AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 9, 2026
Bond Maintained for Former Sports Medicine Director
Former North Carolina State University Director of Sports Medicine Robert Murphy appeared in Wake County court on Friday, facing 32 sex crime charges related to allegations from former male student-athletes. District Court Judge Brian Ratledge decided to maintain Murphy’s bond at $2 million during the bond hearing, nearly two weeks after Murphy was arrested in Florida. Murphy has not posted bond as of Friday evening.
Details of the Alleged Sexual Abuse
Murphy, who served as sports medicine director at NC State from January 2012 to June 2022, was arrested at his Florida home on September 23 following an indictment issued earlier in October. The indictment charges Murphy with nine felony counts of sexual contact under pretext of medical treatment and 23 misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. According to the court documents, the alleged abuse involved 14 former student-athletes and occurred between October 2016 and September 2021, with charges stemming from a 2019 North Carolina law defining such actions as felony offenses.
Legal Proceedings and Representation
During Friday’s wake county court appearance, Murphy was recently extradited back to North Carolina after spending more than two weeks in a Florida jail. Attorney Kerry Sutton, who represents athletes making sexual abuse allegations against Murphy, attended the bond hearing. She reported that her clients are still heavily impacted by the alleged incidents: "Many of the men, although the assaults were years in the past, they're still really distressed and they think about it all the time. It weighs on them," Sutton stated.
Civil Lawsuits and Title IX Investigation
The sex crime charges are directly connected to ongoing civil lawsuits. More than 30 former Wolfpack student-athletes filed a lawsuit alleging abuse by Murphy under the guise of medical treatment, implicating Murphy and various NC State athletic and university officials. The suit claims that administrators did not take meaningful action despite persistent reports of sexual assault and harassment. Though some athletic staff reportedly filed complaints, the lawsuit argues that university officials did not enact reasonable measures to protect student-athletes.
That civil lawsuit was dismissed on procedural grounds in June, but Kerry Sutton is currently appealing the decision. A separate filing concerning NC State is under review by the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
NC State conducted a Title IX investigation in 2022 following complaints against Murphy, as referenced in the civil suit. However, the university denied a public records request for findings from this review, citing state laws that restrict releasing confidential personnel records.
University Response and Ongoing Investigation
NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell, who assumed the position in 2025 and is not named in the civil suit, told WRAL last month that the university is fully cooperating with investigators. "We do not condone sexual assault of any kind. Period," Howell said. The university did not provide immediate comment regarding the most recent bond hearing.
Next Steps in the Case
Robert Murphy's next scheduled court date is November 2. The legal proceedings continue as authorities pursue both criminal and civil avenues regarding the nc state abuse allegations, and issues surrounding the university response and Title IX investigation are ongoing.
Source: wral.com.
