51: Murf the Surf

Can decades of preaching in prisons wipe out a youth filled with crime? That's what Jack Roland Murphy AKA Murf the Surf tried to do. He was involved in the biggest jewel heist in New York City history, won surfing championships, scaled Miami Beach buildings as a cat burglar, and ultimately landed in prison for two brutal murders. Today we tell the story of his life and crimes and discuss whether Murf's devotion to religion in and after prison can make up for the havoc he wreaked as a young surfer dude. FURTHER READING: https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2020/04/28/what-to-make-of-murph-the-surf (Murph the Surf: Breaking Down the Mythology of a Killer) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Roland_Murphy (Jack Roland Murphy) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/us/murph-the-surf-dead.html (Jack ‘Murph the Surf’ Murphy, Heist Mastermind, Dies at 83) https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/crime-files/jack-roland-murphy-murph-the-surf (Jack Roland Murphy: Murph the Surf) https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/jack-murphy-jewel-thief-and-convicted-killer-known-as-murph-the-surf-dies-at-83/2020/09/16/8f28236c-f770-11ea-a275-1a2c2d36e1f1_story.html (Jack Murphy, jewel thief and convicted killer known as ‘Murph the Surf,’ dies at 83) https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/nyregion/natural-history-museum-jewelry-heist.html (How a Band of Surfer Dudes Pulled Off the Biggest Jewel Heist in N.Y. History (Published 2019)) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-three-amateur-jewel-thieves-made-new-yorks-most-precious-gems-180949885/ (How Three Amateur Jewel Thieves Made Off With New York’s Most Precious Gems) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG3QlPyPguk (Murph the Surf - 1975) https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000Y8TDVK (Jewels for the Journey: Murf the Surf: Murphy, Jack Roland) https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/florida-wont-restore-rights-of-famed-jewel-thief/1266090/ (Florida won't restore rights of famed jewel thief) https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/murphy-jack-roland.htm (Jack R