Pieces of a long-awaited puzzle come together as the South Carolina Attorney General’s office begins piecing together a double murder case against fired Hampton attorney Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, who is accused of killing his wife Maggie and son Paul on the night of June 7, 2021, after an alleged decade-long crime spree that resulted in The end resulted in more than 100 criminal charges.
Prosecutors are piecing together the mystery of the internationally publicized murder and revealing bits and pieces of new information to the jury, the media and the public, but there are still plenty of unanswered questions.
The double murder trial concluded its first week of proceedings on Friday afternoon and is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Key revelations from the first week of Alex Murdaugh’s double trial
- Between the state attorney general’s office, which handles all Murdue cases, and the defense, the official potential witness list includes 255 people.
- The marking, model and trademark information on 300 Blackout rifle cartridges found at the murder scene matched other ammunition found throughout the Murdaugh, Moselle, estate, prosecutors say.
- Prosecutors believe a “family weapon” was used to kill at least one of the victims, Maggie.
- 300 Blackout rifle, which Murdaugh bought for his son Paul in 2017, has disappeared from Murdough’s estate, but Murdough’s attorney Richard Harbotlian says it was stolen.
- Both bodies were found face down in a pool of blood and brain material, with Paul’s hands under his body, when police arrived on the scene.
Friday summary:Investigators’ testimony continues to yield compelling evidence
- Maggie’s body was found about 30 feet from Paul’s, according to a police testimony.
- Paul’s cell phone was found lying on its back end near the back pocket of his pants.
- Murdo told officers who responded immediately that the killings were related to a 2019 boat crash and a wrongful death lawsuit involving his son, and made suggestions for other suspects, according to the police affidavit.
- Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters told the jury in opening statements that a witness saw Mordo wearing a blue raincoat to his mother’s home in Almeida, just outside Farnville, one week after the murder. A blue raincoat was later found “covered” on the inside with gunshot residue, or GSR.
- GSR is also found on the hands of Murdau and the suburban seat belt that leads him to the crime scene.
- Murdaugh initially told 911 workers and police that he last saw his wife and child about two hours before the murder, but Waters said the AG had a cell phone video of him placing him at the crime scene later than he said.
Just the facts:Answer questions about the trial of Alex Mordo and the family
- Murdo’s cell phone shows no activity between 8:09 PM and 8:52 PM the night of the shooting.
- State testimony provided by CCSO investigator Laura Rutland contradicted Mordo’s claim that he had tried to roll urine and checked his pulse.
- Mordors told police that Paul received threats and was assaulted after the highly publicized boat wreck.
- On the night of the murder, Murdaugh had his brother Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh IV, an attorney in the family law firm, and his “personal attorney” Daniel Henderson sit with him while Slade and the Colleton County Sheriff conducted a field interview about him. 1 am
- After the killings, SLED divers searched the ponds on the property, as well as the nearby Salkehatchie River, looking for clues such as the murder weapons.
- SLED obtained permission to download cell phone data not only from Murdaugh, Maggie, and Paul, but also from his brothers Randy and John Marvin Murdaugh and his surviving son, Richard “Buster” Murdaugh Jr.
New testimony, evidence that raises new questions
When pieces of the puzzle come together, there are missing pieces that prosecutors haven’t filled in for the jury and audience. There are many issues raised but unanswered:
- What will cell phone data and vehicle GPS data reveal from Alex, Maggie, and Paul?
- While Paul’s phone was found on his body, Maggie’s was found beside the road approximately a quarter to a half mile away. Prosecutors said that Mordo’s GPS data did not match the location of her phone. Who threw the phone away and why?
- There was only one car the family members were driving that night that he was driving at the crime scene: the Suburban Murdo he was driving there. How did Maggie and Paul get to the kennels where they were shot? Did they walk more than 1,000 yards on a hot, windy summer night, or ride with someone?
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- Prosecutors said Paul’s white Ford F-250 was not at the crime scene that night and was found wrecked within Hampton County, along SC Highway 63. Evidence was taken from the vehicle. Is this related to the crimes?
- Water was found all over Paul’s body, witnessed by first responders and police, and was the subject of several lines of questioning. What is the importance of water? Did the suspects or suspects attempt to wash evidence or clean themselves?
- Police reported multiple tire tracks at or near the scene. Where were they all from the same car, or were they other people at the Moselle murder scene that night?
- Evidence of a print that might match Maggie’s shoe is taken. What is the significance of this evidence?
- Finally, Murdough’s defense team has raised and will continue to ask the following questions: Who else could have killed Paul and Maggie? Could there be more than one shooter?