Nearly 18 years after UMass Amherst student Maura Murray disappeared, the FBI has issued a nationwide alert on her case.
“I got a notification just last week from the AG’s office that Maura’s case was going to be submitted into that database,” Maura’s sister, Julie Murray, told Boston 25 News.
The FBI is entering Maura’s case into its Violent Criminal Apprehension Program and issued a VICAP Missing Person Alert for all law enforcement.
“I always wonder why it took this long to put it into this powerful, powerful database where information can be shared,” Julie Murray said. “And they don’t just put anything into this data base. It’s cases where they seem random and motiveless. It’s cases like my sister’s where they have no idea what happened to them.”
On the day she disappeared, Maura Murray unexpectedly left UMass Amherst without telling anyone where she was going.
The VICAP alert includes Maura’s photos, identifying personal details, and basic information about her case.
According to the FBI’s website, VICAP is the largest investigative repository of major crime cases in the United States.
Julie Murray believes this is significant.
“This database is used particularly in instances where foul play is suspected. So that is a big indicator to me considering the state of NH has never classified Maura’s case as criminal, but this points in this direction that they have not ruled that out,” Murray said.
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