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More than two years after two area men were charged with the murder of a 37-year-old Framingham resident, police charged a Plymouth man with helping the pair hide the victim’s body. John Murphy, 59, of Plymouth, pleaded not guilty through his lawyer, Louis Font, to the charge of accessory to murder, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Friday, Dec. 30. Judge Robert Cosgrove set Murphy’s bail at $80,000 cash.
Murphy, in handcuffs and wearing a hooded gray sweatshirt, was silent during the proceedings, staring at the judge. Seated behind him in the gallery were his wife of 38 years, Elaine Murphy, who fought back tears; his 36-year-old son, Terrence Murphy; and two other relatives.
Paul Moccia of Dedham and Daniel Bradley of Westwood are awaiting trial for the March 2009 murder of Angel Ramirez. They are being tried separately; Moccia’s trial was delayed earlier this month and will begin in February. Bradley’s will follow.
According to Assistant District Attorney Robert Nelson, Murphy’s daughter, Shannon Murphy, contacted police in November with information about Murphy’s involvement in the murder.
Font characterized Shannon Murphy as “estranged” from her father.
Shannon Murphy is the mother of Bradley’s child. She had previously been questioned about an alleged plot to murder her ex-boyfriend Jesse Sheridan. The state argued in December 2009 that Bradley helped Moccia murder Ramirez in exchange for Moccia helping him “take out” Sheridan.
According to Nelson, John Murphy asked his daughter for a ride to Balboni’s liquor store in Norwood on the night of Ramirez’s murder. It was at this Washington Street location where Murphy met with Bradley, Nelson said.
Murphy, a 42-year employee of Applied Plastics on Endicott Street in Norwood, went with Bradley to that business, Nelson said. They had with them a 55-gallon metal barrel containing the remains of Ramirez, Nelson said.
Applied Plastics has large industrial ovens, which reach 900 degrees, according to Nelson. While it would take nearly twice that temperature to disintegrate bones, the state argued those were the ovens in which Ramirez’s remains were disposed.
In addition to Shannon Murphy’s testimony, police spoke to another individual, Manuel Depina, who observed Bradley and Murphy at Applied Plastics the night of the murder, Nelson said.
Another employee at the facility, Jose Brandao, said he saw Murphy standing next to a 55-gallon barrel at 6 the next morning, Nelson said. This was the same barrel that had contained Ramirez’s body, according to Nelson.
More than two years after two area men were charged with the murder of a 37-year-old Framingham resident, police charged a Plymouth man with helping the pair hide the victim’s body. John Murphy, 59, of Plymouth, pleaded not guilty through his lawyer, Louis Font, to the charge of accessory to murder, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Friday, Dec. 30. Judge Robert Cosgrove set Murphy’s bail at $80,000 cash.
Murphy, in handcuffs and wearing a hooded gray sweatshirt, was silent during the proceedings, staring at the judge. Seated behind him in the gallery were his wife of 38 years, Elaine Murphy, who fought back tears; his 36-year-old son, Terrence Murphy; and two other relatives.
Paul Moccia of Dedham and Daniel Bradley of Westwood are awaiting trial for the March 2009 murder of Angel Ramirez. They are being tried separately; Moccia’s trial was delayed earlier this month and will begin in February. Bradley’s will follow.
According to Assistant District Attorney Robert Nelson, Murphy’s daughter, Shannon Murphy, contacted police in November with information about Murphy’s involvement in the murder.
Font characterized Shannon Murphy as “estranged” from her father.
Shannon Murphy is the mother of Bradley’s child. She had previously been questioned about an alleged plot to murder her ex-boyfriend Jesse Sheridan. The state argued in December 2009 that Bradley helped Moccia murder Ramirez in exchange for Moccia helping him “take out” Sheridan.
According to Nelson, John Murphy asked his daughter for a ride to Balboni’s liquor store in Norwood on the night of Ramirez’s murder. It was at this Washington Street location where Murphy met with Bradley, Nelson said.
Murphy, a 42-year employee of Applied Plastics on Endicott Street in Norwood, went with Bradley to that business, Nelson said. They had with them a 55-gallon metal barrel containing the remains of Ramirez, Nelson said.
Applied Plastics has large industrial ovens, which reach 900 degrees, according to Nelson. While it would take nearly twice that temperature to disintegrate bones, the state argued those were the ovens in which Ramirez’s remains were disposed.
In addition to Shannon Murphy’s testimony, police spoke to another individual, Manuel Depina, who observed Bradley and Murphy at Applied Plastics the night of the murder, Nelson said.
Another employee at the facility, Jose Brandao, said he saw Murphy standing next to a 55-gallon barrel at 6 the next morning, Nelson said. This was the same barrel that had contained Ramirez’s body, according to Nelson.
The state police dive team searched a pond behind Applied Plastics, but was unable to locate Ramirez’s remains or any other evidence, Nelson said.
The state had previously maintained Bradley disposed of the body at his family’s concrete business in Walpole.
Font said Shannon Murphy’s credibility is weak and her testimony would be called into question during a trial. She has been in and out of rehabilitation for an Oxycontin addiction, Font said.
“All you have before you stems from her testimony at this late date, two years after she observed these incidents,” Font said.
Murphy also has health conditions making a stay in jail difficult, including the respiratory illness sleep apnea and rheumatoid arthritis, Font said.
Murphy’s next court hearing will be on Jan 26.
Contact staff writer Dave Eisenstadter at 781-433-8336 or deisenstadter@wickedlocal.com.
