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].”
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. – A Huger woman died after being hit by an umbrella during storms that hit the Midlands on Saturday night.
According to Clarendon County Coroner Jacqueline Blackwell, a 56-year-old woman from Huger died while eating at the Driftwood Grill, a Lake Marion restaurant, Saturday night after an umbrella got loose and hit her.
Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley said the umbrella hit her in the neck, severing her carotid artery. Blackwell confirmed she died at the scene.
Officials attribute the umbrella coming loose to high winds during the Saturday night storms.
According to the coroner’s office, an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Driftwood Grill issued a statement in a post on Facebook:
“Our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones affected by the tragic incident during last night’s sudden severe weather event at Lake Marion.
This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved. Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time.
We are grateful for the emergency personnel and community members who responded and assisted during the situation.
Please continue to keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Special Olympics South Carolina celebrated its 2026 USA Games team Saturday in Columbia, honoring the 124-member delegation set to represent the Palmetto State in Minneapolis.
The event at the South Carolina football team’s indoor practice facility brought together athletes, families and supporters as Team South Carolina prepares for the national games.
The celebration served as the team’s final gathering before departure, providing athletes and families with information ahead of the trip. Attendees saw the official team uniform unveiling and met delegation members.
Special Olympics South Carolina President Barry Coats said the athletes have been working and training toward this goal for years as they prepare to compete in Minneapolis.
“Everybody loves a nice-looking uniform, and our staff put some nice stuff together, but they’re there to compete,” Coats said. “They’re true athletes. They’ve been working on this for years. They’re excited. They’re ready to get there and compete.”
The delegation is made up of athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and staff who will travel to Minnesota to compete and represent South Carolina on the national stage.
Team South Carolina will compete in 13 sports: track and field, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, flag football, golf, gymnastics, pickleball, powerlifting, softball, swimming, and tennis.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will take place June 20-26. Team South Carolina departs June 19 from Columbia Metropolitan Airport and returns to Columbia on June 27.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
South-Carolina
At least 19 injured in suspected stampede at South Carolina’s Atlantic Beach: officials
At least 19 people were injured when a stampede broke out at a South Carolina beach early Sunday morning, according to officials.
Horry County Fire Rescue officials said a “reported stampede incident” took place just after 1 a.m. near the stage area in Atlantic Beach in South Carolina, 13 miles north of Myrtle Beach.
Nineteen people were evaluated for injuries, which were deemed non-life-threatening. Three others were transported to local hospitals.
Officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of additional victims who weren’t checked by first responders.
A reason behind the suspected stampede was not revealed.
Atlantic Beach is currently hosting the annual Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival with live music, meet-and-greets, parties and entertainment running between Friday and Monday.
It was not revealed if the stampede victims were associated with the bike fest.
The annual motorcycle rally attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers to the area each year, according to the town’s website.
“Black Bike Week is recently reported to draw crowds in excess of 400,000 people to the area though it is hard to distinguish them from the crowd of spring breakers who have been in Myrtle Beach during the same time.
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