Joshua and Amy Murray: Hybristophilia Series
Dr. Ari Gartin, Ph.D., Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
In December 2018, Joshua Murray was found deceased in the master bedroom of his home in Iberia, Missouri, following what initially appeared to be an accidental house fire. However, a forensic investigation revealed that Joshua had died before the fire began. Toxicology reports identified the presence of ethylene glycol, a compound found in antifreeze, and fire investigators discovered accelerants at the scene, indicating that the fire had been deliberately set to conceal a homicide. Attention quickly turned to Joshua’s wife, Amy Murray, a registered nurse employed at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Investigators uncovered extensive phone records documenting a romantic relationship between Amy and Eugene Claypool, an inmate serving a life sentence for the 2000 murder of a 72-year-old man. In the recorded conversations, Amy expressed a desire to be with Claypool and discussed plans for a future together, including marriage and relocation. Within days of her husband’s death, Amy submitted legal paperwork granting her power of attorney, purchased a new vehicle, and made preparations that aligned with her conversations with Claypool.
In 2025, Amy Murray entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder, arson, and tampering with evidence, thereby accepting conviction without formally admitting guilt. She was sentenced to twelve years in prison, with additional concurrent and consecutive terms for the related charges. She is currently serving her sentence in a Missouri correctional facility. Eugene Claypool remains incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, with no public indication that he was formally charged in connection with Joshua Murray’s death. Although the romantic relationship between Murray and Claypool appears to have dissolved following her arrest, the psychological and motivational underpinnings of the crime are consistent with the established clinical features of hybristophilia.
This case serves as a salient example of hybristophilia, a psychological phenomenon in which an individual is sexually or romantically attracted to those who have committed violent crimes. In Murray’s case, her attraction to Claypool did not exist despite his violent past but rather appeared to be intensified by it. The dynamics of her relationship reveal a trajectory of emotional overinvestment, romantic idealization, and eventual homicidal behavior driven by delusional attachment and the desire for union with a violent partner. Hybristophilia is frequently associated with individuals who have experienced emotional neglect, relational trauma, or unstable attachment histories. For some, the incarcerated partner represents a source of controlled intimacy, projecting safety through confinement and emotional availability. In clinical terms, the incarcerated individual can function as a fantasy figure—romanticized, curated, and emotionally available in ways that may feel safer than traditional relationships. This constructed illusion, however, can collapse when the admirer crosses the threshold from fantasy to action. In Murray’s case, the transition from emotional fixation to lethal behavior underscores the pathological potential of this dynamic when combined with unresolved trauma and access to the object of obsession.
The clinical and forensic implications of this case are significant. From a clinical standpoint, the case demonstrates the need for specialized assessment tools to identify romantic delusions and atypical attachment patterns, particularly in individuals working within correctional systems. Screening for personality pathology, trauma history, and paraphilic tendencies may offer early detection of those at risk for engaging in boundary violations or inappropriate emotional entanglements with inmates. From a forensic perspective, hybristophilia should be understood not merely as a psychological curiosity but as a potential motivator for co-offending or facilitative homicide. The presence of a romantic relationship with a violent offender, particularly one involving active planning or emotional dependency, may constitute a relevant risk factor during forensic evaluation.
Additionally, institutions must implement rigorous safeguards to prevent dual relationships, including education on countertransference, structured supervision, and enforced boundaries between staff and inmates. The use of the Alford plea in this case also presents challenges in evaluating insight, remorse, and rehabilitative potential. While the plea acknowledges the weight of the evidence, it allows the defendant to deny moral responsibility, complicating treatment planning and risk assessment. Finally, this case underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between legal, clinical, and correctional professionals in managing the intersection of psychological vulnerability, professional misconduct, and violent crime.
Copyright © Gartin, 7/10/2025