Plot Synopsis

Based on the life of jewel thief Jack Roland Murphy (aka Murf the Surf) and executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, MURF THE SURF: JEWELS, JESUS, AND MAYHEM IN THE USA is a four-part documentary series that explores the tumultuous life of the man behind the legendary nickname. Featuring exclusive access to Jack Roland Murphy himself prior to his death in 2020, the series addresses the blurred line between fact and fiction, faith and delusion, sanity and madness -- raising the timely question of who and how we believe.

In October 2019, the New York Times published an article celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Museum of Natural History. One of the most momentous events to take place on site was an epic jewel heist, the biggest in American history, mastered by a band of suave "surfer dudes" from Miami in 1964. The key to the operation was Jack Roland Murphy, otherwise known as Murf the Surf, whose name was propelled into pop culture after the heist -- creating a notoriety that would stretch far beyond the caper. What followed Murf's meteoric rise is a spiraling tale of unspeakable crime, murder, deception, and mayhem which, to this day, remains shrouded in mystery.

The four-part series includes these episodes:

"The Heist" (Sunday, February 12, 2023): Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy's life takes a turn from childhood prodigy and professional surfing champion to notorious jewel thief when he pulls off the heist of the century.

"Another Level of Madness" (Sunday, February 19, 2023): Murf the Surf continues down his criminal path and becomes increasingly violent; after a stolen-securities scheme goes awry, he is charged with murder.

"God's Business" (Sunday, February 26, 2023): Serving a double-life prison sentence for murder, Murf finds God and is reborn as a Christian -- but Murf may not have changed his ways, and this may be another one of his cons.

"The Truth Bends" (Sunday, March 5, 2023): Fresh out of prison, Murf embarks on his new path as a man of God, but as he attempts to convince the public that he is a reformed Christian new facts emerge that challenge Murf's story of his life.