South-Carolina
Killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh works prison job as court weighs bid for new trial
Nearly three years after disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh was convicted of slaughtering his wife and son, he is keeping his head down and nose clean while his lawyers craft an appeal.
The imprisoned scion of a South Carolina legal dynasty is working a prison job, staying largely out of trouble, and pressing forward with his case, according to a report.
Murdaugh, 57, is serving two life sentences without parole for the June 2021 killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.
He is also serving concurrent 40-year federal and 27-year state sentences for financial crimes.
South Carolina Department of Corrections records show Murdaugh has worked as a wardkeeper’s assistant since August 2023.
A wardkeeper’s assistant is responsible for day-to-day operations at a prison, such as helping manage the housing unit where inmates live.
That same month, he was disciplined for feeding information to a documentary crew and barred from phone use and canteen purchases for 30 days, according to his inmate record. He has remained infraction-free since.
His attorney, Dick Harpootlian, said Murdaugh spends much of his time focused on his appeal.
“You can talk to him, unlike normal clients who have no concept of the appellate process or how all this works,” Harpootlian told the Daily Mail. “He is interested because he is a lawyer, so we talk about where we’re at and what we think the grave issues are with the case and what our weaknesses are.”
Harpootlian said they speak weekly and described his client as being in good spirits.
“I think Alex understands he did a bad thing in stealing all that money,” Harpootlian said. “He is adamant he didn’t kill Paul and Maggie. He always has been … and when we get a fair trial, I think the jury will determine he didn’t do it.”
Murdaugh is hopeful about a new trial, his attorney said, but cautioned the inmate is “not confident of anything.”
Behind the scenes, the family dynamic appears far more strained.
Murdaugh’s surviving son, Buster, and daughter-in-law, Brooklynn, have stayed away, a source told the outlet.
The insider said Buster carries “a lot of anger about the loss of his mom and brother” and avoids discussing the case.
“Whether or not Alex killed them, he definitely did enough to tarnish Buster’s name forever, and he’s angry about that,” the source said.
Murdaugh’s appeal heads back to court Feb. 11, when his legal team and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will argue before the state Supreme Court in Columbia.
The appeal centers largely on allegations that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill tampered with the jury during Murdaugh’s murder trial.
Hill pleaded guilty in December to obstruction of justice, perjury, and two counts of misconduct in office after admitting she showed sealed crime scene photos to a reporter and lied about it.
She also admitted to promoting her book about the trial through her public office.
Hill was sentenced to probation. Prosecutors said they found insufficient evidence to prove jury tampering.
Attorneys for Murdaugh argue that Hill’s conduct tainted the trial and jurors should not have heard extensive testimony about his financial crimes.
“By the time the jury heard two-and-a-half weeks of testimony about him stealing $12 million from invalids and orphans, he was so vilified it didn’t matter what [Murdaugh] said on the stand,” Harpootlian said.
Prosecutors maintain the verdict was sound.
Former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal previously ruled Hill’s conduct did not affect the outcome.
Harpootlian said he still believes two shooters carried out the killings.
“There is strategic evidence to indicate that’s correct,” he said. “Two different guns shooting two different people … The forensics supports two people [committing the crime].”
When Charleston residents and visitors opened their weather app over Fourth of July weekend, the first numbers they saw didn’t tell the whole story.
While meteorologists predicted a high of 94 degrees on Independence Day, the heat index, known as the “feels like” temperature, was projected to exceed 100. That’s what forecasters use to determine the actual heat risk and to issue advisories, watches and warnings.
The heat index is what stepping outside actually feels like to the human body when the temperature and humidity are combined. In Charleston, bouts of extreme heat indexes are hotter and longer than the region previously experienced.
Between 1979 and 2023, Charleston saw an increase of 19 days annually with a heat index over 80 degrees, according to Climate Central.
The National Weather Service office in Charleston uses the heat index to decide when to issue extreme heat warnings, watches and advisories. The determination is made from records maintained by the S.C. Department of Public Health, as well as the equivalent agency in Georgia, regarding EMS calls for heat-related emergencies.
The days with the highest number of calls were compared to conditions such as daily temperature and heat index. There were several cases where call volumes for heat-related illness were high, despite the heat index sitting below the advisory threshold at the time. Ultimately, the National Weather Service office lowered the requirements for a heat advisory to be issued.
Today, heat alerts fall into one of three categories:
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Heat Advisory: Issued when the heat index is between 108 and 112 degrees for at least two hours. During this time, people are encouraged to reschedule outdoor activities during the heat of the day. If being outside is necessary, people are encouraged to stay in the shade and drink lots of water.
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Extreme Heat Watch: Issued when the heat index is 113 degrees or higher for 24 to 72 hours. When this alert is issued, people should adjust their outdoor plans. In this case, the conditions for an extreme heat event are all there, but the timing and exact outcome are uncertain.
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Extreme Heat Warning: Issued when the heat index exceeds 113 degrees for at least two hours.
When this alert is issued, people should avoid outdoor activities during the heat of the day and stay in air conditioned spaces as much as possible.
In South Carolina, heat-related emergency room visits tend to peak during July. The most-recent data available from the state Department of Public Health indicates that Charleston County saw 713 emergency department visits for heat-related illness in July 2024.
Those most at risk, according to the state, are construction workers and landscapers, followed by postal carriers, recreation workers, farmers and lifeguards, among others.
Meteorologists expect a hot summer this year, as an “extremely strong” El Niño has formed in the Pacific Ocean. The global weather phenomenon is known to cause wetter conditions and a less-active hurricane season in the Southeast, as well as higher temperatures.
Climate scientists fear that the El Niño could thrust the world over the 1.5 degree Celsius, or 2.7 degree Fahrenheit, threshold of increased global surface temperatures above pre-industrial levels. Numerous scientific and political documents use that threshold when considering the turning point for climate change’s most intense and potentially irreversible impacts.
HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – Horry County Fire Rescue crews contained three separate fires totaling roughly 13 acres overnight and into early morning, capping a busy Fourth of July for firefighters across the county.
Silvercrest Drive
Horry County Fire Rescue responded to the first fire at 10:32 p.m. Saturday at Silvercrest Drive in the Carolina Forest community.
The grass fire, estimated at one acre, threatened nearby structures, but crews contained it and protected the structures.
Smoke may still linger in the area Sunday.
Sunny Heights Road
Shortly after, around 11:10 p.m., firefighters responded to Sunny Heights Road in the Longs community for a woods fire.
The slow-moving fire grew to roughly 10 acres. No structures were threatened. The South Carolina Forestry Commission assisted crews on scene.
People in the area will continue to see smoke and possible flare-ups for an extended period. The fire was contained around 1:15 a.m.
Hardwick Road
At 3:32 a.m., Horry County Fire Rescue responded to the 10000 block of Hardwick Road in Nichols for a brush fire estimated at two acres.
The fire threatened nearby structures, but crews announced at 6:05 a.m. that the fire was contained and all structures were protected. The South Carolina Forestry Commission also assisted at this scene.
People in the area may continue to see smoke and possible flare-ups. Crews will continue to monitor the area.
Fireworks and Drought
In addition to the fires, Horry County Fire Rescue said crews kept busy throughout the evening with multiple calls, including outside fires reportedly started by the discharging of fireworks.
Ahead of the holiday weekend, HCFR had advised the community to skip personal-use fireworks and leave holiday shows to the professionals, citing dangerous dry conditions across the county.
Nearly all of Horry County, 99.3%, is currently under an extreme drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor data. Our First Alert Weather team has more on the expanding drought conditions here.
It is unclear if any of the three fires above were caused by fireworks.
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South Carolina made a late entrance into Jayden Broadie‘s recruitment, but the Gamecocks made every moment count.
The three-star EDGE from Rolesville (N.C.) announced his commitment to Shane Beamer and South Carolina on July 4, choosing the Gamecocks after a recruitment that remained fluid until the final weeks.
Broadie originally planned to commit this summer before considering delaying his decision into the season. Everything changed after South Carolina offered following a standout camp performance.
His first trip to Columbia was when the offer was earned, and it immediately left an impression.
“After camp they took me on a tour and talked to me about everything,” Broadie told Rivals. “All the coaches showed me love and made me feel like I belonged there. They made me feel wanted.”
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Defensive ends coach Deion Barnes quickly became a major factor.
Barnes worked with Broadie throughout camp, spent extra one-on-one time with him before drills began and showed the type of investment the North Carolina standout wanted to see.
“He definitely pushed me hard,” Broadie said. “He pointed out what I could improve, but he also told me what I did well. I really liked how Coach Barnes really invested his time in me before camp even started. That showed his character.”
Broadie also connected with Beamer.
“I love Coach Beamer’s energy,” he said. “After they offered, he called me a few times and was fired up about me. I love how he carries himself.”
Those relationships ultimately separated South Carolina from the rest of the field.
“They made me feel like a priority,” Broadie said. “Coach Barnes was very invested in me. He told me I would have an opportunity to compete and play early. He made me feel like I could come in and make a difference on the defense.”
Playing in the SEC also appealed to Broadie.
“It is the best of the best,” he said. “You get to compete against the best competition and really see how good you are. That’s what excites me the most.”
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