Is it possible that a person can be so fed up with her life that she simply walks away and disappears? Some claim that is exactly what 42 year old Liza Murphy did on August 19 2007. From what we can tell, Liza had an argument with her husband. She then apparently walked out of her home in Emerson, New Jersey without taking her purse, her cigarettes, her cell phone or her three children. There has been no trace of Liza since that August 19, 2007 day.
Murphy' was reported missing the next day. Sophia Stellatos, Liza's mother, told the press,"In my heart, I fear the worst, that my daughter is gone." Police searched a reservoir near her home, but nothing was found. Cadaver dogs apparently caught her scent near the George Washington Bridge, but nothing further. To make matters worse, Joe Murphy, Liza's husband, apparently tried to commit suicide a few days after Liza disappeared by walking in front of a fire truck. Joe Murphy recovered from his injuries, but apparently on advice of counsel would no longer cooperate with investigators.
Murphy' was reported missing the next day. Sophia Stellatos, Liza's mother, told the press,"In my heart, I fear the worst, that my daughter is gone." Police searched a reservoir near her home, but nothing was found. Cadaver dogs apparently caught her scent near the George Washington Bridge, but nothing further. To make matters worse, Joe Murphy, Liza's husband, apparently tried to commit suicide a few days after Liza disappeared by walking in front of a fire truck. Joe Murphy recovered from his injuries, but apparently on advice of counsel would no longer cooperate with investigators.
Joe has no criminal record and no history of violence. His attorney, Joseph Rem, has said that there is no evidence of any physical violence in the marriage. He added to the press that his client has not been named as a suspect or even a person of interest. Police confirm that the Murphy home and vehicles were forensically analyzed and their is no evidence of a struggle discovered.
Liza would now be forty four. Her family and friends claim that she would never have left her three children voluntarily.They claim she was a heavy smoker and would have never taken off without her cigarettes
Sources do say that Liza Murphy and her husband were having marital problems. Liza's mother has described Joe Murphy as possessive of his wife, never allowing her to go out with her friends. The Murphy's children are 15, 13 and 10 years old now. Joe Murphy has full custody. Liza's parents apparently have not seen their grandchildren since shortly before their daughter disappeared.
Could Liza have jumped in an act of suicide? Liza apparently had been diagnosed with depression and was on medication for fibromyalgia. It is also possible that she may have been accosted after she left home that day. Or, it may be possible that she wanted to repress her current life and start all over. From what the Emerson Police have discovered to date, anything is possible.
In the mean time, if you know anything about "Name: Liza Murphy (Stellatos) DOB: 5/2/1965Height: 5′2″Weight: 120 lbs. Law seen wearing blue denim short, a grey zippered sweat shirt, a brown tank top, and brown flip-flops," than please call Emerson Police.
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32 comments:
Yes it is not only possible but there are other documented cases of a mental condition where folks walk away from their lives and get a form of amnesia...
Doc
While possible, I think it rare. I suspect foul play.
I seriously doubt she walked off to start a new life. There has to be some foul play here, methinks.
She probably just jumped. HE TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF. What makes you think she did not try to kill herself but she was more successful?
My guess is she jumped off the bridge where the cadavera dogs last smelled her scent.
"There is a hole in the story dear Liza, dear Liza.
There is a hole in the story dear Liza, dear low..."
The hole in the story is that the trail is just plain cold!
Sleuth
The hole is that no one knows the Whole story!
I think he tried to kill himself out of guilt.
This doesnt feel right. I suspect foul play too!
The Police haven't named the husband as a suspect or person of interest. Yet CNN has pointed the finger at the husband. This will undoubtedly put public pressure on the Police and prosecutors to charge the husband with the crime. It also follows the theory of low hanging fruit, most Police departments, rather than do a thorough investigation grab whoever is in front of them. Viola we have the husband.
CNN has also just tainted the jury pool. Thanks for following the likes of Fox News. Just great.
As a society have we become so desperate that we will sacrifice anyone in the name of a story. Does journalistic integrity mean nothing anymore?
Perhaps the husband is guilty, perhaps he is innocent but no we will never know because the justice system will railroad him. Thanks CNN, thanks a lot
i know the family & kids very well. She hadnt wanted to be a mom or wife in the years leading up to her disappearance and she had well documented drug and depression issues. DYFS was constantly being called and the police were always being called b/c she has a violent drunken brother who she had actual physical altercations with before her disappearance. She also had been caught having an affair and knew because of her relapse she would be ordered by dyfs /courts to go into rehab again...The husband was so depressed by her betrayal that he tried to kill himself.
Now he has full custody and deals with constant harassment from neighbor stephanie, who fought with liza constantly ... and her brother tony who lives across the street and terrorizes the kids on a daily basis without consequence b/c hes buddies with the police.
This news thread was the 1st we , in emerson, had heard about cadaver dogs tracing her to the GWB... instead the police left that tidbit of info out hoping to keep the husband under suspicion.
I know him... i am sure in my heart , as are his kids, that he didnt kill her...
I agree with the above post. She could have easily walked away. Run a way and started a new life. Or she may have been so depressed that she jumped.
I don't think any one really suspects the hubby.
I agree with the above! I don't think any law enforcement believes the husband is responsible. No evidence of violence in the home. Perhaps even a child confirmed that she walked out alone.
Husband should have no worries as far as prosecution, at least at this point.
Secrets, the hubby tried to kill himself because the love of his life had been unfaithful and it appeared the marriage was now over!
He was devistated. Nothing links the man to his wife's disappearance other than rampant speculation.
Definitely a stereo type! Every time a woman comes up missing its the boyfiend or husband who is suspected! Talk about prejudice!
Unlike Anon...I don't hide behind anything. I am Stefanie, the neighbor that supposedly "harrasses" Joe and the kids. It is very frusterating living next door to this insanity, that is obvious, however, I think its important to note that while I never really commended Joe or Liza on their parenting and had issue with their lack of supervision of their children, I do not and never have harassed him. Toni, why not just come out and put your name to your words? Why hide behond ANON??? Have courage and conviction and man up and author your words with something other than ANON.
If you want to call me having to call the police numerous times because the 13 year old is a piromaniac and lights unattended and uncontrolled fires in his back yard which backs directly up against mine, harrassment, go right ahead. First and foremost, I have a family to protect. And it takes but a minute for fire to engulf an area. If you want to call me alerting the police when the children tell me to "F-myself" and throw names like "Whore" and "Cunt" at me when my children and I are getting out of my car harrassment, FINE. These children are the same children that I used to care for and used to take with us on family day trips ALL THE TIME. When their mother went missing, I took them to the mall to replace clothing that was destroyed by the luminol that was sprayed in thier home. I am such an awful neighbor! Their son has absolutely ZERO supervision and something awful is going to happen because of it, mark my words. The fact that he still has custody of those kids is appauling. He tried to kill himself over a half a dozen times! As recent as January he was on my driveway telling me he was going to overdose on pills and leave the children because they would be better off without him. I have no reason to make any of this up. Its all FACT, not FICTION. Before someone accuses me of HARRASSMENT, look up the definition. I am simply defending my property and my family from something awful that I know in my heart is going to happen because these kids are not cared for appropriately.
Stephie thanks for sharing. The fact that you chose to reveal your identity may add credibility to your post; however, please don't assume you know who wrote an annon post or condem a poster who chooses to remain annonymous as that is their right.
You sound like a caring person who has sought to protect your family and help your neighbor. It would be hard for anyone to wish you anything but the best of luck. Please keep the rest of us posted on the developments in the neighborhood.
Legal Eagle 7
Doesn't take a detective to know it was Toni, she authored almost the identical post on another site and put her name to it, but not here. Not a difficult one to figure out.
Even so, Steph, you made your point. Your post was an exclamation mark of credibility.
You sound like a good person just concerned with doing what you thought best. We get it...
Yup, we get it.
Liza may turn up.
let's just say that despite what you may think you know, the husband IS considered a suspect. He has quite a temper don't you know...
While we all have our moments, that does not make anyone a killer.
Steph,It's rare to see someone who actually acts on their concerns regarding other people's children. It sounds like the kids need some serious help. I would suggest you, however, look into how you can be protected from the kids, if your house ever did go up in flames.
As for whether Joe Murphy is guilty or not, I don't know but some things don't make sense. Why would he throw himself into traffic a few days after her disappearance? For all he knew, she'd show up in a week. From my unfortunate and personal experience, posessiveness in a man is a sign of an Abuser. If a boy calls a female neighbor vile names, chances are he learned it from his father. Where are the grandparents who should be fighting for custody of the kids? Where is child services? Both parents have histories of drug/alcohol abuse. Joe has been suicidal for years. The wife disappears for whatever reason. It sounds like neither parent is competent or stable enough for custody. The kids need to be rescued from that environment while they are young enough to have a chance.
P.S. I also wondered how Liza would get by the GWB toll booths, police, and (I would hope) cameras.P.P.S. For the person who thought it is police prejudice to investigate the boyfriend or husband: I wonder if you've looked up the statistics on how often the "significant other" is to blame. It usually IS the s.o.
Statistics are dangerous and thats why they are not admissible in court. Lot of innocent people are convicted because of prejudice, stereotype and statistics.
Any one trying not to be detected knows to not go to toll booths, silly.
y.
pretty smug there, aren't you y.? The statistics in this case aren't probabilities, they are hard cold facts. Look them up and stop being a smug know it all. As far as the toll booth comment, do you think you could go undetected across the gwb? That location would be like trying to get into fort knox ever since 9/11, so don't be so quick with your assinine comments, silly
Good points by Y. and Anon.
This is Toni
Only one of the anonymous posts was mine and it was not done intentionally, i generally post my name as you know , stephanie... While we all know the kids arent perfect, it is also known in town that the calls to the police & DYFS have become excessive...fires, dangous stuff ... fine .. make the call. But for awhile , these kids couldnt breathe without the cops & dyfs showing up at their home or school.
And the night you said the husband told you he was going to kill himself just doesnt add up ... first of al,l because he doesnbt trust you , so why would he stop & tell you that, of all people??? and since he had just left my home and was smiling , laughing, eating & having nice time it really seems odd that he would say do something like that so randomly. Even the police & medical professionals that waited at their house for several hours thought it was all ridiculous...
I cant figure out why you seemed to have gone from really caring about these kids to absolutly hating them especially when they 1st came home & they really needed the support. I dont understand what changed & how it has come to this. These kids are not angels in any of this, but all this animosity & drama btw all of you really needs to end ...
I probably should have kept my thoughts about the neighbor situation to myself in the original post & i apologize. But its hard to see the kids crying like that....
Toni Thanks for sharing. As an outsider, I really hope that all the folks involved can get along for the benefit of those kids.
Yes it is highly possible she got fed up with trying to fix what was permanantly broken and said fuc it imma walk away from life period. I have heard of people of different walks of life just leaving without notice. I dont think it is a mental thing i think it is a rage thing that builds over time until one day a person decides they will leave. However long that may be is up to that person. Most the time it is a result of financial problems. I really dont blame her for walking out on life especially during the recession.
A similar mentality of those who commit suicide? Possibly...
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