Above is a screen grab from the MM Facebook page, today.
On the page, Helena addresses the Butson’s sighting, acknowledging that it did occur and the family did know about it. She also confirms that Sara Alfieri told “the real story” to Fred.
But she is now peddling back on what she told me in our original conversation: that Fred asked Sara never to repeat it.
Make of all this what you will.
I don't take much of what she says as cannon anyway, she seems to deny facts that you have shown physical evidence of. She had denied things that Fred has said on camera, in statements, in articles etc.
Plus, if you now have the person who was the original cashier who had the tip, saying it was the night of the disappearance, rather than her Supervisor, the real story could be coming out. As a young girl working in a store, you might not want to draw that much attention to yourself by bringing it up directly so you tell management whom you assume takes it seriously. If they don't then what? It could be that all these years the story was just wrong because it was coming from the wrong person. It's troubling they wouldn't want to get the story from the horses mouth.
Keep the pressure on them, James.
James, take another look at the MM page. I asked her directly if she was confirming that Sarah told the real story to Fred. She's now backpedaling from that as well.
Shouldn't the Murrays be very interested in this tip right about now? Oh right, never mind. Not only is it not interesting to them, the only person who will even address it is their patsy Helena.
I second the thought that James is doing a great service by keeping up the pressure. Eventually the Murrays might feel that it is only ethical and moral to admit that they know where Maura is.
Hello all – I really should've spoken up ages ago as I've followed this blog avidly for a while + Maura's story over the years since the week it happened. I just posted a comment in another recent update here, but I'm chiming in on this most recent post as well…
James, I am so long overdue to write you + try to help in any format, but something about this news compelled me to comment. So here I finally am. You are such a superb sleuth, and a badass in my book 🙂 + I so admire what you do. I want so badly to believe that there is some substance to this news + that it cracks this case wide open, I really do… but… I'm so, so hesitant.
I have followed Maura's story it since I was a freshman at UMass when she went missing (crazily enough: my roommate at the time had gone to her same high school). I remember that flier going up in my dorm in the middle of that February. It was 2004.
Based on your recent posts: Maura + friends went to a supermarket called Butson's in Woodsville the evening of February 9th, 2004, around 5:45-6:00pm. It sounds like Butson's was one of a few outlets in a small supermarket chain that was locally owned + operated in that area of New Hampshire. However, a much larger (but still quite provincial) supermarket chain, Shaw's, bought them out + took over later.
Here's where things get thrown off for me: A quick search yields three different news stories archived such that Shaw's took over the Woodsvile Butson's in October 2003 – a few months before Maura's trip to Woodsville – and that the transition happened rather quickly. If that's the case, Butson's was not Butson's in Woodsville in February 2004 – it was already Shaw's. That seems like quite a big detail not to have correct, at least on the cashier's front. I am willing to be wrong, I really am, but I'm wondering if someone else has an answer for this that says otherwise. I'm posting links below.
(James, I'm happy to be in touch with you through e-mail, etc. if at any point it could be helpful on this case + can verify things. I am a couple years younger than Maura + have since moved away from New England but have never stopped thinking about her case for very long over the last decade. Still have family in MA + NH.)
Links here:
thefreelibrary.com/Shaw%2…..-a0109228256
nhbr.com/Archive-2003/Sha…ion-questions/
business.highbeam.com/4524/ar…buys-butson-cs
Argh! Link text – let me try again. These should work…
Link 1 – nhbr.com/Archive-2003/Shaws-strategy-raises-competition-questions/
Link 2 – thefreelibrary.com/Shaw%27s+Woodsville+Opens+Today%3B+Former+Butson%27s+Associates+Hired+by…-a0109228256
Link 3 – business.highbeam.com/4524/article-1G1-108718701/shaw-buys-butson-cs
Helena DOES say that the family knew, but you left out the part that she says that the sighting took place the day AFTER Maura went missing. I would say that is why this lead hasn't been discusses further by the family. If the cashier is the one that is NOT mixed up on the date, than this is very intriguing!
I don't really see how this changes anything. The witness is credible. Helena Dwyer Murray confirmed that this sighting was reported at the time. Also, Helena has confirmed that Sara told Fred the real story of what happened. Win Dixie recently bought out Sweetbay. I still call it Sweetbay. The name of the store seems kind of irrelevant. Also, why are you writing as if you have some bombshell information that you have kept quiet all this time?
Was the sighting the day after, or was it reported the day after?
I call our local grocery store the name it was when I was growing up and it switched owners about 10 years ago. My grandpa uses the name it was before I was even born and I am in the my 30's. Someone using the old name makes the story more credible to me, as that is what someone would naturally do.
According to Helena, the SIGHTING was the day after the disappearance which is why it wasn't taken too seriously. That's how I read her post.
Oh, jeez. I'm sorry. No, that totally makes sense (seeing Bill H's response along with both of yours) – the whole business name thing. I don't know. I'm sorry, I got excited, rushed off to search a few things, and just discounted it thinking that if everything had been converted to a Shaw's, there'd have been more uniform treatment of security cameras + the like had all the changes been instituted by February 2004. This is what I get for assuming things! I'm so sorry and I stand corrected.
As for locals continuing to call a place by its previous ownership's name – I can certainly think of a few cases of that myself – back in New England AND where I live now.
I'm sorry if I wrote as if I have some "bombshell" – I don't! I meant more like – I overlapped in time as a student at UMass-Amherst and also worked there as a Resident Assistant. When we did rounds we worked in coordination with student workers who held security posts in our respective dorms; I had a car on campus for a while; could tell you how far distance-wise certain things are, etc. Just small stuff details about life on campus that could be corroborated. I guess my only bombshell is that I've followed this case for so long but just haven't piped up on Renner's blog (though I have on Websleuths). I meant no harm or negative provocation – I'm sorry!
This is weird. Helena just posted again. I took a screenshot + saved, but I'm going to copy + paste the text of it here:
Today, December 15, 2014 – 10:12am (EST)
"I stand corrected. Back in February, I received a message from someone telling me about the other two women in the store and it mentioned (though I somehow missed it) that it had happened on Feb 9th. The only reason I can think that I totally forgot and misread this email is that I was in the middle of some rather extreme family issues.
There were two points in the descriptions of the other two that would make me dismiss either Kate or Sara or for that matter Maura's sisters. Based on my answer to that message, I also believe that I thought both Fred and the police had looked into it."
and Helena just corrected herself. The sighting was on the 9th.
No need to be sorry. You didn't hurt anything.
The fact that the Murrays seem to want to downplay the possible importance of the grocery store sighting makes it all the more interesting to me. Although I've always had a preferred theory (travelling alone/random dirtbag), I've also tried to keep an open mind to others (tandem driver). It should be interesting to see how this pans out.
Well, thanks, still. It just made me feel like I ought to nip it in the bud + be clear. We're good.
I often go back and forth between whether the family actually knows more than they say or are just cantankerous Irish people that appear villainous but are really sad victims. If they know more, now is really the time to say, and if they don't they probably should at least acknowledge that this is a good new tip. it's potentially a game changer. For years most people could agree that if it wasn't Atwood, And it wasn't the couple across the street, someone else must have seen something. If this isn't a ruse, this is the someone that saw something, and she saw two other women and that is big news.
I'm just saying IFFFF the family has known all this time what really happened, then that to me will be a double sadness. So many of us have spent so much time and energy on trying to help figure out what happened to her….I'm really starting to feel more cynical about her family….
Why was my post removed it wasn't defamatory.. Just because I don't agree with James's theories….. Take some constructive criticism
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
REMOVED MORE TRUTH….SUCH A CONTROLLER
Speaking of truths removed, how about your original screen name. You said you have been reading and posting about Maura for 11 years. Yet this screen name of yours is a new one. What was your screen name? Why did you change it? Truth removed indeed.
~ John Green
You know damn well who I am. Give up Your game.
The Det.
Oh, now I do. The screen names change, the people don't. I should start going by John Orange.
~ John Green
No I will not change My position on this case or how I feel about james Renner and his so called strategy.
Hi Shiny Star.
Was that comment – "no (you) will not change (your) position on this case or how (you) feel about ( ) Renner …." directed at me?
Okay. Was there something in my comment that made you feel I wanted you to change your position? I was just curious about why you felt the need to change your screen name. You explained that, sort of, I acknowledged your explanation. I don't think I said, "you are wrong in what you think about this case" or "you are wrong in what you think about Renner." In point of fact, although I have read many of your posts over the months and years I don't recall that you ever articulated a well thought out theory of the case. This could, of course, be because I missed it, as I did not spend a lot of time on Topix. As such, I could not rightly demand that you change your view on the case given that I have never really seen that you even have one. By contrast, of course, I have heard your theory on Renner: he will do anything to sell books, including throw anyone "under the bus." I don't agree with that, but I respect your right to believe it. I'd be interested, in fact, to hear you elaborate on that theory. Has he thrown you under the bus? It sounds like you feel he has, as clearly you are a pretty frustrated dude, being all pissed at Renner, but still posting on Renner's blog as often as you do. So, if you want to explain, I'd be interested to hear what Renner did to you.
~ John Green
Green machine……
I know SO much more than You about this case that you are like in preschool. I have been here since the beginning. Renner threw Me & a former employer under the bus and a co-worker who had nothing to do with this case as well. He even posted this mans picture and called him a pedophile.
Yes I do have an issue with James Renner. he can dish it out but he can't take it. He just erases what he does not like to suit his needs.
Posting here sometimes is almost a necessity to help keep Jimmy on his toes. I had not posted for several months but this new line of bullshit he is spewing needed to be criticized.
Hi Shiny Star.
Well, I don't see the point in arguing about who knows more about the case. But since it seems to be a point of pride for you, I will agree that you do.
One observation: if you don't like Renner, why post here. I don't think you are affecting him much, at least you were not during the five or six month period when I was in close contact with him. It seems like you say a lot of negative but really vague things. Maybe, as you say, the stuff he deletes is more substantive from your point of view. But its his blog, so he can do what he wants. I guess just don't get why you hang around here so much.
Just to be totally candid – and admittedly without knowing you – it strikes me sometimes that you envy him more than anything else. I don't have nearly enough information to conclude that, but based on my narrow window into you (your posts) it seems possible.
Perhaps the best way to get across my point is this: why don't you say some substantive things about the case? I have had my issues with James in the past, although I dare say we remain friends in a general sense. When I have, I have tried to post here arguments that contradict his about the case, sometimes on quite argumentative terms. He has never deleted one of my comments. My observation about your comments is that they tend to be personally demeaning of James or others, often without comment on the case. Whether the demeaning tone is justified or not is between you and James and you and the others about whom you comment. But from my perspective, I see you make a lot of these comments while everyone else is talking about the case. That could be interpreted as you acting the lonely kid who feels left out and turns into a bully. I'm not saying that is what happened or that your gripes against Renner are not legitimate. I have no way of knowing. I am just telling you that you come off as petty, without much of anything to say about the case, and as if you feel left out, or are acting out some drama from your own past on James' blog.
Whatever the case, I have no issue with you. In fact, I know you know a lot about the case. I wish you would talk more about it so I could get your insights.
Best regards,
John Green
The last thing I am is envious of james renner. I would never want to be the lowlife He really portrays himself as.
All of My pertinent info is removed from here bc jimmy decides it does not work with his theory.
You Mr green are so lucky to see eye to eye with such a slug.
In the end You will all be very surprised. jmho
You seem to be harsh about this blog and of James Renner. Not sure if there is something personal involved or not. You indicate that you may have more information or insight to this case, are you law enforcement working on this? We bloggers would appreciate your in-depth knowledge and opinion. Where are we all going wrong, please share you what you know. What is the truth?
James has erased all the TRUTHS I have posted. Sorry but I will not waste My time posting in depth comments with real info that is the deleted because it does not fit James theories.
I am harsh about james and his blog bc of the way he posts info with no proof. He has done this more than a few times and had to remove his own WRONG INFORMATION which defamed and ridiculed people.
He personally wronged me and a co-worker as well as a local business all in the same post. He did this with malice and NO FORETHOUGHT.