Mr. Randolph Murdaugh, III, 81, of Varnville, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, June 10, 2021, at his residence. Image: Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool/Tribune News Service via Getty Images. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Defense attorney Phillip Barber talks with attorney Dick Harpootlian during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. On the witness stand Feb. 21, Buster agreed. For nearly 90 years, the post of chief prosecutor for a five-county region was held by a Murdaugh. Alex told police that he was not home at the time of the murders, which authorities say took place between 9 and 9:30 p.m. that evening. Ways to honor Margaret Murdaugh's life and legacy. A call for prayer was prompted on the floor of the South Carolina Statehouse, according to the Island Packet. tmoore@postandcourier.com; Hes not doing well at all, a former college classmate told People. ", "I was in shock," #BusterMurdaugh said as he described the moment he found out his mother, Maggie, and brother, Paul, were murdered. Please join us to mourn the passing of Stephen Smith. Crowds line up early outside of the Colleton County Courthouse waiting for a seat to watch the proceedings in the Alex Murdaugh trial at the in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. he asked. Our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with the family and friends. Ahead of the trial, Murdaugh's defense insinuated that Smith was involved in the killings of Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, at thefamily's sprawling hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina, on June 7, 2021. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1991, where she met her husband, Alex. She told Newsweek: "The defense attorneys methodically took Buster through the night of the murders in a manner that allowed Buster's interpretation of his father's innocence and shock to be displayed to the jury through his eyes. Maggie and Alex raised their 2 sons in Hampton, South Carolina and enjoyed spending their summers at their beach house in Edisto. For an optimal Alex Murdaugh took the stand to testify during the trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C. three other deaths in the regionthat may be tied to the family. pic.twitter.com/2ONKOlrvur, "Brooklynn, my girlfriend, was with me she could hear my conversation over the phone, and she started packing stuff," the surviving son added, commenting that he "kinda just sat there for a minute, I was in shock. His family typically used the main driveway. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Prosecutor Johnny Ellis James Jr.. prosecutor Creighton Waters and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson prepare for the start of court on the 21st day of the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. tmoore@postandcourier.com; In the first full day of presenting their own case, the defense sought to cast doubt on the story prosecutors laid out to jurors over four weeks about how and why Maggie and Paul were shot. Closing arguments were scheduled for later on Wednesday. An attorney general spokesperson said once there is a certifiable death certificate they will officially dismissthe criminal charges against Paul Murdaugh. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh arrives for his trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Defense attorney Jim Griffin and Alex Murdaugh listen to testimony during Murdaughs trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Murdaugh has adamantly denied killing his wife and son. Maggie had a heart of pure generosity, and loved welcoming friends and family into her home on any given occasion. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. Sutton testified that makes it implausible Murdaugh, who stands 6-foot-4, could have been the triggerman. Hosted by Jocelyn Grzeszczak and Eric Russell. erussell@postandcourier.com, Understand Murdaugh: Cowboys, contraband and DNA evidence (Reader Mailbag), Live: Jurors in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial travel to Moselle, site of the slayings, Alex Murdaugh's prosecutors push back on 2-shooter theory in final day of testimony, Feb. 28: Prosecutors in Alex Murdaugh double murder trial question additional witnesses, The Berkeley Independent - Moncks Corner, SC, Alex Murdaugh indicted in double murder of wife, son, Attorney General's Office releases Alex Murdaugh's alleged motive in double murder case, Alex Murdaugh files formal alibi ahead of January double murder trial, Murdaugh prosecutors won't seek death penalty in January double-murder trial. This is just the beginning of the madness. Call Jocelyn Grzeszczak at 843-323-9175. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Mike Sutton, forensic engineer with the North Carolina-based Accident Research Specialists answers questions from defense attorney Dick Harpootlian during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. MAGGIE MURDAUGH OBITUARY Maggie Murdaugh ISLANDTON, SC - Margaret "Maggie" Kennedy Branstetter Murdaugh, 52, entered into eternal rest with her Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh watches his father Alex Murdaugh enter the courtroom after a break at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "© " + html; Call the. Jocelyn Grzeszczak covers crime and public safety in the Charleston area. Several of them are on the defenses list of potential witnesses. "Maggie had a heart of pure generosity and loved welcoming friends and family into her home on any given occasion. She previously wrote breaking news and features for Newsweek and The News-Press. Contact us at murdaugh@postandcourier.com. The Alex Murdaugh trial enters the fifth week as the defense call witnesses. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. He also said that his mother and brother had confronted his father about the pills they had found previously. For example, experts said, lawyers are not allowed to point things out or speak with the jurors. Maggie is survived by her loving husband Richard Alexander Murdaugh (Alex), her oldest son Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr. (Buster), her dear sister, Marian Branstetter Proctor (Bart), her parents Kennedy Hubbard Branstetter and Terry Lee Branstetter, her brothers-in-law, Randolph Murdaugh III (Christy), John Marvin Murdaugh (Liz), her sister-in-law, Lynn Murdaugh Goette (Allen), and her many nieces and nephews (Libby, Hannah, Kennedy, Mills, Trey, Reeves, Mary Elizabeth, Caroline, Mary Marvin, Liza Grace and Randolph). Funeral services will be held at noon at Hampton Cemetery on Holly Street, according to both obituaries. Fernandez suggested Suttons opinions were mere guesswork, not science. ET. Stew Mathews, a defense lawyer based in Cincinnati, requests jury visits in just about every serious case he takes on, he said. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, took the stand on Tuesday and spoke to the courtroom in the trial in which his father is accused of killing his wife and son. Murdaugh is seen sobbing on the phone and asking an officer, 'They are dead aren't they?' Understand Murdaugh is a podcast from The Post and Courier that dives into the intricacies of the Alex Murdaugh saga and the many related legal proceedingssurrounding the disgraced former attorney. I just sat there for a minute, he recalled. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. But none of that does justice to actually getting out there and seeing 360-degree, live views., Jurors in Murdaugh Murder Trial Visit S.C. Crime Scene, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/us/alex-murdaugh-jury-visit.html. Before the jury in the trial of Alex Murdaugh goes to deliberations, they will be leaving the courtroom and taking a field trip more than 20 miles away to Moselle. IE 11 is not supported. By Karen Ruiz and Laura Collins, Chief Investigative Reporter, For Dailymail.Com, Published: 14:39 EST, 13 February 2023 | Updated: 18:12 EST, 13 February 2023. Buster contended that his father instead said: "They did them so bad.". The younger Murdaugh said Tuesday that his father instead said, "They did him so bad.". It is rare for jurors to visit crime scenes, and experts said bringing the jurors out of the tightly controlled courtroom environment and into the real world could carry significant risks for both the prosecution and defense. He noted that his father was "destroyed, heartbroken just broken down," adding that the 63-year-old former lawyer was crying and couldn't really speak. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Mike Sutton, forensic engineer with the North Carolina-based Accident Research Specialists answers questions from defense attorney Dick Harpootlian during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Mr. Murdaugh pleaded not guilty. Will call you later. It was quiet.. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Murdaugh patted Buster on the hip as he left the courtroom during a break. They allege Murdaugh had wrapped at least one of the murder weapons a 12-gauge shotgun used to kill 22-year-old Paul or the .300 Blackout military-style rifle used to kill Maggie, 52 within the coat. Ive been gone, he told a dispatcher, NBC reported at the time. Ms. Vanoy said the visit was disturbing but important as she considered whether to sentence the gunman, Nikolas Cruz, to life in prison or to death. "It just makes it very unlikely that a tall person made that shot," Sutton said. Theory 1: Alex Murdaugh is responsible for the death of his wife and son. He was the eldest member of the powerhouse Murdaugh family. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. There were no suspects in the death of Stephen Smith and no one has been apprehended. "I wouldn't say within the family, because we supported each other.". Where was Buster Murdaugh during the murders? Simpson murder trial in Los Angeles. Mr. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. The synopsis of which is as follows: The Murdaughs were one of South Carolinas most prominent families, but the death of teenager Mallory Beach in a drunken boating accident began the unraveling of their legacy. After Maggie and Paul's murders on June 7, 2021, Buster became Alex Murdaugh's only surviving son, He was seen picking up a small statue of a dog that had been left at their burial sites and placed it above his mother's tomb, The poignant dog statue is among the various trinkets and items adoring Maggie and Paul's burial sites, The dog appears to resemble the Murdaugh family dog, Bubba, who has become somewhat of a key player in the case after a video in which voices can be heard mentioning the yellow lab appears to place Alex at the scene of the murders, Buster's girlfriend Brooklynn has been seen supporting him at his dad's trial proceedings, Alex Murdaugh and defense attorney Jim Griffin stand as prosecutor John Meadors enters during day 16 of Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday. Meadors asked, appearing to refer to earlier testimony in which Buster Murdaugh said his mother distanced herself from Hampton County after having felt like the center of unwanted attention amid news coverage of the lawsuit. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson looks at evidence introduced by the defense in the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. 148 Williman Street Smith is accused of shooting Murdaugh in the head three months after he allegedly killed his wife and son. Creighton Waters, the lead prosecutor, opposed the request, noting that the property has changed in the 20 months since the crime, including trees between the kennels and main house that are markedly taller and thicker than in the past. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. He looks tired. I was in shock., If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Content warning: This article contains mentions of murder. %privacy_policy%. Feb. 21 2023, Published 11:22 a.m. When Paul Murdaugh the alleged driver of the boat and his mother Maggie are found brutally murdered, a century of corruption, power, and cover-ups in the Low Country is brought to light. Read moreFeb. 452. Adults at the party had reportedly asked that the teens not take the boat back due to foggy and misty weather. His lawyers said he was visiting his ailing mother the night of the murders and police wrongly focused on him from the start. His body was found in the middle of the road miles away from his truck and highway patrol said his body looked like it was more staged. At the time of his death, Paul Murdaugh was facing three felony counts of boating under the influence. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Mike Sutton, forensic engineer with the North Carolina-based Accident Research Specialists testifies during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Sleepovers, Jumping on the trampoline and running track together. The victims were found withmultiple gunshot wounds on June 7, 2021, after 911 dispatchers received a call from Alex at around 10pm. Born to prestige before a mighty fall How murder charges impact other death investigations, lawsuits surrounding Alex Murdaugh Horror in Hampton County: Buster She adored her family, and cherished spending time on the boat with her two sons. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The girl's body was found a week later. When asked how he found out about the murders of his mom and brother, Buster testified that his father called him late at night on June 7, 2021, and told him the heartbreaking news: "He asked me if I was sitting down, and I was like, yeah, then he sounded odd, then he told me that my mom and brother had been shot. On Feb. 21, 2023, Buster officially took to the witness stand to testify in his father's ongoing double murder Griffin also questioned Buster about his fathers opioid addiction. Theres also a suspicious death which speculation implicated Buster in himself but nothing has ever come of it. Buster Murdaugh receives a hug in the pouring rain at the funeral service for his brother, Paul, and mother, Maggie, on June 11, 2021. But investigators never followed up on the alleged admission or even wrote it in their notes. Alex Murdaugh, who is about 6-foot-4, would have had to be holding the weapon below his kneecap, Sutton said. Fernandez was quick to elicit testimony that Murdaugh paid Suttons company $350 an hour for its work on his case, and that Sutton had already worked more than 40 hours. He doesnt make eye contact and he doesnt really engage like he used to. Mr. Murdaugh admitted from the witness stand last week that he was at the dog kennels where the killings occurred with his wife and son in the minutes before the killings, but he said he drove a golf cart back to the main house before the shootings took place. On Feb. 21, 2023, Buster officially took to the witness stand to testify in his father's ongoing double murder trial. Grace Beahm Alford gbeahm@postandcourier.com, Alex Murdaugh's son Buster takes witness stand in double-murder trial, By Avery G. Wilks, Thad Moore and Jocelyn Grzeszczak He has really closed off and built walls around himself. Another childhood friend of Buster told the outlet, Buster is collateral damage to his fathers situation, says a friend who has known him since childhood. He has maintained this demeanor throughout the trial, even as the uncles and aunts he sits with have regularly broken into tears. Though our words can do little, we hope our thoughts and prayers will encourage you this period and always as you mourn, the passing soul. He was ill at the time of his death, sources close to the family told the outlet. On July 14, the police charged AlexMurdaughwith killinghis wife and son. Absolutely, said Ms. Vanoy, a vice president for diversity and inclusion at a health care company. Ted Cruz accuses AG Merrick Garland of ignoring threats to Supreme Court justices and crisis pregnancy centers in VERY heated Senate exchange, AG Garland says every prisoner 'deserves dignity' when asked if 'biological males' should be in female jails - as Republicans grill him on the Hunter Biden investigation, fentanyl deaths and rising crime, Dozens of DEMOCRATS side with Republicans to pass measure that would force Biden administration to audit executive orders to prevent more inflation and 'wasteful spending', Laura Collins, Chief Investigative Reporter, For Dailymail.Com, they were shot multiple times at the family's hunting estate, Do not sell or share my personal information. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The fatal shootingof Maggie Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh in 2021rocked South Carolinas Lowcountry region, where the Murdaugh familys powerful legal dynasty originated. Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh testifies, waits to resume testifying during a break, in his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. She made the most out of every situation, and lived each and every day to the fullest.". Judge Clifton Newman allowed the visit and attended along with the lawyers. The surviving members of the family also did talk about safety concerns in the days after the murders. Before the jury in the trial of Alex Murdaugh goes to deliberations, they will be leaving the courtroom and taking a field trip more than 20 miles away to Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. While they were offered to be driven home instead, the group decided to takethe boat, according to testimony. You dont know what jurors will see when they get to the place, Ms. Marder said. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. He was 81. Buster Murdaugh. You can directly shop your flowers on Amazon. According to the Wall Street Journal, he was kicked out of law school over a plagiarism incident. Journalist of the Year for his reporting on South Carolina's nuclear fiasco and abuses within the state's electric cooperatives. I am shocked and dont have words to express how terribly sorry I am. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Prosecutor Johnny Ellis James Jr.. prosecutor Creighton Waters and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson prepare for the start of court on the 21st day of the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Buster testified his father was always apologetic during those confrontations, which remained civil. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh listens to his son, Buster Murdaughs testimony during his trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. We are so saddened by this terrible tragedy. In one instance, the defense played Buster Murdaugh an audio recording of his father's interview with police, in which he emotionally discussed seeing his dead son. The group got into an "argument" while aboard Murdaugh's boat about wanting to get home while others wanted to keep drinking, according to a witness testimony, which alleges that Murdaugh had become aggressive and "slapped" his then-girlfriend. Inside Buster Murdaugh's Life After Murders of Mother and Brother Charleston, SC 29403, News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com, Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com, var html = new Date().getFullYear(); The bodies of Maggie and Paul are blurred out after they were shot multiple times at the family's hunting estate. How can somebody hold the weapon that height off the ground?" Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh testifies, waits to resume testifying during a break, in his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Body Found in Search for 4 Missing Boaters After Head-On Crash in Colorado River. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh arrives for his trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Distractify is a registered trademark. Randolph Murdaugh, III, 81, of Varnville, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, June 10, 2021, at his residence. Testimony concluded on Tuesday after more than 75 witnesses took the stand over about five weeks. An entrance to the Moselle Road property owned by the Murdaugh family in Islandton, S.C. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh were killed on June 7, 2021, and their bloodied bodies were found at their 1,700-acre hunting estate in Colleton County, South Carolina. My heart goes out to you. But last year Mallory's mother filed a civil lawsuit against the Murdaugh family and the convenience store chain that allegedly soldminors alcohol the evening of her daughter's death. All rights reserved. Based on SLED agents measurements of how those structures were hit and the location where bullet casings were found, Sutton testified the rifle would have been fired relatively low to the ground. Where is Buster Murdaugh now? Dressed in a dark suit and a crisp white shirt, Buster appeared stoic and distant on the witness stand, calmly and politely answering Griffin. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. They have hinted the former attorney did so to hide evidence, including the still-unrecovered murder weapons, by the propertys treeline. football star stored his accolades. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Was there any violence in the family? Griffin asked. He has bags under his eyes and he just looks miserable. Mr. Murdaugh survivedand was charged with fraud. ISLANDTON, S.C. The vast estate is as idyllic as it is secluded, its fishing pond, expansive farmland and four-bedroom home shrouded by trees and a winding driveway that keep it all out of view from the highway. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the mother and son's headstones placed alongside each other, Maggie, who was 52, is believed to have been killed first at the family's hunting lodge in Moselle. Call the. His lawyers have elicited testimony that Mr. Murdaugh would not have been able to hear gunshots from inside the house. Having suffered the devastating loss of their own daughter, the family prays that the Murdaughs can find some level of peace from this tragic loss.". "It caused stress within the family, didn't it?" We encourage you all to respect the dead and accord the family heartbroken with the loss of a cherished one, some privacy as you leave a message in the comment session. May you find comfort knowing that life continues forever in heaven even as the memories shared live forever in our hearts. He estimated the shooter was no taller than 5-foot-4. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh is sworn in to testify his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. He really withdrew after everything happened. The unraveling of the life of Alex Murdaugh, a prominent lawyer, is at the center of a, A day after he was forced out of his familys law firm for, The lawyer was arrested on Oct. 14,2021,and charged with. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. Prosecutors contend Murdaugh thought he was about toget caught stealing and killed his wife and son to buy time to cover up the money trail. Buster Murdaugh watches his father Alex Murdaugh enter the courtroom after a break at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Buster Murdaugh, who testified in the morning as the first witness for the defense, said his father cried heavily during the encounter. When asked by the defense how frequently his father would take a shower or bath in a day, Buster Murdaugh answered: "He could take them a lot, working out there, if he goes outside and sweats a lot. Follow her on Twitter at @jocgrz. Alex Murdaugh. Buster Murdaugh. On June 7, 2021, disgraced former lawyer Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his 22-year-old son Paul and 52-year-old wife Maggie at the family's estate in Islandton, S.C. Busters testimony countered one key aspect of the states theory in particular: that Murdaugh snuck off to his parents house in the days after the slayings to dispose of the murder weapons for good. Your gut is to say, Oh my God, did you see X? But you cant. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh testifies, waits to resume testifying during a break, in his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Over the course of two hours, Buster provided explanations for some of his fathers behavior in the hours and days after Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot to death on June 7, 2021. God bless and watch over Maggie and Paul. Charleston, SC 29403, News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com, Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com, var html = new Date().getFullYear(); To share tips securely, reach Moore via ProtonMail at thadmoore@protonmail.com or on Signal at 843-214-6576. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. He was later arrested and indicted on double murder charges in the death of his wife and son, and now, he stands trial in the South Carolina Circuit Court and faces at least 30 years in prison. Eventually, the four of them Buster, Alex, Brooklynn, and uncle John Marvin went and stayed at Alex's parents' home in Almeda. At one point, Buster picked up a small statue of a dog that had been left at their burial sites and placed it above his mother's tomb. Required fields are marked *. The Alex Murdaugh trial enters the fifth week as the defense call witnesses. "Paul grew up with a love for the outdoorsand particularly enjoyed hunting at their lodge in Moselle with his father Alex, and brother, Buster," the 22-year-old'sobituary,published by Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home, said. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh, Busters father, is facing charges with the murders of his wife, Maggie, and his younger son, Paul. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Prosecutor David Fernandez uses a tape measure as he questions Mike Sutton during Alex Murdaughs trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. But also, he was a wealthy man, so theres a question mark.. In addition to the tree growth, the once well-worn driveway is now nearly obscured by overgrown grass. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Judge Clifton Newman and his clerk take a break during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The unraveling of the life of Alex Murdaugh, a prominent lawyer, is at the center of a sprawling saga of mysterious deaths including the killing of his wife and son and allegations of multimillion-dollar swindles. I believe that he picked Stephen up and was fooling Stephen into thinking they were taking him home, but I think they got a little way down the road and thats when it all started to unravel, Smiths best friend Olivia told Netflix. Buster refused to go back and live at the hunting lodge where his brother and mother were killed and currently lives with his girlfriend, Brooklynn White, in a condo in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Jurors have heard evidence about Mr. Murdaugh, 54, his familys legal influence in the region and the fatal shootings in June 2021 that left his wife, Maggie But he and his relatives have sat a few rows behind Murdaugh each day of the trial. tmoore@postandcourier.com; awilks@postandcourier.com; Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of boating under the influence causing death and bodily injury and was released on a $50,000 recognizance bond, The Augusta Chronicle reported. Murdaugh and Smith face a separate prosecution over the life insurance scam which was allegedly designed to furnish his surviving son Buster with $11million. On the night of June 7, 2021, Pauls father, Alex Murdaugh, called 911 to report his wife, Maggie, and his son Paul had been fatally shot on his property. Here's what you need to know about Alex Murdaugh, who stands accused of murdering his wife and son. My wife and my son theyre on the ground Prosecutors say Mr. Murdaugh carried out the crime in a failed effort to conceal his longtime embezzlement of millions of dollars. Up until now, Maggie and Paul's graves had not been publicly revealed. "He was heartbroken," Buster Murdaugh said, contrasting the prosecution's portrayal of his father as deceptive and conniving. Before, hed text immediately. It continued, "She will be remembered as a 'secondmom' to her sons' many friends. Prosecutors argued Alex shot his wife and son to escape accountability for more than 100 financial crimes including fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and forgery, with which hes been charged. Memories shared live forever in our hearts to express how terribly sorry i shocked. And loved welcoming friends and family into her home on any given occasion bad. `` days after murders! So theres a question mark to mourn the passing of Stephen Smith and heartfelt prayers are the! 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