Robert M. Murphy Jr. faces North Carolina sexual abuse charges after his arrest in Florida, a former N.C. State sports medicine director now held as a fugitive from justice. He is accused of abusing former male athletes. A Wake County grand jury indicted Murphy on Sept. 14 on nine felony counts of sexual contact under pretext of medical treatment and 23 misdemeanor counts of sexual battery.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The Associated Press the charges cover 14 victims interviewed by law enforcement. “This is a big step in a longer process committed to seeking justice on behalf of these victims,” Freeman said. “We commend the hard work of law enforcement and the courage of the victims who have brought us to this point.”
Authorities in Marion County, Florida, took Murphy into custody Wednesday night. He was held Thursday in the Marion County jail on out-of-state fugitive warrants. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office listed the 32 charges but no additional details on its online database, according to the AP.
According to indictments unsealed Thursday afternoon, the charges span allegations from October 2016 to fall 2021. Murphy faces as many as six charges, including two felony counts tied to one accuser, and four charges with two felonies tied to another.
Raleigh-based attorneys Jared Hammett and Seth Blum, who have represented Murphy in civil suits, denied wrongdoing again Thursday. “We are very disappointed that the Wake County District Attorney’s office would choose to prosecute based on a changing story,” Hammett and Blum said. “Four years ago law enforcement concluded there was not enough to support charges.”
The criminal case grew out of a federal civil lawsuit filed in August 2022 by Benjamin Locke, a former men’s soccer player. Locke has spoken publicly about the allegations, which date to August 2015 and prompted N.C. State’s campus police to investigate that year. The case moved to state court in 2025 with 14 former Wolfpack athletes. By late January, 31 athletes had joined. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in June on procedural grounds, and the players’ attorneys have appealed.
Durham-based attorney Kerry Sutton, who represents the players, said 35 athletes have contacted players’ attorneys with similar allegations. “This is a huge development for the men,” Sutton said. “They are extremely grateful for (Wake) ADA Melanie Shekita’s dedication and for the assistance of law enforcement in North Carolina and Florida.”
The state lawsuit named nine individual defendants, including Murphy and former athletic director Debbie Yow. Current AD Boo Corrigan is also listed. Murphy worked at N.C. State from 2012 to 2022.
N.C. State issued a statement Thursday confirming it is aware of the charges. “Sexual misconduct of any kind is unacceptable,” the university said. “The health and safety of students and student-athletes is paramount to N.C. State Athletics and the university. We are aware of the charges filed by Wake County against Robert Murphy.”
The June dismissal cited the statute of limitations expiring on claims dating to 2013 and jurisdictional grounds. The court ruled the complaint should go through the North Carolina Industrial Commission, a state agency that handles workplace matters. All but two of the 31 athletes filed as “John Doe” plaintiffs to protect their identities. Two former men’s soccer players were named.
The June ruling came after a federal appeals court in January 2025 revived one of two federal lawsuits filed by athletes in February 2023 and April 2023. The other had been dismissed by a district court.
