Why did Alex Murdaugh surrender? Legal heir under probe for hiring hitman to kill him
The legal dynasty heir at the center of the grim saga of bloodshed and financial scandal is preparing to surrender himself to police on Wednesday, September 15, after investigators announced a probe into the death of his housekeeper, who died in 2018.
Alex Murdaugh, whose wife and son were shot dead earlier this year is due to appear for a bond hearing in Hampton County, South Carolina, at 4 pm on Thursday, September 16 his lawyer stated. The latest update comes after state investigators alleged that Murdaugh, 53, had hired a hitman to kill him so his remaining son could inherit a $10million life insurance. He had been non-fatally shot in the head as he allegedly changed a tire near Charleston a day after he was expelled from his leading legal firm over allegations he had stolen millions in company funds.
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Murdaugh murders: Alex Murdaugh shot in head, 3 months after wife and son were killed
Who is Alex Murdaugh's shooter? Legal scion's murder attempt involves $10M insurance
Murdaugh is an attorney and heir to Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Derrick one of South Carolina’s most prosperous legal dynasties that was founded by his great-grandfather back in 1910, according to the firm's website. His biography details that Murdaugh also serves as a "part-time prosecutor for the 14th district" which includes Colleton County. On Tuesday, September 14, Murdaugh was accused of trying to cash in a $10million insurance policy by paying a hitman to kill him after the double homicide of his wife and son.
Murdaugh is planning to turn himself into authorities to face conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, his attorney Jim Griffin said. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) stated on Wednesday it is reopening a cause-of-death probe into Murdaugh’s housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who was originally believed to have fatally tripped and fallen in 2018. “The decedent’s death was not reported to the Coroner at the time, nor was an autopsy performed,” wrote Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper. “On the death certificate, the manner of death was ruled “Natural,” which is inconsistent with injuries sustained in a trip and fall accident.” Investigators are also taking a closer look at what happened to her money and valuables after she died.
A SLED spokesman has said: “Based upon a request from the Hampton County Coroner Earlier today, as well as information gathered during the course of our other ongoing investigations involving Alex Murdaugh, SLED is opening a criminal investigation into the death of Gloria Satterfield and the handling of her estate."
