RIchard Alexander “Alex” MURDAUGH, Sr. #1^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

• Name	RIchard Alexander “Alex” MURDAUGH  [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]
  Suffix	Sr. #1
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Islandton, South Carolina Family of double homicide victims offer $100K reward A vehicle sits in the driveway of a home, Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in rural Colleton County, near Islandton, S.C. A mother and son from a prominent South Carolina legal family were found shot and killed on the family's land, and authorities said they have made no arrests in the double homicide case. Maggie Murdaugh , 52, and her son Paul Murdaugh, 22, were shot several times and their bodies were found near a dog kennel, Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey said. ANDREW J. WHITAKER / THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP Posted Tuesday, June 29, 2021 6:00 am COLUMBIA (AP) - The family of a South Carolina mother and son shot to death at their home are offering a $100,000 reward in hopes of finding the killer. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found shot multiple times near dog kennels in Colleton County on June 7. State police are investigating and have made no arrests and released little information on the progress of their case. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division set up a tip line, asking the public for information. The line is being monitored 24 hours a day. On Friday, Margaret Murdaugh's husband, Alex Murdaugh, and their surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, announced the reward for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who brutally murdered Paul and Maggie," The Augusta Chronicle reported. "I want to thank everyone for the incredible love and support that we have received over the last few weeks," said Alex Murdaugh. "Now is the time to bring justice for Maggie and Paul. Buster and I, along with Maggie's mother, father and our entire family, ask that anyone with helpful information immediately call the SLED tip line or Crime Stoppers." The victims are members of a prominent South Carolina legal family. Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death when he died, and his family said they received vague threats about that case. The charge stems from a February 2019 boat crash that killed a 19-year-old woman and injured several others. Paul Murdaugh's grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were all longtime elected prosecutors in the area, and Alex Murdaugh was a part-time prosecutor in the Solicitor's Office, but all were out of office at the time of the boat crash. The family told ABC's Good Morning America that none of their family members tried to influence or stop the investigation into the crash. Lawyer whose wife, son were killed regrets decisions, gets rehab ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP FILE Posted Monday, September 6, 2021 4:33 pm By JEFFREY COLLINS  Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent South Carolina legal family who found his wife and son shot to death at their home three months ago and was injured days ago when a bullet grazed his head as he changed a tire said Monday he is resigning from his law firm and entering rehab. Alex Murdaugh issued a statement Monday saying he regretted decisions he made, but didn't give any details just two days after reporting someone shot at him after his car had a flat tire along a rural road in Hampton County. "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. I'm resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated by these murders. I am immensely sorry to everyone I've hurt including my family, friends and colleagues. I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships," read Murdaugh's entire statement. The statement came two days after investigators said Murdaugh was able to call 911 after he was hurt Saturday afternoon on Salkehatchie Road in Hampton County. The State Law Enforcement Division didn't immediately comment Monday on Murdaugh's statement. South Carolina's state police are also the lead agency investigating the deaths of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her 22-year-old son Paul  on June 7. Both were both shot several times and found outside the house near dog kennels, authorities said. Alex Murdaugh found the bodies of his wife and son after family members said he had been away checking on his mother and ailing father. A family attorney said Murdaugh was shot at by someone in a pickup truck that first passed by him as he changed the tire and then came back and fired at him. The family issued a statement Saturday after the shooting saying Murdaugh was expected to recover and asking for privacy. "The Murdaugh family has suffered through more than any one family can ever imagine," it read. State police have released few details about the June killings, even going to court to fight public record requests. The Murdaughs are one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families. Alex Murdaugh was a volunteer prosecutor in the same office where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather spent more than 80 years combined as the area's top prosecutors. Other members of the family are prominent civil attorneys. The current elected prosecutor isn't a family member, but stepped aside last month  after citing developments in the case without giving any additional details. When Paul Murdaugh was killed, he was awaiting trial for boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed a 19-year-old woman. State police have since started looking into the investigation into that crash to see if anyone tried to keep police from charging Paul Murdaugh. After the Murdaughs deaths, state police also reopened an investigation into a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. The victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved. Authorities haven't released any information about why those cases we reopened. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. Law firm: Attorney whose wife, son were killed took money ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP FILE Posted Tuesday, September 7, 2021 11:53 am By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent South Carolina legal family who found his wife and son shot to death at their home three months ago and was injured days ago when a bullet grazed his head as he changed a tire was taking money from his law firm, the business said late Monday. The statement from PMPED law firm came hours after Alex Murdaugh said he was resigning and entering rehab. The PMPED law firm said it will hire an accounting firm to fully review its books. It didn't say how much money might be missing, but said Murdaugh was no longer associated with them in any way. "This is disappointing news for all of us. Rest assured that our firm will deal with this in a straightforward manner. There's no place in our firm for such behavior," the law firm said in a statement. Hours before Murdaugh sent out his own statement, saying he regretted decisions he made, but didn't give any details just two days after reporting someone shot at him after his car had a flat tire along a rural road in Hampton County. "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. I'm resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated by these murders. I am immensely sorry to everyone I've hurt including my family, friends and colleagues. I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships," read Murdaugh's entire statement. The statement came two days after investigators said Murdaugh was able to call 911 after he was hurt Saturday afternoon on Salkehatchie Road in Hampton County. "Alex resigned after being accused of diverting lawyer fees from the firm," said Murdaugh's attorney Jim Griffin. "These allegations prompted him to confront a dependency and he voluntarily checked into an in-patient substance abuse rehab facility after being discharged from the hospital today." The State Law Enforcement Division didn't immediately comment Monday on Murdaugh's statement or the law firm's accusations of missing money. South Carolina's state police are also the lead agency investigating the deaths of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her 22-year-old son Paul on June 7. Both were both shot several times and found outside the family's home in nearby Colleton County, authorities said. Alex Murdaugh found the bodies of his wife and son after family members said he had been away checking on his mother and ailing father. A family attorney said Murdaugh was shot at by someone in a pickup truck that first passed by him as he changed the tire and then came back and fired at him. The family issued a statement Saturday after the shooting saying Murdaugh was expected to recover and asking for privacy. "The Murdaugh family has suffered through more than any one family can ever imagine," it read. State police have released few details about the June killings, even going to court to fight public record requests. The Murdaughs are one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families. Alex Murdaugh was a volunteer prosecutor in the same office where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather spent more than 80 years combined as the area's top prosecutors. Other members of the family are prominent civil attorneys. The current elected prosecutor isn't a family member, but stepped aside last month after citing developments in the case without giving any additional details. When Paul Murdaugh was killed, he was awaiting trial for boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed a 19-year-old woman. State police have since started looking into the investigation into that crash to see if anyone tried to keep police from charging Paul Murdaugh. After the Murdaughs deaths, state police also reopened an investigation into a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. The victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved. Authorities haven't released any information about why those cases were reopened. Lawyer whose son and wife killed has law license suspended ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP Posted Wednesday, September 8, 2021 10:51 am By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court indefinitely suspended the law license of prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh on Wednesday, two days after his law firm said he took mone y from the business. The one-page order by Chief Justice Don Beatty said he acted at the request of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which investigates misconduct by attorneys in South Carolina. The order said Murdaugh agreed with the interim suspension, but it gave no further details. Murdaugh found the bodies of his wife and son, shot multiple times, at the family's Colleton County home on June 7. On Saturday, he told police someone shot at him as he changed a tire on the side of a rural road. A family attorney has suggested someone cut the tire before Murdaugh left. State police haven't commented on the shooting. Agents said Murdaugh was grazed by the bullet. He was released from the hospital two days later and said he had gone into rehab because "the murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret." Hours after Murdaugh issued his statement, the PMPED law firm released its own information saying Murdaugh had misappropriated an unspecified amount of money and would no longer be associated with the firm. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating all of this. No one has been charged in the killings of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her 22-year-old son Paul in June or in the shooting involving Alex Murdaugh on Saturday. Agents have not spoken about the allegations of missing money. The Murdaughs are one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families. Alex Murdaugh was a volunteer prosecutor in the same office where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather spent more than 80 years combined as the area's top prosecutors. Other members of the family are prominent civil attorneys. When Paul Murdaugh was killed, he was awaiting trial for boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed a 19-year-old woman. State police have said they have since begun looking into the investigation of that crash to see if anyone tried to keep police from charging Paul Murdaugh. After the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, state police also reopened an investigation into a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. The victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved. Authorities haven't released any information about why those cases were reopened. Missing law firm money is 5th investigation into Murdaughs ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP Posted Tuesday, September 14, 2021 6:00 am By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) - State police have officially opened an investigation into missing money that a law firm said was taken by an attorney from a prominent South Carolina legal family whose wife and son were killed at their home three months ago. Monday's announcement means that, along with the investigation into the deaths, the State Law Enforcement Division has four other ongoing investigations into Alex Murdaugh and his family. "I continue to urge the public to be patient and let this investigation take its course. Investigative decisions we make throughout this case and any potentially related case must ultimately withstand the scrutiny of the criminal justice process," Chief Mark Keel said in a two paragraph announcement from his agency. Murdaugh's PMPED law firm announced earlier this month that Murdaugh had misappropriated money from the business and was no longer associated with the firm. Exactly how much money might be missing has not been made public. The Sept. 6 announcement came two days after Murdaugh reported someone shot at him while he checked on a flat tire on his Mercedes SUV on a lonely road in Hampton County, grazing his head close enough that his lawyer said his skull was fractured. State police are investigating that shooting. The firm announced the missing money just hours after Murdaugh issued his own statement saying he was going into rehab for a opioid addiction. "I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret," Murdaugh said without giving details. The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended Murdaugh's law license during the investigation into the missing money. Murdaugh found the bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, shot multiple times at the family's Colleton County home on June 7. Along with the killings, the Sept. 4 shooting on the highway and potential financial misdeeds, state police also are investigating if anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boating accident that killed a 19-year-old woman. Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence causing death in that case. State police also said the deaths of the Murdaughs led them to reopen the July 2015 death of a 19-year-old man that was called a hit-and-run. Investigators haven't said what led them to reopen that case, but the victim's mother has maintained for the six years since he was found dead on a two-lane road in Hampton County that she thought her son was beaten to death. All five investigations remain open and no arrests have been made. Police: Lawyer Murdaugh arranged own death but shot grazed COLLETON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE VIA AP Posted Wednesday, September 15, 2021 11:36 am BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA — A prominent South Carolina lawyer who found the bodies of his wife and son three months ago tried to arrange his own death earlier this month so his son would get a $10 million life insurance payment, but the planned fatal shot only grazed his head, state police said Tuesday. The shooter, Curtis Edward Smith, was charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts in the Sept. 4 shooting of Alex Murdaugh on a lonely highway in Hampton County, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a statement. Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather all held the office of solicitor in the area for more than 80 years and other family members were prominent civil attorneys in the region. Murdaugh himself was an authorized volunteer prosecutor supporting his father's cases, a relationship the office severed this month as Murdaugh said he was seeking rehabilitation for an oxycodone addiction. Murdaugh's lawyers said Smith sold him drugs and took advantage of his mental illness and deep depression over the deaths of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul, as well as his father's death from cancer the same week. They said Murdaugh told them all about what happened Monday and they called state police to share his confession to the assisted suicide attempt. "He didn't want law enforcement spending more time on this fake crime instead of focusing on solving the murders of Maggie and Paul," attorney Dick Harpootlian said on the Today show. Later Wednesday, state police opened a sixth investigation into Murdaugh and his family, looking into the 2018 death of a housekeeper and nanny who, according to a wrongful death settlement, was killed in a trip-and-fall accident at the Murdaugh home that was never reported to the local coroner and was listed as a natural death. Murdaugh was not charged in his own shooting Tuesday night, but agents called him a co-defendant and said more charges were expected. Harpootlian said he expects Murdaugh to be charged in his own shooting, but doesn't think his client knows who killed his wife and son. "Clearly he is distraught about their deaths. He did not murder them," Harpootlian said. Murdaugh gave Smith the gun to kill him and he followed Murdaugh to Old Salkehatchie Road, firing one shot at the lawyer as he stood in the road, a state agent said in a sworn statement. But that bullet only grazed Murdaugh's head and he was able to call 911 for help, authorities said. Murdaugh wanted Smith to kill him so his surviving son would get his $10 million life insurance policy, state agents said. Smith drove off after the shooting and disposed of the gun, authorities said. Smith sold Murdaugh drugs, and the lawyer found his former client Saturday and "30 minutes later this guy is shooting him in the head. Didn't try to persuade him not to do it," Harpootlian said. Murdaugh said last week through a family spokesperson that he pulled over after his Mercedes SUV's low tire pressure light came on. A man passing by in a pickup truck asked if he was having car trouble and then shot at him, Murdaugh claimed. Agents said Smith, 61, confessed Tuesday and was charged with assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Still unsolved are the June 7 killings of 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and her 22-year-old son Paul Murdaugh. Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife and son at their Colleton County home. Both had been shot multiple times. Two days after the shooting, Murdaugh announced he was going into rehab for an opioid addiction. He apologized to his family and said he was leaving his law firm. His law license was temporarily suspended. "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret," Murdaugh said, without going into details. A few hours later, the PMPED Law Firm announced Murdaugh had taken money from the business and was fired from the firm. The amount of money has not been announced, but the firm and Murdaugh's lawyers have suggested it could be over $1 million. Murdaugh's lawyers are doing their own investigation into the deaths and have a possible suspect, Harpootlian said, declining to give more details other than to say "the motive would be personal." Along with the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, the State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating the missing money, whether anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boat crash for which Paul Murdaugh was eventually charged and a July 2015 hit-and-run death in Hampton County. The agency announced Wednesday that they are now investigating Gloria Satterfield's death. A lawsuit filed by her sons Wednesday said they were told the 57-year-old woman died after falling in the Murdaugh home in February 2018. She had worked as a nanny and housekeeper for them for two decades. Alex Murdaugh had friends arrange a $505,000 settlement for the sons but did not get their approval, the lawsuit said. The settlement reached nearly a year ago set aside $166,000 for attorney fees and the sons have not seen any of the $505,000, according to the lawsuit. Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper asked for the state investigation, saying Satterfield's death certificate lists she died of natural causes, which is inconsistent with a trip-and-fall accidental death. She said her office was not informed so it could perform an autopsy. State police said other information gathered during their Murdaugh investigations also led them to look into Satterfield's death. They didn't provide additional details. Murdaugh surrenders to face charges in $10M insurance fraud Posted Thursday, September 16, 2021 1:51 pm By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Lawyer Alex Murdaugh surrendered Thursday to face insurance fraud and other charges after state police said he arranged to have himself shot in the head so that his son would get a $10 million life insurance payout. The shooter only grazed him. A defense attorney said Murdaugh was deeply depressed with a drug addiction worsened by his discovery of the bodies of his wife and son, who were shot multiple times at the family's home on June 7. Those killings remain unsolved. The charges against Murdaugh, 53, include insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and filing a false police report. He arrived at the Hampton County jail about five hours before his bond hearing. No one has been charged with the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul in June. Murdaugh's surrender culminates a tumultuous 36 hours for a man whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors in the area. A giant law firm in town was founded by his family more than a century ago. His former client was arrested late Tuesday on an assisted suicide charge, and then state police opened a sixth investigation into him and his family — this time involving a housekeeper and nanny who died in his home in 2018. Murdaugh told his lawyers on Monday that he had arranged his own shooting, and they then spoke to police. "He didn't want law enforcement spending more time on this fake crime instead of focusing on solving the murders of Maggie and Paul," attorney Dick Harpootlian told the "Today" show on Wednesday. Murdaugh asked Curtis Edward Smith to kill him with a shot to the head on Sept. 4 so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy, authorities said. Murdaugh bought drugs from the former client, attorney Dick Harpootlian said. Murdaugh's lawyers said he has spent the past 10 days or so in drug rehab after his law firm fired him over missing money that could total millions of dollars.. It all started June 7, when Murdaugh found the bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son Paul shot multiple times after returning to their Colleton County home after visiting his sick father, who would die days later from cancer. Those killings remain unsolved, and Murdaugh's lawyers have said he is adamant he had nothing to do with their deaths. On Sept. 3, Murdaugh was fired by the PMPED law firm founded by his family after the firm determined he took money. Murdaugh's lawyers said he decided to kill himself the next day, but have someone else shoot him. Murdaugh gave Curtis Edward Smith a gun and they headed to lonely Old Salkehatchie Road. Smith fired one shot that only grazed Murdaugh's head, a State Law Enforcement Division agent said in a sworn statement. Murdaugh was able to call 911 and his initial story was someone in a passing pickup truck shot at him as he checked a tire that was low on pressure. Smith, 61, remained jailed Thursday on charges of assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. He didn't have a lawyer or speak about the charges at a hearing where his bond was set at $55,000. Along with the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, the State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating the missing money, whether anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boat crash for which Paul Murdaugh was eventually charged and a July 2015 hit-and-run death in Hampton County. The agency also announced Wednesday that they are now investigating Gloria Satterfield's death at the request of Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper, who said her death certificate lists describes natural causes, which is inconsistent with a trip-and-fall accidental death. She said her office did not perform an autopsy because it was not informed. Satterfield's two sons filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying they haven't seen any of the $500,000 wrongful death settlement that Murdaugh had friends arrange. Lawyer Murdaugh exits jail after $10M insurance fraud arrest Alex Murdaugh sits during his bond hearing Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville, S.C. Murdaugh surrendered Thursday to face insurance fraud and other charges after state police said he arranged to have himself shot in the head so that his son would get a $10 million life insurance payout. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) MIC SMITH Posted Friday, September 17, 2021 8:05 am BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Instead of a suit and tie, lawyer Alex Murdaugh found himself in a jail jumpsuit Thursday in a cramped South Carolina courtroom, struggling to wipe tears from his eyes with handcuffed wrists as his lawyer detailed how his life crumbled over the past three months. Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife and son, shot multiple times at their Colleton County home June 7. His drug addiction got worse and in a deep depression on Sept. 4, he decided he should die, but instead of killing himself, he hired someone to do it, defense attorney Dick Harpootlian said. The goal was to get his surviving son a $10 million life insurance benefit, state police said. But the shot only grazed his head and Murdaugh, 53, was charged Thursday with insurance fraud, conspiracy and filing a false police report. — all felonies that could bring up to 20 years in prison if convicted of all three charges. There is no minimum sentence. The killings of Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son Paul in June remain unsolved. Harpootlian said Murdaugh is adamant he had nothing to do with their deaths Murdaugh spent about five hours in the Hampton County jail before being issued a $20,000 bond and being released on his own recognizance. Prosecutors had asked for a higher bond and GPS monitoring. "Sometimes those who have everything and who are suffering a possible fall from grace are actually more of a concern than a hardened criminal," said Creighton Waters with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. But Magistrate Tonja Alexander noted Murdaugh had no prior criminal record and she didn't think he would be a risk to the community. Murdaugh's surrender culminated a tumultuous 36 hours for a man whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors in the area. A giant law firm in town was founded by his family more than a century ago. Murdaugh said almost nothing during the brief bond hearing. At times he bowed his head low, or appeared to struggle to wipe tears from his eyes. Murdaugh's former client was arrested late Tuesday on an assisted suicide charge, and then state police opened a sixth investigation into him and his family — this time involving a housekeeper and nanny who died in his home in 2018. Murdaugh told his lawyers on Monday that he had arranged his own shooting, and they then spoke to police. "The only violence he has ever been involved in is this, which was to have himself executed," Harpootlian said. "He's not a danger to the community. He's only a danger to himself." Murdaugh agreed to give up his passport even as Harpootlian said his client's financial condition is "ruinous" and he couldn't leave the country if he wanted to. Murdaugh needed to return to his out-of-state rehab center before the end of Thursday to keep his bed, Harpootlian said. His attorney promised to contact prosecutors and investigators when Murdaugh's rehab stint is finished so they can figure out what to do next. Authorities said Murdaugh asked Curtis Edward Smith to kill him with a shot to the head on Sept. 4 so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy, authorities said. Murdaugh bought drugs from the former client, Harpootlian has said. Murdaugh's lawyers said he has spent the past 10 days or so in drug rehab after his law firm fired him over missing money that could total millions of dollars. Harpootlian said Murdaugh is fighting a 20-year addiction to painkillers. "If anyone wants to see the face of what opioid addiction does, you're looking at it," Harpootlian said. The investigations into the the Murdaughs started June 7, when Alex Murdaugh found the bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son Paul shot multiple times after returning to their Colleton County home after visiting his sick father, who would die days later from cancer. Those killings remain unsolved, and Murdaugh's lawyers have said he is adamant he had nothing to do with their deaths. On Sept. 3, Murdaugh was fired by the PMPED law firm founded by his family after the firm determined he took money. Murdaugh's lawyers said he decided to kill himself the next day, but have someone else shoot him. Murdaugh gave Curtis Edward Smith a gun and they headed to lonely Old Salkehatchie Road. Smith fired one shot that only grazed Murdaugh's head, a State Law Enforcement Division agent said in a sworn statement. Murdaugh was able to call 911 and his initial story was someone in a passing pickup truck shot at him as he checked a tire that was low on pressure. Smith, 61, remained jailed Thursday on numerous charges, including assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature and distribution of methamphetamine. He didn't have a lawyer or speak about the charges at a hearing where his bond was set at $55,000. Smith left jail hours later. Along with the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, the State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating the missing money, whether anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boat crash for which Paul Murdaugh was eventually charged and a July 2015 hit-and-run death in Hampton County. The agency also announced Wednesday that they are now investigating Gloria Satterfield's death at the request of Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper, who said her death certificate lists describes natural causes, which is inconsistent with a trip-and-fall accidental death. She said her office did not perform an autopsy because it was not informed. Satterfield's two sons filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying they haven't seen any of the $505,000 wrongful death settlement that Murdaugh had friends arrange. Lawsuits: Murdaugh used attorney friend to manipulate, then tried to take settlement Alex Murdaugh walks into his bond hearing Sept. 16 in Varnville. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Posted Friday, September 24, 2021 6:00 am By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA - A South Carolina lawyer charged with trying to arrange his own death steered the family of a housekeeper who died in his home to use a longtime friend as their attorney without revealing their friendship and then tried to take a $4 million settlement, according to the family's lawyer. Alex Murdaugh also tried to convince a friend of his son to use the same lawyer again without revealing their friendship as investigators tried to sort out who was driving a boat in a 2019 fatal crash, according to a lawsuit filed this week. Murdaugh's son would eventually be charged. That son, Paul Murdaugh, was killed along with his mother, Maggie, in an unsolved shooting at the family's home in June. Since the deaths, state police have started a half-dozen investigations into the Murdaugh family. Alex Murdaugh remains in out-of-state drug rehab, which he entered shortly before being charged with insurance fraud and filing a false police report for trying to arrange his own death Sept. 4 so his surviving son could collect his $10 million life insurance policy. Authorities said the shot from a hitman only grazed Murdaugh, leaving him able to call 911. This week's revelations surrounding Murdaugh involved two lawsuits that said he tried to manipulate the legal system - one to prevent his housekeeper's sons from collecting on her insurance policy and a second to try to prevent criminal trouble for his son in the boat crash. The Murdaughs' housekeeper and nanny, Gloria Satterfield, died in February 2018 after tripping over the family dog, a lawyer for the sons told media outlets. Murdaugh spoke to the sons at their mother's funeral and convinced them to hire Corey Fleming as their lawyer for a wrongful death settlement with his insurance company. But he did not tell them Fleming was a longtime friend, old college roommate and godfather to at least one of Murdaugh's sons. Murdaugh and Fleming arranged a $505,000 settlement in public records almost a year ago, which the sons have not seen a dime of, attorney Eric Bland said. But since filing the suit, Bland said he learned of a second $4.3 million settlement with a different insurer that was never revealed to Satterfield's sons or placed into the public court docket. Bland said he is turning the information over to the State Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating Satterfield's death after a coroner said the accidental death was never reported to her office. Fleming did not respond to an email or phone message. Murdaugh's lawyers have not commented about Satterfield's death or other lawsuits. Fleming is also prominent in a lawsuit by Connor Cook, who was in a boat that crashed in 2019, killing a 19-year-old woman. The night of the crash, investigators were not sure if Cook or Paul Murdaugh was driving the boat. Alex Murdaugh approached Cook in the hallway of a hospital as he headed to get his jaw X-rayed and told him everything would be alright if he would "keep his mouth shut," according to Cook's lawsuit. Alex Murdaugh then encouraged Cook to hire Fleming as his attorney without revealing their relationship, the lawsuit said. Fleming became Cook's lawyer and told him not to talk to investigators, and that set him up to be falsely identified as the driver of the boat, the suit said. It was not until Cook hired a new lawyer and spoke to prosecutors that Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence causing death, a charged pending when he was killed. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating whether Alex Murdaugh or other friends or family members tried to obstruct the investigation into the boat crash as well as the questions surrounding Satterfield's death. They also are seeing if the family was involved in a 2015 hit-and-run, unraveling the shooting of Murdaugh this month on a lonely highway and looking into millions of dollars missing from the law firm that fired Murdaugh earlier this month. All those investigations started after the June 7 deaths of Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother, Maggie, 52. Investigators have released few details about the killings beyond both were shot several times outside their Colleton County home, likely dying less than an hour after Alex Murdaugh said he came home and discovered their bodies. In Murdaugh family scandal, tiny S.C. town is shaken THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The gates near Alex Murdaugh's home in Islandton are seen Sept. 20. State police have six separate investigations into Murdaugh and his family after his wife and son were killed outside the home in June. Posted Wednesday, September 29, 2021 6:00 am By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press HAMPTON - Ask any of the 2,600 residents in this South Carolina town whether they know Alex Murdaugh, and you'll probably get a quick nod. Nearly everyone does in Hampton, a tiny place where every road in has just two lanes. Ask them to tell you about Murdaugh, though, and you'll get a firm head shake, followed by: "You're not going to quote me, are you?" No one wants to talk about the influential lawyer whose wife and son were killed and who's now accused in a string of controversies - at least, not in the open. For the past century, the Murdaughs have steered much of the legal world in this remote corner of South Carolina - north of Savannah, Georgia, and far from the interstate or just about anything else. Running the prosecutor's office and a large civil law firm allowed the Murdaughs to do it quietly, until recently. Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son Paul were killed June 7, shot multiple times at the family's sprawling estate. No one's been arrested in their deaths, which brought scrutiny into every nook of Murdaugh's life. Six investigations are underway, about the killings, stolen money, death coverups and a Sept. 4 shooting in which a bullet grazed Murdaugh's head on a lonely highway. Police said he tried to arrange his own death and make sure a $10 million life insurance policy would pay off for his surviving son. The man charged with shooting Murdaugh is Curtis "Eddie" Smith, a former client from a workplace accident case. Smith said they became friends, and he was stunned to find himself dismissed as a callous drug dealer by Murdaugh's lawyers. "With a friend like that, who needs enemies," Smith said as he limped around his property in Walterboro, checking on his shop and rescue dogs. He wouldn't say any more, insisting he was done discussing Murdaugh and the case - for now. Like many people in town, Smith got entangled with the Murdaughs in a courtroom in Hampton County, population 20,000, where the family is used to being in power, not being questioned. If you stole something or had something stolen from you, the Murdaughs ran your case for the state. Alex Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the elected prosecutors for 87 years straight. If you got hurt on the job, the Murdaughs took you on as a client. The family founded a law firm a century ago. It now employs several dozen lawyers, and its brick headquarters takes up a whole city block. There's no sign out front; everyone knows it's the Murdaughs' firm. And if you had a charity or other cause, the Murdaughs donated. The family has given millions to all sorts of projects. Alex Murdaugh's father was grand marshal of the parade of the town's marquee Watermelon Festival several years ago. But plenty of people tell hushed stories of what happened if the Murdaughs were crossed. Connor Cook said that in 2019, he knew his friend Paul Murdaugh was intoxicated when he drove a boat that crashed, killing a 19-year-old passenger. But the Murdaughs tried to pin him as the driver, Cook said, according to a wrongful death lawsuit. In a deposition, Cook said he feared the family: "Just anything they get in, they get out of. I've always been told that." The night of the crash, Alex Murdaugh and his father visited the hospital. Murdaugh scrutinized a board where staff kept track of patients and tried to talk to everyone who'd been on the boat, nurses told investigators. The crash bought the kind of attention the Murdaughs always tried - and for decades, succeeded - to avoid. It took months to charge Paul Murdaugh with boating under the influence causing death, the local newspaper noted. Many around town wondered whether the family was wielding their sizeable influence. Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial when he died. Now, state police are investigating whether the Murdaughs obstructed that investigation. They're also looking into the 2018 death of family housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died after falling in the Murdaughs' home, but the death wasn't reported to the coroner. Documents appear to show Murdaugh's insurance paid more than $4 million in wrongful-death claims. But a lawyer for Satterfield's sons said they haven't seen a dime since agreeing to use an attorney who was Murdaugh's college buddy to handle the legal work and another banker friend as estate executor. The documents have signatures purported to be from judges, but some were never entered into publicly searchable court records. Others don't appear to have followed state rules for settlements. Despite long staying out of headlines, the Murdaughs aren't strangers to their own legal troubles. Alex Murdaugh's great-grandfather, Randolph, founded the family law firm and in 1920 became the elected prosecutor for the five-county region that includes Hampton County. Randolph Murdaugh died when his car was hit by a train as he headed home from a poker game in 1940. His son, Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., took over the law firm and prosecutor position; he served for 46 years, with the exception of several months awaiting federal trial over tipping off a local moonshiner to move his still. Eighteen of 23 defendants were found guilty. But "Buster" was acquitted and returned to office - even as the judge noted that, if he were Murdaugh, he "could not go back and face his people much less resume public office," according to federal records. "Buster" was larger than life in court, admonished more than once by the state Supreme Court for improper arguments - telling juries he wouldn't try another death penalty case or would release rapists awaiting trials if verdicts didn't go his way. Randolph Murdaugh III followed his father, taking over in 1986 and serving almost 20 years. Neither of his sons followed him into the solicitor's chair, although Alex Murdaugh worked as a volunteer prosecutor before his law license was suspended in September as he was fired from the family's PMPED law firm over millions of dollars turning up missing. In civil law, the Murdaughs were known for suing railroads. A now-repealed South Carolina law allowed anyone who wanted to sue a railroad to choose any state county. The Murdaughs found sympathetic juries and made Hampton County known for seven-figure verdicts. The PMPED firm has dozens of lawyers and practices in all of South Carolina's 46 counties. Its website lists 14 cases with awards of more than $1 million - railroad companies that didn't cut vegetation at crossings, a cancer patient hurt by chemotherapy, a 9-year-old burned by an SUV's gas tank. Alex Murdaugh's brother, Randolph Murdaugh IV, still works at the firm. He didn't answer an email asking about his family. The law firm issued a statement saying many of their lawyers grew up in the area and are closely involved in their communities and churches. The firm said no one they have spoken to knew that Alex Murdaugh was addicted to drugs and no employees were involved in his "scheme." "He lied and he stole from us," the PMPED statement said. Alex Murdaugh, 53, remains in an out-of-state rehab facility awaiting trial on charges of insurance fraud and filing a false police report. Through his lawyer, Murdaugh adamantly denied having anything to do with the deaths of wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22. When Murdaugh found their bodies, he'd just returned from visiting his terminally ill father, his brothers said on "Good Morning America." While people around Hampton remain careful in speaking about the Murdaughs, hints about their influence pop up. An addendum at the top of the wrongful death lawsuit over the housekeeper's death includes these lines, in all capital letters. Murdaugh charged with taking insurance money in maid's death A prominent South Carolina lawyer has been charged with stealing insurance settlements meant for the sons of his late housekeeper By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press October 14, 2021, 10:30   COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A prominent South Carolina lawyer has been charged with stealing insurance settlements meant for the sons of his late housekeeper that a lawsuit said total more than $4 million, state police said Thursday. Alex Murdaugh was arrested at a drug rehab facility in Orlando, Florida, where his attorneys said he has spent the past six weeks since claiming he was shot in the head on the side of a lonely road near his home, authorities said. Recent Stories from ABC News The arrest is the latest development in six state police investigations into Murdaugh, including the deaths of his wife and son, millions of dollars missing from the huge law firm founded a century ago by his great-grandfather and trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son could collect on a $10 million life insurance policy. Thursday's arrest on two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses involves Murdaugh’s housekeeper for decades, Gloria Satterfield, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a statement. Murdaugh told Satterfield's sons at her February 2018 funeral that he would get insurance settlements for her death and take care of them, according to a lawsuit filed by the sons. Murdaugh managed to secure more than $4 million from his insurers, but he only told the sons about a $500,000 settlement and then never sent them a dime, the lawsuit said. Murdaugh took the settlement money by creating a fraudulent bank account with a name similar to a legal consulting firm that handles settlements, the lawsuit said. Satterfield's family called it a bittersweet day in a statement released by their attorneys. “Avarice and betrayal of trust are at the heart of this matter,” lawyers Eric Bland and Ronald Richter said in their statement. The Murdaugh family told the sons their mother tripped over the family dog and died weeks later from her lingering injuries. The death was never reported to the Hampton County coroner, who asked state police to investigate why she was not called to review what she would consider an accidental death. The sons also took Murdaugh's advice to hire attorney Cory Fleming to be executor of their mother's estate without telling them Fleming was a longtime friend, old college roommate and godfather to at least one of Murdaugh’s sons. The law licenses of both Fleming and Murdaugh have been suspended as the investigations continue. Murdaugh is being held at the Orange County jail in Florida to await extradition, investigators said. His lawyers promised at a bond hearing on different charges last month that Murdaugh would return to South Carolina without a fight if charged with additional crimes. Murdaugh's lawyers said in a statement that he “intends to fully cooperate with this investigation, as he has with the investigation into the murder of his wife and son. He deeply regrets that his actions have distracted from the efforts to solve their murders.” The deaths of Murdaugh's son and wife at their Colleton County home in June remain unsolved. Murdaugh said he found Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and their son Paul, 22, shot to death after he returned home from visiting his father in the hospital, according to authorities. In September, Murdaugh was charged with insurance fraud and other counts after reporting that his head was grazed by a bullet when someone attempted to shoot him. Curtis “Eddie” Smith is charged with firing at Murdaugh. He told The Associated Press last month that Murdaugh asked for his help on Sept. 4 but didn't tell him he wanted Smith to shoot him until he was on the side of the road. Smith said the gun went off as he tried to prevent Murdaugh from shooting himself. He bristled at suggestions from Murdaugh’s lawyers that he was a drug dealer, saying he was good friends with Murdaugh after the attorney helped him in a worker’s compensation case. “With a friend like that, who needs enemies?” Smith told an AP reporter as he limped around his property. Smith said last month that he wasn’t sure if the bullet hit Murdaugh or not, saying he grabbed the gun, immediately drove away and ditched the weapon. In an interview with The Today Show aired Thursday, Smith said he was 1,000% certain Murdaugh was not shot. “There was no blood on me; there was no blood on him,” Smith said. Murdaugh’s lawyers have said they saw medical records showing Murdaugh was covered in blood when taken by helicopter to a hospital but have not shown them to the public. The Thursday arrest is just another step in the long process for justice in all of the investigations, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said in a statement. “As I have said previously, we are committed to following the facts wherever they may lead us and we will not stop until justice is served,” Keel said. Alex Murdaugh is denied bond on $3M theft charges Alex Murdaugh walks into his bond hearing Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville. AP FILE PHOTO Posted Tuesday, October 19, 2021 11:30 am COLUMBIA (AP) — A judge denied bond Tuesday for Alex Murdaugh, saying the attorney's considerable financial resources and mental instability appear for now to make it too risky to allow him to await trial outside of jail on charges he stole $3.4 million in insurance money meant for the sons of his housekeeper. Defense attorneys asked Circuit Judge Clifton Newman to release Murdaugh on his own recognizance, as a different judge had in September on charges that he tried to arrange his own death to obtain a $10 million insurance policy. Prosecutors asked for a $200,000 bond and GPS monitoring for the latest charges, obtaining property by false pretenses. "I'm not satisfied as to his mental condition," Newman said, adding that he needed more information. He said he would reconsider his decision after receiving it. One of Murdaugh's attorneys, Dick Harpootlian, said after the hearing that therapists at the drug rehab centers in Georgia and Florida where Murdaugh spent the past six weeks will send their records to a local psychiatrist, who will prepare a report for the judge, hopefully within a week. "We understand the judge's concerns about Alex's mental condition. We're more than happy to comply with his request," Harpootlian said, adding of Murdaugh, "He seemed much more clearheaded today than I've ever seen him." Harpootlian and Murdaugh's other attorney, Jim Griffin have said he is dealing with crushing grief and guilt after finding the bodies of his wife and son shot to death at their home in June. Murdaugh has adamantly denied having anything to do with their deaths and no one has been charged. The latest charges against Murdaugh involve insurance payments that were supposed to go to the sons of his longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died in 2018 a few weeks after falling at the family's home, investigators said. No autopsy was performed, and a coroner said her death was improperly described as "natural" on her death certificate. State police said Tuesday in court that they are still investigating the circumstances of her death. Murdaugh denies having anything to do with her death, Harpootlian said after the hearing. Murdaugh told Satterfield's sons he would help them get insurance settlements for her death, recommending they hire attorney Cory Fleming without telling them Fleming was a family friend, according to a lawsuit filed by the sons. Murdaugh negotiated more than $4 million in payments, then had the checks — minus fees and attorney payments — sent to a fraudulent bank account. A lawyer for the sons said they haven't seen any money from the settlements. "He stole. He is a liar and a cheat," attorney Eric Bland told the judge Tuesday. South Carolina Assistant Attorney General Creighton Waters said Murdaugh quickly took the money and put it in his personal accounts. "He had been carrying a $100,000 credit card balance for months," Waters said. "That gets paid off. He writes 300 and some odd grand to his father. He writes a check for 610 grand to himself. He writes a check for 125 grand to himself. Not a dime goes to this family." Waters asked for a $200,000 bond and GPS monitoring, saying, "A man who is a danger to himself is a danger to others." Harpootlian and Griffin said Murdaugh needs more treatment for an opioid addiction that has lasted for more than a decade. "He's not going to run," Harpootlian said. "That's not where he is now." Griffin argued that "the Alex Murdaugh who is not hooked on drugs has lived a good, fruitful life — a law-abiding life." "Only when he got hooked on opioids did things turn south and he truly regrets his conduct," Griffin said. Murdaugh has been in jail since his arrest Thursday at a drug rehab center near Orlando, Florida. The housekeeper's insurance isn't the only six-figure case being investigated by state police. Murdaugh's former law firm — founded by his great-grandfather a century ago — has accused him of stealing possibly millions of dollars. Prosecutors hinted at Tuesday's hearing that Murdaugh has turned over all his affairs to his surviving son and in recent weeks sold a boat and property in Beaufort County in what they said might be an attempt to hide money from at least three ongoing lawsuits. Each charge of obtaining property by false pretenses carries a sentence of up to 10 years. The three felony charges from the botched attempt to arrange his own death could bring up to 20 years in prison if he's convicted. Murdaugh continues to insist he had nothing to do with the June deaths of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22. Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death. Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out. In addition to all of the other cases, state police are looking into whether Murdaugh has connections to a 2015 hit-and-run death and whether he or other family members tried to obstruct the investigation into a boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh that killed a 19-year-old woman in 2019. Murdaugh also denies any wrongdoing in these cases, Harpootlian said Tuesday. The Murdaugh family has dominated the legal community in Hampton County for nearly the past century. Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were elected prosecutors and their prestigious law firm became known for suing railroads. Judge freezes Alex Murdaugh's money as lawsuits grow Alex Murdaugh sits during his bond hearing Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville. AP FILE PHOTO Posted Tuesday, November 2, 2021 11:35 am CHESTERFIELD (AP) — A judge Tuesday ordered independent representatives to take over the finances of a prominent South Carolina lawyer whose wife and son were killed five months ago and has since found himself part of a half-dozen state investigations. Judge Daniel Hall sided with an attorney suing Alex Murdaugh on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old woman killed in a crash on Murdaugh's boat which prosecutors said his late son was driving. The family's lawsuit says Murdaugh is trying to hide millions of dollars they could possibly collect in their lawsuit and he could shift money between unknown accounts and potentially sell off property and a boat after he turned all his affairs over to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh. "They have refused from day one to give me any information," attorney Mark Tinsley said. The receivers will review and catalog all of Murdaugh's assets and approve whether he can spend money. They will get part of any legal settlements or judgements against Murdaugh in the cases they are involved. The judge told Tinsley to write an order and file it with his office. A lawyer for Murdaugh argued he has not been found responsible in any civil suits since his wife and son were killed and has insurance to cover if he is required to pay damages. Attorney John Tiller also argued at a Friday hearing that if Murdaugh loses control of his assets, that would open the door for similar things to happen in countless other cases if the person who sues thinks the defendant does not have enough insurance. Alex Murdaugh remains in the Richland County jail without bond after being charged with stealing nearly $3 million in insurance payments meant for the sons of his housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall in his home. His legal team did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Tuesday's ruling. The lawyers for the housekeeper's family and a second teen who survived the boat crash have also sued Murdaugh and helped with getting the receivers. Those attorneys expect judges in their cases to allow them to use the independent monitors. Murdaugh, 53, also faces criminal charges in a second case. He was first arrested Sept. 16 and was accused of trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son Buster could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. That same day, the father signed a power of attorney for all his affairs over to his son, according to court records. Murdaugh insists he had nothing to do with the June deaths of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22. Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death. Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out.  [1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19]
  HIST	of Islandton, South Carolina Family of double homicide victims offer $100K reward A vehicle sits in the driveway of a home, Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in rural Colleton County, near Islandton, S.C. A mother and son from a prominent South Carolina legal family were found shot and killed on the family's land, and authorities said they have made no arrests in the double homicide case. Maggie Murdaugh , 52, and her son Paul Murdaugh, 22, were shot several times and their bodies were found near a dog kennel, Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey said. ANDREW J. WHITAKER / THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP Posted Tuesday, June 29, 2021 6:00 am COLUMBIA (AP) - The family of a South Carolina mother and son shot to death at their home are offering a $100,000 reward in hopes of finding the killer. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found shot multiple times near dog kennels in Colleton County on June 7. State police are investigating and have made no arrests and released little information on the progress of their case. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division set up a tip line, asking the public for information. The line is being monitored 24 hours a day. On Friday, Margaret Murdaugh's husband, Alex Murdaugh, and their surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, announced the reward for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who brutally murdered Paul and Maggie," The Augusta Chronicle reported. "I want to thank everyone for the incredible love and support that we have received over the last few weeks," said Alex Murdaugh. "Now is the time to bring justice for Maggie and Paul. Buster and I, along with Maggie's mother, father and our entire family, ask that anyone with helpful information immediately call the SLED tip line or Crime Stoppers." The victims are members of a prominent South Carolina legal family. Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death when he died, and his family said they received vague threats about that case. The charge stems from a February 2019 boat crash that killed a 19-year-old woman and injured several others. Paul Murdaugh's grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were all longtime elected prosecutors in the area, and Alex Murdaugh was a part-time prosecutor in the Solicitor's Office, but all were out of office at the time of the boat crash. The family told ABC's Good Morning America that none of their family members tried to influence or stop the investigation into the crash. Lawyer whose wife, son were killed regrets decisions, gets rehab ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP FILE Posted Monday, September 6, 2021 4:33 pm By JEFFREY COLLINS  Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent South Carolina legal family who found his wife and son shot to death at their home three months ago and was injured days ago when a bullet grazed his head as he changed a tire said Monday he is resigning from his law firm and entering rehab. Alex Murdaugh issued a statement Monday saying he regretted decisions he made, but didn't give any details just two days after reporting someone shot at him after his car had a flat tire along a rural road in Hampton County. "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. I'm resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated by these murders. I am immensely sorry to everyone I've hurt including my family, friends and colleagues. I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships," read Murdaugh's entire statement. The statement came two days after investigators said Murdaugh was able to call 911 after he was hurt Saturday afternoon on Salkehatchie Road in Hampton County. The State Law Enforcement Division didn't immediately comment Monday on Murdaugh's statement. South Carolina's state police are also the lead agency investigating the deaths of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her 22-year-old son Paul  on June 7. Both were both shot several times and found outside the house near dog kennels, authorities said. Alex Murdaugh found the bodies of his wife and son after family members said he had been away checking on his mother and ailing father. A family attorney said Murdaugh was shot at by someone in a pickup truck that first passed by him as he changed the tire and then came back and fired at him. The family issued a statement Saturday after the shooting saying Murdaugh was expected to recover and asking for privacy. "The Murdaugh family has suffered through more than any one family can ever imagine," it read. State police have released few details about the June killings, even going to court to fight public record requests. The Murdaughs are one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families. Alex Murdaugh was a volunteer prosecutor in the same office where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather spent more than 80 years combined as the area's top prosecutors. Other members of the family are prominent civil attorneys. The current elected prosecutor isn't a family member, but stepped aside last month  after citing developments in the case without giving any additional details. When Paul Murdaugh was killed, he was awaiting trial for boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed a 19-year-old woman. State police have since started looking into the investigation into that crash to see if anyone tried to keep police from charging Paul Murdaugh. After the Murdaughs deaths, state police also reopened an investigation into a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. The victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved. Authorities haven't released any information about why those cases we reopened. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. Law firm: Attorney whose wife, son were killed took money ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP FILE Posted Tuesday, September 7, 2021 11:53 am By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent South Carolina legal family who found his wife and son shot to death at their home three months ago and was injured days ago when a bullet grazed his head as he changed a tire was taking money from his law firm, the business said late Monday. The statement from PMPED law firm came hours after Alex Murdaugh said he was resigning and entering rehab. The PMPED law firm said it will hire an accounting firm to fully review its books. It didn't say how much money might be missing, but said Murdaugh was no longer associated with them in any way. "This is disappointing news for all of us. Rest assured that our firm will deal with this in a straightforward manner. There's no place in our firm for such behavior," the law firm said in a statement. Hours before Murdaugh sent out his own statement, saying he regretted decisions he made, but didn't give any details just two days after reporting someone shot at him after his car had a flat tire along a rural road in Hampton County. "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. I'm resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated by these murders. I am immensely sorry to everyone I've hurt including my family, friends and colleagues. I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships," read Murdaugh's entire statement. The statement came two days after investigators said Murdaugh was able to call 911 after he was hurt Saturday afternoon on Salkehatchie Road in Hampton County. "Alex resigned after being accused of diverting lawyer fees from the firm," said Murdaugh's attorney Jim Griffin. "These allegations prompted him to confront a dependency and he voluntarily checked into an in-patient substance abuse rehab facility after being discharged from the hospital today." The State Law Enforcement Division didn't immediately comment Monday on Murdaugh's statement or the law firm's accusations of missing money. South Carolina's state police are also the lead agency investigating the deaths of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her 22-year-old son Paul on June 7. Both were both shot several times and found outside the family's home in nearby Colleton County, authorities said. Alex Murdaugh found the bodies of his wife and son after family members said he had been away checking on his mother and ailing father. A family attorney said Murdaugh was shot at by someone in a pickup truck that first passed by him as he changed the tire and then came back and fired at him. The family issued a statement Saturday after the shooting saying Murdaugh was expected to recover and asking for privacy. "The Murdaugh family has suffered through more than any one family can ever imagine," it read. State police have released few details about the June killings, even going to court to fight public record requests. The Murdaughs are one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families. Alex Murdaugh was a volunteer prosecutor in the same office where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather spent more than 80 years combined as the area's top prosecutors. Other members of the family are prominent civil attorneys. The current elected prosecutor isn't a family member, but stepped aside last month after citing developments in the case without giving any additional details. When Paul Murdaugh was killed, he was awaiting trial for boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed a 19-year-old woman. State police have since started looking into the investigation into that crash to see if anyone tried to keep police from charging Paul Murdaugh. After the Murdaughs deaths, state police also reopened an investigation into a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. The victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved. Authorities haven't released any information about why those cases were reopened. Lawyer whose son and wife killed has law license suspended ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP Posted Wednesday, September 8, 2021 10:51 am By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court indefinitely suspended the law license of prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh on Wednesday, two days after his law firm said he took mone y from the business. The one-page order by Chief Justice Don Beatty said he acted at the request of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which investigates misconduct by attorneys in South Carolina. The order said Murdaugh agreed with the interim suspension, but it gave no further details. Murdaugh found the bodies of his wife and son, shot multiple times, at the family's Colleton County home on June 7. On Saturday, he told police someone shot at him as he changed a tire on the side of a rural road. A family attorney has suggested someone cut the tire before Murdaugh left. State police haven't commented on the shooting. Agents said Murdaugh was grazed by the bullet. He was released from the hospital two days later and said he had gone into rehab because "the murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret." Hours after Murdaugh issued his statement, the PMPED law firm released its own information saying Murdaugh had misappropriated an unspecified amount of money and would no longer be associated with the firm. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating all of this. No one has been charged in the killings of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her 22-year-old son Paul in June or in the shooting involving Alex Murdaugh on Saturday. Agents have not spoken about the allegations of missing money. The Murdaughs are one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families. Alex Murdaugh was a volunteer prosecutor in the same office where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather spent more than 80 years combined as the area's top prosecutors. Other members of the family are prominent civil attorneys. When Paul Murdaugh was killed, he was awaiting trial for boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed a 19-year-old woman. State police have said they have since begun looking into the investigation of that crash to see if anyone tried to keep police from charging Paul Murdaugh. After the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, state police also reopened an investigation into a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. The victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved. Authorities haven't released any information about why those cases were reopened. Missing law firm money is 5th investigation into Murdaughs ANDREW J. WHITAKER/THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP Posted Tuesday, September 14, 2021 6:00 am By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA (AP) - State police have officially opened an investigation into missing money that a law firm said was taken by an attorney from a prominent South Carolina legal family whose wife and son were killed at their home three months ago. Monday's announcement means that, along with the investigation into the deaths, the State Law Enforcement Division has four other ongoing investigations into Alex Murdaugh and his family. "I continue to urge the public to be patient and let this investigation take its course. Investigative decisions we make throughout this case and any potentially related case must ultimately withstand the scrutiny of the criminal justice process," Chief Mark Keel said in a two paragraph announcement from his agency. Murdaugh's PMPED law firm announced earlier this month that Murdaugh had misappropriated money from the business and was no longer associated with the firm. Exactly how much money might be missing has not been made public. The Sept. 6 announcement came two days after Murdaugh reported someone shot at him while he checked on a flat tire on his Mercedes SUV on a lonely road in Hampton County, grazing his head close enough that his lawyer said his skull was fractured. State police are investigating that shooting. The firm announced the missing money just hours after Murdaugh issued his own statement saying he was going into rehab for a opioid addiction. "I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret," Murdaugh said without giving details. The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended Murdaugh's law license during the investigation into the missing money. Murdaugh found the bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, shot multiple times at the family's Colleton County home on June 7. Along with the killings, the Sept. 4 shooting on the highway and potential financial misdeeds, state police also are investigating if anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boating accident that killed a 19-year-old woman. Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence causing death in that case. State police also said the deaths of the Murdaughs led them to reopen the July 2015 death of a 19-year-old man that was called a hit-and-run. Investigators haven't said what led them to reopen that case, but the victim's mother has maintained for the six years since he was found dead on a two-lane road in Hampton County that she thought her son was beaten to death. All five investigations remain open and no arrests have been made. Police: Lawyer Murdaugh arranged own death but shot grazed COLLETON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE VIA AP Posted Wednesday, September 15, 2021 11:36 am BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA — A prominent South Carolina lawyer who found the bodies of his wife and son three months ago tried to arrange his own death earlier this month so his son would get a $10 million life insurance payment, but the planned fatal shot only grazed his head, state police said Tuesday. The shooter, Curtis Edward Smith, was charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts in the Sept. 4 shooting of Alex Murdaugh on a lonely highway in Hampton County, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a statement. Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather all held the office of solicitor in the area for more than 80 years and other family members were prominent civil attorneys in the region. Murdaugh himself was an authorized volunteer prosecutor supporting his father's cases, a relationship the office severed this month as Murdaugh said he was seeking rehabilitation for an oxycodone addiction. Murdaugh's lawyers said Smith sold him drugs and took advantage of his mental illness and deep depression over the deaths of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul, as well as his father's death from cancer the same week. They said Murdaugh told them all about what happened Monday and they called state police to share his confession to the assisted suicide attempt. "He didn't want law enforcement spending more time on this fake crime instead of focusing on solving the murders of Maggie and Paul," attorney Dick Harpootlian said on the Today show. Later Wednesday, state police opened a sixth investigation into Murdaugh and his family, looking into the 2018 death of a housekeeper and nanny who, according to a wrongful death settlement, was killed in a trip-and-fall accident at the Murdaugh home that was never reported to the local coroner and was listed as a natural death. Murdaugh was not charged in his own shooting Tuesday night, but agents called him a co-defendant and said more charges were expected. Harpootlian said he expects Murdaugh to be charged in his own shooting, but doesn't think his client knows who killed his wife and son. "Clearly he is distraught about their deaths. He did not murder them," Harpootlian said. Murdaugh gave Smith the gun to kill him and he followed Murdaugh to Old Salkehatchie Road, firing one shot at the lawyer as he stood in the road, a state agent said in a sworn statement. But that bullet only grazed Murdaugh's head and he was able to call 911 for help, authorities said. Murdaugh wanted Smith to kill him so his surviving son would get his $10 million life insurance policy, state agents said. Smith drove off after the shooting and disposed of the gun, authorities said. Smith sold Murdaugh drugs, and the lawyer found his former client Saturday and "30 minutes later this guy is shooting him in the head. Didn't try to persuade him not to do it," Harpootlian said. Murdaugh said last week through a family spokesperson that he pulled over after his Mercedes SUV's low tire pressure light came on. A man passing by in a pickup truck asked if he was having car trouble and then shot at him, Murdaugh claimed. Agents said Smith, 61, confessed Tuesday and was charged with assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Still unsolved are the June 7 killings of 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and her 22-year-old son Paul Murdaugh. Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife and son at their Colleton County home. Both had been shot multiple times. Two days after the shooting, Murdaugh announced he was going into rehab for an opioid addiction. He apologized to his family and said he was leaving his law firm. His law license was temporarily suspended. "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret," Murdaugh said, without going into details. A few hours later, the PMPED Law Firm announced Murdaugh had taken money from the business and was fired from the firm. The amount of money has not been announced, but the firm and Murdaugh's lawyers have suggested it could be over $1 million. Murdaugh's lawyers are doing their own investigation into the deaths and have a possible suspect, Harpootlian said, declining to give more details other than to say "the motive would be personal." Along with the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, the State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating the missing money, whether anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boat crash for which Paul Murdaugh was eventually charged and a July 2015 hit-and-run death in Hampton County. The agency announced Wednesday that they are now investigating Gloria Satterfield's death. A lawsuit filed by her sons Wednesday said they were told the 57-year-old woman died after falling in the Murdaugh home in February 2018. She had worked as a nanny and housekeeper for them for two decades. Alex Murdaugh had friends arrange a $505,000 settlement for the sons but did not get their approval, the lawsuit said. The settlement reached nearly a year ago set aside $166,000 for attorney fees and the sons have not seen any of the $505,000, according to the lawsuit. Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper asked for the state investigation, saying Satterfield's death certificate lists she died of natural causes, which is inconsistent with a trip-and-fall accidental death. She said her office was not informed so it could perform an autopsy. State police said other information gathered during their Murdaugh investigations also led them to look into Satterfield's death. They didn't provide additional details. Murdaugh surrenders to face charges in $10M insurance fraud Posted Thursday, September 16, 2021 1:51 pm By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Lawyer Alex Murdaugh surrendered Thursday to face insurance fraud and other charges after state police said he arranged to have himself shot in the head so that his son would get a $10 million life insurance payout. The shooter only grazed him. A defense attorney said Murdaugh was deeply depressed with a drug addiction worsened by his discovery of the bodies of his wife and son, who were shot multiple times at the family's home on June 7. Those killings remain unsolved. The charges against Murdaugh, 53, include insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and filing a false police report. He arrived at the Hampton County jail about five hours before his bond hearing. No one has been charged with the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul in June. Murdaugh's surrender culminates a tumultuous 36 hours for a man whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors in the area. A giant law firm in town was founded by his family more than a century ago. His former client was arrested late Tuesday on an assisted suicide charge, and then state police opened a sixth investigation into him and his family — this time involving a housekeeper and nanny who died in his home in 2018. Murdaugh told his lawyers on Monday that he had arranged his own shooting, and they then spoke to police. "He didn't want law enforcement spending more time on this fake crime instead of focusing on solving the murders of Maggie and Paul," attorney Dick Harpootlian told the "Today" show on Wednesday. Murdaugh asked Curtis Edward Smith to kill him with a shot to the head on Sept. 4 so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy, authorities said. Murdaugh bought drugs from the former client, attorney Dick Harpootlian said. Murdaugh's lawyers said he has spent the past 10 days or so in drug rehab after his law firm fired him over missing money that could total millions of dollars.. It all started June 7, when Murdaugh found the bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son Paul shot multiple times after returning to their Colleton County home after visiting his sick father, who would die days later from cancer. Those killings remain unsolved, and Murdaugh's lawyers have said he is adamant he had nothing to do with their deaths. On Sept. 3, Murdaugh was fired by the PMPED law firm founded by his family after the firm determined he took money. Murdaugh's lawyers said he decided to kill himself the next day, but have someone else shoot him. Murdaugh gave Curtis Edward Smith a gun and they headed to lonely Old Salkehatchie Road. Smith fired one shot that only grazed Murdaugh's head, a State Law Enforcement Division agent said in a sworn statement. Murdaugh was able to call 911 and his initial story was someone in a passing pickup truck shot at him as he checked a tire that was low on pressure. Smith, 61, remained jailed Thursday on charges of assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. He didn't have a lawyer or speak about the charges at a hearing where his bond was set at $55,000. Along with the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, the State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating the missing money, whether anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boat crash for which Paul Murdaugh was eventually charged and a July 2015 hit-and-run death in Hampton County. The agency also announced Wednesday that they are now investigating Gloria Satterfield's death at the request of Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper, who said her death certificate lists describes natural causes, which is inconsistent with a trip-and-fall accidental death. She said her office did not perform an autopsy because it was not informed. Satterfield's two sons filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying they haven't seen any of the $500,000 wrongful death settlement that Murdaugh had friends arrange. Lawyer Murdaugh exits jail after $10M insurance fraud arrest Alex Murdaugh sits during his bond hearing Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville, S.C. Murdaugh surrendered Thursday to face insurance fraud and other charges after state police said he arranged to have himself shot in the head so that his son would get a $10 million life insurance payout. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) MIC SMITH Posted Friday, September 17, 2021 8:05 am BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Instead of a suit and tie, lawyer Alex Murdaugh found himself in a jail jumpsuit Thursday in a cramped South Carolina courtroom, struggling to wipe tears from his eyes with handcuffed wrists as his lawyer detailed how his life crumbled over the past three months. Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife and son, shot multiple times at their Colleton County home June 7. His drug addiction got worse and in a deep depression on Sept. 4, he decided he should die, but instead of killing himself, he hired someone to do it, defense attorney Dick Harpootlian said. The goal was to get his surviving son a $10 million life insurance benefit, state police said. But the shot only grazed his head and Murdaugh, 53, was charged Thursday with insurance fraud, conspiracy and filing a false police report. — all felonies that could bring up to 20 years in prison if convicted of all three charges. There is no minimum sentence. The killings of Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son Paul in June remain unsolved. Harpootlian said Murdaugh is adamant he had nothing to do with their deaths Murdaugh spent about five hours in the Hampton County jail before being issued a $20,000 bond and being released on his own recognizance. Prosecutors had asked for a higher bond and GPS monitoring. "Sometimes those who have everything and who are suffering a possible fall from grace are actually more of a concern than a hardened criminal," said Creighton Waters with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. But Magistrate Tonja Alexander noted Murdaugh had no prior criminal record and she didn't think he would be a risk to the community. Murdaugh's surrender culminated a tumultuous 36 hours for a man whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors in the area. A giant law firm in town was founded by his family more than a century ago. Murdaugh said almost nothing during the brief bond hearing. At times he bowed his head low, or appeared to struggle to wipe tears from his eyes. Murdaugh's former client was arrested late Tuesday on an assisted suicide charge, and then state police opened a sixth investigation into him and his family — this time involving a housekeeper and nanny who died in his home in 2018. Murdaugh told his lawyers on Monday that he had arranged his own shooting, and they then spoke to police. "The only violence he has ever been involved in is this, which was to have himself executed," Harpootlian said. "He's not a danger to the community. He's only a danger to himself." Murdaugh agreed to give up his passport even as Harpootlian said his client's financial condition is "ruinous" and he couldn't leave the country if he wanted to. Murdaugh needed to return to his out-of-state rehab center before the end of Thursday to keep his bed, Harpootlian said. His attorney promised to contact prosecutors and investigators when Murdaugh's rehab stint is finished so they can figure out what to do next. Authorities said Murdaugh asked Curtis Edward Smith to kill him with a shot to the head on Sept. 4 so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy, authorities said. Murdaugh bought drugs from the former client, Harpootlian has said. Murdaugh's lawyers said he has spent the past 10 days or so in drug rehab after his law firm fired him over missing money that could total millions of dollars. Harpootlian said Murdaugh is fighting a 20-year addiction to painkillers. "If anyone wants to see the face of what opioid addiction does, you're looking at it," Harpootlian said. The investigations into the the Murdaughs started June 7, when Alex Murdaugh found the bodies of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son Paul shot multiple times after returning to their Colleton County home after visiting his sick father, who would die days later from cancer. Those killings remain unsolved, and Murdaugh's lawyers have said he is adamant he had nothing to do with their deaths. On Sept. 3, Murdaugh was fired by the PMPED law firm founded by his family after the firm determined he took money. Murdaugh's lawyers said he decided to kill himself the next day, but have someone else shoot him. Murdaugh gave Curtis Edward Smith a gun and they headed to lonely Old Salkehatchie Road. Smith fired one shot that only grazed Murdaugh's head, a State Law Enforcement Division agent said in a sworn statement. Murdaugh was able to call 911 and his initial story was someone in a passing pickup truck shot at him as he checked a tire that was low on pressure. Smith, 61, remained jailed Thursday on numerous charges, including assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature and distribution of methamphetamine. He didn't have a lawyer or speak about the charges at a hearing where his bond was set at $55,000. Smith left jail hours later. Along with the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, the State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating the missing money, whether anyone tried to obstruct an investigation into a 2019 boat crash for which Paul Murdaugh was eventually charged and a July 2015 hit-and-run death in Hampton County. The agency also announced Wednesday that they are now investigating Gloria Satterfield's death at the request of Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper, who said her death certificate lists describes natural causes, which is inconsistent with a trip-and-fall accidental death. She said her office did not perform an autopsy because it was not informed. Satterfield's two sons filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying they haven't seen any of the $505,000 wrongful death settlement that Murdaugh had friends arrange. Lawsuits: Murdaugh used attorney friend to manipulate, then tried to take settlement Alex Murdaugh walks into his bond hearing Sept. 16 in Varnville. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Posted Friday, September 24, 2021 6:00 am By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA - A South Carolina lawyer charged with trying to arrange his own death steered the family of a housekeeper who died in his home to use a longtime friend as their attorney without revealing their friendship and then tried to take a $4 million settlement, according to the family's lawyer. Alex Murdaugh also tried to convince a friend of his son to use the same lawyer again without revealing their friendship as investigators tried to sort out who was driving a boat in a 2019 fatal crash, according to a lawsuit filed this week. Murdaugh's son would eventually be charged. That son, Paul Murdaugh, was killed along with his mother, Maggie, in an unsolved shooting at the family's home in June. Since the deaths, state police have started a half-dozen investigations into the Murdaugh family. Alex Murdaugh remains in out-of-state drug rehab, which he entered shortly before being charged with insurance fraud and filing a false police report for trying to arrange his own death Sept. 4 so his surviving son could collect his $10 million life insurance policy. Authorities said the shot from a hitman only grazed Murdaugh, leaving him able to call 911. This week's revelations surrounding Murdaugh involved two lawsuits that said he tried to manipulate the legal system - one to prevent his housekeeper's sons from collecting on her insurance policy and a second to try to prevent criminal trouble for his son in the boat crash. The Murdaughs' housekeeper and nanny, Gloria Satterfield, died in February 2018 after tripping over the family dog, a lawyer for the sons told media outlets. Murdaugh spoke to the sons at their mother's funeral and convinced them to hire Corey Fleming as their lawyer for a wrongful death settlement with his insurance company. But he did not tell them Fleming was a longtime friend, old college roommate and godfather to at least one of Murdaugh's sons. Murdaugh and Fleming arranged a $505,000 settlement in public records almost a year ago, which the sons have not seen a dime of, attorney Eric Bland said. But since filing the suit, Bland said he learned of a second $4.3 million settlement with a different insurer that was never revealed to Satterfield's sons or placed into the public court docket. Bland said he is turning the information over to the State Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating Satterfield's death after a coroner said the accidental death was never reported to her office. Fleming did not respond to an email or phone message. Murdaugh's lawyers have not commented about Satterfield's death or other lawsuits. Fleming is also prominent in a lawsuit by Connor Cook, who was in a boat that crashed in 2019, killing a 19-year-old woman. The night of the crash, investigators were not sure if Cook or Paul Murdaugh was driving the boat. Alex Murdaugh approached Cook in the hallway of a hospital as he headed to get his jaw X-rayed and told him everything would be alright if he would "keep his mouth shut," according to Cook's lawsuit. Alex Murdaugh then encouraged Cook to hire Fleming as his attorney without revealing their relationship, the lawsuit said. Fleming became Cook's lawyer and told him not to talk to investigators, and that set him up to be falsely identified as the driver of the boat, the suit said. It was not until Cook hired a new lawyer and spoke to prosecutors that Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence causing death, a charged pending when he was killed. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating whether Alex Murdaugh or other friends or family members tried to obstruct the investigation into the boat crash as well as the questions surrounding Satterfield's death. They also are seeing if the family was involved in a 2015 hit-and-run, unraveling the shooting of Murdaugh this month on a lonely highway and looking into millions of dollars missing from the law firm that fired Murdaugh earlier this month. All those investigations started after the June 7 deaths of Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother, Maggie, 52. Investigators have released few details about the killings beyond both were shot several times outside their Colleton County home, likely dying less than an hour after Alex Murdaugh said he came home and discovered their bodies. In Murdaugh family scandal, tiny S.C. town is shaken THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The gates near Alex Murdaugh's home in Islandton are seen Sept. 20. State police have six separate investigations into Murdaugh and his family after his wife and son were killed outside the home in June. Posted Wednesday, September 29, 2021 6:00 am By JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press HAMPTON - Ask any of the 2,600 residents in this South Carolina town whether they know Alex Murdaugh, and you'll probably get a quick nod. Nearly everyone does in Hampton, a tiny place where every road in has just two lanes. Ask them to tell you about Murdaugh, though, and you'll get a firm head shake, followed by: "You're not going to quote me, are you?" No one wants to talk about the influential lawyer whose wife and son were killed and who's now accused in a string of controversies - at least, not in the open. For the past century, the Murdaughs have steered much of the legal world in this remote corner of South Carolina - north of Savannah, Georgia, and far from the interstate or just about anything else. Running the prosecutor's office and a large civil law firm allowed the Murdaughs to do it quietly, until recently. Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son Paul were killed June 7, shot multiple times at the family's sprawling estate. No one's been arrested in their deaths, which brought scrutiny into every nook of Murdaugh's life. Six investigations are underway, about the killings, stolen money, death coverups and a Sept. 4 shooting in which a bullet grazed Murdaugh's head on a lonely highway. Police said he tried to arrange his own death and make sure a $10 million life insurance policy would pay off for his surviving son. The man charged with shooting Murdaugh is Curtis "Eddie" Smith, a former client from a workplace accident case. Smith said they became friends, and he was stunned to find himself dismissed as a callous drug dealer by Murdaugh's lawyers. "With a friend like that, who needs enemies," Smith said as he limped around his property in Walterboro, checking on his shop and rescue dogs. He wouldn't say any more, insisting he was done discussing Murdaugh and the case - for now. Like many people in town, Smith got entangled with the Murdaughs in a courtroom in Hampton County, population 20,000, where the family is used to being in power, not being questioned. If you stole something or had something stolen from you, the Murdaughs ran your case for the state. Alex Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the elected prosecutors for 87 years straight. If you got hurt on the job, the Murdaughs took you on as a client. The family founded a law firm a century ago. It now employs several dozen lawyers, and its brick headquarters takes up a whole city block. There's no sign out front; everyone knows it's the Murdaughs' firm. And if you had a charity or other cause, the Murdaughs donated. The family has given millions to all sorts of projects. Alex Murdaugh's father was grand marshal of the parade of the town's marquee Watermelon Festival several years ago. But plenty of people tell hushed stories of what happened if the Murdaughs were crossed. Connor Cook said that in 2019, he knew his friend Paul Murdaugh was intoxicated when he drove a boat that crashed, killing a 19-year-old passenger. But the Murdaughs tried to pin him as the driver, Cook said, according to a wrongful death lawsuit. In a deposition, Cook said he feared the family: "Just anything they get in, they get out of. I've always been told that." The night of the crash, Alex Murdaugh and his father visited the hospital. Murdaugh scrutinized a board where staff kept track of patients and tried to talk to everyone who'd been on the boat, nurses told investigators. The crash bought the kind of attention the Murdaughs always tried - and for decades, succeeded - to avoid. It took months to charge Paul Murdaugh with boating under the influence causing death, the local newspaper noted. Many around town wondered whether the family was wielding their sizeable influence. Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial when he died. Now, state police are investigating whether the Murdaughs obstructed that investigation. They're also looking into the 2018 death of family housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died after falling in the Murdaughs' home, but the death wasn't reported to the coroner. Documents appear to show Murdaugh's insurance paid more than $4 million in wrongful-death claims. But a lawyer for Satterfield's sons said they haven't seen a dime since agreeing to use an attorney who was Murdaugh's college buddy to handle the legal work and another banker friend as estate executor. The documents have signatures purported to be from judges, but some were never entered into publicly searchable court records. Others don't appear to have followed state rules for settlements. Despite long staying out of headlines, the Murdaughs aren't strangers to their own legal troubles. Alex Murdaugh's great-grandfather, Randolph, founded the family law firm and in 1920 became the elected prosecutor for the five-county region that includes Hampton County. Randolph Murdaugh died when his car was hit by a train as he headed home from a poker game in 1940. His son, Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., took over the law firm and prosecutor position; he served for 46 years, with the exception of several months awaiting federal trial over tipping off a local moonshiner to move his still. Eighteen of 23 defendants were found guilty. But "Buster" was acquitted and returned to office - even as the judge noted that, if he were Murdaugh, he "could not go back and face his people much less resume public office," according to federal records. "Buster" was larger than life in court, admonished more than once by the state Supreme Court for improper arguments - telling juries he wouldn't try another death penalty case or would release rapists awaiting trials if verdicts didn't go his way. Randolph Murdaugh III followed his father, taking over in 1986 and serving almost 20 years. Neither of his sons followed him into the solicitor's chair, although Alex Murdaugh worked as a volunteer prosecutor before his law license was suspended in September as he was fired from the family's PMPED law firm over millions of dollars turning up missing. In civil law, the Murdaughs were known for suing railroads. A now-repealed South Carolina law allowed anyone who wanted to sue a railroad to choose any state county. The Murdaughs found sympathetic juries and made Hampton County known for seven-figure verdicts. The PMPED firm has dozens of lawyers and practices in all of South Carolina's 46 counties. Its website lists 14 cases with awards of more than $1 million - railroad companies that didn't cut vegetation at crossings, a cancer patient hurt by chemotherapy, a 9-year-old burned by an SUV's gas tank. Alex Murdaugh's brother, Randolph Murdaugh IV, still works at the firm. He didn't answer an email asking about his family. The law firm issued a statement saying many of their lawyers grew up in the area and are closely involved in their communities and churches. The firm said no one they have spoken to knew that Alex Murdaugh was addicted to drugs and no employees were involved in his "scheme." "He lied and he stole from us," the PMPED statement said. Alex Murdaugh, 53, remains in an out-of-state rehab facility awaiting trial on charges of insurance fraud and filing a false police report. Through his lawyer, Murdaugh adamantly denied having anything to do with the deaths of wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22. When Murdaugh found their bodies, he'd just returned from visiting his terminally ill father, his brothers said on "Good Morning America." While people around Hampton remain careful in speaking about the Murdaughs, hints about their influence pop up. An addendum at the top of the wrongful death lawsuit over the housekeeper's death includes these lines, in all capital letters. Murdaugh charged with taking insurance money in maid's death A prominent South Carolina lawyer has been charged with stealing insurance settlements meant for the sons of his late housekeeper By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press October 14, 2021, 10:30   COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A prominent South Carolina lawyer has been charged with stealing insurance settlements meant for the sons of his late housekeeper that a lawsuit said total more than $4 million, state police said Thursday. Alex Murdaugh was arrested at a drug rehab facility in Orlando, Florida, where his attorneys said he has spent the past six weeks since claiming he was shot in the head on the side of a lonely road near his home, authorities said. Recent Stories from ABC News The arrest is the latest development in six state police investigations into Murdaugh, including the deaths of his wife and son, millions of dollars missing from the huge law firm founded a century ago by his great-grandfather and trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son could collect on a $10 million life insurance policy. Thursday's arrest on two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses involves Murdaugh’s housekeeper for decades, Gloria Satterfield, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a statement. Murdaugh told Satterfield's sons at her February 2018 funeral that he would get insurance settlements for her death and take care of them, according to a lawsuit filed by the sons. Murdaugh managed to secure more than $4 million from his insurers, but he only told the sons about a $500,000 settlement and then never sent them a dime, the lawsuit said. Murdaugh took the settlement money by creating a fraudulent bank account with a name similar to a legal consulting firm that handles settlements, the lawsuit said. Satterfield's family called it a bittersweet day in a statement released by their attorneys. “Avarice and betrayal of trust are at the heart of this matter,” lawyers Eric Bland and Ronald Richter said in their statement. The Murdaugh family told the sons their mother tripped over the family dog and died weeks later from her lingering injuries. The death was never reported to the Hampton County coroner, who asked state police to investigate why she was not called to review what she would consider an accidental death. The sons also took Murdaugh's advice to hire attorney Cory Fleming to be executor of their mother's estate without telling them Fleming was a longtime friend, old college roommate and godfather to at least one of Murdaugh’s sons. The law licenses of both Fleming and Murdaugh have been suspended as the investigations continue. Murdaugh is being held at the Orange County jail in Florida to await extradition, investigators said. His lawyers promised at a bond hearing on different charges last month that Murdaugh would return to South Carolina without a fight if charged with additional crimes. Murdaugh's lawyers said in a statement that he “intends to fully cooperate with this investigation, as he has with the investigation into the murder of his wife and son. He deeply regrets that his actions have distracted from the efforts to solve their murders.” The deaths of Murdaugh's son and wife at their Colleton County home in June remain unsolved. Murdaugh said he found Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and their son Paul, 22, shot to death after he returned home from visiting his father in the hospital, according to authorities. In September, Murdaugh was charged with insurance fraud and other counts after reporting that his head was grazed by a bullet when someone attempted to shoot him. Curtis “Eddie” Smith is charged with firing at Murdaugh. He told The Associated Press last month that Murdaugh asked for his help on Sept. 4 but didn't tell him he wanted Smith to shoot him until he was on the side of the road. Smith said the gun went off as he tried to prevent Murdaugh from shooting himself. He bristled at suggestions from Murdaugh’s lawyers that he was a drug dealer, saying he was good friends with Murdaugh after the attorney helped him in a worker’s compensation case. “With a friend like that, who needs enemies?” Smith told an AP reporter as he limped around his property. Smith said last month that he wasn’t sure if the bullet hit Murdaugh or not, saying he grabbed the gun, immediately drove away and ditched the weapon. In an interview with The Today Show aired Thursday, Smith said he was 1,000% certain Murdaugh was not shot. “There was no blood on me; there was no blood on him,” Smith said. Murdaugh’s lawyers have said they saw medical records showing Murdaugh was covered in blood when taken by helicopter to a hospital but have not shown them to the public. The Thursday arrest is just another step in the long process for justice in all of the investigations, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said in a statement. “As I have said previously, we are committed to following the facts wherever they may lead us and we will not stop until justice is served,” Keel said. Alex Murdaugh is denied bond on $3M theft charges Alex Murdaugh walks into his bond hearing Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville. AP FILE PHOTO Posted Tuesday, October 19, 2021 11:30 am COLUMBIA (AP) — A judge denied bond Tuesday for Alex Murdaugh, saying the attorney's considerable financial resources and mental instability appear for now to make it too risky to allow him to await trial outside of jail on charges he stole $3.4 million in insurance money meant for the sons of his housekeeper. Defense attorneys asked Circuit Judge Clifton Newman to release Murdaugh on his own recognizance, as a different judge had in September on charges that he tried to arrange his own death to obtain a $10 million insurance policy. Prosecutors asked for a $200,000 bond and GPS monitoring for the latest charges, obtaining property by false pretenses. "I'm not satisfied as to his mental condition," Newman said, adding that he needed more information. He said he would reconsider his decision after receiving it. One of Murdaugh's attorneys, Dick Harpootlian, said after the hearing that therapists at the drug rehab centers in Georgia and Florida where Murdaugh spent the past six weeks will send their records to a local psychiatrist, who will prepare a report for the judge, hopefully within a week. "We understand the judge's concerns about Alex's mental condition. We're more than happy to comply with his request," Harpootlian said, adding of Murdaugh, "He seemed much more clearheaded today than I've ever seen him." Harpootlian and Murdaugh's other attorney, Jim Griffin have said he is dealing with crushing grief and guilt after finding the bodies of his wife and son shot to death at their home in June. Murdaugh has adamantly denied having anything to do with their deaths and no one has been charged. The latest charges against Murdaugh involve insurance payments that were supposed to go to the sons of his longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died in 2018 a few weeks after falling at the family's home, investigators said. No autopsy was performed, and a coroner said her death was improperly described as "natural" on her death certificate. State police said Tuesday in court that they are still investigating the circumstances of her death. Murdaugh denies having anything to do with her death, Harpootlian said after the hearing. Murdaugh told Satterfield's sons he would help them get insurance settlements for her death, recommending they hire attorney Cory Fleming without telling them Fleming was a family friend, according to a lawsuit filed by the sons. Murdaugh negotiated more than $4 million in payments, then had the checks — minus fees and attorney payments — sent to a fraudulent bank account. A lawyer for the sons said they haven't seen any money from the settlements. "He stole. He is a liar and a cheat," attorney Eric Bland told the judge Tuesday. South Carolina Assistant Attorney General Creighton Waters said Murdaugh quickly took the money and put it in his personal accounts. "He had been carrying a $100,000 credit card balance for months," Waters said. "That gets paid off. He writes 300 and some odd grand to his father. He writes a check for 610 grand to himself. He writes a check for 125 grand to himself. Not a dime goes to this family." Waters asked for a $200,000 bond and GPS monitoring, saying, "A man who is a danger to himself is a danger to others." Harpootlian and Griffin said Murdaugh needs more treatment for an opioid addiction that has lasted for more than a decade. "He's not going to run," Harpootlian said. "That's not where he is now." Griffin argued that "the Alex Murdaugh who is not hooked on drugs has lived a good, fruitful life — a law-abiding life." "Only when he got hooked on opioids did things turn south and he truly regrets his conduct," Griffin said. Murdaugh has been in jail since his arrest Thursday at a drug rehab center near Orlando, Florida. The housekeeper's insurance isn't the only six-figure case being investigated by state police. Murdaugh's former law firm — founded by his great-grandfather a century ago — has accused him of stealing possibly millions of dollars. Prosecutors hinted at Tuesday's hearing that Murdaugh has turned over all his affairs to his surviving son and in recent weeks sold a boat and property in Beaufort County in what they said might be an attempt to hide money from at least three ongoing lawsuits. Each charge of obtaining property by false pretenses carries a sentence of up to 10 years. The three felony charges from the botched attempt to arrange his own death could bring up to 20 years in prison if he's convicted. Murdaugh continues to insist he had nothing to do with the June deaths of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22. Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death. Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out. In addition to all of the other cases, state police are looking into whether Murdaugh has connections to a 2015 hit-and-run death and whether he or other family members tried to obstruct the investigation into a boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh that killed a 19-year-old woman in 2019. Murdaugh also denies any wrongdoing in these cases, Harpootlian said Tuesday. The Murdaugh family has dominated the legal community in Hampton County for nearly the past century. Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were elected prosecutors and their prestigious law firm became known for suing railroads. Judge freezes Alex Murdaugh's money as lawsuits grow Alex Murdaugh sits during his bond hearing Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Varnville. AP FILE PHOTO Posted Tuesday, November 2, 2021 11:35 am CHESTERFIELD (AP) — A judge Tuesday ordered independent representatives to take over the finances of a prominent South Carolina lawyer whose wife and son were killed five months ago and has since found himself part of a half-dozen state investigations. Judge Daniel Hall sided with an attorney suing Alex Murdaugh on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old woman killed in a crash on Murdaugh's boat which prosecutors said his late son was driving. The family's lawsuit says Murdaugh is trying to hide millions of dollars they could possibly collect in their lawsuit and he could shift money between unknown accounts and potentially sell off property and a boat after he turned all his affairs over to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh. "They have refused from day one to give me any information," attorney Mark Tinsley said. The receivers will review and catalog all of Murdaugh's assets and approve whether he can spend money. They will get part of any legal settlements or judgements against Murdaugh in the cases they are involved. The judge told Tinsley to write an order and file it with his office. A lawyer for Murdaugh argued he has not been found responsible in any civil suits since his wife and son were killed and has insurance to cover if he is required to pay damages. Attorney John Tiller also argued at a Friday hearing that if Murdaugh loses control of his assets, that would open the door for similar things to happen in countless other cases if the person who sues thinks the defendant does not have enough insurance. Alex Murdaugh remains in the Richland County jail without bond after being charged with stealing nearly $3 million in insurance payments meant for the sons of his housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall in his home. His legal team did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Tuesday's ruling. The lawyers for the housekeeper's family and a second teen who survived the boat crash have also sued Murdaugh and helped with getting the receivers. Those attorneys expect judges in their cases to allow them to use the independent monitors. Murdaugh, 53, also faces criminal charges in a second case. He was first arrested Sept. 16 and was accused of trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son Buster could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. That same day, the father signed a power of attorney for all his affairs over to his son, according to court records. Murdaugh insists he had nothing to do with the June deaths of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22. Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death. Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out.
  _UID	5238FDADDFC44A0D8D4F420285C337400D72
  _UID	5238FDADDFC44A0D8D4F420285C337400D72
  Person ID	I333416	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	19 Sep 2022

  
  

  Father	Randoph MURDAUGH, III,   b. 25 Oct 1939, Savannah, Georgia d. 10 Jun 2021, at his residence, Varnville, South Carolina (Age 81 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth “Libby” ALEXANDER
  Marriage	1961  [7]
  _UID	85CEE27C9E4C48B49D50FAB2D56F6D735436
  _UID	85CEE27C9E4C48B49D50FAB2D56F6D735436
  Family ID	F222737	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret Kennedy “Maggie” BRANSTETTER,   b. 1969   d. 7 Jun 2021, near dog kennels on their family's land, near Islandton, Colleton County, South Carolina (Age 52 years)
  _UID	AEEA02EA2F354E9DB3429192EE23CE8B558E
  _UID	AEEA02EA2F354E9DB3429192EE23CE8B558E
  Children	1. Paul Terry MURDAUGH,   b. 14 Apr 1999   d. 7 Jun 2021, near dog kennels on their family's land, near Islandton, Colleton County, South Carolina (Age 22 years)   2. Richard Alexander “Buster” MURDAUGH, Jr.
  Family ID	F222736	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	8 Jul 2021

  
  

• Sources

  [S29337] Murdaugh charged with taking insurance money in maid’s death. [S29338] Murdaugh denied bond on $3M theft charges. [S29437] Judge freezes Alex Murdaugh’s money as lawsuits grow. [S29475] New indictments: Murdaugh now facing moore than 50 charges. [S28959] Mother, son from S.C. legal family found shot dead. [S28961] . [S28964] Randolph Murdaugh, III. [S29011] Family of double homicide victims offer $100K reward. [S29012] Maggie Murdaugh. [S29013] Paul Terry Murdaugh. [S29184] Lawyer whose wife, son were shot to death regrets decisions, entering rehab. [S29185] Law firm: Attorney whose wife, son were killed took money. [S29187] Lawyer whose son, wife killed has law license suspended. [S29222] Missing law firm money is 5th investigation into Murdaughs. [S29240] Murdaugh surrenders to face charges in $10M insurance fraud. [S29241] Murdaugh exits jail after $10M fraud arrest. [S29244] Police: Murdaugh arranged own death but shot grazed. [S29245] Lawsuits: Murdaught used attorney friend to manipulate, then tried to take settlement. [S29290] In Murdaugh family scandal, tiny S.C. town is shaken. [S29291] Rep. Smith to defend store sued in fatal boat crash.