A Birmingham man who dressed as a sheriff's deputy and used a fake badge to corner couples in Ensley parks has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to sodomy and rape. Eric Murphy, 44, carried out at least six assaults over a matter of months in summer 2025, according to prosecutors, who say the true number of victims may never be fully known.
A Guilty Plea and a Severe Sentence
Murphy pleaded guilty to sodomy in one man's case and rape in a woman's case, according to al.com. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Shanta Owens sentenced him to 35 years on each conviction, with the terms to run concurrently. Deputy District Attorneys Tiffany Ould and Demario Thornton prosecuted the case. Ould described it as among the most disturbing cases she had handled.
Prosecutors said the investigation identified multiple victims, but the full extent of Murphy's conduct may never be clear. The reported incidents took place in Birmingham's Ensley community; all but one occurred within a three-day period in summer 2025, according to the report.
Impersonating a Deputy to Target Couples in Parks
The report says Murphy presented himself as a law-enforcement officer, sometimes claiming to be a sheriff's office sergeant or lieutenant. His clothing and equipment varied: accounts described a sheriff-style star, khaki cargo pants and black boots, as well as a dark polo marked “sergeant” and a badge. He carried a pistol, and during the September 5, 2025, assault he was armed. The report also describes an apparent body-worn camera and a white BMW with flashing blue dashboard lights, which he used in a purported traffic stop near Ensley Park.
In the charged July 28 case, Murphy approached a couple having sex in a vehicle at Highlands Park. The 20-year-old man wanted to run but feared Murphy would shoot him. The victim reported the incident at the West Precinct and later identified Murphy in a photo lineup; DNA linked to Murphy was found on the victim. In a separate July 28 incident, Murphy approached a man and his female friend, accused them of trespassing and threatened arrest. The man in that encounter was not sexually assaulted as the charged-case victim was, and Murphy explicitly threatened him with a gun. A separate July 27 caller reported an incident but could not positively identify Murphy in either of two photo lineups conducted a month apart.
An Uncharged July 26 Allegation
The report describes a separate, uncharged allegation at McAlpine Park on July 26. Murphy allegedly forced a man away from a vehicle, searched him four times, touched him inside his pants and underwear, and took his gun. The July 26 allegation was not charged; the sodomy conviction arose from the July 28 case, and the rape conviction from the September 5 case.
Another reported encounter involved Murphy approaching a couple parked near Avenue T. In the case resulting in the rape conviction, the report says Murphy drove a 21-year-old woman to a dark alley, raped her and later dropped her off at home. The September 5, 2025, case also involved charges of first-degree kidnapping and impersonating a police officer.
The report also describes a driver who told the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office that Murphy touched her thigh without consent. Authorities identified at least four other alleged incidents dating to July 2025; Murphy was not charged in those cases.
Faked Brain Injury, Claimed to Be a Bishop
After his arrest, Murphy claimed he had a brain injury and argued that he was incompetent to stand trial, according to the report. Investigators reviewed jail calls, text messages and medical records and concluded that he was faking the injury. The report also says Murphy had described himself as a bishop on Facebook.
Birmingham police arrested Murphy on September 15, 2025. Earlier coverage from WBRC and ABC 3340 reported that Murphy was initially charged with first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping and impersonating a peace officer following the September 5 incident, with the rape and kidnapping counts carrying no bond and the impersonation charge set at $15,000 bond. At the time, police said Murphy was being held at the Jefferson County Jail and that additional charges could still be filed. The evidence reviewed does not independently confirm Murphy's exact age at the time of that initial arrest, with early reporting citing him as 43 before later coverage identified him as 44.
Support and reporting context
People seeking sexual-assault support can call the Crisis Center's 24-hour hotline at 205-323-7273, according to Crisis Center, Inc. The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office lists 205-325-1423 for people seeking to speak with an advocate about a sexual-assault case.
A National Academies review notes that rape and sexual assault are seriously underreported to law enforcement. That broader finding does not establish how many people Murphy harmed.
With the case now resolved through guilty pleas and sentencing, prosecutors continue to stress that the scope of Murphy's conduct, and the number of people he may have harmed while posing as a badge-carrying officer in Ensley's parks, remains an open and troubling question.
