Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.
A Michigan family practice doctor is in custody after authorities say he interacted online with an undercover officer in Florida, whom he thought was a 36-year-old mother of a fictitious 5-year-old child. The doctor is accused of coaxing the woman through those messages to allow him to groom and abuse the youth.
According to reports, police arrested Dr. William J. Murdoch, 45, from Monroe, Michigan, in early September 2025. He is currently awaiting extradition to Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the undercover officer was located.
Murdoch offered to establish himself “as a father figure”
Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said Murdoch used a fake name when he contacted the undercover officer online. They say he sent”extremely explicit” messages to her in a chat room about sexually abusing children.
Murdoch reported planned to travel to Florida. He then offered to establish himself as a “father figure” for the child, and then abuse her. Some reports say the undercover officer claimed to have two children. They say Murdoch told her he was interested in abusing both of them.
According to Niemczyk, Murdoch told the woman he had thought about such abuse for “years” but never acted on it. Allegedly, he also asked the woman if she was an “open-minded” “bad mom.”
“I’m afraid we’re just scratching the surface of what’s going on out there,” Niemczyk said, according to Florida news outlet WFLX.
Murdoch’s other “alarming dark web hunts”
Reports also say a digital forensic examination of Murdoch’s iCloud account uncovered “other alarming dark web hunts,” including conversations about “conception, full-term abortions, and intentional drug and alcohol use to cause birth defects.”
Once arrested, Murdoch reportedly told the police there were no other victims, and authorities say he had no previous criminal record. Florida police have asked anyone with any additional information about Murdoch or other potential victims to come forward.
Murdoch’s employer, ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, confirmed his arrest and stated that his hospital privileges were immediately suspended and his employment was terminated.
ProMedica said in a statement, “We can confirm that on September 2, the U.S. Marshals arrested Dr. William J. Murdoch. This arrest triggered an immediate suspension of Dr. Murdoch’s hospital privileges and a termination of all activity involving the physician. We are supporting investigation efforts in this case. Our priority is the safety and care of our patients and their families.”
If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
