IBERIA, MO – A former Missouri corrections nurse was sentenced to 12 years in prison this week after entering a plea in connection with her husband’s murder, a case that revealed a tangled web of infidelity, arson, and fatal poisoning.
Amy L. Murray, 47, accepted an Alford plea Wednesday to second-degree murder for the 2018 death of her husband, Joshua Murray, 37. The plea permits her to maintain her innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors had sufficient evidence for a conviction. The case gained attention after investigators uncovered Murray’s relationship with an inmate at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, where she worked as a nurse.
Authorities launched an investigation after Joshua Murray’s body was discovered in the master bedroom of the couple’s burned-out home in Iberia in December 2018. A medical examiner determined that Joshua had died before the fire, having been poisoned with ethylene glycol, a substance commonly used as antifreeze.
Fire officials determined the blaze was deliberately set, adding arson to the mounting charges. Detectives received further leads when they learned of Amy Murray’s ongoing romantic involvement with inmate Eugene Claypool, who is serving a life sentence for a 2001 murder conviction.
Investigators reviewed recorded phone calls between Murray and Claypool, which revealed both their relationship and Murray’s intentions to divorce her husband. The phone calls, made before the fire, provided key evidence, with Murray allegedly telling Claypool after the fire that her husband was now “out of the picture.”
On the night of December 11, 2018, Amy Murray told law enforcement that she and her 11-year-old son, along with two family dogs, had left home to get food and returned to find the house ablaze. She stated she was unable to enter due to heavy smoke. Responders later found Joshua Murray dead on the bed.
Prosecutors alleged Murray sought to begin a life with Claypool, even proposing to hire an attorney to help him appeal his sentence in hopes of achieving his release. Court documents indicate she discussed future plans with the inmate once her husband was “out of the picture.”
Initially, Murray faced numerous charges, including first-degree murder, armed criminal action, second-degree arson, and tampering with evidence. Additional counts of sexual and offender abuse were filed relating to her relationship with Claypool.
By accepting the plea this week, Murray avoided a trial on the more severe charges. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison as part of the agreement.
Claypool, who remains incarcerated, has not been charged in connection with Joshua Murray’s death. The investigation concluded that Amy Murray acted alone in carrying out the poisoning and setting fire to the residence.
Joshua Murray’s family has not issued a public statement following the sentencing. The case remains a stark reminder of the consequences of betrayal and crime within the corrections system.