Alex Murdaugh moved to 8-by-10 cell in protective custody unit, South Carolina prison official says

Alex Murdaugh has been moved to a statewide protecting custody unit of a South Carolina maximum-security jail, a state Division of Corrections spokesperson confirmed to CBS Information on Saturday.

Murdaugh, 54, was sentenced to life in jail for the 2021 murders of his spouse Maggie Murdaugh, and his son, Paul Murdaugh. Murdaugh denied any involvement within the murders at his sentencing throughout a trial that riveted the nation.

His new house — which he moved to on Friday — consists of an 8-by-10-foot cell with a mattress, bathroom and sink, mentioned Chrysti Shain, the corrections division spokesperson. 

There are 28 different inmates in his unit, Shain mentioned, and embrace “former regulation enforcement” or “corrections officers,” people who want an “additional layer of safety.” 

Murdaugh’s unit is separated from the overall inhabitants, a necessary safety measure to maintain him protected from different inmates. 

Infamous inmates may be in danger in the event that they combine with the overall inhabitants. Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was crushed to dying by a fellow inmate in 1994, whereas mob gangster James “Whitey” Bulger was crushed to dying by fellow inmates in 2022.

Though prisoners moved into protecting custody are shielded from the overall inhabitants, they’ll nonetheless be killed. Pedophile John Geoghan, who molested lots of of minors as a Roman Catholic priest, was killed by one other inmate in 2003 whereas in protecting custody. 

The jail location the place Murdaugh is serving his sentence is not going to be launched for security causes, mentioned the corrections division.

He was positioned in protecting custody after the state’s four-member overview board met on Thursday, the corrections division mentioned. The board, which incorporates safety, psychological well being, and classification specialists, opinions an inmate’s classification yearly, Shain mentioned. 

Murdaugh will keep within the protecting custody unit for the 12 months. Directors will then assess whether or not to maneuver him into the overall inhabitants, or maintain him within the protecting custody unit, Shain mentioned.