Former North Carolina Chief, a Wanted Man

An arrest warrant was issued Friday against Carrboro's outgoing fire chief, who is accused of making harassing phone calls -- again -- to his former girlfriend.

According to the warrant, Gina Ambrosecchia claims Rodney Murray violated a protective order put in place that prohibits him from contacting her in any way.

Ambrosecchia, who was Murray's girlfriend for 10 years, testified earlier this year that she was scared of his behavior after he allegedly followed her, called her and showed up at her house numerous times without being invited.

Since late December, Murray has been arrested four times for allegedly harassing Ambrosecchia. Earlier this month, he was convicted for violating the protective order, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

He was released 10 days ago because he had already spent 21 days in jail, awaiting a hearing on the matter.

Now, however, police cannot find Murray to serve the warrant on the latest accusations against him.

Murray was supposed to spend 30 days in a rehabilitation center after he was released from jail, but his attorney, Butch Williams, said insurance problems prevented him from being treated at a rehabilitation center. Instead, his client is now supposed to be receiving outpatient treatment in the Triangle.

Family members told WRAL Monday that they did not know where Murray might be. Williams said that it was his understanding that the fire chief is at a hospital, but he would not elaborate.

Murray has not yet been charged in connection with the latest accusations against him, but if a judge were to find him guilty of contacting Ambrosecchia, it would be a violation of his probation, and he could end up spending three more months in jail.

A career firefighter with 25 years of service with the Chapel Hill Fire Department and a decade of service with the Carrboro Fire Department, Murray resigned as fire chief in early January. His resignation is effective Mar. 1.

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