The murder trial of disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh, whose family saga blew up in June, has now become a national obsession. It’s a tale of power and influence that could change the political landscape of South Carolina.
Murdaugh is accused of murdering his wife and son on June 7, 2021, at the family’s 1,770-acre estate in Colleton County. He faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted.
Alex Murdaugh Attempt
Murdaugh, a member of a prominent South Carolina legal family, is on trial for killing his wife and son at their Moselle estate. He has been charged with two counts of murder and more than 100 charges of financial crimes, including money laundering, tax evasion, drug trafficking and a botched life insurance scheme.
In the weeks following the double homicide, Murdaugh resigned from his Hampton firm and was disbarred by the state Supreme Court. His departure followed an investigation into his financial shenanigans.
He also faced a felony boating under the influence charge and a wrongful death lawsuit from the mother of Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old adult who drowned in a Murdaugh-owned boat on February 24.
Prosecutors have argued that the Murdaugh double homicide was committed to distract attention from his finances, which they allege were a mess. They plan to use a barrage of witnesses to persuade jurors that the former attorney killed his wife and son.
In opening statements Wednesday, prosecutors said they would present evidence that the Murdaughs’ deaths were a result of a gangland-style killing spree. They are seeking life in prison if convicted.
South Carolina Murdaugh
The Murdaugh (pronounced murdock) family has accumulated power and wealth in south carolina for over a century, but it seems that a few deaths and crimes have thrown the once-prominent clan into a tailspin. That includes a boating accident that killed one of the Murdaugh family members; an alleged homophobic hate crime; and the double murder of a mother and son from the same family.
It’s all part of a complex web of corruption and criminal activity. And it’s just the latest in a series of suspicious deaths and financial crimes that have rocked the Murdaugh family in recent years.
In the days leading up to the double murder trial, Murdaugh’s defense team has fought hard to convince prosecutors and state police that he had nothing to do with the deaths of his wife and son. Their arguments have gotten prosecutors to rethink whether they should offer “blood spatter” evidence from a T-shirt that he allegedly wore at the time of the killings.
Amid all of the pretrial motions, new details about Murdaugh’s movements the night of the murders have started to come to light. Specifically, state investigators uncovered evidence on Murdaugh’s phone that contradicted his early statements about where he was the night of the murders.
Beauty and the beast wedding set
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The media frenzy surrounding Alex Murdaugh’s death is affecting many people. One South Carolina bride told The Daily Beast that she’s worried her wedding will be impacted by the trial, which is taking place across the street from her venue.
Ashlyn DeLong
Ashlyn DeLong and her fiance Josh had been dreaming of their 205-person wedding at the Walterboro Wildlife Center for over a year. But when they found out that the venue would be hosting a murder trial, they had to change their plans.
The media frenzy surrounding the Murdaugh double homicide is nothing new for this tiny South Carolina town. This is the third murder trial in a row to be held in this small county.
This case is particularly interesting because it is the only murder trial to involve a man who is being prosecuted by his family. Alex Murdaugh’s family has dominated the legal system in this tiny county for generations.
Humphrey had a long history of violence against women. He had several ex-lovers who told police that he beat them. He had also been convicted of assaulting Sandee Rozzo, a woman he had been dating for two years.
Once he began dating Ashley, Humphrey started grooming her to kill for him. He lied to her about everything from his college football career to his modeling job.
But when he was arrested for the Rozzo murder, Humphrey realized he could not commit the crime himself. He had an alibi – and he wanted her to do it for him.
DeLong told The Daily Beast
For more than a year, Ashlyn DeLong and her fiance Josh have been dreaming of their January wedding at the Walterboro Wildlife Center in South Carolina. It was one of their “top venues” and the couple wanted to make sure they would have no issues with their 205-person ceremony.
Last week, however, the couple faced a major stumbling block when they learned that notorious murder suspect Alex Murdaugh is across the street from their venue. And even though the couple’s wedding is set to take place next weekend, they’re not sure how it will be impacted by the trial that’s going on at the same time.
The double homicide trial of Murdaugh is a national true-crime obsession, and the drama surrounding the case has been a boon for tabloids and podcasts. It’s also made Walterboro a media mecca, with dozens of journalists descended on the town to cover it.
The prosecution has teased that the contents of the Murdaugh family’s phones may have put them at the crime scene during the murders on June 7, 2021. It is believed that Murdaugh and his wife, Maggie, were ‘prolific’ cell phone users.
Media frenzy from Alex Murdaugh
The murder of Alex Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, has spawned a media frenzy locally and nationally that stretches from news reports to podcasts, memes and Tik Toks. It’s also sparked social media discussion groups and an online cult of sleuths.
Murdaugh’s death has exploded into the spotlight thanks to his family’s reputation as a powerhouse in South Carolina. He was once a prominent Hampton-based attorney and part of a dynasty.
Prosecutors in the case allege Murdaugh killed his family in June 2021 to distract attention from his financial shenanigans, including a string of thefts from clients and his law firm and a money laundering ring. They’ve also charged him with tax evasion and other crimes, according to The Daily Beast.
During his trial Wednesday, prosecutors meticulously reconstructed activity from Murdaugh’s iPhone and the phone of Paul, Alex’s son, to try to link him to the killings. Specifically, they showed a video on Paul’s phone that was recorded about five minutes before the shootings.