S.C. lawyer Alex Murdaugh charged with murder in wife, son’s death 1 year after mysterious killing

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (TCD) -- Recently disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh has been indicted in connection with the shooting deaths of his wife and son as he faces dozens of other criminal charges.

According to a news release from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Murdaugh’s wife Maggie and his son Paul were killed on June 7, 2021, at the family’s property. Paul and Maggie "sustained multiple gunshot wounds."

Murdaugh reportedly told authorities he was the one who found the bodies of his son and wife, and he called 911.

On July 14, the Attorney General’s Office announced that Murdaugh was indicted by a grand jury for two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel wrote in a statement, "Over the last 13 months, SLED agents and our partners have worked day in and day out to build a case against the person responsible for the murders of Maggie and Paul and to exclude those who were not."

Keel added, "At no point did agents lose focus on this investigation. From the beginning I have been clear, the priority was to ensure justice was served. Today is one more step in a long process for justice for Maggie and Paul."

At the time of his death, Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial for a fatal boating accident that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach in 2019. According to WYFF-TV, the woman’s body was found nearly a week after the crash, and Paul Murdaugh had received threats regarding the incident.

Besides being accused of fatally shooting his wife and son, Murdaugh stands accused of stealing millions of dollars from his firm.

Law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick PA (PMPED) wrote in a statement, "On Friday, September 3, 2021, Alex Murdaugh resigned from the Law Firm. He is no longer associated with PMPED in any manner. His resignation came after the discovery by PMPED that Alex misappropriated funds in violation of PMPED standards and policies."

According to The Associated Press, Murdaugh stole almost $8.5 million in wrongful death and wreck settlements, and he would allegedly negotiate settlement money for his clients and deposit the checks into his own personal accounts without letting the clients know. Murdaugh also allegedly used money orders given to an unnamed family member in order to obtain the cash.

Murdaugh’s charges, apart from murder, reportedly include breach of trust, forgery, money laundering, and computer crime. He’s reportedly been indicted on over 70 counts.

Murdaugh was initially arrested in September 2021, and his law license was suspended, The Associated Press reports. He even reportedly tried to orchestrate his own death so that his surviving son could obtain a $10 million life insurance policy.

Murdaugh is part of a prominent legal family. Murdaugh’s great-grandfather Randolph Murdaugh Sr. became the first man elected to the role of 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and then Randolph Murdaugh Jr. took over the role after his father’s death. Randolph Murdaugh III, Alex Murdaugh’s father, reportedly was elected and held the role until 2006. The Murdaugh family had the office for approximately 87 years.

In August 2021, the 14th Circuit prosecutor recused himself from the case involving Maggie and Paul’s deaths.

MORE: