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[dramatic music]
[phone dials]
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[line rings]
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‐ [whimpers]
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‐ Tragedy
in the Lowcountry as‐‐
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‐ Their bodies were found‐‐
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‐ However, we still don't know
if there are any suspects.
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‐ It is the latest turn
in an ongoing saga.
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‐ Two members of
a well‐known family are dead.
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‐ Both found dead
from gunshot wounds.
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‐ Paul had been in trouble
with the law before,
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facing criminal charges of
boating under the influence.
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‐ That killed a former USC
student, Mallory Beach.
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‐ Another death,
and another investigation
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tied to the Murdaugh name.
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‐ Stephen Smith, who was found
dead in the road,
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ruled a hit and run.
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‐ There's a new twist in
a story we've been following.
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‐ Former housekeeper,
Gloria Satterfield,
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who died at the Murdaugh home.
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‐ My name is Alex Murdaugh.
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[indistinct chatter]
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‐ I've been an investigative
journalist for 28 years, and a lot of the stories
that I've done
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are‐‐are pretty cut and dry.
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And this is far from that.
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I have to tell you,
I‐‐I haven't worked on a story
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this complicated,
this intricate before.
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For the last six months,
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I've been wading through this
labyrinth of investigations.
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And connected
to all of these cases
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are members from one family,
the Murdaughs,
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and often its patriarch,
53‐year‐old Alex Murdaugh.
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It all started
in June of 2021.
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[dog barking]
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[dog whines]
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[line rings]
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‐ [whimpers]
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‐ Maggie and Paul Murdaugh
were found shot to death
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outside of some dog kennels
in their hunting lodge.
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‐ A shotgun was used on him.
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A semi‐automatic weapon
was used to kill Maggie.
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‐ A mother and her son
were shot in cold blood.
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And they are a prominent family
in this area.
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The big question on‐‐
in my mind,
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and also in the minds
of‐‐of many people was,
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"What's the motive here?"
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Why would someone want
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh dead?
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Homicides don't happen
in Hampton County.
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[tense music]
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♪ ♪
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Tell me about this place.
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‐ Hampton County‐‐if you knew
of‐‐of us at all,
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if you knew
what Hampton County was,
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you knew us
for our Watermelon Festival,
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the oldest continuing festival
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in the‐‐in the state
of South Carolina.
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‐ We call this the Lowcountry
of South Carolina,
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and it has the most vestiges
of the old South.
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People here are hardworking.
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They're, you know,
basically honest people.
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‐ You know, everybody here
is like family.
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You can get people here
together for a cause.
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‐ Good people.
They're nice and kind.
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And they'd give you
the shirt off their back,
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you know,
if you ever need help.
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Every now and then you get
one of them bad apples.
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‐ We're trying to grow
a better county.
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And this comes along.
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And now we're synonymous
with this Murdaugh.
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Man, I was in Colombia
the other day.
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And I told somebody
I was from Hampton,
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and the first thing they said,
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"Oh, you're the home
of the Murdaughs."
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‐ I needed to dig deeper into
who the Murdaugh family is.
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They're a big deal?
‐ Oh, yes.
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Absolutely.
And well respected, yes.
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‐ Growing up, you knew
their name?
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‐ Oh, absolutely.
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My family's grown up
around them all the years.
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And I mean,
to hear the name was
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to know
that they were respected.
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‐ They work very hard.
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They give back
to their community.
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They will loan their property,
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their, you know,
houses or whatever,
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to have some type
of a fundraiser.
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‐ If you're from Hampton,
you've had some type of‐‐
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of relationship
with the Murdaughs.
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They're just‐‐they're involved
in everything.
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If you run into a Murdaugh
in the Piggly Wiggly
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or on the street,
they're gonna shake your hand,
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they're gonna know your name,
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and they're going to ask you
how you're doing.
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‐ The Murdaughs have
deep roots in this community.
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So what happened
in the early summer of 2021
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was a shock to the people
that live here.
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‐ We're following
this developing story tonight.
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‐ Tragedy in the Lowcountry
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as two members
of a well‐known family
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were discovered overnight.
‐ Found shot to death.
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‐ No arrests have been made.
‐ No suspects have been named.
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No persons of interest
at this time.
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‐ April?
‐ Yes.
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‐ Hi, I'm Troy.
‐ Nice to meet you.
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‐ Nice to meet you.
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Have you been able to make
any sense out of all of this?
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‐ I do not understand it.
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When the call came in,
that, you know,
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Maggie and Paul
had been killed...
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We was up all night
trying to make sense of it
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and nobody could.
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As far as the family
as a whole,
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I never saw problems.
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I loved Maggie,
a very sweet lady.
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They always seemed
happy together.
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They always did things
as a family.
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So it was a‐‐it was
a huge shock
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for the‐‐the whole community.
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I mean, that's all anybody's
talking about now.
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‐ That night, the sirens
started around 10:30.
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They just‐‐it was just
non‐stop.
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Siren after siren after siren.
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I think probably about
the 20th time the car went by,
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I mean, I just was at this time
wide awake in bed.
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My stepdad was very close
with their dad.
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And then other than that,
it's just been
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our families
knew one another.
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So just disbelief.
Just shock.
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‐ At first I was
actually just...
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you know,
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speechless.
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Really couldn't process it.
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‐ It's mind‐blowing.
I mean, there's a lot of us
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that don't really know
what to say.
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It's‐‐it's very tragic.
It's‐‐it's sad.
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‐ You just don't see, you know,
a young man and a‐‐and a mother
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being killed
in a community like this.
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‐ In the days following
the murders,
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Alex and his eldest son,
Buster,
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made no statements
to the press.
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But Alex's brothers spoke out
on behalf of the family.
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‐ I got a call from‐‐from
Alex Monday night.
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And as soon as
I answered the phone,
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I knew something was wrong.
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You know, man.
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He just told me, he said,
"Come as fast as you can.
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Paul and Maggie
have been hurt."
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‐ It changes you as a family.
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And I can't imagine the horror
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that
my brother's experiencing.
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‐ Can't envision who would
do something like that.
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‐ You‐‐you'll never know
the truth
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about anything, you know.
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There's only two people
that know.
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The person that did it
and the good man upstairs.
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You don't know who did what.
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‐ Of course,
you can count on us
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00:09:05,991 --> 00:09:07,628
to bring you the very latest
as we learn more details.
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Now reporting live,
Riley Benson down on two.
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‐ I remember sitting
in our‐‐our morning meeting
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and our news director came in
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and they said,
"Who wants to go to Hampton?"
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I remember all the reporters,
nobody raised their hand.
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I'd never even heard of it
until Alex Murdaugh
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all happened.
And I got‐‐I was the lucky one
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who got sent down
to Hampton County.
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Then we get out here
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and it was that first day
after the double murder.
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You know, SLEDs out here
and the Sheriff's right here.
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00:09:34,949 --> 00:09:37,655
And so I've been covering it
really from that point.
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We came to know that,
you know, they said
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00:09:39,057 --> 00:09:41,663
that Alex was
a person of interest early on.
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‐ Right.
‐ But not totally surprising
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00:09:43,967 --> 00:09:45,905
when he was the one
who found the bodies.
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He was the one who called 911,
and of course, you know,
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he's the husband, the father.
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There's still
no real explanation behind
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what happened on this
Colleton County family property
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00:09:55,356 --> 00:09:56,893
or any information
on who could be
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00:09:56,927 --> 00:09:58,296
behind the brutal shootings.
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Residents say
lack of information
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00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:02,337
has many community members
drawing their own conclusions
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00:10:02,370 --> 00:10:05,778
in this high profile case.
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00:10:05,811 --> 00:10:09,051
‐ Any sign that there was
a robbery in progress?
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00:10:09,084 --> 00:10:12,157
‐ They did find her cellphone
thrown on the side of the road.
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00:10:12,190 --> 00:10:15,063
So whoever it was, appears
to have taken her cellphone.
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‐ I've been to
a lot of crime scenes
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and looked at
a lot of homicides.
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00:10:23,847 --> 00:10:27,989
And to me this is‐‐it's
almost more than personal.
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00:10:28,022 --> 00:10:31,128
In some ways, it's overkill.
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Two different weapons
shot multiple times
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when one shot
would certainly do the job.
194
00:10:38,409 --> 00:10:41,382
We have so little information.
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Even the‐‐the reports that were
released through FOIA,
196
00:10:44,889 --> 00:10:46,325
they're so redacted
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00:10:46,358 --> 00:10:49,097
that you can't even read
a complete sentence.
198
00:10:50,768 --> 00:10:52,905
I mean, anything right now
is possible.
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00:10:53,907 --> 00:10:55,009
The first person
you want to talk to you
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00:10:55,043 --> 00:10:56,713
is the person
that found the body.
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00:10:56,746 --> 00:10:58,349
‐ Alex Murdaugh.
‐ Exactly.
202
00:11:26,438 --> 00:11:29,879
‐ Alex makes a 911 call
at 10:08.
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00:11:29,913 --> 00:11:32,785
The time of death ruled
between 9:00 and 9:30.
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00:11:32,818 --> 00:11:37,027
Alex reported to have
a "stone‐cold alibi."
205
00:11:37,060 --> 00:11:39,164
He was with his dad, Randolph,
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who died just
a couple of days later.
207
00:11:40,466 --> 00:11:42,170
‐ Just natural causes,
but died.
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00:11:42,204 --> 00:11:45,811
‐ And he also went to see
his mother who has dementia.
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00:11:45,844 --> 00:11:48,850
‐ So do you have
your own theories?
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00:11:48,884 --> 00:11:50,320
‐ Everybody has a theory
in this town.
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00:11:50,353 --> 00:11:51,790
‐ Everyone has a theory
and a lot of it is just
212
00:11:51,823 --> 00:11:54,394
rumors and gossip.
213
00:11:54,428 --> 00:11:57,067
I mean, there are a lot of
potential enemies there
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00:11:57,100 --> 00:11:58,469
of this family.
215
00:11:58,503 --> 00:12:02,210
We came across an old article
on them from 2009
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00:12:02,244 --> 00:12:04,081
where someone tried
to burn down their home.
217
00:12:04,114 --> 00:12:06,352
I mean, most people
don't have‐‐I mean,
218
00:12:06,385 --> 00:12:08,890
no one's ever tried
to burn my home down.
219
00:12:08,924 --> 00:12:11,963
‐ This was a twisted,
twisted tale.
220
00:12:11,997 --> 00:12:15,203
We began investigating
this double homicide
221
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at the hunting lodge.
222
00:12:17,207 --> 00:12:20,915
But as we dug further,
223
00:12:20,948 --> 00:12:23,052
that was just
the tip of the iceberg.
224
00:12:25,991 --> 00:12:29,064
‐ The more questions you ask,
the more questions evolve.
225
00:12:29,097 --> 00:12:33,039
‐ What would someone gain from
killing a mother and her son?
226
00:12:33,072 --> 00:12:34,274
Revenge?
227
00:12:36,813 --> 00:12:38,517
‐ Sex?
228
00:12:38,550 --> 00:12:41,823
‐ Never had a case that was
shrouded in so much secrecy.
229
00:12:41,856 --> 00:12:43,527
‐ Money?
230
00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:46,098
‐ Do you guys know who she is?
‐ Yeah, she works for us.
231
00:12:46,131 --> 00:12:50,173
‐ When you have this many
untimely deaths,
232
00:12:50,206 --> 00:12:51,810
what's happening here?
233
00:12:51,843 --> 00:12:53,212
‐ A lot of people
don't want to talk.
234
00:12:53,245 --> 00:12:55,216
They're afraid.
235
00:12:55,249 --> 00:12:57,053
‐ There's something
terribly wrong here.
236
00:13:11,148 --> 00:13:13,085
‐ The motives for murder
are pretty basic. It's not surprising.
237
00:13:13,119 --> 00:13:18,129
Betrayal, revenge,
sex, and money.
238
00:13:18,162 --> 00:13:19,599
I've done this a long time.
239
00:13:19,632 --> 00:13:22,404
And it all boils down
to those four.
240
00:13:25,009 --> 00:13:29,251
In June 2021, the murders
of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh
241
00:13:29,284 --> 00:13:31,422
shocked the Lowcountry.
242
00:13:31,455 --> 00:13:33,392
How could the wife and son
243
00:13:33,426 --> 00:13:36,365
of one of the most
prominent attorneys in town
244
00:13:36,398 --> 00:13:39,237
have been murdered
in their own home?
245
00:13:39,271 --> 00:13:42,611
But even more shocking were
two subsequent statements
246
00:13:42,645 --> 00:13:44,281
by law enforcement.
247
00:13:44,314 --> 00:13:47,988
First, they were not
naming any suspects.
248
00:13:48,022 --> 00:13:50,426
Second,
the public had no reason
249
00:13:50,460 --> 00:13:52,030
to fear for their safety.
250
00:13:54,635 --> 00:13:57,007
‐ I think people were probably
251
00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,946
just as perplexed
as you and I are.
252
00:13:59,979 --> 00:14:02,551
But they did say that there was
no threat to public safety.
253
00:14:02,585 --> 00:14:05,189
So everyone was confused of
"Okay, if there's no threat
254
00:14:05,223 --> 00:14:06,559
"to public safety,
255
00:14:06,593 --> 00:14:08,129
then why hasn't there
been arrests made yet?"
256
00:14:10,968 --> 00:14:14,374
‐ Why do you think the law
enforcement isn't giving out
257
00:14:14,408 --> 00:14:18,015
even a smidgen of information?
258
00:14:18,049 --> 00:14:21,321
‐ For me, I feel
that there's a different way
259
00:14:21,355 --> 00:14:24,494
to go about an investigation
of this magnitude.
260
00:14:24,529 --> 00:14:27,100
I mean, when you think about
who the Murdaughs are,
261
00:14:27,133 --> 00:14:29,639
they're infamous around here,
especially these parts.
262
00:14:29,672 --> 00:14:31,308
Of course, it's going
to be handled differently
263
00:14:31,341 --> 00:14:33,112
because they're well known.
264
00:14:33,145 --> 00:14:35,249
I have faith that they're doing
what they're supposed to do.
265
00:14:37,955 --> 00:14:39,659
‐ News organizations
became aware
266
00:14:39,692 --> 00:14:44,034
that there was no information
being provided to the public
267
00:14:44,067 --> 00:14:46,472
by the Colleton County
Sheriff's Department.
268
00:14:46,506 --> 00:14:48,510
The law says
that these police reports
269
00:14:48,543 --> 00:14:50,514
for the preceding 14 days
270
00:14:50,547 --> 00:14:52,651
must be made available
for inspection and copying
271
00:14:52,685 --> 00:14:55,323
without a written request.
272
00:14:55,356 --> 00:14:57,928
The report
from the Sheriff's Office
273
00:14:57,962 --> 00:15:00,433
contained no information
at all.
274
00:15:01,468 --> 00:15:03,439
A reporter from
the Post and Courier
275
00:15:03,472 --> 00:15:06,111
went to the State Law
Enforcement Division
276
00:15:06,145 --> 00:15:08,550
and was denied access
to the building.
277
00:15:08,583 --> 00:15:12,390
The judge reviewed
the original documents,
278
00:15:12,424 --> 00:15:14,327
unredacted documents,
279
00:15:14,361 --> 00:15:19,505
and the claimed exemptions
asserted by law enforcement
280
00:15:19,539 --> 00:15:21,543
and said they were appropriate.
281
00:15:21,576 --> 00:15:24,949
It shouldn't take a lawsuit
to get information.
282
00:15:24,982 --> 00:15:27,487
If I'm truly cynical,
283
00:15:27,521 --> 00:15:29,692
I'd say that somebody's
being protected.
284
00:15:29,725 --> 00:15:32,163
If I'm merely skeptical,
285
00:15:32,197 --> 00:15:33,700
I'd say it's
the Sheriff's Office
286
00:15:33,733 --> 00:15:35,637
had no idea what it was doing.
287
00:15:44,154 --> 00:15:46,960
‐ As an outsider
covering the story,
288
00:15:46,993 --> 00:15:49,431
you have to wonder
why law enforcement agencies
289
00:15:49,464 --> 00:15:53,272
would be so tight‐lipped
about a case as significant
290
00:15:53,305 --> 00:15:55,711
as the double murder
of two members
291
00:15:55,744 --> 00:16:00,052
of one of the most prominent
families in the area.
292
00:16:00,086 --> 00:16:02,290
Tell me about the Murdaughs.
293
00:16:02,323 --> 00:16:06,064
‐ 85 years, they've been
solicitors in this district.
294
00:16:06,098 --> 00:16:10,439
Solicitor is prosecutor
down in this area.
295
00:16:10,473 --> 00:16:16,753
‐ Randolph I, in 1920, served
until his death in 1940.
296
00:16:16,786 --> 00:16:19,692
Local legend says
that he never put
297
00:16:19,725 --> 00:16:21,729
a shingle out front
of his law firm
298
00:16:21,763 --> 00:16:23,199
with his name on it.
299
00:16:23,232 --> 00:16:24,602
Because people everywhere
300
00:16:24,635 --> 00:16:27,541
knew where the
Murdaugh Law Firm was located.
301
00:16:27,575 --> 00:16:30,514
Randolph Murdaugh built
the beginnings of something
302
00:16:30,547 --> 00:16:35,089
that grew and grew and became
this‐‐this powerful law firm.
303
00:16:35,122 --> 00:16:37,595
His son, Randolph Jr.‐‐
Buster‐‐
304
00:16:37,628 --> 00:16:40,032
ran for election
and he became solicitor.
305
00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:41,503
‐ Hell of a trial lawyer.
306
00:16:41,536 --> 00:16:43,540
He could get away with things
you couldn't do now.
307
00:16:43,573 --> 00:16:45,209
He'd throw evidence
across the courtroom
308
00:16:45,243 --> 00:16:46,546
if he wanted to make a point.
309
00:16:46,579 --> 00:16:48,415
He had a flair
for the dramatic.
310
00:16:48,449 --> 00:16:50,152
‐ Then Randolph III came,
311
00:16:50,186 --> 00:16:52,558
and he served
almost another 20 years.
312
00:16:52,591 --> 00:16:54,294
‐ Randolph was a gentleman
as well.
313
00:16:54,327 --> 00:16:56,799
Anytime he had a murder case
involving a shooting,
314
00:16:56,833 --> 00:16:58,369
he made sure
to wear a white shirt.
315
00:16:58,402 --> 00:17:00,541
And he would get
a red magic marker
316
00:17:00,574 --> 00:17:02,310
and he goes at
the medical examiner.
317
00:17:02,343 --> 00:17:04,180
You know, "Where‐‐where did
the bullet go in?"
318
00:17:04,214 --> 00:17:05,483
And the medical examiner
319
00:17:05,517 --> 00:17:07,253
would put this big red dot
on his shirt
320
00:17:07,287 --> 00:17:10,459
and then another one
if there was one there.
321
00:17:10,493 --> 00:17:13,700
‐ They‐‐I'd probably tell you
it's the longest running
322
00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:16,071
solicitor run
in all the country.
323
00:17:16,104 --> 00:17:18,475
Put a lot of people in prison
in the last 85 years.
324
00:17:20,547 --> 00:17:23,687
‐ Knowing their long history
as prosecutors,
325
00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,458
you have to wonder
if the Murdaugh family
326
00:17:26,491 --> 00:17:29,799
may have made enemies
along the way.
327
00:17:29,832 --> 00:17:34,274
‐ They also had a very
profitable law practice
328
00:17:34,307 --> 00:17:36,144
in litigation,
mostly civil suits.
329
00:17:38,449 --> 00:17:41,088
‐ They call it
the house that CSX built.
330
00:17:41,121 --> 00:17:42,791
I think it made a name
for itself
331
00:17:42,825 --> 00:17:45,363
because the lawyers knew
332
00:17:45,396 --> 00:17:49,104
how to use the venue provisions
in South Carolina.
333
00:17:49,137 --> 00:17:50,641
‐ Because of
the venue statutes,
334
00:17:50,674 --> 00:17:53,479
those statutes that govern
where suits are brought,
335
00:17:53,513 --> 00:17:56,552
if you had any property
in a county,
336
00:17:56,586 --> 00:18:00,226
you could bring suit against
a corporation in that county,
337
00:18:00,259 --> 00:18:03,198
regardless of where
the injury might have occurred.
338
00:18:03,232 --> 00:18:06,471
And railroads running
throughout South Carolina
339
00:18:06,506 --> 00:18:10,112
often got sued
in Hampton County
340
00:18:10,146 --> 00:18:12,283
by lawyers
from the Murdaugh firm.
341
00:18:12,317 --> 00:18:14,321
And they were quite successful.
342
00:18:18,329 --> 00:18:21,335
‐ This law firm is huge.
I mean, they always win money.
343
00:18:21,368 --> 00:18:24,240
They generally win millions
of dollars for their clients.
344
00:18:24,274 --> 00:18:25,844
They just knew
that the Murdaughs
345
00:18:25,877 --> 00:18:27,648
were the ones who would get you
the money that you wanted.
346
00:18:29,351 --> 00:18:30,520
‐ Who was Alex Murdaugh?
347
00:18:31,723 --> 00:18:33,292
‐ He works hard.
348
00:18:33,325 --> 00:18:35,296
He's always been
a‐‐a family guy.
349
00:18:35,329 --> 00:18:36,465
You know, you can be
in the grocery store
350
00:18:36,498 --> 00:18:37,500
and he'll come in.
351
00:18:37,534 --> 00:18:39,437
If he sees you,
you turn around,
352
00:18:39,471 --> 00:18:41,208
he comes over to speak.
353
00:18:41,241 --> 00:18:43,145
You know, you'd think
he's a politician.
354
00:18:44,481 --> 00:18:47,888
I just kind of see Alex
as a normal guy.
355
00:18:47,921 --> 00:18:52,296
‐ He is very influential.
He's a‐‐he's a dad of two.
356
00:18:52,330 --> 00:18:54,568
I think he's
a very successful lawyer
357
00:18:54,602 --> 00:18:56,438
and volunteer prosecutor.
358
00:18:56,471 --> 00:18:58,375
‐ Alex was the one
we all thought
359
00:18:58,409 --> 00:19:00,313
would have replaced
his dad as Solicitor.
360
00:19:00,346 --> 00:19:03,753
Because Alex was a kind
of brash BS politician.
361
00:19:03,787 --> 00:19:06,726
He'd put his arm around you,
remember your name.
362
00:19:06,759 --> 00:19:08,563
I've known Alex
since he's been 18.
363
00:19:08,596 --> 00:19:10,399
He's always been
a‐‐a good guy to me.
364
00:19:11,903 --> 00:19:14,575
‐ There's no great money
in being a solicitor.
365
00:19:14,608 --> 00:19:17,413
If you look up the salary,
I'm sure it's‐‐it's not
366
00:19:17,447 --> 00:19:20,353
what you'd make as an attorney
at a personal injury law firm.
367
00:19:20,386 --> 00:19:23,325
‐ This was a powerful family.
368
00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:27,835
And Alex Murdaugh had
a lengthy list of clients.
369
00:19:27,868 --> 00:19:30,540
Could it have something to do
with an old case?
370
00:19:30,574 --> 00:19:33,312
Did the family have enemies?
371
00:19:33,345 --> 00:19:38,255
If people in town had theories,
no one was talking.
372
00:19:43,733 --> 00:19:46,939
This is Troy Roberts.
I'm a reporter.
373
00:19:46,973 --> 00:19:48,643
I'm interested
in sitting down with you
374
00:19:48,676 --> 00:19:51,516
to discuss
the Murdaugh family case.
375
00:19:51,549 --> 00:19:53,620
When I arrived in August,
376
00:19:53,653 --> 00:19:56,391
I reached out
to multiple people
377
00:19:56,425 --> 00:19:59,364
who may have some information
about this case.
378
00:19:59,397 --> 00:20:00,867
You're‐‐you're not interested.
379
00:20:00,901 --> 00:20:03,606
I was met with
so much resistance.
380
00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:04,675
A lot of hang‐ups.
381
00:20:08,783 --> 00:20:10,419
‐ He is not available
for any comments?
382
00:20:14,862 --> 00:20:19,437
Investigating this story
has been extremely frustrating.
383
00:20:19,471 --> 00:20:22,343
People either cancel,
384
00:20:22,376 --> 00:20:25,382
or they're uncooperative,
385
00:20:25,416 --> 00:20:26,652
or they ghost us.
386
00:20:26,686 --> 00:20:30,426
Could you tell him
that Troy Roberts called?
387
00:20:30,459 --> 00:20:33,666
Is there any way
that you could pencil me in?
388
00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:36,639
I have not encountered
this kind of wall of silence
389
00:20:36,672 --> 00:20:40,747
for any criminal cases
that I've covered
390
00:20:40,781 --> 00:20:45,991
with the exception of
the John Gotti trial, frankly.
391
00:20:46,024 --> 00:20:47,728
A neutral party will be better.
392
00:20:47,761 --> 00:20:49,732
Okay, got it. Okay.
393
00:20:53,439 --> 00:20:54,942
‐ I will.
394
00:21:05,062 --> 00:21:07,366
‐ The unsolved double murder of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh
is making news headlines.
395
00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:08,135
‐ One of the victims
of that double homicide‐‐
396
00:21:08,168 --> 00:21:09,370
‐ 22‐year‐old Paul Murdaugh.
397
00:21:09,404 --> 00:21:12,544
‐ Paul Murdaugh had been in
trouble with the law before.
398
00:21:12,578 --> 00:21:14,515
‐ Facing three felony charges.
399
00:21:16,819 --> 00:21:19,057
‐ Before he and his mother
were murdered,
400
00:21:19,090 --> 00:21:23,398
Paul was a student at the
University of South Carolina.
401
00:21:23,432 --> 00:21:27,641
But trouble had a way
of following him around.
402
00:21:33,853 --> 00:21:36,659
‐ I grew up in Hilton Head,
South Carolina,
403
00:21:36,692 --> 00:21:39,565
which is in Beaufort County
down on the coast.
404
00:21:41,001 --> 00:21:43,305
This started out
as very local story.
405
00:21:43,338 --> 00:21:44,975
And now it's become national.
406
00:21:45,009 --> 00:21:47,046
There's lots
of national attention.
407
00:21:47,079 --> 00:21:48,650
I really didn't know
how I could help.
408
00:21:48,683 --> 00:21:50,319
I'm not in law enforcement.
409
00:21:50,352 --> 00:21:52,056
I don't really have any
connections to law enforcement.
410
00:21:52,089 --> 00:21:55,329
But I had an idea that I could
possibly do this podcast.
411
00:21:55,362 --> 00:21:58,468
I thought it would also be
a good way to draw attention
412
00:21:58,503 --> 00:22:02,678
to the stories and hopefully
get resolution for the victims.
413
00:22:04,982 --> 00:22:07,119
I started the podcast
414
00:22:07,153 --> 00:22:09,692
after the double homicide
of Maggie and Paul,
415
00:22:09,725 --> 00:22:12,731
but that's not when I first
became interested in the story.
416
00:22:12,764 --> 00:22:14,835
I actually first became
interested in the story
417
00:22:14,869 --> 00:22:16,572
back in 2019.
418
00:22:24,588 --> 00:22:27,528
[phone dials, line rings]
419
00:22:32,804 --> 00:22:34,440
[shouting in background]
420
00:22:37,046 --> 00:22:38,415
[shouting in background]
421
00:22:52,744 --> 00:22:55,517
‐ Do you know much
about Paul Murdaugh?
422
00:22:55,550 --> 00:22:58,856
‐ He was privileged.
423
00:22:58,890 --> 00:23:01,027
‐ Paul was‐‐
‐ Not a good reputation.
424
00:23:01,061 --> 00:23:02,764
‐ Does not have
a good reputation.
425
00:23:07,641 --> 00:23:10,145
‐ Paul was‐‐all accounts
seemed to be,
426
00:23:10,179 --> 00:23:11,882
I guess, the wild child.
427
00:23:11,916 --> 00:23:14,822
‐ Their party spot was Moselle.
428
00:23:14,855 --> 00:23:17,761
They'd go there and party.
429
00:23:17,794 --> 00:23:19,665
‐ I've been to parties
at their home.
430
00:23:19,698 --> 00:23:21,769
‐ Parties at the Murdaugh home?
‐ Yep.
431
00:23:21,802 --> 00:23:24,875
Always a fight, period.
There is always a fight.
432
00:23:24,909 --> 00:23:28,015
Seems like he had
a lot of anger.
433
00:23:28,048 --> 00:23:33,559
‐ Paul had a alter ego
named Timmy.
434
00:23:33,593 --> 00:23:35,964
That when he became
intoxicated,
435
00:23:35,997 --> 00:23:40,707
he became this Jekyll
and Hyde kind of character.
436
00:23:40,740 --> 00:23:44,414
‐ Could Paul's murder
have been an act of revenge?
437
00:23:46,585 --> 00:23:48,790
What happened that night
438
00:23:48,823 --> 00:23:51,127
when Paul and his friends
were on the boat?
439
00:23:51,161 --> 00:23:52,163
‐ They had been drinking.
440
00:23:56,806 --> 00:24:00,012
They bought alcohol
with his older brother's ID.
441
00:24:02,618 --> 00:24:04,922
‐ These kids
all kind of grew up together.
442
00:24:04,955 --> 00:24:07,527
Connor and Anthony
are cousins.
443
00:24:07,561 --> 00:24:09,798
And then there was Paul,
444
00:24:09,832 --> 00:24:13,539
Morgan, Mallory, and Miley.
445
00:24:13,573 --> 00:24:18,716
‐ Everybody went to school and
everybody socialized together.
446
00:24:18,750 --> 00:24:22,891
These kids were a band
of brothers and sisters‐‐
447
00:24:22,924 --> 00:24:26,599
to use a hackneyed phrase,
I guess‐‐
448
00:24:26,632 --> 00:24:29,203
with a very special
relationship
449
00:24:29,237 --> 00:24:32,811
that's forever been torn up.
450
00:24:32,844 --> 00:24:37,153
‐ Who as teenagers has not
drank before you're of age?
451
00:24:37,186 --> 00:24:38,823
I mean,
I can't think a lot of us
452
00:24:38,856 --> 00:24:41,161
could say
that we haven't done that.
453
00:24:41,194 --> 00:24:42,898
A lot of us were
just lucky enough
454
00:24:42,931 --> 00:24:46,004
that, you know, somebody
didn't get killed or hurt.
455
00:24:49,812 --> 00:24:52,751
‐ Teenagers drinking
and partying on a boat
456
00:24:52,784 --> 00:24:55,122
is not that unusual.
457
00:24:55,155 --> 00:24:58,996
But the events
of February 24, 2019,
458
00:24:59,030 --> 00:25:03,205
would change the lives
of these six kids forever.
459
00:25:06,545 --> 00:25:10,119
‐ They had made plans
to go to a Oyster Race.
460
00:25:10,152 --> 00:25:12,123
They decided to travel by boat
461
00:25:12,156 --> 00:25:16,131
because there
was reportedly a DUI stop.
462
00:25:16,164 --> 00:25:17,801
So they go
to this Oyster Race,
463
00:25:17,834 --> 00:25:19,905
they have the beers.
464
00:25:19,938 --> 00:25:22,677
After that,
Paul really wanted to go
465
00:25:22,711 --> 00:25:25,617
to downtown Beaufort
and do some shots.
466
00:25:28,188 --> 00:25:29,758
Most of the other group
didn't want to go,
467
00:25:29,792 --> 00:25:33,031
But Paul and Connor
go into the bar.
468
00:25:33,065 --> 00:25:34,233
The rest of them
did not have IDs.
469
00:25:34,267 --> 00:25:36,004
No one was 21.
470
00:25:37,908 --> 00:25:40,914
They go to a local park
and just hang out.
471
00:25:44,822 --> 00:25:47,627
Paul and Connor do
a few shots.
472
00:25:47,661 --> 00:25:50,700
Paul, at this point,
has a conflict
473
00:25:50,734 --> 00:25:54,073
with one of the patrons.
474
00:25:54,107 --> 00:25:57,914
So they quickly shuffled Paul
back to the boat.
475
00:25:57,948 --> 00:26:02,724
‐ At the end of a very long day
of underage drinking
476
00:26:02,758 --> 00:26:06,665
and nightfall, fog,
late hours,
477
00:26:06,699 --> 00:26:09,671
it appears Paul Murdaugh
was not only angry,
478
00:26:09,705 --> 00:26:11,709
but very, very intoxicated.
479
00:26:17,353 --> 00:26:19,992
‐ Paul is insisting on driving.
480
00:26:20,025 --> 00:26:21,327
No one really wants him
to drive
481
00:26:21,361 --> 00:26:23,064
because he's intoxicated.
482
00:26:23,098 --> 00:26:24,668
I think he became
kind of an angry drunk
483
00:26:24,701 --> 00:26:27,106
and this is from depositions.
484
00:26:27,139 --> 00:26:29,343
They called him Timmy.
485
00:26:29,377 --> 00:26:31,014
‐ Timmy did something
with his hands
486
00:26:31,047 --> 00:26:32,717
or some sort of hand motions.
487
00:26:32,751 --> 00:26:35,355
And so when they said
that on the boat,
488
00:26:35,389 --> 00:26:37,126
they started seeing him
do these hand things,
489
00:26:37,159 --> 00:26:39,598
they're like,
we know Timmy is here.
490
00:26:42,704 --> 00:26:45,008
‐ It's dark and foggy.
491
00:26:45,042 --> 00:26:49,117
And an angry person
at the wheel of the boat.
492
00:26:49,150 --> 00:26:50,987
‐ They did not have lights.
493
00:26:51,020 --> 00:26:54,127
They were navigating
with a small flashlight.
494
00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:57,834
He was driving in circles,
not really getting anywhere.
495
00:26:57,868 --> 00:26:59,370
They're all starting
to get mad at him.
496
00:26:59,403 --> 00:27:01,040
They're yelling at him.
497
00:27:01,074 --> 00:27:03,278
He goes up and he has
a confrontation with Morgan,
498
00:27:03,311 --> 00:27:04,982
who was
Paul's then girlfriend,
499
00:27:05,015 --> 00:27:09,357
where he pushes, spits on,
and hits her.
500
00:27:09,390 --> 00:27:12,898
At that point, Connor,
who was standing next to him,
501
00:27:12,931 --> 00:27:14,133
takes over the steering.
502
00:27:14,167 --> 00:27:15,970
And I think this happened
a few‐‐few times?
503
00:27:16,004 --> 00:27:17,707
‐ Mm‐hmm.
504
00:27:17,741 --> 00:27:19,978
‐ They're all again yelling
and then somehow,
505
00:27:20,012 --> 00:27:23,051
the throttle gets pushed.
506
00:27:23,084 --> 00:27:25,122
‐ How fast was he going?
507
00:27:25,155 --> 00:27:27,359
‐ 35 miles an hour, I believe.
508
00:27:31,301 --> 00:27:35,142
‐ He went at a high rate
of speed under the bridge
509
00:27:35,175 --> 00:27:37,179
which is a bit dangerous,
anyway.
510
00:27:37,213 --> 00:27:40,419
It's narrow.
511
00:27:40,452 --> 00:27:43,926
And the boat struck
the pilings at the bridge.
512
00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,932
‐ Thrown out of the boat
were Paul Murdaugh,
513
00:27:46,966 --> 00:27:49,070
Anthony Cook,
and Mallory Beach.
514
00:27:49,103 --> 00:27:51,809
[shouting in background]
‐ Who is missing?
515
00:27:51,842 --> 00:27:53,144
‐ Female, Mallory Beach.
516
00:28:00,727 --> 00:28:03,900
[shouting in background] ‐ On the early hours
of February 24, 2019,
517
00:28:03,933 --> 00:28:06,906
more than two years
before his brutal murder,
518
00:28:06,939 --> 00:28:09,845
Paul Murdaugh
and five friends crash
519
00:28:09,878 --> 00:28:11,815
into the Archers Creek Bridge.
520
00:28:16,491 --> 00:28:20,365
‐ What followed was total chaos
521
00:28:20,399 --> 00:28:23,706
as one of the passengers,
Mallory Beach,
522
00:28:23,739 --> 00:28:26,044
was nowhere to be found.
523
00:28:27,847 --> 00:28:29,685
‐ Connor is the one
who called 911.
524
00:28:30,887 --> 00:28:32,924
Morgan had
some sort of hand injury.
525
00:28:32,958 --> 00:28:34,227
‐ She was bleeding a lot,
they said.
526
00:28:34,260 --> 00:28:36,264
Now Anthony's
had a shoulder injury.
527
00:28:36,297 --> 00:28:37,834
‐ But he was swimming
and swimming
528
00:28:37,867 --> 00:28:40,740
and trying to find Mallory.
529
00:28:40,773 --> 00:28:43,211
‐ Knowing the extent of
injuries that Connor Cook had,
530
00:28:43,245 --> 00:28:44,447
I mean, he had a broken jaw,
531
00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,954
I was surprised that
he was able to be that calm
532
00:28:47,988 --> 00:28:49,457
while talking
to the 911 operator.
533
00:29:01,381 --> 00:29:03,218
‐ Can you hurry?
‐ What did you say?
534
00:29:10,465 --> 00:29:11,769
‐ There was a lot of chaos.
535
00:29:11,802 --> 00:29:15,543
Anthony Cook, Connor's cousin,
536
00:29:15,576 --> 00:29:17,847
Paul Murdaugh, to some extent,
537
00:29:17,881 --> 00:29:19,150
were both in the water.
538
00:29:20,419 --> 00:29:22,857
You have to envision swimming
539
00:29:22,891 --> 00:29:25,863
in the middle of the night
with fog.
540
00:29:25,897 --> 00:29:27,968
It's cool.
People are screaming.
541
00:29:29,170 --> 00:29:30,907
But it's a tidal creek,
542
00:29:30,940 --> 00:29:33,211
so the water
is constantly moving.
543
00:29:38,889 --> 00:29:40,258
‐ Now, Anthony's‐‐
he's fired up,
544
00:29:40,292 --> 00:29:41,361
He definitely blames Paul.
545
00:29:56,190 --> 00:29:58,328
‐ You had lots of
law enforcement there.
546
00:29:58,361 --> 00:30:00,967
So people who were injured
were capable
547
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,040
of being attended to before
they left for the hospital.
548
00:30:04,073 --> 00:30:09,150
You had officers who were able
to engage in the immediacy
549
00:30:09,183 --> 00:30:11,889
of the search
to try and save Mallory Beach,
550
00:30:11,922 --> 00:30:14,093
to locate her and save her.
551
00:30:14,126 --> 00:30:15,830
‐ Anthony refused
medical attention
552
00:30:15,863 --> 00:30:18,569
because he wanted to stay
and look for Mallory.
553
00:30:18,602 --> 00:30:20,372
But the other four
go to the hospital.
554
00:30:22,343 --> 00:30:25,850
Paul,
who had to be restrained,
555
00:30:25,883 --> 00:30:28,121
had to have a police officer
ride with them.
556
00:30:28,154 --> 00:30:30,192
‐ When they went
to the hospital,
557
00:30:30,225 --> 00:30:34,066
they were separated
and taken into different rooms.
558
00:30:34,100 --> 00:30:36,437
‐ Paul reportedly called
his grandfather.
559
00:30:36,471 --> 00:30:38,041
‐ Why?
560
00:30:38,074 --> 00:30:39,477
‐ Because his grandfather
was a lawyer,
561
00:30:39,511 --> 00:30:42,584
and he felt like he needed
to be there to help him.
562
00:30:42,617 --> 00:30:43,552
‐ He had called
his grandfather,
563
00:30:43,586 --> 00:30:45,455
I think thinking maybe
his grandfather
564
00:30:45,489 --> 00:30:49,063
would be a little nicer
to him than his dad.
565
00:30:49,096 --> 00:30:50,365
Turned out, that wasn't
necessarily the case
566
00:30:50,399 --> 00:30:51,602
when they got to the hospital.
567
00:30:51,635 --> 00:30:53,038
‐ They met him at the hospital.
568
00:30:56,310 --> 00:30:57,312
‐ Security had to be called in
569
00:30:57,346 --> 00:30:59,316
because Paul was
acting up again.
570
00:31:02,122 --> 00:31:04,126
And he says to one of
the nurses about her butt,
571
00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:05,630
how he likes it.
572
00:31:05,663 --> 00:31:07,299
And she says, "I'm going to
have to get a urine test."
573
00:31:07,332 --> 00:31:08,636
And he says,
"Will you hold it?"
574
00:31:08,669 --> 00:31:09,905
He‐‐just very rude.
575
00:31:14,380 --> 00:31:18,622
‐ There was a failure to
administer blood alcohol tests.
576
00:31:18,656 --> 00:31:20,593
‐ There was by
law enforcement, yes.
577
00:31:22,029 --> 00:31:23,999
At the scene, they did not.
578
00:31:24,033 --> 00:31:26,404
However, the hospital did.
579
00:31:27,306 --> 00:31:30,112
‐ He was acting so bizarre
that they thought
580
00:31:30,145 --> 00:31:33,151
he might have a brain injury,
and so that is actually
581
00:31:33,184 --> 00:31:35,656
why his blood alcohol
was tested at the hospital.
582
00:31:37,292 --> 00:31:38,662
‐ And?
583
00:31:38,696 --> 00:31:41,167
‐ It was over three times
the legal limit.
584
00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:45,142
And this was quite some time
after the boating accident.
585
00:31:45,175 --> 00:31:49,150
‐ While hospital staff was
trying to treat Paul,
586
00:31:49,183 --> 00:31:52,322
rescue crews were searching
the nighttime waters
587
00:31:52,356 --> 00:31:55,429
for any sign of Mallory Beach.
588
00:31:55,462 --> 00:31:58,536
Meanwhile, Paul's father,
Alex, was now
589
00:31:58,569 --> 00:32:02,677
at Beaufort Memorial Hospital
springing into action.
590
00:32:04,981 --> 00:32:07,687
‐ This whole scene
in this hospital,
591
00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,558
according to
the hospital staff,
592
00:32:09,591 --> 00:32:13,566
nurses and security,
is‐‐is insane.
593
00:32:15,001 --> 00:32:18,074
They report that Alex
was moving from room to room.
594
00:32:18,108 --> 00:32:20,445
He was trying to find out
where they were.
595
00:32:20,479 --> 00:32:23,051
He even got Connor as Connor
was going to get his CAT scan.
596
00:32:27,493 --> 00:32:32,737
He was trying to get into
Paul's girlfriend's room.
597
00:32:32,770 --> 00:32:34,975
‐ He's outside of her room
saying, "I need to get in
598
00:32:35,008 --> 00:32:36,745
so I could tell her
what to say."
599
00:32:36,778 --> 00:32:39,316
‐ And the girlfriend's like,
"I don't want them in here."
600
00:32:39,350 --> 00:32:43,491
‐ They say he was‐‐seemed like
it was a plan to orchestrate.
601
00:32:43,526 --> 00:32:46,197
The charge nurse goes
as far as saying that,
602
00:32:46,230 --> 00:32:48,067
"You need to stay
in your son's room,"
603
00:32:48,101 --> 00:32:50,472
and had a security guard
looking out to make sure
604
00:32:50,506 --> 00:32:53,311
that he did, in fact,
stay in his son's room.
605
00:32:53,344 --> 00:32:55,048
‐ Paul starts to talk.
606
00:32:55,081 --> 00:32:56,718
And Paul's grandfather
steps in and,
607
00:32:56,752 --> 00:32:58,622
"He's not giving
any statements," they say.
608
00:32:58,656 --> 00:33:00,593
‐ "You're talking to us now."
609
00:33:00,626 --> 00:33:05,335
‐ Police always want to talk
to the suspects
610
00:33:05,368 --> 00:33:07,372
before they have a chance
to lawyer up.
611
00:33:07,406 --> 00:33:10,478
Before they have a chance
really to think
612
00:33:10,513 --> 00:33:13,384
through the‐‐what they might
say to a police officer.
613
00:33:13,418 --> 00:33:16,123
That's just generally
good police work.
614
00:33:16,157 --> 00:33:19,496
‐ Unless you are the lawyer
for those people,
615
00:33:19,531 --> 00:33:22,436
I think there's no reason
for you to go into their room
616
00:33:22,469 --> 00:33:26,143
and tell them not to talk
to law enforcement.
617
00:33:26,177 --> 00:33:30,418
It reminded me of a story
my first senior partner
618
00:33:30,452 --> 00:33:34,293
used to tell on getting
witnesses ready for a trial.
619
00:33:34,326 --> 00:33:37,232
And he would get the witnesses
out behind the horse shed
620
00:33:37,266 --> 00:33:38,769
to get the story straight.
621
00:33:38,802 --> 00:33:41,274
So it sounded to me
like the Murdaughs
622
00:33:41,307 --> 00:33:44,380
were going around trying
to horse shed the witnesses
623
00:33:44,413 --> 00:33:46,417
before the police
had a chance to interview them.
624
00:33:48,187 --> 00:33:51,795
‐ This family is
a legal dynasty.
625
00:33:51,828 --> 00:33:55,803
And whenever one of them
gets into trouble,
626
00:33:55,836 --> 00:33:57,574
they seem to be
treated differently
627
00:33:57,607 --> 00:34:00,145
from most other people.
628
00:34:00,178 --> 00:34:02,784
Did law enforcement have
a cozy relationship
629
00:34:02,817 --> 00:34:04,386
with the Murdaugh family?
630
00:34:04,420 --> 00:34:06,424
‐ I mean,
they worked hand‐in‐hand
631
00:34:06,457 --> 00:34:08,294
with law enforcement
as prosecutors.
632
00:34:08,328 --> 00:34:10,198
‐ For a long time.
633
00:34:10,232 --> 00:34:11,835
‐ The Murdaughs have built
a relationship
634
00:34:11,868 --> 00:34:13,539
with law enforcement.
635
00:34:13,572 --> 00:34:15,676
And it hasn't been an illegal
type of relationship.
636
00:34:15,710 --> 00:34:17,814
You're working side‐by‐side
to win cases,
637
00:34:17,847 --> 00:34:20,553
but you're also hunting
and fishing together.
638
00:34:20,586 --> 00:34:23,324
You're enjoying
some good barbecue together.
639
00:34:23,358 --> 00:34:26,097
Now, put yourself in the mind
of a police officer
640
00:34:26,130 --> 00:34:27,834
in Hampton County.
641
00:34:27,867 --> 00:34:30,806
Let's just speculate
and say something comes up
642
00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:32,844
and the Murdaugh name
is mentioned.
643
00:34:32,877 --> 00:34:34,848
Very few
law enforcement officers
644
00:34:34,881 --> 00:34:37,185
would be brave enough
to raise their hand and say
645
00:34:37,219 --> 00:34:40,526
"Hey, I've got a Murdaugh
over here doing something."
646
00:34:40,559 --> 00:34:43,298
It'd be career suicide.
647
00:34:43,331 --> 00:34:46,304
‐ In the Mallory Beach case,
one of the officers‐‐
648
00:34:46,337 --> 00:34:48,441
‐ I think he was possibly
a groomsman in his wedding.
649
00:34:48,474 --> 00:34:49,711
‐ Yes.
650
00:34:49,744 --> 00:34:51,748
‐ There were definitely
connections.
651
00:34:51,782 --> 00:34:54,119
‐ One of the brothers
of Alex Murdaugh
652
00:34:54,153 --> 00:34:56,257
brought around a boat trailer
653
00:34:56,290 --> 00:35:00,398
and was allowed access
to the crime scene.
654
00:35:00,432 --> 00:35:04,774
Another interesting piece
of a very disturbing puzzle
655
00:35:04,808 --> 00:35:07,212
of an investigation
656
00:35:07,245 --> 00:35:11,888
that didn't seem to be
full throated and enthusiastic.
657
00:35:11,922 --> 00:35:16,798
‐ By all accounts, events
at the hospital were chaotic.
658
00:35:16,832 --> 00:35:18,201
And the media and the public
have focused
659
00:35:18,234 --> 00:35:22,476
largely on the alleged actions
of Alex Murdaugh that night,
660
00:35:22,510 --> 00:35:25,215
sometimes losing sight
of the fact
661
00:35:25,248 --> 00:35:27,787
that a 19‐year‐old girl
was missing
662
00:35:27,820 --> 00:35:30,526
in the chilly Beaufort waters.
663
00:35:32,329 --> 00:35:34,266
‐ Sunrise, crews are
continuing to search
664
00:35:34,299 --> 00:35:35,268
for a former USC student
665
00:35:35,301 --> 00:35:37,272
who went missing
over the weekend.
666
00:35:37,306 --> 00:35:39,611
‐ Department of Natural
Resources says it wasn't clear
667
00:35:39,644 --> 00:35:41,380
who was driving.
668
00:35:41,414 --> 00:35:43,484
The cause of the crash
remains under investigation.
669
00:35:45,656 --> 00:35:47,794
‐ Inconsistencies
in the investigation
670
00:35:47,827 --> 00:35:49,764
are one thing,
671
00:35:49,798 --> 00:35:53,839
but the core of the inquiry
into Mallory Beach's death
672
00:35:53,872 --> 00:35:57,914
centers around
one single question.
673
00:35:57,947 --> 00:36:00,920
Who was driving the boat
that fateful night?
674
00:36:00,953 --> 00:36:02,557
‐ That is the‐‐that is
the million‐‐
675
00:36:02,590 --> 00:36:03,826
‐ Million dollar question.
676
00:36:03,859 --> 00:36:06,197
‐ Yes, the question is because
677
00:36:06,230 --> 00:36:10,639
Connor and Paul were both
in the captain's seat area.
678
00:36:10,673 --> 00:36:12,844
And some of the boaters‐‐
there was a blanket
679
00:36:12,877 --> 00:36:14,581
over one of their heads.
680
00:36:14,614 --> 00:36:17,820
Anthony was down on the floor
with his girlfriend.
681
00:36:17,854 --> 00:36:19,691
‐ There's a lot of curious
things about this.
682
00:36:19,724 --> 00:36:23,665
A, there's missing evidence.
So that is part of the problem.
683
00:36:23,699 --> 00:36:25,335
‐ Paul Murdaugh's
clothing‐‐because
684
00:36:25,368 --> 00:36:27,540
when the police arrived,
he had stripped down,
685
00:36:27,573 --> 00:36:30,211
but his clothing
was never found.
686
00:36:30,245 --> 00:36:31,681
And then there's the problem
687
00:36:31,715 --> 00:36:35,288
of the biological evidence
on the boat itself.
688
00:36:35,321 --> 00:36:38,327
We know the biological
evidence was gathered
689
00:36:38,361 --> 00:36:41,868
under the watchful eye
of a DNR officer.
690
00:36:41,902 --> 00:36:45,676
And much of that
are now unaccounted for.
691
00:36:45,710 --> 00:36:48,682
‐ There was only actually
one recorded statement.
692
00:36:59,871 --> 00:37:01,307
‐ Well, they think that
Anthony Cook's was recorded,
693
00:37:01,340 --> 00:37:02,342
but there's no‐‐
694
00:37:02,375 --> 00:37:03,746
both: But they can't find it.
695
00:37:03,779 --> 00:37:05,950
‐ We do have dash cam audio.
696
00:37:18,909 --> 00:37:21,581
‐ The night of his treatment
at the hospital,
697
00:37:21,615 --> 00:37:23,852
Connor Cook's folks
were directed to a lawyer
698
00:37:23,886 --> 00:37:26,323
named Cory Fleming
699
00:37:26,357 --> 00:37:29,864
who they've hired to defend
Connor Cook's interests.
700
00:37:29,898 --> 00:37:34,874
And their ultimate
determination to discharge
701
00:37:34,908 --> 00:37:38,481
the services of Mr. Fleming
were because they learned
702
00:37:38,515 --> 00:37:41,353
that he had a very
special relationship
703
00:37:41,387 --> 00:37:43,491
with the Murdaugh family,
704
00:37:43,525 --> 00:37:46,631
including being the godfather
of Paul Murdaugh,
705
00:37:46,665 --> 00:37:48,602
the other potential suspect.
706
00:37:49,971 --> 00:37:52,810
‐ It seems like
steps were taken
707
00:37:52,844 --> 00:37:55,348
to protect this young man.
708
00:37:55,381 --> 00:37:57,653
‐ You can draw
your own conclusions.
709
00:38:17,392 --> 00:38:18,595
‐ Three days of searching,
still no sign of 19‐year‐old Mallory Beach.
710
00:38:27,814 --> 00:38:31,521
‐ In the days after the crash,
speculation continued
711
00:38:31,555 --> 00:38:34,894
about whether Paul Murdaugh
was driving the boat‐‐
712
00:38:34,928 --> 00:38:37,633
a boat owned
by his father Alex‐‐
713
00:38:37,667 --> 00:38:40,773
and while the controversy
about whether Alex might have
714
00:38:40,806 --> 00:38:44,413
interfered in the
investigation was beginning,
715
00:38:44,446 --> 00:38:47,085
closure on what happened
to Mallory Beach
716
00:38:47,118 --> 00:38:50,491
was about to come.
717
00:38:50,526 --> 00:38:52,563
You learned that Mallory
was missing in the river?
718
00:38:52,597 --> 00:38:54,099
‐ Right, mm‐hmm.
719
00:38:54,132 --> 00:38:57,607
‐ So were you hopeful
that she would be found alive?
720
00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:59,544
‐ I was very hopeful.
721
00:38:59,577 --> 00:39:00,946
Obviously, as time goes on,
722
00:39:00,980 --> 00:39:04,687
you realize that the chances
are a little slimmer.
723
00:39:04,721 --> 00:39:07,025
‐ How do you know Mallory?
724
00:39:07,058 --> 00:39:09,931
‐ Mallory's sister, Savannah,
is married to my nephew.
725
00:39:11,801 --> 00:39:14,507
She was a very sweet,
726
00:39:14,541 --> 00:39:17,580
very fun‐loving,
just full of life.
727
00:39:17,613 --> 00:39:19,817
Just sweetest person
you'd ever meet.
728
00:39:20,886 --> 00:39:25,061
‐ While Mallory's family wish
for a miracle,
729
00:39:25,094 --> 00:39:28,134
law enforcement
and local volunteers
730
00:39:28,167 --> 00:39:30,706
continue to search
the waterways
731
00:39:30,739 --> 00:39:33,612
hoping to find Mallory.
732
00:39:38,689 --> 00:39:41,828
‐ This is the Battery Creek.
It's the marshes of Beaufort.
733
00:39:41,861 --> 00:39:44,867
The tide here fluctuates
in height,
734
00:39:44,901 --> 00:39:48,675
six to eight feet,
roughly every six hours.
735
00:39:48,709 --> 00:39:50,144
So right now you're looking
at low tide
736
00:39:50,178 --> 00:39:53,017
and in six hours from now on,
the tide'll be
737
00:39:53,050 --> 00:39:54,821
all the way up
almost to the top of the grass.
738
00:39:56,891 --> 00:39:59,964
‐ You told me you spoke
to Mallory Beach's family
739
00:39:59,998 --> 00:40:03,739
before agreeing
to meet with me.
740
00:40:03,772 --> 00:40:05,475
What did you say to them?
741
00:40:05,509 --> 00:40:07,479
‐ I just want‐‐I just wanted
to get their permission
742
00:40:07,513 --> 00:40:09,483
because I had not spoken
to anybody.
743
00:40:09,517 --> 00:40:12,422
It was a great conversation.
Just the sweetest people ever.
744
00:40:12,455 --> 00:40:15,128
And‐‐and he said,
"No, you're‐‐you're welcome
745
00:40:15,161 --> 00:40:17,867
to tell your story
and how you play into this."
746
00:40:17,900 --> 00:40:20,506
Because they want
Mallory's story told, you know?
747
00:40:20,539 --> 00:40:24,847
‐ How did you hear
about this boat accident?
748
00:40:24,881 --> 00:40:26,785
‐ So it was‐‐
as you can imagine,
749
00:40:26,818 --> 00:40:29,624
that accident was front page
of the paper.
750
00:40:29,657 --> 00:40:32,195
Everybody seemed to know
somebody involved in it.
751
00:40:32,228 --> 00:40:34,066
I knew the whole community
was out there looking
752
00:40:34,099 --> 00:40:35,536
that they would find her.
753
00:40:35,569 --> 00:40:37,640
And as time went on,
754
00:40:37,673 --> 00:40:39,611
that didn't turn out
to be the case.
755
00:40:43,685 --> 00:40:45,121
I was working all week,
756
00:40:45,154 --> 00:40:46,791
working night shift
at the hospital.
757
00:40:46,825 --> 00:40:49,998
And it just led up
to that Sunday morning.
758
00:40:50,031 --> 00:40:52,068
And I got home,
and I was laying there,
759
00:40:52,102 --> 00:40:53,204
and I said,
"You know what?
760
00:40:53,237 --> 00:40:54,707
I‐‐I think I'll go out
and look today."
761
00:40:56,978 --> 00:40:58,815
I just took off my hat
and said a quick prayer.
762
00:40:58,849 --> 00:41:02,022
And I said, "Lord,
let this girl be found today."
763
00:41:02,055 --> 00:41:04,961
And so we went down, probably,
764
00:41:04,994 --> 00:41:07,232
I don't know,
400 or 500 yards.
765
00:41:07,265 --> 00:41:08,902
And it's just like
what you see around here.
766
00:41:08,935 --> 00:41:10,906
There are creeks everywhere.
767
00:41:11,941 --> 00:41:14,479
We worked our way right up
in the small creek.
768
00:41:14,514 --> 00:41:18,220
And we instantly found her.
769
00:41:18,254 --> 00:41:20,826
The boat didn't turn one time.
770
00:41:20,859 --> 00:41:23,230
We could have gone
in 100 creeks.
771
00:41:23,264 --> 00:41:26,070
And we drove right up on her.
772
00:41:26,103 --> 00:41:27,840
Within 12 minutes
of being on the boat,
773
00:41:27,873 --> 00:41:31,080
she was right there.
774
00:41:31,113 --> 00:41:33,552
But I‐‐I can honestly
say and‐‐and
775
00:41:33,585 --> 00:41:35,221
I‐‐I mean this
with all sincerity,
776
00:41:35,254 --> 00:41:37,058
I really feel like
I had nothing to do
777
00:41:37,092 --> 00:41:38,995
with finding Mallory.
778
00:41:39,029 --> 00:41:39,997
If you're a man of faith,
779
00:41:40,031 --> 00:41:41,634
you'll understand
what I'm saying.
780
00:41:43,605 --> 00:41:45,676
I was just thankful
for the family
781
00:41:45,709 --> 00:41:47,212
that that closure had come.
782
00:41:50,619 --> 00:41:53,859
‐ The body of Mallory Beach
was found in a marsh
783
00:41:53,892 --> 00:41:56,598
one week after the boat
that she was riding in
784
00:41:56,631 --> 00:41:57,900
late at night crashed...
785
00:41:58,902 --> 00:42:00,572
‐ When did you give up hope?
786
00:42:02,977 --> 00:42:04,847
‐ You know, for the‐‐I prayed
787
00:42:04,881 --> 00:42:06,818
for the family
the whole entire time.
788
00:42:06,851 --> 00:42:08,287
A day or two goes by,
you know,
789
00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:10,993
you definitely do start
to have this fear,
790
00:42:11,026 --> 00:42:14,099
but you just continue
to pray for them.
791
00:42:14,132 --> 00:42:17,005
It was absolutely tragic.
You know, what happened then.
792
00:42:17,038 --> 00:42:18,074
I know it's, you know,
793
00:42:18,107 --> 00:42:19,443
hard for them
because of the murders,
794
00:42:19,476 --> 00:42:21,981
now they're having to relive
all this all over again too.
795
00:42:23,652 --> 00:42:25,889
‐ What was the community's
reaction to this case?
796
00:42:25,923 --> 00:42:27,893
‐ They were outraged
that it was taking forever.
797
00:42:27,927 --> 00:42:29,096
What they deemed forever.
798
00:42:29,129 --> 00:42:32,770
They take two months to indict
Paul or indict anybody.
799
00:42:32,803 --> 00:42:34,741
They're thinking
it's the Murdaughs.
800
00:42:34,774 --> 00:42:36,878
It's‐‐nothing's gonna ever
come of this.
801
00:42:36,911 --> 00:42:39,316
‐ We have new developments
in the Beaufort County case.
802
00:42:39,349 --> 00:42:41,186
Charges have been filed.
803
00:42:41,220 --> 00:42:43,190
‐ Paul Murdaugh was indicted
804
00:42:43,224 --> 00:42:45,629
on boating
under the influence.
805
00:42:45,662 --> 00:42:47,065
‐ If Murdaugh is convicted,
806
00:42:47,098 --> 00:42:50,171
he faces up to 15 years
for each BUI charge
807
00:42:50,204 --> 00:42:53,612
and up to 25 years
for the fatal BUI charge.
808
00:42:53,645 --> 00:42:54,647
‐ A lot of the community
was upset
809
00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:57,185
that he was not
in an orange jumpsuit
810
00:42:57,218 --> 00:43:00,291
and that he got to take
his mug shot in the courtroom.
811
00:43:00,324 --> 00:43:01,861
‐ That he was getting
special treatment.
812
00:43:01,895 --> 00:43:03,164
‐ Yes.
813
00:43:03,197 --> 00:43:04,867
‐ I saw a state
law enforcement agent
814
00:43:04,901 --> 00:43:09,309
walk in with an old style
wooden box with a handle on it.
815
00:43:09,342 --> 00:43:11,079
It was a fingerprint kit.
816
00:43:11,113 --> 00:43:13,952
That was arranged
from minute one,
817
00:43:13,985 --> 00:43:17,225
that kid was not gonna take
50 steps over into the jail
818
00:43:17,258 --> 00:43:18,695
from the courthouse.
819
00:43:18,728 --> 00:43:20,699
That's arrogance.
820
00:43:20,732 --> 00:43:24,707
‐ Well, Paul Murdaugh
had great lawyers.
821
00:43:36,263 --> 00:43:38,367
‐ He's pleading not guilty.
822
00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:40,672
And as a result,
823
00:43:40,706 --> 00:43:43,177
he should be released
on his own recognizance.
824
00:43:43,210 --> 00:43:44,847
‐ He got out on bail.
825
00:43:44,881 --> 00:43:47,786
And he petitioned
to be allowed to go back
826
00:43:47,820 --> 00:43:50,993
to USC, South Carolina‐‐
go back to college,
827
00:43:51,026 --> 00:43:53,865
which caused some problems
in the community
828
00:43:53,899 --> 00:43:56,270
that he was able
to go about his life.
829
00:43:56,303 --> 00:43:58,240
‐ We just need‐‐want
to accommodate any concerns
830
00:43:58,274 --> 00:44:00,679
the AG's Office had.
He's not leaving this state.
831
00:44:00,712 --> 00:44:01,714
He's not gonna
leave the country.
832
00:44:01,748 --> 00:44:02,983
So‐‐and he waived extradition.
833
00:44:03,017 --> 00:44:04,987
Those are normal conditions.
834
00:44:05,021 --> 00:44:06,724
So, no, we did exactly
what's normal.
835
00:44:06,758 --> 00:44:09,062
This is being handled
in a very normal fashion.
836
00:44:09,095 --> 00:44:13,705
‐ I think that most people
who would have found themselves
837
00:44:13,738 --> 00:44:16,109
as defendants
in that circumstance
838
00:44:16,143 --> 00:44:19,015
would have been treated
dramatically differently.
839
00:44:19,049 --> 00:44:22,121
‐ Who was responsible
for Mallory Beach's death?
840
00:44:22,155 --> 00:44:24,159
That question
does remain unanswered.
841
00:44:24,192 --> 00:44:27,131
‐ The Beach family still
has a wrongful death lawsuit
842
00:44:27,165 --> 00:44:29,871
pending against
the Murdaugh family.
843
00:44:29,904 --> 00:44:31,073
‐ They named Alex...
844
00:44:31,106 --> 00:44:33,979
both: Who was the owner
of the boat.
845
00:44:34,012 --> 00:44:36,751
They named Buster,
who had provided his ID
846
00:44:36,784 --> 00:44:38,722
to his brother.
847
00:44:38,755 --> 00:44:43,364
They named Parker's, who is
where they bought the alcohol.
848
00:44:43,397 --> 00:44:46,838
Actually, Paul was never named
in the civil lawsuit.
849
00:44:46,871 --> 00:44:48,007
‐ Right.
850
00:44:57,793 --> 00:45:00,264
‐ So what might all of this
have to do
851
00:45:00,298 --> 00:45:03,437
with the murder
of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh?
852
00:45:06,476 --> 00:45:09,182
‐ The first hearing
on this civil lawsuit
853
00:45:09,216 --> 00:45:13,057
was supposed to be three days
after Paul was murdered.
854
00:45:13,090 --> 00:45:16,463
Timing was rather odd.
855
00:45:16,496 --> 00:45:20,338
‐ Who stands to gain the most
with Maggie and Paul gone?
856
00:45:20,371 --> 00:45:23,745
‐ If it's a monetary gain,
then you could think of someone
857
00:45:23,778 --> 00:45:26,283
in the family
who stands to inherit things.
858
00:45:26,316 --> 00:45:30,324
Or if it's because someone was
angry at something they did.
859
00:45:30,358 --> 00:45:32,095
‐ And if it was
a revenge thing,
860
00:45:32,128 --> 00:45:33,364
who's to say
that they didn't think
861
00:45:33,397 --> 00:45:35,501
Alex was gonna be there?
862
00:45:35,535 --> 00:45:39,309
‐ By the end of the summer,
Alex Murdaugh was facing
863
00:45:39,342 --> 00:45:43,919
civil lawsuits
in the death of Mallory Beach,
864
00:45:43,952 --> 00:45:50,832
and he was reeling from the
homicides of his wife and son.
865
00:45:50,866 --> 00:45:55,207
But what happened to him next,
no one could have predicted.
866
00:46:07,231 --> 00:46:09,469
‐ It can't get
crazier than this.
867
00:46:17,151 --> 00:46:19,991
‐ One story is that
she tripped over the dogs
868
00:46:20,024 --> 00:46:21,493
and fell down the stairs.
869
00:46:21,527 --> 00:46:24,099
‐ It was declared
natural causes.
870
00:46:24,132 --> 00:46:26,838
‐ There's nothing natural
about falling downstairs.
871
00:46:26,871 --> 00:46:29,142
‐ $4.3 million.
872
00:46:29,175 --> 00:46:31,413
I have no idea
where the money is right now.
873
00:46:31,446 --> 00:46:33,117
‐ With Stephen Smith,
874
00:46:33,150 --> 00:46:35,388
it was a disaster
from the start.
875
00:46:35,421 --> 00:46:37,960
‐ This is murder?
‐ In my opinion.
876
00:46:37,993 --> 00:46:39,429
‐ The primary question
877
00:46:39,462 --> 00:46:41,901
is who killed
Paul and Maggie Murdaugh?
878
00:46:41,934 --> 00:46:45,007
‐ There's a lot more
twists and turns to come
879
00:46:45,041 --> 00:46:47,813
in the saga of Alex Murdaugh.
880
00:46:56,864 --> 00:46:59,837
‐ Two weeks, and still
no one has been arrested after two members
of a South Carolina family
881
00:46:59,870 --> 00:47:02,475
were found dead in their home.
882
00:47:02,509 --> 00:47:05,214
‐ As law enforcement
investigated the murders
883
00:47:05,247 --> 00:47:09,623
of Paul and Maggie,
they made a shocking discovery.
884
00:47:09,657 --> 00:47:14,399
Today, authorities have refused
to reveal what they found.
885
00:47:14,432 --> 00:47:17,973
Whatever it is,
this discovery prompted them
886
00:47:18,007 --> 00:47:22,983
to reopen the investigation
into the 2015 hit‐and‐run death
887
00:47:23,017 --> 00:47:28,394
of 19‐year‐old Stephen Smith,
found dead on a quiet road.
888
00:47:28,427 --> 00:47:31,233
What's even more
surprising to me
889
00:47:31,266 --> 00:47:33,337
is that the local community
890
00:47:33,370 --> 00:47:35,575
didn't seem shocked
by the connection.
891
00:47:42,388 --> 00:47:45,595
[phone dials, line rings]
892
00:48:01,193 --> 00:48:03,063
‐ Okay.
‐ All right.
893
00:48:05,301 --> 00:48:07,539
‐ Stephen Smith's body
was found
894
00:48:07,573 --> 00:48:10,679
in the middle
of the rural road.
895
00:48:10,712 --> 00:48:15,154
He had a large gaping wound
on his head.
896
00:48:15,187 --> 00:48:18,127
And his vehicle was parked
down the road
897
00:48:18,160 --> 00:48:21,299
several miles away
with the gas cap open.
898
00:48:21,333 --> 00:48:23,404
‐ His wallet was
still in the car as well.
899
00:48:23,437 --> 00:48:24,507
‐ His wallet was still
in the car?
900
00:48:24,540 --> 00:48:26,009
‐ Yes.
901
00:48:26,042 --> 00:48:27,913
‐ And why wouldn't you
take your wallet?
902
00:48:27,946 --> 00:48:30,919
If you ran out of gas
or anywhere you're out of gas,
903
00:48:30,952 --> 00:48:33,457
no one just would leave
their wallet in the car.
904
00:48:33,490 --> 00:48:35,662
‐ In the Lowcountry, the
South Carolina Highway Patrol
905
00:48:35,695 --> 00:48:38,033
continues to investigate
what they think is
906
00:48:38,066 --> 00:48:41,440
a fatal hit‐and‐run.
907
00:48:41,473 --> 00:48:45,682
‐ With that Stephen Smith case,
I was the executive officer
908
00:48:45,715 --> 00:48:49,088
of the coastal unit,
which is MAIT,
909
00:48:49,122 --> 00:48:53,163
the Multi‐Disciplinary
Accident Investigation Team.
910
00:48:53,197 --> 00:48:55,434
My responsibilities
were to oversee
911
00:48:55,468 --> 00:48:57,138
everything about
any investigation.
912
00:49:03,484 --> 00:49:06,022
‐ I've worked on
very high profile cases.
913
00:49:06,056 --> 00:49:09,429
And I've never had a case
that I feel like was shrouded
914
00:49:09,462 --> 00:49:11,032
in so much secrecy.
915
00:49:11,066 --> 00:49:13,070
It was a disaster
from the start.
916
00:49:13,103 --> 00:49:15,609
‐ Stephen Smith was
on his way from college
917
00:49:15,642 --> 00:49:16,644
when he ran out of gas.
918
00:49:16,677 --> 00:49:19,349
What happened after that
isn't clear.
919
00:49:19,382 --> 00:49:22,756
‐ According to statements
from Stephen Smith's sister,
920
00:49:22,789 --> 00:49:27,265
her father received two calls
the night of Stephen's death.
921
00:49:27,298 --> 00:49:30,070
‐ Stephen's father's
first call,
922
00:49:30,104 --> 00:49:31,607
the guy was from the coroner
telling Stephen was dead.
923
00:49:31,641 --> 00:49:34,647
The second Call was
from Randy Murdaugh,
924
00:49:34,680 --> 00:49:37,418
who said "I'll represent
you for free."
925
00:49:53,116 --> 00:49:58,160
‐ Where his body was found,
no evidence was really gathered
926
00:49:58,193 --> 00:50:01,066
what you would be looking
for‐‐for an accident.
927
00:50:01,099 --> 00:50:04,072
Usually, if you have some type
of injuries from an accident,
928
00:50:04,105 --> 00:50:06,511
you're going to get some type
of splatter no matter what.
929
00:50:06,544 --> 00:50:08,347
Nothing
out at the scene there.
930
00:50:08,380 --> 00:50:10,417
If I'm not mistaken,
there was no chain of custody
931
00:50:10,451 --> 00:50:12,121
done with the clothes.
932
00:50:12,154 --> 00:50:15,662
We were never given
the opportunity to see the car
933
00:50:15,695 --> 00:50:18,735
in its original state
where they found it.
934
00:50:18,768 --> 00:50:22,809
I examined that car a few
days later in an impound lot
935
00:50:22,843 --> 00:50:25,114
that sat there
pretty much open.
936
00:50:25,147 --> 00:50:26,517
‐ So it could have
been contaminated.
937
00:50:26,551 --> 00:50:28,253
‐ Yes.
938
00:50:28,287 --> 00:50:31,426
It was a what I call trying
to piece a puzzle together
939
00:50:31,459 --> 00:50:33,798
when you don't have
a whole lot of pieces.
940
00:50:33,831 --> 00:50:35,267
‐ The initial coroner thought
941
00:50:35,301 --> 00:50:37,639
it was potentially
a gunshot wound.
942
00:50:37,673 --> 00:50:40,645
But pathologists ruled it
a hit‐and‐run.
943
00:50:40,679 --> 00:50:43,183
She really was the only one
who said
944
00:50:43,217 --> 00:50:44,820
that it was a hit‐and‐run.
945
00:50:44,853 --> 00:50:48,193
‐ Apparently, there were
divergent views
946
00:50:48,227 --> 00:50:52,435
over potential cause of death.
947
00:50:52,468 --> 00:50:55,274
I don't think it's unusual
that doctors could disagree.
948
00:50:55,307 --> 00:50:56,811
It seems kind of strange
949
00:50:56,844 --> 00:50:59,415
that the disagreement
would be so dramatic.
950
00:51:03,891 --> 00:51:06,597
‐ What was Stephen Smith's
cause of death?
951
00:51:06,631 --> 00:51:08,200
‐ Blunt force trauma.
952
00:51:08,233 --> 00:51:11,574
‐ So he was killed
by a‐‐a heavy instrument?
953
00:51:11,607 --> 00:51:13,277
‐ I would say so, yes, sir.
954
00:51:13,310 --> 00:51:14,412
‐ That struck him in the head?
955
00:51:14,445 --> 00:51:16,751
‐ Correct.
956
00:51:16,784 --> 00:51:19,790
‐ This was murder?
‐ In my opinion.
957
00:51:22,328 --> 00:51:25,568
‐ Investigators say Stephen
Smith was struck by a car,
958
00:51:25,602 --> 00:51:27,606
but his mother
doesn't believe that story.
959
00:51:27,639 --> 00:51:28,841
‐ He called his sister
one night.
960
00:51:28,875 --> 00:51:30,477
He ran out of gas.
961
00:51:30,512 --> 00:51:32,883
And he hid in the woods
and would not come out
962
00:51:32,916 --> 00:51:35,321
till he was sure it was her.
963
00:51:35,354 --> 00:51:38,260
And so we know for a fact
that it was not a hit‐and‐run.
964
00:51:38,293 --> 00:51:40,164
Stephen would not have been
in the highway.
965
00:51:40,197 --> 00:51:42,536
‐ Whether it was foul play
or a hit‐and‐run,
966
00:51:42,569 --> 00:51:44,740
Sandy wants the person
who's responsible
967
00:51:44,773 --> 00:51:47,478
for her son's death
to know something.
968
00:51:47,512 --> 00:51:49,850
‐ I just want to say, you know,
I mean, I forgive you.
969
00:51:49,883 --> 00:51:52,455
I don't hate you.
970
00:51:52,488 --> 00:51:55,327
There's just answers.
I want some answers.
971
00:51:57,532 --> 00:52:01,741
‐ I commend Stephen's mother.
Because a mother knows.
972
00:52:01,774 --> 00:52:05,214
And she never gave up
on‐‐on her son.
973
00:52:05,247 --> 00:52:06,517
And I do commend her for that,
974
00:52:06,550 --> 00:52:09,222
for wanting answers
that she deserves.
975
00:52:11,927 --> 00:52:14,800
‐ I had questions
from day one.
976
00:52:14,833 --> 00:52:17,906
There was a rape kit done,
which, to me, is unusual.
977
00:52:17,939 --> 00:52:19,810
‐ Why?
‐ Exactly.
978
00:52:19,843 --> 00:52:21,547
If it was a hit‐and‐run,
why‐‐why are we doing
979
00:52:21,580 --> 00:52:23,551
a rape kit?
Yeah.
980
00:52:23,584 --> 00:52:25,555
‐ Did anyone explain to you
the reason behind it?
981
00:52:25,588 --> 00:52:27,224
‐ No, sir.
982
00:52:27,258 --> 00:52:28,695
Typically,
you're not gonna do that
983
00:52:28,728 --> 00:52:30,899
unless you think
somebody's been raped.
984
00:52:30,932 --> 00:52:33,771
‐ Stephen Smith was well‐liked.
985
00:52:33,805 --> 00:52:36,176
He was gay.
986
00:52:36,209 --> 00:52:38,413
We don't have
any concrete information
987
00:52:38,447 --> 00:52:40,552
other than Stephen Smith's mom,
Sandy, says
988
00:52:40,585 --> 00:52:43,524
he was involved with someone
in an influential family
989
00:52:43,558 --> 00:52:45,662
but never goes on to name...
990
00:52:45,695 --> 00:52:47,264
‐ Names.
‐ Names.
991
00:52:47,298 --> 00:52:49,670
‐ When did Stephen come out?
992
00:52:49,703 --> 00:52:52,441
‐ I feel like he came out
maybe eighth grade.
993
00:52:52,475 --> 00:52:54,546
‐ To you or to everyone?
994
00:52:54,580 --> 00:52:56,684
‐ Generally, everyone, yeah.
‐ Really?
995
00:52:56,717 --> 00:52:58,955
What kind of reception
did he get?
996
00:52:58,988 --> 00:53:02,696
‐ There were mainly guys
that called him names,
997
00:53:02,729 --> 00:53:03,798
picked on him.
998
00:53:03,831 --> 00:53:05,735
From our town in general,
999
00:53:05,769 --> 00:53:07,973
it's not a thing
that they accept.
1000
00:53:08,006 --> 00:53:11,881
It‐‐you‐‐the amount of kids
1001
00:53:11,914 --> 00:53:14,285
who have been shunned
and abused
1002
00:53:14,318 --> 00:53:17,959
because they're a part of
the LGBT community in Hampton,
1003
00:53:17,993 --> 00:53:19,530
you'd be shocked.
It's really sad.
1004
00:53:21,534 --> 00:53:24,272
When he passed away,
it definitely broke my heart,
1005
00:53:24,305 --> 00:53:26,409
you know?
1006
00:53:26,443 --> 00:53:28,815
He really made me happy.
He was a good friend.
1007
00:53:30,284 --> 00:53:31,854
He wasn't like other people.
1008
00:53:31,887 --> 00:53:34,593
When you talk to Stephen,
it was like,
1009
00:53:34,626 --> 00:53:36,329
you know you were safe.
1010
00:53:36,362 --> 00:53:40,304
You knew you were cared
about and respected, you know?
1011
00:53:40,337 --> 00:53:42,475
You don't find that
in a lot of people.
1012
00:53:46,550 --> 00:53:48,755
‐ Did you speak
to any of Stephen's friends?
1013
00:53:48,788 --> 00:53:49,990
‐ Yes.
1014
00:53:50,023 --> 00:53:51,794
But it was just
a bunch of rumors
1015
00:53:51,827 --> 00:53:53,965
that we could not
confirm or deny.
1016
00:54:28,734 --> 00:54:32,742
‐ They would say, "I've heard
this from‐‐I heard this from."
1017
00:54:32,776 --> 00:54:35,882
And it was always, you know,
going in a circle.
1018
00:54:35,915 --> 00:54:38,888
‐ Investigators continue
to chase rumors
1019
00:54:38,921 --> 00:54:41,392
that the Murdaughs
were somehow involved.
1020
00:54:55,622 --> 00:54:57,526
‐ Because the Murdaugh's name
was brought up so much,
1021
00:54:57,559 --> 00:55:00,532
we wanted to gather
as much information we can
1022
00:55:00,565 --> 00:55:03,771
so if we get the opportunity
to interview them,
1023
00:55:03,805 --> 00:55:07,411
we can confront them
with this information.
1024
00:55:07,444 --> 00:55:08,714
‐ Did you ever have
that opportunity?
1025
00:55:08,748 --> 00:55:10,417
‐ No, sir.
1026
00:55:10,450 --> 00:55:13,724
‐ We were told
to hold off on that
1027
00:55:13,758 --> 00:55:15,695
until we found
further information
1028
00:55:15,728 --> 00:55:19,670
that could lead us
more towards that family.
1029
00:55:19,703 --> 00:55:21,005
If we're gonna
confront somebody,
1030
00:55:21,039 --> 00:55:22,676
you're only gonna get
one opportunity
1031
00:55:22,709 --> 00:55:25,480
with a household name
like that.
1032
00:55:25,515 --> 00:55:28,988
‐ Frustrating?
‐ Yes, sir.
1033
00:55:29,021 --> 00:55:33,931
‐ Was this a hit‐and‐run,
an accident?
1034
00:55:36,002 --> 00:55:38,073
‐ There is no way
it was a hit‐and‐run.
1035
00:55:38,106 --> 00:55:40,812
There is no way.
1036
00:55:40,845 --> 00:55:43,416
Murder.
It had to be murder.
1037
00:55:43,450 --> 00:55:45,588
I hate to say
that it would be murder
1038
00:55:45,622 --> 00:55:47,893
because the thought of him
going through the things
1039
00:55:47,926 --> 00:55:50,430
that he went through,
I hate that.
1040
00:55:50,464 --> 00:55:51,901
I hate that thought.
1041
00:55:51,934 --> 00:55:56,844
But I think, yeah, that
he was definitely murdered.
1042
00:55:56,877 --> 00:56:00,017
‐ In all of my years
of reporting,
1043
00:56:00,050 --> 00:56:03,991
when the same name is repeated
over and over again,
1044
00:56:04,025 --> 00:56:06,864
it's usually not
a coincidence.
1045
00:56:06,897 --> 00:56:11,105
‐ Their family's name come up
in reports multiple times.
1046
00:56:11,139 --> 00:56:14,445
‐ The last name of that family
came up all the time.
1047
00:56:31,079 --> 00:56:35,622
‐ This is the spot where
19‐year‐old Stephen Smith died. His car was found about
three miles from this location.
1048
00:56:35,655 --> 00:56:39,730
And no one really knows
where he was going
1049
00:56:39,763 --> 00:56:44,573
or why he left the car behind.
It was‐‐it was very curious
1050
00:56:44,606 --> 00:56:47,646
that‐‐that this young man's
body was found here.
1051
00:56:47,679 --> 00:56:50,017
Why here?
1052
00:56:50,050 --> 00:56:51,887
And we still
don't have answers.
1053
00:56:53,858 --> 00:56:55,795
Could a Murdaugh
have been involved
1054
00:56:55,828 --> 00:56:58,668
in the death of Stephen Smith?
1055
00:56:58,701 --> 00:57:03,811
Why would their names appear
so many times in police reports
1056
00:57:03,844 --> 00:57:05,815
related to the investigation?
1057
00:57:14,833 --> 00:57:15,902
‐ In the Lowcountry,
1058
00:57:15,935 --> 00:57:18,106
the South Carolina
Highway Patrol continues
1059
00:57:18,139 --> 00:57:21,079
to investigate what they think
is a fatal hit‐and‐run.
1060
00:57:21,112 --> 00:57:22,849
They say they need
the public's help
1061
00:57:22,882 --> 00:57:24,218
with information
on this incident.
1062
00:57:24,251 --> 00:57:25,822
‐ The Highway Patrol say
1063
00:57:25,855 --> 00:57:27,892
that there are
no suspects in custody
1064
00:57:27,926 --> 00:57:30,197
and they do not have
a description of the car.
1065
00:57:37,846 --> 00:57:39,883
‐ Thanksgiving of that year,
1066
00:57:39,916 --> 00:57:42,722
we called
Stephen Smith's mother, Sandy,
1067
00:57:42,756 --> 00:57:44,492
into the "Guardian" office.
1068
00:57:44,526 --> 00:57:46,597
And we told her
we wanted to hear her story.
1069
00:57:46,630 --> 00:57:50,605
We wanted to reach out
to the community,
1070
00:57:50,638 --> 00:57:52,542
touch people's hearts,
1071
00:57:52,575 --> 00:57:55,113
and, hopefully, compel someone
1072
00:57:55,147 --> 00:57:57,919
to come forward
with some information.
1073
00:57:57,952 --> 00:58:00,758
She told us that she knew
who killed her son,
1074
00:58:00,792 --> 00:58:03,631
that she was hearing
these same rumors.
1075
00:58:03,664 --> 00:58:06,870
‐ She said she believed Stephen
was killed for being gay
1076
00:58:06,904 --> 00:58:10,177
by some Hampton County youths.
1077
00:58:10,210 --> 00:58:11,814
‐ We wrote that story
and published it
1078
00:58:11,847 --> 00:58:13,684
in our Thanksgiving edition.
1079
00:58:13,718 --> 00:58:16,022
And I sat and I waited.
1080
00:58:16,055 --> 00:58:18,861
Unfortunately,
no one ever came forward.
1081
00:58:24,673 --> 00:58:29,181
‐ The final ruling was that
Stephen Smith was killed
1082
00:58:29,215 --> 00:58:30,585
in a hit‐and‐run?
1083
00:58:30,618 --> 00:58:32,889
‐ Yes.
‐ Correct.
1084
00:58:32,922 --> 00:58:38,667
‐ There is the frustration
of why did this young man
1085
00:58:38,701 --> 00:58:40,571
not get any attention
at the time?
1086
00:58:40,605 --> 00:58:42,074
What happened there?
1087
00:58:42,107 --> 00:58:45,648
Why did it take this many
years to be a story?
1088
00:58:45,681 --> 00:58:48,821
‐ Law enforcement isn't saying
why they reopened
1089
00:58:48,854 --> 00:58:50,992
the six‐year‐old
Stephen Smith case.
1090
00:58:51,025 --> 00:58:52,729
But the timing,
1091
00:58:52,762 --> 00:58:56,335
just weeks after the murder
of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh,
1092
00:58:56,369 --> 00:58:59,241
was a coincidence
not lost on many.
1093
00:59:05,588 --> 00:59:07,759
‐ It was tragic the way
he passed away.
1094
00:59:07,792 --> 00:59:10,598
I liked Stephen, he‐‐he seemed
like a pretty laid back,
1095
00:59:10,631 --> 00:59:13,002
you know, outgoing young fella.
1096
00:59:13,036 --> 00:59:15,575
You know, he had a lot of life
left ahead of him.
1097
00:59:15,608 --> 00:59:17,612
I hope they figure out
what's going on
1098
00:59:17,645 --> 00:59:20,016
and figure out the truth,
and I say,
1099
00:59:20,050 --> 00:59:22,254
bring peace and comfort
to the family and loved ones.
1100
00:59:23,891 --> 00:59:26,028
‐ Stephen Smith,
who died back in 2015,
1101
00:59:26,062 --> 00:59:28,601
had some sort of connection
to the Murdaugh family,
1102
00:59:28,634 --> 00:59:29,770
most prominently,
Buster Murdaugh,
1103
00:59:29,803 --> 00:59:30,905
the son and brother...
1104
00:59:30,938 --> 00:59:32,976
Buster has remained
very quiet
1105
00:59:33,009 --> 00:59:35,915
and kind of in the shadow
during all of this.
1106
00:59:35,948 --> 00:59:38,019
Not a lot of stories
about Buster.
1107
00:59:38,052 --> 00:59:40,123
Because Buster, seems to be,
was the one
1108
00:59:40,157 --> 00:59:42,796
who was closest
to Stephen Smith in the family.
1109
00:59:42,829 --> 00:59:44,800
When we looked through
the documents provided by,
1110
00:59:44,833 --> 00:59:46,269
you know, SLED
1111
00:59:46,302 --> 00:59:48,106
and‐‐and Buster's name
and the Murdaugh name
1112
00:59:48,139 --> 00:59:50,277
pops up as being
in association,
1113
00:59:50,310 --> 00:59:52,114
being a friend of
Stephen Smith.
1114
00:59:52,147 --> 00:59:53,984
But nothing that directly said,
you know,
1115
00:59:54,018 --> 00:59:57,090
Buster was with him
that night in July.
1116
01:00:17,364 --> 01:00:19,268
‐ By the end of summer,
1117
01:00:19,301 --> 01:00:23,009
the double murders of Maggie
and Paul remain unsolved.
1118
01:00:23,042 --> 01:00:26,215
A new lawsuit centering
on Alex Murdaugh's actions
1119
01:00:26,249 --> 01:00:27,919
have been filed
1120
01:00:27,952 --> 01:00:30,290
in the Mallory Beach
fatal boat crash.
1121
01:00:30,323 --> 01:00:34,198
And the investigation into
the death of Stephen Smith
1122
01:00:34,231 --> 01:00:36,703
was also underway.
1123
01:00:36,737 --> 01:00:39,275
And the Murdaughs
were somehow connected
1124
01:00:39,308 --> 01:00:42,715
to all of these cases,
in one way or another.
1125
01:00:44,686 --> 01:00:49,128
What has this done
to the Murdaugh legacy?
1126
01:00:49,161 --> 01:00:53,771
‐ What it has done is exposed
a division in Hampton County
1127
01:00:53,804 --> 01:00:55,775
and other parts
of the Lowcountry
1128
01:00:55,808 --> 01:01:00,283
that you either hated them and
suspected them of manipulation,
1129
01:01:00,317 --> 01:01:04,158
or you love them because of
the results they could obtain.
1130
01:01:04,191 --> 01:01:06,697
‐ You know, and anytime
you got a fiefdom,
1131
01:01:06,730 --> 01:01:08,266
you have people
you take care of.
1132
01:01:08,299 --> 01:01:10,872
And if you take care of them,
they take care of you.
1133
01:01:10,905 --> 01:01:12,742
You know, it's like
there was this nice,
1134
01:01:12,775 --> 01:01:14,411
neat package
for about 90 years,
1135
01:01:14,445 --> 01:01:16,315
then someone pulled a thread
on the Emperor's suit
1136
01:01:16,349 --> 01:01:18,921
and that just started
dropping off in pieces.
1137
01:01:20,758 --> 01:01:22,896
‐ This mom has waited
six years for justice,
1138
01:01:22,929 --> 01:01:24,131
and now she's starting
to get it
1139
01:01:24,164 --> 01:01:25,935
because an investigation
is open,
1140
01:01:25,968 --> 01:01:29,041
and it all has to do with
the death of those two people.
1141
01:01:29,074 --> 01:01:30,443
‐ There's a lot of speculation
in the community
1142
01:01:30,477 --> 01:01:32,114
and law enforcement.
1143
01:01:32,147 --> 01:01:33,182
You know, maybe were
the Murdaughs
1144
01:01:33,216 --> 01:01:34,986
involved in his death?
1145
01:01:35,020 --> 01:01:38,761
‐ I know it's complicated, but,
man, it is really mystifying.
1146
01:01:53,389 --> 01:01:55,126
‐ Now, for another development
surrounding former lawyer Alex Murdaugh...
1147
01:01:55,160 --> 01:01:57,966
‐ Paul and Maggie Murdaugh
were murdered in June.
1148
01:01:57,999 --> 01:02:03,109
And shortly after,
Alex is dealt another blow.
1149
01:02:03,142 --> 01:02:06,048
A new petition to file
a lawsuit
1150
01:02:06,082 --> 01:02:08,119
is brought by Connor Cook,
1151
01:02:08,152 --> 01:02:11,292
alleging a conspiracy
to frame him
1152
01:02:11,325 --> 01:02:16,068
as the driver of the boat
that killed Mallory Beach.
1153
01:02:16,102 --> 01:02:19,074
‐ Over the last three months,
I think, more than once,
1154
01:02:19,108 --> 01:02:25,220
lawyers on the opposing side
of these‐‐this case have said,
1155
01:02:25,253 --> 01:02:27,926
"Gosh, we still don't know
who was driving the boat."
1156
01:02:27,959 --> 01:02:30,297
If that lawyer doesn't know
who was driving the boat,
1157
01:02:30,330 --> 01:02:31,934
he's the only person
on the planet
1158
01:02:31,967 --> 01:02:33,269
who doesn't know
who was driving the boat.
1159
01:02:35,808 --> 01:02:38,781
‐ There was an effort made
to shift the blame
1160
01:02:38,814 --> 01:02:42,087
and focus from Paul Murdaugh
over to Connor Cook.
1161
01:02:42,120 --> 01:02:44,258
The strategy may not
have been necessarily
1162
01:02:44,291 --> 01:02:46,228
to pin it on Connor Cook.
1163
01:02:46,262 --> 01:02:48,132
Remember,
these people are attorneys.
1164
01:02:48,166 --> 01:02:52,207
They're trying to create
confusion at the scene,
1165
01:02:52,240 --> 01:02:54,011
after the scene.
1166
01:02:54,044 --> 01:02:59,254
‐ There's a lot unusual
about this investigation,
1167
01:02:59,288 --> 01:03:04,231
almost as if there was
an effort to do
1168
01:03:04,264 --> 01:03:05,935
as little as possible
1169
01:03:05,968 --> 01:03:09,475
and take as long as possible
to not do it.
1170
01:03:10,377 --> 01:03:13,282
Connor Cook was a 19‐year‐old
with a jaw broken
1171
01:03:13,316 --> 01:03:17,090
in three places
awaiting medical treatment,
1172
01:03:17,124 --> 01:03:20,163
having lost one of
his childhood friends.
1173
01:03:20,196 --> 01:03:22,200
In the midst of this chaos,
and being told
1174
01:03:22,234 --> 01:03:25,106
by a very prominent member
of the legal community,
1175
01:03:25,140 --> 01:03:26,275
"Don't talk to the police.
1176
01:03:26,309 --> 01:03:28,881
We're gonna take care
of things."
1177
01:03:28,914 --> 01:03:32,889
In this lawsuit, I think
Connor's goal is to make sure
1178
01:03:32,922 --> 01:03:36,429
that everybody knows he was not
responsible for this accident.
1179
01:03:37,431 --> 01:03:42,074
It's also to hold
Alex Murdaugh accountable.
1180
01:03:42,107 --> 01:03:44,846
‐ Even though Paul
was deceased,
1181
01:03:44,879 --> 01:03:46,917
this new petition was filed
1182
01:03:46,950 --> 01:03:49,989
shortly after
Maggie and Paul's murder.
1183
01:03:50,023 --> 01:03:52,227
‐ It just seemed almost
cruel and unusual
1184
01:03:52,260 --> 01:03:55,100
with developments in this case,
to file a lawsuit.
1185
01:03:55,133 --> 01:03:57,204
There's never a good time
to sue anybody.
1186
01:03:57,237 --> 01:03:59,609
But with this case,
with shoes dropping
1187
01:03:59,642 --> 01:04:03,951
left and right like a
caterpillar losing its shoes,
1188
01:04:03,984 --> 01:04:06,923
there was never a good, perfect
time to bring a lawsuit,
1189
01:04:06,957 --> 01:04:09,996
but we just did.
1190
01:04:10,030 --> 01:04:12,602
‐ But what is
even more shocking
1191
01:04:12,635 --> 01:04:15,040
is what happened next.
1192
01:04:15,073 --> 01:04:17,144
‐ Welcome back, everybody.
1193
01:04:17,177 --> 01:04:19,381
Things have been lighting up
our inboxes and our phones
1194
01:04:19,415 --> 01:04:21,318
or whatever the last few days.
1195
01:04:21,352 --> 01:04:24,091
Saturday,
phones start blowing up,
1196
01:04:24,124 --> 01:04:26,128
Facebook starts
blowing up, etcetera.
1197
01:04:26,162 --> 01:04:28,066
Take us to that time.
1198
01:04:28,099 --> 01:04:29,501
‐ Well, I was actually
getting ready to leave
1199
01:04:29,536 --> 01:04:31,138
to go to
the South Carolina game.
1200
01:04:31,172 --> 01:04:33,443
So I was packing the cooler,
and all of a sudden,
1201
01:04:33,476 --> 01:04:36,082
I‐‐my phone is ringing off
the hook and, like,
1202
01:04:36,115 --> 01:04:37,084
"You're not gonna
believe this."
1203
01:04:37,117 --> 01:04:38,987
‐ Crazy.
1204
01:04:39,021 --> 01:04:41,125
‐ And I really honestly thought
maybe this is more fake news.
1205
01:04:49,108 --> 01:04:50,410
[phone dials]
1206
01:05:07,144 --> 01:05:08,981
‐ Alex Murdaugh,
whose wife and son
1207
01:05:09,014 --> 01:05:11,051
were shot
to death back in June,
1208
01:05:11,085 --> 01:05:14,091
was shot in the head himself
while changing a tire today.
1209
01:05:14,124 --> 01:05:15,561
[phone dials]
1210
01:05:27,050 --> 01:05:29,254
‐ Murdaugh stopped to change
a tire on Salkehatchie Road
1211
01:05:29,288 --> 01:05:30,524
near Varnville, when...
1212
01:05:35,534 --> 01:05:37,137
‐ Alex Murdaugh called 911
1213
01:05:37,170 --> 01:05:39,441
shortly after 1:30
Saturday afternoon
1214
01:05:39,475 --> 01:05:41,078
to report he'd been shot.
1215
01:05:47,625 --> 01:05:50,430
‐ He was air‐lifted to a
hospital in Savannah, Georgia,
1216
01:05:50,463 --> 01:05:52,969
with what authorities called
a superficial gunshot wound
1217
01:05:53,002 --> 01:05:55,039
to the head.
1218
01:05:55,073 --> 01:05:58,981
‐ I couldn't believe
what I was learning
1219
01:05:59,014 --> 01:06:01,085
after Alex was shot.
1220
01:06:01,118 --> 01:06:04,191
There was just
a‐‐a series of events
1221
01:06:04,224 --> 01:06:08,399
involving this man that just
didn't seem to make sense.
1222
01:06:08,432 --> 01:06:11,540
‐ When the call came in
where he was shot,
1223
01:06:11,573 --> 01:06:14,679
I didn't know‐‐well, why would
he go on the side of the road?
1224
01:06:14,712 --> 01:06:16,583
You know, I just didn't know.
1225
01:06:16,616 --> 01:06:18,987
And then everything
started coming out.
1226
01:06:19,021 --> 01:06:21,526
And, um...
1227
01:06:21,560 --> 01:06:23,597
it‐‐it was just
one thing after the other.
1228
01:06:25,466 --> 01:06:27,772
‐ Tonight, several new twists
1229
01:06:27,805 --> 01:06:29,742
in the Murdaugh murder
mystery.
1230
01:06:29,776 --> 01:06:33,750
‐ Alex Murdaugh was pushed out
of his powerful law firm
1231
01:06:33,784 --> 01:06:37,792
over claims he misused funds
the day before he called 911
1232
01:06:37,825 --> 01:06:40,029
to say he'd been
shot in the head.
1233
01:06:40,063 --> 01:06:41,733
A member of the firm said
1234
01:06:41,766 --> 01:06:44,104
the amount was
in the millions.
1235
01:06:44,137 --> 01:06:45,373
‐ Without saying too much,
1236
01:06:45,406 --> 01:06:49,248
I know one person
that works for the firm.
1237
01:06:49,281 --> 01:06:50,584
It's just been heartbreaking.
1238
01:06:52,087 --> 01:06:55,326
‐ Murdaugh's lawyer says
he voluntarily checked himself
1239
01:06:55,360 --> 01:06:59,501
into an inpatient
substance abuse rehab center.
1240
01:06:59,536 --> 01:07:01,138
‐ These reports
that your client
1241
01:07:01,171 --> 01:07:03,175
stole millions of dollars
from‐‐from the law firm,
1242
01:07:03,209 --> 01:07:05,748
did he use all of that money
to buy drugs?
1243
01:07:05,781 --> 01:07:08,720
Or did he use some of the
millions for‐‐for other things?
1244
01:07:10,791 --> 01:07:13,229
‐ The vast majority of it,
as I understand it,
1245
01:07:13,262 --> 01:07:14,331
was used to buy drugs.
1246
01:07:14,364 --> 01:07:17,304
‐ That's a lot of‐‐that's
a lot of oxy.
1247
01:07:17,337 --> 01:07:20,143
‐ I'm not really buying
the drug addiction angle.
1248
01:07:20,176 --> 01:07:21,513
‐ Why is that?
1249
01:07:21,546 --> 01:07:23,817
‐ Anytime I ever had
an interaction with Alex
1250
01:07:23,850 --> 01:07:25,821
in the courthouses
and things like that,
1251
01:07:25,854 --> 01:07:28,694
I saw no discernable
problems that he was having.
1252
01:07:28,727 --> 01:07:31,232
And I've had clients
who have been on hydrocodone
1253
01:07:31,265 --> 01:07:31,967
and those type of things.
1254
01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:36,509
And it wears you down,
you know?
1255
01:07:36,543 --> 01:07:38,479
I mean, I don't see how
you can‐‐you can function.
1256
01:07:38,513 --> 01:07:41,252
I mean, lawyers typically
have to think most of the time.
1257
01:07:41,285 --> 01:07:43,757
How you can function with those
type of drugs in your system.
1258
01:07:47,832 --> 01:07:50,470
‐ There's a new twist in
a story we've been following.
1259
01:07:50,503 --> 01:07:52,440
Police say
that a prominent lawyer
1260
01:07:52,474 --> 01:07:54,244
who you may have heard about
1261
01:07:54,278 --> 01:07:58,185
enlisted a hitman to shoot him
in the head and kill him.
1262
01:07:58,219 --> 01:07:59,722
‐ He was suicidal.
1263
01:07:59,756 --> 01:08:04,097
So he went to his drug dealer
and asked him to shoot him.
1264
01:08:04,131 --> 01:08:06,803
‐ Curtis Smith, also charged
with assisted suicide
1265
01:08:06,836 --> 01:08:08,640
and insurance fraud.
1266
01:08:08,674 --> 01:08:10,410
An affidavit
in that case claims
1267
01:08:10,443 --> 01:08:13,249
Murdaugh told Smith
to shoot him in the head
1268
01:08:13,282 --> 01:08:15,219
so Murdaugh's son
could collect
1269
01:08:15,253 --> 01:08:18,392
his $10 million
life insurance policy.
1270
01:08:18,426 --> 01:08:20,664
‐ What Eddie Smith says
is there was a struggle,
1271
01:08:20,698 --> 01:08:22,200
you know, for the gun.
1272
01:08:22,233 --> 01:08:23,469
‐ The gun went off?
1273
01:08:23,502 --> 01:08:24,639
Did it hit him?
Did the bullet hit him?
1274
01:08:24,672 --> 01:08:26,108
‐ No.
1275
01:08:26,141 --> 01:08:27,712
‐ So that‐‐that story
where you got‐‐
1276
01:08:27,745 --> 01:08:29,682
‐ There's no blood on me.
There's no blood on him.
1277
01:08:29,716 --> 01:08:31,519
‐ Eddie Smith says
he didn't see any blood
1278
01:08:31,553 --> 01:08:33,255
or anything like that
when he left the scene.
1279
01:08:33,289 --> 01:08:35,326
ER doctor that we had
on our podcast said
1280
01:08:35,360 --> 01:08:37,732
he absolutely did sustain
some injuries.
1281
01:08:37,765 --> 01:08:42,541
‐ We may never know what
happened on Salkehatchie Road.
1282
01:08:42,575 --> 01:08:43,844
But what we do know
1283
01:08:43,877 --> 01:08:49,221
is that Alex Murdaugh is
at the center of these events.
1284
01:08:49,254 --> 01:08:52,795
This was a man who was
spiraling out of control.
1285
01:08:52,828 --> 01:08:55,768
It‐‐it was actually quite sad.
1286
01:08:55,801 --> 01:08:58,272
People resent all the attention
1287
01:08:58,306 --> 01:09:00,911
that this case has brought
to this quiet community?
1288
01:09:00,944 --> 01:09:02,581
‐ They're struggling.
1289
01:09:02,615 --> 01:09:04,886
They're stressed,
they're heartbroken.
1290
01:09:04,919 --> 01:09:08,593
We need closure.
The whole community does.
1291
01:09:08,627 --> 01:09:11,633
And I just hope we get it soon.
1292
01:09:23,289 --> 01:09:25,894
[train horn blares] ‐ This really is a tale
1293
01:09:25,928 --> 01:09:27,798
that has
a lot more twists and turns.
1294
01:09:27,832 --> 01:09:30,370
‐ State investigators now
reopened another inquiry
1295
01:09:30,403 --> 01:09:32,575
into the death of Murdaugh's
housekeeper,
1296
01:09:32,608 --> 01:09:35,179
Gloria Satterfield.
‐ Of Gloria Satterfield.
1297
01:09:35,213 --> 01:09:36,583
‐ The Murdaugh's housekeeper.
1298
01:09:36,616 --> 01:09:38,486
‐ Of Murdaugh's longtime
housekeeper,
1299
01:09:38,520 --> 01:09:41,726
Gloria Satterflield.
1300
01:09:41,760 --> 01:09:44,398
‐ By September 2021,
1301
01:09:44,431 --> 01:09:48,707
Alex Murdaugh's world appeared
to be closing in on him.
1302
01:09:48,740 --> 01:09:50,711
His wife and son
had been murdered.
1303
01:09:50,744 --> 01:09:53,617
He was named
in an additional lawsuit
1304
01:09:53,650 --> 01:09:56,455
in connection with the death
of Mallory Beach.
1305
01:09:56,488 --> 01:10:00,531
And the investigation into
the death of Stephen Smith
1306
01:10:00,564 --> 01:10:03,603
had been reopened
based on something found
1307
01:10:03,637 --> 01:10:06,509
in the double homicide
investigation.
1308
01:10:06,543 --> 01:10:08,513
But that wasn't all.
1309
01:10:08,547 --> 01:10:11,586
Less than two weeks
after Alex's shooting,
1310
01:10:11,619 --> 01:10:14,659
yet another suspicious death
1311
01:10:14,692 --> 01:10:18,332
connected to the Murdaughs
surfaced.
1312
01:10:18,365 --> 01:10:21,305
[phone dials]
1313
01:10:21,338 --> 01:10:23,510
[line rings]
1314
01:10:23,543 --> 01:10:25,413
‐ 911, what is your emergency?
1315
01:11:24,899 --> 01:11:29,341
‐ On the day of the incident,
tension was clearly high.
1316
01:11:30,711 --> 01:11:32,615
Tell me about
Gloria Satterfield.
1317
01:11:32,648 --> 01:11:34,484
Who‐‐who was she?
1318
01:11:34,519 --> 01:11:37,323
‐ She was their housekeeper.
The Murdaughs's housekeeper.
1319
01:11:37,357 --> 01:11:39,996
‐ Gloria was
a religious woman.
1320
01:11:40,029 --> 01:11:43,603
Has two children,
and spent most of her life
1321
01:11:43,637 --> 01:11:46,375
being either a housekeeper
or raising children.
1322
01:11:46,408 --> 01:11:49,447
And she happened to do it
for the Murdaughs for a period
1323
01:11:49,481 --> 01:11:51,853
in excess of 20 years.
1324
01:11:51,886 --> 01:11:54,826
She helped raise
Buster and Paul,
1325
01:11:54,859 --> 01:11:57,731
and she felt like she was part
of the fabric of that family.
1326
01:11:59,501 --> 01:12:02,407
‐ And what happened
to Mrs. Satterfield?
1327
01:12:02,440 --> 01:12:04,712
‐ The story is
somewhat confusing.
1328
01:12:07,585 --> 01:12:10,824
The one story is that
she tripped
1329
01:12:10,858 --> 01:12:12,828
and fell down the stairs.
1330
01:12:12,862 --> 01:12:17,503
‐ She stayed in the hospital
for 24 days, nearly a month.
1331
01:12:17,538 --> 01:12:18,472
‐ Yes.
1332
01:12:18,507 --> 01:12:20,076
‐ And died there.
1333
01:12:20,109 --> 01:12:23,517
‐ Yes, but she was never able
to make a statement.
1334
01:12:23,550 --> 01:12:26,723
‐ The circumstances surrounding
her death are questionable?
1335
01:12:26,756 --> 01:12:28,827
‐ I believe they are.
1336
01:12:28,860 --> 01:12:30,898
‐ There was not
an investigation at the time
1337
01:12:30,931 --> 01:12:34,437
because the death certificate
said natural causes.
1338
01:12:34,471 --> 01:12:36,943
‐ There's nothing natural
about falling down the stairs.
1339
01:12:36,976 --> 01:12:40,383
It should say she died
of a, you know, brain bleed,
1340
01:12:40,416 --> 01:12:42,955
subdural hematoma,
but not natural causes.
1341
01:12:46,563 --> 01:12:48,867
‐ Why wasn't
an autopsy ordered?
1342
01:12:48,900 --> 01:12:52,407
‐ I don't know that the coroner
was even notified in this case.
1343
01:12:52,440 --> 01:12:53,843
It‐‐it could have been
a natural death
1344
01:12:53,877 --> 01:12:55,046
had she had a heart attack
1345
01:12:55,079 --> 01:12:56,683
and then fallen
down the stairs.
1346
01:12:56,716 --> 01:12:58,820
But the only way to know
that is to do an autopsy.
1347
01:12:58,853 --> 01:13:00,691
And initially,
1348
01:13:00,724 --> 01:13:03,597
it certainly appears
much more like an accident.
1349
01:13:03,630 --> 01:13:05,867
Or perhaps something
more sinister.
1350
01:13:09,976 --> 01:13:12,080
‐ I don't think there's
anything suspicious
1351
01:13:12,113 --> 01:13:14,652
if it were a standalone event.
1352
01:13:14,685 --> 01:13:18,827
But when you have
this many untimely deaths
1353
01:13:18,860 --> 01:13:22,901
connected to one family,
then it starts to become like,
1354
01:13:22,935 --> 01:13:24,906
okay,
maybe what's happening here?
1355
01:13:27,010 --> 01:13:30,717
‐ And so,
on September 15, 2021,
1356
01:13:30,751 --> 01:13:33,523
at the request of
the Hampton County Coroner,
1357
01:13:33,556 --> 01:13:36,194
a criminal inquiry was opened
1358
01:13:36,228 --> 01:13:39,535
into the death
of Gloria Satterfield.
1359
01:13:39,568 --> 01:13:42,140
‐ The Hampton County Coroner,
Angie Topper,
1360
01:13:42,173 --> 01:13:44,845
she noticed that some things
just weren't jiving.
1361
01:13:44,879 --> 01:13:47,450
It was deemed a wrongful death
for this lawsuit,
1362
01:13:47,483 --> 01:13:50,456
but the‐‐the death certificate
said natural causes.
1363
01:13:50,489 --> 01:13:51,960
‐ Natural causes.
1364
01:13:51,993 --> 01:13:54,598
If it wasn't intentional,
it certainly is lazy
1365
01:13:54,632 --> 01:13:57,036
and creates more questions
than answers.
1366
01:13:57,070 --> 01:13:58,506
And you should never
have questions
1367
01:13:58,540 --> 01:14:00,109
with a death certificate.
1368
01:14:00,142 --> 01:14:02,781
It should be clear
and succinct.
1369
01:14:02,815 --> 01:14:04,652
But again, like everything
with the Murdaughs,
1370
01:14:04,685 --> 01:14:08,727
it just opens up
another can of questions.
1371
01:14:08,760 --> 01:14:11,164
People just don't understand
the power of the Murdaughs
1372
01:14:11,198 --> 01:14:12,835
in this Hampton County.
1373
01:14:12,868 --> 01:14:16,542
I cannot begin to tell you
the mystique of this family
1374
01:14:16,576 --> 01:14:18,479
and the mystique
of that law firm.
1375
01:14:18,513 --> 01:14:20,684
‐ SLED said
they're relaunching
1376
01:14:20,717 --> 01:14:23,657
this criminal investigation
due to new evidence.
1377
01:14:23,690 --> 01:14:25,927
‐ And the crime that set off
these legal troubles,
1378
01:14:25,961 --> 01:14:29,702
the death of Murdaugh's wife
and son, is still unsolved.
1379
01:14:29,735 --> 01:14:31,071
‐ What's
your client's involvement
1380
01:14:31,104 --> 01:14:32,741
in Gloria Satterfield's death?
1381
01:14:32,775 --> 01:14:34,812
‐ Well, first of all,
he has no involvement
1382
01:14:34,845 --> 01:14:36,516
in Gloria Satterfield's death.
1383
01:14:36,549 --> 01:14:38,953
That was a case that was
litigated‐‐not litigated,
1384
01:14:38,987 --> 01:14:41,124
but examined thoroughly.
1385
01:14:41,158 --> 01:14:42,561
It was an accident
that she tripped
1386
01:14:42,594 --> 01:14:43,663
and fell down the stairs.
1387
01:14:45,701 --> 01:14:48,005
‐ When I began
investigating this case,
1388
01:14:48,038 --> 01:14:51,211
I‐‐I thought, tragically,
Mrs. Satterfield had
1389
01:14:51,244 --> 01:14:54,652
a suspicious accident
at‐‐at the house.
1390
01:14:54,685 --> 01:15:00,062
But I didn't think
there was a financial element
1391
01:15:00,096 --> 01:15:02,100
to that particular case.
1392
01:15:08,947 --> 01:15:11,686
‐ Prominent Lowcountry
attorney, Alex Murdaugh,
1393
01:15:11,719 --> 01:15:13,957
facing more charges today.
1394
01:15:13,990 --> 01:15:15,961
He was arrested in Florida
in connection
1395
01:15:15,994 --> 01:15:18,232
to the investigation
into the death
1396
01:15:18,265 --> 01:15:20,102
of his family's former
housekeeper,
1397
01:15:20,136 --> 01:15:22,040
Gloria Satterfield.
1398
01:15:22,073 --> 01:15:24,678
The State Law Enforcement
Division accused Murdaugh
1399
01:15:24,712 --> 01:15:26,114
of misappropriating funds
1400
01:15:26,148 --> 01:15:29,087
related to
her wrongful death settlement.
1401
01:15:29,120 --> 01:15:31,659
‐ Alex Murdaugh breached
their duties to their clients,
1402
01:15:31,692 --> 01:15:32,628
to the Satterfield family.
1403
01:15:32,661 --> 01:15:34,197
‐ In what way?
1404
01:15:34,230 --> 01:15:36,636
‐ Well, for starters,
by being lawyers for her sons
1405
01:15:36,669 --> 01:15:38,072
in a suit against himself.
1406
01:15:39,307 --> 01:15:41,244
After Miss Satterfield's
funeral,
1407
01:15:41,278 --> 01:15:44,952
Murdaugh apparently approached
her sons and said,
1408
01:15:44,985 --> 01:15:46,656
"I'm gonna sue myself.
1409
01:15:46,689 --> 01:15:48,860
"Come meet my friend,
Cory Fleming.
1410
01:15:48,893 --> 01:15:52,266
"He's gonna sue me, and
we are going to get you money
1411
01:15:52,300 --> 01:15:54,739
from my insurance company."
1412
01:15:54,772 --> 01:15:56,776
He brought them
to his best friend,
1413
01:15:56,809 --> 01:15:59,915
his college roommate,
the godfather of his child,
1414
01:15:59,949 --> 01:16:03,188
without explaining the extent
of their relationship.
1415
01:16:03,222 --> 01:16:04,959
That's just the first thing
they did wrong
1416
01:16:04,992 --> 01:16:06,796
was not explain
their relationship,
1417
01:16:06,829 --> 01:16:10,002
and Cory Fleming's potential
loyalty to Alex Murdaugh.
1418
01:16:10,035 --> 01:16:13,308
That disloyalty to his own
clients later manifested
1419
01:16:13,342 --> 01:16:15,747
when he started writing checks
to Alex Murdaugh.
1420
01:16:19,087 --> 01:16:21,926
‐ What was the most egregious
thing that you discovered?
1421
01:16:21,959 --> 01:16:24,230
‐ The bottom line,
stealing $4.3 million.
1422
01:16:32,180 --> 01:16:35,152
‐ How did Murdaugh
hide those assets
1423
01:16:35,186 --> 01:16:37,758
from Mrs. Satterfield's boys?
1424
01:16:37,791 --> 01:16:39,327
‐ In two ways.
1425
01:16:39,360 --> 01:16:43,068
First, they got
Chad Westendorf from the bank
1426
01:16:43,101 --> 01:16:45,239
to take over
as the representative
1427
01:16:45,272 --> 01:16:47,343
of Gloria Satterfield's estate
1428
01:16:47,376 --> 01:16:49,682
so that her son,
Tony Satterfield,
1429
01:16:49,715 --> 01:16:51,652
wouldn't be a part
of the proceedings anymore
1430
01:16:51,686 --> 01:16:53,355
and wouldn't be aware
of the settlement.
1431
01:16:53,388 --> 01:16:55,025
They just said,
"This is complex stuff.
1432
01:16:55,059 --> 01:16:56,228
"We're going to get
this other guy
1433
01:16:56,261 --> 01:16:57,965
to take care of it for you."
1434
01:16:57,998 --> 01:17:00,136
And so, Satterfield went down
to Murdaugh's office
1435
01:17:00,169 --> 01:17:01,338
and signed over paperwork.
1436
01:17:06,148 --> 01:17:07,350
And the next day,
they went to the court
1437
01:17:07,383 --> 01:17:08,853
and asked for a settlement
1438
01:17:08,887 --> 01:17:10,757
that they never told
the Satterfields about.
1439
01:17:12,226 --> 01:17:14,230
Then they funneled the checks
1440
01:17:14,264 --> 01:17:17,871
through Murdaugh's
personal bank account
1441
01:17:17,905 --> 01:17:19,374
in the name of Forge.
1442
01:17:19,407 --> 01:17:20,977
‐ Forge?
1443
01:17:21,011 --> 01:17:22,313
‐ Apparently, he had opened it
in the name
1444
01:17:22,346 --> 01:17:24,852
of Alex Murdaugh
DBA Forge.
1445
01:17:24,885 --> 01:17:26,923
And by writing Forge
on the check,
1446
01:17:26,956 --> 01:17:29,662
it would make it appear
that the settlement funds
1447
01:17:29,695 --> 01:17:31,131
went to Forge Consulting,
1448
01:17:31,164 --> 01:17:34,805
which is a legitimate
settlement funding company.
1449
01:17:34,839 --> 01:17:37,143
‐ And is that account
still open?
1450
01:17:37,176 --> 01:17:38,345
Has it been cleaned out?
1451
01:17:38,378 --> 01:17:39,882
‐ I have no idea.
1452
01:17:39,915 --> 01:17:41,819
I have no idea
where the money is right now.
1453
01:17:41,853 --> 01:17:45,292
‐ When that case came to me,
I did not believe it.
1454
01:17:45,326 --> 01:17:48,766
When I hear
that all the money was stolen.
1455
01:17:48,800 --> 01:17:50,236
And you say to yourself,
1456
01:17:50,269 --> 01:17:52,741
"Well, why didn't the clients
question him?" you know.
1457
01:17:52,774 --> 01:17:55,847
Nobody had been involved
in the legal system before.
1458
01:17:55,881 --> 01:17:58,085
They're just hardworking,
God‐fearing people.
1459
01:17:58,118 --> 01:18:01,157
They trusted Alex.
He abused that trust.
1460
01:18:01,191 --> 01:18:05,132
‐ I can't figure out why
these insurance companies,
1461
01:18:05,165 --> 01:18:08,773
based on their lawyer's advice,
paid out all this money.
1462
01:18:08,806 --> 01:18:10,009
To me, that's just insane,
1463
01:18:10,042 --> 01:18:12,280
without even
a basic investigation.
1464
01:18:12,313 --> 01:18:14,250
I mean, there's not even
a police report
1465
01:18:14,284 --> 01:18:17,056
that talked about
Ms. Satterfield's death.
1466
01:18:17,089 --> 01:18:20,062
‐ I just couldn't believe it.
I was‐‐I thought who would‐‐
1467
01:18:20,095 --> 01:18:21,799
who is the type of person
who would do this?
1468
01:18:21,832 --> 01:18:23,468
I mean, this is a person
1469
01:18:23,502 --> 01:18:26,709
who had helped them
raise their children.
1470
01:18:26,742 --> 01:18:28,378
‐ Have you seen something
like this before?
1471
01:18:28,412 --> 01:18:30,182
‐ No.
1472
01:18:30,216 --> 01:18:33,121
He appears to regard himself
as above the law.
1473
01:18:33,155 --> 01:18:40,102
♪ ♪
1474
01:18:56,869 --> 01:18:58,472
‐ Alex Murdaugh waived
an extradition hearing in Florida this morning.
1475
01:18:58,506 --> 01:19:02,213
He'll return to South Carolina
and face felony charges.
1476
01:19:02,246 --> 01:19:03,415
‐ The bond hearing
for Murdaugh
1477
01:19:03,448 --> 01:19:06,154
is scheduled in
a Richland County Courthouse.
1478
01:19:09,127 --> 01:19:12,233
‐ I'll never forget when
we were in the bond hearing.
1479
01:19:12,266 --> 01:19:15,840
You know, the door opened
and Alex walked out.
1480
01:19:15,874 --> 01:19:17,511
You know, everybody's like...
[gasps]
1481
01:19:17,544 --> 01:19:18,846
You know, there's OJ,
1482
01:19:18,880 --> 01:19:21,051
you know,
OJ kind of thing.
1483
01:19:21,084 --> 01:19:23,790
He sat down and I watched him.
1484
01:19:23,823 --> 01:19:27,096
And he was looking out
like this.
1485
01:19:27,129 --> 01:19:30,336
Looking for anybody.
Looking for a friend.
1486
01:19:30,369 --> 01:19:32,808
Looking for family,
looking for a law partner.
1487
01:19:35,145 --> 01:19:38,185
‐ When I first started
covering this case,
1488
01:19:38,218 --> 01:19:40,489
I had real sympathy for Alex
1489
01:19:40,523 --> 01:19:43,529
after losing his wife
and youngest son.
1490
01:19:43,563 --> 01:19:47,203
But I had no way of knowing
that, six months later,
1491
01:19:47,236 --> 01:19:49,340
he would be under arrest
1492
01:19:49,374 --> 01:19:54,985
and indicted on 27 charges
related to financial crimes.
1493
01:19:55,019 --> 01:19:58,025
There's no other way
to describe it.
1494
01:19:58,058 --> 01:20:01,031
This prominent lawyer
has suffered a fall
1495
01:20:01,064 --> 01:20:03,836
from grace few can fathom.
1496
01:20:05,974 --> 01:20:07,944
‐ Your Honor,
we're here today
1497
01:20:07,978 --> 01:20:11,017
in the case of State vs.
Richard Alexander Murdaugh.
1498
01:20:11,051 --> 01:20:13,021
He is cleared
for a bond setting
1499
01:20:13,055 --> 01:20:16,261
on two Hampton County
arrest warrants.
1500
01:20:16,294 --> 01:20:18,231
‐ But we would ask you
to consider
1501
01:20:18,265 --> 01:20:20,035
a personal recognizance bond.
1502
01:20:20,069 --> 01:20:21,271
‐ Well, my partner Ronnie
and I got up and said,
1503
01:20:21,304 --> 01:20:22,908
"Lock the guy up."
1504
01:20:22,941 --> 01:20:25,980
He does not deserve bond.
He forfeited that right.
1505
01:20:26,014 --> 01:20:28,553
He stole.
He's a liar and a cheat.
1506
01:20:28,586 --> 01:20:30,289
Thank you, Your Honor.
1507
01:20:45,119 --> 01:20:46,589
‐ The reaction
in the courtroom,
1508
01:20:46,622 --> 01:20:49,127
Murdaugh's attorneys
seemed to be shocked.
1509
01:20:49,160 --> 01:20:51,164
A surprising verdict,
Judge Clifton Newman
1510
01:20:51,197 --> 01:20:53,603
moved to deny that bond
based on Murdaugh's ability
1511
01:20:53,636 --> 01:20:55,940
to flee and his mental state.
1512
01:20:55,974 --> 01:20:58,613
‐ He needs to get treated
for his addiction
1513
01:20:58,646 --> 01:21:00,149
so that he can
focus clearheaded
1514
01:21:00,182 --> 01:21:02,587
on how to resolve
any issues he might have.
1515
01:21:02,621 --> 01:21:05,192
‐ The justice system
is now recognizing
1516
01:21:05,225 --> 01:21:08,331
that he's a clear
and present danger with a pen
1517
01:21:08,365 --> 01:21:11,171
and he's being treated
accordingly.
1518
01:21:12,173 --> 01:21:15,446
‐ It was surprising that Alex
didn't make bond.
1519
01:21:17,183 --> 01:21:20,322
This is a man
who had strong ties
1520
01:21:20,355 --> 01:21:24,063
with judges and attorneys.
1521
01:21:24,097 --> 01:21:28,338
It suggests that his influence
has weakened.
1522
01:21:38,024 --> 01:21:41,097
[indistinct chatter]
1523
01:21:44,103 --> 01:21:45,974
‐ 12 seconds ago,
judge orders Murdaugh assets
1524
01:21:46,007 --> 01:21:47,944
to be frozen.
‐ Wait, what happened?
1525
01:21:47,978 --> 01:21:49,180
Did that just come through?
‐ Yeah.
1526
01:21:49,213 --> 01:21:51,217
‐ What is it?
1527
01:21:51,251 --> 01:21:53,388
‐ "Judge orders Murdaugh
assets to be frozen.
1528
01:21:53,422 --> 01:21:56,127
Appoints receivers."
‐ Okay, wait.
1529
01:21:56,161 --> 01:21:57,631
‐ Judge ordered Murdaugh
family's be frozen
1530
01:21:57,664 --> 01:22:01,137
and controlled by people
appointed by the court.
1531
01:22:01,171 --> 01:22:03,108
It's everywhere.
‐ Where are you reading this?
1532
01:22:03,141 --> 01:22:06,615
‐ News Two Charleston.
1533
01:22:06,649 --> 01:22:08,218
Ready?
I'm good. Are you good?
1534
01:22:08,251 --> 01:22:10,489
‐ I'm good.
‐ Rolling.
1535
01:22:10,523 --> 01:22:14,965
‐ Hello, friend.
Welcome back to the podcast.
1536
01:22:14,998 --> 01:22:18,305
As we're recording this,
a new thing has popped up.
1537
01:22:18,338 --> 01:22:21,311
A break that Alex Murdaugh
is not going to be happy with.
1538
01:22:21,344 --> 01:22:26,020
Alex and his son Buster's
assets were frozen.
1539
01:22:26,054 --> 01:22:28,559
So there will be attorneys
1540
01:22:28,593 --> 01:22:31,999
taking over Buster
and Alex's finances.
1541
01:22:35,573 --> 01:22:39,046
‐ Alex owes a lot of people
a lot of money.
1542
01:22:39,080 --> 01:22:42,587
Parker, who was one of
Alex's former law partners,
1543
01:22:42,621 --> 01:22:45,425
is suing Alex.
1544
01:22:45,459 --> 01:22:49,467
Randy, Alex's brother, has
also filed suit against him.
1545
01:22:49,500 --> 01:22:52,406
‐ There's about to be
a long line of people
1546
01:22:52,439 --> 01:22:54,310
that Alex owes money to.
1547
01:22:54,343 --> 01:22:56,047
‐ We have breaking news
as we come on the air.
1548
01:22:56,080 --> 01:22:58,318
A Hampton County grand jury
has indicted
1549
01:22:58,351 --> 01:23:01,257
former South Carolina
lawyer Alex Murdaugh‐‐
1550
01:23:01,291 --> 01:23:03,596
‐ On a different set of
insurance fraud charges.
1551
01:23:03,629 --> 01:23:06,067
Those come from a botched
attempt to have himself killed.
1552
01:23:06,100 --> 01:23:08,539
‐ New at noon,
a judge has decided
1553
01:23:08,573 --> 01:23:10,710
to keep Alex Murdaugh in jail
1554
01:23:10,743 --> 01:23:13,616
after reviewing
his psychiatric evaluation.
1555
01:23:13,649 --> 01:23:16,487
‐ The judge called him a danger
to himself and the community.
1556
01:23:16,522 --> 01:23:19,193
‐ And there's a second
grand jury investigation
1557
01:23:19,227 --> 01:23:20,530
that was just opened.
1558
01:23:20,563 --> 01:23:25,038
And allegedly,
he was writing checks
1559
01:23:25,072 --> 01:23:28,411
to get drugs
from this drug gang.
1560
01:23:28,445 --> 01:23:30,349
It's strange as‐‐as
1561
01:23:30,382 --> 01:23:32,486
almost everything
involved in this case.
1562
01:23:32,521 --> 01:23:34,490
‐ We're not
at the tail end of it.
1563
01:23:34,525 --> 01:23:36,762
It's just starting.
1564
01:23:36,795 --> 01:23:39,367
He's sitting alone in a cell.
1565
01:23:39,400 --> 01:23:41,605
So the only thing
that he can broker
1566
01:23:41,639 --> 01:23:43,776
to get himself
some kind of life
1567
01:23:43,809 --> 01:23:46,447
or a life for his son
1568
01:23:46,481 --> 01:23:48,519
is information.
1569
01:23:48,553 --> 01:23:51,625
Or maybe he just takes it
with him to his grave.
1570
01:23:57,537 --> 01:24:00,075
‐ Clearly, there are
a lot of questions
1571
01:24:00,108 --> 01:24:02,514
that still need
to be answered.
1572
01:24:02,547 --> 01:24:06,622
What happened to Stephen Smith
on that quiet country road?
1573
01:24:06,655 --> 01:24:11,331
Will Alex be held liable for
influencing the investigation
1574
01:24:11,364 --> 01:24:14,805
into the boat crash
that killed Mallory Beach?
1575
01:24:14,838 --> 01:24:17,376
Was there anything criminal
1576
01:24:17,409 --> 01:24:20,783
in the death
of Gloria Satterfield?
1577
01:24:20,817 --> 01:24:24,290
Who killed
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh?
1578
01:24:24,323 --> 01:24:26,294
One thing that's certain,
1579
01:24:26,327 --> 01:24:29,835
there's a lot more twists
and turns to come
1580
01:24:29,868 --> 01:24:32,774
in the saga of Alex Murdaugh.
1581
01:25:33,495 --> 01:25:36,234
‐ At first,
I thought obviously,
1582
01:25:36,267 --> 01:25:38,204
he's a very successful person
1583
01:25:38,238 --> 01:25:39,875
who grew up
with a lot of privilege.
1584
01:25:39,908 --> 01:25:41,578
Looking at social media posts,
1585
01:25:41,612 --> 01:25:43,749
I thought
he did look like a loving dad.
1586
01:25:43,783 --> 01:25:45,687
I wanted to give him
the benefit of the doubt
1587
01:25:45,720 --> 01:25:47,791
with the boating accident
1588
01:25:47,824 --> 01:25:50,362
and wanted to give him
the benefit of the doubt
1589
01:25:50,395 --> 01:25:53,703
with the death
of his wife and son.
1590
01:25:53,736 --> 01:25:56,307
But then, I also didn't think
at the time
1591
01:25:56,341 --> 01:25:58,478
that it was possible
that Alex was somebody
1592
01:25:58,512 --> 01:26:00,783
who would allegedly steal
millions of dollars
1593
01:26:00,817 --> 01:26:05,392
from a former housekeeper,
from his law firm.
1594
01:26:05,425 --> 01:26:09,266
And the more that comes out,
the more it's not possible
1595
01:26:09,300 --> 01:26:12,339
to give him
the benefit of the doubt.
1596
01:26:12,373 --> 01:26:16,381
‐ It's bizarre
that all roads seem to lead...
1597
01:26:16,414 --> 01:26:17,784
‐ Correct.
‐ To one family.
1598
01:26:17,817 --> 01:26:20,389
‐ I pray that it's not.
1599
01:26:20,422 --> 01:26:23,261
But I have to wait and see
what the outcome's gonna be.
1600
01:26:23,294 --> 01:26:26,535
‐ What questions do you
have about this case?
1601
01:26:26,568 --> 01:26:27,904
‐ Well, the same
question you have.
1602
01:26:27,937 --> 01:26:31,612
What's gonna happen before
we walk out of this room?
1603
01:26:31,645 --> 01:26:34,584
‐ I want closure to this.
1604
01:26:34,618 --> 01:26:37,289
And that peace comes
to the family of Alex.
1605
01:26:37,322 --> 01:26:38,926
And I want the ones
that's passed on
1606
01:26:38,959 --> 01:26:40,763
before us to be at peace too.
1607
01:26:40,797 --> 01:26:42,700
‐ The primary question
1608
01:26:42,734 --> 01:26:46,274
is who killed
Paul and Maggie Murdaugh?
1609
01:26:46,307 --> 01:26:48,411
We pretty much know
1610
01:26:48,445 --> 01:26:50,983
what the future looks like
for Alex Murdaugh.
1611
01:26:51,017 --> 01:26:54,691
He's lost everything.
He has truly lost everything.
1612
01:26:54,725 --> 01:26:57,396
‐ What has this done
to the legacy of this family?
1613
01:26:58,465 --> 01:27:00,302
‐ Straight to the ground.
1614
01:27:00,335 --> 01:27:03,976
‐ I guess you could say
that this happened
1615
01:27:04,009 --> 01:27:07,851
because of hubris.
1616
01:27:07,884 --> 01:27:10,823
Some people are able
to not lose sleep
1617
01:27:10,857 --> 01:27:12,861
over the obvious reality
1618
01:27:12,894 --> 01:27:15,833
that one day there will be
a knock at the door,
1619
01:27:15,867 --> 01:27:17,904
and the devil's due.