Maura's Mother Had Affair with Convicted Murderer.

Another rumor can now be confirmed. The man Laurie Murray had an affair with, which led to her separation from Fred, was convicted murderer Kevin Noble. In 1994, Noble was living in his brother's basement. Got to playing the radio too loud. When his brother complained, there was a struggle and Noble's brother ended up dead.
Noble's lawyers argued self defense but the jury found him guilty. However, Noble's 2nd-degree murder conviction was overturned in 1999, and Noble entered an Alford plea to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, maintaining his innocence.
What does all this have to do with Maura's disappearance?
Consider the weight of this family on Maura. Older brother shoplifts and keeps needles. Older sister in serious trouble with booze. Other sister reprimanding her at West Point. Her mother makes fun of her bulimia and broke up the marriage because of this guy. Boyfriend is cheating on her with sister's friend. And Fred, the hothead he is, is on her case every step of the way.
Two things worth noting:
1. This is strong motive to run away. This is a family to cut ties to in order to maintain sanity. 2. There's a lot of smoke, here. When a person goes missing and there are this many unsavory characters so close to home, you have to wonder.
Again, if Fred were honest about the days leading up to Maura's disappearance, especially what happened after Maura wrecked his car on the way to his motel room at 3 in the morning, I think we'd be closer to an answer.
This woman was running. Whatever happened that night in the motel was the last straw for Maura Murray.