The question of whether Alex Murdaugh killed his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, has been central to the gripping murder trial that has captivated the nation. In closing arguments on Wednesday, the prosecution laid out their case, asserting that the disgraced South Carolina attorney murdered his family to conceal a web of financial crimes and maintain his esteemed social standing.
Prosecutor Creighton Waters told jurors that Alex Murdaugh, facing imminent exposure of his years-long theft from his law firm and clients, killed his wife and younger son. The motive, according to Waters, was to divert attention from his financial misdeeds and garner sympathy. Waters argued that Murdaugh, leveraging his legal expertise, meticulously planned the murders to occur at their Colleton County estate on June 7, 2021.
“The pressures on this man were unbearable,” Waters stated, emphasizing the mounting pressures that culminated on the day of the murders. The defense was scheduled to present their closing arguments on Thursday.
Alex Murdaugh, 54, is facing severe penalties – 30 years to life in prison – if convicted on either murder charge. The investigation revealed the brutal nature of the killings: 22-year-old Paul was killed by two shotgun blasts, and 52-year-old Maggie was shot four or five times with a rifle near the dog kennels on their property.
Earlier in the day, jurors visited the crime scene, meticulously examining key locations, including the storage closet door frame where Paul Murdaugh was fatally shot.
A pivotal piece of evidence linking Alex Murdaugh to the murders is a video recorded by Paul Murdaugh at the kennels just minutes before his last phone activity. This crucial video evidence was recovered after federal agents spent over a year hacking into Paul’s locked iPhone.
Alex Murdaugh initially and repeatedly denied being at the kennels on the night of the murders, even to the first responding investigators. However, during his testimony, he admitted to lying and confirmed he was indeed present at the kennels that night.
“Why in the world would an innocent, reasonable father and husband lie about that? And lie about it so early?” Waters questioned, highlighting the implausibility of Murdaugh’s initial statements.
While the murder weapons remain unrecovered, expert testimony confirmed that bullet casings found near Maggie Murdaugh’s body matched casings from the family’s shooting range.
Despite the absence of blood spatter directly linking Alex Murdaugh to the killings, the prosecution focused on the compelling circumstantial evidence. They argued that Murdaugh had the motive, means, and opportunity to commit the murders. The prosecution timeline suggests a narrow 15-minute window for Murdaugh to have committed the murders, cleaned himself, disposed of weapons and clothing, and then leave the property to visit his ill mother, as indicated by GPS data.
Although the prosecution’s crime scene expert acknowledged that evidence wasn’t definitive enough to confirm one or two shooters, Waters maintained that the totality of evidence strongly implicated Alex Murdaugh.
“As all of these pressures were mounting, the defendant killed Maggie and Paul,” Waters declared, holding up his cellphone. “The forensic timeline puts him there. The use of the family weapons corroborates it. And his lies and his guilty actions afterward confirm that.”
Waters underscored Murdaugh’s history of deceit, referencing his opioid addiction and the millions stolen over a decade. He argued that lying about the murders was consistent with Murdaugh’s pattern of deception.
The prosecutor suggested Murdaugh’s rehearsed testimony faltered when confronted with specific details, such as his last conversation with Maggie at the kennels.
“This defendant has fooled everyone — everyone who thought they were close to him,” Waters asserted. “He fooled Maggie and Paul, too, and they paid for it with their lives. Don’t let him fool you, too.”
In contrast, the defense contended that state investigators prematurely focused on Alex Murdaugh, overlooking crucial evidence like fingerprints and shoe prints that could point to other potential killers. They requested the jury visit the property to appreciate the spatial relationships, particularly the small storage room and the distance between the bodies.
Prosecutors opposed the site visit, citing changes in the property’s appearance since June 2021 due to vegetation growth and lack of habitation. Judge Clifton Newman permitted the jury visit but cautioned them about these changes and potential hazards like snakes.
With closing arguments concluded, the jury is now tasked with deliberation. They have access to extensive evidence – over 800 documents, photographs, videos, and exhibits – gathered during the six-week trial, featuring testimony from over 75 witnesses, to determine whether Alex Murdaugh did kill his wife and son. The verdict in this high-profile case is eagerly awaited.
