Augusta, GA

Augusta co-author pulls Murdaugh book, accuses clerk of plagiarism

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2023

Augusta co-author pulls Murdaugh book, accuses clerk of plagiarism

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The publisher and editor of the Augusta Business Daily is scuttling a book on the Alex Murdaugh trial that he co-authored with an embattled South Carolina court official.

Neil Gordon the co-author of “Behind The Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders,” announced the book will be unpublished and sales will end.

He accuses Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill of plagiarism without his knowledge. Besides plagiarism, she’s been accused of jury tampering, an allegation at the center of the Murdaugh defense’s pursuit of a new trial.

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The book focuses on the case in which Murdaugh, long a prominent South Carolina attorney, was convicted of murdering his own wife and son.

Gordon said he discovered the plagiarism while reviewing thousands of pages of Hill’s e-mails released to reporters through the Freedom of Information Act.

Gordon said he came across an email exchange between Hill and a BBC reporter in which the reporter shared a long excerpt from an upcoming article about the Alex Murdaugh trial on pages 1644 through 1648.

Gordon said he realized Hill lifted the article’s text when he compared it to a 12-page book passage in the preface he said was written by Hill.

“When I confronted Becky about this, she admitted she plagiarized the passage due to deadline pressures,” Gordon said. “As a veteran journalist myself, I cannot excuse her behavior, nor can I condone it.”

Gordon said he notified the BBC reporter about Hill’s actions and was told the media outlet’s attorneys are investigating.

“This has blindsided me,” said Gordon. “Journalism has been my life’s work; my credibility and integrity are paramount to everything I do. I can’t be associated with anything like plagiarism and will no longer partner with Becky Hill on any projects. I’d like to apologize to our readers, and publicly to the BBC and the reporter.”

Hill was also accused of tampering with the jury during the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.

Hill, however, denied the allegations.

Hill’s attorneys Justin Bamberg and Will Lewis released a statement Tuesday afternoon on her behalf.

They described her as remorseful “regarding an allegation of plagiarism.”

They said the “pressures of developing additional content under tight time deadlines” resulted in Hill taking material written by BBC reporter Holly Honderich and submitting it to her co-author Neil Gordon as if it were her own words.

“Ms. Hill accepts full responsibility for this unfortunate lapse in judgment and has personally reached out to Ms. Honderich to express her sincere apologies,” the attorneys said.

“Ms. Hill has great respect for the tireless work journalists do every day and sincerely regrets using Ms. Honderich’s words as her own,” they continued.

According to the Augusta Business Daily website, Gordon launched the business after helping the startup Augusta Press with business reporting, sales and marketing.

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Augusta, GA

AugustaCon returns to new location in Columbia County

Published

6 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

AugustaCon returns to new location in Columbia County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – AugustaCon was back, but in a new home this time.

Saturday’s event was held in Columbia County at the Performing Arts Center.

The event holds video game tournaments and hosts vendors that had anime and video game-style items.

We spoke to one of the vendors, who helped run the video game tournament there.

“We really love it. It’s a great environment. We love seeing new gamers, collectors, anyone that likes anime,” said Cedric Bacon.

If you missed out on Saturday’s AugustaCon, there are ones usually in the summer and winter as well.

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Augusta, GA

Store employee fatally shot in Augusta robbery; suspect arrested

Published

14 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Store employee fatally shot in Augusta robbery; suspect arrested

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person was fatally shot in an armed robbery on Lumpkin Road, according to authorities, and a suspect has been arrested.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Abdallah Rubeha of Augusta.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at the Smoke Shop at 2303 Lumpkin Road around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Deputies say they arrived to find Rubeha, an employee, had been shot at least once.

He was taken to Wellstar MCG Hospital, where he died at 7:35 a.m. Saturday, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

After the robbery, deputies were able to identify three suspects and their vehicle.

The vehicle was registered in Burke County, and Richmond County deputies reached out to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office with the information, according to officials.

Burke County deputies say they attempted a traffic stop at 11:25 p.m. Friday at Savannah Avenue and East 17th Street in Waynesboro.

Deputies in Burke County pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase, which turned into a foot pursuit, officials say.

The driver, 22-year-old Terrance Walker, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Richmond County.

One person was arrested in connection to armed robbery and homicide on Lumpkin Rd.(WRDW)

According to Burke County deputies, another person was in the passenger’s seat and is believed to be connected to the robbery.

Burke County deputies say they also found a black Taurus G2C 9 mm handgun believed to have been stolen during the armed robbery.

Walker faces additional charges in Richmond and Burke counties, including driving under the influence, according to jail bookings.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Rubeha.

The year is off to a deadly start in Augusta; this is already the third homicide of 2025.

The slayings come amid a nearly three-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed around 200 lives.

Communities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River, but as the region’s largest city, Augusta has been hit hard.

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Augusta, GA

Crosstown showdown rescheduled: Augusta and USC-Aiken to play Sunday

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Crosstown showdown rescheduled: Augusta and USC-Aiken to play Sunday

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The basketball doubleheader featuring both Augusta University and University of South Carolina Aiken has been moved to Sunday.

The two were originally slated to play on Saturday afternoon.

The women’s game will tipoff at 1:30 p.m., and the men’s will follow at 3:30 p.m in the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

Both the Pacers and Jags men’s team last played on Feb. 10 2024.

AU climbed to a 5-point lead in the final period, winning 98-93.

Prior to their last meeting, USC Aiken had a four-game win streak over the Jags.

Sunday will mark the 89th meeting between the two programs.

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