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Man throws himself in front of car
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - August 29, 2007)
Missing Person
Liza Murphy of Emerson, 42, is described as a white female, 5’2" tall and 120 lbs., with brown eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen on Sunday, Aug. 19 wearing blue denim shorts, a brown tank top, a gray zippered sweatshirt and flip-flops. Identifying features include tattoos of a bird on her left calf, a red and green flower on her left wrist, and a tribal tattoo, an Irish symbol, and an "evil eye" symbol on her lower back. She reportedly left the house without personal items or money. Anyone who has information as to her whereabouts should contact Det./Sgt. George Buono of the Emerson Police Department at 201-262-2800 or the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Squad at 201-226-5500.
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Days after his wife was reported missing, an Emerson man reportedly tried to kill himself, throwing himself in front cars on Old Hook Road last Thursday until he was finally hit by a Westwood borough vehicle.
The story began four days earlier, police say, when 39-year-old Emerson resident Joseph Murphy and his wife, Liza, 42, had a heated argument. Liza left the home after the fight without taking any personal belongings or money.
The next day, Monday, Aug. 20, Emerson Police received a telephone call from an anonymous woman reporting that her friend, Liza, was missing. Officers were dispatched to the Murphy’s Broad Street home, where they learned about the fight on Sunday. Liza has not been heard from since.
Emerson Police and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, assisted by K-9 units from the Bergen County Police Department, began a joint investigation to find her, combing the area surrounding the Murphy home, including a large wooded area nearby, to no avail.
Then, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, while officers were continuing the search, Emerson Police received a call from the Westwood Police Department that Joseph Murphy, a self-employed painter, had been hit by a car on Old Hook Road.
Witnesses to the accident told police that Murphy had been acting irrationally and repeatedly threw himself into oncoming traffic. Two cars missed him but Murphy was eventually hit by Westwood Fire Official Darren Blankenbush, who was on duty at the time.
Murphy was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center in critical condition with a broken pelvis and other injuries, and a portion of Old Hook Road in Westwood was closed to traffic into Thursday afternoon.
As of Monday, Aug. 27, Murphy was still being treated for injuries in Hackensack and the Murphy’s three children were staying with their father’s sister.
Wife and mother missing
The investigation into the disappearance of Liza Murphy continued through last week. Emerson Police Captain David Hayes said on Monday that police had searched the dense wooded area surrounding the United Water property up to the Oradell Reservoir on foot as well as by helicopter. He said the area behind properties on the north side of Old Hook Road, from the farm through to the former Fricke’s site, had also been searched. The investigation, which is being conducted by Emerson and the county police as well as volunteers, was scheduled to resume on Tuesday. The Murphy’s home and Liza’s car were searched last week.
According to Hayes, police are looking for any physical signs that Liza has been in a given area, including anything from a piece of clothing to disturbed ground that could indicate a shallow grave.
While he noted that police have found no evidence of foul play, Hayes said, "Nothing has been ruled out at this point," including the possible involvement of her husband.
No charges have been filed against Joseph Murphy, but he has engaged an attorney.
Hayes asks that anyone who has seen or heard from Liza Murphy since Sunday, Aug. 19 contact police immediately. He also urges Liza to contact police herself if she hears about the situation.
"She is not in any trouble. We just want to confirm her whereabouts," said Hayes. "With the passage of time, we’re getting more and more concerned for her welfare."
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