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New Orleans Police Make Arrest in Murder of PA Jeweler
A 25-year-old woman is in custody and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Murphy Jewelers owner Patrick Murphy.
New Orleans--New Orleans police announced Sunday that they have made an arrest in the murder of Patrick Murphy, owner of Murphy Jewelers in Pennsylvania.
Murphy was found dead just before noon Thursday at The Empress Hotel, a budget hotel just steps from the French Quarter in the middle of a busy tourist season ahead of Mardi Gras.
Murphy was found dead just before noon Thursday at The Empress Hotel, a budget hotel just steps from the French Quarter in the middle of a busy tourist season ahead of Mardi Gras.
A source told the New Orleans Advocate that hotel security footage shows a man--later identified as Murphy--entering a room with a woman shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday. The woman then left the hotel before 4 a.m. without checking out.
NOPD Homicide Unit detectives classified Murphy’s death as a “homicide by cutting” and initially named 25-year-old Megen Hall--first reported as Megan Hall--as a person of interest.
After further investigation, police obtained a warrant for Hall on a charge of second-degree murder.
On Sunday, the NOPD announced that Hall had surrendered to officers with her attorney present.
Murphy Jewelers dates back to 1913 when Frank Murphy, a clockmaker and optometrist, opened a store in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
The store sold jewelry and made and repaired frames for glasses, a common practice back in the day, according to the store’s website.
Patrick Murphy worked in the store throughout high school and enrolled in Bowman’s Technical School, one of America’s oldest watch-making and jewelry schools, to hone his skills and enter the family business.
Murphy and his wife Kim grew the business, opening a second store in Hamburg, Pennsylvania in October 2004, which was recognized as a top 10 “Coolest Store” by In Store magazine.
A third location was opened in spring 2010 at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, located in Center Valley.
Murphy was active in the community, previously serving on the Pottsville Area School District Board of Directors.
Cathy Calhoun, owner of Calhoun Jewelers in Royersford, Pennsylvania, crossed paths with Murphy over the years and remembered him as a “well-respected man with a big personality.”
Murphy leaves behind his wife Kim and their two children, daughter Mallory and son Sean.
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