Missing Woman Searchers Warned about Trespassing

Police warned searchers face trespassing charges if they go on private property to look for Maura Murray. Her father, Fred, said a letter from the police chief warned that he, other family members, friends, dog teams and reporters are banned. Maura Murray, a UMass-student from Hanson, disappeared after a one-car accident in February.

"While they are sympathetic with the cause to find Maura, the right to quiet enjoyment of their personal property has been repeatedly and blatantly disregarded to the point that they now must insist that absolutely no one has permission to trespass on their properties," Haverhill Police Chief Jeff Williams wrote Murray.

If people are upset because of the search, Murray said he will personally apologize to them. "It's much to do about nothing,. We will continue to act responsibly and look for my daughter."

Murray believes the true intent of Williams' letter is police are trying to discourage independent searches for Maura and to reduce the amount of publicity Maura's disappearance has been receiving. Murray said, "I think it's an overreaction on the part of the police department."

The past several weeks of police reports have not indicated any trespassing complaints in the area of Maura's accident. Williams said none were noted because he didn't want the people's names known.

What do you think, should the rights of the residents take precedence over a search for a missing person? The police department has stopped searching for Maura, so why shouldn't the family hire private investigators to help search for her, wouldn't you do the same for a family member?