PAUL & MAGGIE MURDAUGH: South Carolina vs. Alex Murdaugh for Double Homicide of wife & son *GUILTY*

This case is being kept pretty quiet, no major details released to speak of (other than it does say there were two different guns used), but no info regarding who found them, who called 911, very little else.

Of interest, the grandfather died just a few days after these murders and it sounds as if he was ill from various articles so probably not unexpected. I think of the typical motives, did grandpa have a big estate? How big in the overall family of grandpa's on down? They sound like a pretty well known family and a powerful one in their state, more on that in the article.

Questions abound in SC Murdaugh killing. Among them: Should prosecutor step aside?

Several days after two members of a prominent Hampton County family were fatally shot, questions about what happened still vastly outnumber answers.

www.postandcourier.com

 

[Cousin Dupree]

Alex Murdaugh's alibi couch sold for $36,000 at auction.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Alex Murdaugh's alibi couch sold for $36,000 at auction.

OMG. Of course to him, stealer of millions that likely seems like nothing. It is like serial killer memorabilia and like he thinks his notoriety and name makes his stuff worth something....

Alex, you are small potatoes. If it was a crust from a peanut butter and bacon sandwich from Elvis it would sell for billions!

Just saying....

Alibi couch and his nap.... Smh.

 

[Tresir]

Edisto Island beach house that sold for $955k last year is up for sale again at $1.18m.

Moselle sells for $3.6 million.

Where the money will go -see below. It does not say how Alex's appeal will be funded.

From the last link below -

"Here’s how the money will be broken up, according to court documents:

• John Marvin Murdaugh, Alex’s brother, will use $290,000 to pay the estate’s outstanding legal fees
• $6,511.52 will go to Laura Jones, LLC -- a creditor with a claim against the estate
• Buster Murdaugh, Alex’s surviving son, will get $530,000.
• $100,000 will go to attorney Joseph McCulloch, who is representing boat crash victim Connor Cook in a civil suit against Buster
• The co-receivers will receive $275,000 for the common fund, which will eventually go to more victims
• $25,000 will go to Palmetto State Bank, which also has a claim against the estate
• The remaining funds will go to attorney Mark Tinsley, who is representing three other parties from the boat wreck: Morgan Doughty, Miley Altman and the estate of Mallory Beach who was killed in the crash"

(By my calculation the remaining funds would be $3.6m less $1.226m ie approx $2.3m)

Exclusive | Beach house Alex Murdaugh quietly sold after arrest sells again months later

The Edisto Island getaway, which Murdaugh and his wife’s estate sold last year for $955,000, is selling once more — and only months later.

nypost.com

Murdaugh family’s Moselle property sold

The deed for the sale of Moselle, the Murdaugh family’s hunting lodge in the Lowcountry, was filed on Wednesday.

www.foxcarolina.com

Murdaugh’s Moselle property is about to sell. Here’s where the money will go

An attorney working closely with the sale of the property says the deal is expected to be finalized next week for $3.7 million.

www.foxcarolina.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

They better be making darned sure with both these sales and more especially the prior one in the midst of arrest that no deals are going on as it is exactly what Alex would do, shafting all those he owes. So it sells in the midst of arrest and the minute he is convicted it sells again... Maybe coincidence but notable...

So Edistow wasn't even on the water... For the sheer millions made and stolen, Maggie only had a $415,000 "beach" home (price they paid) and of course they had Moselle but where did all the money go...? Some believe it is hidden but not so sure he'd have been quite as desperate if he'd had any money left... I don't buy the oxy addiction, not the level claimed for sure... Living large, prostitutes, parties, flights, but my guess is also pay offs and bribes, etc...

Allowing Alex to use and keep his 401K for his defense is something I'm not so sure was fair. He owes people and costs others money as well. I get a right to a defense but many people don't get to afford a private defense so why should he when he hadn't made people whole...? Maybe there's some right because it is retirement money but still, not sure I think it's right when it was money that could have went to his victims....

I expect not only all the other charges against Alex to go forward but more heads to roll and more charges to come. I'd also hope they have a good idea or trail of where all the money went other than this cockamaney story that it was all spent on drugs.

 

[Tresir]

They better be making darned sure with both these sales and more especially the prior one in the midst of arrest that no deals are going on as it is exactly what Alex would do, shafting all those he owes. So it sells in the midst of arrest and the minute he is convicted it sells again... Maybe coincidence but notable...

So Edistow wasn't even on the water... For the sheer millions made and stolen, Maggie only had a $415,000 "beach" home (price they paid) and of course they had Moselle but where did all the money go...? Some believe it is hidden but not so sure he'd have been quite as desperate if he'd had any money left... I don't buy the oxy addiction, not the level claimed for sure... Living large, prostitutes, parties, flights, but my guess is also pay offs and bribes, etc...

Allowing Alex to use and keep his 401K for his defense is something I'm not so sure was fair. He owes people and costs others money as well. I get a right to a defense but many people don't get to afford a private defense so why should he when he hadn't made people whole...? Maybe there's some right because it is retirement money but still, not sure I think it's right when it was money that could have went to his victims....

I expect not only all the other charges against Alex to go forward but more heads to roll and more charges to come. I'd also hope they have a good idea or trail of where all the money went other than this cockamaney story that it was all spent on drugs.

I don't think it will ever be known what the money financed. The link only explained where the probate estate money is going AFAICS. Buster gets half a million and John Marvin gets $290k for estate fees, the bank gets $25k (you know, the bank whose CEO was convicted before Alex). The rest goes to victims. It says nothing about appeal fees, interestingly enough so I am not sure how that is being funded.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't think it will ever be known what the money financed. The link only explained where the probate estate money is going AFAICS. Buster gets half a million and John Marvin gets $290k for estate fees, the bank gets $25k (you know, the bank whose CEO was convicted before Alex). The rest goes to victims. It says nothing about appeal fees, interestingly enough so I am not sure how that is being funded.

I have wondered if old Poot isn't representing Alex for free. And now he spoke for Buster. I mean he might be paid as was intended by the 401K but how much was that and how long did it last... Who knows... There must be somewhat of a trail when he took these fees and cashed checks, etc. Clearly a lot was paid to Cousin Eddie... The only way there is no trail is if he actually took out cash for all these millions or did something like buy houses, boats, etc. I mean he couldn't take money from the law firm and clients and not cash checks or deposit them unless he negotiated every single one of millions of dollars asking for cash at the teller's window.

I wonder if it wasn't just kept quiet for the murder trial as it really didn't need to play in... The door was only opened on it by his own attorney to even bring up his stealing.

You know what I mean right? There is a trail at least up to a point of where it then disappears and the only way it would end at a point is if he somehow took it all out in cash or there would be a further trail to follow.

 

[Guess Who]

I have wondered if old Poot isn't representing Alex for free. And now he spoke for Buster. I mean he might be paid as was intended by the 401K but how much was that and how long did it last... Who knows... There must be somewhat of a trail when he took these fees and cashed checks, etc. Clearly a lot was paid to Cousin Eddie... The only way there is no trail is if he actually took out cash for all these millions or did something like buy houses, boats, etc. I mean he couldn't take money from the law firm and clients and not cash checks or deposit them unless he negotiated every single one of millions of dollars asking for cash at the teller's window.

I wonder if it wasn't just kept quiet for the murder trial as it really didn't need to play in... The door was only opened on it by his own attorney to even bring up his stealing.

You know what I mean right? There is a trail at least up to a point of where it then disappears and the only way it would end at a point is if he somehow took it all out in cash or there would be a further trail to follow.

This is why he opened the "fake Forge" account. That is how he took the money from the law firm and clients. He deposited the checks made out to "Forge" into his account. If the checks were made out to the real Forge with it's entire real name, he had them reissue the check to just "Forge" and then deposited those into his "fake Forge" account.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I do think a Stephen Smith thread is warranted. A lot on it right now and exhumation being talked, etc. and case "reopened". Since it can't be said for sure that Buster or a Murdaugh did it, it probably no longer belongs under Murdaugh even though that is how most became aware of his case.

 

[Tresir]

I have wondered if old Poot isn't representing Alex for free. And now he spoke for Buster. I mean he might be paid as was intended by the 401K but how much was that and how long did it last... Who knows... There must be somewhat of a trail when he took these fees and cashed checks, etc. Clearly a lot was paid to Cousin Eddie... The only way there is no trail is if he actually took out cash for all these millions or did something like buy houses, boats, etc. I mean he couldn't take money from the law firm and clients and not cash checks or deposit them unless he negotiated every single one of millions of dollars asking for cash at the teller's window.

I wonder if it wasn't just kept quiet for the murder trial as it really didn't need to play in... The door was only opened on it by his own attorney to even bring up his stealing.

You know what I mean right? There is a trail at least up to a point of where it then disappears and the only way it would end at a point is if he somehow took it all out in cash or there would be a further trail to follow.

He did take cash didn't he? Isn't that what the cheques to Cousin Eddie were? He wrote the cheques to him and he cashed them for Alex, presumably got paid for the drugs he supplied and Alex got some cash too. I really not sure where the banker guy came in, but he plead guilty didn't he. I think the banker must have cashed the Cousin Eddie cheques but, yes that was all kept out of the trial because neither of those two testified did they?

Also, he still has to stand trial for the financial crimes, I believe.

I found this link which appears to detail those financial charges.

Alex Murdaugh murders: What's next for the disgraced South Carolina attorney after convicted in wife, son's deaths | 6abc.com

Alex%20Murdaugh%20will%20spend%20the%20rest%20of%20his%20life%20in%20prison%20after%20being%20convicted%20of%20murdering%20his%20wife%20and%20son%2C%20but%20his%20days%20in%20court%20are%20far%20from%20over.

6abc.com

 

[Tresir]

I do think a Stephen Smith thread is warranted. A lot on it right now and exhumation being talked, etc. and case "reopened". Since it can't be said for sure that Buster or a Murdaugh did it, it probably no longer belongs under Murdaugh even though that is how most became aware of his case.

I read that his mother has a GoFundMe to pay for the exhumation but if it was a proper police investigation, why would she have to pay for that herself?

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I do think a Stephen Smith thread is warranted. A lot on it right now and exhumation being talked, etc. and case "reopened". Since it can't be said for sure that Buster or a Murdaugh did it, it probably no longer belongs under Murdaugh even though that is how most became aware of his case.

I second that.

 

[kdg411]

I do think a Stephen Smith thread is warranted. A lot on it right now and exhumation being talked, etc. and case "reopened". Since it can't be said for sure that Buster or a Murdaugh did it, it probably no longer belongs under Murdaugh even though that is how most became aware of his case.

I'll leave that up to @SheWhoMustNotBeNamed. IMO, these cases are intertwined and there hasn't been a big MSM presence regarding Stephen Smith until SLED reopened the case during the investigation of Paul & Maggie's murders.

 

[Guess Who]

I guess the article says vehicular death is manslaughter not homicide. Funny depending on whether there is intent, not sure they can say that. I doubt all hit and runs are accidents. If you mow down your spouse intentionally is that manslaughter? Just saying...

I just found out here that a guy is being charged with 2nd degree murder instead of manslaughter for hitting a motorcycle while in the process of committing 3 felonies. That automatically made it felony murder instead of any degree of manslaughter. Not sure how SC law is on that, but just learned of that here today.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is why he opened the "fake Forge" account. That is how he took the money from the law firm and clients. He deposited the checks made out to "Forge" into his account. If the checks were made out to the real Forge with it's entire real name, he had them reissue the check to just "Forge" and then deposited those into his "fake Forge" account.

Yes I know but where is it all, where did it go from there?

 

[GrandmaBear]

He did take cash didn't he? Isn't that what the cheques to Cousin Eddie were? He wrote the cheques to him and he cashed them for Alex, presumably got paid for the drugs he supplied and Alex got some cash too. I really not sure where the banker guy came in, but he plead guilty didn't he. I think the banker must have cashed the Cousin Eddie cheques but, yes that was all kept out of the trial because neither of those two testified did they?

Also, he still has to stand trial for the financial crimes, I believe.

I found this link which appears to detail those financial charges.

Alex Murdaugh murders: What's next for the disgraced South Carolina attorney after convicted in wife, son's deaths | 6abc.com

Alex%20Murdaugh%20will%20spend%20the%20rest%20of%20his%20life%20in%20prison%20after%20being%20convicted%20of%20murdering%20his%20wife%20and%20son%2C%20but%20his%20days%20in%20court%20are%20far%20from%20over.

6abc.com

Yeah he likely ran money through Eddie and received cash but all of it? And if all of it, did he spend all of it? And on what? Are their assets to show for it? Another hidden account? A Swiss bank account? A safety deposit box? I just mean how far were they able to follow it and did the Forge account empty each time after each theft, etc. I think we will be learning more I would think. And yeah, probably the dirty banker assisted...

Don't get me wrong, supporting his family and their lifestyle probably could take a lot of it. I'm sure Maggie spent, Buster spent, Paul spent and Alex certainly spent BUT there would be a trail if paying bills and lifestyle with the funds... Boats, cars, houses but he also MADE money...

I mean he took that money in the one case where he claimed to his law firm the other attorney was holding the funds in the case and it was almost instantly gone or so it sounds. To WHERE? His law firm felt he may have been funneling funds to have funds to pay his part of the boat settlement which the attorney for the victims told him would be like $10 million from his personal funds is what he wanted to see paid. IF he was doing something like that then the money is somewhere. If he was not Alex had a money drain somewhere. Blackmail of him by someone? Or was he paying someone off for something? Etc.

Lots unknown here but they have to have somewhat of a trail until the trail stops. Not sure if I believe Cousin Eddie was all of it but may have been but no way do I believe Alex gave all the money to Eddie and received none and again these were massive amounts and where IS it all or where did it GO?

I hope we do find out more as other cases start moving...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I read that his mother has a GoFundMe to pay for the exhumation but if it was a proper police investigation, why would she have to pay for that herself?

Good question. One would think LE would be taking a second look and doing it. But I think the mother wants an independent look. I watched her and her lawyer I think on News Nation and Law and Crime and one thing they will do is get a known expert pathologist or whatever one calls it like Dr. Baden. I think they also hope to get other independent experts and investigators. Her attorney said the money raised, more than looked for, will help them even go outside the area to get someone renowned, etc.

Can't blame them for wanting an independent look and determination really. She is happy SLED is on it and looking at it again but still I think plans on doing this regardless.

That's my take on it all anyhow.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I second that.

Oh boy are you trying to make my day again? First you call me a girl and now you second my motion!!

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'll leave that up to @SheWhoMustNotBeNamed. IMO, these cases are intertwined and there hasn't been a big MSM presence regarding Stephen Smith until SLED reopened the case during the investigation of Paul & Maggie's murders.

Okay, that's fine, just suggesting. I do though think news will continue. Not sure how much MSM. Murdaugh didn't get that much really until trial imo. There were some great ones on it in their local area and some others, etc. but not a lot of MSM in any big way.

And with Smith, News Nation and I think Law and Crime have been pretty active on it now.

This thread will probably fill with the Smith thing now until Alex has more trials on his other charges.

I understand though. Glad i didn't start one then or have time to figure out how again

 

[GrandmaBear]

I just found out here that a guy is being charged with 2nd degree murder instead of manslaughter for hitting a motorcycle while in the process of committing 3 felonies. That automatically made it felony murder instead of any degree of manslaughter. Not sure how SC law is on that, but just learned of that here today.

That's interesting. Yeah different states having different laws makes it hard to know what's what sometimes.

I do think just generally a hit and run could well be intentional OR it could be oh no, I hit someone (no intent) and then they run which I think would change the charge IF intent could be proven too, in any state I'd think. No different than if your gun accidentally went off and someone died or if it can be proven you INTENDED to shoot the person, etc.

I think if you were leading police on a high speed chase and you saw ahead of you cops putting up a road block and you intentionally plowed into them, that wouldn't be manslaughter would be an example I could think of too. Intent again.

DUIs for as knowing it could happen if you drink and drive, generally the driver doesn't have an intent to kill I guess.

So I'd think there would be degrees/different charges...?

So back to Smith, IF it was a hit and run, he still could have been intentionally hit. I don't think it was one but just saying they can't KNOW without knowing what actually happened, his actual cause of death, and/or by who.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

This is honestly one of the cases I've followed least closely, so I have no idea if a separate thread is warranted. I think you all would know best. However, my inclination right now is that if the cases are intertwined, it may be best to just keep the discussion here. At least for now. If there are big charges or something or it looks like it's headed for trial that may be different at that point.
I know that several threads have been requested in the past few weeks only for no one to ever follow up or even comment on them. So let's not get things too spread out on separate threads unless really necessary. But if the majority of folks here think another thread is necessary I'm okay with that.