Proctor's name was crossed out in pen and Randolph Murdaugh III, Maggie Murdaughs father-in law, was handwritten above it. The South Carolina legal scion, 53, who has been in jail since October, has been charged with a slew of counts, most of them financial crimes. WebThe Murdaugh family (/ m r d k / MUR-dok) is an American legal family in the Low Country region of South Carolina.From 1920 to 2006, three members of the family consecutively served as solicitor (i.e., district attorney), in charge of prosecuting all criminal cases in the state's 14th circuit district, leading locals to call the five-county district, You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Murdaugh turned himself in at the Hampton County Detention Center. During his testimony, John Marvin Murdaugh confirmed for prosecutors that his brother, Alex Murdaugh, lied to law enforcement investigating Paul and Maggie Prosecutors said over the weekend they received new evidence from General Motors about data from Alex Murdaughs Chevy Suburban. Dick Harpootlian said the defense has extensive cross-examination for Riemer, which could last more than an hour. Murdaugh, 54, is standing trial on two counts of murder. The prosecution said ammunition cartridges found around Maggie Murdaughs body had markings that matched other cartridges fired at a range on the property and other locations. John Monk/The State/TNS via Newscom, FILE. State law enforcement officials also announcedthat they were looking into those allegations. Waters said a video on Paul Murdaughs cellphone has the voices of him, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh in it. He was arrested in connection to the Sept. 4 shooting incident "in which he conspired with Curtis Edward Smith to assist him in committing suicide for the explicit purpose of allowing a beneficiary to collect life insurance," SLED said in a statement. Alex Murdaugh has been accused of obstructing the investigation into the crash by pressuring witnesses not to reveal Pauls culpability. Margaret and Paul Murdaugh were found dead near dog kennels at the family's home near Islandton, South Carolina, police said. He is accused of killing his wife Maggie and 22-year-old son Paul in June 2021, Slate reports. ", "I can tell you he was willing and still is willing to do anything that's asked of him," John added. The shot to her abdomen was from further away. All marriages, Im sure, have hiccups here and there, but Im telling you it was a good marriage, he said. A camouflage Benelli 12-gauge shotgun from the Moselle Road property that was swabbed showed DNA contributed by two people: Maggie and Alex Murdaugh. Satterfield reportedly died after a falling accident in the Murdaugh family home in February 2018, the lawsuit states. The documents released by authorities do not present evidence of his motive or how the murders are believed to have taken place, except to say that Maggie Murdaugh was killed with a rifle and Paul Murdaugh was killed with a shotgun. In April 2019 Paul Murdaugh was charged with operating the boat while intoxicated. Mr. Murdaugh, who has since been disbarred, has been held in jail since October 2021, when he was charged with stealing money from the family of his former housekeeper, who died after a fall on the steps of the Murdaugh family home. Her death is being reinvestigated following the filing of the financial charges against Mr. Murdaugh. In this June 11, 2021, file photo, Buster Murdaugh, center, receives a hug in the rain during the funeral service for his brother, Paul, and mother, Maggie, in Hampton, S.C. Kacen Bayless/The Island Packet via AP, FILE. Prosecutors released little information about their case before Wednesday. "We've just been here as attorneys for a long time in our family.". He doesnt know why, Harpootlian said, gesturing toward the prosecutor. ", Sept. 6: Murdaugh announces resignation, enters rehab. Randy, who lives in the nearby town of Hampton, said he arrived at Alex's property about 15 minutes after the telephone call. The law firm said later that he "I could see the white sheets across the way," he said. Also on Sept. 15, the sons of a former Murdaugh housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, filed a lawsuit against Alex Murdaugh, Corey Fleming and others for allegedly swindling them out of receiving settlement money. Zapata confirmed that if the shirt was stained while someone was gutting a fish, the Hematrace test would be negative. Mr. Murdaugh, who has since been disbarred, has been held in jail since October 2021, when he was charged with stealing money from the family of his former I didn't know if something was still happening. The Dr. Ellen Riemer, a forensic pathologist with the Medical University of South Carolina, conducted the autopsies for Paul and Maggie Murdaugh. Theres no direct evidence. On Dec. 13. a judge set Murdaugh's bail at $7 million. He said that he was told by some of Maggie Murdaugh's immediate family members that the writing is hers and that he believes she made the change during her lifetime. Due to stippling on her body, Riemer said two of the gunshot wounds were fired by someone within three feet of Maggie Murdaugh. Alex is fully cooperating with SLED in their investigations into his shooting, opioid use and the search to find the person or people responsible for the murder of his wife and son. ", "His resignation came after the discovery by PMPED that Alex misappropriated funds in violation of PMPED standards and policies. John Marvin Murdaugh said he was sitting inside the house on the Moselle property and asked Alex Murdaugh if he could ping Maggies phone. Alex Murdaugh and his son Buster announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of assailants involved in the murders of Maggie and Paul. Barber had Zapata count 74 cuttings taken from Alex Murdaughs shirt, all of which tested negative for human blood. Her sons claim that they received none of the proceeds from a $4.3 million settlement that was orchestrated secretly by Alex Murdaugh, according to a lawsuit filed against their mothers employer and others. There are three alternate jurors left. As Murdaugh faces life in prison without parole in the double murder case, which is now in its sixth week, it is unclear when that field trip will occur, however. While I will support him in his recovery, I do not support, condone, or excuse his conduct in stealing by manipulating his most trusted relationships. Law enforcement agents who testified in the trial also noted that Murdaugh also touted the theory that the boat crash was the possible motivation for the murders moments after they were called to the scene. Theres no fingerprints. They said Paul was also a "people person" who was "very caring" and "would help anyone." ET to report that he had returned to his family's estate in Islandton, a rural community in South Carolina's Colleton County, to find the bullet-ridden bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Margaret "Maggie" Branstetter Murdaugh, and his 22-year-old son, Paul Terry Murdaugh. I didnt think it was a credible threatif it was, I would have tried to do something or notify someone, he said in the 2021 interview. Harpootlian told the jury he would love to be able to tell them why someone so brutally killed Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, but investigators ignored all other suspects and scenarios. Randy and John said they have contacts in the investigating agencies but that they have not reached out to them or tried to influence the investigation in any way, nor has anyone in their family. She testified that she did not find any defensive wounds on Maggie either. ", Oct. 15: Lawyer said Murdaugh had drugs in his system day he was shot. Of course, none of this is disclosed to me as far as, it wasnt like I was sitting there peeking over their shoulder while theyre doing this.. Sept. 13: SLED investigates missing money from law firm. Alex Murdaugh is in jail on a slew of charges, most of them financial counts. Riemer said yes, because some shots would have been fired from behind her and the shot to the back of her head, when she was on the ground, would have come from toward the top of her body. They don't believe Alex is involved in the murders. In the affidavit, Proctor renounced her right to handle her sisters estate and said she didnt receive any money in relinquishing her right to handle it. Its the hardest thing Ive ever been through in my life, John Marvin Murdaugh said through tears on the stand. Both Randy and Alex are lawyers at the firm, while Alex also works as a part time prosecutor for the 14th Judicial Circuit. "He has pledged his full cooperation to the firm. This is not the first time John Marvin has spoken out in defense of his older brother. In June 2021, The Island Packet reported that although Paul Murdaughs cell phone was found near his body on the night of the killings, investigators found Maggies phone the next day on a road outside of the familys Colleton County property. For the last 20 years, there have been many people feeding his addiction to opioids. The law firm said later that he resigned only after it was discovered that he was alleged to have misappropriated funds from the firm. Zapata said it was possible the DNA could have been transferred if the victims were checked for signs of life. I felt like I owed [Paul]. John Marvin is the second family member to testify on behalf of Murdaugh. Murdaugh submitted his resignation at his law firm to enter rehab the day before he is alleged to have tried to fake his own death. One possibility is that Paul and Maggie Murdaughs killings were in some way an effort on Alex Murdaughs part to prevent authorities who were looking into the boat crash from discovering his elaborate web of other alleged criminal behavior. At the time Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of allegedly boating under the influence after a crash in February 2019 that killed a 19-year-old woman, Mallory Beach of South Carolina. "The person that did this is out there.". 4:30 p.m.. Court is back in session. Those medical records show he was positive for opiates and barbiturates on the night that he was taken to the Savannah hospital, Harpootlian said. John Marvin Murdaugh, the alleged killer's younger brother, said he returned to the hunting estate the day after arriving the killings to clean up the horrific scene John A place to talk about the Murdaugh family murders without censorship. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "We need help finding who did this," Randy told ABC News. Judge Clifton Newman announced at the start of court on Monday that two jurors, 220 and 528, were released from their service because they tested positive for COVID-19. The cartridges were used in a type of automatic rifle that Alex Murdaugh bought but cant be accounted for, Waters said. Sept. 15: Lawyers say Murdaugh set up his own shooting, police open criminal investigation into 2018 death of Gloria Satterfield. He is accused of killing his wife Maggie and 22-year-old son Paul in June 2021, Slate reports. John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV said they "knew something was wrong" when their other brother called them both late in the night on June 7. Two alternates will take their place. She took the stand to explain graphic photographs from her investigation to the jury and said the gunman was likely within three feet of Paul Murdaugh. 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