It is 2025, and we are all hooked on true crime podcasts. Bella Fiori, Kendal Rae, Bailey Sarian, we love them all! But have you heard about Matt Murphy, the prosecutor? If you are a fan of true crime documentaries, just like me, you are in for a treat!
Among the big names, prosecutor Matt Murphy is worth a shout-out. Some would say that he is one of the most popular homicide prosecutors in the famous Orange County.
But who is he? Well, for starters, the famous prosecutor’s career spanned across 26 years. While it’s true that he took a decision to retire back in 2019, his fame is not yet over!
In this article, I will talk about prosecutor Matt Murphy, who is currently practicing as a criminal defense attorney and a legal analyst for ABC, with a special mention of his shows and other interesting stuff. So, let us begin without further delay…
Matt Murphy Prosecutor: A Brief Overview of the Ex-Prosecutor
Prosecutor Matt Murphy, also known as Matthew, served as a senior deputy district attorney for Orange County. The former Prosecutor is also a lawyer who had a special knack for homicides and murder.
For the longest time, he has worked alongside ABC as a Correspondent and also given his two cents on crimes as a Criminal Defence Attorney.
Very recently, Murphy has regained popularity due to his appearances in multiple true crime TV shows.
About Prosecutor Matt Murphy
The sunny state of Los Angeles is where Matt Murphy was born and raised. He graduated from high school in 1985.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science after graduating from Loyola High School in California.
After that, he then went to the University of San Diego School of Law, where he graduated in May 1993 with a Juris Doctor.
Eventually, he got some experience working with the Devereaux Foundation to assist disadvantaged children while he was a college student.
Like other exceptional attorneys, Matt Murphy had a strong interest in law from the beginning.
When in his Junior year, Matt Murphy organized a program for sexual assault education and awareness. This program was a huge success among the new fraternity and sorority joiners.
This program went on to become such a success that even the California State Legislature recognized it.
Furthermore, the state legislature even tried to pass a bill with content similar to the program. According to this, all State colleges under the University of California would hold similar educational programs.
Prosecutor Matt Murphy showed excellence in his Senior year. Even if he does not hold the Honorary Law Degree yet, his achievements speak no less.
Murphy’s active spirit got him the Chancellor’s Senior Excellence Award. Additionally, the authorities awarded him for Co-curricular activities.
Next, Murphy went on to graduate with an honors degree in the year 1990. The next few months are a testament to his adventurous nature.
For nine whole months after this, he went surfing all across Australia, Indonesia, and even the South Pacific.
Prosecutor Matt Murphy’s Law School Achievements
Murphy soon cleared his LSATs and enrolled in the law program at the University of San Diego School of Law.
In the summer of 1991, Matt Murphy started studying International Law at Paris’ University of Sorbonne.
He also took up Comparative Law at the University. His brilliance in both classes got him the American Jurisprudence Awards.
He shone bright both for his academic record and good work in the Sexual Assault program.
Did Prosecutor Matt Murphy Always Want to Practice Homicide?
When Matt Murphy first thought about his career, he didn’t plan to be a homicide prosecutor. He looked at many options, including big law firms and the FBI.
The FBI liked him, and he liked them, too, but there was a catch. Back then, the FBI wouldn’t let new agents work in the city where they grew up, went to college, or attended law school.
That meant Matt couldn’t stay in Southern California, the only place he wanted to live.
At the same time, he received offers from civil law firms. But then, a woman named Kathy Harper from the Orange County District Attorney’s (DA) office contacted him.
Instead of going to the FBI or a big law firm, Matt chose to work as a junior law clerk at the DA’s office. His plan was simple—stay for three years and then move on.
But something unexpected happened.
On his first day in 1992, he realized he loved being at the DA’s office. From that moment on, all he wanted to do was be a prosecutor. His three-year plan quickly turned into a 26-year career.
Matt didn’t start with homicide cases right away. Like all prosecutors, he began with small cases, handling misdemeanors.
Over time, as he gained more experience and skills, he started handling bigger and more serious cases. Eventually, he moved to a special team where prosecutors worked closely with investigators and police officers.
At first, he handled sexual assault cases. But as the years went by, his role kept expanding.
He spent his last 17 years in the Homicide Unit, covering cities like Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, and Irvine. Anytime a murder happened in those areas, he was the one who got the call—even if it was in the middle of the night.
Matt’s Fight Against Rape And Child Molestation
Murphy became the Deputy District Attorney in 1993. He started his practice in the Juvenile Court. Quickly, Matt Murphy, the prosecutor, moved on to the Municipal Court, the Juvenile Gangs, and many other notable roles.
Additionally, Matt also worked in the Felony Panel. Here, he oversaw about 24 felony jury trials in a short span of 1 year.
He started working for the Sexual Assault Unit, putting rapists and child molesters to justice. Slowly, Prosecutor Matt Murphy started coming into the limelight.
However, in his role as a sexual assault prosecutor, Matt shone through. Furthermore, he was single-handedly responsible for putting 15 sexual assault felony cases to justice.
Now, Matt was starting to have his first experiences with media houses as his popularity increased.
| Matt Murphy In Homicide Unit In 2002, Mr. Murphy’s career took a significant turn as he went on to work in the Homicide Unit. According to his new assignment, he was in charge of overseeing cases in multiple cities. From Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Costa Mesa to Irvine, all were under his domain. Reports showed that these cities had relatively infrequent incidents of murder. However, the cases that did happen often captured public interest due to the sensational details. |
The District Attorney’s Office
Mr. Murphy spent 13 years working at the Special Circumstances Committee. This committee looks into murder cases of a complex nature.
Additionally, it also makes important recommendations to the District attorney on whether or not to get the death penalty for the convicts.
Matt Murphy was also in charge of the review of a dozen shootings and deaths in custody. He has trained individuals to become capable prosecutors since he has been an expert prosecutor.
Furthermore, they went on to work for California State’s Department of Justice, the Attorneys Association of the district, and the District Attorney’s Office of Orange County.
Popular Cases of Prosecutor Matt Murphy
If I was ever to be an expert in solving homicide cases, I guess I wouldn’t have been able to. No matter how intrigued and excited this area makes me feel, I do not think I have it in me to really see the worst of humanity.
But Matt Murphy is the real deal here. He solved cases, spoke to the families of the victims, and supported them through all of it.
And he has solved some really gruesome ones, TBH. If you want to know the most famous (or should I say, infamous) cases, here is a list that you need to know:
People v. Edward Shin
Edward Shin was a businessman who wanted to take over his business partner’s company. Instead of doing it the right way, he killed his partner, Chris Smith, in 2010.
After the murder, Shin pretended Chris was still alive by sending emails from his account to family and friends.
He even made it look like Chris had gone on a trip around the world. But the truth came out, and Shin was caught.
Matt Murphy helped bring justice by proving Shin had planned the murder and covered it up.
People v. Hossien Adam Nayeri
Hossien Adam Nayeri was part of a shocking crime in 2012. He and his friends kidnapped a man they believed had a lot of money.
They tortured him, trying to find out where he kept his cash. The crime was brutal—the kidnappers even cut off part of the victim’s body.
Nayeri then escaped from jail in 2016, making the case even more famous. Matt Murphy worked hard to convict Nayeri and ensure he faced justice.
“Dirty John” Meehan
John Meehan was a dangerous man who tricked women into relationships and then hurt them. His story became famous after a podcast and TV show called Dirty John.
Meehan targeted a woman named Debra Newell, but her daughter, Terra, fought back. She defended herself and ended up killing him.
Matt Murphy explained to the public why Terra acted in self-defense and made sure she wasn’t punished for protecting herself.
People v. Samuel Lopez
Samuel Lopez was a man who violently attacked his ex-girlfriend, Marcel Telesford, in 2011. He broke into her home, stabbed her multiple times, and left her for dead.
But Marcel survived and helped bring him to justice. Matt Murphy worked on this case and made sure Lopez was held responsible for his terrible crime.
What Are Some Shows Matt Murphy Has Worked On?
Over the years, Matt has appeared in multiple interviews in criminal cases. He is also a mainstay in the following TV shows:
| Show | About |
| I Escaped My Killer | This show has been on air since 2015 |
| How It Really Happened with Jesse L. Martin | A popular show that first aired in 2016 |
| Almost Unsolved | This show is a fairly new one. It first aired in 2023 |
| Dateline | Matt Murphy played himself. He was present in quite a few episodes of this NBC crime show |
Matt Murphy Prosecutor and the Big Deal in Homicide
Prosecutors like Matt Murphy are an integral part of the criminal justice system. They act as legal representatives of the government.
They are crucial to maintaining law and order in the land. Their responsibility is to decide whether or not to bring charges against the accused.
Like Matt, prosecutors conduct investigations on the case. They are responsible for coming up with plea agreements that help further the case and bring about speedy justice.
Finally, like Matt Murphy, prosecutors constantly fight against the odds in the pursuit of justice.
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