Authorities in Florida have arrested Robert M. Murphy Jr., the former director of sports medicine at N.C. State, on charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of former male athletes under the guise of treatment. The arrest comes after more than 30 athletes outlined allegations in civil lawsuits.
Murphy was taken into custody Wednesday night in Marion County, Florida, and is being held on out-of-state fugitive warrants from North Carolina. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office online database lists 23 charges of sexual battery and nine for felony sexual contact, though specific details were not immediately available.
The case initially gained public attention four years ago with a federal civil lawsuit filed by a single athlete. This complaint detailed alleged misconduct by Murphy, including inappropriate touching during massages and intrusive observation during drug testing. Over time, the number of athletes alleging similar experiences grew, leading to a lawsuit in state court by February that included 31 former Wolfpack athletes.
In June, a judge dismissed the civil lawsuit against Murphy and several N.C. State athletics officials. The dismissal cited procedural reasons, including the statute of limitations for claims dating back to 2013. Attorneys for the athletes have appealed this decision. All but two of the 31 plaintiffs were identified as "John Doe" to protect their privacy.
Attorneys representing Murphy had previously denied any wrongdoing, with one stating that there was no credible evidence of assault. The previous dismissal of the civil case also noted that complaints involving university officials should be handled by the North Carolina Industrial Commission, a state agency managing workplace matters, rather than civil courts.