A Missouri woman, Amy L. Murray, has reached a plea agreement in connection with the death of her husband, Joshua Murray. Evidence surfaced linking her to an affair with an inmate, and she entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder.
The case has shocked the community, with details of her involvement in her husband’s poisoning death and the subsequent arson coming to light.
The Tragic Death of Joshua Murray
In December 2018, Joshua Murray’s body was discovered in the charred remains of the couple’s home in Iberia, Missouri.
The investigation revealed that the fire, which destroyed the house, was caused by arson. Medical examiner findings showed that Joshua Murray had died from poisoning, specifically ethylene glycol, commonly known as antifreeze, before the fire was set.
The Affair with an Inmate
Further investigation uncovered shocking details about Amy Murray’s personal life. She was revealed to have been having an affair with Eugene Claypool, an inmate at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, where she worked as a nurse.
Claypool, who was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, had been in frequent contact with Amy Murray through phone calls, which investigators were able to track.
During these conversations, Amy Murray reportedly expressed her desire to divorce her husband, Joshua, and begin a life with Claypool. Investigators later discovered that she even spoke about hiring an attorney to help Claypool appeal his life sentence and potentially secure his release.
The Events Leading to the Fire
On December 11, 2018, Amy Murray reported that she, her 11-year-old son, and the family dogs had gone to McDonald’s, leaving the house temporarily.
When they returned, the house was on fire. Murray claimed that the house was filled with smoke, and she couldn’t enter to rescue her husband. Authorities, however, later determined that the fire had been deliberately set.
Joshua Murray’s body was found on the bed in the master bedroom, and investigators soon realized that he had been poisoned before the fire broke out. Amy Murray’s behavior and statements raised suspicion, and the investigation began to focus on her involvement in the crime.
Legal Proceedings and Plea Agreement
Amy Murray was initially charged with multiple crimes, including first-degree murder, armed criminal action, second-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree sexual abuse, and three counts of offender abuse by an employee of the Department of Corrections due to her affair with Claypool.
On Tuesday, Murray reached a plea deal and accepted an Alford plea to second-degree murder. This plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that there is enough evidence for a conviction.
As part of the plea agreement, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the murder of her husband, Joshua Murray.
