THE LATEST: Megan Hall is arraigned on 2nd degree murder charges, appears in court, vows fight
New Orleans Police Dept. reports that Megan Hall, the woman accused of killing Pat Murphy, has been arrested.
According to New Orleans Police Department, Hall turned herself in to NOPD this morning. She’s being booked on second-degree murder charges.
NOPD Arrests Suspect in Eighth District Homicide >>https://t.co/ZIUHOIoexV pic.twitter.com/KB7KYVuueX
— NOPD (@NOPDNews) March 3, 2019
Pat Murphy Murder Suspect Arrest in New Orleans
Hall, 25, who may also use the first name Magen, reportedly surrendered to authorities in New Orleans Sunday morning. She was accompanied by an attorney. As you can see from the mug shot above, she’s about 5 feet, 10 inches tall.
Hall’s been on the run since New Orleans police named her a suspect in the murder of Pottsville businessman Pat Murphy.
Here’s a timeline of the events as they’ve happened so far:
Thursday, Feb. 28
Just after 2 a.m. CST
Murphy and Hall briefly enter and leave the Empress Hotel in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. It’s within walking distance of the historic French Quarter.
Murphy and his wife arrived in New Orleans previously. It’s not known when they originally arrived. Murphy’s wife, according to eyewitness accounts of Murphy and Hall at the Empress, do not place her at the scene.
After a brief “negotiation” outside the hotel, Murphy and Hall re-enter the Empress. Hall books a room but Murphy pays for it, according to the owner/operator of the Empress.
At some point during their brief visit together, they leave their hotel room together to smoke a cigarette.
Thursday, Feb. 28
About 3:45 a.m. CST
Hall leaves the Empress Hotel alone.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Around 12 p.m. CST
Empress Hotel staff realize that Murphy has not checked out of his room. They enter the room to find Murphy dead in the room. There is a significant amount of blood in the room. They notify New Orleans Police Department. They are joined by crime scene investigators who leave with brown bags full of evidence from the room.
It’s determined that Murphy died as a result of “homicide by cutting.” That was the original phrase used at the scene, according to reports. It’s since been changed numerous times by several media outlets.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Around 7 p.m. CST
New Orleans Police Department issue a statement identifying Hall as a person of interest. At the time, they say she’s only wanted for questioning related to Murphy’s death.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Just before 10 p.m. CST
Police say they now have a warrant for Hall’s arrest. She’s no longer wanted for questioning. Instead, police say she’s a suspect in Murphy’s murder. They initially charge her with second-degree murder. That charge carries a mandatory life sentence in Louisiana.
Friday, March 1
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office confirms the identity of Murphy as the man found in the Empress Hotel room. Murphy was 62 years old.
Arrest records uncovered by a local New Orleans news source reveal Hall has been arrested in the past for prostitution. In fact, her track record dates back to 2011, when she could have been a minor. And her first prostitution arrest was in 2012. It’s also revealed that she goes by the name Magen Hall, too.
Coal Region Canary has not been able to confirm that an arrest document from 2012 in Tennessee is accurate. In that document, a person named Megan Hall by authorities signed it “Magen Hall”.
Saturday, March 2
Police announce no new leads or information on Murphy’s murder case.
Schuylkill County residents believe they’ve identified the woman suspected in Murphy’s death and begin trolling her Facebook profile. Comments there range from the dangerous to the absurd.
Sunday, March 3
12:48 p.m. CST
New Orleans Police announce they’ve arrested Megan Hall.
Previous reports from NOLA.com indicate that Hall turned herself in to authorities on Sunday morning. She was accompanied by an attorney.
We will continue to follow this story as details are released.
READ ALSO:
Original report on Murphy’s murder
Hall’s history of prostitution revealed
Pottsville community expresses grief
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