Ray Murray first encountered forensic geology in 1973 when he was teaching geology at Rutgers University.  An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms walked into Murray's office with a bag of dirt, looking for answers.  Since then, Murray has worked as a forensic geologist and, with then fellow Rutgers professor John Tedrow, in 1975 published the first textbook on the science, Forensic Geology.

Murray served as vice president and professor of geology at the University of Montana from 1977 to 1996 and continues to work in forensic geology. His latest book "Evidence from the Earth--forensic geology and criminal investigation. 2 ed" has been published by Mountain Press.