Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty of Killing Family; Hulu Series Explores Case

WALTERBORO, S.C. — Alex Murdaugh, a once-prominent attorney, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, in March 2023. The conviction followed significant media coverage and public interest in the case, which revealed an extensive web of financial crimes and deceit.

On June 7, 2021, Murdaugh called 911 to report that he had discovered Maggie and Paul shot dead at their hunting property in Colleton County. Despite his claims of innocence, prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed them to cover up his ongoing financial fraud, which included stealing millions to support a hidden opioid addiction.

A Snapchat video recorded by Paul just minutes before his death placed Alex at the scene, contradicting his initial statements to law enforcement. After a swift trial, Murdaugh received two consecutive life sentences without parole.

Alex’s life of privilege crumbled as the truth emerged. His family had a deep history in South Carolina‘s legal world, with generations serving as solicitors in the region. Alex worked as a personal injury lawyer at the family firm and married Maggie in 1993, raising two sons together, Buster and Paul.

On the night of the murders, Paul was shot twice, while Maggie was shot five times. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, with police later finding that two different firearms were used. The killings coincided with a lawsuit against the Murdaughs related to a 2019 boating accident that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, in which Paul was implicated.

In subsequent investigations, it was disclosed that Murdaugh had stolen more than $12 million from clients and committed 22 different financial crimes. He even attempted to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot to stage his own death in a failed attempt to secure a life insurance payout for his surviving son.

In August 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court agreed to review Murdaugh’s appeal for a new trial, citing allegations of jury tampering. Meanwhile, his surviving son, Buster, maintains his father’s innocence, expressing doubts about the fairness of the trial while acknowledging Alex’s troubling behavior.

As public fascination with the Murdaugh case continues, Hulu‘s new series “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” which premiered on October 15, explores the complexities of the family’s tragic story, starring Jason Clarke as Alex, Patricia Arquette as Maggie, and Johnny Berchtold as Paul.