RICHLAND, Wash. – A New Mexico Man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Thursday for sexually and physically abusing a 13-year-old after abducting them from a Kennewick home in 2021.
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington says Lucas Daniel Murphy, 38, will also spend the rest of his life on supervised release following his sentence.
In Aug. 2021, Murphy met and spoke with a 13-year-old online through Snapchat. At first, conversations included shared interests in music, though later changed and involved Murphy telling the teen to engage in sexual acts over pictures and videos.
Murphy eventually planned to travel to the victim’s location, pick them up and drive them to his New Mexico home, which he did on or around Dec. 18, 2021.
He reportedly took the 13-year-old from a home in Kennewick and drove them to New Mexico, sexually abusing them and giving them alcohol and marihuana on the way.
For several days, the two remained at the home with Murphy returning to work and continuing to sexually abuse the teen until Dec. 22, 2021 when FBI agents and local law enforcement officers surrounded his home.
The victim was rescued and Murphy was arrested. The victim was then brought to a hospital where investigators documented bruises on their neck and leg.
Months later, investigators interviewed the teen who documented Murphy’s abuse.
“As a parent, I am horrified by Mr. Murphy’s conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Mr. Murphy meticulously planned the abduction of his young victim and took steps to make it difficult for law enforcement to track his whereabouts. Mr. Murphy repeatedly physically and sexually abused his victim resulting in significant trauma for the victim and their family. While no sentence can replace the horrors the victim faced, hopefully, it will serve as an important step on a long road to healing.”
