Mary Day's deathbed story of survival | Forensic Files

that conversation you had with her that day you were there one or two days just one day just for 90 minutes she wasn't
doing well 90 minutes yeah 90 minutes those years all those hours all those people involved dogs and
DNA and it comes down to one 90 minute conversation yeah I just I think it was just kind of a blessing just one of
those things you know it's just timing sometimes and I remember her sincerely being worried about why her picture was
still listed in the missing and unidentified person system to her she felt she was taking the place of another
child that should be there because she wasn't missing she knew she wasn't missing the one question I really wanted
to ask her was how she survived for so many years under the radar she's a runaway living on the street she said
she met a woman named BJ Ward in Salinas and BJ took care of her is there one piece of evidence or person that really
convinces you Phenix Mary is the real Mary Louise day yes Maury Maury Ward Mary told us that one
we were interviewing her and I had never heard that name before Mary's with BJ and her two young
children in Morrie's home Maury had taken a liking to Mary but they don't know where is Mary they know her as
Monica and when I was there and said how did you come up with these names she said I saw a love book and I took that
as meaning like a romance novel but Mary's word for it was a love book and I saw the name Jude Devereaux and
she said I thought it was the prettiest name and so she said I decided to fancy my name up a bit so she took the last
name of Devereaux in fact she said she changed her name to Monica Lee Marie Devereaux
she eventually went off on her own washed dishes worked for cash under the table she just seemed like a survivor
her story that day was believable how convinced are you that the woman who was picked up in Phoenix is the real Mary
Louise day I'm 100% convinced no question no question

In June 2017, Seaside PD's Judy Veloz took over the Mary Day case and went to Missouri to speak to a dying Mary. During their conversation, Mary filled in the gaps of what happened after she vanished from her parents' Seaside home in 1981. Mary Day passed away nine days later. After conducting her investigation, Veloz closed the case. She told Maureen Maher of "48 Hours" about her visit.

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Brief Summary

Mary Louise Day's survival story and identity transformation are revealed through a pivotal 90-minute interview.

Key points

The 90 Minute Conversation. A pivotal conversation that changed everything, lasting just 90 minutes.
Mary's Identity. Mary changed her name to Monica Lee Marie Devereaux, inspired by a romance novel.

Episode highlights

Mary's IdentityMary changed her name to Monica Lee Marie Devereaux, inspired by a romance novel.“I thought it was the prettiest name.”1:32May 3, 2020

Episode quotes

It comes down to one 90 minute conversation.

0:14WatchMay 3, 2020

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