Fort Collins Man Sentenced to 52 Years for 2022 Hostage Incident

A Fort Collins man received a 52-year prison sentence November 12 for holding a family hostage at gunpoint in their home during a terrifying ordeal in December 2022 that lasted several hours and required a multi-agency response.

Rick Edward Murphy, 46, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to second-degree kidnapping, a class three felony; assault in the second degree, a class four felony; and criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree, a class four felony.

Fort Collins Police Services responded to a 911 call on December 12, 2022, after Murphy confronted a homeowner outside a residence on Courtenay Circle in south Fort Collins. Murphy, who was known to the homeowners, produced a handgun and forced the man back inside the house.

The homeowner's wife hid with their 8-year-old child while remaining on the line with 911 dispatch. Murphy led the homeowner upstairs and held the entire family hostage. The 911 call recorded the entire incident.

SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiators Respond

Fort Collins Police Services SWAT team and crisis negotiators responded to the scene and made contact with Murphy. He demanded that his brother, who was also known to the victims, be brought to the location before Murphy would release the hostages.

Officers recovered the child during the standoff while Murphy continued to assault the two homeowners. Murphy eventually surrendered to law enforcement after several hours.

The Fort Collins Police SWAT team has responded to multiple critical incidents in recent years, including coordinating with regional law enforcement agencies on complex cases requiring specialized tactical response capabilities.

Victims Praise Law Enforcement Response

The victims issued a statement following the sentencing hearing expressing both sadness about the incident and hope for Murphy's rehabilitation.

"We remain deeply saddened by the events of that day and the impact they have had," the victims stated. "Our hope is that Rick receives the support and rehabilitation he needs during his time in prison. We believe the sentence, along with the reasoning provided by the judge, was fair and appropriate."

The victims commended the District Attorney's office and first responders for their handling of the crisis.

"We would like to commend the DA's office for its excellent work and the many first responders for their amazing response," they said. "We are thankful to have so many heroes in our community."

District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin emphasized the severity of Murphy's crimes and the impact on the victims.

"I am incredibly proud of our team for securing a significant sentence that fits the gravity of the crime, and I'm thankful to law enforcement for their response, which ensured that day did not end in greater tragedy," McLaughlin said. "Being attacked and held hostage in your home is unimaginable, and the terror Mr. Murphy inflicted on these victims is horrific. I hope that this resolution can help them to begin to heal."

The District Attorney's office has prosecuted several violent felony cases in recent months resulting in lengthy prison sentences for offenders whose crimes caused significant harm to Larimer County residents.

Murphy will serve his sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections. An additional co-defendant in the case has not yet been tried and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case was prosecuted by the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office, which covers Larimer and Jackson Counties.

Contact the Larimer County District Attorney's office at 970-498-7206.