The Disappearance of Maura Murray (2017) User Reviews (26)

Worth Watching

[fourcutekids-79595 · 7/10 · 2 November 2017]

I have followed the Maura Murray story for several years. The whole thing with her disappearance is gut-wrenching...especially when you see her father talk and you just know this man is completely heartbroken over his missing daughter. Overall, I think this show is worth watching especially if it brings new awareness to Maura and her family's search for her. What I didn't like about this show... (1) the investigative journalist, Maggie was kind of annoying. Lots of fake dramatic inflection in her voice-overs that just made you roll your eyes. (2) I was really annoyed that they gave air-time to James Renner. This guy...ugh. Seems like a real low life, doesn't know what he's talking about or who he hurts with his ridiculous accusations. His theory that Maura ran away to Canada "with child" is just stupid. They lost a few stars over airing this idiot. (3) The podcast guys with their GPS coordinates...could not believe they gave this stupid theory air time. Whoever led them on that fake goose chase must be laughing (although I think the podcast guys made up the GPS thing themselves to insert themselves into the story (4) The one theory that seemed plausible - wasn't really explored much (the 3 guys from the ski resort)

What I did like...(1) They shot down James Renner's idiotic theory (2) They showed the Dad of Maura for who he is...a grieving father that just wants to find his daughter. (3) They were mostly thorough in their investigation. (4) They tied up some loose ends, such as what Maura was crying about on the phone shortly before she disappeared. (4) Finally, I was very happy that they did not re-victimize this family the way Renner and his loser supporters have on his blog.

As just some random person who would love to see Maura found allowing her family to start the healing process over the loss of her, I hope this show somehow aids in that conclusion.

Pros and Cons... as to be expected

[jenncday · 7/10 · 15 May 2018]

As someone who stumbled upon the Missing Maura Murray podcast a couple years of go an was captivated with the case I would hypothesize that I know more about the case than the average person, but am in no way even close to being an expert. (The podcast provides a good deal of information, but I don't do much research on my own) Thus, my impression of this show was that it was decent investigatively, beautiful aesthetically, and good for beginners in this case or anyone who is too impatient to wait for a better show. Here is my list of pros an cons as I saw them:

Pros: ~ They consult EVERYONE, I was truly impressed by the number and quality of contacts they made (family, james renner, Tim and Lance, witness A, and law enforcement who have never really talked to the press) ~ You get to see the actual site of the accident ~ They mapped the drive Maura made and found a LARGE time discrepancy ~ They performed a test on the rag in the tail pipe (this was close to being a con because the test just seemed kind of sketchy and they were too quick to conclude that the rag had to be put in after the accident, but maybe the rag wasn't blocking the entire pipe like they did) ~ They go to THE coordinates ~ They tie up some loose ends i.e. the phone call that upset Maura a couple days before she left, why the police SUV was at the crash site, they get the ATM video who's lack of release t the public has prompted many questions, they confirm that Maura was not in the supposed grocery store with two other young women, the "sighting" in Canada ~ They demonstrate/test the dogs, showing that the cadaver dogs were likely effective and Maura's body isn't in that area ~ They test wood chips from the closet of the A-Frame house that Lance and Time and John collected; however, the results are rather inconclusive but at least its one less thing to wonder about ~ Its just nice to put a visual to so many elements that have been discussed in the podcast ~ They make an effort to be kind to and bring closure to the family, something that they so deserve

Cons: ~ They end on misleading cliffhangers, this can be avoided by binge watching :) ~ They would dismiss theories without really disproving them (while in their opinion there wasn't anything seriously bad enough going on in her life to make her tun away someone else might have - especially if they were having mental health issues, but they dismiss this theory it without disproving it) ~ They go to the coordinates and DON'T BRING CADAVER DOGS! Like are you serious, you just had the dogs on the show where their owner said that they can even find centuries old remains and then they don't bring them to a potential site of her remains! ~ They spend too much time on the medium, like they could have just told us that she didn't get a feeling at any of the bridges, or they could have found more until she had a feeling, or they should have taken her to the coordinates, but why did they show so much time of her doing nothing ~ They gloss over everything, I get that this was a miniseries, but there was just so much information left out that their conclusions had less merit, and it gives the host a sort of inexperienced quality ~ We hear from Bill's friend... why? Nobody cares that his buddy thinks he's a good guy - especially when he has multiple sexual assault allegations against him and has a wife and kids, I was sad that they didn't talk to him or Kate, but I understand that they couldn't control this. However, this doesn't bode well for him or Kate.... what do they have to hide that they refuse to help find some one who was supposedly an important part of their life.

Overall, I am still looking forward to Lance and Tim's documentary, and if you want more details check out their podcast

Better than expected.

[neilanosim · 8/10 · 26 October 2017]

I had only a brief idea of this case, but the premise of this mystery interested me enough to watch this show. The show is fairly low budget, but a professional job is done by all involved. Production wise, think of Leah Remini's recent documentary on Scientology.

There are a few 'leaps of faith' made by the main investigative journalist, but this case is just one of those where you perhaps have to do this, if you wish to solve it.

I have my own theories too, but no matter which one I try to use to fit this story, I still manage to come up with questions and things that don't make sense. Credit must also be given for the scientific investigative methods used, such as driving the route and establishing time-lines. And also a test done on the car, with regards to something found stuffed in the exhaust pipe. The makers also managed to get interviews with those closest to the case, including Maura's family, eyewitnesses and the police.

You may come up with more questions than answers when watching this, but at least it does appear to help 'lessen the load' with regards to red herrings and blind alleys. It also opened my eyes as to the rather (at times) cruel word of 'web sleuths'.

I am a fan of crime documentaries, and although this is not 'The Thin blue Line' or 'The Jinx', it is well worth watching.

Recommended.

MM deserves more than this garbage

[FrankMTOrlando · 5 March 2019]

What a completely sloppy an amateurish attempt at a documentary series. I don't know what coffee bar Oxygen dug up that overly tattooed infant Maggie Freleng, but they should have left her serving lattes instead of pretending to be an 'investigative journalist'. The series is frustratingly, poorly edited and organized leading the viewer down one theory after the next only to change direction. Watching Maggie Freleng and her companion talk is like watching two goldfish with dementia trying to find their way. Never really delving deeply into anything of value but simply reading headlines of theories only to switch direction after mentioning a perfunctory point.

Sloppy. Weak. And nothing more than a venue for some child who likes to hear their own voice. Avoid.

A Middle-of-the-Road Mystery

[natmavila · 6/10 · 15 April 2024]

"The Disappearance of Maura Murray" is the documentary equivalent of unsalted popcorn - not terrible, but you're not sneaking any leftovers home in your purse. It's an exhaustive dive into one of the internet's most gnawed-over mysteries, the 2004 disappearance of a young woman in New Hampshire. The series earnestly tries to shed new light on the case but ends up illuminating more about the obsessive culture around true crime than any new facts about Maura herself.

The series scores some points with its in-depth interviews and scenic shots of New England that make you feel the chill in the air. But the pacing is like watching a sloth run a marathon. Each episode seems to stretch Maura's scant digital footprint into an hour-long saga. The creators are so determined to squeeze every drop from the story that by the end, you might feel as lost as the investigators. It's like being promised a thriller and getting a lecture on the importance of keeping your car maintained in winter.

In conclusion, "The Disappearance of Maura Murray" is okay if you're into the true crime scene and have some time to kill (no pun intended). It's a comprehensive look at a baffling case, with moments that tickle your brain cells, but don't expect any bombshell revelations. If nothing else, it's a sober reminder that sometimes, despite our best efforts, mysteries remain just that-a mystery. So, buckle up for a moderate ride through the white mountains of ambiguity.

Wow

[joanneavery · 10/10 · 26 June 2020]

Dont know why this has such bad reveiws i litrally cant stop thinking about it.. i binge watched it in 2 days really good.. no other documentry ive watched compares

Very good

[Dan_1980 · 9/10 · 6 October 2023]

Don't listen to the basement bros critique if this doc. It's very good. It is extremely frustrating that there is no way to stop pod cast bros from crapping on shows that speak to and are about women. Do yourself a favour and look at all these negative reviews other posts. There is a theme. And it's misogny.

Don't listen to the basement bros critique if this doc. It's very good. It is extremely frustrating that there is no way to stop pod cast bros from crapping on shows that speak to and are about women. Do yourself a favour and look at all these negative reviews other posts. There is a theme. And it's misogny.

This is an actual investigation??? Um, no.

[kokoriffic-84363 · 1/10 · 13 June 2023]

The Oxygen channel is just a big ole catfish at this point. Journalist Maggie floats this big accusation that the drunk police chief caused Maura's accident and then got rid of her in order to hide that fact. She "interviews" the prosecutor, a beat cop, a sketchy twitchy deputy, and the DUI-prone police chief. I was wondering how she got access to all of these people when no one else has. Now I think I know. In episode 5 she announces "And all three stories match. I feel confident - law enforcement had nothing to do with Maura's disappearance." LOL!!!! That's some awesome IG girl detective logic right there. Hey, Maggie, do you know what law enforcement, corporate executives, and hospital administrators are all exceptionally good at? Making their stories match!!! Oxygen, I give up on you. This show is just bad. And Maura Murray is exploited for financial gain yet again. But we sure plugged a lot of books and podcasts.

Poor quality

[julietrutherford · 1/10 · 3 November 2017]

I watched the full series. It was visually appealing, but not good from an investigative point of view. I wonder if they could find some real investigators or real investigative journalists to do such a show. Just a suggestion. I would recommend watching this all in one batch so you are not burdened with the cliffhangers, which were misleading anyhow.

Allison DuBois is terrible

[The_Boxing_Cat · 1/10 · 8 December 2019]

This series was waaaay too long and lost all credibility with the nutcake Allison DuBois. She has no clue.

Terrible

[leaannhenshall · 2/10 · 15 September 2019]

One of the worst investigations I've ever watched. It's almost laughable.

Terrible "journalist"

[agerard-59922 · 1/10 · 6 May 2022]

Absurd set of commentary by a crackpot journalist who understands nothing about New England. Ridiculous, insulting interviews and drawn out content that sheds no light on the outcome. Waste of time.

Hit or Miss

[mhubbard-54657 · 3/10 · 27 December 2018]

Something about MM evokes fascination, even obsession. This documentary chronicles both her disappearance, and the small, but fanatical group of armchair Internet sleuths who endlessly analyze the mass of ambiguous clues she left behind.

Of course she was white, attractive, and very smart, or none of it would be interesting. She was the valedictorian of the class who fell from the pedestal. There is something strangely compelling about it. But she was in an enormous amount of trouble.

Some of her story is nothing that unusual on the surface. She was feeling stressed out and wanted to get away that evening. Investigators have tried to make the whole thing make sense. They have tried to say she had a "plan". I do not believe that is the case.

This series is about 3x too long. The story could have been told in about 90 minutes without a lot of silly cliffhangers that go nowhere. It gives way too much credence to wild conspiracy theories, Internet crackpots, and psychics.

It's hard to picture how such a gifted young woman could get involved in some relatively minor legal trouble, go for a drive to blow off some steam, and end up dead from exposure in the woods, but that is almost certainly what happened.

In my opinion, not enough has been made about her big step down from West Point engineering to nursing, and then the legal problems which would have made entry into the nursing profession difficult at best.

Starting from scratch as a Nursing major, she would not have been a junior. That is not how a Nursing degree works. You don't jump into the middle.

She was in a huge financial conundrum. She essentially had 2 years of college credits that counted for almost nothing. Her family was not rich.

She had a reason to be scared. But running away without a real plan was hardly the answer. She told her professors she would be back in a week, yet nursing clinicals have to be made up. You can't just miss a week of class. She would need proof there was really a death in her family, which of course there had not been. The series begins with the facts of her disappearance, but gradually focuses more on James Renner, an eccentric stranger, who seems to have made a career out of the pseudo-investigations of multiple missing persons. When he runs out of facts, he has plenty of conjecture, some of it quite far fetched. Overall, the series is amateurish and much too long.

They resort to using a medium; 'nuff said.

[nilpost · 3/10 · 20 August 2021]

A repetitive format and the superficial 'investigation' illuminates nothing.

When they brought in a medium - I thought that just about sums up this 'investigation'; a medium who 'says' she knows nothing about the case. FFS; utter waste of time.

I think some 6th formers could have done better of this 'investigation'.

Why should we think an ex cop's opinion is to be treated as gospel? Was he an exceptional cop? How many similar cases did he solve? How many cases did he solve?!

Why should we quickly skip past Maura's dad's first reaction - that she's ended her own life?

There are opportunities to dig deeper into Maura's life - but that's never given any serious, mature attention.

I didn't think this was worth watching

[tomrobertson-71704 · 1/10 · 7 November 2017]

I've been following this case. I had high hopes for this show, but now we're all off chasing theories from psychics. The brunette was OK at first, but after two episodes I just didn't want to hear her voice. Art seemed pretty bored but like a nice guy. If anything comes out of this show it will be worth it. If you want to watch an eerie show with some good filming, maybe watch this.

This series is fabricated and a joke!

[thebox-42673 · 1/10 · 16 May 2022]

I've spent two days watching this series on Maura Murray case and the Crystal Roger's. After the second episode on the Roger's case I've caught on what this series does. It gets you hyped up and having hope that they're onto something with the case only to find out to be a dead end. Let's re-open the families wounds and conjure up painful memories, all just to turn around and to say by the end of the 6th episode "we found nothing, hang in there" (but we got an intriguing story for television) what a bunch of crock.

Waste of time

[dolly_valkyrie · 1/10 · 15 April 2018]

It is so bad from an investigative point of view. I was hoping for some real story and real investigators and real journalists. It is like, we want this to be murder let it be a murder. Even though the girl, the journalist, Maggie, she is super hot and all alternative. I can not help the feeling and I find her really fake and whole thing is pure and bad acting. Specially when she starts playing Oprah, sorry to be rough but it made me sick. If you like real investigation it is a waste of time.

Don't Waste Your Time

[clintstevens · 1/10 · 30 December 2020]

Instead of a miniseries strung out over four and a half hours, this could easily have been an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries", since there is no solution, no closure. Scenes are shown multiple times (the shot of Maura being grabbed from behind on a dark rural road is shown at least a dozen times). I got the feeling most of this show was staged (example; when the psychic shows up and the Chevy logo on the grill on her SUV is covered with duct tape...WTH?). So, just read my review and you'll know as much as if you had watched the six episodes!

Rubbish

[rishiravindran-32810 · 1/10 · 3 September 2021]

It's a drawn out "investigation" of arm chair opinions which progresses the investigation no further .... They even get a psychic to solve this crime. If that's not cracked the case I don't know what will. I feel I've wasted the oxygen I consumed watching this rubbish.

OH- Look at me-

[KreamLeehan · 4/10 · 25 February 2021]

The camera is focused on the creator female and the people they interview, who are another people just like her, true crime podcast hosts. "Oh- Look at me-". "Oh- No- Look at us- We are doing this noble things. Focus on us. Not the victim. Not the people who is actually involved in the case. Just us. We are cool and noble-." Camera works says that and nothing else. Disturbing documentary. It should be horror genre. But they did work on this so I gave 4 stars.

Seemed to be tacky / low quality - brunette chick was hot

[stlaa03-1 · 3/10 · 1 November 2017]

Not much new they added to the case that has been added on blogs, podcasts, etc. I respect their efforts but the net effect of their work was really "nill" The chick was hot and that was about it. They gave way too much airtime to a psychic troll ; you know how that goes. Overall it seemed like they were grasping at straws. The two just seemed so amateurish at this to me it lost a lot of credibility with their lack of polish. Clearly, this will not help in the missing Muara case.

"Possible"

[tonyandsilvia1994 · 1/10 · 23 August 2021]

I watch a lot of these types of shows. Netflix was practically founded on a True Crime documentary, and they are everywhere. Unfortunately, for every "Making a Murderer", there is a show like this. There is absolutely no resolution, it's amateurish and gives too much time and effort to the crackpots and their conspiracy theories. I would be really interested in knowing how many times the word 'possible' is spoken. It must be in the hundreds. All they say is 'possible', because they have no proof. Everything is conjecture and guess work. Absolutely pointless.

Horrible

[greysky72 · 1/10 · 9 February 2024]

Today marks 20 years since Maura disappeared. I have long been interested in her case as it's one of the more baffling disappearance cases out there and she has an unusual first name that I share with her so it's always felt more personal to me. The journalist Maggie doesn't uncover anything, everything she 'uncovers' is already well known. She try's to sound smart by coming to her 'own' conclusions but it just comes across as laughable. Her interview style is horrible as well, if she was asking me questions I'd just as soon smack her instead of answering. I wish this doc had been better quality, Maura's story deserves to be told and to be told well. Maggie and the production team failed miserably in my opinion. I hope that one day we find out the truth of what really happened that night.

WORST QUALITY CAPTIONING EVER!

[SexyActorsJunkie · 5/10 · 6 February 2024]

Whoever did the captioning for this six episode series did an absolutely abysmal job. There were so many typos, it was every few sentences practically. It's hard to get a captioning job and they hired some completely incompetent loser to do the captioning for this series. I can't believe it, does nobody proofread the captioning that gets done anymore?? Other than that I didn't know anything about the case of Maura Murray previously and now I do. Talk about a mystery that will probably never get solved. I pretty much figured that they weren't going to solve the case during this series. I don't know why they make a series with six episodes that could have been wrapped up in two. In fact, it's leading me to not watch anymore of these kinds of long, drawn out series that solve nothing but drag people along with a slow, plodding story. The best part of the series was getting to know the family of Maura Murray. I feel very deeply sorry for them and what they've been through. It helps really personalize the case for the viewers but still doesn't bring back their beloved Maura nor figure out what happened to her. If anything this series might have accomplished, I hope that it quiets down all the internet sleuths who have wildly ridiculous or outlandish theories. I knew from episode 1 that she probably was abducted and killed and I didn't need to sit through six episodes to learn that. So was the purpose of six episodes to give the two series hosts something to do? It's tiresome when people accuse the police of not doing their job when even when they try to do their job, they're still up against the wall of a pretty much unsolvable case.

Garbage

[Mg6 · 1/10 · 23 April 2024]

A couple of problems with this cash grab. First problem is these clowns supposedly looking for Maura are not seriously discovering anything. But every episode has cliffhanger moments before commercial break. And guess what, every single one amounts to nothing, zilch. Anyone with a brain picks up on the con early. Just a vanity piece for two podcasters trying to cash in. The second problem is a bigger one to me. That Maura Murray has become famous. Why, well she went missing, right? Well, not really. We all know the reason her case has drawn fame is because she is an attractive white girl. Character-wise, she is kinda shady. But she looks so attractive in those sill photos.