CrimeJul 19, 2022
Nehal Modi Convicted of Grand LarcenyCrimeJul 20, 2022
Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Death of PA Jeweler
Megan Hall was set to go on trial for charges related to the death of Patrick J. Murphy, owner of Murphy Jewelers, next week.
New Orleans—The woman charged with fatally stabbing a Pennsylvania jeweler in a New Orleans hotel room in 2019 has pleaded guilty, court records show.
Megan Hall, 28, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, armed robbery, and obstruction of justice in New Orleans Criminal Court on Monday, just a week before she was scheduled to go on trial for the killing of Patrick J. Murphy, owner of Murphy Jewelers in Pennsylvania.
As part of the plea deal, a second-degree murder charge was reduced to a manslaughter charge.
Hall faced a 25-year sentence for the three charges to which she pleaded guilty, according to court documents, but with the plea deal, all but 10 years have been suspended. She also receives credit for time served.
Murphy’s body was discovered inside a room at the Empress Hotel in the city’s Tremé neighborhood before noon on Feb. 28, 2019.
Court records said he had been killed by three stab wounds, one to his neck and two to his abdomen.
Video surveillance cameras at the hotel showed Murphy and Hall arriving together in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 28, according to the Orleans Parish District Attorney. Hall was then seen leaving the room alone and “briskly” walking out the front door a little more than an hour later.
Witnesses also reported hearing a man and woman loudly arguing around 3:30 a.m. inside the room Hall rented, followed by sounds of a struggle that lasted about two minutes.
Hall turned herself in days later and was arrested. She was then indicted in June 2019, but her trial was pushed back several times due to the pandemic.
Murphy was the owner of Murphy Jewelers, which dates to 1913 when Frank Murphy, a clockmaker and optometrist, opened his store in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
Murphy and his wife, Kim, grew the business, opening a second store in Hamburg, Pennsylvania in October 2004. A third location was added in spring 2010 at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, located in Center Valley.
Related stories will be right here …
Megan Hall, 28, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, armed robbery, and obstruction of justice in New Orleans Criminal Court on Monday, just a week before she was scheduled to go on trial for the killing of Patrick J. Murphy, owner of Murphy Jewelers in Pennsylvania.
As part of the plea deal, a second-degree murder charge was reduced to a manslaughter charge.
Hall faced a 25-year sentence for the three charges to which she pleaded guilty, according to court documents, but with the plea deal, all but 10 years have been suspended. She also receives credit for time served.
Murphy’s body was discovered inside a room at the Empress Hotel in the city’s Tremé neighborhood before noon on Feb. 28, 2019.
Court records said he had been killed by three stab wounds, one to his neck and two to his abdomen.
Video surveillance cameras at the hotel showed Murphy and Hall arriving together in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 28, according to the Orleans Parish District Attorney. Hall was then seen leaving the room alone and “briskly” walking out the front door a little more than an hour later.
Witnesses also reported hearing a man and woman loudly arguing around 3:30 a.m. inside the room Hall rented, followed by sounds of a struggle that lasted about two minutes.
Hall turned herself in days later and was arrested. She was then indicted in June 2019, but her trial was pushed back several times due to the pandemic.
Murphy was the owner of Murphy Jewelers, which dates to 1913 when Frank Murphy, a clockmaker and optometrist, opened his store in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
Murphy and his wife, Kim, grew the business, opening a second store in Hamburg, Pennsylvania in October 2004. A third location was added in spring 2010 at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, located in Center Valley.
More on Crime
The Latest
CollectionsAug 19, 2022
As Its Namesake Sets to Retire, Serena Williams Jewelry Debuts New DTC WebsiteThe company is no longer selling its jewelry at Zales, which first partnered with Williams last August.
WatchesAug 19, 2022
WatchBox Names Jack Forster Global Editorial DirectorHe was previously editor-in-chief at Hodinkee.
CollectionsAug 19, 2022
Piece of the Week: Akaila Reid’s ‘Wavy’ BangleIt’s the hero piece of the emerging designer’s new “Wavy Baby” collection.
Brought to you by
The American Mined™ Collection: Ethical Sourcing That MattersRio Grande provides a pathway to responsibly sourced gemstones.
Supplier BulletinAug 18, 2022
Why Online Auctions Are Ideal For Selling Hard-To-Find JewelrySponsored by HiBid
Weekly QuizAug 18, 2022
This Week’s QuizTest your knowledge of the latest jewelry news with this quick test.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2022
Squirrel Spotting: The Travails of Attracting and Retaining TalentThe job market is tight, making it paramount for employers to have the type of culture employees really crave, Peter Smith writes.
MajorsAug 18, 2022
Pandora Charms Pet Owners with New AccessoriesThe jewelry company has also hired a new chief marketing officer.
Brought to you by
Knowledge and Skills for Today’s Hot TopicsFrom laboratory-grown diamonds to design to country-of-origin, GIA's Alumni Collective™ has a seminar to suite your needs.
CollectionsAug 18, 2022
Hearts On Fire’s Latest Collection Reaches for the Sky“Aerial” is edgy and glamorous, inspired by nature’s wild forms.
GradingAug 18, 2022
VDB, Lab Grown Source Add 8X to Cut Grade Search Filter 8X is now the top cut grade on both platforms, above Ideal.
CollectionsAug 17, 2022
Playing Doubles: Monica Rich Kosann, Chris Evert Team Up on Tennis Bracelets It is the first tennis bracelet collab for the legend, whose lost-and-found moment put the term “tennis bracelet” in the jewelry lexicon.
FinancialsAug 17, 2022
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Double in Q1The company posted a strong start to the year but is cautious about the second half.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2022
6 Things to Know About the Second HardRock Summit The event will bring gems, minerals, and fossils under one roof from Sept. 8-11 in Denver.
SourcingAug 17, 2022
Diamond Supplier SRK Pledges 750 Solar-Power RooftopsThe charitable mission is in honor of India’s 75 years of independence.
Lab-GrownAug 16, 2022
Pandora’s Lab-Grown Diamond Line Heads to the U.S.The announcement preceded the Danish company’s release of its second-quarter results.
ColumnistsAug 16, 2022
The PR Adviser: Describe Your Customer Columnist Lilian Raji continues her tour of the customer journey by asking, who is your customer? And, what do they like?
EditorsAug 16, 2022
Tiffany’s ‘Lock’ Bangle May Be Its Answer to Cartier’s ‘Love’ BraceletThe unisex style succeeds in several ways while saying a lot about what’s trending in jewelry, writes Senior Editor, Fashion, Ashley Davis.
SourcingAug 15, 2022
Q&A: Moyo Gems Celebrates 3 Years and Many MilestonesIn honor of the anniversary, Pact’s Mines to Markets Director Cristina Villegas discusses recent expansion and where it goes from here.
Events & AwardsAug 15, 2022
David Webb to Hold an Exhibition of Its Animal Jewelry “A Walk in the Woods” will open at the brand’s Madison Avenue flagship this fall.
Events & AwardsAug 15, 2022
Plumb Club, JVC to Hold Webinar on Sustainability MarketingThe Jewelers Vigilance Committee’s Sara Yood will give an overview of what the FTC guidelines currently say and what may be changing.
Lab-GrownAug 12, 2022
Report: State Bank of India to Begin Lending to Lab-Grown Producers The loans will go mostly to the import of machinery rather than working capital, according to a recent article from The Economic Times.
FinancialsAug 12, 2022
Brilliant Earth’s Fine Jewelry a Hit in Q2The company is also continuing its retail expansion.
AuctionsAug 12, 2022
2 Rolexes Paul Newman Gave to Stuntman Stan Barrett Head to Auction The sale also will include a third Rolex, with all three watches tied to Barrett’s 1979 attempt to break the world record for land speed.
CollectionsAug 12, 2022
Piece of the Week: İTÄ Jewelry’s ‘Danza’ RingIt mixes diamond shapes and colors.
AuctionsAug 11, 2022
Sotheby’s Is Preparing its First Art Jewelry Auction This Fall“Art as Jewelry as Art” features works from artists like Salvador Dalí, Alexander Calder, and Max Ernst.
IndependentsAug 11, 2022
Martin Katz Is Moving to a PenthouseThe jeweler is relocating his Beverly Hills store after 20 years and has begun developing a lifestyle brand.
