Milan man charged with burglary and child enticement

Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options Shares Declan John Murphy (Grundy County LEC) A man from Milan is facing multiple felony charges following an alleged incident involving a minor, according to court documents filed in the 9th Judicial Circuit Court. Declan John Murphy, 21, has been charged in Case No. 26SU-CR00060 with first-degree burglary, a Class B felony, and enticement or attempted enticement of a child, classified as an unclassified felony. The alleged offenses occurred on April 22, 2026, in Sullivan County. According to a felony complaint filed by the Sullivan County Prosecuting Attorney, Murphy is accused of unlawfully entering an inhabitable structure owned by a confidential victim with the intent to commit second-degree sexual misconduct. A second individual, identified as a separate confidential victim, was present inside the residence at the time of the alleged entry. Under Missouri law, a conviction for first-degree burglary carries a potential sentence ranging from five to fifteen years in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections. The complaint further alleges Murphy, who was 21 years of age or older, enticed or attempted to entice a victim younger than 15 by suggesting they “chill” at the victim’s residence for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. Prosecutors indicate that a conviction for enticement of a child includes mandatory lifetime supervision and requires a minimum of five years to be served before eligibility for probation or parole. A probable cause statement filed by a Milan police officer outlines the circumstances leading to the charges. According to that statement, officers were contacted after a 14-year-old reported receiving messages on Facebook from Murphy, who allegedly complimented the victim and expressed prior interest. The report states the victim informed Murphy of their age, but communication continued, including a request to meet at the residence. The statement indicates the victim later returned home and received a message indicating Murphy was outside the residence. The report alleges Murphy was discovered inside the home, having hidden in a bedroom closet while waiting for the victim to return. Authorities reported locating a cellular phone and a sex toy in the closet, with a household member stating the item did not belong there. Investigators allege Murphy admitted during a post-Miranda interview to messaging the victim, entering the residence without permission, and intending to use the object if permitted. He was taken into custody at the Friendship Apartments in Milan shortly after the report was made. The court set bond at $250,000 cash only. Conditions of release include appearing in court as required, complying with all court orders, avoiding new offenses, and having no contact with victims or witnesses. Post Views: Share this: Tweet Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Print (Opens in new window) Share on Tumblr Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Related Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options Shares Shares Sharing Email this article Print this article