Paul and Margaret Murdaugh: What do we Know About Mother and Son Murder?
Mystery still surrounds the double murder of Paul Murdaugh and his mother Margaret Murdaugh after they were both found dead on Monday, June 7.
The mother, 52, and son, 22, were found shot dead at their hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina at around 10 p.m. on June 7. At the time of the double murder, Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death for a crash in February 2019 that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.
The 19-year-old's body was not found until a week after the crash. Paul Murdaugh had previously pleaded not guilty to the federal charges brought against him following the death.
On June 11, just days after the double murder, longtime South Carolina prosecutor and the grandfather of the 22-year-old, Randolph Murdaugh III, 81, was found dead. The death is not being treated as suspicious as he was in intensive care at the time of his relative's deaths, according to the Associated Press.
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in South Carolina has not released much information around the death of the mother and son, but local sources have started to piece together what happened during the double murder.
What do we know about the double murder?
Paul Murdaugh and Margaret Murdaugh were found shot dead at the family home by the former's father and latter's husband, Alex Murdaugh, who told police he was not at the lodge at the time of the murders, according to legal sources who spoke to The Island Packet.
The police have not yet confirmed what weapons were used to kill the mother and son or how many times they were each shot in the incident. However, police sources told the Packet that the 22-year-old was shot in the head and chest with a shotgun, while the 52-year-old was reportedly killed with an assault rifle.
Although autopsies have been performed on both of the victims, the full reports are not expected to be compiled for another 6 to 8 weeks. The department has also declined to release 911 calls from the incident.
SLED Chief Mark Keel told the Packet that the department is "pursuing all leads and the investigation is continuing," and confirmed that no arrests have yet been made.
Who were the Murdaughs?
Paul Murdaugh, who was being prosecuted for the death of Beach at the time of his murder, comes from a long line of employees at the Hampton County prosecutor's office.
His father currently works part-time for the 14th Circuit solicitor's office, while Alex Murdaugh's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all ran the prosecutor's office at points in their careers.
The family's ties to the Hampton County prosecutor's office prompted questions about Murdaugh's treatment after he was granted $50,000 bail.
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office reportedly handed the case over to the SLED shortly after the double murder on June 7 because of a "conflict of interest" with the family.
What has the Beach family said about the death?
The Beach family released a statement following the double murder, writing "The Beach family extends its deepest and warmest sympathies to the Murdaugh family during this terrible time.
"Having suffered the devastating loss of their own daughter, the family prays that the Murdaughs can find some level of peace from this tragic loss."
Newsweek has contacted the SLED for contact.
