Rebecca Murphy says she was strapped to a gurney, unconscious in the back of a Flagler County ambulance, when a paramedic sexually assaulted her. That paramedic, former Flagler County Fire Rescue employee James Melady, was later convicted and sentenced. Now Murphy has gone on camera to talk about what happened, putting a public face on a case that has rattled trust in first responders across Florida.
Murphy speaks out in a segment aired by FOX 35 Orlando, explaining that she did not even know she had been assaulted until detectives showed her video of the incident, according to Spot On Florida. In the clip, she describes the shock of seeing the recording and the emotional fallout of realizing she had been violated while being transported for medical care. The video has spread online, reigniting tough questions about how patients are protected inside ambulances.
Conviction and sentence
A Flagler County jury found Melady guilty in December of sexual battery for the conduct captured on the recording, and a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison on Feb. 1, 2026, followed by five years of probation and a requirement that he register as a sex offender, according to the Palm Coast Observer. Prosecutors said the video was the backbone of their case. Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark led the prosecution, and Judge Dawn Nichols imposed the sentence.
How investigators uncovered the footage
According to FlaglerLive, Daytona Beach police discovered two video clips during an unrelated investigation into Melady and turned them over to Flagler County detectives. Investigators linked the footage to an Oct. 17, 2021 ambulance call headed to AdventHealth Palm Coast. The clips allegedly show Melady in uniform setting up a camera, then molesting an unconscious patient during transport. Detectives told reporters the victim had no memory of the assault when they first contacted her, and investigators have warned there could be additional victims.
Other charges and public response
Investigators later tied Melady to fraud allegations, saying he took victims’ bank cards and identification and used them to make purchases, according to CBS Miami. Local officials, including Flagler County leaders and Sheriff Rick Staly, have called the conduct "unfathomable" and say the county is reviewing patient safety protocols, as detailed by the Palm Coast Observer. Anyone who believes they were transported by Flagler County Fire Rescue and may have been affected is being urged to call the Flagler County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 386-313-4911, according to county statements and local reports.
Legal notes
Melady faces related charges in other jurisdictions, and prosecutors say a broader investigation is still underway, according to national reporting. Murphy’s decision to speak publicly has put a human voice to what authorities describe as a predatory breach of trust, and it is adding pressure on agencies to spell out what concrete changes they will make to keep patients safe in transit.
