Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Was he still alive when you placed him in the middle of the highway? Murdaugh, 54, is charged with murder in the deaths of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, but has steadfastly denied any involvement. State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh is an ongoing American criminal case in the fourteenth circuit of the South Carolina Circuit Court in which Murdaugh is accused of the murders of his wife and their 22-year-old son in June 2021. Where did he die? Like Stephen Smith, Mallory was described by friends as a kind soul with a bright future who was taken from her friends and family far too soon. "South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel announced indictments for two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime," according to CNN. As its final witness, the State recalled forensic crime scene expert Dr. Kenneth Kinsey to dispute the findings of Murdaughs expert witnesses, including Michael Sutton, a crime scene analyst. (Jeff Blake/The State via AP, Pool). He is remembered as "loving and genuine" with "an abundance of friends.". The double homicide of Paul Murdaugh and his mother Maggie Murdaugh in rural Colleton County earlier this week sent shockwaves throughout South Carolina. FITSNews obtained all audio from the investigation file. He fooled them all," said Waters, pausing for emphasis. According to SCHP documents, detectives were Buster Murdaugh as a possible person of interest in the case. In their search, investigators from the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the Hampton County sheriffs office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) found virtually no evidence no bullets, no gunshot residue, no tire marks, no pieces left from a vehicle. The Island Packet reported, also through sources, that the victims were shot with different weapons a shotgun and an assault rifle. Its also unclear if the MAIT team ever examined Stephens phone, which was tossed between agencies before it was finally unlocked by the FBI several years after his death. Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother, Maggie, 52, were found shot to death shortly after 10 p.m. at the family's property at 4147 Moselle Road. Alex Murdaugh double murder trial: Closing arguments begin Wednesday. The Beach family extends its deepest and warmest sympathies to the Murdaugh family during this terrible time," a lawyer for the Beaches said in a statement. ALEX MURDAUGH'S SON, PAUL, CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT BAGS OF PILLS BEFORE DOUBLE SLAYING. In addition to disputing scientific testimony from Murdaughs expert witnesses, these final State witnesses served to hammer home and reinforce a point prosecutors have made time and again throughout the trial: Murdaugh, after demonstrating a pattern of deceit, lies, manipulation and callous disregard for others during a decade-long crime spree, also lied to police early and often throughout this criminal investigation and prosecution. Industry Insight. The stunt prompted South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who was seated at the prosecution table, to break into a broad smile, as the gallery erupted in laughter. health, growth and government reporting. Theyre going to go on living their lives like nothing (happened).. Investigators say Maggie Murdaugh was shot five times, including once in her head, with the Blackout rifle. Market data provided by Factset. The judge did not implement the restrictions on Paul when he was granted bond despite him already having received a 2017 citation for possession of alcohol by a minor. Buster Murdaugh, left, the son of Alex Murdaugh, listens to instruction from Judge Clifton Newman before a break during his father's trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Various witnesses during the trial have confirmed hearing Murdaugh's voice in the video. In December 2018, just a few months before the fatal boat crash, Pauls father Alex Murdaugh settled a separate wrongful death claim. Early in the trial, prosecutors disputed claims that Murdaugh checked for signs of life on both victims, his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, because he did not have any blood on his hands, clothes, or shoes and he called 911 less than 20 seconds after arriving at the scene. Although the weapons used to kill the victims haven't been found, an expert testified that the markings on the bullet casings found near Maggie Murdaugh's body matched those found on casings at a shooting range on the family's property. He faces 30 years to life in prison if . Mandy Matneyis the news director at FITSNews. There is no evidence that alcohol consumption was involved. Court resumes in South Carolina after defendant Alex Murdaugh took the stand in his own defense for two days. Alex Murdaugh's five-week double murder trial has been filled with hours of emotional testimony, shocking evidence and jaw-dropping moments. The Where? Anthony Cook begged Paul Murdaugh, who was driving the boat at the time of the incident, to please let him drive, deputySteven Domino the deputy who was fired last summer wrote in his report. What evidence will have an impact on the Colleton County jury in the Alex Murdaugh trial, and will it stick? Murdaughtook the stand in his own defense last week andrepeatedly denied killing his family,butadmitted to lying to investigators,citinghis distrust for local law enforcement and paranoia induced by drug addiction. Paul never had to stand trial for the death of Mallory Beach, but barring a settlement his brother Buster and father Alex will likely face a jury in the civil case. FITSnews reported through sources that a Murdaugh family member is a person of interest, and that R. Alexander Murdaugh Pauls dad and Maggies husband is a central focus of the probe. The site noted that he has an alibi but quoted a source as saying there are credible concerns about when the shootings happened and said authorities are looking into possible manipulation of the crime scene.. Waters asked. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. You become invincible in a way and you get a little liquor and you think youre untouchable.. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh were killed on June 7, 2021, and their bloodied bodies were found at their 1,700-acre hunting estate in Colleton County, South Carolina. "Other than lying to them about going to the kennel, I was cooperative in every aspect of this investigation," Murdaugh insisted. In an earlier interview with investigators, the disgraced lawyer implicated his groundskeeper. Investigators said his 22-year-old son, Paul, was shot twice with a shotgun and his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, was shot four or five times with a rifle outside of the kennels on their property. He was awarded South Carolina's top honor for assertive journalism in 2020. Investigators believe the son and mother were murdered with two different firearms. Murdaugh, who is part of a prominent local family in the South Carolina Lowcountry, is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, at their home on June 7, 2021. Paul pleaded not guilty to all three charges. Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian holds Buster Murdaugh's .300 Blackout rifle, similar to the one used to kill Buster Murdaugh's mother, during Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Walterboro, S.C. (Jeff Blake/The State via AP, Pool). John Marvin told the court that he last saw Paul on 7 June 2021 - the day of the murders - when his nephew stopped by his house in Beaufort, South Carolina, and borrowed his vehicle. He turned and pointed at her, and I could tell he was about to say something and I told him not to make that mistake and he stared at me for a second and went to the steering wheel, Anthony Cook, Mallorys boyfriend, said in deposition. They asked for jurors to be allowed to visit the property in order to help them understand how small the storage room is where Paul Murdaugh was killed and the distance between the two bodies. Buster Murdaugh, left, the son of Alex Murdaugh, listens to instruction from Judge Clifton Newman before a break during his father's trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. "Do you know who did?" As all these pressures were mounting, the defendant killed Maggie and Paul," Waters said. The boat involved in this incident, a 2008 Scout boat, was not the same as the vessel involved in the fatal 2019 crash, which was a 2006 Sea Hunt. There appeared to be missing evidence in the case such as the DNA under Stephens fingernails, the clothes he was wearing, and the rape kit. ", Waters replayed videos of Murdaugh's interviews with law enforcement and said his actions after killings, including lying to investigators, showed he had a"guilty conscience .". At the time of his death, Paul was a junior at the University of South Carolina. It has been apparent from the first week of the investigation that authorities are covering up critical evidence and we no longer know who to trust, Smith wrote. Waters asked. Both NBC's 'Dateline: Murdaugh Saga' as well as Netflix's 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' examine the rise and fall of the Murdaugh family, a legal dynasty that ran the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office in South Carolina for 87 consecutive years. . After interviewing several sources who knew the Murdaugh brothers, SCHP detective Todd Proctor made some significant assessments of the family. Other expert witnesses for the State were called to testify for a second time, including Medical University of South Carolina pathologist Dr. Ellen Riemer, who conducted the autopsy on the shooting victims. He described his father as a doting and devoted parent who "coached every Little League team I played on." The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division dispatched a bomb squad to sweep the building, and the trial resumed at about 3:10 p.m. According to Deadline, HBO Max and Campfire Studios are teaming up to create the docu-series Murdaugh Family Mysteries.. For over three months, Islandton, SC, Police have been trying to solve the mystery surrounding the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. It was previously reported that Paul allegedly had a drunken alter ego called "Timmy.". Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It would repeatedly get to a certain point, then the assigned investigator would bow out, perhaps not wanting to take on Solicitor Murdaugh.. On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Newman outlined the procedures and rules surrounding the jurys field trip. Several bailiffs were sworn in to transport and escort the jurors and alternates to Moselle, where no one will be allowed to talk to them except the judge, nor can they ask questions of anyone but Newman. Two murders and an indictment. Market data provided by Factset. S.C. Attorney General's Office / Facebook. Dad,Coach,Teacher and best friend. Maggie Murdaugh Facebook. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth? Over the years, weve spoken to over 100 people about the Murdaugh family about the power they held over others, about their close ties to law enforcement, about their deep pockets, about their vast tracts of land, and about the disconnect between their private and public personas. "No, I do not know who did it," Murdaugh replied. The key piece of evidence connecting Alex Murdaugh to the killings is a video Paul Murdaugh shot from the kennels about five minutes before he last used his cellphone. Updated on: March 1, 2023 / 8:15 PM We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Her body was not found until a week later. Beachs family had also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Murdaugh over the teens death in the boat crash. The family of Alex Murdaugh, the disgraced South Carolina attorney accused of defrauding legal clients and carrying out a failed suicidal fraud scheme, has been told he could soon be indicted on . The State newspaper described the family as representing power, justice, and big money for nearly a century. The video below will play a replay of Tuesday's proceedings. At another point in the investigation, Proctor appeared frustrated that local sources were hesitant and scared to speak of the Murdaughs to police. Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian holds Buster Murdaugh's .300 Blackout rifle, similar to the one used to kill Buster Murdaugh's mother, during Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Walterboro, S.C. Back in February 2019, Paul was charged with boating under the influence, which resulted in the death of Mallory Beach. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel announced indictments for two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according toCNN. Mallory yelled at Paul to stop. The Why? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Jurors began the day with a visit to the crime scene,the rural Colleton County home called Moselle, where a pool reporter said at least one of them carefully inspected the door frame of a storage closet where Paul Murdaugh was standing when he was killed. Award-winning journalist Mandy Matney has been investigating the Murdaugh family since that fateful night in 2019. At a later date, Murdaugh reportedly told Ball that he went to Paul first, and then to Maggie. Renee Beach, Mallorys mother,is seeking damages from Parkers Corporation which owns the Parkers gas station where Paul Murdaugh allegedly purchased alcohol illegally prior to the crash. The State is expected to call one more expert witness after the lunch recess. Murdaugh, who is separately facing morethan100 other criminal charges,also admitted to stealing money from clientsand orchestrating a botched assisted suicide scheme. And his lies and his guilty actions afterward confirm that.". They will be able to review about 800 documents, photographs, videos of police interviews of Alex Murdaugh and other exhibits while deciding on a verdict. The judge did not address the bizarre incident in open court. Smith was found dead just before 4:00 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2015 in the middle of Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh's theft of millions of dollars was about to be revealed so he killed his wife and son to buy time to figure a way out, a prosecutor said Wednesday during closing arguments in thedisgraced former South Carolina attorney'smurder trial. Three members of the media will be allowed to visit as a media pool after the jury leaves, and they can stay for 30 minutes. "Everyone who thought they were close to him; Everyone who thought they knew who he was. Alex Murdaugh is led into the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Murdaugh lawyers long known for dramatic courtroom scenes. By (62110) First Published: 10:49 AM PDT, June 9, 2021. He also described a close-knit family, saying he spoke with his mom "every day" and frequently spoke with his dad and brother, too. Latest Videos. MAGGIE MURDAUGH'S SISTER RECOUNTS ALEX MURDAUGH'S STRANGE COMMENT AFTER MURDERS IN TEARFUL TESTIMONY, As the interrogation wound down, Owen calmly asked, "Did you kill Maggie?". RELATED | Boat Crash Lawsuit: Murdaughs Refuse To Settle, Withhold Financial Records From Victims Family. As the investigation moves forward and detectives attempt to unravel the complicated ties to the Murdaugh dynasty, several sources who spoke with FITSNews questioned whether this criminal inquiry would be tainted like the others before it. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Last summer, South Carolina was rocked when two members of a prominent legal family, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and her 22-year-old son Paul Murdaugh, were shot and killed on . The defense has said state agents conducted a poor investigation that focused too quickly on Alex Murdaugh and missed evidence such as fingerprints and shoe prints that could have led to the real killers. The prosecution rested its case Feb. 17, and Murdaugh took the witness stand Thursday for cross-examination in the Walterboro, South Carolina, Colleton County Courthouse. FEB 28, 2023; 111: Defense Rests and Rebuttal 111: Defense Rests and Rebuttal. On March 11, he reportedly received a ticket for boating with an expired fire extinguisher and was fined $105. Shes an investigative journalist from Kansas who has worked for newspapers in Missouri, Illinois, and South Carolina before making the switch to FITS. After Paul and his mother were found dead, the Beach family expressed their condolences. This news outlet is continuing to investigate Satterfields death . Here's what to expect. 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