| VTSP/NHSP Press Conference - 06-08-04 |
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VERMONT STATE POLICENEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
CASE #: 04A201455
Date: Tuesday June 8, 2004
Location: St. Albans Vermont
Incident/Violation: Brianna Maitland
Missing Person InvestigationMontgomery Vermont
Maura Murray Missing Person Investigation
Haverhill New Hampshire
MULTI-AGENCY CASE REVIEW MEETING
For the better part of this day the Vermont State Police, the New Hampshire State Police, and the FBI, met at
the VSP Barracks in St. Albans Vermont to continue to review the Brianna Maitland and Maura Murray Missing
Person cases. This is a cooperative effort between these law enforcement agencies that has been ongoing
since the beginning of these investigations. The lead investigative agencies; the New Hampshire State Police
and the Vermont State Police, have concluded at this time that there is no connection between these cases. It
is also important to reiterate that there is also no connection whatsoever between these Missing Person cases
and the Whitney Homicide case from last week in Lamoille County. “There is no serial killer on the loose in the
area” stated Captain Bruce W. Lang, Chief Criminal Investigator of the VSPs’ Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Captains’ remarks were in reference to apparent speculation in the area media recently with regard to the
three cases.
Special Agent D.J. Corbet of the Burlington Vermont office of the FBI participated in the joint agency meeting.
SA Corbet reiterated that the FBI has been involved with both missing person investigations since the onset of
each. The FBI has offered several resources and continued support to the two state police agencies heading
these cases and will continue to do so in the future.
The State Police in both Vermont and New Hampshire continue to seek the public’s help in providing factual
information and tips relevant to either the Maitland or Murray cases as the efforts continue to locate these
missing women.
A synopsis of the 3-month investigation in into the disappearance of Brianna Maitland is as follows:Lt. Thomas
M. Nelson, BCI Commander for A Troop North at St. Albans released the following synopsis if the investigative
actions taken in the Maitland case to date:
Brianna Maitland Age 17 (DOB 10-08-86) of Franklin Vermont was last seen at her place of employment, the
Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery Vermont on March 19, 2004. Brianna left work in her vehicle at 23:20 hours
(11:20 PM) on that date. Maitland’s car was found the next day (20th) with its back end connected to, after
having struck, an abandoned farmhouse on Rte #118, a short distance from work. Bruce and Kellie Maitland
reported Brianna as a missing person on March 23rd. Brianna had left high school and previously been
reported as a runaway by her father in 2003. Before disappearing on the 19th she had not been living with her
parents for several months, living with friends and recently staying with one of them at that friend’s house in
Sheldon, VT. The investigation has shown that Brianna Maitland had made unhealthy life style choices in her
life prior to her disappearance. Specifically she had become involved in the world of illegal drugs in the area
where she lived. Her association with people involved in this activity is an area of focus for the investigators.
Shortly after the Bureau of Criminal Investigation division became involved with this case on the 25th, it has
been handled with a major case emphasis such as that given to homicides and other major criminal incidents.
Numerous law enforcement agencies and resources have been utilized in the investigation, such as those in
the following list:
SUBJECT INTERVIEWS:· 61 individuals have been interviewed, some of them multiple times.
COURT ORDERED SEARCHES / ACTIONS:· 1 search warrant has been conducted at the residence of a
person known to Brianna and believed involved in illegal drugs. This resulted in the confiscation of 4.5 grams of
crack, and the identification of 2 firearms. One subject has been ordered into District Court to face criminal
charges and this case is pending.· 6 subpoenas for telephone records have been requested through Vermont
District Court for records. The records to be reviewed for possible leads.· 7 persons who know Brianna
Maitland were subpoenaed to testify under oath before a Vermont District Court Judge.
FORENSIC SCIENCE & EVIDENCE GATHERING· The Vermont Forensic Laboratory Crime Scene response
team has conducted a Forensic analysis on the Maitland vehicle.· The FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit has been
consulted.
II. An overview of the Law Enforcement Agencies Involved in the Brianna Maitland Missing Person Investigation·
FBI
i. Behavioral Sciences Unit Quantico
ii. VICAP
iii. Burlington Field Office ·
New Hampshire State Police
i. The lead and supervising detectives on the Maura Murray missing person case have been consulted.
· New York City Police Department
i. VICE unit
ii. 22nd Precinct Queens
iii. Police Headquarters
· Montreal Police
· Lawrence Ma. Police Department
· Mass. State Police Northampton
· U.S. Marshals Service
· U.S. Attorney’s Office Burlington
· DEA
· Burlington Police Department
· Vermont State Police
i. Uniform division St. Albans Barracks
ii. Intelligence Unit
iii. Search and Rescue Team
iv. K-9 unit
v. Scuba Team
vi. Polygraph Unit
vii. Vermont Criminal Information Center
viii. Northern Vermont Drug Task Force
ix. Vermont Forensic Laboratory
· Vermont Department of Corrections - Probation and Parole
i. St. Albans office
ii. Burlington office
iii. Newport Office
III. Other Agencies contacted or otherwise utilized in the case:
· Vermont Social & Rehabilitative Services Department
· National Center for Missing and Exploited Children· National Center for Missing Adults· National Crime
Information Center (NCIC)
· Vermont Air National Guard (Helicopter)
· Canadian Missing Children’s Network
· Champlain Valley Crime Stoppers
· Klaas Kids Organization
· Americas Most Wanted Website
· Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Award Foundation
Anyone with information on the Brianna Maitland Missing Person case is urged to contact either Vermont State
Police Detective Sergeant Glynn or Detective Lieutenant Nelson at the St. Albans Barracks #802-524-5993
Lt. John Scarinza is the “F” Troop Commander of the New Hamsphire State Police. He and Detective Sgt. Bob
Bruno also of Troop “F”, participated in the meeting. Lt. John Scarinza released the following synopsis of the
Maura Murray Missing Person Investigation conducted by his department:
Maura Murray Missing Person Investigation
St Albans, VermontJune 8, 2004
On Monday, February 9th at approx 7:30 pm, Maura Murray, a University of Massachusetts College Student
was involved in a single vehicle accident on Rt. 112 in the town of Haverhill, NH. When Haverhill Police arrived
at the scene approx 8-10 minutes later they found the vehicle locked with no one around.
To date an extensive investigation has been conducted into the disappearance of Maura Murray. The following
information has been learned.
On Saturday Feb 7th Maura spent the evening out with her father and friends at a local brew pub. Later that
evening, in the early morning hours of Sunday the 8th of February, Maura was involved in a single vehicle
accident in the town of Hadley, Mass. She was driving her fathers’ new car at the time of the accident, and
struck a set of guardrails causing approx 10,000 dollars damage to the vehicle.
By Monday morning, Feb. 9th Maura had packed up all her belongings in her dorm room at U-Mass, putting
everything neatly in boxes and putting all the boxes on her bed along with a personal note she had recently
received from her boyfriend. She went on the Internet and looked up directions and overnight accommodations
in the Bartlett, NH area as well as Burlington, VT area. She withdrew most of her money from her personal bank
account. She sent e-mails to her supervisor at work as well as a college professor saying she would be absent
from work and school for a week due to a death in the family.
There was no death in the family.
She did not tell her family, her friends or her classmates that she was planning to leave school for the week.
She left Massachusetts at approx. 4:30 PM in the afternoon of February 9th, 2004
At approx. 7:30 pm Maura was involved in a single vehicle accident on Rt. 112 in the town of Haverhill, NH. This
accident was the second accident she had had in three days. The vehicle she was driving at the time of her
second accident was also her father’s car, one that he had loaned to her to use while at school.
Very shortly after the accident had occurred, a passerby stopped and offered assistance. Maura seemed to be
uninjured, and refused assistance, and stated that she had called Triple-A to come tow the vehicle. In fact there
was no cell phone coverage in that area and Triple-A was never called.
When the passerby stated that he was going to call local law enforcement to come and assist, Maura pleaded
with him not to call the police.
Investigators are also aware of some additional stresses that were occurring in Maura’s life at the time of these
events to include a difficult long distance relationship with her boyfriend in Oklahoma.
At the accident scene in Haverhill, there were no signs of any struggle, or any other evidence, which would
indicate that a crime had been committed.At the time of Maura’s disappearance, there was approx. 2 ½ feet of
snow on the ground. Searchers were able to easily distinguish deer and moose tracks in the area, and the
snow cover greatly assisted the searchers in eliminating possible area’s where Maura could have traveled off of
the main roads in the area. The snow greatly aided the search from the air, also due to the fact that any person
who would have wandered off the road and into the woods would have left a trail that would readily be seen
from the air.
To date, there have been 5 air searches with the New Hampshire State Police Helicopter.
There have been searches with Bloodhounds or K-9 search and rescue teams in the area surrounding the
accident site on at least 4 separate occasions.
The area in and around the accident scene has been extensively searched on the ground. This effort has been
co-coordinated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which is charged with all search and rescue
efforts in New Hampshire.
State, local and Federal law enforcement agencies have been involved in the investigation into the
disappearance of Maura Murray.
Investigators believe that Maura was headed for an unknown destination and may have accepted a ride in
order to continue to that location.
Investigators are hoping to speak with anyone who may have given Maura a ride sometime after 7:30 pm on
Feb 9th in or around the Haverhill, NH area. Also, if anyone has any personal knowledge of why Maura was
leaving school, where she was headed, or what her intended destination was, this information would be
extremely helpful to assist investigators in locating Maura.
Based upon the evidence gathered to date, New Hampshire State Police investigators strongly feel that the
disappearance of Maura Murray does not have a common link with the investigation into the disappearance of
Brianna Maitland in Vermont.
We continue however to work with our counterparts in the Vermont State Police, and local and federal law
enforcement in our effort to locate both of these missing young women.
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Maura Murray is urged to contact the New Hampshire
State Police at #603-846-3333
Auth: Lt. John K. Scarinza, Commander, Troop F
PRESS RELEASE
CASE #: 04A201455
Date: Tuesday June 8, 2004
Location: St. Albans Vermont
Incident/Violation: Brianna Maitland
Missing Person InvestigationMontgomery Vermont
Maura Murray Missing Person Investigation
Haverhill New Hampshire
MULTI-AGENCY CASE REVIEW MEETING
For the better part of this day the Vermont State Police, the New Hampshire State Police, and the FBI, met at
the VSP Barracks in St. Albans Vermont to continue to review the Brianna Maitland and Maura Murray Missing
Person cases. This is a cooperative effort between these law enforcement agencies that has been ongoing
since the beginning of these investigations. The lead investigative agencies; the New Hampshire State Police
and the Vermont State Police, have concluded at this time that there is no connection between these cases. It
is also important to reiterate that there is also no connection whatsoever between these Missing Person cases
and the Whitney Homicide case from last week in Lamoille County. “There is no serial killer on the loose in the
area” stated Captain Bruce W. Lang, Chief Criminal Investigator of the VSPs’ Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Captains’ remarks were in reference to apparent speculation in the area media recently with regard to the
three cases.
Special Agent D.J. Corbet of the Burlington Vermont office of the FBI participated in the joint agency meeting.
SA Corbet reiterated that the FBI has been involved with both missing person investigations since the onset of
each. The FBI has offered several resources and continued support to the two state police agencies heading
these cases and will continue to do so in the future.
The State Police in both Vermont and New Hampshire continue to seek the public’s help in providing factual
information and tips relevant to either the Maitland or Murray cases as the efforts continue to locate these
missing women.
A synopsis of the 3-month investigation in into the disappearance of Brianna Maitland is as follows:Lt. Thomas
M. Nelson, BCI Commander for A Troop North at St. Albans released the following synopsis if the investigative
actions taken in the Maitland case to date:
Brianna Maitland Age 17 (DOB 10-08-86) of Franklin Vermont was last seen at her place of employment, the
Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery Vermont on March 19, 2004. Brianna left work in her vehicle at 23:20 hours
(11:20 PM) on that date. Maitland’s car was found the next day (20th) with its back end connected to, after
having struck, an abandoned farmhouse on Rte #118, a short distance from work. Bruce and Kellie Maitland
reported Brianna as a missing person on March 23rd. Brianna had left high school and previously been
reported as a runaway by her father in 2003. Before disappearing on the 19th she had not been living with her
parents for several months, living with friends and recently staying with one of them at that friend’s house in
Sheldon, VT. The investigation has shown that Brianna Maitland had made unhealthy life style choices in her
life prior to her disappearance. Specifically she had become involved in the world of illegal drugs in the area
where she lived. Her association with people involved in this activity is an area of focus for the investigators.
Shortly after the Bureau of Criminal Investigation division became involved with this case on the 25th, it has
been handled with a major case emphasis such as that given to homicides and other major criminal incidents.
Numerous law enforcement agencies and resources have been utilized in the investigation, such as those in
the following list:
SUBJECT INTERVIEWS:· 61 individuals have been interviewed, some of them multiple times.
COURT ORDERED SEARCHES / ACTIONS:· 1 search warrant has been conducted at the residence of a
person known to Brianna and believed involved in illegal drugs. This resulted in the confiscation of 4.5 grams of
crack, and the identification of 2 firearms. One subject has been ordered into District Court to face criminal
charges and this case is pending.· 6 subpoenas for telephone records have been requested through Vermont
District Court for records. The records to be reviewed for possible leads.· 7 persons who know Brianna
Maitland were subpoenaed to testify under oath before a Vermont District Court Judge.
FORENSIC SCIENCE & EVIDENCE GATHERING· The Vermont Forensic Laboratory Crime Scene response
team has conducted a Forensic analysis on the Maitland vehicle.· The FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit has been
consulted.
II. An overview of the Law Enforcement Agencies Involved in the Brianna Maitland Missing Person Investigation·
FBI
i. Behavioral Sciences Unit Quantico
ii. VICAP
iii. Burlington Field Office ·
New Hampshire State Police
i. The lead and supervising detectives on the Maura Murray missing person case have been consulted.
· New York City Police Department
i. VICE unit
ii. 22nd Precinct Queens
iii. Police Headquarters
· Montreal Police
· Lawrence Ma. Police Department
· Mass. State Police Northampton
· U.S. Marshals Service
· U.S. Attorney’s Office Burlington
· DEA
· Burlington Police Department
· Vermont State Police
i. Uniform division St. Albans Barracks
ii. Intelligence Unit
iii. Search and Rescue Team
iv. K-9 unit
v. Scuba Team
vi. Polygraph Unit
vii. Vermont Criminal Information Center
viii. Northern Vermont Drug Task Force
ix. Vermont Forensic Laboratory
· Vermont Department of Corrections - Probation and Parole
i. St. Albans office
ii. Burlington office
iii. Newport Office
III. Other Agencies contacted or otherwise utilized in the case:
· Vermont Social & Rehabilitative Services Department
· National Center for Missing and Exploited Children· National Center for Missing Adults· National Crime
Information Center (NCIC)
· Vermont Air National Guard (Helicopter)
· Canadian Missing Children’s Network
· Champlain Valley Crime Stoppers
· Klaas Kids Organization
· Americas Most Wanted Website
· Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Award Foundation
Anyone with information on the Brianna Maitland Missing Person case is urged to contact either Vermont State
Police Detective Sergeant Glynn or Detective Lieutenant Nelson at the St. Albans Barracks #802-524-5993
Lt. John Scarinza is the “F” Troop Commander of the New Hamsphire State Police. He and Detective Sgt. Bob
Bruno also of Troop “F”, participated in the meeting. Lt. John Scarinza released the following synopsis of the
Maura Murray Missing Person Investigation conducted by his department:
Maura Murray Missing Person Investigation
St Albans, VermontJune 8, 2004
On Monday, February 9th at approx 7:30 pm, Maura Murray, a University of Massachusetts College Student
was involved in a single vehicle accident on Rt. 112 in the town of Haverhill, NH. When Haverhill Police arrived
at the scene approx 8-10 minutes later they found the vehicle locked with no one around.
To date an extensive investigation has been conducted into the disappearance of Maura Murray. The following
information has been learned.
On Saturday Feb 7th Maura spent the evening out with her father and friends at a local brew pub. Later that
evening, in the early morning hours of Sunday the 8th of February, Maura was involved in a single vehicle
accident in the town of Hadley, Mass. She was driving her fathers’ new car at the time of the accident, and
struck a set of guardrails causing approx 10,000 dollars damage to the vehicle.
By Monday morning, Feb. 9th Maura had packed up all her belongings in her dorm room at U-Mass, putting
everything neatly in boxes and putting all the boxes on her bed along with a personal note she had recently
received from her boyfriend. She went on the Internet and looked up directions and overnight accommodations
in the Bartlett, NH area as well as Burlington, VT area. She withdrew most of her money from her personal bank
account. She sent e-mails to her supervisor at work as well as a college professor saying she would be absent
from work and school for a week due to a death in the family.
There was no death in the family.
She did not tell her family, her friends or her classmates that she was planning to leave school for the week.
She left Massachusetts at approx. 4:30 PM in the afternoon of February 9th, 2004
At approx. 7:30 pm Maura was involved in a single vehicle accident on Rt. 112 in the town of Haverhill, NH. This
accident was the second accident she had had in three days. The vehicle she was driving at the time of her
second accident was also her father’s car, one that he had loaned to her to use while at school.
Very shortly after the accident had occurred, a passerby stopped and offered assistance. Maura seemed to be
uninjured, and refused assistance, and stated that she had called Triple-A to come tow the vehicle. In fact there
was no cell phone coverage in that area and Triple-A was never called.
When the passerby stated that he was going to call local law enforcement to come and assist, Maura pleaded
with him not to call the police.
Investigators are also aware of some additional stresses that were occurring in Maura’s life at the time of these
events to include a difficult long distance relationship with her boyfriend in Oklahoma.
At the accident scene in Haverhill, there were no signs of any struggle, or any other evidence, which would
indicate that a crime had been committed.At the time of Maura’s disappearance, there was approx. 2 ½ feet of
snow on the ground. Searchers were able to easily distinguish deer and moose tracks in the area, and the
snow cover greatly assisted the searchers in eliminating possible area’s where Maura could have traveled off of
the main roads in the area. The snow greatly aided the search from the air, also due to the fact that any person
who would have wandered off the road and into the woods would have left a trail that would readily be seen
from the air.
To date, there have been 5 air searches with the New Hampshire State Police Helicopter.
There have been searches with Bloodhounds or K-9 search and rescue teams in the area surrounding the
accident site on at least 4 separate occasions.
The area in and around the accident scene has been extensively searched on the ground. This effort has been
co-coordinated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which is charged with all search and rescue
efforts in New Hampshire.
State, local and Federal law enforcement agencies have been involved in the investigation into the
disappearance of Maura Murray.
Investigators believe that Maura was headed for an unknown destination and may have accepted a ride in
order to continue to that location.
Investigators are hoping to speak with anyone who may have given Maura a ride sometime after 7:30 pm on
Feb 9th in or around the Haverhill, NH area. Also, if anyone has any personal knowledge of why Maura was
leaving school, where she was headed, or what her intended destination was, this information would be
extremely helpful to assist investigators in locating Maura.
Based upon the evidence gathered to date, New Hampshire State Police investigators strongly feel that the
disappearance of Maura Murray does not have a common link with the investigation into the disappearance of
Brianna Maitland in Vermont.
We continue however to work with our counterparts in the Vermont State Police, and local and federal law
enforcement in our effort to locate both of these missing young women.
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Maura Murray is urged to contact the New Hampshire
State Police at #603-846-3333
Auth: Lt. John K. Scarinza, Commander, Troop F
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