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In Murdaugh: Death in the Family, the tragic 2019 boat crash that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach was a defining moment that transformed public perception of the Murdaugh family. On February 23–24, 2019, at nighttime, Mallory and five others, including Paul Murdaugh, were on a boat in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
The boat ran into a piling off the Archer's Creek Bridge, throwing Mallory into the water, where she was missing for eight days before she was discovered drowned downstream. The crash triggered criminal charges, civil suits, and comprehensive media coverage, prompting questions of underage drinking, boating safety, and accountability.
Recent high school graduate Mallory Beach was described by her family as sociable and goal-oriented with ambitions for her future. Her death was central to the narrative of the Murdaugh saga, not only due to the initial tragedy but also because of the ensuing legal and civil proceedings mounted by the Murdaugh family and others against them.
Murdaugh: Death in the Family re-examines those events, providing an unbiased account of the crash, its result, and the consequences that still impact those involved.
Who was Mallory Beach?
Mallory Madison Beach was born on April 18, 1999, to Phillip Harley Beach and Renee Searson Beach in South Carolina. Mallory was a graduate of Wade Hampton High School and had a job as a salesperson in a clothing boutique in Beaufort. Her family said that she was an outgoing and friendly young lady who wanted to be an interior designer.
When she died, Mallory was just 19 years old. Her life and death under mysterious circumstances were the focus of the story of Murdaugh: Death in the Family, which depicted how one factor could damage an influential family's reputation as well as have a powerful impact on all those around them.
The night of February 23–24, 2019, what happened
Gathering and alcohol
In the evening of February 23, 2019, Mallory Beach, boyfriend Anthony Cook, Paul Murdaugh, Connor Cook, Miley Altman, and Morgan Doughty met for a social night out, attending a party or oyster roast on Paukie Island.
The group had first convened on a Murdaugh family river property, referred to as "Murdaugh Island." All were minors, and police later discovered alcohol on the boat. Undercover investigation filmed Paul Murdaugh buying alcohol on a buddy's ID, and there was a cooler filled with alcoholic drinks on the boat.
Bar stop and return to the boat
After departing Paukie Island, the crew returned and made a stop at a downtown Beaufort bar. Paul and Connor used borrowed or fabricated identification to gain entrance. Security footage indicated that at least two drinks were consumed by the two of them prior to returning to the rest of the group around 1:15 a.m.
The six then went aboard the boat once more to return. Mallory and Anthony were seen on CCTV walking out towards the dock while the boat was leaving.
Erratic driving and the crash
Erratic driving was reported by passengers on board during the trip. They reported him making sudden turns and not allowing others to drive. Connor was allowed to drive for a brief moment, but Paul took back control, according to CBS News.
It was around 2:17 am when the boat rammed into one of the pilings of Archer's Creek Bridge located near Parris Island, ejecting Mallory into the water. Connor dialed 911 and told them one was missing and six were on board. The other travelers were taken to the hospital, and Mallory did not survive that night.
Search and discovery
Volunteers, search teams, divers, and aircraft scoured the waterways for eight days. Mallory's body was found on March 3, 2019, about five miles downstream from where the accident happened.
It created widespread public outrage and called for increased investigation into the Murdaugh family. The accident had at its center controversy about underage drinking, boat safety, and holding accountable families that are well-connected.
Legal proceedings
Paul Murdaugh was indicted on April 18, 2019, Mallory's 20th birthday, with three felonies: boating under the influence resulting in death, and great bodily injury. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.
Paul and his mother, Maggie, were killed in June 2021. As a result, the criminal charges pending against them relating to Mallory's murder were dropped. Civil suits continued, however. Civil actions were filed by Mallory's family against members of the Murdaugh family, Parker's convenience store, and several other defendants.
Civil settlements
The Beach family settled for $15 million in July 2023 with Parker's Corporation, which had supplied alcohol to Paul Murdaugh.
Subsequently, in October 2024, Alex Murdaugh settled the final wrongful death lawsuit by way of a $500,000 insurance policy.
The settlements concluded the majority of the civil lawsuits arising from the accident.
Key issues and questions
Who was driving? Most of the survivors and investigators surmise Paul Murdaugh was driving, although he claimed Connor Cook drove. Evidence suggests he was still the driver when the crash happened.
Underage responsibility and alcohol: Paul had a 0.24 BAC, over three times the legal limit. The cases involved underage accessibility of alcohol and potential enabling on the part of the Murdaugh family.
Influence and responsibility: Commentators noted the Murdaugh family's long history of influence in South Carolina, which might have affected initial responses and public sentiment.
Murdaugh: Death in the Family context
The Hulu miniseries Murdaugh: Death in the Family takes its story from the Mallory Beach boat accident. The series portrays the accident as symbolizing the tension between tragedy, responsibility, and privilege, with the events culminating in legal and social consequences for the family.
The series revolves around the human cost of the collapse and how it ties to the overall collapse of the Murdaugh saga, keeping the incident at the forefront of the story.
The Mallory Beach fatality is a tragic, well-documented event, and Murdaugh: Death in the Family revisits it as a watershed moment in the Murdaugh saga. From the 2019 boating accident to subsequent investigations, criminal proceedings, and civil settlements, all facts have been verified by credible sources like CBS News, NPR, and BBC.
Trending
The Mallory Beach case is a reminder of the consequences of underage drinking, boating dangers, and being in the public eye of influential families. Murdaugh: Death in the Family reconstructs these facts with a matter-of-fact tone, reporting on factual events while highlighting the real human effect.
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