A timeline of events surrounding Alex Murdaugh’s charges

Jul 14, 2022, 9:15 AM | Updated: 9:45 am

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The mysterious shooting deaths of a prominent South Carolina lawyer’s wife and son have spun investigations revealing charges of money laundering, a narcotics ring, a staged attempt on his life and millions of dollars in stolen money.

On Thursday, Alex Murdaugh was charged with murder, the latest in a steep fall that has spanned the past 13 months. Here is a look at the events surrounding his indictments:

June 7, 2021: Murdaugh calls police to report his wife Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22, have been fatally shot near a dog kennel on their property.

June 23, 2021: An investigation into the hit-and-run death of Stephen Smith, 19, unsolved for six years, is reopened based on information gathered by agents looking into the shooting deaths. It’s not clear what evidence in the Murdaugh case prompted the move.

Sept. 4, 2021: Alex Murdaugh attempts to arrange his own death in a plan to secure his surviving son a $10 million life insurance payment, officials say. The plot fails when the shot — which police said was fired by Murdaugh associate Curtis Edward Smith — only grazes Murdaugh’s head. Smith was ultimately charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts.

Oct. 14, 2021: Police arrest Murdaugh at a drug rehab facility in Orlando, Florida, on charges that he stole insurance settlements totaling more than $4 million intended for the sons of his late housekeeper.

Oct. 19, 2021: A judge denies Murdaugh bond, saying his considerable financial resources and mental instability make it too risky to allow him to await trial outside jail.

Nov. 2, 2021: A judge freezes Murdaugh’s assets, citing concerns that he and his surviving son might be scheming to hide money.

Nov. 17, 2021: Prosecutors reveal 27 new charges against Murdaugh, saying he stole nearly $5 million in settlement money. Prosecutors allege Murdaugh was hiding money from lawyers who sued him over the death of a teenager killed when authorities say an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh wrecked the boat he was driving.

Jan. 18, 2022: Additional indictments mean Murdaugh now faces 71 charges that he stole nearly $8.5 million in wrongful death and wreck settlements from more than a dozen people.

March 16, 2022: An indictment accuses longtime Murdaugh friend Cory Fleming of working with the disgraced lawyer to defraud the sons of Gloria Satterfield, the family’s housekeeper who died after a fall at the Murdaugh home in 2018. Fleming had sued Murdaugh on behalf of Satterfield’s family but kept the resulting $3 million insurance payouts for Murdaugh and himself.

May 4, 2022: Russell Laffitte, the former CEO of Palmetto State Bank before his firing earlier this year, is indicted on charges that he conspired with Murdaugh to defraud victims of $1.8 million. One of the victims was the family of a deaf man who became quadriplegic after a car crash.

June 28, 2022: Prosecutors outline an eight-year money laundering and painkiller ring in new indictments. Both Murdaugh and Smith — the friend charged in the once-prominent lawyer’s attempted suicide — were charged with possessing, manufacturing or distributing narcotics.

July 12, 2022: Lawyer Jim Griffin says investigators told family members they plan to pursue murder charges against Murdaugh for the deaths of his wife and son. The South Carolina Supreme Court disbars Murdaugh.

July 14, 2022: Murdaugh is charged with murder in the deaths of his wife and son. The indictments handed up by the grand jury contend Murdaugh killed his wife with a rifle and his son with a shotgun

___

James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

(Facebook Photo/City of San Luis, Arizona)...
Associated Press

San Luis authorities receive complaints about 911 calls going across border

Authorities in San Luis say they are receiving more complaints about 911 calls mistakenly going across the border.
6 days ago
(Pexels Photo)...
Associated Press

Daylight saving time begins in most of US this weekend

No time change is observed in Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas.
14 days ago
Mexican army soldiers prepare a search mission for four U.S. citizens kidnapped by gunmen in Matamo...
Associated Press

How the 4 abducted Americans in Mexico were located

The anonymous tip that led Mexican authorities to a remote shack where four abducted Americans were held described armed men and blindfolds.
14 days ago
Tom Brundy points to a newly built irrigation canal on one of the fields at his farm Tuesday, Feb. ...
Associated Press

Southwest farmers reluctant to idle farmland to save water

There is a growing sense that fallowing will have to be part of the solution to the increasingly desperate drought in the West.
21 days ago
A young bison calf stands in a pond with its herd at Bull Hollow, Okla., on Sept. 27, 2022. The cal...
Associated Press

US aims to restore bison herds to Native American lands after near extinction

U.S. officials will work to restore more large bison herds to Native American lands under a Friday order from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
21 days ago
Children play in a dried riverbed in Flassans-sur-Issole, southern France, Wednesday, March 1, 2023...
Associated Press

Italy, France confront 2nd year of western Europe drought

ROME (AP) — Bracing for Italy’s second consecutive year of drought for the first time in decades, Premier Giorgia Meloni huddled with ministers Wednesday to start mapping out an action plan Wednesday, joining France and other nations in western Europe grappling with scant winter rain and snow. Meloni and her ministers decided to appoint an […]
23 days ago

Sponsored Articles

(Photo by Michael Matthey/picture alliance via Getty Images)...
Cox Communications

Valley Boys & Girls Club uses esports to help kids make healthy choices

KTAR’s Community Spotlight focuses on the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley and the work to incorporate esports into children's lives.
...
Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Company looking for oldest air conditioner and wants to reward homeowner with new one

Does your air conditioner make weird noises or a burning smell when it starts? If so, you may be due for an AC unit replacement.
(Pexels Photo)...

Sports gambling can be fun for adults, but it’s a dangerous game for children

While adults may find that sports gambling is a way to enhance the experience with more than just fandom on the line, it can be a dangerous proposition if children get involved in the activity.
A timeline of events surrounding Alex Murdaugh’s charges