6.23.11: Murphy Sentenced to Life Plus 20 for Murdering Cab Driver
June 23, 2011 -- Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill sentenced Robert Lee Murphy today to life plus 20 years in prison for murdering the cab driver who drove him from Frederick to Baltimore in January 2009.
On Sunday, January 25, 2009, Murphy called each of Frederick's three cab companies seeking transportation to Baltimore. He was denied by all three due to insufficient funds. The companies charge from $75 to $90 for the roughly 50-mile trip, and Murphy had just $50.
Murphy then called a cab company, requesting a ride to a convenience store about one mile away from his pick-up location. This request was approved, and the cab driven by Stephen Mauk was dispatched. Mauk picked up Murphy at approximately 12:18 a.m. on January 26. At 4 a.m., Mauk was found in city's southeastern district, dead from a gunshot to head.
Murphy's first trial for the murder ended in a mistrial in July 2010 when jurors could not come to a consensus.
In April 2011, a second jury found Murphy, 24, guilty of first-degree murder, handgun use in a crime of violence, and robbery with a deadly weapon.
Assistant State's Attorney Robyne Szokoly prosecuted the case.