Everybody has secrets. Everybody lies. And in strange cases like the disappearance of Maura Murray, it's hard to tell what is relevant and what is not. I'm sharing this because it's odd and because I would like a little more information about it from sources who may read this blog.
Here's the gist. Kate Markopoulos was one of the last people to see Maura Murray before she disappeared in rural New Hampshire. Kate was with Maura and Maura's father at the restaurant two days before Maura disappeared and was with Maura at a party in the dorms later that night.
From the beginning I could tell Kate was not being entirely straight forward with me. She claims not to remember a single other soul who was at the party that night. She says she does not know what Maura was planning.
A source close to the investigation sent me a link this week to an article about Kate's father, who lives in Eastern New York. Daniel Markopoulos spent some time in prison. He tried to blow up his neighbor with a homemade bomb, in 1995. Got out of jail in 2000.
I spoke to Kate briefly, yesterday.
She says her dad was wrongfully imprisoned, though Daniel admitted his crime in court.
When researching crimes, you look for outliers. Kate is an outlier. She has a friend who disappeared. She has a father who committed a very unique and odd crime. Both astronomical improbabilities.
It may have nothing to do with anything. She may have been dealt a terrible hand by fate. And like I said, we all have secrets. But, in my opinion, it is important enough to share if only to get a more complete picture.
James, I wonder if this could be the man that phoned you and never got back to you? Maybe he had information and wanted to speak with kate before he let the information out and Kate said no.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought maybe I had been watching too many Columbo mysteries. Now I am starting to think you have too. When you research a case like this, in my opinion, the number one thing you should look for is evidence. What evidence suggests that the crime scene is real or that there is more to the story?
ReplyDeleteHere is a good question that I want the answer to: Why when the bus driver stops and talks to Maura is she still sitting in the car? I hit a pothole the other day and the first thing on my mind when I pulled over was to check what damage had been done to my car. So what is another piece of evidence that could be important? Footprints. I think someone if they were in an accident would want to get out of their car and go in front of it checking to see how much damage was done. I would expect their would be footprints and some big gaping footprints when her she sunk into the snowbank and treked in front of the car to check the damage. It is these types of questions that I would like answered because with any type of case you need proof or all you have is theories.
When I wrote papers in college that is what my professor told me.
Courts need proof. Investigators need hunches and theories; otherwise, very few crimes would be solved.
DeleteSo? Kate's father being a criminal relates to Kate how? Its got nothing to do with her, can't pick your parents. She was an avg college age girl like Maura. If Kate and her father had some history of running a kidnapping ring or something, that might be something relevant.
ReplyDeleteKate probably does know more than she is saying, alot of people close to Maura probably do. Yes, it is very weird that she would not remember another soul at that party, yes, you probably DID read her right when you interviewed her. Maybe she was involved in helping Maura "run" (if thats what happened). Whatever she did, or did not do, has nothing to do with her Dad.
I hope your book will stick to whats relevant and not be filled with useless tangents like this blog can be.
Maura's Father told her friend's to keep their mouth's shut and NOT talk to the media! Also if you have parent's that are bad role models you may be more prone to LIE!
DeleteI find it very strange her father told her friends to keep quiet.if my child was missing I would want as much publicity as possible
DeleteDan is a hardworking down home country boy, and one of the best people I have had the pleasure of calling a true friend!! I just wanted to speak on him.
DeleteI think the explicit and implicit criticism of James' raising this is not warranted. First, it is public record so nobody's privacy has been violated. Second, he has not written about it but instead shared with a small group of people who watch this blog. Third, it is entirely correct to say that outliers are the rocks you turn over looking for evidence, notwithstanding the comment above that distinguishes outliers from evidence in a manner to suggest that James is fishing or being sensationalist. For just one example, in the case of a bank robbery of embezzlement, one outlier that will get investigators turning over rocks looking for evidence is a relative of someone close to the corpus of the crime whose lifestyle suddenly changes (i.e. new expensive car far beyond their prior means.) If on some principle of unfair suggestion resulting an investigator did not follow outliers to see if they pertained to something relevant, many cases would never get solved. There is no "evidence" that Bruce did anything to Maura, but he was an "outlier" in the sense that among a sample of randomly selected people in NH, 1 in a million saw Maura 10 minutes before she disappeared. Following the implied reasoning of two of the above comments, Bruce would never have been investigated and ruled out, because - according to those comments - investigators should look for "evidence" not at "outliers." Looking at outlying behaviors and circumstances is probably the first approach of every investigator to every crime that does not immediately get solved. Lets stay reasonable here. James started this blog to share his investigative efforts with people in the hope of gleaning insights that would increase his chances of getting his hands on evidence. If he goes and writes a long chapter about this guy when no such connection is found, then - yes - I am with those who criticized above. But it does not appear to me that that is his intention. Instead, he is allowing people to look in at his process and hoping that by so doing he will get some help.
ReplyDeleteJohn Green
I cannot imagine what Kate has gone through as a result of her father being in prison. My heart goes out to her and I pray that she has been able to deal with her situation in a positive and healing manner. I do not judge her based on who her father is or what he has or has not done.
ReplyDeleteIn thinking about the struggles Kate has undoubtedly experienced I am reminded of how all of us have traumatic events in life that we are left to deal with. Take your recent post regarding your grandfather who sexually abused his own family members. We do not need to know the victims to understand that they have gone through a horrific and traumatic experience. They have to live with the abuse everyday and have developed methods to help them survive. Some may be healthy, some may be destructive but in the end they are trying to live their life as best they can given these horrible events they experienced.
I share these thoughts in part because I believe that Maura's disappearance has had a huge impact on those she left behind. I do not know how the father or her siblings or her boyfriend or how any has dealt with her disappearance but I suspect they are still trying to deal with the pain caused by it. It wasn't that long ago and I would guess that they are still trying to learn how to live with her disappearance and the trauma that they experience when she went missing. For the first time I believe that perhaps the family is not speaking with you James because they are not done healing and have not dealt with what happened to Maura or what happened to them as a result of her disappearance.
You have suggested that if people do not speak with you they must be hiding something. I have not had strong feelings on the matter but have agreed with your logic in the matter to date. Now, as I start to think of Kate and her father, your grandfather and the evil things he did to his own family, or even the Rausch family and the fact they had a family member commit suicide I am reminded of the pain this event has caused others and I wonder if they are not speaking with you because your efforts to uncover the truth have reopened their own wounds as they have tried to except this horrible tragedy.
I am so pleased that you are writing this book and commend you for your efforts James and I do not believe that you mean anyone harm. I also now believe that those who loved Maura the most are on their own journey of healing and no matter how kind you are James or how well intended you can be; I suspect that your efforts have caused pain to those who are not speaking with you. It seems obvious to me now that for this simple, emotional and yet all powerful reason these people are not speaking with you. Fred may have ultimate control over everyone (I find that very very hard to believe) or perhaps those closest to her all of the same reason for not speaking with you James.
I really wish you could speak with them. Have you tried reaching out to them and explaining to them that you understand their pain and heart ache and that you have no intention of adding to their misery and sadness? I believe in compassion and the emotional connection between human beings. Who knows, maybe it might work. I wish you would try to reach out one last time in a sensitive and caring fashion. It would be great if they would open up as a result and provide further insight into what happened to Maura.
Best of luck James.
It defies logic that, if a person goes missing, the family would not be exceedingly grateful for any attention given to the case, especially when the case has gone cold. In fact, a published author offering to "reopen" the case would be a dream come true to most families of missing persons.
DeleteThis much I know. When a person goes missing, until the person/body is found, the family doesn't seek healing by discouraging public attention and investigation. Period. Unless, of course, they have something to hide.
I always believed the same thing, James. It seems a little weird and unusual to me, that a person can not recall an important date that held a lot of significance to it. I went to a state university almost 10 years ago, in yet.. i recall the very first hall party I attended, and I even remember a few girls who were at that party.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite past time is reading true crime books, and watching any cold case file. It's odd how in most all cases, everyone else in other cases can remember important things in detail..this girl can't. But she can remember the exact booze they were drinking, and what they mixed it with.
I believe Kate was the one who said she 'didnt want to get Maura in trouble.' Gee, I wish she would emphasize on that a little bit, don't you? It isn't like we have a missing human being here...
That makes me left to consider that Maura is still alive, and Kate knows it. Why else would someone be afraid to get another individual in trouble?
One last comment people can take either way, but for me i always thought was strange. There is a 'Maura Murray Missing' website on Facebook, I started 'following' it months ago. From what I can see not a single one of Maura's friends follow it. I just think it seems odd to me that she was supposedly very close to her Hanson high school friends, in yet.. not a single one of them follow the case or even just add the facebook page? I agree that some people want to leave the past in the past, but I would think atleast one of them would follow it?
Were you able to interview any of her professors at Amherst? Did she have room mates at West Point? I think an excellent source to interview would be someone with no connections or ties to her family..unbiased, maybe someone who lived on the same floor as her, or worked with her.
One could see a scenario where Maura,Fred,and Kate hatched a plan that weekend that may have involved the help of Kate's criminal father. Maybe the 4K was to pay him to assist in getting Maura out of Dodge and delivering her to an unknown destination to go into hiding. It sounds far-fetched, but also sounds possible at the same time. One truth is known now for sure: Kate's entire story of the weekend is called into questioning. For all we know, the dorm party is a lie, since she can't name anyone who was there. I'm actually surprised she talked to you at all, James. Also I'm glad to see John Green back on here again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Herm. It is nice to be reading your posts.
Delete~John Green
This could be nothing more than coincidence. Crime is crime, and someone has to be related to criminals.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, if you decided to disappear, knowing someone without scruples would be a benefit.
I agree that it's a coincidence.Kate probably didn't want to continue being interviewed by various people about Maura because it would draw attention to herself, or her father's situation. She isn't even related to Maura and just because she was friends with her in college, she's been drawn into this case that's gone on for years. It is very strange that she can't remember anyone at the party. I agree with Herm. Maybe there never was a dorm party. Why would she lie if Maura truly was missing? Everyone has parties at the college dorms. So what's the big deal? Perhaps Maura was there with a date? Maybe the date that she ran away with in a few days? Maybe a person that wasn't supposed to be there like a professor, coach or teacher assistant attended the party? I still remember at least some of the faces of the people who were on my hall in college and that was 15 years ago. If I saw a yearbook I could probably remember more based on the pictures. I know that there are lots of parties in college, but usually the same groups of people hang out together most weekends.
DeleteMy instinctual reaction to the information in your post is that Kate definitely knows more than she's telling about Maura's disappearance, and possibly knows where Maura is. I don't get the feeling she was involved in any foul play, however. The fact that her father was in prison for trying to bomb a neighbor...I don't think her father is involved in Maura's disappearance. However, it does indicate to me there is a tight friendship bond between the two girls, as there often is if their fathers have similar personalities. Although I don't think Fred is a bad guy in any way, he does appear to be obsessive to the extreme, and that trait would be shared by a man who retaliates against a neighbor in such an extreme manner.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that we have so many psychologists to fill in the holes where there are no facts and so many unknowns. Otherwise, people wouldn't actually believe so many of these insane theories.
ReplyDeleteMaybe her father helped get new id.
ReplyDeleteThere's always this defense of Fred, Kate, or anyone close to Maura that are not talking or being straight because they are trying to protect flaws within the family, whether it's Maura's or their own. How insane is that? Honestly that's such a feeble attempt to explain away the obvious. For one, very few people follow this case. It's not like if we find out if Fred or Kate hid Maura in Europe it would ruin his or her life. He's damn near 70. Since when is telling the truth so bad? Secondly, there is a missing person here. A friend. A daughter. A loved one. Maybe some folks like Fred or Kate should put personal egos aside and be honest for once. This whole thing points to a cover up.
ReplyDeleteI am sure Kate knew Maura well. With close friends words don't need to be said, demeanor says a lot. Maura may not have told her directly what she was going through but Kate as a good friend can put most of the pieces together.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that...."FEAR is a strong emotion that can leave many speachless"
The search for a new car-never happened
ReplyDeleteWent to a party and the person she is with does not remember anyone who was there-ridiculous
Father spends the day doing what-It was not car shopping
She went somewhere else other than a party especially during the latter hours before the accident
She smacks up dad's new car
She finally has to get away from the drinking and the cheating
Since high school the perfect girl has failed and now is falling apart. She cannot accept all this failure. She was a winner who could not stand the losing.
The accident is the last straw
I am afraid that she is gone and has been since that fateful evening
MDW
Perhaps the Murray Family has "visions" of celebrated true crime author and Green Beret Kill Jeffrey MacDonald dancing in their heads?
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me is that having a close relative who is mentally disturbed enough to build a bomb and possibly murder means Kate had a severely dysfunctional family shaping her. So did Maura--alcoholism, and her theft, tells me that Maura's life was chaotic. I'm sure the two of them had a lot in common and felt very comfortable around each other since their personalities are probably very similar. I wonder if Kate's silence is due to her knowing that the plan that Maura hatched resulted in her death? She may feel guilty and not willing to talk about her feelings of responsibility.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Kate was with her? Maybe Kate went back to Amherst and packed up her room to make it look like a runaway scenario?
DeleteLook, god help that young lady with what she has been through. Good odds she just somebody who had some tough times growing up and then tragically lost her friend. So, if these words should ever get back Kate, please know that I don't mean accuse or be insensitive. But at the same, it is not possible to have a dialog about a case like this without raising conjectures about people around it. Moreover, with those willing to think and analyze the case so spread out geographically, there would be no discussion at all but for a public, written forum. So it is unavoidable.
So, with a twang of guilt, I raise the proposition. I think it is an interesting idea that someone traveling with Maura went back and packed up her room to make it look like a runaway.
~ John Green
James, I'm a huge fan. That said, I don't think this relates to Maura at all. You're grasping at straws at best. Kate should not have to live in the shadow of her father's crime or her friend's disappearance. She was kind enough to meet with you. Let her go on with her life.
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell me If Maura's key were locked in her car or were they with her ?
ReplyDelete