The Murdaugh Murder Trial. The highest-profile murder trial seen/broadcast in decades. Once renowned in the South Carolina area, the disgraced, drug-addicted attorney, Richard Alexander ‘Alex’ Murdaugh, is charged with allegedly murdering his wife and son because of his depleted finances and his legal career was in ruin. Were the murders committed because narcotic addiction had overrun Alex’s daily life? Because of this, would it be feasible to assess that Alex truly killed his family? Were the drugs really the handgun?
Guilty or Not Guilty? Not yet determined by a unanimous 12-person jury decision. Today, they remain in the jury room-deliberating until a 12-person final decision is made.
The two-week trial continues with shocking, yet unattainable, daily events uncovering for the prosecution. The murder trial of Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh centers upon the shooting deaths of his wife, Margaret (Maggie), aged 52 and younger son, Paul, aged 22. The murder occurred at the 1,770-acre family hunting lodge and dog kennel in Islandton, South Carolina, the Murtaugh’s home town. Wealthy and powerful, three generations of the Murdaugh family have been local attorneys in South Carolina since 1910. The two murdered victims were discovered to be shot multiple times with different weapons.
Paul was awaiting trial in connection to a 2019 infamous boat crash that left gorgeous 19-year-old Mallory Beach dead. She just happened to be Paul’s long-time girlfriend.
On September 4, 2021, Alex Murdaugh is deliberately shot with a handgun and survives. He was shot in the head while changing a tire by his cousin Eddie, all at Alex’s digression. It was not a self-inflicted gun-shot wound. His presumed closing statement began, “I am leaving my job at my law firm and entering drug (opioid) treatment.”
Not long afterward on September 7, 2021, Alex is accused of stealing $1 million from his law firm. After being confronted by police, Alex told his lawyer he would resign from his law firm. The next day, Alex’s law license was suspended by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Unbelievably, on September 15, 2021, authorities reveal that Alex Murdaugh arranged his own shooting. Why? He attempted to arrange his death so his surviving son, Buster, could receive $10 million in life insurance. Curtis Smith “Cousin Eddie” was the man Alex hired to kill him. He provided Smith with a firearm and directed him to shoot him in the head. In its ending, Alex only had a superficial head wound and a minor brain bleed. Today, 1.5 years later, he survives. And, in 2021, various events were proven to substantiate that Alex was never shot! It has been referred to as a “failed assisted suicide.”
An ironic addendum to the story is as follows: Maggie’s parents, Terry and Kennedy Branstetter, (no relation to Cecil or Dewey) were married in Tennessee because they were underage in Kentucky. Maggie was born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 15, 1968. Her father, Terry, was transferred from his full-time job at the DuPont plant near Donelson. After her parent’s marriage, Maggie’s father, Terry, was transferred to Unionville, Pa., where the family lived for seven years.
In June, 2021, Richard Alexander (nickname Alec) Murdaugh allegedly murdered his two family members, and today, has been charged in their shooting deaths. Additional charges include dozens for financial crimes, forgery, etc. Alex was a prominent attorney who was disbarred because of an extreme addition to opioids (pain killers). In a recent interview, Alex said that he had been addicted to these potent drugs for more than 20 years. After intensive questioning, the third-generation attorney said his daily opioid intake was close to 100 pills daily! The maximum dose for all opioids is one pill every six hours, or three pills daily.
Continuing, the statement, “On June 7, 2021, agents with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division responded ‘to a late-night 911 call’ saying two people were dead…” This statement provides more evidence that Alex had already consumed nearly 100 oxycodone pills (nighttime) before the murders occurred. Go figure. The cumulative price total for his untold number of narcotics daily is unknown at this time but will be revealed later. One person estimated she read the monthly total exceeded $200,000.
Much has been written and quoted about Alex’s and Maggie’s marital relationship. “At the time of her death, Maggie and Alex were separated,” quoted The New York Post. They continued, “Sources said the former couple were living separate lives at the time of her death.” The Daily Mail read, “Their marriage was absolutely ‘on the rocks.’” It further read, “Maggie and Alex didn’t look at each other like they were married,” they continued. “There was no love lost between them. I never saw them touch or be affectionate with each other.”
Regarding Maggie, a South Carolina friend said, “She lived for her two sons. She was at every school function. She was such a sweet person and never met a stranger. I can’t say enough good things about her, and I mean that!” Maggie’s parents are still living in Summerville, S.C. and haven’t spoken publicly to anyone about their late daughter or late grandson since the murders, wrote People magazine.
In further shocking news, Maggie reportedly saw a divorce lawyer six weeks before her death, reported People magazine. This news was mostly unknown to the press.
On another note, a September 15, 2021 investigation began surrounding the 2018 death of the Murdaugh’s housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. Supposedly, she fell and died in the house. Questions remain unanswered and no autopsy was performed. However, the Coroner did find many inconsistences in Satterfield’s death.
Continuing, Alex again was charged with 27 counts of misconduct by the S. C. Grand Jury on Nov. 18, 2021. And, on Oct. 14, 2021, Alex Murdaugh is arrested on new charges of misappropriating insurance settlement funds in the wrongful death suit of housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. Continuing, the South Carolina Grand Jury charged Alex Murdaugh with 27 counts of financial misconduct. The November indictments alleged that Alex stole money from his clients, other lawyers, and the family of his late housekeeper.
And, it doesn’t stop. On January 21, 2022, the South Carolina Grand Jury issued 23 new charges against Alex. The indictments charged him with 19 counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent and four counts of computer crimes.
In February, 2022, Moselle, the Murdaugh’s estate where the double homicide took place, is listed for sale for $3.9 million. The address is: 4147 Moselle Road, Islandton, South Carolina.
While it has been proven on the court stand that Alex Murdaugh is an admitted compulsive Lier, it clarifies the following: By continuously admitted lying about every aspect of his life while being cross-examined during court, it makes the following statement more believable: Since Alex has admitted to lying about every event, did he lie about not killing Maggie and Paul? And, with 100 pain pills floating in his brain, it questions his cognitive and recall abilities. As one concerned person said about hearing Alex testify on his own behalf, “I’m surprised he’s not dead!”
It's comparable to a resident at the Webb House. He can’t see to walk down the hallway, but he can see to eat his meals and take his medications.
Could this also be a mental deficiency?
