Michigan Doctor William J. Murdoch Arrested in Florida Sting Over Alleged Plot to Abuse 5-Year-Old

On September 2, 2025, a Michigan doctor’s arrest sent shockwaves through his community after authorities uncovered his alleged attempt to pursue a sexual relationship with a 5-year-old girl. Dr. William J. Murdoch, a family medicine physician, was apprehended in a chilling undercover operation led by Florida police. Here’s what unfolded in this disturbing case and what it means for those affected.

The investigation kicked off in June 2025, when a detective from the Port St. Lucie Police Department posed as a mother online. According to police, Murdoch reached out, initially seeming to seek a friendly connection. But his intentions soon turned sinister. He allegedly asked if the “mother” would allow her fictional 5-year-old daughter to be “courted” and involved in a sexual relationship with him. The Port St. Lucie Police Department described his messages as “stomach-churning,” detailing explicit plans to groom the child for abuse.

As investigators dug deeper, a forensic review of Murdoch’s iCloud and messaging accounts revealed horrifying details. Police found conversations about conception, forced abortions, and using drugs or alcohol to cause birth defects intentionally. His medical expertise reportedly aided these “alarming dark web hunts,” making the findings even more unsettling. Authorities swiftly secured a warrant, charging Murdoch with soliciting a parent to consent to sexual conduct involving a child.

U.S. Marshals arrested Murdoch on September 2, and he remains in Monroe County Jail, awaiting extradition to Florida for trial. Before his arrest, Murdoch served as an associate director for family medicine at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital in Monroe, Michigan. The hospital acted decisively, suspending his privileges and ending all association with him. A ProMedica spokesperson told CBS Detroit, “This arrest triggered an immediate suspension of Dr. Murdoch’s hospital privileges and a termination of all activity involving the physician. Our priority is the safety and care of our patients and their families.”

The Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit, working with digital forensic experts, was instrumental in stopping Murdoch before he could harm a real child. Their ongoing efforts to monitor the dark web and protect communities underscore the importance of proactive policing. Police called this case “the most depraved abuse of trust imaginable,” emphasizing their commitment to preventing such threats.

(Rh/Eth/VK)