-1920w.png){kind=logo}
The air in Fall River during the late 70s was thick with more than just the usual humid salt from the coast. It was heavy. Dark. People talk about the Lizzie Borden house like it’s the only haunt in town, but the real nightmare started in 1979. That’s when a teenager named Robin Murphy became the face of a story so bizarre it still feels like a fever dream. We are talking about the "Satanic Panic" before that was even a catchphrase.
Robin Murphy wasn’t just some bystander. She was 17. She was a sex worker. Honestly, she was a kid caught in a world of pimps, drugs, and a man named Carl Drew who convinced a lot of desperate people he was the devil’s right hand.
The Fall River Murders and the Legend of Robin Murphy
When people search for Robin Murphy Fall River, they usually find three names that don’t get enough breath anymore: Doreen Levesque, Barbara Raposa, and Karen Marsden. These women weren't just "victims." They were humans who got swallowed by a scene that Fall River didn’t want to admit existed.
The story goes that Carl Drew ran a cult. Robin was basically his enforcer. Or his victim. Maybe both? It’s hard to tell because her story has changed so many times it would make your head spin.
In 1980, the police found parts of Karen Marsden’s skull in the woods of Westport. It was gruesome. Just horrific stuff involving rocks and a ritualistic vibe that terrified the neighborhood. Robin Murphy didn't just know about it; she was there. According to her own testimony back then, she was the one who actually slit Karen's throat because Drew told her to.
✨ Don't miss: Current Electoral College Map: Why the 270 Math Just Got Harder
The 1981 Trial and the Deal with the Devil
Let's be real: Robin Murphy is the only reason Carl Drew is in prison for life. She made a deal. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Karen Marsden and agreed to testify against Drew.
- She told the court about "Willie" and the rituals.
- She described the night Doreen Levesque was killed under the bleachers.
- She admitted to being present when Andre Maltais killed Barbara Raposa.
Because she talked, she didn't get life without parole. She got a chance. But that’s where things get weird. Almost immediately after the trial, she started taking it all back. She recanted. Then she recanted the recantation. It was a mess. She eventually claimed she lied about everything just to make sure Carl Drew went down because she was afraid of him.
The courts didn't buy it. A judge basically called her a professional liar. But the seed of doubt was planted. Was Carl Drew a cult leader, or was Robin Murphy a master manipulator who crafted a story the police were already desperate to believe?
Life on the Outside: The Parole Seesaw
Robin Murphy actually made it out. In 2004, after decades behind bars, the Massachusetts Parole Board let her go. She moved into a residential program. She tried to live a "normal" life.
It didn't last.
In 2011, she was back. Why? She got pulled over in Chelsea with a known felon. There was heroin in the car. She wasn't using it, supposedly, but she was "associating." For a lifer on parole, that's a one-way ticket back to Framingham.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen
Where is Robin Murphy Now?
You've probably seen the headlines recently. In May 2024, the board finally decided she’d done enough. At 61 years old, after seven failed attempts, Robin Murphy Fall River history finally shifted toward a second chance.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University while inside. She worked with the Vet Dogs program. She stopped blaming everyone else and started admitting she was "an enabler."
"I understand why no one would believe anything I say," she told the board.
The board noted she had a massive history of trauma. That doesn't excuse a murder, obviously. But it does paint a picture of why a 17-year-old would follow a pimp into the woods with a knife.
Why the Fall River Case Still Matters
This isn't just a true crime podcast episode. It’s a lesson in how justice gets messy when "Satanic Panic" enters the courtroom. If Robin lied, a man is in jail for a cult that didn't exist. If she told the truth, she’s a reformed killer.
The documentary Fall River (2021) reignited the whole debate. It showed the lead detective, Alan Sylvia, who is now a State Rep, still haunted by the case. He still thinks Carl Drew is where he belongs. But he also wasn't thrilled about Robin getting out.
Most people don't realize how much the "cult" aspect was pushed by the media at the time. It was the perfect storm of 80s fear.
Actionable Takeaways from the Robin Murphy Story
If you’re following this case or looking for the truth behind the headlines, keep these nuances in mind:
- Scrutinize Recantations: In cases involving high-pressure environments (like pimp/victim dynamics), recantations are common and don't always mean the first story was a lie.
- Contextualize the Era: The "Satanic Panic" of the late 70s influenced how police gathered evidence. Always look for physical evidence over "ritual" testimony.
- Parole is Not an Absolution: Being granted parole doesn't mean the state thinks she's innocent. It means they think she’s no longer a threat to the public.
- Victim Advocacy: Remember that while Robin is the "star" of the news, Karen Marsden’s family has spent 40 years without a body to bury. Only fragments of her skull were ever found.
Robin Murphy is out now. She’s living under strict supervision. Whether she’s a victim of the system or a villain who outplayed it is something Fall River will probably be arguing about for another forty years.
To dig deeper, you should look into the Bristol County District Attorney's archives regarding the Andre Maltais trial. It provides a different angle on Murphy's immunity deals that often gets overshadowed by the Carl Drew drama.