12 big reveals from the Murdaugh murder trial to catch you up to speed on the case

Lyn Riddle
·2 min read
19

As the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh continues in Walterboro, new information from the law enforcement investigation and witnesses for the prosecution has been revealed.

Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, in at their 1,700-acre hunting estate in Isleton.

The Murdaugh family Buster, Maggie, Paul, and Alex (from left to right) pose for a photo .
The Murdaugh family Buster, Maggie, Paul, and Alex (from left to right) pose for a photo .

Among the new information is:

  • A cellphone video in the dog kennel minutes before the deaths has audio of Paul, his mother and a man who close friends say was Alex, countering his statement he was in the house taking a nap and then went to his mother’s house.

  • Maggie and Paul Murdaugh did not have life insurance.

  • Paul Murdaugh was shot first.

  • A video of SLED interview with Murdaugh a couple hours after Maggie and Paul’s murder showed him crying as he said either “It’s just so bad, I did him so bad,” or “they did him so bad.” The SLED witness said the former; defense asked otherwise.

  • The two murder weapons — shotgun and AR-style rifle — have not been found.

  • Firearm rounds taken from Maggie Murdaugh’s body match some old ones found on the property at Moselle, the hunting estate. Spent ammunition was found in numerous places around the property.

  • Alex Murdaugh had no blood on his body or clothes. No bloody clothes have been found from the grisly scene.

Chris Wilson, a trial attorney, tears up while questioned by prosecutor Creighton Waters during Alex Murdaugh’s double murder trial, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Walterboro, S.C. The 54-year-old attorney is standing trial on two counts of murder in the shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County home and hunting lodge on June 7, 2021. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP)

  • Longtime friend and lawyer Chris Wilson revealed Alex admitted he stole money from clients due to an opiate addiction.

  • Jeanne Seckinger, the chief financial officer at the PMPED law firm, said she confronted Murdaugh about $792,000 in legal fees missing from the firm on the day of the murders.

  • Calls on Alex’s iPhone on the night of the murders were deleted.

Mushelle “Shelly” Smith, caregiver for Libby Murdaugh in June of 2021, is questioned by prosecutor John Meadors in the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier/Pool
Mushelle “Shelly” Smith, caregiver for Libby Murdaugh in June of 2021, is questioned by prosecutor John Meadors in the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier/Pool

  • Muschelle “Shelly” Smith, a caretaker for Alex’s mother, said he was at the mother’s bedside for 15-20 minutes the night of the murders. He held his mother’s hand and spoke to her while she was sleeping. He told Smith later that if anyone asked, he was there 30-40 minutes. Also offered to help pay for her wedding.

  • Alex’s last text to Maggie was at 9.47 p.m.: “Call me babe.”