How Alex Murdaugh's son helped solve his own murder and convict his father (SC)

Channel 3000 News/CNN ^ | March 4, 2023 | CNN Staff

[Diana in Wisconsin]

For a year and a half, Alex Murdaugh denied he was anywhere near where his wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, were brutally killed.

But it was one of his victims -- his son -- who would provide key proof after his death that legal experts say exposed his father's web of lies and ultimately led to his conviction in the double homicide.

"It is ironic, in the end, that it was the victim, Paul Murdaugh, who solved his own murder," Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Florida's Palm Beach County, told CNN Thursday night.

Murdaugh, a now disgraced former South Carolina attorney, was found guilty Thursday of fatally shooting his wife and son and, a day later, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He has maintained his innocence.

The key proof came from a video, which Paul recorded moments before he was gunned down and killed. It appeared to show one of the family's dogs near the kennels on their property. It also captured Alex Murdaugh's voice in the background -- and placed him at the scene of the crime.

The video, which Murdaugh didn't know existed before the trial, marked the crumbling of his alibi and left him no choice but to take the stand and explain why he lied multiple times to authorities about his whereabouts, legal experts told CNN.

Murdaugh, while denying he killed his wife and son, testified he lied about where he was because of paranoid thoughts stemming from his yearslong drug addiction to opioid painkillers, as well as his distrust of investigators. While on the stand, he also confessed to more lies, admitting in court he had stolen millions from his law firm and clients over roughly two decades.

[defconw]

The defense never brought it up either.

[NetAddicted]

I looked thru titles associated with Alex Murtaugh, but there was nothing questioning the handling of the investigation. I’ve tried to web search it; no luck. I found one Twitter post discussing lots of investigation problems from @AveryGWilks:
https://mobile.twitter.com/AveryGWilks/status/1631312105281400833

[defconw]

I think they were in over their heads. SLED, for instance they did not search Almeda house until much later. But, I think if the hair was something other than dog, they would have collected it. Murdaugh knew what he was doing he called everybody he could think of to come to that crime scene. Should never have been allowed. I really think had that video not surfaced (the defense knew about it) he would have been acquitted. But it surface in the third interview and he lied to it. I watched most of the trial. When he finally admitted he lied about it, they charged him (while in court), with misdemeanor “lying to a LEO”. Not sure that is the actual charge, but that was why.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Midsomers Murders.”

I never tire of those! Must’ve watched 100 episodes through the years.

We love all the BBC serials.

Have you read/seen “Magpie Murders?” Also, “Killers of a Certain Age” is a terrific book and will make a great movie/series in the future, too. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for the tip. Too slow of internet out here in the boonies to stream, but I do rent their DVDs, so I will look for it.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks!

I must’ve been living under a rock for the past few years to have missed this all! ;)

[Churchillspirit]

Can anyone find the Netflix show in English?

[Churchillspirit]

OK Found it!