Open · 2021-present
The Murdaugh Family Murders
Today we are looking at a case that completely consumed the South Carolina Lowcountry. The Murdaugh family was a legal dynasty, but everything started to unravel on a June night in 2021 when Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were found dead near the dog kennels of their hunting lodge. Alex Murdaugh claimed he was visiting his mother who had dementia when the murders happened. But as investigators dug deeper, cellphone data and a crucial video started telling a very different story. We are diving into the timeline, the botched crime scene, and the massive trial that followed.
Case Updates
What has happened, newest first, each with the article it comes from. An entry goes up only after that article is read and found to report it.
State concedes errors but denies fabricating evidence in Murdaugh case
South Carolina prosecutors conceded investigative errors regarding grand jury testimony and lab reports but argued they did not warrant dismissing Alex Murdaugh's murder indictments. The state filed the 22-page response rejecting allegations of intentional misconduct.
Alex Murdaugh appears in court for pretrial hearing ahead of retrial
Alex Murdaugh and prosecutors appeared in court for a pretrial hearing addressing evidence disputes ahead of his April retrial for the murders of his wife and son. The hearing covered issues including DNA testing requests, ballistics evidence, and potential grand jury inquiries regarding an alleged accomplice.
Judge McCaslin hears evidence motions in Murdaugh retrial
Judge Debra McCaslin presided over a pretrial hearing regarding evidence access, DNA testing, and records in the Alex Murdaugh retrial. She addressed motions concerning grand jury material and scheduled future pretrial conferences ahead of the April 2027 retrial.
Judge rules on ballistics evidence ahead of Alex Murdaugh retrial
South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin denied Alex Murdaugh's request for additional ballistics reports regarding ammunition used to kill Maggie Murdaugh, calling it a fishing expedition. However, she ordered prosecutors to provide the defense with raw data used for crime scene comparisons.
Judge Debra McCaslin oversees evidentiary hearing in Alex Murdaugh retrial
At an evidentiary hearing on October 16, 2026, Judge Debra McCaslin reprimanded both the defense and prosecution, warning against turning the retrial into a circus. The defense secured approval for new testing on unknown male DNA found under Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails and on her phone.
Judge McCaslin rules on evidence and warns attorneys at Murdaugh pretrial hearing
South Carolina Judge Debra McCaslin presided over a pretrial hearing regarding evidence such as DNA and gun casings ahead of Alex Murdaugh's murder retrial. She strongly admonished both defense and prosecution attorneys against theatrical behavior and misrepresentations to the court.
Judge approves defense DNA testing ahead of Murdaugh retrial
Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin ruled that defense attorneys may conduct independent DNA testing on Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails and cellphone, while denying requests to compare ballistics evidence from unrelated shootings.
Judge grants DNA testing request in Alex Murdaugh retrial
Judge Debra McCaslin granted Alex Murdaugh's defense team permission to test DNA found on Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails and phone, while denying requests regarding ballistics evidence and alleged police cover-up materials.
Judge holds hearing on evidence and forensic testing ahead of Murdaugh retrial
Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin takes up contentious evidence disputes, including requests for independent forensic testing and records regarding missing weapons, ahead of Alex Murdaugh's retrial. Jury selection for the retrial is scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027.
Prosecutors file responses on evidence disputes ahead of Murdaugh retrial
South Carolina prosecutors filed responses to defense demands regarding DNA testing, crime scene scans, and potential grand jury records concerning the missing murder weapons. The filings were submitted ahead of an October 16 hearing before Judge Debra McCaslin.
State responds to defense evidence requests in Murdaugh retrial
Prosecutors submitted court filings challenging the defense's proposed DNA testing, agreeing to supply original crime scene scans, and citing grand jury secrecy regarding the missing murder weapons. A hearing on the matters is scheduled for October 16.
Prosecutors push back on Murdaugh defense cellphone data demands
South Carolina prosecutors filed court documents criticizing Alex Murdaugh's defense for false assertions regarding missing cellphone data. Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled an October 16 hearing in Lexington County to address pretrial disputes.
State accuses Murdaugh defense of falsehoods regarding phone data
South Carolina prosecutors filed a response accusing Alex Murdaugh's defense of 'brazen falsehoods' in their motion seeking raw cellphone extraction files. The state maintained that the requested digital evidence had already been provided to the defense multiple times prior to the original trial.
Hearing set for October 16 on Murdaugh defense motions
Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled a defense motions hearing and status conference for October 16, 2026, to address disputes over alleged withheld discovery. The proceeding follows multiple defense motions filed in September seeking cellphone extractions, DNA, ballistics, and scene data.
Judge schedules October 16 evidentiary hearing in Murdaugh retrial
Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled an in-person hearing for October 16, 2026, to address urgent evidentiary disputes concerning DNA, cell phone data, ballistics, and FARO scans ahead of Alex Murdaugh's retrial. Prosecutors were ordered to submit their responses to pending motions by October 8.
Hearing scheduled on DNA and ballistics evidence in Alex Murdaugh retrial
Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled an in-person hearing for October 16, 2026, to address evidentiary disputes including DNA, cellphone data, and ballistics in Alex Murdaugh's retrial. A subsequent hearing for remaining motions was also set for November 13, 2026.
Judge sets October 16 hearing on Murdaugh evidence disputes
Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled a pretrial status conference for October 16 in Lexington County. The hearing follows defense requests for the court to intervene regarding outstanding evidence from prosecutors.
Alex Murdaugh's attorneys file motion demanding alleged coverup evidence
Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh filed a motion asking a judge to compel prosecutors to disclose records from an investigation into the alleged disposal of the murder weapons. The defense requested the motion be addressed at an October 16, 2026 status conference ahead of his scheduled April 2027 retrial.
Murdaugh defense files motion to compel DNA, ballistics, and scan data
Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh filed a motion asking a judge to order prosecutors to turn over additional DNA testing, ballistics records, and raw FARO crime scene scan data. The defense requested the production of materials ahead of an expected November hearing and the April 2027 retrial.
Judge signs order moving Alex Murdaugh retrial to Sumter County
Judge Debra McCaslin signed an order ruling that Alex Murdaugh's double-murder retrial will take place in Sumter County. The retrial is scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027.
Judge sets schedule for Murdaugh dismissal motion
During an August 14 pretrial hearing, Judge Debra McCaslin set a schedule for arguments on Alex Murdaugh's motion to dismiss murder charges over alleged fabricated grand jury testimony, scheduling a hearing for November 13.
S.C. Supreme Court grants Alex Murdaugh new murder trial
The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed an appeals court's denial of Alex Murdaugh's motion for a new trial. The court remanded the double-murder case back to the Circuit Court system after finding jury tampering by the clerk of court denied Murdaugh a fair trial.