True Crime Addict is out, today. It is the definitive book on the Maura Murray case and includes several new clues and insights into the 12 year old cold case. It ends with an epilogue in which we learn more about the character of Bill Rausch, who was Maura’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance.
Last fall, four women who worked with Bill at Ray Group International, in Washington D.C., in 2011 came forward with stories about what it was like to work with him. One woman, whom I call “Andie”, claimed he pushed her down the stairs in the Metro one day and pretended it wasn’t him. Another woman who shared an office with him believes he destroyed ultra-sound photographs of her unborn child which she’d brought to work to show around. Another woman says Bill mentioned Maura one day. According to her, he said he and Maura were breaking up when she disappeared and, in hindsight, he was glad things worked out the way they did.
But what caused Bill to lose his job at Ray Group was an alleged sexual assault that took place in the president’s office, after hours. Andie returned to the office one evening, after meeting with coworkers nearby. She found Bill inside and he appeared to be intoxicated, she said. This is how she explained the rest: He asked her to come into the president’s office and once inside, he locked the door behind her. Alone, he turned to her and smiled in a way that scared her. He told her he was the one who pushed her down in the Metro. She tried to leave. He blocked her. He pushed her toward a wide table. Then he turned her around and pushed her face-down into the tabletop and pushed his body against her. She struggled. He pushed her down harder. Luckily, a coworker arrived. They could hear her outside the door. “Don’t say a fucking word,” he said. Frightened she called out. This appeared to shock him and he hid under the desk. She took this opportunity to open door to let the coworker in.
After this incident, Ray Group International did “an internal investigation” and Bill never came back to the office. He no longer lists the company in his public LinkedIn profile.
I spoke to Bill about this. He admitted he knew about the allegations and left the job after the women reported it.
It is important to note that Bill has a tight alibi for the night Maura was missing and he was actively searching for her after she disappeared, calling her friend, Kate Markopoulos repeatedly.
I knew Obama's lackeys were nutso! Lol, joking James!
Book is en route! Can't wait!
The comments he made toward the girl when she mentioned Maura are alarming.
I wonder if the "ghost" of Maura (meaning her case) follow him around on a daily basis?
you're a tenacious monkey JR …now that this is out there ~ y'all just wait for the decoys, diversions, & distractions to fire up
Well, I guess that tips the scales on Hoss's credibility for me. She may have been pregnant? This would be a good thing to know. Did she have a primary care physician that could be checked out? And bill's reaction to to being asked about the allegations? maybe it's my filter but it always seems to me that bill'y always nonchalant.
Me too. There are fewer things in this life harder than having children with a controlling, abusive, disturbed man.
Starting to think NH cops helped her out of there when she crashed. IT'd explain why the witnesses won't talk about possibly seeing her leave, it would explain the cop car sitting by hers (witness A?), it'd explain that one cop saying BS about her being buried in cement under someone's house…helping her stay hidden. It'd explain that one person who said Billy was the bad that ruined her.
Were cops her underground tunnel to "freedom?"
If so, it'd explain why Fred is PISSED at NH cops and fingers them as covering up something related to an abduction.
I cheated and read the epilogue first. Wow! Congrats from one crime reporter to another, James. I started reading your blog a couple of weeks ago and got caught up in your search for answers to Maura's disappearance. The epilogue sheds a whole new light on the investigation. I'm furiously reading your book now. Very impressive work. Kudos!
But the cluster of calls to and from friends preceding and after Maura's disappearance seems very suspect. i wish I knew what those calls were about. The right people weren't questioned when this first occurred. I wish the news organizations did more to force the DA's hand in revealing some of the things they knew, etc. TV stations have a way of getting the truth out of tight-lipped people.
But didn't he say on the episode of DISAPPEARED that they were going to get married? I knew he was lying when I first saw the episode. And his mother is sitting right next to him lying also.
I read the book today and I thought it was excellent. I couldn't put it down, even when I was dropping a pile!
That being said, I don't see how putting Bill's problems with co workers can aid in the effort to find out what happened to Maura.
I also came away from the book thinking that the knowledge of her fate went to Butch Atwoods grave with him.
Well, we've all been through breakups and bad relationships. How many former flames do you mention to women in your life 10 7 years later?
None? Yeah, Billy is a little weird.
Just powered through on my Kindle, amazing book. Really appreciate your honesty and sharing about your mental health.
It makes me wonder, will we hear from her in 6 years. If she was pregnant and didn't want Bill involved, the child will be 18 in six more years.
That doesn't make a bit of sense. There were witnesses when police arrived- Maura was gone when they were at the scene…hence the entire case. An entire police force wouldn't go to these lengths to help someone in a domestic violence situation when there are so many other, standard ways to help– there is protocol that's followed (ie; finding help / possibly a battered women's shelter if needed, etc). And where the heck would the cops "hide" her. This is one of the most bizarre theories I've ever heard, and not a shred of evidence backs it up. I think it's also extremely inappropriate to essentially make up the reason Fred was angry. The person who said they think Billy ruined her based this comment on the email he read that Maura had left at her dorm about knowing Billy was cheating on her.
James I'm 86% of the way through! It will be finished today I'm sure!
Do you think some of her family/friends knew of Bill's abuse and are helping her stay hidden? It would really explain all the secrecy. They have probably told the police this as well. It's just media they won't reveal it to. And really explains their behavior toward you.
Also, what seems strange is Julie's boyfriend calling to tell you there's info that needs to come out, yet when you see them in person he tells her not to tell? What is that all about do you think?
Just finished reading the book James. Great read!
Appreciate all the hard work you put on the case. If it wasn't for you, I would not have gotten in to the disappearance of Maura Murray as much, and there would not be as much info out there.
Wishing the best for you and your family.
Thanks…
James ive been listening to true crime garage. Im hooked. And the podcasts with you in them are the best. I loved amys podcast too. Youre doing an awesome job james, cant wait to read your book!
Q: How did that cop who told you that Billy is the cause of Maura's problems and that he basically ruined her?
How would a cop know that? Would Fred have told him (them) that?
Yeah, not to be a debbie downer, but I highly doubt there's a 12 years old child of Billy+Maura running around. If she was pregnant and knew it which could explain the googling drinking and fetus, she would've been trying to hurt/kill it with alcohol en route to her destination that night. If she were running away to protect a baby from Billy, why would she drink?
I have always felt that Billy's mother knew much more than she shared. Just something about her interview in "Disappeared" made me think that she was being very guarded and cagey even while she smiled serenely and tried to look worried about Maura. I think her first job was to protect her son, not find Maura. Wonder what Billy's mother never told?
bingo. and away we go…
Not related to post but news on a missing person from Maine in 1977, Bernard Ross, surfaced recently. He was 18 when he disappeared. Search news for more info (not sure if links are allowed).
Generally true, but how many of our collective former flames went missing under strange circumstances while we were dating them, never mind their still being missing ten years later + the case being a "favorite" mystery of so many online?
Even if this *weren't* the situation, though – I strongly agree that some of Billy's behavior (as reported by others + demonstrated by evidence) raises a few red flags.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Great job, James!!! I would like to post some thoughts but I suppose I will avoid posting any spoilers for a few days.
What I appreciate is you putting yourself on the line. Aiding an investigation seems like a lonely job. You risk becoming "unpopular" when you ask a lot of questions (especially in New England!) and dredge up unflattering or embarrassing information people would just as soon forget. But we need people who are willing to be unpopular and to ask the tough questions to solve these cold cases. You really uncovered some fascinating things. When so little is known, it is unclear which facts will become pertinent. Even seemingly insignificant things can lead us closer to the truth.
I believe we will get answers eventually.
I want to say something to Maura's family. I believe I'm correct when I say we all care about Maura and your family. Digging up the past and uncovering things is not about trying to make anyone look bad. Everyone has a few skeletons in the closet. But everyone and everything has to be looked at here, especially if there's any chance this is an abduction and/or murder case. The community could be at risk, and the people who live there remain under a cloud of suspicion and have to deal with unwanted attention. It’s BECAUSE we care about you and Maura that we want to help! I am sure this has been a miserable and trying experience. Pardon the metaphor, but I hope you can accept that this is the “bad medicine” that the patient has to take in order to get better (and solve the case).
-Jodi K. (formerly Jodi N.)
I read the darn thing until I was comatose from exhaustion.Flashbacks to fear&loathing gonzo journalism.Ren-dawgs a party animal!All kidding aside,I'm very interested in WHAT road/driveway the 90 year old stranger pointed out.And any idea who lives on that road/drive? Findmaura from Topix
Maura went to her dad's hotel. (isn't the story that she fell asleep in the lobby?)
If she felt about him the way you claim, she wouldn't do that. I know they were once close but honestly, if she did run away, it was likely all Billy.
Missing hiker survived for weeks
This story says a lot about the difficulties of searching wooded terrain in northern New England.
Question…do you think that a nursing student would be drinking while pregnant? Please correct me if I'm wrong but she was at the party then went mia knowing she was pregnant?
Through 5 chapters of the book so far. So far so good. I could do without your liberal views but other than that it is interesting. Another thought, do you think Maura told her professor there was a death in the family and the death she was referring to was her own suicide? I've heard that reference many times and this is the first time it struck me that she was talking about herself.
In a logical sensible world then the thought of nursing student drinking while pregnant does sound incongruous. But… as we can see with the evidence on this case she may not have been thinking & acting clearly.
The same reason she participated in orgies, discreet sex with her track coach, and stealing others credit card numbers. It's not she made great decisions.
The book mentioned that she was takin a maternity class. That could be why she was searching alcohol effects on fetus.
Did Maura ever have her fingerprints taken? It would seem that there would be a match eventually if they ever were, considering she was always in trouble somehow.
She may have been concerned about her alcohol consumption before she knew that she was pregnant; as in drinking between the time that she conceived and the time she confirmed that she was pregnant. Obviously this is totally speculation, we'll probably never know for sure if she was or was not pregnant, but I can certainly understand the fear of inadvertently harming a child after becoming pregnant unexpectedly.
As a person who was in an abusive mental relationship, I am glad this was brought out. I always found Billy's movements after Maura's disappearance a bit bizarre; especially the multiple phone calls. No one can understand the extent of abuse unless you have lived it. It's hard to explain, they have you in a sometimes live threatening situation and it's hard to get out. Fortunately for me, I was able to move on, thanks to my inner strength. I wish you all the best James in your new book and I intend to read it. You have certainly brought light to certain situations we were not aware of. I can see the bashing has already begun especially from a certain someone who has in the past, commented under numerous fake names. He has been investigating this case "supposedly" for 12 years and still has to ask people what they think happened. Hmmm very suspect. Enough about him, I have my opinions and won't bring it to you blog as you have requested. . . all the best to you and your family!
THIS.
What a terribly sad story. Further reading about it also discusses the use of K9s in the search and their fallibilities, which could also be quite pertinent to Maura's case. For those who think there is no way that Maura could still be somewhere in the woods, please read the link.
Was always of the opinion that Maura was abducted in Massachusetts by someone in NH she had met while hiking with her Dad. Both Sara and Kate were from Upstate NY. Directions to Burlington, VT were found in her car and I feel that she was taking time off to think things through and stay at Sara's parent's house in NY. There is a train that takes you from Burlington VT to upstate NY. This might be the thing Sara told Fred that he doesn't want her tell anyone. What are your thoughts?
James, In the book, it says that Karen Mayotte found Maura in a catonic state around 10:30 pm on Thursday Feb. 5. If this is the accurate time of Maura's breakdown,then that would mean that she wasn't at work when she talked to Billy on the phone at 12:07 and when Vasi was hit.
Also, wasn't there a UMASS health questionnaire in the Saturn? If so, did the police go to the health clinic at UMASS to see if Maura had been there recently?
Wonder, How Maura's behavior was when she first got back to school from Winter break? Did any of her classmates notice a change in her within the last 10 days that they had been back?
If Maura was pregnant, do you think Billy knew about it?
Searches on the computer for effects of alcohol on a fetus- Shouldn't it of been pretty easy for the Investigators, to see what Maura was learning in her classes at the time of her disappearance? IMO- if the searches were related to Maura's schoolwork, the police would of said so. Instead Scarinza told you that he believed Maura was pregnant at the time of her disappearence.
Could Maura's of breakdown been caused by learning she was pregnant? Learning of a pregnancy when your not ready, can cause alot of emotions and anxiety.
Could Maura of been heading to Fred's hotel room to tell him she was pregnant?
James, you said Billy told you that he was working at Ft.Sill at the time of Maura's disappearence and that he didn't get very good cell phone coverage. But by Bills phone records,it looks like he got cell phone coverage just fine, at least on Sunday,Monday,and Tuesday. He was making A lot of calls for someone,who didn't get very good cellphone coverage.
Its interesting that one detective said that whatever was going on with Maura was because of Billy. Also, when Billy First arrived in New Hampshire he was questioned. After Bill was questioned Sharon said "he was a prime suspect. He was distraught.
I'll never forget the look on his face. He said"I feel as dirty as Scott Peterson. They think I had something to do with it." What made the police believe Bill had something to do with it,so early on in Maura's disappearence? Exspecially, when he was miles away in Oklahoma and this should of been easy to verify.
Her fingerprints would be part of her Army records with the Dept. of Defense. Accepted cadet candidates have a criminal background check and fingerprints are submitted as well. Cadets have to be able to qualify for secret clearance.
In the book, it says that Melville, the dorm Maura worked at was all female. When you spoke to Karen, she said, she acted like she was looking at the log book, while watching Maura out of the corner of her eye, and that Maura let 2 people come in without checking there ID's. One was a boy. Was men aloud to go into an all girls dorm building around 10:30 pm?
When a visitor checked in did they take down there info and who they were there to see? If so, did anyone check to see if anyone had been visiting Maura lately?
Or, if she was pregnant and planning to get an abortion…
Perhaps, she wasn't concerned about how much she drank (If pregnant) because she wasn't planning on keeping it.
I received your book in the mail yesterday, and just finished it. I'm a slow reader, but I ate it up. I've been following your blog for about 5 years now, and I hope a resolution might come someday. Thank you for what you do.
It's not a convent. You can have men sleep over, etc. There are just rules (for any sex) based on how many nights someone can sleep over and how frequent.
correct me if Im wrong – technically I think she was planning on marrying BR (at some point in the relationship) CHarting even mentioned she'd planned her HoneyMoon in the White Mountains. But clearly BR knew by 2.08.04 (before she disappeared that wasnt happening…..) SO I guess it depends on what-your-definition-of-Is-is…..
Why does James have to restrain from airing his view? It's HIS book after all, not yours. When YOU write a book than you can be as conservative as you like! Some people have to criticize everything! Good luck, James!
Just finished TCA, made me want to read the Amy book- any plans for that to go on Audible James?
I watched that Disappeared episode more than once. Sharon is interview but Billy doesn't appear. Its only Fred, Sharon and one of Maura's female longtime friends. Sharon seemed to be under the impression they might have been planning to become engaged but who knows if she was right. She is his mom. Doubt that she had any insight into Maura's thoughts.
Someone either killed her or she killed herself, that's it.If she was killed, than hopefully one day that will be resolved and someone punished for it.It's gonna take a body and we don't have that now. I just don't think she's alive some place, in hiding with a new idenity.We know so little about the most important of things and it's made this so hard to even guess as to what happened to her.
I wish Maura was alive somewhere in Canada but unfortunately I feel something happened to her that night and she has been deceased since 2004. My only hope is that Fred, her dad, finds an answer before it is too late.