Marion County authorities arrested Robert M. Murphy Jr., the ex‑director of sports medicine at North Carolina State University, on Wednesday night. The sheriff’s office listed 23 counts of sexual battery and nine counts of felony sexual contact against Murphy in its online database.
Background of the allegations
The accusations date back several years. A single athlete filed a federal civil lawsuit in 2022, alleging that Murphy improperly touched genitals during massages and observed urine samples during drug testing. That case expanded in state court in 2025, eventually involving 31 former Wolfpack athletes who reported similar misconduct.
In June 2025, a judge dismissed the civil suit against Murphy and several NC State athletics officials, citing procedural issues such as the statute of limitations on claims as early as 2013. The dismissal was appealed by the athletes’ attorneys.
Current legal status
Murphy is being held on out‑of‑state fugitive warrants issued by North Carolina. He remains in the Marion County jail while the Florida charges proceed. The case is still under investigation, and no further details have been released by the sheriff’s office.
Reactions from legal representatives
Raleigh‑based attorneys Jared Hammett and Seth Blum, who have represented Murphy in the civil litigation, did not respond to requests for comment. In earlier statements, Blum defended his client, asserting that there was “not one scrap of credible evidence” of assault.
Durham attorney Kerry Sutton, who has worked with the athletes since the original complaint, told the Associated Press that the number of former players contacting lawyers with similar allegations has risen to 35.
Impact on NC State athletics
The allegations have placed the university’s athletics department under scrutiny. Former athletic director Debbie Yow and current AD Boo Corrigan were named in the dismissed civil suit, though the judge ruled that any claims against them should be directed to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, the state agency that handles workplace matters for public institutions.
While the civil case remains unresolved, the criminal charges in Florida add a new dimension to the ongoing investigation of alleged misconduct within the Wolfpack’s sports‑medicine program.
What’s next?
Murphy’s case will move forward in Marion County courts. The university has not issued a public statement regarding the arrest. The athletes’ legal team continues to pursue appeals of the earlier dismissal, seeking a venue where the claims can be heard.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
