'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMF/8QAIBAAAgEEAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFESEGEzFhcf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME/8QAGBEBAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgABAxH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AIt0ld4zB771tNcyuim5YsGUNIoCheRojYJ86NbEuCiMrlMBjFUk6C39woA9DXHylKlG1So45f/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Alex Murdaugh case has been dissected through podcasts, documentaries, and relentless news coverage, yet it continues to loom large in the public eye. Now, Hulu is set to release Murdaugh: Death in the Family, a series that once again brings the infamous Lowcountry scandal into sharp focus.
At the center of Murdaugh: Death in the Family is Alex Murdaugh, a lawyer who once carried the weight of his family’s powerful name in South Carolina. That power collapsed after his wife, Maggie, and his son Paul were found shot to death near the dog kennels at the family property on June 7, 2021.
The story that followed in Murdaugh: Death in the Family was not only about murder but about financial crimes, drug abuse, and a legal dynasty falling apart. The trial that began in January 2023 was aired live, and millions watched as Alex Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The case has not ended even with that verdict. Appeals are underway, new charges surfaced, and the court clerk tied to the trial was later arrested for misconduct. Murdaugh: Death in the Family revisits these harrowing events even as the real-life consequences continue to unfold across South Carolina.
5 harrowing details about Murdaugh: Death in the Family
1. The night of the murders
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were discovered shot dead at Moselle on June 7, 2021. Paul had been struck twice with a shotgun, and Maggie was hit several times with a rifle. Investigators later confirmed two different guns had been used. That fact stirred immediate questions about whether more than one shooter had stood in the kennels.
Alex Murdaugh called 911 at 10:06 p.m. and told dispatchers he had just found their bodies. His claim that he was visiting his mother unraveled after digital evidence showed his phone at the scene minutes before the killings. Even worse for him, a video captured his voice near the kennels.
That contradiction became a centerpiece for prosecutors. A dynasty that had long enjoyed authority in South Carolina suddenly appeared stained by blood and suspicion. The violence ripped open the Murdaugh family’s carefully maintained reputation and forced a spotlight that would not fade away.
2. The kennel video
Paul Murdaugh had filmed a brief clip of a dog with a tail injury, footage that would later become one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in court. In the background, his father’s voice can be heard. For months, Alex insisted he hadn’t been near the kennels that night.
He insisted that he was visiting his mother. When the video was played in court, the denial collapsed instantly. Jurors could hear Alex speaking and knew his story was false. On the stand, Alex admitted it was his voice and attempted to excuse the lie by pointing to his opioid addiction.
Prosecutors told the jury that addiction was no explanation for deliberate deception. That single video turned out to be the thread that tied him directly to the crime scene. Jurors later said it confirmed for them that Alex was present and had hidden that fact from the investigation.
3. The financial crimes
As shown in Murdaugh: Death in the Family, the murders took place while Alex Murdaugh faced crumbling finances and a web of fraud. He had stolen millions from clients and partners by moving money through settlements and forged checks. Several colleagues had already started asking about missing funds. A lawsuit connected to Paul’s boat crash threatened to pull even more into the open.
Prosecutors said those pressures created a motive. Judge Clifton Newman allowed financial witnesses to testify, and the courtroom heard stories of betrayal. Clients who trusted Alex were left broken by theft. His law partners were stunned by what had been uncovered. Jurors were told he chose murder to gain sympathy and delay exposure.
The verdict suggested they believed it. After conviction, Alex faced dozens more charges tied to money laundering and wire fraud. A man who once ran a respected practice now stood stripped of his license and sentenced to decades beyond the murder convictions.
4. The jury tampering scandal
The conviction in March 2023 did not mark an end. Soon, the defense accused Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill of pushing jurors toward guilt. According to filings, she told jurors not to believe Alex when he testified. She allegedly urged a quick decision as well. Hill later released a book about the trial, which further fueled suspicions.
As shown in Murdaugh: Death in the Family, Judge Jean Toal eventually ruled against a new trial in January 2024. But the story did not stop there. In May 2025, Hill was arrested on felony charges of misconduct and perjury. That arrest reopened debate on the fairness of the proceedings.
It showed how fragile high-profile trials can become when the people running them are themselves accused of wrongdoing. Alex Murdaugh remains in prison, but his appeal continues. What was supposed to be the final word in a historic case is still unsettled years after the verdict.
5. The wider circle of death and scandal
As shown in Murdaugh: Death in the Family, the murders of Maggie and Paul were not the only tragedies connected to the Murdaugh name. In 2019, Paul faced charges after a boat crash killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. In 2018, the family housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, died after a fall, and Alex later admitted to diverting her insurance money.
The 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a teenager with ties to the family, was also reopened. Each case added layers to the picture of corruption and cover-ups. The pattern suggested that the family had long used influence to escape consequences.
That history collapsed under scrutiny once the murders were investigated. The Hulu series ties these events together, showing the dynasty falling apart piece by piece. The killings may have been the final blow, but the earlier scandals had already carved cracks into the image. South Carolina saw not just one case but an entire legacy dismantled.
Trending
Follow for more updates.
Reply
