Carol Murphy Murder Case: Where is Kevin Elmarr Today?

Carol Murphy Murder

Carol Murphy Murder: Where is Kevin Elmarr Now? – In May 1987, a devoted mother abruptly disappeared from her place of employment, leaving alarmed family members. Sadly, she was discovered dead the following day, their worst nightmare come true.

A Longmont man was convicted of murdering his ex-wife in 1987 and hiding her body in a canyon in Boulder County. After being found guilty in 2009 of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Carol Murphy—whose throat had also been slit—Kevin Elmarr received a life sentence. On May 23, 1987, hikers near a trailhead in Lefthand Canyon discovered her naked body.

The investigation into Carol Murphy’s murder and the long quest for justice are featured in the Investigation Discovery episode “On The Case With Paula Zahn: Betrayal in the Mountains.” So, if you’re interested in Carol Murphy’s murder case and want to read the full story, keep reading below. 

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How Did Carol Murphy Die
Carol Murphy with her Kids.

Who Was Carol Murphy and How Did She Die?

It was said about Carol Murphy that she had a large heart and always put her kids first. The 28-year-old was employed as a nighttime security guard at a business in Longmont, Colorado. Family relatives described Carol’s difficult background, and some claimed that she had been sexually molested as a child. She and Curtis Murphy were already married at the time of the incident. But they were no longer close because of their association with another married couple. While Curtis was residing with Willy’s wife, Kendra, Carol was dating a man named William Taylor.

On May 22, 1987, Carol was last spotted leaving the office at around 9 AM after concluding her shift. The next day, some hikers in Colorado’s Left Hand Canyon discovered a dead body and alerted the authorities at 2:00 PM. Carol’s naked body was lying face down and covered in branches when the cops came.

She had a cut-throat, and ligature marks showed that she had been choked from behind. The blood led the authorities to suspect Carol was murdered, where she was discovered.

Who Killed Carol Murphy
Carol Murphy’s ex-husband Kevin Elmarr.

Who Killed Carol Murphy and Why?

The police did not uncover much evidence at the crime scene. According to the episode, there were no indications of a struggle, and Carol’s clothes weren’t found in the area’s creek until much later. The authorities originally questioned Curtis and William, but both were later disqualified, leaving them at a loss. They then discovered that Carol had left the office on May 22, 1987, but her car was still there. She had also taken a rider on a motorcycle.

The only bicycle-owning individual in Carol’s life that the police were aware of was her ex-husband, Kevin Elmarr. She fled away as an adolescent to live with Kevin, who was her second cousin. Their son was born in 1979, while their daughter was born in 1977. Carol cheated on Kevin, who then filed for a divorce, but they continued to live together because it was more cost-effective for them to do so. Then, in 1983, Carol’s friend Norma and her five kids moved into the same home. Kevin and Norma eventually got married and were present when Carol was killed.

When Kevin was interrogated, he admitted to the authorities that he had seen Carol on May 22 outside of her place of employment and that she had given him a birthday card. However, in a later interview, Kevin acknowledged that they had only gone out for a quick breakfast before he claimed to have left her off at her place of employment. Even though Kevin said he applied for multiple jobs after that, the authorities at the time were unable to corroborate his whereabouts.

The authorities also discovered that Carol had informed them of travelling to the mountains to engage in sexual activity with her ex-husband, one of her coworkers. A witness claimed to have seen Carol riding a motorcycle earlier close to the crime scene; the description matched Kevin’s. Additionally, once Carol’s body was discovered, Norma reportedly asked a friend, “What were we supposed to do? She wouldn’t leave us alone.”

It was also made known that Kevin and Carol were engaged in a contentious custody dispute over their two children. Despite the circumstantial evidence, Kevin was not detained at the time since there was no solid proof linking him to the crime. It wasn’t until 2007 that additional study of the DNA evidence was made possible by technological improvements. According to the show, when the rape kit from that time was examined, Kevin’s DNA was found to be present.

Since he had previously acknowledged not having had a sexual relationship with Carol for years, Kevin was at a loss for words to explain that. According to the prosecution, Kevin thought Carol stood in the way of him getting custody of their two kids. He intended to murder her, give Norma custody, and then enlist in the Army.

According to the drama, he needed employment. Kevin did enlist in the Army but secretly wed Norma again. He was discharged after the Army learned of it.

Where is Kevin Elmarr Today
Kevin received a life sentence with a 40-year parole window.

What Happened to Kevin Elmarr and Where Is He Now?

However, the defense claimed that because Kevin was winning the custody dispute, he had no reason to murder Carol. Additionally, they mentioned William and other probable possibilities. When she was last seen, Carol’s car was spotted in his apartment and later brought back to the parking lot. Additionally, William’s apartment included a pink top that witnesses recalled Carol wearing the same day. But he had an alibi, according to the show.

In August 2009, Kevin was found guilty of first-degree murder, but the appeal reversed the verdict. So in October 2015, he was given another chance. Kevin was once more convicted guilty of first-degree murder and received a life sentence with a 40-year parole window. He was given credit for time spent waiting for trial when he was 58 years old. According to prison records, Kevin is still detained at the Sterling Correctional Facility in Logan County, Colorado. In 2047, he will be able to apply for parole.

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