Editor’s Note: The HBO docuseries “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty” chronicles the family’s influence in South Carolina. It airs on CNN Sunday, February 19, at 8 p.m. ET.
CNN
—
The jury in Alex Murdaugh’s double murder trial saw footage Wednesday from a crucial interview he had with state investigators where he was asked for the first time if he killed his wife and son.
The interview on August 11, 2021, was the third Murdaugh had with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which was investigating the murders of his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and grown son, Paul Murdaugh, three months earlier, according to testimony Wednesday by SLED agent Lt. David Owen.
The interview was about to end when Owen told Murdaugh he had “a few more questions.”
“Did you kill Maggie?” Owen asked, according to the footage played in court.
“No,” Murdaugh said. “Did I kill my wife? No, David.”
“Do you know who did?”
“No, I do not know who did,” Murdaugh said.
“Did you kill Paul?”
“No, I did not kill Paul,” Murdaugh said.
“Do you know who did?”
“No, sir, I do not know who did,” Murdaugh said. “Do you think I killed Maggie?”
“I have to go where the evidence and the facts take me,” Owen said.
“I understand that. And you think I killed Paul?”
“I have to go where the evidence and the facts take me,” Owen said again. “And I don’t have anything that points to anybody else at this time.”
“So does that mean that I am a suspect?”
Owen told Murdaugh he was “still in this,” adding, “I have to put my beliefs aside, and go with the facts.”
Owen’s testimony Wednesday comes as the state nears the end of its case, in which prosecutors contend Murdaugh killed his wife and son to distract from a mountain of alleged financial crimes he had committed and to stave off a “day of reckoning” when those crimes might come to light.
The defense maintains Murdaugh – who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and two weapons charges in the killings – was a loving father and husband who called 911 the night of the killings after he found his wife and son shot at the family’s estate in Islandton, South Carolina, a property known as Moselle.
At the time of the August 11, 2021, interview, Murdaugh was “the only known suspect” in the murders, Owen testified Wednesday.
The case was transferred that same day from the local solicitor to the Attorney General’s Office, which has been prosecuting the case due to the Murdaugh family’s long ties with the local solicitor: Three generations of Murdaughs served as the 14th Circuit Solicitor over about 87 years.
Murdaugh’s statements during the August 2021 interview were voluntary, Owen testified Wednesday. Murdaugh wanted to ask SLED agents questions about the investigation, Owen said, and the agent told him he wanted to ask Murdaugh some questions, too. Murdaugh indicated he was comfortable answering the agents’ questions.
Murdaugh claimed to law enforcement he last saw Maggie and Paul earlier in the evening of the murders. They ate dinner together before Murdaugh took a nap and then drove to Almeda to visit his mother. He discovered the bodies of his wife and son, he said, when he returned home and called 911 at 10:07 p.m.
The footage played in court Wednesday showed SLED agents confronting Murdaugh about evidence that appeared to contradict his earlier statements to law enforcement.
It was the first time, Owen testified, that Murdaugh was confronted with the fact that Paul’s friend, Rogan Gibson, said he heard Murdaugh’s voice in the background of a phone call he had with Paul that night, shortly before the murders took place.
“You were heard in the background, and that was prior to 9 p.m. … Was it you?” Owen asked Murdaugh, per the footage shown in court Tuesday.
“At nine o’clock? No, sir,” Murdaugh said, “not if my times are right.”
“Who do you think it could have been?”
“I have no idea.”
“And Rogan’s been around your family for pretty much all his life,” Owen said, something Murdaugh agreed with. “And he recognizes your voice, and you have a distinct voice. Can you think of anybody else that has a voice similar to yours that he may have misinterpreted?”
“No, sir.”
Months later, investigators discovered a video on Paul’s phone that he filmed immediately after that call, at 8:44 p.m. in the area of the family’s dog kennels, near where the bodies were found. Multiple witnesses at trial have identified Murdaugh’s voice, along with Maggie’s and Paul’s, in that video, contradicting Murdaugh’s statements to investigators he had not gone to the kennels before finding the bodies.
The footage played Wednesday also showed the agents confront Murdaugh about another piece of footage filmed by Paul the night of the killings: A Snapchat video showing Murdaugh looking at a sapling on the family’s property. In it, Murdaugh is seen wearing pants and a blue shirt. But later, he was wearing shorts and a white T-shirt.
“There’s a video on Paul’s phone of you and him on the farm that night. You’re wearing khaki pants and a dress shirt … When I met you that night, you were in shorts and a T-shirt,” Owen said. “At what point in the evening did you change clothes?”
“I’m not sure,” Murdaugh said. “What time of day was that? I would have thought I would have already changed.”
Testimony in recent days similarly undermined statements Murdaugh made to SLED during the August 2021 interview – namely, that Maggie decided to go to Moselle the night of the killings because she was worried about him and his father, whose health was deteriorating.
Two witnesses disagree: On Tuesday, Maggie’s sister testified it was Murdaugh who wanted Maggie to come to Moselle. Maggie was staying in the family’s Edisto Beach property and did not want to go to Islandton, Marian Proctor said, recalling a conversation they had the day of the murders.
Proctor encouraged Maggie to go, she said, breaking down in court.
Blanca Simpson, a family housekeeper, similarly testified last week that Maggie told her the day of the murders that Alex had asked both Maggie and Paul to come to Moselle that night.
Earlier Wednesday, Judge Clifton Newman ruled against allowing testimony about the roadside shooting in September 2021 in which Murdaugh claimed he asked another man to shoot him so his surviving son could obtain millions in life insurance.
Prosecutor Creighton Waters argued the roadside shooting showed a “consciousness of guilt,” pointing to the defendant’s initial statements to law enforcement he had been targeted by an unknown assailant after Murdaugh pulled over to address a flat tire. This led people to believe, Waters said, that Maggie and Paul’s killers had come back to target Alex and so he could not be responsible for their deaths.
Waters also argued the roadside shooting illustrated a “symmetry” with the murders of Maggie and Paul: Both shootings occurred soon after members of Murdaugh’s former law firm confronted him about stealing from the firm and its clients.
Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian opposed the inclusion of the testimony, saying it showed guilty knowledge not of the killings but of the financial crimes, for which Murdaugh, now disbarred, faces 99 charges separate from the murder case.
Newman ruled that, while he allowed evidence of Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes to show motive, the roadside shooting would be a “bridge too far” and “does not meet the logical relevancy test.”
Murdaugh later told authorities he conspired with a former client to kill him as part of an insurance fraud scheme, court documents show, purportedly so his son Buster could collect the payout. Murdaugh believed, Harpootlian would tell NBC’s “Today Show,” that his life insurance policy had a suicide exclusion.
Murdaugh was charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and filing a false police report in connection to the shooting. The shooter, Curtis Edward Smith, was charged with assisted suicide; conspiracy to commit insurance fraud; pointing and presenting a firearm; and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, according to authorities.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division later described the injury as a “superficial gunshot wound to the head.”
Note:- (Not all news on the site expresses the point of view of the site, but we transmit this news automatically and translate it through programmatic technology on the site and not from a human editor. The content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.))
I really like it whenever people come together
and share views. Great site, stick with it!
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did
you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from.
kudos
Awesome post.
With havin so much written content do you ever run into any issues of
plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it appears a
lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my agreement.
Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being stolen? I’d definitely appreciate it.
I pay a visit everyday some sites and blogs to read articles,
however this web site gives quality based articles.
That is a very good tip particularly to those new to the
blogosphere. Brief but very accurate information… Appreciate
your sharing this one. A must read article!
Hi I am so happy I found your site, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Aol for something else, Anyways I
am here now and would just like to say cheers for a fantastic post and a all
round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to look over it all at the minute but I have saved it
and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more,
Please do keep up the excellent work.
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the structure of your website?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content
so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having
1 or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?
When someone writes an article he/she maintains the
idea of a user in his/her mind that how a user can know it.
Therefore that’s why this paragraph is amazing. Thanks!
I visited several sites however the audio quality for audio songs
existing at this website is actually wonderful.
It’s very effortless to find out any matter on net as compared to books,
as I found this post at this web page.
My brother suggested I might like this blog.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had
spent for this info! Thanks!
Great web site you have here.. It’s hard to find
excellent writing like yours nowadays. I really appreciate individuals like you!
Take care!!
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered
It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other
customers like its helped me. Good job.
I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts
in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website.
Reading this information So i’m happy to exhibit that I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I
found out exactly what I needed. I such a lot surely
will make sure to do not omit this site and give it
a glance regularly.
I was suggested this web site by my cousin.
I am not sure whether this post is written by
him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty.
You’re incredible! Thanks!
You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation however I to find this matter to
be really one thing which I feel I’d never
understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely large
for me. I am looking forward on your subsequent publish, I’ll try to get the
grasp of it!
Wow, that’s what I was looking for, what a data! existing here
at this blog, thanks admin of this web page.
This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me.
Thank you!
Hey there! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your
site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4.
I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might
be able to correct this issue. If you have any recommendations,
please share. Cheers!
I absolutely love your site.. Great colors & theme.
Did you create this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own website and
want to learn where you got this from or exactly what the
theme is called. Cheers!
Stunning story there. What occurred after? Good luck!
Howdy I am so grateful I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while I was searching on Google for something else, Nonetheless
I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a remarkable post and a all round thrilling blog
(I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the
minute but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS
feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep
up the superb work.
Attractive element of content. I simply stumbled upon your web
site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing on your feeds and even I fulfillment you get right of entry
to constantly quickly.
I always used to study article in news papers but now as I am
a user of web therefore from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to
web.
Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is valuable and all. But think about if you
added some great pictures or videos to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is excellent but with pics and
video clips, this website could certainly be one of
the very best in its niche. Wonderful blog!
Wow, amazing blog format! How long have you ever been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The whole glance of
your website is great, let alone the content material!
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this
website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough
to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and
visual appeal. I must say that you’ve done a superb job with
this. Additionally, the blog loads super quick for me on Opera.
Outstanding Blog!
You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the article you write.
The world hopes for even more passionate writers
such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe.
At all times follow your heart.
Your style is really unique in comparison to other
folks I’ve read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this page.
Hi there this is kind of of off topic but
I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I believe this is among the so much significant info for me.
And i’m satisfied reading your article. But wanna commentary on few normal things,
The website style is wonderful, the articles is in point of fact nice : D.
Excellent job, cheers
Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much approximately this, like you
wrote the e book in it or something. I feel that you simply can do with some % to
power the message home a bit, but other than that, this is great blog.
An excellent read. I will definitely be back.
I all the time used to read post in news papers but now as I am
a user of internet thus from now I am using net for posts, thanks
to web.
Hiya! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know
how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone.
I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue.
If you have any suggestions, please share.
With thanks!
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to
your site? My website is in the very same area of interest as yours and my
users would really benefit from a lot of
the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you.
Cheers!
Very nice article, exactly what I needed.
Wow! At last I got a webpage from where I be capable of actually take useful data regarding my study and knowledge.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I think this is one of the most important information for me.
And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark
on some general things, The website style
is perfect, the articles is really nice : D.
Good job, cheers
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and
in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account
your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently
quickly.
Great web site you have here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing
like yours these days. I honestly appreciate people like
you! Take care!!
Hello, I desire to subscribe for this weblog to obtain most recent updates, so where can i do it please help out.
I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the internet
visitors, its really really pleasant piece of writing
on building up new webpage.
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be using?
I’m having some minor security problems with my latest blog and I’d like to find something more secure.
Do you have any solutions?
I loved as much as you will receive carried
out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same
nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
These are truly fantastic ideas in regarding blogging. You have
touched some nice points here. Any way keep up wrinting.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you’re speaking
about! Bookmarked. Please additionally seek advice
from my web site =). We may have a hyperlink change
arrangement among us
Greetings! Very useful advice within this post! It’s the little changes which will make the biggest
changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around
your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I
hope you write again soon!
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice,
keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later.
All the best
I think this is one of the most vital information for
me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really great : D.
Good job, cheers
Very good information. Lucky me I found your blog by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve saved it for later!
I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else encountering
problems with your blog. It appears as if some of the written text within your
content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and
let me know if this is happening to them too?
This could be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Cheers
Excellent blog here! Also your website loads up very fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate
link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as
yours lol
I blog frequently and I truly appreciate your content.
This article has really peaked my interest. I will book mark your website and keep
checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your Feed as well.
I pay a quick visit daily some web sites and websites to read content, however this webpage
presents feature based content.
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you will be a
great author. I will be sure to bookmark your
blog and will come back later on. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great
writing, have a nice day!
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you really recognise what you’re talking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my web site =). We can have a link trade agreement
between us
It’s really a great and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful
information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.