Scorned and on the Record

An ex-fiancée's testimony sheds light on one of the officers involved in the Mario Barcia case.

Comments (0) By Francisco Alvarado Thursday, Mar 31 2005

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Rosen asked Murphy to quit his job. Instead Murphy returned to roll call less than a month after his injury so he could land overtime during the Free Trade Area of the Americas Summit in November 2003 -- logging sixteen to eighteen hours at time-and-a-half. "And I remember him talking about a lawsuit," Rosen said. "You know, everything is dollar bills."

Murphy and Rosen went to Wachusett Mountain resort, one hour outside of Boston, over the Christmas holiday, less than two months after Murphy was shot. Rosen took several photos of Murphy snowboarding. Nevertheless Murphy has retained a civil attorney with the intention of seeking damages against Barcia and his homeowner's insurance policy for his shooting-related injuries. Rosen also said Murphy viewed his wound as a way to move up the ranks. "He said to me: öWell, you know, this is great because this is my ticket to anywhere I want to go in the department' ... and he started saying about how he was going to take the sergeants' exam for a promotion."

Jonathan Postal

The trial of Mario Barcia, charged with attempting to murder a police officer, begins April 12

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The relationship crashed in February of 2004. "He just started disappearing," Rosen said. She picked up his cell phone and scrolled to Murphy's text-message inbox and found the following electronic love note:

I miss your touch,

I can't wait to see you tonight,

Jackie.

Since his arrest, Mario Barcia was suspended without pay from his position as a county clerk. He has been able to find work only as a day laborer. He is under house arrest and has to wear an ankle monitor. He and his wife, Mercedes, sold their Cutler Ridge home last year to pay legal bills and other expenses. About the only bright spot in Barcia's life was the birth of his son, who is now nine months old.

"It's made me numb to reality," Barcia professed. "I don't talk to my family that much anymore. And it doesn't bother me anymore whether the cops are saints, crooks, or whatever. I just want to get past this. I just want a normal life again."

Barcia is set to stand trial April 12.