Anyone follow the Alex Murdaugh story/trial (murder of wife and son)

[Yong Fang]

Has anyone followed the story and trial of Alex Murdaugh, who was a prominant lawyer in South Carolina who was convicted in the shooting death of his wife, Maggie and young adult son, Paul? These people were quite wealthy and influential in their community for generations as attorneys.

I watched the story like everyone else did somewhat when it first happened. I do know that several months earlier, the dead son Paul, bought a copious amount of alcohol underage and him and his friends went on his boat and then crashed the boat into a bridge killing a young woman in the process, whose body fell in the water. It took time to find the body. Paul was arrested but the government was slow in charging him with a crime, but eventually did. Seems that Paul was a "spoiled brat" in the same vein as Ethan Couch, the "affluenza" kid who basically got away killing some his friends drunk in a DUI.

When the story first began, I didnt pay much attention to it, but read enough about the boat accident and I figured that a family member of the dead girl killed Paul. I know if I was the father, I am not sure I would not demand painful retibution myself and the only thing holding me back is life in prison.

But I was sort of shocked that the father, Alex was arrested and went on trial for the crime. Turns out, Alex was a really crooked and thieving lawyer, who got away with it because of his standing in the community. He was basically robbing his clients although he himself was wealthy himself.

I dont quite understand him wanting to kill his son and wife however, and we may never know. Would the son Paul going on trial for manslaughter (he was a legal adult) somehow uncover Alex's numerous white collar crimes? Or his wife if the wife wanted to divorce him? The motive seems cloudy to me.

Mostly what convicted him was a video the son made in the dog kennel where he and his wife were killed.

He did take the stand to try to refute the testimonies against him and it is fairly interesting banter between him and the prosecuting attorney, who went to the same law school but did not know each other. Alex Murdaugh was a habitual lawyer and a financial crook and conman and that alone would have warranted decades in prison.

Alex claimed all the way to his conviction and sentencing that he had nothing to do with the death of his wife and son. On the stand he does sound sincere and seems like someone if you met him before this nightmare was a pleasant southern man with a nice life.On the stand I sort of got sucked into Alex talking. He and I are about the same age and have had some similar experiences and probably would have been fun to sit with him over drinks and talk about the good old days (the 1980's) and points of the law. I could even ask him if someone can mail human waste legally. Most con artists/crooks/criminals are not obvious and blend in nicely.

Lastly, I hope the surviving son changed his name from Buster into about anything else. Buster was actually named after another family member. But n one should go through life with that name!

[GentlemanJim]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Has anyone followed the story and trial of Alex Murdaugh, who was a prominant lawyer in South Carolina who was convicted in the shooting death of his wife, Maggie and young adult son, Paul? These people were quite wealthy and influential in their community for generations as attorneys.

!

You just taught me more about this case than i had previously known. Not sure how/why I had remained so blissfully ignorant. But just haven't been drawn to the story.

If the dad was dirty, and the kid was looking at significant jail time, perhaps dad was concerned the sniveling little weasel might turn rat and press the "report abuse" button, bringing the wrath of the moderators down on dear old dad? So dad just did a little preemptive housecleaning?

Just my guess.

[Caroline13]

No I'm not following, can't follow all the crime that is going on and being reported day in and day out on media....I just heard some of the report of the mother and her bf and how they tortured her 10 yr old son to his death. These 2 need to be HUNG,,,,sitting in prison is too good for them. Aother story of drug rattled sick people in CA.

[EighthStreet]

"Alex Murdaugh was a habitual lawyer"

lol