Trial of Alex Murdaugh

Last updated

State v. Murdaugh
CourtSouth Carolina Fourteenth Circuit
Full case name The State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh
StartedJanuary 25, 2023
DecidedMarch 2, 2023;20 months ago (2023-03-02)
Verdict Guilty on all counts
Charge
Case history
Subsequent actionMurdaugh sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole
Court membership
Judge sitting Clifton Newman

State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh was the trial of American former lawyer Alex Murdaugh for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, on June 7, 2021. The trial in the fourteenth circuit of the South Carolina Circuit Court began on January 25, 2023, and ended on March 2 with a guilty verdict on all four counts. [1] Murdaugh, who had pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to two life sentences to run consecutively without the possibility of parole. [2] He soon filed a motion for new trial, alleging that the court clerk tampered with the jury; a new trial court judge denied the motion in January 2024. [3]

Contents

Local media called the trial South Carolina's "trial of the century" and "arguably one of the most high-profile and sensational cases in South Carolina legal history."

Background, murders, and investigation

Alex Murdaugh is a member of the Murdaugh family, a family of attorneys prominent in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. [4] At the time of his death, Alex's young son Paul had been under indictment in the death of Mallory Beach, a passenger on a power boat Paul had allegedly driven into a bridge while drunk. [5]

Murders

Alex called his wife Maggie (52) on June 7, 2021, and asked her to meet with him at the Murdaugh family hunting lodge in Islandton, purportedly so that the two of them could travel together to see Alex's father, Randolph Murdaugh III, who was terminally ill. Maggie texted a friend, saying her husband sounded "fishy" and was "up to something." After parking her car at the house, Maggie walked to the dog kennels, where she found her son, Paul (22). [6] Alex called police from his cellphone at 10:06 p.m., saying he had discovered the bodies of Maggie and Paul near the dog kennels. [7] Each had been shot multiple times in the head, wrists and chest, with different guns. [8]

Murdaugh claimed that at the time of the killings he had been with his mother, who has dementia; [9] however, cellphone data, including video containing Alex's voice, placed him at the scene before the murders. [10]

Investigation

In October 2021, it was revealed that South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) had regarded Alex as a person of interest in the homicides since the start of the investigation. [9] The investigation was heavily criticized by Murdaugh's defense attorney, Dick Harpootlian, during trial; the crime scene was spoiled by rain, police reportedly failed to collect various evidence, and family members and friends were allowed to walk through the scene. [11]

Indictment and arrest

Murdaugh was arrested in July 2022 after a Colleton County grand jury issued an indictment charging him with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in the deaths of Maggie and Paul. The indictment stated that Alex shot his wife with a rifle and his son with a shotgun. [12] Murdaugh pleaded not guilty; prosecutors said they would seek life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, not the death penalty. [13]

Trial

The trial was held at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina. Colleton County Courthouse.jpg
The trial was held at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina.

Murdaugh's trial began January 25, 2023, at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, with instructions from the judge and opening statements from the prosecution and defense. [14]

Creighton Waters, chief prosecutor for the grand jury, led the prosecuting team against Murdaugh. [15] John Meadors, a Columbia attorney with extensive experience in murder trials, was hired by the Attorney General of South Carolina as part of the prosecuting team. [16] Murdaugh was represented by Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin. [17] The cases were overseen by Judge Clifton Newman. [18]

Defense counsel argued that the prosecution should be prohibited from asking questions related to Murdaugh's financial crimes but the judge overruled their objections and announced he would make a formal ruling on the matter on Thursday, February 2, 2023. [19] [20] The judge dismissed the jury early on Thursday, February 2, in order for the prosecution to present two witnesses who testified in chambers about Murdaugh's financial crimes. The judge said that he needed to hear more testimony privately before ruling whether these witnesses would be allowed to testify before the jury. [21]

On February 6, after several days of hearing arguments without the jury present, Judge Newman ruled that the testimony related to Murdaugh's alleged financial crimes was admissible: he said that jurors were entitled to consider whether Murdaugh's financial situation was a motive for the killings. [22] Newman also said that defense counsel had opened the door to testimony about the alleged financial crimes when they asked a witness to speculate about a possible motive for Murdaugh to commit the murders. [23] A bomb threat on February 8 forced the court to recess for several hours. [24] [25]

On February 13, Judge Newman announced that two jurors had been dismissed and replaced with alternate jurors because they had tested positive for COVID-19. [26] [27] On February 24, a new charge was filed against Murdaugh for passing contraband in the courtroom. [28] At the defense's request, the jury visited the murder scene. [29]

Testimony

The first prosecution witnesses included first responders on the scene after Murdaugh's 911 call. [30] The prosecution asked the judge to compel a representative of Snapchat to testify about a video posted by Paul Murdaugh minutes before his death. [31] The prosecution brought SLED witnesses to testify about firearms and ballistics, and an interview conducted with Murdaugh in a car on June 21, 2021, during which Murdaugh said of his son, "It's just so bad. I did him so bad," which Waters emphasized for the jury. [32] The defense team disputed whether the recording said "I" or "they". [33] The prosecution brought an expert witness to testify about data collected by Maggie's phone. [33] The prosecution brought two close friends of Paul Murdaugh to testify about their interactions with the Murdaugh family and their communications with Paul moments before his death. [20] A witness said he heard Alex's voice in a video taken by Paul minutes before the time the prosecution believes the murders took place. [34] [20]

Prosecutors called former colleagues and clients of Murdaugh to testify about the defendant's financial situation just before the murders occurred, and argued that the motive was stress caused by the impending discovery of Murdaugh's financial crimes. They also called a chief executive officer of a local bank to testify about the bank's discovery of theft by Murdaugh. [35]

Prosecutors called expert witnesses, including a criminologist and pathologist. They called a SLED agent to testify about a timeline for the events of June 7, aggregating all of the data collected from various sources, including the cell-phones of the victims and the defendant, car telemetry data, and cell-phone tower pings. [36] Prosecutors rested their case on February 17. [36]

Defense counsel called their first witness immediately after the prosecution rested their case. They called the Colleton County coroner, who testified that he had only estimated the victims' body temperatures and that the reported time of death was an estimate. [36]

On February 21, the defense called the defendant's surviving son, Buster, to the stand. The defense called several expert witnesses, including a crime-scene engineer, who re-created the crime scene and argued that the presumed height of the shooter was not consistent with the defendant's height. [37] Another expert witness testified that he believed the crime scene was not handled properly by first responders. [38]

On February 23, Murdaugh took the stand to testify. [39] He denied shooting his wife and son. [40] Murdaugh confirmed that he could be heard in a video taken by his son at 8:44 p.m. at the kennels. [39] Murdaugh admitted repeatedly lying to law officers about whether he had been at the kennels at the night of the killings (before he reported finding the bodies there later that night), and attributed the lies to "paranoid thinking" from his addiction to opioids. [39] [40] [41] He also admitted stealing from legal clients and his firm, and also admitted asking a relative to shoot him. [40] The prosecution's cross-examination began the same day. [40] Murdaugh finished his testimony the next day, and Judge Newman dismissed the jury immediately after it concluded. [28]

The defense called a pathologist, who testified that the state's pathologist had not correctly determined the entrance and exit wounds on Paul's body. [29] The defense also called Tim Palmbach, an expert in bloodstain spatter analysis. [29] Palmbach has also testified in such high-profile cases as the trial of Michael Peterson. [42] Palmbach testified that he believed that a shooter would have been covered in blood and gunshot residue; he also stated that he believed that the evidence was consistent with two shooters being present. [29] The last witness the defense called was the defendant's brother, John Marvin Murdaugh. On February 27, the defense rested their case and moved for a directed verdict, which was subsequently denied by Judge Newman. [29]

After the defense rested their case, the prosecution indicated they would reply to the defense's case. [29] On February 28, the prosecution began their reply case by calling witnesses. Four of the witnesses they called had testified earlier. A police chief who had associated with Murdaugh was also called to the stand. The final witness was a crime-scene expert called previously; South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson conducted the direct examination. The prosecution rested their reply case on February 28.

Closing arguments, verdict, and sentencing

Closing arguments began on March 1. [43] [44] On March 2, Judge Newman announced that he had been notified that a juror had discussed the evidence presented. The juror was dismissed for improper conduct and an alternate replaced her. [45] [34] Attorney Creighton Waters delivered the state's closing statement, and attorney Jim Griffin delivered the defense's closing statement. Attorney John Meadors delivered the state's reply and final argument. The jury was charged and began deliberating on March 2. [45] [46]

On March 2, 2023, after less than three hours of deliberation, the jury found Murdaugh guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. [47] [1] Because of the intense public interest in the case, the verdict was transmitted live across the United States on major broadcast and cable news networks. [48] After the verdict was read, Judge Newman denied a motion from the defense for a mistrial by saying, "The evidence of guilt is overwhelming." [49] [50] He told the jurors, "The circumstantial evidence, direct evidence—all of the evidence pointed to one conclusion, and that's the conclusion that you all reached." Newman later added that the jury had come to a "proper conclusion as they saw the law and facts". [50] Murdaugh was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole on March 3, 2023, at 10:08 a.m. EST. [2] After his sentencing, Murdaugh was taken to the Kirkland Correctional Institution, in northwestern Columbia, South Carolina, for about 45 days during which he was evaluated to determine which maximum-security prison he would be sent to. [51]

Aftermath and further sentences

After the verdict, prosecutors held a press conference. The defense took questions from media the day after sentencing and said that they would appeal the verdict. [52] In an interview a few days after the sentencing, Murdaugh's older brother, Randy, said he believed that his brother had not told the whole truth about what he knew about the killings. [53] On March 9, Murdaugh's attorneys filed a notice of appeal with the South Carolina Court of Appeals. [54] In a sale conducted by Georgia-based Liberty Auction on March 23. [55] [56] [57] Items sold from Murdaugh's property included antlers, turtle-shell lamps and furniture. [58] [59] [60] [61]

On May 24, the US Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment of 22 counts for money laundering, wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. [62] [63] On November 17, 2023, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to all 22 of the state's charges in the indictment. [64] On November 29, 2023, he was sentenced to 27 years in prison in relation to the state's criminal indictments. [65] In addition to the state's indictments, he was also indicted by the Federal Government. On April 1, 2024, Murdaugh was sentenced in Federal court to 40 years in federal prison for his financial fraud crimes, to run concurrently with the previous sentences (for murder and state financial crimes), and to pay reparations of $8.7 million to his victims, including the family of his former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, after evidence of additional crimes was introduced. [66]

Motion for new trial

On September 3, 2023, Murdaugh's attorneys announced that they had evidence to file for a new murder trial. [67] [68] [69] At a press conference held on September 5, Murdaugh attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin alleged jury tampering by Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill, who subsequently released a book on the case, Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders. [70] The lawyers requested an evidentiary hearing to determine whether there should be a new trial. Harpootlian also sent a letter to United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina Adair Ford Boroughs requesting a federal investigation of conduct in the case. [71] [72] Hill hired lawyers Justin Bamberg and Will Lewis to represent her in the case. [73]

On October 17, Chief Judge H. Bruce Williams of the South Carolina Court of Appeals signed an order granting Murdaugh's motion to suspend his conviction appeal and send the case back to circuit court to consider allegations of jury tampering by Hill. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson asked SLED to investigate Hill as well. [74] The Murdaugh legal team asked that Judge Clifton Newman be removed from this trial and all Murdaugh trials, stating their belief that he could not be impartial. [75] Newman asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to remove him from the case, and they granted this request, issuing an order stating that former state supreme court justice Jean H. Toal would handle the motion for a new trial and retain responsibility for all future matters regarding this case. [76] On January 29, 2024, Toal denied Murdaugh's motion for a new trial. [77] At a press conference held on March 25, 2024, Hill, standing with her attorney Justin Bamberg, submitted her resignation from the post of Colleton County Clerk of Court to Governor Henry McMaster. [78]

After the lower courts decision in January, Murdaugh's lawyers appealed to the state Supreme Court. On August 13, 2024, the Supreme Court agreed to review the lower courts decision. No date was set. [79]

Media portrayals

News media called it South Carolina's "trial of the century" [80] [81] and "arguably one of the most high-profile and sensational cases in South Carolina legal history". [82]

There have been TV episodes, podcasts, and documentaries about the case. [83] Some notable examples:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of Gwen Araujo</span> 2002 murder of trans girl in California

Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was an American teenager who was murdered in Newark, California, at the age of 17. She was murdered by four men, two of whom she had been sexually intimate with, who beat and strangled her after discovering that she was transgender. Two of the defendants were convicted of second-degree murder, but not the requested hate-crime enhancements to the charges. The other two defendants pleaded guilty or no-contest to voluntary manslaughter. In at least one of the trials, a "trans panic defense"—an extension of the gay panic defense—was employed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of Laci Peterson</span> 2002 murder of an American woman in California

Laci Denise Peterson was an American woman murdered by her husband, Scott Lee Peterson, while eight months pregnant with their first child. On December 24, 2002, Scott reported Laci missing from their home in Modesto, California.

Michael Iver Peterson is an American novelist who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, on December 9, 2001. After eight years, Peterson was granted a new trial after the judge ruled a critical prosecution witness gave misleading testimony. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to time already served and freed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean H. Toal</span> American judge

Jean Hoefer Toal is an American former judge who was a chief justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina. She was the first woman and the first Roman Catholic to serve as chief justice. In 2013, she became the first chief justice on the Supreme Court of South Carolina since the 1800s to have an opponent run against her. Toal has continued to serve in the judiciary as a senior judge since her retirement from the Supreme Court.

Steven Allan Avery is an American convicted murderer from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who had previously been wrongfully convicted in 1985 of sexual assault and attempted murder. After serving 18 years of a 32-year sentence, Avery was exonerated by DNA testing and released in 2003, only to be charged in another murder case two years later.

Nixzmary Brown was a seven-year-old American girl from Brooklyn, New York, whose physical abuse, parental neglect and murder led to reforms in New York City's Administration for Children's Services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder trial of O. J. Simpson</span> 1995 US criminal trial

The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson was a criminal trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, in which former NFL player and actor O. J. Simpson was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, who were stabbed to death outside Brown's condominium in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994. The trial spanned eight months, from January 24 to October 3, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrongful conviction of David Camm</span> American police officer wrongfully convicted of murder (born 1964)

David Ray Camm is a former trooper of the Indiana State Police (ISP) who spent 13 years in prison after twice being wrongfully convicted of the murders of his wife, Kimberly, and his two young children at their home in Georgetown, Indiana, on September 28, 2000. He was released from custody in 2013 after his third trial resulted in an acquittal. Charles Boney is currently serving time for the murders of Camm's wife and two children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Court of assizes (Belgium)</span> Criminal court in Belgium

The court of assizes is the trial court which tries the most serious crimes in the judicial system of Belgium. It is the highest Belgian court with criminal jurisdiction; as such, it is the only Belgian court that can sentence someone to life imprisonment. The courts of assizes are not permanent courts; a new court of assizes is assembled for each new trial. There is a court of assizes in each of the ten provinces of Belgium, as well as one in the arrondissement of Brussels-Capital which is not part of any province. Further below, an overview is provided of the eleven courts of assizes and their seats. They are the only courts in Belgium for which the provinces are used as territorial subdivisions. They are also the only courts in Belgium that hold jury trials. The jury acts as sole trier of fact, but decides on the penalty together with the judges. The trial by jury of certain crimes is laid down in article 150 of the Belgian Constitution. The Belgian courts of assizes have the same origin as their French namesakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry Mason syndrome</span> Social effect of television portrayals of the legal system

The Perry Mason syndrome is the manner in which the television crime drama Perry Mason (1957–1966) may have affected perceptions of the United States legal system among defendants and jurors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of Travis Alexander</span> 2008 murder of an American man in Mesa, Arizona

Travis Victor Alexander was an American salesman who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Ann Arias, in his house in Mesa, Arizona while in the shower. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder on May 8, 2013, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 13, 2015.

State of Florida v. George Zimmerman was a criminal prosecution of George Zimmerman on the charge of second-degree murder stemming from the killing of Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012.

With no witnesses to the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, DNA evidence in the O. J. Simpson murder case was the key physical proof used by the prosecution to link O. J. Simpson to the crime. Over nine weeks of testimony, 108 exhibits of DNA evidence, including 61 drops of blood, were presented at trial. Testing was cross-referenced and validated at three separate labs using different tests with no discrepancies found. The prosecution offered the defense access to the evidence samples to conduct their own testing, but they declined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reaction to the verdict in the O. J. Simpson criminal trial</span> Responses to the 1995 acquittal

On Tuesday, October 3, 1995, the verdict in the O. J. Simpson murder case was announced and Simpson was acquitted on both counts of murder. Although the nation observed the same evidence presented at trial, a division along racial lines emerged in observers' opinion of the verdict, which the media dubbed the "racial gap". Immediately following the trial, polling showed that most African Americans believed Simpson was innocent and justice had been served, while most White Americans felt he was guilty and the verdict was a racially motivated jury nullification by a mostly African-American jury. Current polling shows the gap has narrowed since the trial, with the majority of black respondents in 2016 stating they believed Simpson was guilty.

On October 17, 1871, U.S. President Ulysses Grant declared nine South Carolina counties to be in active rebellion, and suspended habeas corpus. The order allowed federal troops, under the command of Major Lewis Merrill, to execute mass-arrests and begin the process of crushing the South Carolina Ku Klux Klan in federal court. Merrill reported 169 arrests in York County before January 1872. Numerous Klansmen fled the state, and more were quieted by fear of prosecution. Nearly 500 men surrendered to Merrill voluntarily, gave confessions or evidence, and were released. At the Fourth Federal Circuit Court session in Columbia, South Carolina beginning November 1871, United States District Attorney David T. Corbin and South Carolina Attorney General Daniel H. Chamberlain convicted 5 Klansmen in trial court, and secured convictions based on confession from 49 others. In the next Fourth Federal Circuit Court session in Charleston, South Carolina in April 1872, Corbin convicted 86 more Klansmen. Klan activities vanished while prosecutions were ongoing and publicized, but, by the end of 1872, federal will dissolved in the face of waning Republican support for Reconstruction. At the end of 1872 some 1,188 Enforcement Act cases remained to be tried. White Northern interests began to seek a more conciliatory relationship with Southern states, and lamented Southern papers' exaggerated tales of "bayonet rule". During the summer of 1873, President Grant announced a policy of clemency for those Klansmen who had not yet been tried, and pardon for those who had. The remaining cases were not tried, and prosecutions under the Enforcement Acts were all but abandoned after 1874.

State of Minnesota v. Derek Michael Chauvin was an American criminal case in the District Court of Minnesota in 2021. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was tried and convicted for the murder of George Floyd, which occurred during an arrest on May 25, 2020, and led to global protests over racial injustice and police brutality. A 12-member jury found Chauvin guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. It was the first conviction of a white police officer in Minnesota for the murder of a black person.

The Murdaugh family is an American family from the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. Three generations named Randolph Murdaugh served consecutively as circuit solicitor for the state's 14th judicial district between 1920 and 2006. The family's prominence led locals to call the five-county district "Murdaugh Country". In addition to the legal positions, Randolph Murdaugh Sr. established the Murdaugh family law firm, now called the Parker Law Group, which specializes in personal injury litigation.

William Scott Husel is an American intensive/critical care physician who was charged with 14 counts of murder relating to the deaths of multiple patients from his care of terminally ill patients at Mount Carmel West and St. Ann's Hospitals in Columbus, Ohio. The prosecution in this case argued that Dr. Husel hastened the death of terminally ill patients. He turned himself in on June 5, 2019. After an extensive trial, Husel was found not guilty on all counts on April 20, 2022.

Clifton B. Newman is an American attorney and former at-large judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court. He served as a judge since his election by the state's general assembly in 2000. In 2021, he was reelected to a final fourth term and retired in December 2023. In his role as a circuit court judge he presided over several high-profile trials, including the trials of Michael Slager, Nathaniel Rowland, and Alex Murdaugh. He currently works for JAMS, a private arbitration association.

State of Florida v. Jamell Demons is an ongoing American criminal case in Florida's 17th Judicial Circuit in which rapper Jamell Demons, commonly known by his stage name YNW Melly, was accused of murdering his two friends, Anthony D'Andre Williams and Christopher Jermaine Thomas Jr. in October 2018. If convicted, he faces either life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. If Demons is convicted, he will be one of the first defendants to be sentenced under Governor Ron DeSantis’ new non-unanimous death sentence law, in which the jury will only need to have at least eight out of twelve jurors agree to recommend the death penalty rather than it being unanimous.

References

  1. 1 2 Ortiz, Erik (March 3, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh guilty in murders of wife and son". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Deliso, Meredith; Winsor, Morgan; Shapiro, Emily (March 3, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh sentencing live updates: Disgraced SC attorney gets life in prison". ABC News . Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ Collins, Jeffrey (January 29, 2024). "Alex Murdaugh is denied new double-murder trial after judge hears jury tampering allegations". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  4. ↑ Baker, KC (September 7, 2021). "'Big Family, Old Money, New Drama': Inside the Powerful S.C. Family at Center of Murder Mystery". People . Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (July 14, 2022). "South Carolina Lawyer Alex Murdaugh Charged With Killing Wife and Son". The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ Massie, Graeme (July 17, 2022). "Alex Murdaugh's wife texted friend to say husband was 'up to something' hours before murder". The Independent. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022– via Yahoo! News.
  7. ↑ Baker, KC (June 15, 2021). "Why Were a 'Loving' Mother and Son from a S.C. Family Dynasty Murdered on Their 1,770-Acre Property?". People . Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Full Timeline: Murdaugh Family Investigations 2015 – 2021". WCBD-TV. September 7, 2021. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Melendenz, Pilar (October 13, 2021). "Alex Murdaugh's Lawyer Finally Admits He's a Person of Interest in Family Murders". The Daily Beast . Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ Sharp, Rachel (July 14, 2022). "Murders, multi-million-dollar fraud and mystery deaths: Alex Murdaugh's spectacular fall from grace". The Independent . Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022– via Yahoo! News.
  11. ↑ Collins, Jeffrey (February 25, 2023). "Inadequate investigation? Takeaways at Murdaugh murder trial". AP NEWS. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ Monk, John; Ferguson, Lana (July 14, 2022). "Alex Murdaugh indicted in June 2021 murders of his wife, son at their SC estate". The Island Packet. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ "SC official says Alex Murdaugh will not face death penalty". AP News. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  14. ↑ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (January 25, 2023). "Murdaugh Trial Live Updates: Lawyers Describe Carnage Where Wife and Son Died". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  15. ↑ Wilks, Avery G. (December 17, 2022). "Meet Creighton Waters, the Murdaugh prosecutor whose investigations toppled an SC dynasty". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ Gray, Melissa (February 13, 2023). "These are the names to know in the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh". CNN. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  17. ↑ Wilks, Avery G. (January 19, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys: Who are Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin?". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ Hawes, Jennifer Berry (September 2, 2022). "Murdaugh cases overseen by SC Judge Clifton Newman, who rose from segregated schools to bench". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ DeWitt, Michael M. Jr (February 1, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh trial: Paul Murdaugh's phone offers evidence from beyond grave, friends testify". The Greenville News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 Wilks, Avery; Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 1, 2023). "Murdaugh family friends hear Alex's voice in video filmed before slayings". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  21. ↑ Wilks, Avery; Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 2, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh's colleagues detail his alleged financial crimes to an empty jury box". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  22. ↑ Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G. (February 6, 2023). "Feb. 6: Judge allows jurors in Alex Murdaugh murder trial to hear financial testimony". Post and Courier. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ Marchant, Bristow (February 2, 2023). "Murdaugh defense 'opened door' to jury hearing about alleged financial crimes, SC judge says". The State . Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ Barber, Haylee; Ortiz, Erik; Guevara, Selina; Gable, Carol (February 8, 2023). "Bomb threat halts Alex Murdaugh trial, courthouse is evacuated". NBC News . Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  25. ↑ Melendez, Pilar (August 12, 2023). "The Untold Story of the Bomb Threat That Derailed Alex Murdaugh's Murder Trial". The Daily Beast . Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  26. ↑ Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G.; Moore, Thad (February 13, 2023). "Live: 2 jurors in Alex Murdaugh double murder trial test positive for COVID-19". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  27. ↑ Collins, Jeffrey (February 13, 2023). "COVID could create crisis in Alex Murdaugh murder trial". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  28. 1 2 Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G. (February 24, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh lied 'easily and convincingly,' prosecutor says in fierce cross-examination". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G. (February 27, 2023). "Live: Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys want jurors to see Moselle, site of the killings". Post and Courier. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  30. ↑ Mejia, Jessica (January 26, 2023). "Murdaugh trial begins with first responders' testimonies". ABC Columbia. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  31. ↑ Hill, Bailee (January 29, 2023). "Snapchat video in Alex Murdaugh double-murder trial was the 'strongest evidence' for prosecution: Nancy Grace". Fox News . Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  32. ↑ DeWitt, Michael M. Jr. (January 30, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh murder trial: Everything you need to know before Tuesday's proceedings". The Greenville News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  33. 1 2 Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G.; Moore, Thad (January 31, 2023). "Live: Witnesses in Alex Murdaugh double murder trial discuss phone records, firearms". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  34. 1 2 Marchant, Bristow; Monk, John (March 2, 2023). "Murdaugh juror booted for discussing case, defense attorney asks jury to scrutinize evidence". The State . Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  35. ↑ Wilks, Avery; Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 11, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh murder trial highlights universal trust that kept alleged schemes hidden". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 Wilks, Avery; Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 17, 2023). "Feb. 17: SLED agent in Alex Murdaugh murder trial lays out timeline from day of slayings". Post and Courier. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  37. ↑ Moore, Thad; Wilks, Avery; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 21, 2023). "Feb. 21: Buster Murdaugh, forensic engineer testify in Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  38. ↑ Moore, Thad; Wilks, Avery; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 22, 2023). "Feb 22: Alex Murdaugh weighs right to testify in murder trial, forensic scientist speaks". Post and Courier. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  39. 1 2 3 Moore, Thad; Wilks, Avery; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (February 23, 2023). "Live: Alex Murdaugh admits to lying to investigators, denies killing wife and son". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  40. 1 2 3 4 Fortin, Jacey (February 23, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh Admits Lying and Stealing, but Denies Murders: Watch Live Testimony". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  41. ↑ Wolfe, Elizabeth (March 2, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh's lie about his whereabouts, and his reversal, weigh heavily as murder trial finishes, legal experts say". CNN . Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  42. ↑ Bean, Matt (September 23, 2003). "Defense focuses on crime scene integrity". CNN. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  43. ↑ Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G. (March 1, 2023). "Live: Jurors in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial travel to Moselle, site of the slayings". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  44. ↑ DeWitt, Michael M. Jr. (March 1, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: State makes closing arguments in double murder trial". The Greenville News. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  45. 1 2 Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G.; Moore, Thad (March 2, 2023). "Live: Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys deliver closing argument in double murder trial". Post and Courier. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  46. ↑ Grzeszczak, Jocelyn; Wilks, Avery G.; Moore, Thad (March 2, 2023). "Jury begins deliberating in Alex Murdaugh murder trial after stirring closing arguments". Post and Courier. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  47. ↑ Kornfield, Meryl (March 6, 2023). "Murdaugh jurors say he shouldn't have testified, tears not believable". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024. The jury took only three hours to find Murdaugh guilty
  48. ↑ Koblin, John (March 3, 2023). "The media industry raced to capitalize on interest in the trial" . The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  49. ↑ Layne, Nathan (March 3, 2023). "South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murdering wife and son". Reuters. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  50. 1 2 Wilks, Avery; Moore, Thad; Grzeszczak, Jocelyn (March 2, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh found guilty in June 2021 murders of wife Maggie, son Paul". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Alex Murdaugh officially in prison to begin serving a life sentence in Columbia". WLTX . March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  52. ↑ Bogel-Burroughs, Michael (March 3, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh Sentencing: Update from Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  53. ↑ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (March 6, 2023). "Breaking Silence, Murdaugh Brother Says 'Not Knowing Is the Worst Thing'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  54. ↑ Vielkind, Jimmy (March 9, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh Files Notice of Appeal After Being Convicted of Murdering Wife and Son". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  55. ↑ Macie Goldfarb, Devon M. Sayers, and Zoe Sottile (March 21, 2023). "Items from Murdaugh Moselle property will be auctioned on Thursday". CNN. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  56. ↑ Helling, Steve (March 21, 2023). "Items Belonging to the Murdaugh Family Put Up for Auction". People Magazine. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  57. ↑ Land, Olivia (March 21, 2023). "Murdaugh family items, hideous furniture to be auctioned off Thursday". New York Post. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  58. ↑ Melendez, Pilar (March 23, 2023). "Crossbow and Hunting Equipment From Murdaugh's Estate Go Up for Sale". Daily Beast. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  59. ↑ Silver, Lauren (March 23, 2023). "Murdaugh family items offered to highest bidder". Court TV. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  60. ↑ Jackson, Alyssa (March 23, 2023). "Bidders pack Liberty Auction to buy items from Murdaugh's estate". WTOC 11. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  61. ↑ Sanchez, Sofia (March 23, 2023). "PETA wanted Murdaugh hunting trophies, turtle-shell lamps donated instead of sold". The Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  62. ↑ "Alex Murdaugh Indicted on Federal Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering Charges". United States Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina. May 24, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  63. ↑ Collins, Jeffrey (May 24, 2023). "Convicted murderer and ex-attorney Alex Murdaugh facing federal charges of fraud, theft". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  64. ↑ "Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to state financial charges". CNN. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Alex Murdaugh sentenced to 27 years in state financial crimes case". NBC News. November 28, 2023. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  66. ↑ Sharp, Rachel; Hawkinson, Katie (April 1, 2024). "Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to 40 years in prison for federal financial crimes". The Independent. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  67. ↑ Robelot, Jane (September 4, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh's attorneys have newly filed motion for a new trial". WYFF-TV. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  68. ↑ Commander, Anna (September 4, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh Update: New Evidence May Spark Another Trial". Newsweek. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  69. ↑ Propper, David (September 4, 2023). "Murdaugh's lawyers expected to file motion in bid for new murder trial based on 'discovered evidence'". New York Post. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  70. ↑ Hill, Rebecca H.; Gordon, Neil R. (2023). Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders. Wind River. ISBN   9798988734239. OCLC   1393434920.
  71. ↑ Phillip, Patrick (September 5, 2023). "Murdaugh defense team alleges jury tampering in request for new trial". WCSC-TV. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  72. ↑ Haylee Barber, and Erik Ortiz (September 5, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh's defense to seek new trial based on claims of jury tampering". NBC News. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  73. ↑ Clifford, Ted; Monk, John (September 6, 2023). "Becky Hill, accused of tampering with Murdaugh jury, hires 2 high profile lawyers". The State . Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2023– via Yahoo! News.
  74. ↑ Gallagher, Dianne (October 17, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh murder case headed back to lower court over jury tampering allegations". CNN. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  75. ↑ Phillips, Patrick (November 1, 2023). "Alex Murdaugh's defense wants judge removed from future trials". WIS-TV. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  76. ↑ Moore, Thad (December 19, 2023). "Former SC chief justice Jean Toal to decide if Alex Murdaugh deserves new trial". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  77. ↑ Hammond, Elise (January 29, 2024). "Judge denies Murdaugh's request for a new trial". CNN. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  78. ↑ Jacquot, Bryce (March 25, 2024). "Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill announces resignation". WCIV-TV. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  79. ↑ Betts, Anna (August 14, 2024). "Alex Murdaugh could get retrial as state supreme court agrees to hear appeal". The Guardian . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  80. ↑ Sharp, Rachel (January 26, 2023). "Murders, fraud, and a hitman plot: Alex Murdaugh's spectacular fall from grace". The Independent . Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  81. ↑ Buck, Kennedy (January 22, 2023). "Jury selection begins Monday for trial of the century: the Murdaugh murders". WCIV. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  82. ↑ DeWitt, Michael M. Jr. (September 13, 2022). "Art imitates life in Alex Murdaugh's Hampton County with murder-themed masquerade ball". The Greenville News . Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  83. 1 2 Caine, Brooke (January 24, 2023). "The Murdaugh family murders: A list of documentaries and podcasts on the SC cas". News Observer . Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  84. ↑ Lawrence, Andrew (December 16, 2021). "The lawyer who tried faking his death, and the writer exposing his crime dynasty". The Guardian . Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  85. ↑ Bella, Timothy (March 3, 2023). "Netflix, HBO and podcasts made the public case against Alex Murdaugh". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024. Among those influential media spaces is the "Murdaugh Murders," the popular podcast hosted by reporters Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell that helped introduce audiences to the South Carolina legal dynasty and its alleged crimes for the first time. At nearly 100 episodes, the podcast has 28,000 reviews and ranked first globally in 2021, according to Apple Podcasts
  86. ↑ White, Peter (September 8, 2021). "Murdaugh Family Murders Explored In Campfire-Produced Doc Series In The Works At HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  87. ↑ Salazar, Savannah (January 31, 2023). "New on Netflix: February 2023". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  88. ↑ Eley, Amy (September 6, 2023). "See Bill Pullman's transformation into Alex Murdaugh for new Lifetime movie". The Today Show. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.