THE ADIRONDACK HERALD Wednesday, August 2nd, 1995
Father Killed in Apparent Bear Attack During Adirondack Hike
-Carla Jensen, Staff Reporter
"They signed in at the register, had the proper permits, and were well-prepared from what we can tell," said Ranger Thomas Belson, one of the first responders to the scene.
"There was no indication anything was out of the ordinary.
" That changed late Saturday afternoon when several kayakers on nearby Bear Hollow Creek encountered a distressed and barefoot Ethan Murphy, waving for help from the shoreline.
The boy had a gash on his arm and minor scrapes but was otherwise unharmed.
He was airlifted to Albany Medical Center for evaluation and reunited with his family early Sunday morning.
"He was in shock," said Belson. "But coherent. He kept insisting that what attacked them wasn't a bear."
According to Belson and medical staff, Ethan described the attacker as "a monster that stood on two legs," over six feet tall, "with glowing eyes, long claws, and black fur.
" He claimed the creature emerged from the trees after dark and "grabbed his dad before he could run.
" The boy said he fled and hid until morning.
Law enforcement officials have been cautious in responding to the claim.
"At this time, all physical evidence points to a large black bear," said Lt. Gregory Niles of the New York State Police. "We're treating the boy's account as the words of a traumatized teen who witnessed a horrifying event. It's not uncommon for memory to distort under extreme stress."
David Murphy's body, discovered by rangers shortly after the boy was rescued, was located roughly a quarter mile uphill from their campsite, showing extensive damage to the torso and head, consistent with a wild animal mauling.
However, sources familiar with the scene—speaking on condition of anonymity—have stated that there were unusual aspects to the injuries, including the absence of claw marks typical of bear attacks and deep, narrow puncture wounds that "didn't match a known bite radius. "
The Medical Examiner's Office in Warren County is expected to release a preliminary autopsy report later this week.
This is the first fatal wildlife incident in this region of the Adirondacks in over a decade. While black bears are present in the area, attacks on humans are considered extremely rare. Most avoid people entirely unless food is improperly stored.
"This is not something we take lightly," said Ranger Belson. "If there's an aggressive animal in the area, we need to identify it. But we're also asking the public not to speculate or panic."
Local reactions have been mixed. Some residents have pointed to past rumors of "strange sightings" in the Bear Hollow region—stories often dismissed as folklore.
"This isn't the first time someone's said they saw something out there," said Dorothy Malin, who runs a small general store in Indian Lake.
"But no one's ever been killed before. That changes things.
" Others remain skeptical. "It's a terrible tragedy," said Rob Keller, a longtime hiking guide.
"But there are no monsters in the woods. Just animals being animals."
David E. Murphy worked as a high school guidance counselor and was described by colleagues as "gentle, patient, and deeply devoted to his family." His wife, Karen Murphy, released a brief statement through family friends thanking the community for their support and asking for privacy.
A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at St. Andrew's Church in Saratoga Springs.
The investigation remains open. Authorities urge hikers to use caution when traveling in remote parts of the park and to follow all wildlife safety protocols.
Anyone with information or who may have been in the Bear Hollow area over the weekend is asked to contact the DEC Tip Line at (518) 555-2746.