South Carolina disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh is standing trial, accused of killing his wife and son. As the Murdaugh story developed, several arrests and shocking financial record reveals have led this case to become one of the most closely-watched trials in America.
The bodies of Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, were found near some dog kennels at their Islandton home. In his statement to the police, Murdaugh said he left his home around 9 pm to visit his mother, but when he returned, he discovered their bodies. When police arrived on the scene, a distressed Murdaugh told them that his son had been receiving threats related to a boat wreck from years ago.
Months after the murder of Murdaugh’s wife and son, a check was found by an employee in the office of his law firm. Even though the check was addressed to the law firm itself, it was made out to Alex Murdaugh. After the firm conducted an investigation, Murdaugh resigned.
After Murdaugh resigned, he claimed he was shot in the head while changing a flat tire by a driver on the side of the road. It was later revealed that Murdaugh wasn’t alone. Curtis Edward Smith, Murdaugh’s friend, was with him. Murdaugh admitted he asked Smith to shoot him in the head. Murdaugh’s lawyers claimed he wanted it to look like a suicide so that his other son, Buster, could collect life insurance. After apologizing to his family, friends, and colleagues, Murdaugh announced he was entering rehab for his painkiller addiction.
Murdaugh and Smith were both arrested. The charges against Smith include assisted suicide, aggravated assault, and insurance fraud. In September 2021, Murdaugh surrendered himself to the police and was charged with multiple felonies, including insurance fraud and filing a false police report. The prosecutor charged Murdaugh and Smith with conspiracy charges in July 2022 for years of oxycodone money laundering.
The trial for Murdaugh’s murder charges began in January 2023. Murdough’s defense lawyers claimed he could never kill his family because of his lack of time and motive. In response, prosecutors argued Murdaugh killed his family to gain sympathy and avoid finance charges.
Over the course of this trial, many details about the Murdaugh family history have risen to the surface. Their family legacy has kept them together for decades and strengthened over time, and their privileged status has allowed for a large amount of corruption that has, until now, gone unnoticed.