MovieChat Forums > I Know My First Name Is Steven (1989) Discussion > Was Irving Murphy part of the real stor...

Was Irving Murphy part of the real story?

posted 14 years ago by jenni_doll_1
3 replies | jump to latest

The man in the movie who helped Parnell kidnap Steven, was he real or made up? I ask because the movie never revealed what ended up happening to him past his arrest. Was he convicted for kidnapping as well and what was his sentence? It would seem if his character was real he should have been able to make a deal with the prosecution for a lighter sentence in exchange for testifying against Parnell. Does anyone know if Murphy was real or made up for the movie?

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 14 years ago

Murphy was real.

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/kenneth_pa rnell/index.html

I don't know whether his real name was Irving or not; both the link above and Wikipedia only call him "Murphy." The TruTV link above does not say what happened to Murphy. Wikipedia says he was convicted of a lesser charge (Parnell was convicted of kidnapping) and claimed he did not know about the molestation. Wikipedia states, citing the book "I Know My First Name is Steven",
Steven remembered the kindness "Uncle" Murphy had shown him in his first week of captivity while they were both under the influence of Parnell's manipulation, and believed Murphy to be as much Parnell's victim as Steven and Timmy were.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

[–] BethH24 14 years ago

I wonder if Murphy really tried to call the police soon after they kidnapped Steven, like it shows in the film ?.

[–] bluebell1234 14 years ago

according to Mike Echols, he (Ervin Edward Murphy) said so himself in an interview.. don't know if the name and the fact are true though, that's just what mike echols wrote in the book.