Timeline of Main Events Alex Murdaugh Case

Alex Murdaugh Case

2013-2021:

• Ongoing: Alex Murdaugh steals nearly $11 million from clients and his law firm. Prosecutors allege these funds supported "a myriad (of) unlawful activities," including drug trafficking.

June 2021:

• Mid-June 2021: Paul Murdaugh (22) and Maggie Murdaugh (52) are shot to death near the dog kennels on the family's 1,770-acre property in Islandton, S.C. Alex Murdaugh tells investigators he discovered their bodies after not seeing them for about an hour. However, his voice is captured on a video from his son's phone approximately five minutes before the killings.

September 14, 2021:

• September 14, 2021: S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) issues an arrest warrant for Curtis "Eddie" Smith, alleging Murdaugh directed him to shoot him in the head for insurance purposes.

October 2022:

• October 2022: Alex Murdaugh's attorneys accuse Curtis "Eddie" Smith of being the murderer of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, based on a failed polygraph examination. Smith's attorney refutes this.

March 2023:

• March 2023: Alex Murdaugh is found guilty of the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, after a six-week trial. Jurors deliberate for less than three hours before delivering the guilty verdicts. He is sentenced to consecutive life sentences without parole.

July 2023:

• July 2023: Rebecca "Becky" Hill releases her book, Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders.

November 2023:

• November 2023: Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to 22 financial crimes, including wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. This federal sentence runs concurrently with his state prison time.

December 10, 2024:

• December 10, 2024: Alex Murdaugh's defense team files a 132-page appellate brief with the South Carolina Supreme Court, formally appealing his murder convictions based on alleged jury tampering and perceived legal procedure errors.

January 2025:

• January 2025: A hearing is held regarding Murdaugh's motion for a new murder trial based on jury tampering allegations against Becky Hill. One juror (Juror Z) testifies that Hill's comments influenced her decision to convict, while 11 other jurors deny such influence. Retired Chief Justice Jean Toal denies Murdaugh a new trial, finding that while Hill was "not completely credible" and lured by celebrity, the jurors were not influenced by her comments.

March 2025:

• March 2025: The AP Top Photos of the Month March 2025 are released. (Tangentially related as a publication date reference in the source).

April 14, 2025:

• April 14, 2025: The South Carolina Supreme Court grants state prosecutors an extension to respond to Murdaugh's appeal. The initial deadline was April 10, 2025.

May 2025:

• May 22, 2025: Becky Hill's arrest and charges are discussed in an interview on FITSNews.

• May 24, 2025: News and notes about the Michael Colucci retrial are reported.

• May 29, 2025: Callie Lyons reports on a Lowcountry Cop charged in a Chick-fil-A murder suing the Fraternal Order of Police.

June 2025:

• June 3, 2025: Jenn Wood reports on the latest regarding Buster Murdaugh’s defamation lawsuit against documentary filmmakers.

• June 9, 2025: Jenn Wood reports on the "Green Pond Massacre" suspects jail calls being released after a legal battle.

• June 24, 2025: Jenn Wood reports on Lauren Taylor breaking down the quashed murder indictment of Michael Colucci.

• June 25, 2025: Jenn Wood reports on the S.C. Supreme Court's aim to make lawyer and judge discipline more transparent.

• June 28, 2025: Weekly MFM (Murdaugh Family Murders) Discussion Thread.

• June 30, 2025: Jenn Wood reports that media companies formally deny Buster Murdaugh’s defamation claims.

July 2025:

• July 2, 2025: Dylan Nolan reports on Silfab Solar continuing construction after the county briefly stops work. Will Folks reports on Ralph Norman ripping Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill."

• July 3, 2025: Callie Lyons reports on Mica Miller Saga: Sentencing Scheduled For TikTok Fraudster. Dylan Nolan reports on Lindsey Graham’s latest hire solidifying Trump’s backing. Will Folks reports on a Lexington Republican relaunching candidacy and calling on RJ May to resign.

August 14, 2024 (Published Date of Article, refers to prior events):

• August 14, 2024: People.com publishes an article detailing the South Carolina Supreme Court agreeing to hear Murdaugh's jury tampering appeal. This article references events from March 2023 and January 2025.

Specific date not given, but almost three years into a life sentence as of article publication (likely late 2025/early 2026):

• Alex Murdaugh's appeal of his murder convictions is heard by the South Carolina Supreme Court. His lawyers argue jury tampering by Becky Hill.

• In federal court, Murdaugh appeals his 40-year sentence for financial crimes, arguing it's too harsh.

Cast of Characters

• Alex Murdaugh: The central figure, a disbarred South Carolina attorney. He was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. He also pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $11 million from clients and his law firm, receiving a 40-year federal sentence, which he is currently appealing. He denies killing his wife and son, attributing his initial lies to investigators to drug addiction.

• Maggie Murdaugh: Alex Murdaugh's wife, who was murdered in June 2021 at their home in Colleton County.

• Paul Murdaugh: Alex Murdaugh's younger son, who was murdered in June 2021 at their home in Colleton County.

• Rebecca "Becky" Hill: Former Colleton County Clerk of Court who oversaw Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. She is accused by Murdaugh's defense of jury tampering, including telling jurors not to trust Murdaugh, having private discussions with the jury foreperson, and pressuring for a quick verdict, allegedly to boost sales of her book, Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders. She later resigned amid an ethics investigation and faces charges unrelated to jury tampering, including perjury.

• Judge Jean Toal: A retired South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice assigned to hear Murdaugh's jury tampering appeal. She denied Murdaugh a new trial, finding Hill's testimony not entirely credible but concluding that jurors were not influenced by her comments to the extent of changing their verdict.

• Judge Richard Gergel: The federal judge who sentenced Alex Murdaugh to 40 years in prison for his financial crimes. He imposed a stiffer sentence than recommended due to Murdaugh stealing from "the most needy, vulnerable people."

• Dick Harpootlian: One of Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys. He is actively involved in Murdaugh's appeals, arguing for a new trial due to jury tampering and evidentiary errors. He has also criticized the state's failure to prosecute Curtis "Eddie" Smith.

• Jim Griffin: Another of Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys, working alongside Dick Harpootlian on the appeals.

• Phillip Barber: A defense attorney for Alex Murdaugh, part of his appellate team.

• Maggie Fox: A defense attorney for Alex Murdaugh, part of his appellate team.

• Juror Z: A juror in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial who testified during the January 2025 hearing that comments from Becky Hill influenced her decision to convict Murdaugh.

• Williams (Juror): A juror in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial who firmly stands by the guilty verdict, asserting "We got it right: he's guilty," and takes offense at Murdaugh's allegations of jury tampering.

• Curtis "Eddie" Smith: Accused of various crimes in connection with Alex Murdaugh, including an alleged assisted suicide attempt on Murdaugh, cashing over $2.4 million in checks for Murdaugh, and facing drug trafficking charges. Murdaugh's attorneys have also accused him of being the murderer of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, an allegation Smith's attorney refuted.

• Alan Wilson: South Carolina Attorney General. His office has been criticized for not referring Becky Hill's case to an independent prosecutor and for not prosecuting Curtis "Eddie" Smith on pending charges.

• Will Lewis: Becky Hill's attorney.

• Eric Bland: Attorney who represented multiple jurors in Murdaugh's murder trial and several victims of his financial crimes. He believes the optics of Hill's charges "bode well for Alex Murdaugh."

• Mandy: Mentioned as possibly having a new car, in a speculative comment related to Becky Hill's alleged activities.

• Michael M. DeWitt Jr.: A journalist and editor based in Hampton County, South Carolina, who has been sued by Buster Murdaugh for defamation, specifically for allegedly falsely accusing him of involvement in Stephen Smith's murder in the Netflix series "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal."

• Buster Murdaugh: Alex Murdaugh's surviving son. He has filed a defamation lawsuit against documentary filmmakers for creating content he alleges defamed him.

• Robert Kittle: Spokesperson for the S.C. Attorney General's Office.

• Jenn Wood: FITSNews' research director, producer, and leading expert on the Murdaugh case. She authored several articles cited in the source.

• Will Folks: FITSNews founding editor.

• Callie Lyons: A FITSNews reporter.

• Dylan Nolan: A FITSNews reporter.