'Buster's next': Alex Murdaugh taunted with jeers about surviving son's fate as he begins prison term
WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA: Legal scion Alex Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty of the double homicide of his wife and son Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and Paul Murdaugh, 22, respectively. Colleton County courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, sentenced Alex to 30 years of life in prison for double murder on Thursday, March 2. The victims were found fatally shot several times at the kennels of the family’s hunting estate in South Carolina’s Lowcountry on the night of June 7, 2021
Following the 54-year-old's guilty verdict, his only surviving son Buster Murdaugh, who was at court every day for his father’s trial broke down in tears. “Buster held up pretty well until the cameras were off him — but then he collapsed,” said a family friend who was at the Courthouse. “He was crying uncontrollably. The uncles [Alex’s brothers, John Marvin Murdaugh and Randy Murdaugh] finally got him into a car,” according to New York Post. However in a dramatic turn of events while Murdaugh was being escorted into a police van an onlooker allegedly yelled, "Buster is next … your son is next, Alex!”
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Why is Buster Murdaugh in trouble?
Moreover, after an onlooker allegedly scream "Buster is next … your son is next, Alex!” the person seemingly was referring to the ongoing South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigation of the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, surrounding Buster’s possible involvement. Stephen’s body was found on a rural road in Hampton County, a few miles away from Murdaugh hunting lodge Maggie and Paul's body was found in June 2021.
Stephen's body was found placed on the road with a partially crushed skull and a hole in his forehead and dislocated shoulder, according to his mother Sandy Smith. However, based on those discrepancies Stephen's mother believed her son was not a victim of a hit-and-run accident but instead was murdered. Sandy and former Highway Patrol investigator Todd Proctor, who oversaw the Smith case believed Stephen was murdered and a possible conspiracy between local officials and the Murdaugh family to cover up his death.
Sandy has also been vocal about the Murdaugh family, including Buster may have some connection to Stephen’s death. Stephen's death was originally ruled a hit-and-run accident. Following Murdaugh’s conviction Sandy lauded the jury saying, “That jury done excellent. They seen through the lies and a Murdaugh is finally brought down." “Now that this case is back over, they can get on Stephen’s case full-time," reported the source.
People sympathizing with Buster Murdaugh
During the six-week Murdaugh trial, copper-haired Buster aka Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr maintained a calm and composed demeanor throughout the trial. Sadly, after his father's guilty verdict, an emotional Buster broke down in tears by the end of the trial. The only surviving Murdaugh heir has been left almost an orphan with his mother and brother dead.
“No person with a heart and soul cannot feel sympathy for that young man,” said Columbia, SC, attorney Joseph M McCulloch Jr, a Murdaugh family friend. “It’s just been tragedy on top of tragedy for him. I don’t know how anyone can withstand that. I’m glad he has a girlfriend who seems so supportive.”