Nobody calls Murphy "John", except for a few people. As a boy, John grew up on the Ark with his mother and father, Alex, on Farm Station. After he fell ill, his father Alex stole medicine to help his son. Alex was floated, a fate his mother consequently blamed on John. Seeking solace from her pain, his mother began to drink which led to her death. Her last words towards her son blamed him for the death of Alex and John was arrested after setting fire to his father's arresting officer's quarters.