Warrant: Hotel guests heard fight before jeweler found dead

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A preliminary hearing has been set for a woman accused in the stabbing death of a Schuylkill County jeweler at a hotel in New Orleans’ main tourist district.

Megan Hall will appear in court on March 14.

The 25-year-old was arraigned on second-degree murder charges on Monday in the death of 62-year-old Patrick Murphy.

Court records show Murphy and Hall checked into the Empress Hotel in the French Quarter just after 2 a.m. Thursday. An arrest warrant says hotel guests told police they heard a struggle and a woman yelling around 3:30 a.m.

According to an affidavit, video footage shows Hall leaving the hotel room alone and “briskly” walking out of the building a short time later.

Murphy was the owner of a family-run jewelry store chain in Pottsville called Murphy Jewelers.

Hall’s attorney says he looks forward to detailing all the facts in court.