Every Bombshell From Alex Murdaugh’s Murder Trial Testimony

The Alex Murdaugh saga continues.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has thrown out the murder convictions of the former attorney who was found guilty of killing his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, in 2021. He had been sentenced to life in prison. Although prosecutors plan to retry the case, Murdaugh’s legal team welcomed the court’s decision, stating it shows the legal system is still working effectively in South Carolina.

The 57-year-old man remains in federal prison, serving a 40-year sentence for defrauding clients of about $12 million. He is also serving a 27-year sentence for related state financial crimes, to be served at the same time as the federal sentence.

During his 2023 trial for the murders of Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, Murdaugh entered a plea of not guilty and insisted he wasn’t involved in their deaths.

As a lifestyle expert, I followed the Murdaugh trial closely, and it was fascinating to watch him take the stand for hours, trying to explain his side of things. It must have been incredibly stressful, especially knowing his son, Buster Murdaugh, was watching everything unfold. It really highlighted the family dynamics at play throughout the whole case.

Alex Murdaugh comes from a powerful and well-known family in Colleton County. His great-grandfather started the family’s law firm in 1910, and a Murdaugh served as the top prosecutor for the 14th judicial circuit for three generations. The family had been in the news in South Carolina’s Lowcountry for years, even before Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were found dead on June 7, 2021.

By the end of 2021, Alex Murdaugh had stepped down from the family law firm following accusations of stealing from clients, and was later disbarred. He also confessed to arranging a failed attempt on his own life, allegedly intending for his son, Buster, to receive a life insurance payout—though the person he hired to carry out the act denies involvement. Murdaugh briefly sought treatment for opioid addiction and was charged with defrauding the sons of his deceased housekeeper out of over $4.3 million in insurance money.

The judge wouldn’t prevent prosecutors from asking Murdaugh about his suspected financial wrongdoings, denying the defense’s request for a broad order to stop such questioning.

In June 2023, high-profile lawyer Newman explained to NBC News’ TODAY why the trial he oversaw drew so much national attention. He said it had all the elements of a captivating story: a wife and child had died, the defendant was accused of stealing millions from clients, and there were claims of drug use. It was a case with major public appeal.

Buster Murdaugh claimed on the Fox Nation series The Fall of the House of Murdaugh that he felt the verdict in his father’s trial was decided in advance. He believes the jury had already made up their minds to convict Alex before considering any of the evidence.

He believes people are easily overwhelmed and tend to believe everything they come across. He also feels the jury selection process was exploited due to the limited size of the town and county.

On February 23, 2023, Alex Murdaugh began his testimony in his murder trial, and here’s what he said:

What did Alex Murdaugh say when asked if he killed wife Maggie and son Paul?

Attorney Jim Griffin, holding a 12-gauge shotgun in one hand and a .300 Blackout rifle in the other, directly asked Alex Murdaugh if he’d used either of those weapons – or any gun at all – to commit the murders of his wife and son.

“Mr. Griffin, I didn’t shoot my wife or my son any time,” Murdaugh said. “Ever.”

(Neither gun Griffin held up has been positively identified as the murder weapon.)

“I would never intentionally do anything to hurt either one of them,” the defendant added.

Did Alex Murdaugh lie about where he was the night of the murders?

Alex Murdaugh repeatedly told investigators that on June 7, 2021, he was visiting his sick parents. His father, Randolph Murdaugh III, passed away a few days later. Murdaugh said he returned home around 10 p.m. to find his son, Paul, and wife, Maggie, dead near the dog kennels on their large property in Islandton, South Carolina.

But his voice could be heard in a Snapchat video shot on Paul’s phone, timestamped 8:44 p.m.

The defendant testified it was his voice in the video, which was recorded out by the kennels.

Murdaugh explained that years of opioid abuse had left him feeling paranoid. After discovering the deaths of his father and brother, his law partners told him to remain silent until Danny Henderson – a former colleague who was acting as his lawyer – could arrive and advise him during his initial interview with investigators.

Murdaugh explained that gunshot residue tests were done on his hands. While being questioned by state investigators, he said the results, combined with his lack of trust in the investigators, led him to become paranoid. He stated that on June 7th, he wasn’t thinking straight, couldn’t reason clearly, and lied about being near the kennels, for which he apologized.

Murdaugh explained his repeated lies about his whereabouts by saying, “It started with one lie to my family, and then I felt I had to keep up the deception.”

What does Alex Murdaugh say he was doing when his wife and son were killed?

On Monday, June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh testified that he went to work while his wife, Maggie, was headed to a doctor’s appointment in Charleston, South Carolina. She intended to spend the night at their Edisto Beach home, but Murdaugh had asked her to return to Islandton and spend the evening with him, as he usually preferred.

That evening, Murdaugh said he and his son, Paul, drove around their large property together. The family used golf carts and ATVs to get around the 1,800 acres.

Murdaugh, visibly emotional, shared, “Being around my grandfather always brought joy. I cherished every moment we spent together – he was a wonderful person.”

He stated that Maggie returned home after 8 p.m. He then dropped Paul off near the kennels and returned to the house. He chatted with his wife briefly before taking a shower. After showering, Murdaugh put on the green shorts and white t-shirt that investigators would later observe him wearing.

Murdaugh stated that he, Maggie, and Paul shared dinner and watched TV together in the den. He said Paul left the room first, and then Maggie mentioned she was going to check on the kennels. Shortly after, Murdaugh decided to join them. He later acknowledged evidence showed Paul and Maggie had driven to the kennels together, but he didn’t realize Paul was already there at the time.

According to his testimony, he drove a golf cart to the scene and found things in disarray – their dog, Bubba, had caught a chicken. He said he calmed things down, spoke with Maggie while Paul helped a friend with their dog, Cash, and then left.

According to Murdaugh, he rested on the couch and may have briefly fallen asleep. When he woke up, he decided to drive the ten miles to Almeda to visit his mother, Libby Murdaugh, who has Alzheimer’s.

He stated that when he arrived at his mother’s house, the door was locked, so he called the person who looked after Libby to let him inside. Murdaugh said he spent some time with his mother, checking to see if she was alright, and after leaving, he attempted to call and text Maggie twice to tell her he was returning.

He said the Moselle cell service was spotty, so he wasn’t concerned when he didn’t hear back.

What does Alex Murdaugh say he was doing when prosecutors allege he could have been hiding evidence?

During questioning by his lawyer, Griffin, Alex Murdaugh explained what he was doing during the minute his Chevy Suburban was stopped at his mother’s house. He said he had dropped his phone and was simply searching for it before leaving.

Murdaugh testified that he wasn’t hiding weapons or getting rid of bloodstained clothing, despite what the prosecutors claimed.

What did Alex Murdaugh say about finding the bodies of wife Maggie and son Paul?

Let me tell you, witnessing Alex Murdaugh’s testimony was incredibly difficult. He broke down completely while describing the moment he found Maggie and Paul, both having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. It was a truly heartbreaking scene, and you could feel the immense grief he was experiencing.

He returned to Moselle and immediately went to the main house, according to his testimony. Shortly after, he drove to the kennels in his Suburban and found his wife and son. He described the scene as incredibly disturbing, becoming emotional as he spoke.

Murdaugh told the 9-1-1 operator he had been switching back and forth between people, according to call records made at 10:06 p.m.

During the trial, portions of a phone call were played where Murdaugh stated, “I should’ve known.” When asked to explain, Murdaugh mentioned threats his son, Paul, had been receiving following a 2019 boating accident. The crash resulted in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, and Paul was facing charges related to the incident, claiming he wasn’t intoxicated. That case was still ongoing at the time of his death.

Murdaugh explained that he didn’t know who was on his property, so he went inside and quickly grabbed the first gun he could find – a 12-gauge shotgun he said was on the pool table – along with some shells, including one that didn’t match the shotgun.

He explained the ammunition error, saying he never would have made that mistake on a normal night.

What does Alex Murdaugh say he did after calling 9-1-1?

During his testimony, Murdaugh claimed he didn’t review his text messages or search for a restaurant online while waiting for help to arrive, despite evidence from his phone records indicating otherwise, according to the prosecution.

I heard him say in court that he’d called his brothers, Randy and John Marvin Murdaugh, and also Rogan Gibson, who’s been a family friend for years. He named them specifically as the people he contacted.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve followed this case closely, and the details are truly unsettling. During questioning, Mr. Murdaugh claimed any blood on his hands came from simply touching the bodies after the fact. Interestingly, his legal team brought up a forensic report mentioning ‘high velocity’ blood spatter on his shirt – evidence the prosecution didn’t present. He insisted that spatter couldn’t have gotten on his shirt because he wasn’t even near Maggie and Paul when the shooting happened. It’s a really complex situation, and these conflicting details are crucial to understanding what occurred.

According to his testimony, Murdaugh and his son, Buster, age 26, stayed overnight in Almeda before Murdaugh returned to Moselle the next morning. Buster had previously testified on February 21st that his father was deeply saddened by the deaths.

What did Alex Murdaugh say about the murder investigation?

Murdaugh testified that when he returned to the property on June 8th, he instructed state law enforcement to search everywhere for anything related to the case. He specifically asked them to examine the GPS data from his SUV and both his and Maggie’s cell phones, pointing out that the phones hadn’t been in the same location around the time of the incident.

Murdaugh stated that Maggie frequently used the “Find My Friends” app, so he assumed her location tracking was turned on. He explained that he expected to be a suspect initially, as he was the one who discovered the bodies, and hoped the location data would prove his innocence. However, by the time investigators checked, that data had been lost. Fortunately, other digital information – like text messages and deleted Google searches – was recovered during the investigation.

The defendant testified that after being interviewed by SLED agent David Owen on August 11, 2021, and shown video footage from the victim’s phone placing him at the scene, he realized he was the main suspect in the murders.

Was Alex Murdaugh distressed about financial matters on the day of the murders?

The defense attorney questioned Alex Murdaugh about a conversation he had on June 7th with Jeanne Seckinger, his law firm’s CFO. The prosecution suggested Murdaugh killed Maggie and Paul because he was becoming increasingly worried about his financial crimes being discovered. During this conversation, Seckinger had asked Murdaugh about $792,000 in fees that appeared to be missing from a client’s account, and the defense was exploring whether this discussion had upset him.

Murdaugh admitted he was a little worried about the missing money and knew he’d eventually have to explain it, but he didn’t think it was an immediate crisis.

Murdaugh testified that he didn’t kill his wife, and that her death actually made it more difficult for him to get loans. His lawyer argued that Murdaugh was already facing financial ruin, but Murdaugh explained that his wife’s name being on their properties – at Moselle and Edisto Beach – complicated his ability to borrow money against them.

During questioning on February 24th, Murdaugh stated he thought Seckinger believed he had given her a disapproving look when she approached him, as she explained on the stand. However, he didn’t see it as a confrontation, describing her behavior as “almost apologetic.”

Murdaugh stated he wasn’t overly concerned about a court hearing set for June 10, 2021, regarding the lawsuit stemming from the 2019 boat accident. He explained that, contrary to what prosecutors claimed, he wasn’t afraid of having to reveal all his financial records, as he believed the judge wouldn’t likely order him to do so, given his profession as an attorney.

He stated he was working on a financial statement – a list of everything he owned and owed – on the day the murders happened.

Did Alex Murdaugh steal money from his clients?

When asked if he had stolen funds intended for his clients, Murdaugh confessed that he had.

He admitted he was in a difficult financial situation and wasn’t sure how it had happened. He explained that over twenty years, he’d spent a lot of money battling an opioid addiction. It started after surgeries to fix a knee injury he sustained playing college football, and he gradually became more and more dependent on the painkiller Oxycontin.

Murdaugh explained he’d gone to rehab three times in the past, but the first two attempts at getting sober weren’t successful. He stated he’d been sober since entering rehab in September 2021, following the deaths and after leaving his law firm on September 3rd.

During questioning, prosecutor Creighton Waters stated he intended to go through each instance of alleged theft by Murdaugh, beginning with an $800,000 settlement from 2011. Murdaugh confirmed while testifying that he had taken some of that money.

I deeply regret my actions and am ashamed of what I did,” Murdaugh stated. “I’m also embarrassed for my son and the rest of my family, and I fully admit that I was responsible.”

Murdaugh kept confessing to stealing, saying he just wanted to speed things up. However, he wouldn’t share any specifics about the thefts or discuss his conversations with clients, even as Waters listed names.

I’ve done terrible things. I admit I lied to my clients, and even worse, I took their money. It’s something I deeply regret and am taking responsibility for.

When court resumed on Feb. 24, Waters continued to press him for details of his financial crimes.

Murdaugh explained that people do all sorts of things to maintain their self-image. He said he likely lied to himself to rationalize his wrongdoings. During his testimony, he also confessed that his actions became increasingly bold, and that he stole approximately $3.7 million from his clients in 2019 alone.

During questioning by his lawyer, Griffin, Murdaugh stated that of the $700,000 he stole in 2021, he gave more than $500,000 to Smith in exchange for opioid pills.

What was Alex Murdaugh’s reason for allegedly concocting a suicide-by-shooting scheme?

Murdaugh said he called his friend, Eddie Smith, on September 4, 2021, because he had given his supply of pain medication to his brother. He asked Smith to bring him more pills to help with potential withdrawal symptoms.

Murdaugh explained that by the time he met with Smith, he’d changed his plan and asked Smith to shoot him. He believed his son, Buster, would then be able to claim money from his two life insurance policies, and it would shield his family from the shame of his financial problems. Murdaugh reported to 9-1-1 that he’d been shot while changing a tire, but Smith later told TODAY in 2021 that he didn’t shoot Murdaugh. Smith claimed Murdaugh had a gun that accidentally fired when Smith tried to restrain him. Smith was certain neither he nor Murdaugh were hit by the bullet.

During questioning on February 24th, Murdough explained he initially gave a false account in his 911 call because he needed a reason to explain how he had been shot.

Murdaugh stated he hadn’t taken out any life insurance policies for his wife, Maggie, or his son, Paul. With visible emotion, he described Maggie as beautiful both inside and out, and Paul as a strong, yet kind, young man who had matured into a very capable adult.

Direct examination ended with Murdaugh reiterating that he did not kill them.

How did Alex Murdaugh respond to questions about his family’s sphere of influence?

During questioning by the prosecutor, Murdaugh stated he believed his family had a good reputation and was well-respected in the community, and that they had been helpful to many people.

He also noted the Murdaugh family’s extensive and longstanding relationships with local law enforcement, stemming from both personal connections and professional work.

Murdaugh stated that his father, Randolph III, gave him a badge after he’d volunteered at the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office while his father was the district attorney. Murdaugh admitted he sometimes kept the badge in his car, explaining that he might place it in a cupholder during a traffic stop so the officer could see it. He also confirmed that he occasionally used the badge to benefit himself.

When asked if he had his lawyer badge with him the night of Paul’s boat accident, Murdaugh said he couldn’t recall. However, the prosecution showed him a screenshot from security camera footage. It clearly showed him wearing the badge while speaking to a police officer at the hospital where Paul and others injured in the crash were being treated.

Murdaugh denied telling any of the crash victims not to cooperate with law enforcement.

What was Alex Murdaugh calling his son Paul during his testimony?

The trial’s livestream drew a large online audience, and viewers quickly began debating how Alex Murdaugh referred to his son. Some heard him say “Paul-Paul,” while others believed he said “Pawpaw” or “Papaw” – nicknames more often used for a grandfather.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve followed this case closely, and a curious exchange happened during questioning. The prosecutor pressed Mr. Murdaugh about whether ‘Pawpaw’ was a nickname he used for his son, Paul, and if he’d used it previously in court or in any statements he’d given. Mr. Murdaugh explained that ‘Pawpaw’ was a term of endearment used by his family – himself, Paul’s mother, and brother. He couldn’t definitively recall using it specifically in relation to this case, but he firmly stated it wasn’t true to say he never called Paul by that nickname. It was a subtle point, but highlighted the complexities of family language and memory during a very stressful situation.

Murdaugh offered to refer to Paul by his given first name if the prosecutor preferred, but Waters responded, “I don’t care what you call him, I’m simply asking if you ever used that name at any point during the investigation.”

Did Alex Murdaugh have an opioid addiction?

When the trial continued on February 24th, the prosecutor questioned Alex Murdaugh about his acknowledged painkiller addiction. Murdaugh had previously stated that his drug use caused him to become increasingly paranoid, leading him to initially mislead investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the murders.

During his testimony, Murdaugh stated he used to take over 60 pills daily. He explained that over time, he developed a tolerance, to the point where opioid painkillers actually gave him energy.

Murdaugh testified that in May 2021, Maggie discovered his prescription pills and informed Paul, leading to a confrontation with his father. Murdaugh stated he’d been under constant scrutiny for years, and this incident was just one instance where he disappointed them. He also said his son, Buster, and his father, Randolph III, were the only others aware of his addiction.

Murdaugh testified that he had told his son, Paul, he would enter rehab once the criminal case stemming from the boat crash was resolved.

Okay, so this guy – seriously, the audacity – he totally denied what Waters said about being broke before the murders. He claims he wasn’t desperate for cash at all! He insisted he had plenty of options – like, he could’ve gotten a loan using his house, and even his dad was willing to help him out financially. It’s just… unbelievable. He’s trying to paint this picture that he wasn’t struggling, but I’m not buying it for a second!

How did Alex Murdaugh respond to questioning in regard to lying about his whereabouts when Paul and Maggie were killed?

During his testimony, Waters questioned Murdaugh about his initial statement to investigators, in which he claimed he was with his mother at the time of the murders.

The prosecutor asked, “So, as you’ve done before, you had to change your story to align with the undeniable facts, correct, sir?”

Murdaugh replied, “No, sir, that’s not true.”

The defendant stated in court that his attorneys attempted to speak with Waters in 2021, but the prosecutor wouldn’t agree to a meeting. Murdaugh explained he wanted to fully disclose his actions and provide details to assist with the financial investigation.

Waters pressed Murdaugh, questioning why he hadn’t been honest about where he was in 2021, or at any point before testifying in court.

Murdaugh said, “You never got back to me when I tried to talk about my mistakes.”

When Waters questioned him about what happened the day of the murders, he kept calling Murdaugh’s explanation his “new story.”

Alex Murdaugh testified that while driving around his property with Paul on the evening of June 7th, he had a .22-caliber pistol with him, which he used for shooting wild hogs. He stated he didn’t have the family’s .300 Blackout rifle with him and didn’t see a similar rifle near the dog kennels. Prosecutors have suggested the .300 Blackout – a type of AR-style weapon – was the gun used to kill Maggie and Paul.

Honestly, as someone who’s followed this case closely, I was struck by a question from the prosecution, Ms. Waters. She really zeroed in on Alex Murdaugh’s earlier statements about having dinner and showering with Paul and Maggie. She asked him, basically, ‘You’re a lawyer yourself, and a former prosecutor – didn’t it occur to you that all those specific details about what was supposed to be the last time you saw your wife and son were important enough to share voluntarily?’ It felt like she was pointing out how odd it was that he didn’t offer those details unless pressed, and it really made him think.

Murdaugh agreed it was important.

Honestly, it really struck me when Waters pointed out the hypocrisy. He basically called them out on claiming to be helpful and forthcoming, then immediately highlighted all the crucial details they conveniently didn’t share with the jury. It was like he was saying, ‘You acted like you were being open, but you left out the most important stuff, didn’t you?’ It felt like a really key moment.

Murdaugh agreed, “I left out that, I sure did.”

The defendant stated he dropped off his wife and son near where Paul filmed his Snapchat video, which finished at 8:45 p.m. When asked if he could have left as late as 8:47 p.m., he said it was possible, but he believes he left earlier and was back at the house by 8:49 p.m.

As a close follower of this case, I’ve been really struck by the timeline the prosecution presented. They believe Maggie and Paul were killed around 8:49 p.m., and after that, their phones stopped being used. What’s particularly interesting is the testimony from the phone expert. They said data showed someone was holding Maggie’s phone – which was found a long way from the house, over a quarter of a mile away – at 8:54 p.m. and again at 9:06 p.m., but they didn’t actually unlock it. Even more heartbreaking, the phone records show five missed calls from her husband between 9:04 and 10:03 p.m. It paints such a tragic picture.

According to data from Murdaugh’s vehicle, he departed for his mother’s home in Armeda at 9:02 p.m. When asked if he’d heard anything unusual before leaving, he stated that he hadn’t.

Waters pointed out that Murdaugh had previously told investigators he heard Maggie and Paul’s car approaching the house as he was leaving. Waters then questioned, “You claim you couldn’t hear the sound of gunfire, but you could hear a car?”

Waters again questioned just how cooperative Murdaugh really was with investigators.

The defendant stated that, aside from not telling the truth about going to the kennel, they fully cooperated with the investigation.

The prosecutor replied, “You’ve been cooperative, but you haven’t mentioned the crucial detail: you were with the victims at the location where they were murdered just before they died.”

During the trial, Waters presented a video of Alex Murdaugh’s interview with investigators from June 8, 2021. In the video, Murdaugh stated he was at the house when his wife, Maggie, was at the kennels. When asked why he lied, Murdaugh claimed he didn’t intentionally deceive anyone about being at the kennels with Maggie and Paul. He repeated his earlier explanation, saying his drug use caused paranoia and made him distrust the state law enforcement agency, SLED.

Why is the prosecution zooming in on Alex Murdaugh’s cell phone data?

According to cell phone records, Murdaugh was on calls and walked 293 steps between 9:02 and 9:06 p.m., Waters stated.

I didn’t do anything like what you suggested – cleaning or washing something off, Murdaugh explained to the court. He also stated that he didn’t purposely delete any phone calls from his phone.

Waters questioned, “You’re a lawyer and prosecutor, and at 9:02 AM you were finally using your phone, rushing around and making calls – seemingly to create an alibi. Isn’t that right?”

Murdaugh strongly denied the claim, stating plainly, “I am not making up an alibi.”

What did Alex Murdaugh say about accusations he tried to influence witness testimony?

During the trial, attorney Waters revisited the testimony of Shelley Smith, who cared for Murdaugh’s mother, Libby. Smith stated that Murdaugh asked her to mislead investigators about the length of time he spent at Libby’s home on June 7th.

Murdaugh argued it wouldn’t have been logical for him to do that, as his cell phone records would reveal his location and activities.

How did Alex Murdaugh connect the 2019 boat crash to the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh?

Murdaugh referenced the hateful threats his son, Paul, had received following the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, a crash for which Paul was largely held responsible.

In court, Murdaugh stated that after his son, Paul, was criminally charged, a lot of inaccurate and incomplete information was leaked to the media. He believes the wrong people were reading these reports. Murdaugh feels the individuals who committed the crime on June 7th harbored intense hatred and anger towards Paul, and that was their sole motivation for harming him.

How did Alex Murdaugh’s testimony conclude?

During the final part of the questioning by attorney Griffin, Murdaugh once again stated he didn’t kill Maggie and Paul. He added that if he’d been as stressed as the prosecution claimed, he would have harmed himself rather than hurt them.

Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of two counts of murder and possessing a weapon while committing those crimes. On March 3rd, he received two life sentences that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life, according to Judge Clifton Newman.

After previously arguing that the supposed reason for the murder didn’t make sense, Murdaugh’s lawyers appealed the conviction, claiming the jury had been improperly influenced and requesting a new trial.

After successfully appealing the original verdict on May 13th, lawyers Griffin and Dick Harpootlian stated that if a new trial is held, it needs to be significantly different from the first one.

“The initial jury heard more than twelve hours of testimony about Alex’s financial crimes,” they said in a statement to TopMob News. “The Court held that this evidence went far beyond what was necessary and gave rise to unfair prejudice. On retrial, that will not be permitted. Alex has said from day one that he did not kill his wife and son. We look forward to a new trial conducted consistent with the Constitution and the guidance this Court has provided.”

2026-05-13 20:24