Suspected Suicide Proves To Be A Hoax

Rangers received a report of an unoccupied van parked on the Tennessee River Bridge at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16th. A suicide note had been found inside. Supervisory park ranger Calvin Farmer and officers from the TVA and Colbert and Lauderdale Counties responded. Boats were launched and a search of the river was begun. A check of the van’s registration revealed that it belonged to John Murphy, 56, of Killen, Alabama; investigators also learned that he was awaiting sentencing on multiple sex offenses in Alabama. Other information lead officers to believe that the event might have been staged, and a ‘be on the lookout” message was issued for Murphy. He was found late that afternoon about 60 miles from the scene. He is being held in Lauderdale County as a potential flight risk and is awaiting sentencing. Other charges resulting from the suicide hoax are pending. Farmer is the investigating ranger.