Former N.C. State Trainer Robert Murphy Arrested in Florida on 32 Sexual Abuse Counts
Robert M. Murphy Jr., former director of sports medicine at N.C. State University, was arrested in Ocala, Florida, on Wednesday night. He faces 32 criminal charges, including nine felonies for sexual contact under the pretext of medical treatment and 23 misdemeanors for sexual battery, stemming from allegations by 14 former male athletes. A Wake County grand jury indicted him on September 14, 2026, following a multiyear investigation. Murphy waived extradition and is expected to be transferred to North Carolina within 72 to 96 hours. This criminal action follows a civil lawsuit involving 31 former athletes that was dismissed in June 2026 on procedural grounds, though the plaintiffs have appealed. Murphy’s attorneys deny the allegations, citing a prior 2022 campus police investigation that found no basis for charges, while victims’ attorneys argue the new criminal charges validate their claims of systemic institutional failure.