Bio

Jack Roland Murphy was born on May 26, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. He was an only child. He later became widely known by the nickname “Murph the Surf” or “Murf the Surf.” His father worked as a lineman for a telephone company. As a child, Murphy enjoyed music and surfing. He played the violin and spent part of his youth in Carlsbad, California, near San Diego. His family also lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Modesto, California, before moving to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, when he was in high school.

Murphy later said he played violin with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and received a tennis scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. In 1955, he moved to Miami, Florida, where he worked in hotels. He married Gloria Sostoc in 1957, and they had two children before divorcing in 1962. Murphy later remarried and opened a surf shop in Indialantic, Florida.

Murder Story

In December 1967, the bodies of Terry Rae Frank and Annelle Marie Mohn were found in Whiskey Creek Canal near Hollywood, Florida, in Broward County. Both women had worked for a Los Angeles brokerage firm before moving to Florida. Reports later connected the case to a dispute involving stolen securities worth nearly half a million dollars.

Murphy was charged in connection with the killing of Terry Rae Frank, who was 24 years old. Her body was one of the two found weighted down in the canal. The case became known as part of the “Whiskey Creek murders.” Although two women were found dead, Murphy was convicted only for the murder of Terry Rae Frank.

In 1969, Murphy was tried in Fort Lauderdale. His defense entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and he was held in a mental hospital for several months before being ruled competent to stand trial. In March 1969, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. His co-defendant, Jack Griffith, was convicted of second-degree murder and received a 45-year sentence.

Murphy’s criminal convictions did not end with the murder case. In 1970, he received another life sentence plus 20 years for conspiracy and assault to commit robbery in the case involving Olive Wofford.

While in prison, Murphy became involved in religious programs and prison ministry. He was paroled in November 1986 after serving about 19 years. After his release, he worked in prison ministry and spoke to inmates in prisons and jails.

Jack Roland Murphy died on September 12, 2020, in Crystal River, Florida. He was 83 years old. His wife reported that he died of heart and organ failure.