'They had anger in their heart': Alex Murdaugh claims random social media 'vigilante' killed son Paul over 2019 boat crash
WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA: Alex Murdaugh testified in his own defense on Friday, February 24, and stated his belief that his son Paul Murdaugh, 22, was killed by a "random" vigilante. Alex claimed that the murder of Paul was set up by a person who was furious over the tragic boat crash he had caused.
Alex said that a mystery killer who read about Paul's drinking accident online had become outraged due to "half-truths" publicized about the 2019 case. Mallory Beach, 19, was killed in 2019 when Paul's boat crashed with a bridge while he was under the influence of alcohol. Unsettlingly, February 24 was the fourth anniversary of the catastrophe, for which Paul was charged with driving a boat while intoxicated. Creighton Waters, the state's top prosecutor, questioned Murdaugh about a 911 call he made after the deaths of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and son, in which the former lawyer claimed the double murder was caused by the boating accident.
RELATED ARTICLES
'They had anger in their heart'
"The social media response that came from that was vile," Alex stated during his testimony. "So over the top. I believe today the wrong person saw and read that. The person or people who [killed him], they hated Paul Murdaugh and they had anger in their heart," he added.
Alex claimed, "I never thought people involved in the boat wreck did this to Paul and Maggie," and he further stated that he did not think the offender was a relative of any of the teenagers who had been on board that day. "So what you're telling this jury is that it's a random vigilante?" Waters inquired with skepticism.
Alex replied, "I believe that when Paul was charged criminally, there were so many leaks, half truths, half-reports, half-statements... that ended up in the media." He hinted that the murderer was probably a mysterious stranger, saying, "I did then believe [they were killed] because of the boat wreck and I do now."
Did Alex Murdaugh have evidence for 'random vigilante' notion?
Waters questioned Alex throughout the trial as to whether he had any proof for the notion that "someone off social media" with a grudge slipped onto his home during the brief window of time when he was not with them and killed Paul and Maggie. Alex didn't answer the question or provide any additional information regarding why Maggie might have been the target.
Alex came up with his absurd idea the day after confessing in court that he had lied about being with his wife and son nearby the kennels just before they were shot dead, according to New York Post. He is suspected of killing Paul and Maggie on June 7, 2021, close to the dog kennels of one of their South Carolina homes. Alex, who hails from a prominent South Carolina legal family, also acknowledged on the witness stand that he was an opiate addict and had been stealing money at the time of the murders.
