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Woman Pleads Guilty In Murder of Pennsylvania Jeweler July 20, 2022 (0 comments)
New Orleans, LA.--A woman accused of killing a Pottsville jewelry retailer in New Orleans has pleaded guilty, according to news reports.
Megan Hall pleaded guilty in New Orleans Criminal Court Monday to manslaughter, armed robbery and obstruction of justice for the fatal stabbing of Patrick Murphy in a hotel room in February of 2019. The owner of Murphy Jewelers with multiple locations in Pennsylvania, was visiting New Orleans with his wife at the time of his death.
Police said Hall stabbed Murphy, 62, at the Empress Hotel in the Treme section of New Orleans, according to the report. Video surveillance footage showed Murphy and Hall arriving at the hotel together at 2:10 a.m., according to prosecutors. She was seen leaving the hotel room alone. Police said they believe Hall left the hotel with some of Murphy's possessions.
Under the plea agreement, Hall, 28, will see her sentenced reduced from 25 years to 10 years. In addition, the agreement gives her credit for time served. She has been in prison since March 2019 on $750,000 bail. This means under the agreement, she will serve fewer than seven years.