Dr. Maurice Godwin helps with Investigation & Sample Testing Update

Dr. Maurice Godwin & Fred Murray in New Hampshire

Over the past year, despite the pandemic, our family has continued to move forward searching for Maura and we'd like to update everyone on recent developments to include an exciting new partnership.  

Our family is consulting with Dr. Maurice Godwin, PhD, a renowned forensic profiler specializing in investigative psychology, crime scene analysis, missing persons, and geographic profiling of abductors and serial murders.  He is an expert in his field; has appeared on national TV and news segments, authored several books, and runs his own forensic consultancy group out of North Carolina.   

Dr. Godwin met with my father last month in New Hampshire to review the area on Route 112 where Maura’s car was found.  They spent a couple days visiting areas of interest and discussing details of her disappearance.  Dr. Godwin is a true professional and we are grateful to have someone of his caliber on the case.   Some of you may be familiar with his work on the DC sniper and Tara Grindstead case.  He prides himself on finding evidence that others have missed, something that we so desperately need.  Thank you Dr. Godwin!

Over the past few years our family has obtained several samples from multiple areas of interest for testing. With mixed emotions we can report that the majority of the samples were either too degraded to provide definitive results or could not be connected to Maura at this time.  Two of the samples were sent to labs in California and Florida for headspace analysis and an advanced technique called LIBS (laser induced breakdown spectroscopy).  We are hopeful those tests will produce some results.  For a grieving family desperate for answers this was disappointing; however, after some reflection we realized we can now shift focus elsewhere. 

Additionally, during the spring we worked with an independent cadaver dog, who searched an area of interest from a tip provided by a local.  The cadaver dog did not alert at this location.  Nonetheless, the search continues and we remain hopeful. 

A note on the trolling:  We are aware of the trolling surrounding Maura’s case.  We believe it is the work of a sadistic coward who has been trolling the case for a very long time.  His behavior calls into question the sourcing behind much of the information reported as fact in Maura’s case.  We are actively working with the authorities to put an end to this cruelty.  Julie speaks to Amanda Knox about this topic, specifically Ethics in True Crime Journalism, in Season 2 of her podcast Labyrinths, and we will post the episode on the media page on the official website once it is released. 

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