It's catchy. Simple. And totally untrue.
Long before I created this blog, I reached out to Fred. I called him at home. I sent messages through the website admin that runs the family's site. Before I spoke to anyone, I wanted him to know that I was writing a book on the case.
But Fred made it clear to me in late 2010 that he didn't want a book written about his daughter. He didn't want to talk.
That was the first of many red flags for me. I thought about not writing a book. But the question - why the father of a missing woman wouldn't want to talk about the case - was a compelling mystery. I spoke to several people who interviewed Fred in the weeks after Maura went missing. They suggested the reason he didn't want to talk to me is because he wouldn't be able to control the questions I asked. In earlier interviews he made it clear to reporters that he wouldn't talk about the events leading up to Maura's disappearance. He set ground-rules for interviews. He knew he couldn't do that with me.
So, years later, they've created a false narrative to explain that. But it's not true.
I would, of course, still like to talk to Fred. In fact, I have always given him the opportunity to clear up misconceptions and to help us understand the truth about what happened that day. This blog has been viewed nearly 5 million times and averages about 10,000 views every day. That's a lot of people who want to help find this man's daughter.
So, Fred. Let's talk.
Here are the questions I will ask you:
1. Why did you visit so many ATMs to withdraw $4,000 in cash the weekend before Maura disappeared and what happened to all of that money?
2. How and why did Maura arrive in your motel room at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, the day before she disappeared? You told the cops you woke up to find her in bed. But private investigators were told you were called to get her out of the lobby where she'd passed out.
3. Why did you tell friends of Maura's not to talk to me before the blog was created?
4. What did Sara Alfieri tell you that she promised not to tell anyone else?
5. Why did you refuse to sit for a formal interview with homicide detectives with the state police for two years? When you finally met with them why did you feel the need to bring two lawyers?
Hard questions? Yes they are. But to understand where Maura went, we need a better picture of where she came from. Our goal is the same: to find Maura Murray.
Unless she doesn't want to be found.