If you've seen the trailer for tomorrow's episode of The Disappearance of Maura Murray, there's a clip of me saying I believe Maura ran away from the men in here life. But what was so bad that she'd run away? Was she really that afraid of someone?
At the time of her disappearance, she was dating Bill Rausch. Rausch has a good alibi. He says he was in the field at Fort Sill, where he was stationed - though he was apparently able to make many cell phone calls while training newbies.
My first impression of Bill was a very likeable guy. We talked at length on the phone one day and he seemed genuine. But since then, several women have come forward claiming there is another side to him he doesn't show to men.
Around Saint Patrick's Day, 2011, Bill is alleged to have sexually assaulted a coworker in the office of the president of Ray Group International, a D.C. firm. There was an internal investigation and he was never able to return to work in the office. The woman who claims he assaulted her, also claims Bill pushed her down the stairs at a Metro station and pretended it wasn't him.
I have spoken to high school girlfriends - whom he called the day Maura disappeared - and I was told Bill had a reputation even before he met Maura of being rough with women.
Yesterday I was contacted by another woman who witnessed a darker side of Bill. I have chosen to take down the details of this encounter but reserve the right to repost in the future. Either it's important to the case - in which case, the police should have time to investigate, or it's a personal encounter that further supports what the women from Ray Group have already said.
I encourage any other person with info about Bill (or anyone else involved in this case) to take this opportunity to come forward and share what they know with law enforcement.