How Could You? Hall of Shame-Sean Patrick Murphy UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Edgerton, Kansas, foster parent Sean Patirick Murphy, 46,”has been charged with crimes against five [foster] children, including rape and child pornography.”

“Sean Patrick Murphy, 46, faced a judge Monday after he was arrested outside the United States.

According to court documents, the five victims were between the ages of 4 and 16 at the time of the crimes, which investigators said started in 2013 and ran for two years.

Murphy let his attorney speak for him in court on Monday. His bail was set at $500,000. When his attorney asked for a reduction, the judge denied the request and added a stipulation that Murphy forfeit his passport if he does make bail.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said he couldn’t release many specific details in the case.

“What I can say is when law enforcement became aware of this, they moved very quickly, not only to stop other children from being victims of crimes but also to make sure that the safety of the children in the home were taken care of,” he said.

The Kansas Department of Children and Families said such charges are always disturbing, but all foster parents go through a home inspection and a criminal background check. The agency said Murphy passed those checks.

About a year ago, Murphy and his family moved into a home in Edgerton, where neighbors said they quickly learned that he and his wife were foster parents.

“They had a couple of kids in and out,” said neighbor David Sorbo. “They’d be there for a couple of months and then we’d see one or two others, one or two new ones.”

Neighbors said the Murphys also had a teenage daughter of their own.

Aubree Sorbo said she noticed that the family seemed to be strict with the children.

“You know, they went overboard a little sometimes with corrections,” she said. “That’s just maybe a parenting style, not necessarily a reflection of the person. But you know, I didn’t see anything that would have clued me into the charges that he’s being accused of.”

A sign on the door said Murphy hasn’t lived at the house since November and his estranged wife has told people that the couple is divorcing.

Where Murphy went after leaving the Edgerton home isn’t clear. He was charged March 1 but was not arrested until Saturday.

Aubree Sorbo said she’s trying to grasp the magnitude of the charges.

“If this is true, what these children had to go through is just horrible,” she said. “It just breaks my heart for these kids.””

Kansas foster father charged with rape, child pornography [KMBC 4/11/16 by Peggy Breit]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “A Johnson County foster father has been sentenced to 310 months in prison after being charged with rape and indecent liberties with a child.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced Wednesday that Sean P. Murphy, of Edgerton, KS, was sentenced in Johnson County District Court for the convictions of Rape of a Child, Rape of a Child and Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

Murphy was found guilty of the charges after entering a plea on June 20.

The charges stem from his sexual abuse of multiple children that were in his care through the Kansas Foster Care system.

Murphy was arrested in 2016 and was accused of abusing at least five different victims between Oct. 2013 and July 2015 at his home.

One of the victims was under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged abuse. A second victim was under the age of 16. Two others were under the age of 18.

In all, there are ten counts against Murphy, which include one count of rape and intercourse without consent, three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of aggravated endangerment of a child.

One of the children connected to the aggravated indecent liberties charge was just four or five years old.

Court documents also indicate Murphy used two of his alleged victims to create child pornography where he is alleged to have recorded them engaging in sex acts.

Murphy will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.”

Former Johnson County foster parent sentenced for child rape

[KCTV 5 10/25/17 by Daniel Barnett]