Crime & Safety

Missing Teen's Mom Says Daughter Left Suicide Note

Peconic teen Ashley Murray has been missing since Monday, sparking a police search.

The worst part for Peconic resident Charlotte Murray, whose 16-year-old daughter, Ashley, has been missing since Monday morning, was when night fell and her daughter still hadn't returned home.

"We don't know where she is," Murray said. "All I can think of is, 'Where did she go?'"

Ashley left a suicide note, Murray said on Tuesday, which claimed she was upset with the world, mentioning a "watery grave" and a stranger "taking her to a deep abyss."

Find out what's happening in North Forkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It sounds like she was writing song lyrics," her mom said.

Murray said her daughter had been posting dark Facebook status updates, saying that she was "no longer afraid," and "was just going to do it."

Find out what's happening in North Forkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

RELATED: Peconic Teen Still Missing; Search Continues

Southold Police were on the scene near Murray's Peconic home Monday with a dive team and search dogs. By Monday night, the physical search had been called off and an "investigative search" continued. The teen was still missing as of Tuesday afternoon.

"We're hoping that she's just being dramatic and she's just hiding away," Charlotte Murray said.

Her daughter, Murray said, left with no money but had her iPhone. The phone, however, has no signal and cannot be traced. Murray said it could be turned off or under water – a mother's greatest fear.

"The worst part was when it got dark last night," she said. "I just thought, 'She should come home now. It's nighttime.' I don't know if she got to sleep in a bad last night or if she's in the back of a car."

When last seen, Ashley, who is 5'4 and 140 pounds, with auburn hair, was wearing red baggy sweat pants, and a black-and-gray corduroy zippered sweatshirt with a hood.

Her daughter, Murray said, left without phone chargers, medication for her anemia, clothes or even a toothbrush.

Murray thinks her daughter is still alive, and said she wonders whether someone is helping her.

But with no clues, the not knowing is painful. "I didn't sleep at all last night," she said. "It's like she just walked out of this life."

Murray said her daughter's last text, to another girl, was sent from Southold and also mentioned suicide.

Southold Town police said Monday evening that they had "nothing new to report" in the ongoing search for a missing 16-year-old Peconic girl.

According to Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, "Our physical search of her neighborhood has ended, but we are still pursuing other investigative leads along with her family. We will certainly notify all interested parties when there are any developments."

Many concerned residents have asked why police did not release a name or photo of the missing teen.

"We have not released a photo as of yet as we are still pursing investigative leads. The investigation is still relatively young," Flatley said Monday night.

On Monday morning, officers conducted a missing persons' search for a 16-year-old Peconic resident.

The call came in at approximately 10:45 a.m. Monday, Flatley said. Searches were conducted near the area where the teen resides, he added, including a flyover search of the Peconic Bay.

"We're hoping we or family members can make contact with her so we know she's accounted for," Flatley said.

Flatley said a missing persons' bulletin could be issued Tuesday. "Unfortunately we do not comment on active investigations, but always welcome information on this. We will be releasing our missing persons bulletin with complete information," he said Tuesday afternoon.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.