifer missing. 

Unconcluded is a podcast that focuses entirely on Jennifer’s case. I recommend Unconcluded for people interested in true crime or missing person cases. Jennifer’s parents, Drew and Joyce Kesse, have appeared on the podcast. This is a rare and special event because not many relatives will simply show for any show. 

Drew’s testimony in searching for Jennifer on Unconcluded is so powerful. Drew and Fred both contain that same determination and agony for their missing daughters. This is a club no relative wants to be included in. 

Drew has stated before that Jennifer is not an object. This is meant for the opportunists, selfish, and bored people who speculate and seek their own interest that doesn’t garner the proper attention on Jennifer’s case. 

The same should be said for Maura. 

Halfway through this episode, Art, Maggie, Tim, and Lance work through the case timeline. Art mentioned that he once operated as a dispatcher. His comment was directed towards Faith Westman’s 911 call and the narrative dispatchers are supposed to jot down. This made me rethink Faith’s description of possibly seeing a man smoking a cigarette alongside Maura. 

Now I think that Faith might not have realized or seen Maura accepting a ride and slipping into the car of the person smoking the cigarette. Faith could have confused the stranger’s car with Maura’s Saturn. 

I really think this is a telling point but I could be wrong on this account. This scenario clicked and made sense in my head when I watched the timeline sit down last night. 

In my last blog regarding episode two, I mentioned the record store employee, Roxanne, was interviewed during Tim and Lance’s Canadian trip. Roxanne was tracked down and interviewed by Maggie in episode three. Roxanne discussed the alleged meeting with Maura, then later shown age progression photos of what Maura could have looked like at around 30 years old. 

In my opinion, Maura doesn’t resemble the age progression photos. I couldn’t recognize her if it saved my life. Anyways, Roxanne now thinks she might have confused the interaction with another stranger. 

Elizabeth Greenwood, author of Playing Dead: A Journey Through the World of Death Fraud, discussed on the show that the chances of planning a disappearance more likely takes years in advance. In this case, Maura would have planned the escape during her teenage years. This seems far fetched for most young girls to execute. Teenagers like myself wondered what we wanted to accomplish during and after high school. Life is unpredictable for easily impressioned individuals, especially for teenagers and young adults. 

Elizabeth isn’t the leading research expert in missing person cases involving manufacturing your own escape but I put some stock into what she had to say. Last year I read an excerpt from Playing Dead but never got around to finishing the book. Elizabeth has even appeared on the podcast Criminal this past year. 

This week on The Dr. Oz Show, Julie Murray emotionally clarified that Maura’s view of the world was narrow at 21. Maura’s reasons for fleeing UMASS to New Hampshire remains unknown but it reflects a young woman’s impulsive desire, a desire that didn’t assure her utmost street smarts and safety. 

Oxygen Maura Murray series: Episode 2 – A Reason to Run

Let’s get into episode two of the Oxygen series, The Disappearance of Maura Murray. I previously covered my thoughts on episode one, ‘Everyone Has a Theory’.

As promised from the previous episode, James Renner was introduced to the series. James gave the usual rundown to Maggie Freleng and Art Roderick that I’ve already heard fifty times.

Maura ran away to escape the men in her life.

She is alive and possibly residing in Canada or Florida –on the basis of James’ boots on the ground search on potential sightings.

For newcomers though, they might be really intrigued on Maura’s reason to run.

It’s the way James says things so assuredly and upfront that makes you want to side with his theory. You want to believe. Being alive is better than being dead. Ideally I hope Maura still exists more than anything but my realist side suggests this case reeks of foul play. 

When James describes the run-of-the-mill-ran-away theory, never before seen footage from Tim and Lance’s upcoming documentary about Maura’ case was shown on screen. James, Tim, and Lance visited Montreal, Canada in December 2013. Brief clips showed them walking the streets and interviewing an employee inside an athletics club. I wonder if they took the woman’s name and other personal information. If she was interviewed today, would she back up those claims of seeing Maura? I think anyone in law enforcement would feel weary about two filmmakers and a journalist trying to track down locals who may have encountered Maura.

After James appeared, Maggie speaks with a former West Point student, Megan, who was friends with Maura. Pretty much Megan discusses how surprised she was that Maura committed the makeup theft. Since this all unfolded around her, Megan asked her upfront why she did that. This reminded me of high school. A former friend of mine had a knack for stealing items in department stores. In one case, she stole hoop earrings in my presence, while I obliviously and innocently strolled the Nordstrom aisles. It was only after we exited the store that she showed me the earrings. I was just like Megan — bewildered, disappointed, and surprised that my friend attempted this.

I don’t know what is it with young girls and women that wanna steal some cheap shit. It’s not cute. I covered the asinine earring theft in one of my first blog posts.

I may disagree completely with everything James says regarding Maura Murray but I’m still cordial with him. I forget to mention his dedication and efforts into the Amy Mihajevic’s case. Remembering all of that reminds me again James isn’t this terrible person that people paint him to be. 

I've never seen so many ppl post & ask the most basic questions regarding the Maura Murray case after the Oxygen airing. It's a fever.

— Aurelia✨ (@Aurelia3O5) September 25, 2017

Erin, another friend of Maura’s from college, was interviewed on screen. Erin attended UMASS and worked alongside her in nursing clinicals. One new detail I learned was that Maura briefed Erin on her so-called-family emergency; I assumed she only told her professors via email on the emergency. In addition, the detail about Maura turning in her homework specifically around 3AM signifies she was preparing for the trip. I know classmates who prefer to work on assignments past midnight and into the morning, so it isn’t unusual to hear Maura did that too.

Erin felt guilt for years for not opening her dorm door when Maura dropped off her nursing gear. At least she could have had that final visual and insight into Maura’s intended destination on February 9, 2004. 

Here’s what I think about the accident scene. I believe if Maura prepared and left UMASS earlier (say around noon to 2PM), she wouldn’t have crashed in Haverhill. The matter of not possibly knowing her driving route full circle, plus the utter darkness surrounding the road without street lights interfered with things. Whatever Maura intended to do in the north country was interrupted once her Saturn was damaged in New Hampshire. I would forgo my original plans and return to UMASS if I encountered the same situation on Route 112.

Nothing else matters when your transportation can no longer take you where you wanted to go.

She was stuck and under duress. Car accidents suck. You have to deal with police. You have to pay for damages. I was afraid during mine. My only train of thought was returning home and seeing my family. I didn’t care about anything else. 

My desperation would have led me to hitch a ride. Someone driving by could have cajoled Maura into their passenger seat, tricking her into thinking she’d call one of the Murray’s to pick her up. That never happened.

Speaking of the Saturn, Art and Maggie inspected the car for the first time. The Saturn is stationed somewhere outside in police property among a multitude of other cars. Little was said between Art and Maggie. The cracked windshield still remains along with miscellaneous objects inside the car, including an empty plastic soda bottle. The sight of the Saturn is something you gaze with little to lean on, other than it’s just damaged.

For people who have followed the case closely like I have, they heard Helena Murray’s bittersweet phone call with Art and Maggie. The reason I say bittersweet is because Helena passed away this past April. Helena was the family spokesperson and managed one Facebook group all regarding Maura’s case. Her recorded interaction mentioned adding Kathleen Murray, Maura’s older sister, into the mix.

According to a UMASS dorm supervisor, Maura was escorted from her Kennedy Hall side job because she broke down in tears over a phone call with Kathleen. People have wondered why Maura felt distraught days before she disappeared. 

Maura Murray

The interview we all have been waiting for finally happened when Kathleen stepped into the hotel room. The visual of Maggie and Kathleen facing each other on opposite beds is unforgettable. You can tell Kathleen was reluctant yet friendly while opening up to Maggie’s questions. Her big green eyes were very expressive. I feel like I had that same deer in the headlights look when I was interviewed on Missing Maura Murray (no offense intended).

I like Kathleen. She seems like a warm heart person, the same person who you see in the archived news clips from 13 years ago searching for her little sister. Her distinct Boston accent hasn’t slipped away. There is this vulnerable quality about Kathleen that you see where she doesn’t want to be judged. I’m protective that way too.

Kathleen opened up about the phone call she had with Maura. Her marriage to Tim Carpenter was burdened with drugs and alcohol back then. This seems to be the issue that affected Maura into tears. When you have something that personal happening in your life, you’re going to want to protect the details while also being candid on camera.

Kathleen has no clue why Maura headed to New Hampshire. If it didn’t have to do with the Hadley accident involving Fred’s Toyota, then her next best guess is “the boyfriend.” I love how Kathleen simply put it into those words…the boyfriend. Maura’s sisters back up on camera that she may have faced trust issues with Bill. Kathleen described Maura having this “look on her face” when Bill interacted with a waitress at the dinner table with the Murray’s.

A disdained look I bet.

I think Bill has a weak factor among females. This all seems to be substantiated with reports of females coming forward to James Renner about their private interactions with Bill. But even then, I don’t believe these accusations will resolve Maura’s case in some capacity. 

In her own words Kathleen very rarely saw Maura sad. Upfront you spot how much Fred, Julie, Kurt, and Kathleen loved Maura. In episode one, a flurry of news clips are shown together including Laurie Murray crying on camera. Those few seconds of reel demonstrate the heaviness and desperation families of the missing feel.

I think this Oxygen series and Maura’s case will get the Serial treatment. Lately I’ve seen Rolling Stone, E! News, Huffington Post, and Bustle posts articles related to the program. An upcoming episode of The Dr. Oz Show will discuss Maura’s disappearance along side Art, Maggie, and Julie making their very own appearances.

This case is hitting the public sphere more than ever.

A year ago I would have only imagined Crime Watch Daily covering the investigation. Everything that is circulating today is more than we asked for. We’re gonna see more podcasts, newspapers, and television shows present the case –even after the Oxygen show concludes.

I’m eager to see the rest. I wanna see that sit down with Jeff Strezlin. On the Youtube Oxygen page, I’ve already seen sneak peaks featuring Dick Guy (Haverhill EMT), Maura’s high school friends, and Carlos Rivera (former Amherst police officer).

This show continues being promising. Everyone involved is doing a great job. This Saturday I’ll be back watching what’s new. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oxygen Maura Murray series: Episode 1 – Everyone Has A Theory

The Oxygen series chronicling Maura Murray’s 2004 disappearance finally premiered last night. The amount of attention dedicated to people watching the premiere is something I hadn’t felt since all eyes and ears watched the Breaking Bad finale. Everybody was texting, live tweeting, and posting about the series in real time. 

Oxygen’s transition into crime programming is such a smart and impressive move. Years before Investigation Discovery, I relied on Oxygen for one of my true crime go-to’s: Snapped. Recently the channel did away with their ratchet reality shows and reruns of syndicated television shows (some were my guilty pleasures by the way).

Did you know Oprah Winfrey was one of the original founders of the Oxygen channel? Originally it was geared for female programming.

Fifteen years ago, CourtTV operated as the only crime network, which included one of my favorite shows, Forensic Files. CourtTV eventually transitioned into TruTV in 2008. 

These network reversals dictate what audiences are currently seeking in popular media. 

Before The Disappearance of Maura Murray was announced as an Oxygen docuseries at CrimeCon, I already knew this show was in the works, including that an unnamed female reporter would front the series. In my mind I could only think of Aphrodite Jones as the reporter taking on the case. There are only a few female crime journalists in mainstream media; Aphrodite’s name popped in my head has potentially the one. 

Instead it is Maggie Freleng who is leading the series. Maggie has previously worked for NPR. From what I’ve read online she’s dedicated her work towards mental health, social issues, gender and sexuality. While Maggie isn’t a primary crime reporter, she has covered far and wide for important causes. 

Right off the bat, Tim and Lance from the Missing Maura Murray podcast are introduced to the audience. The interviews between them and Maggie appear very natural, so that’s a good thing. The second main investigator joining alongside Maggie for this series is Art Roderick. Art formally operated as an air marshal and has assisted in famous cases such as the D.C. Sniper. Between these two new faces, they seem well intentioned, rational, and respectful with their project. 

The participation of the Murray family in this show is really good to see. It’s important for people to see they care and are searching for Maura. Fred, Julie, and Kurt all looked sincere and sweet on screen. 

I’ll say it right here and now that the Murray’s have nothing to hide. The internet speculation is wack. What is much left to say about a then missing 21 year old woman? 

Nothing. 

Silence does not mean indifference. Neither does it makes the Murray’s suspicious or complicit into what happened with Maura. The amount of media interviews a loved one gives still won’t demonstrate how much of an impact this case has affected them. When a case become dormant, who are we to judge? The only people who can determine the status of the investigation are the New Hampshire state police.

They’re the real gatekeepers in this saga. 

You heard it from Julie herself that police did not contact her. 

The controversial James Renner is brought forth in the final fifteen. Jame’s inclusion in the series seems important because he’s always been upfront and transparent about his research. Before the MMM podcast there was James’ very popular blog on Maura’s case. TRUE CRIME ADDICT transpired out of his reporting, which was another success for him. James’ in person interview with Maggie will show up in episode two.

Art Roderick and Maggie Freleng

Why did Maura Murray leave UMASS on the afternoon of Febuary 9, 2004? 

The spring semester began two weeks before in late January. Being back in Massachusetts meant that Maura returned from spending the holiday break with Bill and his family. She was back to being alone and taking on full time classes. Maura most likely missed him or the separation was causing a strain. Long distance relationships are a different animal, especially back in 2004, when you had even less devices to communicate with people. Cell phones, landlines, email, and instant online messaging were the main modes to talk. Today, social media and texting makes reaching someone much more accessible. 

Let’s say even if Maura vanished today in a smartphone world, I’m not sure we can know if she would have been rescued or traced. The rural and remote site of the car accident makes the case a lot more tough to unravel. 

Maura leaving UMASS for whatever reason may have been interpreted as her own self care. Facing the strict reality of school on her own –while just experiencing the first automobile accident two days before– was enough to just slip away for the meantime. Stress, anxiety, or depression Maura may have faced was put under the rug. 

The phone calls she made to the various North Country motels serve as a viable indication on her intended route. Who hasn’t called or written into work/school on a so-called-excused absence? Some people will say they’re “sick” or going to the doctor’s office. Maura’s excuse (‘family emergency’, possibly death related) happened to be the best because who is going to dispute that. 

I’m not so much the type to play hooky but I am a huge procrastinator. Wandering off and leaving my responsibilities behind means procrastination in my eyes. Doing what Maura did on that fateful February Monday signifies that I don’t want to deal with my problems or responsibilities for the moment. Missing a day or two of classes probably didn’t worry Maura because she knew she could handle the workload when she came back. When I play hooky, my lack of presence at work or school won’t be so necessary. 

Maura didn’t seem hooky enough to drink while driving, which is a great point made by Maggie on the show. Driving alongside Art on the route leading to the Haverhill crash site, Maggie mentioned Maura would have likely crashed on the sharper turned roads before the Route 112 location. In my opinion, I don’t believe Maura would be so irresponsible and inebriated to attempt those actions. 

The conversation about Maura won’t stop as the series continues for the next five weeks. 

For the newcomers who have just discovered the case, there is plenty of material to sift through between the podcast, blogs, and other miscellaneous works dedicated to Maura’s disappearance. I was featured on episode 43 of Missing Maura Murray, in case you just stumbled upon my blog for the first time. I’m planning on blogging further as the Oxygen series goes on.

I wish for resolution and peace on the Murray family. Hopefully this show grants them the answers they’ve needed for 13 years. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Joyce Kesse

Without digging too deep into Jennifer Kesse’s disappearance, you would fully understand she was a stand up citizen. Episode 8 of Unconcluded, focused simply and solely on Jennifer’s individuality and experiences with loved ones.

Just knowing the simple fact that she moved into her first apartment at 24 years old is enough to realize her mature responsibility. I’m galaxies away from properly adulting. Times today are different though.

Jen could make a killer mac and cheese. She could recite an entire rap song after a couple of listens. Even after one of her roommate’s was experiencing a tough breakup, Jen drove an hour to deal and comfort her friend. Overall it’s understood Jennifer was genial, compassionate, and considerate.

Again, I didn’t need to undertake these details to see Jennifer was a great person before Unconcluded came around. White noise, misinformation, and ignorance will make some people think a certain way about a missing or murdered person. Just like Drew Kesse said, Jennifer is not an object. Some of those people who view her as such do not grasp the big picture.

Besides that I’m glad Jen’s family and friends reinforce to the public that she was very conscious for her own safety. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand Jen possessed a low victimology profile.

I want to discuss the episodes involving the alleged witnesses who saw Jennifer before or after she disappeared.

Lisa from Tennessee rushed out of the blue. For a moment I thought she’s a raconteur. Possibly how she could have remembered specific details from an uncomfortable encounter that occurred in 2006 or 2007? While I’m sympathize with her story, I don’t believe Lisa actually witnessed Jennifer at the jewelry store. The incident sounds stranger than fiction. Likely it’s just mistaken identity. Anyways I appreciate that Lisa contacted the Unconcluded hosts, which led down the path for her speaking to the Orlando Police Department and the FBI.

Erica’s story is the one I keep thinking about. Back in early June, after I attended the final day of CrimeCon in Indianapolis, I listened to ‘Roundabout’ in my Airbnb. Given the proximity of the Northridge Apartments to the Mosaic at Millenia, I truly believe Erica encountered that brief meeting with Jennifer. I don’t think you can mistaken Jen introducing herself by name and having a real sit down about things. The specific detail about Kesse sounding cutely like the word ‘kisses’ and Jen’s unique physical description according to Erica sounds like a dead ringer. Things became all too real when she witnessed the local news circulating Jen’s disappearance in real time.

However, Erica’s description of seeing a blonde woman being sort of subdued on January 23, 2006, sounds weird to me. While she may have witnessed the uncomfortable encounter, I do not know whether the blonde was actually Jennifer herself.

Moreover, the episode ‘HOTG’ (short for the Huntington on the Green apartments) included a resident by the name of Flo. Flo sounds just as sincere as Lisa and Erica but it’s rather weird to come across Jennifer on January 24, 2006. Jen’s Chevy Malibu was dumped at the HOTG by noon. By the time she allegedly and politely greeted, “Hey, how ya doin?” to Flo around 3PM, Jen’s family frantically arrived at the Mosiac at Millenia. I haven’t seen a picture of the prostitute who resembles Jennifer, but I’m willingly to bet the prostitute greeted Flo on that day.

It’s been repeated that the construction workers employed for the Mosiac at Millenia catcalled Jen. Some women feel flattered by catcalling while other women do not appreciate getting recognized in this detached, sexualized manner. I’m sick of men addressing women this way. While this detail is likely not too significant to the investigation, it still indicates Jen felt discomfort with unwelcomed attention by strangers. It’s rather unfortunate that the workers could not be traced. It’s very possible someone close became fixated towards Jennifer.

USA Today, Herald Tribune, and Crime Watch Daily have contributed articles in the last two weeks dedicated to Unconcluded’s efforts in vocalizing Jen’s cold case. I’ve haven’t seen an investigative podcast gather local and national attention lately besides Serial and Accused. I hope the Tampa and Orlando news affiliates that interviewed Shaun become a game changer. It’s important to show a real face bringing this case to the surface. I’m sure the person of interest who dumped the Malibu at the HOTG watched the segments. He better not forget what’s going on. He should be sweating in fear.

Somebody knows who you are.

A GoFundMe page was created recently to support the Kesse’s in bringing more awareness to Jennifer’s case. I will be donating soon. Anyone who remotely cares about this investigation should offer financial help. So far over $1000 has generated — a great lead by far.