On August 14, 2018, Shannon Gene Murphy (age 40 of White House, TN) drove to
Cookeville to meet an undercover police officer who was posing as a minor child.
Murphy had arranged this meeting for the purpose of having sexual contact with the
child. Murphy sent images of a sexually explicit nature to the undercover police officer.
Murphy was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor for Rape of a Child and
four counts of Solicitation of a Minor by Electronic Means. His bond was set at
$500,000.00. Murphy is currently out on bond for Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure,
Incest, and Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure resulting from an investigation in White
House, TN.
This type of investigation and arrest demonstrate the need for parents to be mindful of
their children’s internet activity. This includes internet access via mobile devices.
Cookeville detectives assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task
Force will continue to conduct these types of investigations in an effort to hold those
accountable who may harm our children.