Local News Michigan doctor arrested in undercover child exploitation sting

A Southeast Michigan doctor was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in the aftermath of a Florida police investigation involving the solicitation of a sexual relationship with what he thought was a 5-year-old girl.

Port St. Lucie police said that one of its detectives was working in an undercover manner, portraying the mother of a young girl, when a man began an online conversation with her “to see if she would allow her 5-year-old to be courted by and have a sexual relationship with him.”

According to Port St. Lucie police, a local Internet Crimes Against Children unit has been working with digital forensic experts in efforts “to monitor the dark web and keep our community safe from predators.”

As a result of an investigation that started in June 2025, Dr. William J. Murdoch, who police say is a Michigan family practice doctor, was arrested by U.S. Marshals and will be extradited to Florida.

Murdoch is currently in custody in the Monroe County Jail, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office inmate records.

In response to a question about Murdoch’s affiliation with ProMedica, which owns ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital in Monroe, Michigan, a company spokesperson said:

“We can confirm that on September 2, the U.S. Marshals arrested Dr. William J. Murdoch. This arrest triggered an immediate suspension of Dr. Murdoch’s hospital privileges and a termination of all activity involving the physician. We are supporting investigation efforts in this case. Our priority is the safety and care of our patients and their families.”

A warrant was immediately issued for Murdoch’s arrest on what Port St. Lucie police described as “soliciting a parent to consent to the participation of sexual conduct involving a child.”

Full story here