Blog Mystery #5: Emails to Professors About a Death in the Family

In the days before her disappearance, Maura Murray sent several emails to her professors, citing a death in the family as the reason for her sudden absence. These emails are not in question—Maura clearly wrote them. The real mystery lies in the nature of her message: was she planning to be away for a week? Longer? Why did she only notify her professors, and not anyone else, such as friends or family members?

It’s odd that Maura made no effort to inform those closest to her about her plans to leave. Was this part of a larger, more private decision, or did she intend for her disappearance to go unnoticed by others? The emails provide insight into Maura’s actions, but they also leave us wondering about her true intentions.

Questions for Readers and Investigators

If you’re using the Tools and Templates, consider applying these prompts:

• Victimology Profile Worksheet: How does Maura’s behavior of notifying only her professors fit with her known actions and relationships? Was this typical of her?
• Psychological Autopsy Worksheet: Could this sudden decision indicate emotional turmoil, or was there a deeper, undisclosed reason for her actions?
• Timeline Builder Worksheet: How do the emails fit into the broader timeline? What was Maura doing immediately before and after sending them?
• Cognitive Bias Checklist: Are we interpreting the email as more significant than it may be, simply because it’s one of the few confirmed actions we have from Maura in the days before her disappearance?

We encourage readers to take a closer look at these questions using the provided worksheets. Submit your thoughts through the comment section or use the Reader Submission form to share your complete analysis.

The truth behind Maura’s emails is important—but so too are the reasons she chose not to tell anyone else about her plans.

DR. SCHILHABEL
Posted: July 21, 2025