Netflix has a new true crime documentary series to release in February. The show, entitled Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, was directed by Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst. It gives a peek into the Murdaugh family and the horrible fate that they went through.
Table of Contents
- What Is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal Show About?
- What Happened in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal?
- More Murders Emerge
- When Did Murdaugh Murders Happen?
- Why Did Murdaugh Kill His Family?
- Is Alex Murdaugh Still Alive?
- When Is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal Coming Out?
- How Many Episodes Are in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal?
If you consider yourself a true crime junkie, here's what you need to know about this show:
What Is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal Show About?
Netflix's official description released alongside the trailer of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal reads:
“The Murdaughs were one of South Carolina’s most prominent families, but the death of teenager Mallory Beach in a drunken boating accident began the unraveling of their legacy. When Paul Murdaugh – the alleged driver of the boat – and his mother Maggie are found brutally murdered, a century of corruption, power, and cover-ups in the Low Country is brought to light.”
Since this is a documentary, the show will give us "first-hand accounts from those on the boat that fateful night, many of whom have not spoken about the crash or double homicide of Maggie and Paul until now."
What Happened in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal?
The Murdaugh family has long been considered a prominent family in Lowcountry, South Carolina. In fact, the local prosecutor's office has been controlled by the family for three consecutive generations. In recent years, however, the family name has been tarnished with tragedy.
For starters, a fatal boating crash happened in 2019 that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. At the time of the crash, there were six people on board the boat, which included 19-year-old Paul T. Murdaugh. Paul, the son of Alex Murdaugh (a local attorney and part of the family dynasty), was indicted in June 2021 over charges of boating under the influence (BUI). He pleaded not guilty.
This same month, 911 receives a phone call by 53-year-old Alex Murdaugh who reported that his wife, 52-year-old Margaret, and son Paul were shot outside their home. When the deputies arrived, they discovered that the two had multiple gunshot wounds.
Just three days after the killings, Alex's father, Randolph Murdaugh III, was reported to have died peacefully at home at the age of 81. A few days later, Alex's brothers, John Marvin and Randolph "Randy" IV, gave an interview to Good Morning America. They revealed that Alex broke the news of the killings to them and was distraught in the phone call. They do not believe Alex is involved in the murders.
"My brother loved Maggie and loved Paul like nothing else on this earth, just like he loves (his other son) Buster. So there's no possible way he could have anything to do with this, I can assure you."
Then on June 22, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reopened the unsolved death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, who was found dead in Hampton County in 2015. They said that the case was being reopened due to information they received while investigating the murders.
In September 2021, police receive another 911 call by Alex saying he got shot on a Hampton County road. He was brought for treatment in a Savannah, Georgia hospital for a "superficial gunshot wound to the head."
Days later, Alex's attorney said that his client was entering rehab due to "an incredibly difficult time" in his life after the murders. Alex also revealed his decision to resign from the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker Eltzroth, & Detrick (PMPED) law firm was affected by the incident.
Following this announcement, the law firm revealed that Alex resigned they discovered that he had misappropriated funds.
Alex then received an order of suspension to practice law in the state. His brother, Randy (who is also an attorney at the same law firm), released a statement:
"I was shocked, just as the rest of my PMPED family, to learn of my brother, Alex's, drug addiction and stealing of money." The addiction was later revealed to be opioid.
After reports of an attempted suicide, a spokesperson of the family released a statement that his injury was more than just a superficial wound since there was an entry and exit wound. Alex also encountered a fractured skull.
"Alex pulled over after seeing a low tire indicator light. A male driver in a blue pick-up asked him if he had car troubles, as soon as Alex replied, he was shot."
Days later, authorities revealed that they charged a man over the shooting of Alex. The affidavit showed that Alex allegedly conspired with his cousin, Curtis Edward Smith so that his son, Buster, can collect a $10 million life insurance payout.
Police charged Smith with assisted suicide, pointing and presenting a firearm, conspiracty to commit insurance fraud, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Alex as described as a co-defendant. The story, however, fell apart and led Alex to apologize to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Alex was then charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, insurance fraud, and filing a false police report. While all these were felonies, they weren't enough to keep him in jail. A month later, however, Alex was arrested over his financial crimes. And ever since then, he has been in jail.
More Murders Emerge
In October 2022, the mysterious death of the family's housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, was brought up. Satterfield had been working for the family for over 20 years when she fell at their home in February 2018. She died from her injuries a few weeks after.
When her funeral was over, Alex introduced Satterfield's adult sons to a lawyer promising that they would be taken care of. But in a recent lawsuit, the two revealed they did not know that the lawyer, Cory Fleming, was Alex's friend.
As it turns out, there was a $4.3 million settlement with Alex Murdaugh and his insurers. The two adults would supposedly receive around $2.8 million after lawyer's fees. But as it turns out, they recently learned about the deal and never received compensation for it.
This led police to arrest Alex at a detox center in Orlando, FL. He was charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. In June 2022, Alex admitted that he owed the two boys $4.3 million.
When Did Murdaugh Murders Happen?
The Murdaugh Murders happened in June 7, 2021. While the incident took place in 2021, investigators weren't able to make arrests for over a year.
Why Did Murdaugh Kill His Family?
Alex Murdaugh is currently facing two counts of murder. He was indicted on July 14, 2022 with a prosecutor believing that he is responsible for the deaths of his two family members using a rifle on his wife and a shotgun on his son.
At the time of the killings, Alex told authorities that he found the bodies of his wife and son when he came home to their isolated property in Islandton. Alex placed a 911 call just after 10pm appearing distraught.
When police came, they found a number of shell casings in the scene and had to call a tow truck company to help. They have also looked at surveillance cameras from the surrounding homes and business.
In July 20, 2022, Alex pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. A trial is slated to begin on January 23, 2023 and is expected to last around 10 weeks.
In a pretrial hearing held on December 9, 2022, state prosecutors claim that Alex killed his wife and son to get sympathy and "escape the accountability" of his financial crimes.
Is Alex Murdaugh Still Alive?
Yes. Now at 64 years old, the former lawyer is set to stand trial this month. He is facing 30 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is currently in Richland County with a $7 million bond.
He faces 90 individual counts of alleged financial crimes. He also faces drug-related state grand jury criminal charges and a total of 11 civil lawsuits.
When Is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal Coming Out?
Netflix is set to release the documentary show on February 22, 2023.
How Many Episodes Are in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal?
There is a total of three episodes in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.
You can watch the trailer here.
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