Corbin man reported missing, charged with stealing work truck

A Corbin man went from missing person to alleged truck thief Thursday after Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies located him, and the truck at a residence west of London.

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said deputies arrested 48-year-old William Monroe Murphy on charges of auto theft and possession of drug paraphernalia after they located him and the truck at a residence off of Waterworks Road approximately six miles west of London.

“The company that owned the truck reported him missing,” Acciardo said.

Laurel County deputies had sent out a missing person notice Tuesday afternoon.

According to the notice, Murphy was last seen driving the white Chevrolet Truck about 3 p.m. on Ky. 552 in Lily near the railroad underpass.

“The company didn’t know much about him,” Acciardo said. “He had only been on the job for a few days when he left in the truck and couldn’t be found.”

Acciardo said deputies entered the truck in the stolen vehicle database.

About 10 a.m., Thursday, deputies received a tip that the truck was at a residence on Linda Lane.

“When deputies arrived at the scene, they located the stolen pickup parked in the driveway,” Acciardo said adding that Murphy and two other individuals, identified as Roger Dale Robinson, 63, of London and Daniel Lee Roberts, 67, of London were also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia including snort tubes, methal and glass pipes.

Murphy was charged with theft by unlawful taking of an auto valued at $500 or more but less than $10,000 and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In addition, Murphy was served with two outstanding warrants.

The first was out of Laurel County for failure to appear in court on charges of operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license and other traffic violations.

The second was out of Whitley County for failure to appear in court on a charge of first-degree possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.

Murphy, Robinson and Roberts were all lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Facility.

The truck and all of the tools that had been in it at the time it had been taken, were recovered and returned to the company.