Alex Murdaugh is a former South Carolina lawyer who was involved in a high-profile case in which his wife and son were shot and killed in June 2021. He was initially considered a victim, but as the investigation progressed, he became a person of interest in the case.
In September 2021, Murdaugh was arrested and charged with multiple counts of insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud related to the death of a former housekeeper in 2018. He was also accused of stealing money from his law firm. Murdaugh has since resigned from his law firm and entered rehab for drug addiction. The investigation into the murders of his wife and son is ongoing.
Early life
Alex Murdaugh was born on June 17, 1968, in Hampton County, South Carolina, USA. He grew up in a prominent legal family in the state, with both his father and grandfather serving as longtime elected prosecutors.
Murdaugh attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1990. He went on to study law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1994.
After law school, Murdaugh began practicing law in the small town of Hampton, South Carolina, where his family had deep roots in the legal community. He eventually joined his family’s law firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick, where he worked as a trial lawyer and represented clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Alex Murdaugh career
Alex Murdaugh had a long and successful career as a trial lawyer in South Carolina, primarily focused on personal injury and wrongful death cases. He was a partner at the law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick, where he worked for many years.
In addition to his work as a trial lawyer, Murdaugh also served as a part-time prosecutor in the 14th Judicial Circuit, which covers several counties in the state. He was appointed as a special prosecutor to handle cases in which the local prosecutor had a conflict of interest.
Murdaugh was also involved in various legal organizations and served as a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the American Association for Justice.
However, in September 2021, Murdaugh was arrested and charged with multiple counts of insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud related to the death of a former housekeeper in 2018. He was also accused of stealing money from his law firm. Following his arrest, Murdaugh resigned from his law firm and entered rehab for drug addiction.
Trial of Alex Murdaugh
The trial of Alex Murdaugh, a prominent lawyer from South Carolina, began on January 25, 2023, after he was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Here’s everything you need to know about the case.
Discovery of the Bodies
On June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh called the police from his cell phone, reporting that he had found the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and their son, Paul, at the family’s hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina. The victims had been shot multiple times and with different weapons. According to Murdaugh, he had been with his terminally-ill father and mother at the time of the killings, but investigators later determined that the killings had occurred around 9 pm.
Investigation and Arrest
In October 2021, it was revealed that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) had regarded Murdaugh as a person of interest since the start of the investigation. The police investigation has been heavily criticized for failing to collect DNA evidence and allowing family members and friends to walk through the crime scene. Murdaugh was arrested in July 2022 after the Colleton County Grand Jury indicted him for two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The indictment alleged that Murdaugh shot his wife with a rifle and his son with a shotgun. Sources close to the investigation revealed that high-velocity blood spatter on Murdaugh’s clothing and cellphone footage had placed him at the scene when his wife and son were shot. Prosecutors suggested that Murdaugh’s motive was to gain sympathy in the wake of his financial troubles that were beginning to go public.
Trial Proceedings
The trial proceedings began on January 25, 2023, at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, SC. The trial is being overseen by Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman, who denied Murdaugh bail. Murdaugh is represented by Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, while Creighton Waters leads the prosecuting team. 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. Witnesses for both the defense and prosecution are expected to number in the hundreds.
Defense counsel had argued that the prosecution should be prohibited from asking questions related to Murdaugh’s financial crimes, but the judge overruled their objections. The judge announced that he would make a formal ruling on the matter on Thursday, February 2, 2023. The judge dismissed the jury early on Thursday, February 2, to allow the prosecution to present two witnesses that testified about Murdaugh’s financial crimes in an in camera hearing. On February 7, Judge Newman ruled that testimony related to Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes was admissible, and that jurors were entitled to consider whether Murdaugh’s financial situation was a motive for the killings. The judge 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 committing the killings.
On February 8, a bomb threat forced the court to immediately evacuate and reconvene several hours later to resume the trial. Judge Newman announced on February 13 that two jurors had been dismissed and replaced with alternate jurors because they had tested positive for COVID-19. On February 24, a new charge was filed against Murdaugh for passing contraband in the courtroom. The jury will visit the property where the murders occurred in the future at the defense’s request.
Alex Murdaugh biography | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Alex Murdaugh |
| date of birth | June 17, 1968 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 54 years |
| place of birth | Hampton County, South Carolina, United States |
| nationality | American |
| job | attorney |
| religion | Christianity |
Physical Statistics | |
| height | in feet inches – 5′ 11” – in centimeters – 181 cm |
| Weight | in kilograms – 89kg – in pounds – 196 pounds |
| Hair color | Blond |
| eye color | Brown |
| body type | average |
Alex Murdaugh family | |
| father | – |
| mother | – |
| sister | – |
| Brothers | Randy Murdaugh |
Qualification/Education | |
| school | Wade Hampton High School |
| University | University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina Law School |
relationship status | |
| marital status | Married |
| wife | Maggie Murdaugh |
| children | Paul Murdaugh |
Personal life
Alex Murdaugh was married to his wife, Margaret Kennedy Branstetter “Maggie” Murdoch, for over 20 years before her tragic death in June 2021. The couple had two children together, Richard Alexander Jr. (called Buster) and including their son Paul Terry, who was also killed in the same incident.
Maggie Murdaugh was also a prominent figure in the community and worked as a schoolteacher for many years. The couple was known to be active in charitable organizations and supported various causes in their community.
However, there were reports of marital issues in the couple’s relationship prior to Maggie’s death. Some sources suggested that the couple was experiencing financial difficulties and that Alex Murdaugh was struggling with addiction issues. Nonetheless, the details of their marriage life have not been made public and it is difficult to ascertain the nature and extent of their relationship difficulties.
Alex Murdaugh net worth
The exact net worth of Alex Murdaugh was not publicly known but it is estimated to be around $300,000. However, he came from a prominent legal family in South Carolina, and he had a successful career as a trial lawyer, primarily focused on personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Despite his success, there were reports of financial difficulties at his law firm and allegations that he had stolen money from the firm. These issues may have affected his personal finances and net worth. Nonetheless, without access to detailed financial records, it is difficult to estimate his net worth accurately.
Facts About Alex Murdaugh
- He grew up in Hampton and holds American citizenship.
- Tommy Crosby, a spokesman for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, oversaw the shooting of his wife and son.
- He is the owner of the 17 foot console boat Sea Hunt Center.
- His boat crashed in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
- A passenger on the boat told the Department of Natural Resources official that his son was driving the boat.
- He promised a $100,000 reward for the information that led to a conviction of whoever killed his wife and son.