During our time in Quebec City, we stopped at a record store. I heard back from the manager, today. Here’s what she said:
My french is not very good.
You went her last sunday at a record store. You let me the picture… but after you have leave, i search for other pictures on the net and the ressemblance was big. I saw (if its her) on monday 2 decembre. She asked for live music.
One of my friend was with me on that monday. I show him the pictures on the internet and he also vas on the choc of the similitudes. He speachs english: he speaks with that girl. She was on bicycle (bike) in snow. sportive girl.
I did not want to communicate with you at that time because you did not identify. But i talk with the police. He talked wiht NH police and i thought you too beacause the police told me he gave you my number phone.
UPDATE: More:
In fact, she asked for live music on monday here in Quebec. We (friend and I) told her that here, in qc, there is nothing on monday and tell her for thursay ou friday. She said she will not be there…she really want it MONDAY. And on saturday, i see her in bike on another street. Alone, in the snow with her bike. I notice it because she told us she would not be there and that clash me.
She is REALLY look like the picture. We both (friend and I) have a great visual memory. She enters the record store slowly.. watching. She was discreet. We wanted to give her a map with the name of venue of artist and she refused telling she was ok. She told us that here, in QC, people do not know there town, not like another places (that supposed she travels). She speaks at ” I” and not “WE”. She has a suit for winter, but cheap one, not a big “sportive”. One colour suit. I know a lottt of people here so that I notice her on the street the saturday. She did not have make up. If you have a video of her tallking and moving, we could more be “sure” if it was her.
She stay around 15 minutes in the shop talking (english). She acts a little weird. She had a little “backpack” (dont know the word). My friend talk about music and how the city was “made” (streets)… She did not wanted to go to big show. Juste some little.
You have some pictures on the net that are SOOOOO similar. I would never have contact police or you if my friend and I do not have a big suspicious. We were not knowing anything before you both came here sunday pm. The face was familiar to me. Juste 1 min after your left I was on the net because the face remember something to me. Really expressive with her eyes. Speaks slowly, prononciating each word really good (i could even understand some things).
If this is legit, we might have to figure out what family member of Maura's is in that picture.
My friends father is from Quebec if you have a typing of the frenchf words I can send them to her and ask her to translate?
Sounds like Maura (if this is her) could be a fan of small shows (DIY shows as some call them). You might want to try and look up some local bands there and ask to keep a look out.
Very minor point here, but back in June I had an extended conversation with someone who knew Maura at UMASS. That person's description of how Maura presented herself – although I don't remember it word for word – was quite similar to this: " Really expressive with her eyes. Speaks slowly, prononciating each word really good (i could even understand some things)," although the person I talked to added the concept of Maura being soft voiced.
~ John Green
Without referencing this information specifically, I think one thing to keep in mind is that the pictures of Maura are appealing as she has the halo-ed all american look. The case, meanwhile, is wildly intriguing. Many who approach this case, as history has shown, are drawn to it, possibly for one or both of those reasons. The desire to be involved could bias recognition and memories. Again, not talking specifically about this person and not judging the validity of this one way or another. Instead, I am suggesting that a standard of skepticism based on this premise be applied to body of tips and sightings streaming from the postering effort in Quebec. As I said elsewhere, the best measure of each sighting's credibility may be the existence of other sighting and some kind of discernible geographic pattern among them.
~ John Green
It would be great if they had some survelliance footage at the record store..
I would be interested to know if the record shop person recognises the person with Lori G as the same girl he saw.
This does seem quite significant John given our current correspondent from the north!
It pains me to say it — intrigued as I am about the amazing leads that seem to have developed in the past 48 hours — but I am preparing to be highly skeptical about the veracity of sighting like the record store one mentioned here. It’s the needle in a haystack aspect that concerns me; What are the odds of making a whirlwind visit to Sherbrooke (a fairly large city), Quebec City (an even larger city), and Montreal (a very, very large city) over the course of only three or four days and managing to stumble upon a shop (among thousands) where the clerks are convinced they’ve seen the girl in the photo only days before? (Heck, even though the number of record stores in Montreal, for example, is dwindling), it would still take several days to find and visit them all, if that were a specific objective). Maybe this response from the store clerks is a case of enthusiastic confirmation bias.
Still, if the “Lori and friend” photo isn’t a picture of Maura or a relative, I’m also prepared to eat my skeptic’s hat.
That would be an excellent test … poster of her in Quebec and see if there is a difference in response patterns. Could conceivably create legal trouble. But sharp thinking there.
~ John Green
Thanks John, but it is imprecise. Yet, as the circumstantial mounts, it makes it hard to dismiss this without eliminating this person definitively. Nice to see you back in town here so to speak.
~ John Green
John G
James can email the pic to the record store owner
Even though I really hope Maura is found alive and safe, I feel we need to take the sighting in Quebec City and the photo of the mystery women with Lori G with a grain of salt. The human mind can play tricks on you and it is easy to see things that really aren't there. There have been cases of multiple eyewitnesses to a crime all providing conflicting details to the crime and all coming up with different composite sketches of the perpetrator(s). I work in the medical field and approximately 8 years ago I had a patient who swore up and down that he knew me from high school and that I had graduated with him the class of 79 even though I did not graduate until the class of 99. Until either the sighting in Quebec City or the photo of the mystery women can be conclusively proven to be Maura we should tread lightly.
Just throwing this out there but, if the guy says he seen the person I n the photo and he truely believes it is Maura, wouldn't that basically throw that photo out the window (with guimares)? Because the photo of a slightly larger MM took some work to resemble her, but this man said as soon as he seen her photo he searched by Internet and instantly recognized her. Sooooo that would mean either he's mistaken, it's a look alike, or MM did not inf act gain weight or that's not her in the photo?
In true crime, a grain of salt can turn into a mound. We should explore these to fullest and exhaust all leads.
@G. Ellis – Hey there, I'm Tim, one of the filmmakers along with James in Canada. I actually don't think the odds are as crazy as you'd think that we'd get a lead. We went to very calculated locations. And must have shown the missing flyer to over 100 people in 3 cities. Not to mention James hung flyers up on bus stops, street signs, in supermarkets, bars, gyms, coffee shops, etc. I think if she was in any of those cities recently, there's a pretty good chance that a lead would've eventually come through.
I even remember meeting the people who emailed James. We spent some extra time in there, and they did seem like they wanted to say more. I'm anxious to see the footage of them to see if that reads. But I'd say this lead is much more interesting than the FB photo.
Which picture was on the poster James showed the shopkeeper?
Cool Timothy, thanks for the info. I'd said in an earlier post that the only way I could imagine the road trip bearing much fruit would be if James and his crew targeted specific locations within those cities. I visit Mtl often, and one can spend days exploring any given neighborhood.
I speak French fluently and would also be happy to help produce translations.
James, you have my info, email me if I could help.
The thing that makes me skeptical about this sighting is that we aren't looking for someone who looks like the girl in the photo, we are looking for someone who looks like the girl in the photo but is 10 years older.
I'm not at all saying that some people look sort of the same their whole life, and are recognizable their whole life. But, I am guilty of seeing a girl on the street and thinking, "Wow, she looks like Maura!" And then I realize the girl looks 19-22, not 31. So, in summary, are the record store owners clear on the fact that Maura is in her 30s, and not the age of a college student?
For lack of a better idea, I am posting this here….
This is a theory by a forensic astrologer. I think it's very similar to some exiting theories but with a 3rd person involved. Posting this just to add some ideas to the conversation.
forensicastrology.blogspot.com/2008/08/maura-murray.html
forensicastrology.blogspot.com/2008/08/maura-murray.html
Without referencing this data particularly, I think one thing to remember is that the photos of Maura are engaging as she has the radiance ed all american look. The case, in the mean time, is uncontrollably captivating. Numerous who approach this case, as history has appeared, are attracted to it, conceivably for either of those reasons. The craving to be included could predisposition acknowledgment and recollections.
Quebec City