Chris Murphy

Concept: The usual dead unarmed black man

AKA: None

Desc: Kind, but pain-filled eyes. Heavy-set although the media painted him as “Hulking” Booming laugh, not that there is much to laugh about these days. The hands of a skilled machinist. The left side of his head is a bit ragged and still leaks a bit.

History:  These are the facts: Chris Murphy was driving home from a worksite. He was stopped along the interstate, The reasons for it are sadly lost as the officer's cameras malfunctioned. Whatever took place, Mr. Murphy was shot dead by the officer.

Everything that comes after is speculation.  Mostly by talking heads in the media, you know, the sort of people who talk a lot of shit about people they don’t know, and sadly never will.  They dredged up all the things Chris had done as a teen. They slandered his wife. Speculated irresponsibly about the “Actual” parentage of his kids.  Speculated about what could have possibly been running through his head that night. Chris could have been the actual second coming of Jesus Christ, and they still would have painted him as everything wrong with “Black America”

The truth is this, Chris was fighting off sleep. He got stopped because he crossed the center line. Without a moment’s worth of thought, he reached into his back pocket for his wallet, and the officer drew down on him. It’s even remotely possible that the officer in question was, for a hot second, scared shitless.

    But after that hot second...Well. Let’s just say that the M.E found cuff marks on his wrists. He didn’t own the gun they “Found” in his glovebox.  The LEO community closed ranks and the officer dummied up, and about a year and change after the fact, after the memorials and candle light vigils died down, they quietly found the officer not guilty at the grand jury.

And Chris...Well. He’s had to watch his wife’s tears. And his daughters.  He’s watched as his son got into fight after fight at school. He had a ringside seat for watching the officer thank Jesus on local tv for his acquittal.  

Is he pissed off? I’d say so. In fact, “Livid with Rage like a head full of radioactive bees” Might be a mild description. But so far, he hasn’t found a way to revenge himself...

Yet.

Attitude: “I don’t honestly know why I should care if you’re a good cop or a bad one. Nobody gave a shit that I might have been innocent. You just had the bad luck to see me.”

Skills: Chris is not a particularly old spirit so his stats aren’t great. He has trouble manifesting at the best of times.  He has learned Ghost Speech and Telekinesis.  Since he doesn’t have a lot of juice, he focuses on using his TK and he uses his knowledge as a machinist and jack-leg engineer to jack up police equipment and vehicles. It always gives him a pretty good laugh when brakes fail. He’s also caused an occasional jam or misfire that has saved a life or two.

Gear: Not being exactly carnate, Chris doesn’t exactly need gear of any sort, but it bears mentioning that he has numerous Anchors.  The gun that was planted which sits in a box in evidence lock-up. The set of cuffs that he was wearing when he was slain are riding the hip of another officer now. No one’s put it together yet that bad shit seems to follow those cuffs.  That officer. He’s still out there and while Chris hasn’t been able to kill him yet, He does have a plan.  The only other anchor he has is his old car, which his son is trying to fix up.  It’s the only way the old man can spend time with him now.

Home: While he makes time to spend looking in on his family, He spends more time roaming around the police station which is the home of the evidence lock-up. He gathers intel. He works on the equipment. He files conversations away for later use...  Sure...There are a couple of the police working there, that he isn’t interested in harming...But if he happens to see one of THEM covering for a bad cop...Well. That’s sad. Sad for them.

Circle: Chris has made a few acquaintance among the ghostly community. Most of them are kind of wrapped up in their own thing. Chris is beginning to realize that’s par for the course.  He’s not entirely sure he’s willing to get involved with some sensitive or a Sin Eater.  On one hand, it might be good to have some help. On the other hand, he realizes that any living person isn’t going to be as..Driven as he is.

Story Uses:

“I’m not interested in your excuses or your life...I don’t have one of those.”

If your PC is a cop or cop friendly, Obviously this man is going to be a problem.  If not, You might find yourself sympathizing...especially if he can tell his story himself.

Connections:

*Knew Darla Grumman in life. Liked her just fine. Although, like most people who know Darla, wishes that she'd stop dating women who are bad for her.  While Chris is a church going dude and is pretty conservative about SOME things, He also has a gay cousin who's been through some real shit.

*He's buried at Parker Mortuary and Black Creek Cemetery. He goes strolling around the grounds when he needs peace. He's met a few of the unquiet dead round there.

* Officer Honus Brightwater Oh come on, you had to know that this guy was going to turn up. You HAD to know that this human waste dump was the guy who pulled the trigger. Someday, there's going to be a day of reckoning for Honus, and if Chris has anything to say about it, he's going to make his afterlife a unliving hell too.