Disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh indicted on two counts of murder and drug trafficking charges
Update July 14, 2022: Alex Murdaugh, 54, was indicted on two counts of murder and two counts of weapons possession in the shooting deaths of his wife Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and son Paul Murdaugh, 22, the state’s district attorney, Alan Wilson, announced.
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Update July 12, 2022:Attorney Jim Griffin told CNN that Alex Murdaugh could soon be indicted on murder charges as well. "I am aware that SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) advised the family that they intend to seek murder indictments from a grand jury later this week," Griffin said.
SLED spokesperson Renée Wunderlich issued a statement declining to add details. "SLED's investigation into the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh is still active and ongoing," Wunderlich said. "Agents are committed to the integrity of the investigation, thus no additional information from SLED will be provided at this time."
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Update: Disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh has now been indicted on drug trafficking charges. On Tuesday, June 28, the 54-year-old was hit with his 16th indictment.
Murdaugh is accused of working with a 61-year-old man, Curtis Smith, who he once represented at his law firm. From October 2013 to September 2021, Murdaugh allegedly oversaw an oxycodone purchase and distribution network, which spanned a number of countries. Murdaugh allegedly wrote 437 checks worth $2.4 million to Smith. Smith would then cash the check and buy drugs with the money. Both men were charged with possessing, manufacturing or distributing narcotics. Murdaugh has been in jail since October last year.
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HAMPTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: Alex Murdaugh is a free man, sort of, after a judge granted him bail on September 16. More interesting though, is the new twist to the bloody saga, after Murdaugh's lawyer blamed his client's opioid addiction, "which has led him into financial issues and no question into this situation." It's a strong claim, but one the judge appeared to agree with. Murdaugh will now return to rehab, after being let go on a massive $20k bail.
A day before the ruling, Murdaugh surrendered himself to the police after investigators announced a probe into the death of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. That probe was launched after it was revealed Murdaugh hired a shooter to kill him, so his surviving son could collect the massive $10M life insurance cash. The complex and convoluted saga of the Murdaugh family saw Alex survive the shooting in South Carolina, three months after the death of his wife and son in another shooting incident.
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The Netflix-worthy story has now taken yet another twist, with Murdaugh pinning the attempted shooting on him as a result of his opioid addiction. Murdaugh's lawyer, Dick Harpootlian, claimed the addiction led to financial issues that are so acute that he can't even afford to pay his legal bills. Here's everything you need to know about this latest update.
'Danger to himself,' claims lawyer
During the September 16 hearing, Harpoolitan told Hampton County Judge Tonja Alexander, "He has and has had a significant opioid addiction which has led him into financial issues and no question into this situation." He added, "I can tell you as a result of recent events: he is not a man of significant means anymore. Everything he owns is basically lined up." Harpoolitan also claimed Murdaugh's legal bills were being covered by insurance, and "not out of his pocket."
At the center of his legal woes, Harpoolitan claimed, was Murdaugh's opioid addiction. "This is a 20-year addiction, this is something he's struggling with every day," he said in court. Harpoolitan added, "He has fallen from grace. If anyone wants to see the fact of what opioid addiction does—you’re looking at it." Harpoolitan reportedly did not contest any of the allegations levied against Murdaugh, but insisted it was all a result of his addiction.
"This crime involved his attempt to have himself shot, so his son could collect insurance money. The only violence he's ever been involved in is this, which was to have himself executed," he argued. Harpoolitan noted, "he’s not a danger to the community. The only danger he is is a danger to himself." Prosecutor Creighton Waters argued that Murdaugh is a danger to the community and asked for bail to be set at $100,000. Instead, the judge agreed with Harpoolitan and set bail at $20,000. Of that, $10,000 was for personal recognizance, and $5,000 each for conspiracy and filing a false report.
He's due back in court on October 25, but in the meantime will reportedly return to rehab. It's unclear where Murdaugh will go, and if he will be committed. Hours before he was allowed to walk away on bail, a judge set bail at $55,000 for Curtis Edward Smith, the man accused of shooting Murdaugh in the assisted suicide plot. It's unclear at this time if Smith will make bail.