Blog Mystery #9: No Footprints in the Snow
One of the most puzzling aspects of the Maura Murray case is the absence of footprints in the snow, which should have been visible after her vehicle was found on the side of the road. The lack of footprints is particularly striking given the heavy snow conditions in the area. If Maura left the vehicle on foot, there should have been some trace of her movement—yet no clear evidence of this has ever been found.
Why weren’t there any footprints? Did Maura somehow disappear without leaving a trace, or was the snow disturbed by other factors, such as law enforcement or the weather itself? Some have speculated that she may have been picked up by someone, while others suggest that the snow may have been compacted, obscuring any potential tracks.
The mystery deepens as we consider the possible reasons for the missing footprints—and what it might imply about what happened to Maura after she left her vehicle.
Questions for Readers and Investigators
If you’re using the Tools and Templates, consider applying these prompts:
- Crime Scene Consistency Tool: Does the lack of footprints match the known evidence at the scene, or does it raise doubts about the vehicle’s position and Maura’s movements?
- Timeline Builder Worksheet: What time frame do we have to account for Maura’s movements? Could the footprints have been erased by environmental factors or actions taken after the crash?
- Occam’s Razor Tool: Does the theory that Maura was picked up by someone explain the lack of footprints, or does it complicate the timeline further?
- Cognitive Bias Checklist: Are we reading too much into the absence of footprints, or does it indicate a significant detail we need to explore more?
We invite you to think critically about this key piece of evidence—or lack thereof. As always, use the tools to guide your analysis, and feel free to share your conclusions in the comment section or via the Reader Submission form.
The truth may lie in what’s missing, as much as in what’s found.
DR. SCHILHABEL
Posted: July 21, 2025
