After four years prosecuting sexual assault cases in Orange County CA, deputy district attorney Matt Murphy was called into the office of his supervisor, Lew Rosenblum.
He had good news – a promotion.
“Welcome to Homicide,” said Rosenblum. “If you think that was crazy, just you wait.”
In ‘The Book of Murder – A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death’ (Hyperion Avenue), Murphy reveals the extraordinary lengths he went to seeking justice for victims of what he calls “the world’s worst crime”.
Murphy spent 17 years prosecuting some of the most diabolical murder cases in the country, completing 45 trials, including six capital cases, across Southern California.
He remembers his first homicide clearly.
“We have all seen the moment on TV or in the movies when the new guy shows up and sees a dead body for the first time,” he recalls. “I was so green in the Unit that I hadn’t even thought…was I about to make a fool of myself? Would I contaminate the scene, lose the respect of my detectives, and be subject to endless hazing for years?
“Murphy,” I told myself, “in the name of all things holy: Please. Do. Not. Puke.”
Twelve of Murphy’s most notorious cases are covered in ‘The Book of Murder’.
From Skylar Deleon, a one-time child actor imprisoned for the murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawke aboard their yacht, to John Meehan, the con artist and inspiration for the Netflix series ‘Dirty John’ who was stabbed to death by his stepdaughter in August 2016, Murphy has snared famous serial killers including ‘Dating Game killer’ Rodney Alcala and solved complex so-called ‘no body’ murders.
A legal analyst for ABC News, Murphy explains that while every investigation is unique, they all share a truth often rooted in the tiniest bit of evidence.
“The direction of a single drop of blood. A tuft of lint on the floor. A wedding invitation that seems out of place,” he writes. “Evidentiary details don’t forget, they’re not biased.
“Tragedies happen,” he says. “Murders are committed.” –Gavin Newsham
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