Fall River’s Robin Murphy granted parole with conditions, acknowledges dishonesty

A Fall River woman known for her reported involvement in the city’s “cult killings” has been granted parole with conditions.

According to the Massachusetts Parole Board, on January 14, 1981, in Bristol Superior Court, Robin Murphy, now 61, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the death of Karen Marsden and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Murphy had been indicted for first-degree murder but was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge in exchange for her testimony at the trial of her co-defendants, Carl Drew and Carl Davis.

In December 1979, Robin Murphy and Karen Marsden were in a relationship, living together in the Fall River area. Marsden had previously lived with, and worked for, Carl Drew, a Fall River pimp who the Board stated also led a satanic cult. Murphy was an active participant in a group of pimps, sex workers, and drug abusers that included Drew and Marsden. On the evening of February 8, 1980, 17-year-old Robin Murphy and Marsden were in a car with Drew, Carl Davis, and another woman. The other woman, at the direction of Davis, drove to Family Beach in Westport. When Drew ordered her to take Marsden out of the car, Murphy dragged the victim by her neck and hair into the woods. Drew and Murphy hit Marsden and struck her with rocks. Davis handed Murphy a knife and told her to cut Marsden’s throat, which she did. Drew then snapped Marsden’s neck and took off her pants, after which Murphy committed a sexual act on her body. Drew cut off Marsden’s head and told Murphy to pull out the hair. After she complied, Drew kicked the head and marked the body. Murphy, Davis, Drew, and the other woman went back to the car. Some months later, Murphy made incriminating statements to multiple friends, who later reported those statements to police.

Murphy was present and played a role in the murder of Barbara Raposa in Fall River on February 7, 1979, according to the Board. Murphy was given immunity in exchange for her testimony at trial in which Andre Maltais was convicted of first-degree murder.

Some of these accounts were disputed in a documentary of the killings called “Fall River”.

This was Murphy’s eighth appearance before the Board. She was initially paroled in 2004 and returned to custody in 2011 for a parole violation. Murphy has engaged in a significant amount of programming to address her trauma history, victim empathy, emotional wellbeing, and addiction, and has earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University, according to the Board. She has remained in the Vet Dogs program and has developed employment skills. The Board stated that she recognized the issues that resulted in her return to custody, has actively addressed those issues in custody, and will continue to do so in the community. Murphy acknowledges that her history of dishonesty has been a barrier to her release. She acknowledged that, due to her pattern of dishonesty, many people have been harmed. She is willing to try and rectify the harm she has caused. Murphy has significant support in the community and presented with a re-entry plan that will meet her needs. The Board considered a prior forensic evaluation by Dr. DiCataldo. The Board also considered public testimony by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, a friend of the victim, and a retired detective who was involved in the governing offense. The Board concluded by unanimous decision that Murphy has demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make her release compatible with the welfare of society. 

Special conditions of Murphy’s parole include: Granted on/after 2 weeks from issuance of Decision to Long-Term Residential Program, but not before District Attorney clearance; Waive work for when program allows; Curfew must be at home between 10 PM and 6 AM; Electronic monitoring (GPS) for 90 days; Must take prescribed medication; Supervise for drugs, testing in accordance with Agency policy; Supervise for liquor abstinence, testing in accordance with Agency policy; Report to assigned MA Parole Office on day of release; No contact with victim(s)’ family; No contact with witness(es); Must have substance abuse evaluation and follow recommendations; Must have mental health counseling for co-dependency, individual or group; Long-Term Residential Program or New Beginnings.