RIDGWAY — Ashlee Druhot and Daniel Murphy were in court on Thursday on a petition to have all charges against them dismissed in connection to the Feb. 3, 2016 murder of their son, O’Ryan Murphy.
Druhot, 23, and Daniel Murphy, 23, have each been charged with a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter, two felony charges of endangering the welfare of children and two misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person.
Druhot and Daniel Murphy are accused of leaving their two young children in dangerous conditions by leaving them in the care of Kristy Murphy and Scott Murphy, the boys’ aunt and uncle.
The prosecution contends that Druhot and Daniel Murphy were aware of the pair’s violent tendencies and history of drug use but chose to allow their young children to stay with Kristy and Scott Murphy regardless.
O’Ryan Murphy died on Feb. 3 while in the care of Kristy and Scott Murphy. The Elk County District Attorney maintains that either Kristy or Scott Murphy was directly responsible for O’Ryan’s death, which was determined to have been caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
On Feb. 3, O’Ryan was found unconscious and not breathing, and emergency help was summoned. Emergency responders and the Elk County coroner determined the child was dead, and had been for several hours. An autopsy determined he had been beaten over the head, either with a broom or a blackjack, according to court records.
Police said the living conditions in the apartment were deplorable, and police noted several items dangerous to a child’s health were readily accessible throughout the apartment as well. The apartment was deemed unfit for human occupation by the Ridgway health inspector, and was condemned, court records read.
During a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James L. Martin on June 8, attorneys for Druhot and Daniel Murphy argued that the commonwealth did not have enough evidence to support the charges against each individual.
Elk County Public Defender Tabia Cole and court-appointed Michael Marshall, on behalf of Druhot and Daniel Murphy respectively, argued that neither individual had knowledge that their kids were in danger.
Each attorney argued that all information suggested that O’Ryan Murphy and his brother were safe.
Ultimately, Martin disagreed and bound all charges for court.
However, Cole and Marshall filed petitions for writ of habeas corpus in the Elk County Court of Common Pleas in an attempt to have all charges dismissed.
On Thursday, a hearing was scheduled for the matter, although the hearings were quite uneventful.
President Judge Richard A. Masson said during the hearings that he will allow the prosecution and the defenses to submit written evidence until Dec. 30.
During the hearing for Daniel Murphy, the District Attorney’s office admitted several exhibits into evidence, including information from the 2009 assault of Daniel Murphy by Scott Murphy.
For the prosecution, this assault is a key piece of evidence that may show that Daniel Murphy had knowledge of Scott Murphy’s violent tendencies.
Masson will make a ruling in the matter after all written briefs have been submitted and reviewed.
Druhot remains confined in the Elk County Prison in lieu of $250,000 monetary bail; she is represented by Cole.
Daniel Murphy remains confined in the Elk County Prison in lieu of $250,000 monetary bail; he is represented by Marshall.
Scott Murphy remains confined in the Crawford County Prison without the right to bail; he is represented by attorneys John Ingros and Fred D. Hummel Jr.
Kristy Murphy remains confined in the Centre County Prison without the right to bail; she is represented by attorneys Gary Knaresboro and Robert S. Bell.
