And they still have not announced a suspect in their deaths. Her husband, Alex Murdaugh, 53, has faced months of public scrutiny since his wife, 52, and their son Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found shot multiple times on June 7 at the familys home in rural Islandton, South Carolina, about 65 miles west of Charleston. Murdaugh turned himself in at the Hampton County Detention Center. The two brothers recalled how "smitten" Alex was from the moment he met Maggie and how "he truly doted on her.". Zapata said it was possible the DNA could have been transferred if the victims were checked for signs of life. Two alternates will take their place. She analyzed the contents of Maggie and Pauls stomachs. Alex Murdaugh was the person who reported their deaths to police, saying he had discovered them dead on a 1,700-acre hunting property belonging to the family. 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. ", "Alex holds every member of the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick law firm in very high esteem," Griffin said on Twitter. June 17: Alex Murdaugh's brothers speak on "Good Morning America". 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. This is not the first time John Marvin has spoken out in defense of his older brother. He has also since been charged with executing multiple fraud and embezzlement schemes that were ongoing at the time of the crash; these included an alleged attempt to commit insurance fraud in order to benefit from the 2018 death of a housekeeper at one of the Murdaugh familys properties. Paul, a student at the University of South Carolina, was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death in a 2019 crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach, whose body was found a week later. His mother Maggie, they said, was a "classy person" with a "very dynamic personality" and was the "rock of their family." Published: Feb. 13, 2023 at 2:47 PM PST WALTERBORO, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The fourth week of the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh began on Monday. Sept. 13: SLED investigates missing money from law firm. Griffin asks about Alexs demeanor after the murders. Most of the testimony was focused on detailed forensic evidence in the investigation into the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Alex pulled over after seeing a low-tire indicator light. From 1987 to 2005, Randolph held the job as prosecutor for Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties, like his father and grandfather did before him. He was also the second family member to testify on behalf of Murdaugh. A defense lawyer said prosecutors incorrectly locked in on Murdaughs guilt from the start and have spent all that time trying to jam bits of evidence that can be explained away or leave an incomplete picture into a story that frames the wrong man. Earlier this month, the photographs were used as campaign fodder against Jojo Woodward, an investigator in the photos who is running for Beaufort County Sheriff. Smith was charged with assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high-aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV spoke with "Good Morning America" about the deaths of Maggie and Paul, saying they didn't believe their brother was involved in their killings. She died in February 2018 in what was initially described as an accidental fall. Zapata confirmed that if the shirt was stained while someone was gutting a fish, the Hematrace test would be negative. Duffie Stone, the 14th circuit solicitor appointed in 2006, the first non-Murdaugh to hold the position since 1920, recused himself from the case because of personal connections. Murdaugh also took the stand on Thursday and Friday, revealing that he lied to law enforcement about his whereabouts the night of the murder and admitting to stealing from clients and his law firm for years. The Defense attorney Phillip Barber asked if the DNA was submitted to CODIS, the FBIs DNA database, but Zapata said it did not meet the requirements for CODIS because the sample contained only three alleles. His attorney, Richard Harpootlian, previously said on NBCs TODAY show that Alex Murdaugh arranged for a man to kill him during a fake car breakdown. He said he believed his insurance policy had a suicide clause, which would leave $10 million for his son, according to Harpootlian. "We are part of the community. "I could see the white sheets across the way," he said. A forensic accounting firm will be retained to conduct a thorough investigation.". John Marvin Murdaugh said he was sitting inside the house on the Moselle property and asked Alex Murdaugh if he could ping Maggies phone. Here's a timeline of the key events in the Murdaugh murders and scandals: June 7, 2021: Margaret and Paul Murdaugh are found dead. ", "I can tell you he was willing and still is willing to do anything that's asked of him," John added. SLED announced the arrest of Curtis Edward Smith, 61, in connection with the shooting incident involving Alex Murdaugh on Sept. 4 in Hampton County. He is accused of killing his wife Maggie and 22-year-old son Paul in June 2021, NCJA | 700 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-628-8550 |. Alex murdaugh shot Paul through the open door, while he was sitting on that 4wheeler, that he decided to ride down to the kennels, then, he shot Maggie, they said her leg had a smear from a 4wheeler tire, not forgetting he lured Maggie and Paul to be home on the same day, and to be at the kennels at the exact time, and he lifted Paul body and tried to open his phone, but he couldn't, so he placed his phone in his back pocket, the clothes, he had clean clothes on that 4wheeler with him, he had no blood on him because he shot Paul through the open door, that would have made him 5'2-5'4 sitting down on it. There was gunshot residue on a seat belt, bullets pulled from bodies that matched ammunition boxes from around the home and cellphones never used again just a few minutes after Murdaugh, his wife and son were all heard in a cellphone video, prosecutor Creighton Waters said in his opening statement. He also admitted to his two-decade opioid addiction, noting he regularly took more than 60 pills a dayincluding oxycontin and oxycodone. Riemer said besides caffeine, Maggie and Paul did not have any other drugs or alcohol in their systems. Got a tip? Evidence was laid out Wednesday against the disgraced South Carolina attorney, accused of shooting his wife and son at the familys hunting property in 2021. He added that the feed room was still covered with brain fragments, pieces of Pauls skull, and lots of blood. Data includes speeds and other information about the vehicles movements on the night of the double homicide. As soon as I heard his voice, I knew something bad was going on, he said. Alex Murdaugh sits in the Colleton 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 a journey. Will of Alex Murdaugh's wife reveals he inherited all her property, accusations that he misused money from his law firm. In cross-examination, the defense reiterated that Alex Murdaugh said he checked Maggie and Paul both for pulses when he found their bodies. Randy and John described their late nephew as a "carefree spirit" who loved being outdoors. The case will be prosecuted by the attorney general's office. 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 started crying when his lawyer discussed the detail. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Murdaugh is charged with killing his wife and son on their property in June 2021. Dick Harpootlian said the defense has extensive cross-examination for Riemer, which could last more than an hour. Attorney Dick Harpootlian says the defense team will need time for their expert to review the data as well. Since then, Alex Murdaugh has been at the center of a storm of allegations including accusations that he misused money from his law firm which led to the suspension of his law license. It made me want to do it longer. At the time, the couple's sons were children. Just days later, the family patriarch, Randolph Murdaugh III, died in a hospital at the age of 81. Sept. 4: Murdaugh calls 911 saying he was shot. The listing comes less than five months after Alex Murdaugh, 53 the father of the family allegedly conspired to hire a hit man to kill him so that he could leave his Maggie Murdaughs phone locks forever about 30 seconds later, Waters said. During that time, these individuals took advantage of his addiction and his ability to pay substantial funds for illegal drugs. "Alex intends to fully cooperate with this investigation, as he has with the investigation into the murder of his wife and son," his lawyers said in a statement. In February 2019, 19-year-old Mallory Beach was killed when a boat she was riding on that belonged to the Murdaugh family hit a bridge structure at 2 a.m. Alex Murdaugh cried when the autopsy photos, which have been sealed, were shown in court. I am immensely sorry to everyone I've hurt including my family, friends and colleagues. The phone, the Packet previously reported, was given to the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). This trial is the bottom of a stunningly far and fast downfall for the man whose family dominated the legal system in tiny neighboring Hampton County for generations, both as prosecutors and private attorneys known for getting life-changing settlements for accidents and negligence cases. He was transported to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, for "treatment of a superficial gunshot wound to the head," SLED said. John Marvin is the second family member to testify on behalf of Murdaugh. They don't believe Alex is involved in the murders. 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. Alex Murdaugh's former law firm filed a lawsuit alleging that he funneled stolen money from clients and the law firm into a fake bank account for years. "I want to thank everyone for the incredible love and support that we have received over the last few weeks," Murdaugh said in a statement at the time. 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. Both shots to her head would have been immediately fatal, so the final one, which Riemer testified was to the back of Maggies head, was fired after an already-fatal shot. The family's spokesperson later offered a clarification regarding the shooting, saying, "Alex had an entry and exit wound, his skull was fractured and it was not a self-inflicted bullet wound. In a bond hearing in Hampton County court on Thursday, Sept. 18. Attorneyssaid at the bond hearing that they were nearing a resolution with Alex Murdaugh and that he had agreed to a $4.3 million judgment, subject to the approval of court-appointed receivers who nowcontrol his assets, The Associated Press reported. John Marvin who owns a heavy equipment rental and sales center indicated he wasnt able to find buyers for either piece of equipment and thought he might A camouflage Benelli 12-gauge shotgun from the Moselle Road property that was swabbed showed DNA contributed by two people: Maggie and Alex Murdaugh. The saga began when Murdaugh's wife, Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and their son Paul, 22, were found fatally shot in June. He says SLED told them Murdaughs t-shirt was They said Paul was also a "people person" who was "very caring" and "would help anyone." Murdaugh said he called either Alex or Buster (he said he thinks it was Alex) and asked them for the password to Maggies phone so investigators could unlock it. Buster, he said, told him that he and his mother shared locations with each other and he could ping it. I felt like I owed [Paul]. He said, Come as fast as you can. "On September 4, it became clear Alex believed that ending his life was his only option. "I love my law firm family and also love Alex as my brother. Margaret and Paul Murdaugh were found dead near dog kennels at the family's home near Islandton, South Carolina, police said. 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.. Read FOX Carolinas full blog of Mondays testimony below: Copyright 2023 WHNS. So were 0 for 74, Barber said, arguing the shirt was worn for fishing. The newspaper was the first to report the document, which was later obtained by NBC News. He had diarrhea. In this booking photo released on Sept. 16, 2021, by the Hampton County Detention Center, Alex Murdaugh is shown. It changes you as a family," Randy told ABC News. No mother, father, aunt, or uncle should ever have to see and do what I did that day, John Marvin Murdaugh, the defense teams final witness, told Colleton County jurors on Monday about his decision to clean his brothers hunting estate. Satterfield's family members, who have alleged that Alex Murdaugh stole more than $4 million in insurance settlements for her death, called the development "bittersweet" and a "very good start to holding everyone accountable. John Marvin told jurors on Monday that he had not been aware of Murdaughs opioid addiction until after the murders, when his brother attempted a botched suicide scheme in September 2021 so that Buster would inherit his $12 million insurance payout. It was the start of what is expected to be a three-week trial at the Colleton County Courthouse. John Marvin Murdaugh also described how he got one of the first phone calls his brother Alex had made after discovering the bodies. Its the hardest thing Ive ever been through in my life., Prosecutors say that Paul Murdaugh was fatally shot outside the feed room near the dog kennels of the South Carolina property on June 7, 2021and that his mother, Maggie, was killed nearby. In this undated file photo, Alex Murdaugh, fourth generation of a powerful South Carolina dynasty and owner of a boat involved in a fatal accident, leaves a hearing in a personal injury lawsuit at the Richland County Courthouse. Murdaugh also faces about 100 charges related to other crimes, including money laundering, stealing millions from clients and the family law firm, tax evasion and trying to get a man to fatally shoot him so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. Press J to jump to the feed. "I can assure you that SLED agents will continue working to bring justice to anyone involved with any criminal act associated with these ongoing investigations," said SLED Chief Mark Keel. "But we're just regular people that are working hard and trying to do right. She testified that she did not find any defensive wounds on Maggie either. "He would try to talk and then he would break down," Randy added. The whole family is suffering," John told ABC News. 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. The deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh remain unsolved. Buster, he said, told If convicted, he faces 30 years to life in prison. From October: What really happened the night Alex Murdaugh was allegedly shot? A male driver in a blue pickup asked him if he had car troubles, as soon as Alex replied, he was shot. Their brother, Richard Alexander "Alex" Murdaugh, had called 911 just after 10 p.m. Hes got theories of this and theories of that.. Randy Murdaugh and John Marvin Murdaugh speak out for the first time since their brother, Alex, found his 22-year-old son, Paul, and wife, Maggie, shot to death outside their home last week. John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV spoke with "Good Morning America" about the deaths of Maggie and Paul, saying they didn't believe their brother was involved in their killings. Anything that the boys were doing, Alex wanted to do.. SLED said in a statement at the time that he was shot on Old Salkehatchie Road near Varnville,South Carolina. 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. Both had full stomachs of food that looked identical to each other, which likely showed they recently shared a meal together. The final witness for the defense was Alex Murdaughs brother John Marvin Murdaugh. ", "I missed some phone calls from him. Sept. 8: Brother "shocked" by Murdaugh allegations; Alex Murdaugh's law license suspended, Alex Murdaugh's older brother Randy Murdaugh, who is also still employed by the firm, released a statement saying he was "shocked" to learn of his brother's "settling of money," as well as "drug addiction.". Lawyer Alex Murdaugh walks into his bond hearing, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville, S.C. 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. Was going on, he said, told him that he and ability! Will be prosecuted by the attorney general 's office was worn for fishing (. Who loved being outdoors she did not find any defensive wounds on Maggie.... Member to testify on behalf of Murdaugh being outdoors loved being outdoors hurt including my family friends! 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