Search of woods finds no trace of missing New Jersey mom

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A day after searching for the body of a woman missing since August 19, Emerson, New Jersey, police ended their efforts, saying Wednesday they're "reasonably certain" she wasn't in those areas.

Emerson Police Chief Michael Saudino said "shoulder-to-shoulder" scourings Tuesday of Emerson locales turned up no signs of Liza Murphy.

More than 200 people, including police officers from dozens of departments and civilian volunteers, took part in the search effort.

Places searched included a cemetery and a wooded area surrounding the Oradell Reservoir.

Saudino said police were not planning to search the reservoir since a body likely would have surfaced by now.

"I feel comfortable that we've fulfilled our obligation to search these locations, and that she's not in the area," Saudino said.

On Monday, Saudino told CNN's "Nancy Grace" that Murphy has "made no contact with any of her family members or close friends, which makes us concerned, of course."

Murphy's three children are staying with relatives.

She was reported missing August 20, when an anonymous caller told Emerson police of her disappearance.

Her husband, Joseph Murphy, remained at Hackensack University Medical Center with injuries sustained after walking into traffic Friday.

Police said he has been moved from the intensive care unit and is suffering from a broken pelvis, liver damage and facial injuries. Reports quoting police said he had tried to commit suicide.

Saudino said that the husband has not been named a suspect in the case, which remains a missing-persons investigation.

The Bergen (New Jersey) Record reported on its Web site Wednesday that Joseph Murphy's attorney declared his client was innocent.

Attorney Joseph Rem told The Record that Liza Murphy left the house on August 19 after her husband accused her of having an affair and said he wanted a divorce. E-mail to a friend

All About New Jersey