Post by Graveyardbride on Apr 3, 2017 8:15:26 GMT -5
Woman Convicted of Satanic Cult Murder Requests Parole
NATICK, Mass. – A Fall River woman convicted in one of the most notorious murder cases in southern New England pled for her release before a Massachusetts parole board. Robin Murphy (above), 54, asked the board for her freedom 37 years after she took a plea deal and confessed to the Satanic-style killing of her former lover, Karen Marsden. Marsden’s beaten and mutilated body was found in a wooded area of Westport in 1980. Murphy later claimed she performed oral sex on Marsden after she had been decapitated.
Her testimony helped convict two men, Carl Drew and Andrew Maltais. Drew was allegedly the leader of a devil-worshiping prostitution ring, which included the convicted killers and victims. However, Murphy has since recanted her story and now claims she was not involved whatsoever. “You want us to believe that you did this out of the goodness of your heart, to save the public from Drew?” asked chairman Paul Treseler. Members of the parole board called Murphy “cunning,” “manipulative” and “smart” during the hearing.
The five present members all expressed frustration at Murphy’s new explanation of events, which has changed numerous times. “You have a problem. You have a serious problem now with credibility,” said board member Dr. Charlene Bonner.
Murphy was freed for seven years beginning in 2004, but returned to prison following a parole violation. Witnesses, many of whom believe Murphy was also involved in the murders of Doreen Levesque and Barbara Raposa, pled with board members to keep the woman behind bars. “She savagely beat and brutalized, three young women … leaving them like sacks of garbage,” said Patricia DeSouto, a friend of the victims. “Robin was the mastermind … in all three homicides and manipulated everyone,” added Rep. Alan Silvia, D-Fall River, a former police detective.
Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Karen O’Sullivan noted that Murphy was “given a pass” on one of the killings, by agreeing to testify against Drew and Maltais. “Ms. Murphy should be serving two consecutive life sentences, without the possibility of parole,” she asserted.
But Murphy’s lawyer insisted her client was an abused 17-year-old at the time of the Marsden murder and deserves to return to society. Murphy also denied any involvement in Satanic rituals, despite police claims that officers witnessed them. “She was a child, and a sexually-exploited child, at that, with a significant trauma history,” argued attorney Courtney Bradley.
Meanwhile, the hearing featured a particularly dramatic moment, when Marsden’s brother saw Murphy in-person for the first time. As he sat down to testify, Demetri Marsden, who was just 5-years-old when his sister was murdered, stared directly at Murphy. After Treseler asked him to strictly address the board, he apologized. “I’m sorry. This is the first time. I’ve never actually physically put my eyes on Ms. Murphy,” he said.
A decision from the parole board is expected in the coming months.
Source: Adam Bagni, WJAR News, March 28, 2017.