By Tori Richards

December 31, 2007

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EMERSON, N.J. (Crime Library) — Missing mother of three Liza Murphy still has not come home after several months and her heartbroken mother has conceded that she is dead.

Sophia Stellatos has come to the realization that she will never see her daughter again and now prays for the person who killed her to be brought to justice. She blames Liza's husband, Joseph, for her disappearance. The two had a rocky marriage.

"I have no doubt at all that he had something to do with this," Sophia said. "I have no proof, but I have no doubt at all. Our life has been holy hell. He has hurt so many people. All the people who knew her are devastated and hurting and praying. It's unbelievable."

Liza, 42, comes from a close-knit Greek family with three brothers. She was the only girl and "the light of our lives," Sophia said

Liza Murphy

She was reportedly last seen by Joseph, 39, on Aug. 19 at their Emerson, N.J. home, wearing shorts, a tank top and flip-flops. The weather that day was rainy, but Joseph told police that she left after he demanded a divorce because she was having an affair. Sophia dismissed this, saying Liza had a high school friend she had met for coffee and that's all there was to it.

"She left the house without her pocketbook, cell phone, cigarettes and medication," Sophia said. "She had fibromyalgia. Without that medication her body would go into shock."

In addition, Liza would never leave her two young children, which were the reason why she never sought a divorce despite an abusive marriage, Sophia said. "He called her every name under the sun you could think of, he was so verbally abusive," Sophia added. "She was afraid to leave because he said he'd take her children away."

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