Maggie & Paul Murdaugh

On the evening of June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh called 911 to report finding his wife Maggie (52) and son Paul (22) shot dead at the family's hunting estate, Moselle, in rural Islandton, South Carolina. Maggie had been shot multiple times with a rifle, and Paul had been shot twice with a shotgun.

Alex, a fourth-generation attorney from one of the most powerful legal families in the South Carolina Lowcountry, initially denied being at the scene. However, a video from Paul's phone placed Alex at the dog kennels near the crime scene minutes before the murders.

The investigation unraveled a massive web of financial crimes. Alex had been stealing millions from clients, his law firm, and his family for years. Investigators theorized he killed Maggie and Paul to generate sympathy and divert attention from his collapsing financial scheme.

Alex Murdaugh was convicted of two counts of murder in March 2023 and sentenced to two consecutive life terms without parole. He was subsequently convicted of numerous financial crimes and sentenced to 27 years for those offenses.