Clearing out all the Red Herrings in the disappearance of Maura Murray

The armchair detective podcast

Today we learned that Cecil Smith is no longer with us. My thoughts and prayers go out to Cecil’s family and friends. My co-host Kasey and I decided to do a podcast episode to clear out all the red herrings in Maura Murray’s disappearance.

During this episode, we talk about a list of questions I had sent to John Healey, a private investigator who looked into Maura’s disappearance. There was a total of 40 questions I sent him and out of the 40 questions, all ended up being red herrings in his opinion!

Please feel free to leave a comment.

*Edit*

Below is the list of questions sent to John Healey:

All of these are red herrings…

For those not familiar with the definition of a red herring, it is something, especially a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting.

1. The night Maura Murray had a breakdown and cried supposedly because of a call from her sister Kathleen about her drinking. Do you believe this has any impact on Maura’s disappearance or is it a red herring?
2. There were rumors about Maura packing her things in the dorm as if she was moving, is there any truth to this or is it a red herring?
3. There was a lot of different speculations about Fred Murray and the $4000. What do you think about this and would you qualify this as a red herring?
4. The Petrit Vasi hit and run was for the longest time a source of rumor and speculation in Maura’s disappearance. Do you believe Maura hit Petrit Vasi, if not do you believe this is a red herring?
5. The accident and party the night of the accident that Maura had with Fred’s vehicle in Hadley, do you believe this has anything to do with her disappearance or is it a red herring?
6. The ATM video was for the longest time a source of speculation in Maura’s disappearance. Do you believe this to be important to her disappearance or just another red herring?
7. The Londerry ping was for a long time a source of speculation. Do you believe the Londerry ping is important to Maura’s disappearance? If not, do you think it’s a red herring?
8. There were also many speculations about the accident scene and potential staging of the accident scene. Do you believe there was any tampering with either the vehicle or the accident scene? If not, do you believe this is a red herring?
9. The rag in the tailpipe was for the longest time a source of speculation. Do you believe it’s prevalent to Maura’s disappearance, and if not do you believe it’s a red herring?
10. The witness statements given by Butch Atwood changed several times during the following days/weeks and years after Maura disappeared. Do you believe Butch Atwood was telling the truth? If not, do you believe he knew more? Or was his witness statement another red herring?
11. There was another witness knows only as witness A for the longest time. She claimed to have seen a police cruiser 001 (suv) parked nose to nose with the Saturn. Is this true and if not, is it a red herring?
12. The tip given by Rick Forcier three months after Maura disappeared where he claims to have seen someone fitting Maura’s description near 112 and 116. Do you believe this tip to be accurate or is this another red herring in this case?
13. The so called “loon mountain three”, do you believe this to be a credible lead, if not do you think it’s a red herring?
14. The pickup truck with the Massachusetts plates seen at the store less than a mile from the crash site, do you believe this to be a credible lead or a red herring?
15. Author James Renner believes Maura was pregnant when she disappeared. Is there any truth to this or is it a red herring?
16. There were some internet rumors that state Maura Murray fled to Canada to start a new life. Do you believe this to be credible or a red herring?
17. The rusty knife supposedly given to Fred by one of the Moulton’s, do you believe this to be related to Maura’s disappearance? Or is it a red herring?
18. In the same note, do you believe that the A-frame house was involved in Maura’s disappearance or is it a red herring?
19. Early on, the Haverhill police department was quick to say that Maura had driven down to the white mountains with the intentions of ending her life. Do you believe Maura was suicidal or do you believe this to be a red herring?
20. There have been many speculations and rumors about Maura Murray’s disappearance being part of some police conspiracy. Do you believe there is a conspiracy, or can we put this down as another red herring?
21. There are rumors that Maura went to a party the night she disappeared and that she was later buried in a basement, the same basement that the Murray’s are trying to have the NHSP dig up? Do you believe this to be a valid lead or a red herring?
22. Would you agree that there were many errors and misinformation in the Oxygen documentary about Maura’s disappearance?
23. There are rumors that Maura is buried in the basement of a home near the crash site, do you believe this to be a valid lead or another red herring?
24. There were internet rumors that state you went to Florida to interview Butch Atwood. Did Butch Atwood know more, and do you believe he was hiding something? If not is this a red herring?
25. There are rumors that Maura went down Old Peter’s road. Do you believe this is the case or another red herring?
26. There are rumors Maura went down Bradley Hill Rd, do you believe this to be the case or is it another red herring?
27. Faith Westman wrote a letter complaining about people trespassing on her property. Soon after, Jeffrey Williams advised that people searching for Maura could be arrested for trespassing. Do you believe this has anything to do with Maura’s disappearance? If not, do you believe it’s a red herring?
28. There have been new witnesses coming forward that claim that Maura’s door was open and trees that Maura hit were cut down. Do you believe this is relevant to her disappearance, or is time more Red Herrings?
29. There have been many speculations, mostly by James Renner that Bill Rausch is somehow involved in Maura’s disappearance. Do you believe this to be the case, if not do you believe it’s more red herrings?
30. Another rumor has Maura working as an informant either for law enforcement or Umass Amherst. Do you think this is true, if not is it another red herring?
31. Yet another rumor has Maura in witness protection. Is this true and if not is it another red herring?
32. There has been speculation that Maura is still alive, what do you think about that? Do you think Maura is alive? If not, is this a red herring?
33. There have been speculations about potential involvement by Jeffrey Williams. Is there any truth to this or is it a red herring?
34. Another rumor is that Maura ran off to be with a new boyfriend, do you believe this to be the case? If not, do you believe it’s a red herring?
35. There has been speculation about Kathleen Carpenter (Maura’s sister) and her ex Tim Carpenter of being involved in Maura’s disappearance. Is there any truth to this or is it a red herring?
36. There are other rumors that say the Murrays know more but are keeping quiet about what actually happened to Maura and everything they are doing is a publicity stunt to garner more attention and make it seem they grieve Maura or is this a red herring?
37. Another rumor is the possible involvement of officer Bruce McKay in Maura’s disappearance. Do you believe there is any truth to this or is this just a red herring?
38. Yet another rumor has Liko Kenny somehow attached to Maura’s disappearance. I know he apparently did help with searches but is there any truth to this or is it another red herring?
39. There was much speculation about the dogs that traced Maura’s scent all the way in front of Butch Atwood’s house. Do you believe this is important to Maura’s disappearance or yet another red herring?
40. Do you think this case is solvable?