By Court TV Staff
WALTERBORO, S.C. (Court TV) — The once-prominent heir to a low country legal dynasty faces life in prison if convicted in the murders of his wife and youngest son.
Disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh, 54, is accused of fatally shooting 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh on June 7, 2021. Their bodies were found near the dog kennels on the family’s 1,770-acre estate in Islandton.
Murdaugh claims he was at his mother’s home at the time of the shooting, but authorities say blood splatter allegedly found on his clothing indicates that he, too, was at the dog kennels when his wife and son were killed.
Murdaugh called 911 at 10:07 p.m. to report finding Maggie and Paul deceased. His attorneys claim their client checked the bodies for signs of life, which ultimately transferred blood onto his hands and clothes.
Prosecutors claim Murdaugh murdered his wife and son to gain sympathy ahead of a “pending motion that threatened to expose years of substantial debts and illicit financial crimes,” reported The Associated Press.
FILE – The gates near Alex Murdaugh’s home in Islandton, S.C., are seen on Sept. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, File)
In a shocking turn of events, Murdaugh was shot three months later while changing a tire on a rural road. Authorities quickly unraveled a murder-for-hire plot that would allow Murdaugh’s oldest son to receive a $10 million insurance payout. Curtis Edward Smith, the allegedly gunman and former client of Murdaugh, is accused of conspiring with Murdaugh. The duo was indicted for the alleged scheme in Nov. 2021.
RELATED: A timeline of events surrounding Alex Murdaugh’s charges
As of January 2023, Murdaugh faces 106 grand jury criminal charges, including murder, drugs, and financial fraud dating back to at least 2011. He is also named a defendant in three separate civil suits. He has been disbarred, and his assets frozen.
A jury of 12 jurors and 6 alternates was seated after three days of jury selection. Opening statements will begin Wednesday afternoon.
Court TV cameras are inside the courtroom, providing gavel-to-gavel coverage to multiple media outlets across the country.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 8 – 2/3/23
Friday, Judge Newman will hear from additional witnesses during the continuation of the Rule 404 hearing to decide whether prior bad acts should be evidence in the double homicide case. We expect to hear testimony regarding the Satterfield case and Murdaugh’s acknowledgment of guilt. Prosecutors could call Murdaugh’s former paralegal, Annette Griswold, and Lee Cope, an attorney at Murdaugh’s former law firm. Also, a bank representative may be called to testify about Murdaugh’s spending habits.
DAY 7 – 2/2/23
- Judge rules prosecutors can call witnesses to testify to Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes
- Two Snapchat employees testify, entering Paul Murdaugh’s video from the night of the murders into evidence.
- The State calls an employee of Murdaugh’s former law firm, Jeannie Seckinger, who is first questioned outside the presence of the jury
- Seckinger testified Alex was misappropriating funds, stealing money and eventually forced to resign
- Michael Gunn testifies about a bank account Murdaugh created to misappropriate funds belonging to others with the illusion that the money was being paid to a legitimate settlement company.
- Chris Wilson, one of Alex Murdaugh’s former best friends, testifies about how he was caught up in Alex’s web of lies and deceit. He says Alex admitted to stealing money from him, addicted to opioids for years and that he know longer knows how he feels about Alex.
- WATCH: Breaking Apart Alex Murdaugh’s Alibi
- READ MORE: Financial misdeeds allowed in Alex Murdaugh murder trial
DAY 6 – 2/1/23
- Two of Paul’s friends – Rogan and Will – identify Murdaugh’s voice in a video recorded at the dog kennels.
- Phone activity for all three phones was revealed, including FaceTime calls, text messages, social media, and camera activity.
- Paul’s video recording at the kennel and Snap Chat Video played in court.
- Alex, Maggie, and Paul’s cell phones were not recording biometrics at the same time on the night of the murders
- READ MORE: Both sides use trove of cell data at Alex Murdaugh trial
- WATCH: Vinnie Politan Visits Scene of Murdaugh Roadside Shooting
DAY 5 – 1/31/23
- The defense challenged Jeff Croft, SLED Senior Investigator, regarding whether Alex Murdaugh confessed during a second interview with police
- Alex Murdaugh was considered suspect on June 8, 2021
- Alex, Maggie, and Paul’s cell phone data admitted as evidence
- Murdaugh’s cousin, John Bedingfield, modified (3) AR Rifles for his sons, Paul and Buster
- Jury shown activity on Maggie’s phone after her presumed time of death
- READ MORE: Agent insists Alex Murdaugh suggested he killed his son
DAY 4 – 1/30/23
- Paul Murdaugh’s and several unidentified bloody footprints seen in the feed room
- Stippling on Maggie Murdaugh indicating she was shot a close range.
- Paul Murdaugh’s last phone calls and texts were revealed.
- Maggie Murdaugh’s cell phone found ¼ to ½ mile away.
- Alex Murdaugh left work early on the day of the murders.
- Alex Murdaugh says he heard a car pull up in between his nap and leaving to check on his mother.
- WATCH: ‘Closing Arguments’ is Live from the Low Country
- READ MORE: Through sobs, did Alex Murdaugh say he killed his son?
DAY 3- 1/27/23
- A Colleton County Detective secured multiple warrants to search the property
- Murdaugh’s first interview with a SLED Agent and Colleton County Detective revealed for the first time
- SLED Dive Teams searched the pond and a portion of the river to locate the murder weapons
- Jurors were shown evidence in the case, including Paul’s shoes, the seatbelt retrieved from Murdaugh’s SUV, and multiple fired and unfired bullets and casings.
- READ MORE: Hours after killings, Alex Murdaugh said he didn’t see wife
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders Trial: Day 3
DAY 2 – 1/26/23
- Jurors watched body camera videos of the first officers and fire personnel on the scene.
- 911 calls from Hampton County Dispatch and Colleton County Sheriff’s Office published
- Neither Maggie or Paul had defensive wound from their attacker
- Murdaugh blamed the boating accident in Beaufort, SC for the reason for the murders
- Unknown tire tracks found at the scene
- READ MORE: 1st officer: Alex Murdaugh didn’t cry over dead wife and son
DAY 1 – 1/25/23
Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters delivers the opening statement for the State, followed by Alex Murdaugh’s defense attorney Dick Harpootlian.
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Jury is Seated
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Prosecution Opening Statement
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Defense Opening Statement
- READ MORE: Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial starts with cellphones, bullets
1/24/23 – JURY SELECTION
- WATCH: Motions Hearing in Alex Murdaugh Trial
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Attorneys Question Ballistics Expert
- WATCH: Significance of the “Second Snapchat” Video
- READ MORE: Prosecutors, defense argue guns, bad acts in Murdaugh trial
1/23/23 – JURY SELECTION
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Jury Selection is Underway
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: S.C. Attorney Talks Murdaugh Team
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Approximately 60 Jurors Qualified
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders: Expert Breaks Down Blood Spatter Evidence
- WATCH: Murdaugh Family Murders Jury Selection: Day 1
- READ MORE: Alex Murdaugh goes on trial in 2021 killings of wife, son
Field producer Tiffany Smith, documentary producer Emily Kean, Crime & Justice Correspondent Matt Johnson and digital content manager Ivy Brown contributed to this report.
