‘Demented behavior’: Michigan doctor allegedly asks undercover ‘mom’ for permission to ‘groom’ her 5yo child

Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.

According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, Michigan authorities arrested Michigan family practice Dr. William J. Murdoch. He’s accused of chatting online with someone he thought was a mother in Florida, but who was really an undercover officer, about explicit abuse of her fictitious 5-year-old child.

“Stomach-churning messages were exchanged”

According to Port St. Lucie Police, the investigation began in June 2025. At that time, Murdoch allegedly began to communicate with the mother, pursuing a platonic relationship with the woman, while encouraging her to allow him to abuse her child.

The Port St. Lucie update said, “During the course of the investigation, stomach-churning messages were exchanged that entailed his plan to groom the child and quickly turn the situation sexual. Murdoch goes into detail of his demented behavior that is too explicit to share in its entirety; However, it varied in having a sexual relationship in multiple ways.”

The investigation also revealed Murdoch’s explicit dark web searches on topics like “conception, full-term abortions, and intentional drug and alcohol use to cause birth defects.” In Murdoch’s iCloud account, the post added, ” … additional conversations were located revealing his training as a medical professional would assist in other alarming dark web hunts. This again is too explicit to share in its entirety.”

Based on that evidence, authorities issued a warrant for Murdoch’s arrest and took him into custody in Michigan while he awaits extradition to Florida.

Murdoch’s arrest “triggered an immediate suspension” of his hospital privileges

Murdoch’s Michigan employer, ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital in Monroe, Michigan, told CBS News, “We can confirm that on September 2, the U.S. Marshals arrested Dr. William J. Murdoch. This arrest triggered an immediate suspension of Dr. Murdoch’s hospital privileges and a termination of all activity involving the physician. We are supporting investigation efforts in this case. Our priority is the safety and care of our patients and their families.”