Maura Murray (File Photo: WBZ NewsRadio)
HAVERHILL, N.H. (AP/WBZ NewsRadio) — Authorities have searched a single-family home in a northern New Hampshire town near the last known sighting of a college student who disappeared in 2004 after her car crashed, the attorney general's office said Wednesday.
Associate Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin said at a news conference Wednesday that authorities found "absolutely nothing" connected to the disappearance of Maura Murray after they cut and removed some concrete in an area where ground-penetrating radar had indicated a disturbance.
Authorities searched several feet down, and all they found was a small piece of possibly pottery or old piping.
Maura Murray was last seen on Route 112 in Haverhill after she crashed her car. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst nursing student left campus on Feb. 9, 2004.
Murray's father, Fred Murray, believes his daughter is dead, the victim of a crime. In February, the attorney general's office said it was aware of his contention that cadaver dogs and a radar scan identified something hidden in the basement of a house in the area.
Julie Murray, Maura's sister, tells WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal that the family was notified by the NH authorities Tuesday that the FBI and NH State Police would be doing a dig at a home on Wednesday near where police found Maura's car in 2004.
"It's kind of a very weird feeling," said Julia Murray "part of me hopes it's her so that we get some kind of closure...you know it's been 15 years but then...you know an equal part of me feels like 'I hope it's not her. Because if it is her then that means she was murdered." she said.
She said that the entire family has mobilized and are heading to Haverhill, NH. She said that the location authorities are conducting their search is within sight of the car crash
"A 100-percent of me wants to know...you don't prepare for the feeling that come with it...I don't know what to expect. It's a roller coaster,"
Web Extra: Listen to Family of Maura Murray Speak Out On Search Investigation
Hanson, Mass was Murray's hometown where some family still live today.
Neighbors who have known the family say they are heartbroken that investigators did not find anything in the basement of the home not far from the crash site. Linda Conway says there needs to be closure.
" [I'm] sad, heartbroken or Fred. He needs closure. With all he's done, I feel like he just needs that closure," she said.
Michael Kelly, another resident, oldest son was friends with Maura. He was hoping for similar news.
" I see Mr. Murray walking up and down the street when he visits his son and he's just so sad looking. Maura was a personal friend of my oldest son, so yeah, we miss her," he said.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartRadio App
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports