Pierson, FL - T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School advisor and coach, Keyunta Murphy, has been charged with 2 counts of sexual battery of a minor after Volusia County sheriff's detectives identified an additional victim.
According to a report from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the victim, a 16-year-old student at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson, came forward after news broke of Murphy’s initial arrest in April. The victim explained he was contacted by Murphy on April 14 via Snapchat with a message asking him to meet him in an office at school. When the victim met with Murphy, Murphy asked him to perform oral sex, which he did. Murphy then went with the victim into a restroom in the school’s auditorium and had sex with him there. The victim told detectives no money was exchanged or offered, but that Murphy offered him food and he felt pressured to comply.
Murphy, who was already in custody without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail on his prior charges, was served with an arrest warrant on the new charges Thursday afternoon.
The investigation is continuing. At this point, sheriff’s detectives have not identified additional victims. However, due to Murphy’s role on campus and his involvement with students, we’re asking parents to talk to their kids and contact our Child Exploitation Unit (386-323-3574) with any potential leads on other incidents of abuse.
Information also can be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS, or by downloading the smartphone app from the Crime Stoppers website here.
Read earlier reporting on this story here.
Keyunta Murphy (Mugshot courtesy of DaytonaMugshots.com)
Photo courtesy of Sinart Creative and Shutterstock.com. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
