246\. What Happened to Mary Day?
Murder With My Husband
Deep Dive
Why did Mary Day's parents not report her missing for years?
Mary's parents, Charlotte and William Houle, claimed she had run away multiple times before, making them less concerned about her disappearance. Additionally, Charlotte believed William had filed a missing persons report, which he did not.
What evidence suggested that Mary Day might have been murdered?
Cadaver dogs detected decomposition smells in the backyard of the family's home, and a little girl's shoe was found buried in the yard. Soil samples also indicated decomposition consistent with a body being buried there.
How did Mary Day resurface after being missing for over two decades?
In 2003, a woman named Mary Louise Day was pulled over by police in Phoenix, Arizona, using Mary's exact name and age. Her driver's license photo resembled an age progression photo of the missing Mary Day.
Why did Mary's sisters initially doubt the woman claiming to be Mary Day?
The woman, known as Phoenix Mary, had a thick Southern accent and did not remember details about her childhood, such as the secret code word 'Mohawk' for her inheritance. She also had mail addressed to a different name, Monica Devereaux.
What new evidence emerged in 2017 that convinced authorities Mary Day was alive?
A new investigator, Judy Veloz, found a photo of Mary with a family named Maury Kimmel, taken two years after she ran away. Facial recognition confirmed a 99% match with Mary Day. Additionally, Mary needed a state-issued ID for financial aid, proving she had been using her real identity.
Why did cadaver dogs detect decomposition in two different homes owned by Mary's parents?
The dogs hit on the original home where Mary went missing and another home the family lived in later. This led to speculation that the family might have moved a body between homes, though no bodies were found in either excavation.
How did Mary Day explain her thick Southern accent and use of the name Monica Devereaux?
Mary claimed she adopted the name Monica to avoid being found by the police and returned to her abusive family. The accent developed during her time living on the streets and with various families after running away.
- Mary Day vanished in 1981 after an argument with her stepfather.
- Her parents never reported her missing.
- Years later, investigations revealed potential evidence of foul play.