On July 27, 2007, Lois Murphy Was Found Dead On The Floor

On July 27 2007 Lois Murphy Was Found Dead On The Floor Of Her Garag

On July 27, 2007, Lois Murphy was found dead on the floor of her garage, a victim of an apparent homicide. She was discovered by her brother, James Murphy, who had come to her residence to check on her after being unable to reach her for three days. James immediately called 911 to report the discovery. MPD conducted a comprehensive crime scene investigation, including photographing and videotaping the crime scene, collecting physical evidence, and gathering fingerprint evidence. The MPD classified the case as a homicide.

Following the initial crime scene investigation, MPD detectives conducted an extensive investigation, interviewing many witnesses and following all credible leads. Although there were multiple signs of blunt wound trauma around the head and face, according to the Metropolis County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. The ME listed the cause of death as homicide. The MPD eventually arrested William Tanner on suspicion of murder. The evidence indicates that the crime was motivated by an unpaid debt for drugs.

The crime occurred in the city and county of Metropolis. Assignment: Prepare a 1-2 page paper in which you analyze this crime that was presented last week for your Ethics Project. Use each of the four approaches to explaining criminal behavior ethical theories; classical, positivist, structural, and ethical. Discuss the morality of the act of homicide using the ethical framework.

Paper For Above instruction

The tragic killing of Lois Murphy on July 27, 2007, raises profound ethical questions concerning criminal behavior and morality. Analyzing this crime through four principal ethical frameworks—classical, positivist, structural, and ethical—provides insight into different perspectives on what drives such acts and their moral implications.

Classical Ethical Theory

The classical approach, rooted in utilitarianism and free will, posits that individuals commit crimes based on rational choice. From this vantage, William Tanner’s decision to murder Lois Murphy was morally wrong because it involved deliberate choice driven by self-interest—specifically, to settle an unpaid drug debt. Classical ethics holds that individuals are responsible for their actions because they possess free will and can weigh the consequences. Therefore, executing such acts violates fundamental moral principles of autonomy and respect for human life.

Positivist Ethical Theory

The positivist approach emphasizes biological, psychological, and environmental factors influencing behavior. Applying this perspective, one might explore whether Tanner’s background or psychological conditions contributed to his decision to commit homicide. This theory suggests that moral culpability may be mitigated if external factors significantly influence criminal decisions. Nonetheless, the act itself remains morally reprehensible because it infringes on the inherent value of human life, regardless of underlying causes. The positivist approach can aid in understanding motives and rehabilitation prospects, but it does not absolve moral responsibility.

Structural Ethical Theory

The structural perspective examines societal and systemic influences on crime. It argues that social inequalities, economic hardships, and cultural norms can predispose individuals to criminal acts. In this case, the drug-related debt and associated violence reflect a broader societal failure to address addiction, poverty, and social justice issues. Morally, this framework suggests that while the individual’s act of homicide is reprehensible, it is also a symptom of larger systemic problems that require societal intervention to prevent such tragedies. Addressing structural injustices could reduce the incidence of such crimes in the future.

Ethical Theory

From an ethical standpoint, particularly deontological ethics, killing is inherently immoral because it violates the moral duty to respect human dignity and life. Conversely, a consequentialist view might consider whether killing in self-defense or to prevent greater harm could be justified, but in this case, the act was unjustified. The morality of homicide in the context of Lois Murphy's murder is unequivocally negative, violating core moral principles regardless of motivations linked to debt or revenge.

Conclusion

Analyzing Lois Murphy’s murder through these four ethical frameworks underlines its profound moral depravity. While classical ethics emphasizes personal responsibility, positivist approaches shed light on underlying factors influencing behavior, and structural perspectives call for systemic reforms. Ethically, homicide remains fundamentally immoral, representing a grave violation of human rights. These analyses collectively underscore the importance of addressing individual culpability while also acknowledging broader societal issues to prevent future tragedies.

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