Podcasts about hampton county

Nobody else in the Murdaugh case occupies Eric Bland's position. He's the attorney who built the financial crimes case that became the prosecution's motive theory. He represents the Satterfield family whose testimony the Supreme Court just called prejudicial. He represents Sandy Smith in the Stephen Smith investigation. And he's been inside this machinery since before the first trial began.In this full interview, Bland takes on the Supreme Court ruling, the retrial landscape, and the Stephen Smith cold case — in that order. He explains what the ruling actually cost his clients, whether the prosecution can still win with a thinner financial crimes presentation, and what Harpootlian means when he claims additional evidence. Then he turns to the case that nobody in the Murdaugh orbit wants to talk about — the nineteen-year-old found dead on a Hampton County road whose investigation SLED reopened because of the Murdaugh murders and then seemingly stalled.This is three conversations with one attorney who connects them all. The overturned conviction. The coming retrial. The unsolved homicide. And the question running underneath everything — whether the Murdaugh retrial opens doors that have been sealed for years, or whether it just generates more noise while the people who've been harmed the most keep waiting.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#AlexMurdaugh #EricBland #StephenSmith #MurdaughRetrial #Satterfield #SandySmith #TrueCrime #SouthCarolina #HiddenKillers #MurdaughCase

[Part One of Two] In Part One of this two-part episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and ⁠Liz Farrell⁠ put it all on the table as the Beach family civil conspiracy case against billionaire gas station owner Greg Parker gets EVEN MORE CHAOTIC. Through motions filed Friday, the Beaches accuse Parker, his bank and his counsel of lying, hiding or not producing relevant records and telling a research company to willfully disobey a lawful subpoena.  According to the filing, Greg Parker wired $383,000 to an Israeli defense contractor — Demoman International Ltd.— that, according to a 2023 news investigation, serves as a middle man for the sale of highly sophisticated bot-farm software (Advanced Impact Media Solutions) to unscrupulous politicians, governments, corporations and wealthy businessmen to manipulate public opinion using fake social media accounts.  Parker unequivocally denies releasing photos of Mallory's dead body to the public, but this latest development raises serious questions about who else might have gotten the photos and why.  Plus, why Greg Parker says he can't get a fair trial in Hampton County and says Judge Kelly needs to move the case to … Spartanburg? Let's Dive In…

Alex Murdaugh never worked alone. Not when he was stealing from clients. Not when he was running pills through Curtis Eddie Smith. Not when he staged his own shooting on the side of a Hampton County road. Every major scheme in his life had other hands on it. Other people carrying the weight. Other names on the checks.So why would the murders be different?That's the question Blanca Simpson keeps coming back to. She spent twenty years watching Alex operate from inside his own household. She saw the relationships. The visitors. The phone calls. The way people moved in and out of Alex's orbit depending on what he needed. And she's built a theory that the night of June 7th, 2021, wasn't a one-step plan.Blanca believes someone else was supposed to be at Moselle. She's called it Plan A. When that person didn't show or the arrangement fell apart, Alex executed Plan B himself. The framework for blaming someone else was already built — he just had to carry the act out on his own and redirect suspicion toward the boat crash families.The defense is now running a parallel track. They went on national television and said they have information about "third parties and potential motives." But their version of third parties means someone other than Alex. Blanca's version means Alex had help.In this interview, Blanca explains the foundation of her theory. She confronts the defense's "other suspects" narrative from the position of someone who watched Alex build and use a network of people for decades. And she names the investigative territory she believes has been overlooked.Part 3 of a three-part True Crime Today exclusive.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#AlexMurdaugh #BlancaSimpson #MurdaughRetrial #MurdaughConspiracy #MaggieMurdaugh #PaulMurdaugh #Moselle #MurdaughDefense #CurtisSmith #HiddenKillers

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

For nearly a century, the Murdaugh family name carried enormous weight across the South Carolina Lowcountry. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as powerful prosecutors in the state's 14th Judicial Circuit, building a political and legal empire that stretched through Hampton County and beyond. Their influence reached into law enforcement agencies, local banks, courtrooms, and civil litigation firms, creating an atmosphere where many locals believed the family operated above the law. Behind the polished image, however, allegations of corruption, favoritism, and financial misconduct had followed the family for years. Those suspicions exploded into public view after the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly crashing a boat that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The tragedy unleashed lawsuits, media scrutiny, and pressure unlike anything the family had previously faced. As investigators and civil attorneys began digging deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that Alex Murdaugh had stolen millions from clients, manipulated financial records, and desperately tried to keep his empire from collapsing. Prosecutors later argued that the pressure surrounding the boat case and the exposure of his financial crimes created the motive for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul at the family's Moselle hunting estate in June 2021. The double homicide transformed the once untouchable dynasty into the center of one of the most sensational murder cases in modern American history.The trial captivated the nation because it blended Southern Gothic family tragedy with allegations of corruption, addiction, privilege, and generational power. Prosecutors claimed Alex Murdaugh murdered Maggie and Paul in a calculated effort to distract from the financial reckoning closing in around him, while the defense argued that the state relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emotional storytelling. A key piece of evidence came from a cellphone video recorded moments before the murders in which prosecutors said Alex's voice could be heard near the kennels, contradicting his earlier statements to investigators. In 2023, a jury convicted him of both murders, and he was sentenced to life in prison, appearing to close the chapter on the downfall of the Murdaugh dynasty. But the story took another dramatic turn when allegations surfaced that former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Defense attorneys argued that Hill made comments pushing jurors toward a guilty verdict and used the high-profile case to gain publicity and financial opportunities. After extensive hearings and mounting controversy surrounding jury conduct, appellate courts ultimately ruled that the integrity of the proceedings had been compromised badly enough to warrant a new trial. The decision stunned observers and reopened fierce debate over whether Alex Murdaugh is a manipulative killer who exploited his family's influence for decades or a defendant whose conviction was tainted by misconduct inside the courtroom itself. What once appeared to be the definitive collapse of a Southern legal dynasty has now become an even more chaotic and controversial saga, with the possibility that one of the most infamous murder convictions in recent memory could be retried from the ground up.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

“Justice may have been served, but the human element of the story didn't seem to add up.” — James Lasdun In March 2023, Alex Murdaugh — wealthy scion of a South Carolina prosecutorial dynasty — was found guilty of murdering his wife Maggie and his son Paul at their family estate. With its opioid addiction, fatal boat crash, staged suicide, and a cousin called Eddie, the case could have been invented for our true crime age. And who better to tell the story of the mysterious Mr Murdaugh than the literary crime writer James Lasdun whose 2023 New Yorker piece about the trial became the magazine's most-read story of the year. Lasdun's new book, The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh, tries to answer the one question the trial never answered. Why would a father annihilate his son? The prosecution claimed that Alex killed Maggie and Paul to distract from a web of financial crimes about to be exposed. While this is theoretically possible, Lasdun acknowledges, it is totally implausible psychologically. Coming from a family of prosecutors, Murdaugh would have known he would be the prime suspect. And this family annihilator, as the prosecutor described him, murdered not just his wife, but his boy. Who would annihilate their beloved child to muddy a prosaic embezzlement? The Southern gothic case isn't over. The court clerk who managed the Murdaugh trial resigned in disgrace after it emerged she had interfered with the jury — fabricating a Facebook post to remove a juror who was bending toward acquittal. Murdaugh has appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court. A retrial isn't inconceivable. But even if the murder conviction is overturned, Murdaugh faces forty years inside for his financial crimes. So he's never going free. But James Lasdun's core question remains unanswered. Why? “Justice may have been served,” Lasdun concludes, “but the human element of the story didn't seem to add up.” Mr Murdaugh remains a mystery, perhaps even to himself. Five Takeaways •       The Family Annihilator: A Psychological Category: The term “family annihilator” — first used at the Murdaugh trial — is not a well-developed criminological category. There isn't much psychology behind it. What Lasdun found in his research: most family annihilators are men who kill their families when they believe everything is about to be taken from them — not out of hatred, but out of a grotesque form of ownership. The family is theirs. If their world is ending, the family ends with it. This pattern, Lasdun argues, begins to illuminate what happened at Moselle. Not excusing it. Illuminating it. •       The Thirteen Minutes of Mystery: The murders took place in a thirteen-minute window at the kennel at Moselle. In thirteen minutes, Alex was supposed to have shot his wife with a shotgun and his son with a rifle, staged the scene, called 911, and composed himself sufficiently to appear on a video call immediately afterward showing no signs of distress. Lasdun's question: was he capable of that? The prosecution said yes, and the jury agreed. Lasdun is not saying they were wrong. He is saying that the how and why of those thirteen minutes remain genuinely mysterious — and that the mystery is part of what makes the case important. •       Cousin Eddie and the Staged Shooting: Three months after the murders, Alex arranged a meeting on a rural road with his cousin Eddie — a distant relative — and emerged with an entry and exit wound at the back of his head. Alex claimed he had asked Eddie to shoot him dead so that his surviving son Buster could collect his $10 million life insurance. Eddie denies this account entirely. The police concluded quickly that the “shooter” was not a stranger seeking vengeance for the boat crash, as Alex had initially claimed. Lasdun's reading: Alex was trying to reinforce the vendetta narrative that would implicate Anthony and Connor Cook, the young men who had been on the boat when Mallory Beach was killed. •       The Court Clerk and the Removed Juror: One juror was leaning toward acquittal in the final hours of deliberation. That juror was removed from the jury on the last day of the trial, after the clerk of court produced evidence that the juror had been indiscreet about the case on Facebook. It subsequently emerged that the clerk had fabricated the Facebook post. She resigned in disgrace. The Murdaugh appeal is partly based on this interference. The South Carolina Supreme Court has taken it seriously. A retrial is not inconceivable. The legal situation is still live. •       Murdaugh as an American Story: Lasdun's book, like Capote's In Cold Blood, is not ultimately about a crime. It is about a society. The Murdaughs were prosecutors — the family that put people in prison, that sent people to death row. The corruption that enabled Alex's embezzlement was not unusual in Hampton County; it was systemic. The opioids that fuelled his addiction were everywhere. The insularity and entitlement of the Lowcountry ruling class created the conditions in which Alex Murdaugh could operate for twenty years without exposure. The murders are a symptom. The disease is American. About the Guest James Lasdun is a poet, novelist, memoirist, and staff writer at The New Yorker. He is the author of The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh (W. W. Norton, May 5, 2026), Afternoon of a Faun, Give Me Everything You Have, and many other works. He was born in London and lives in Brooklyn, New York. References: •       The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh by James Lasdun (W. W. Norton, May 5, 2026). •       James Lasdun's two New Yorker pieces on the Murdaugh case — the magazine's most-read stories of the year. •       Truman Capote, In Cold Blood — the comparison Lasdun's reviewers have drawn and that the interview raises explicitly. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,900 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting. WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple Podcasts

Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein, who covered the Alex Murdaugh murder trial gavel to gavel, explains why the most revealing part of the Murdaugh saga isn't Alex at all. It's the 100-year legal dynasty that made him possible. We go back to Hampton County, South Carolina, a post–Civil War “burned county” built to enforce White Rule, and follow three generations of Murdaugh power: Randolph Murdaugh Sr., the solicitor who learned how to bend the system; “Buster” Murdaugh, a charismatic, ruthless prosecutor tied to bootlegging and alleged jury tampering; and Randolph Murdaugh III, the smoother operator who kept the machine humming, until cameras and modern technology started capturing what used to happen in the shadows. From the family's early courtroom tactics and railroad lawsuits to the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach and the frantic hospital damage-control captured on security footage, this is the story of how a dynasty built its power and how it finally collapsed from the inside. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

State Championships & Season Recap Show | 2025 South Carolina High School FootballJoin the guys to talk about the 2025 State Championships and the entire season!1A Lamar vs Bamberg-Ehrhardt (3:35-11:54)2A Strom Thurmond vs Hampton County (11:55-19:35)3A Belton-Honea Path vs Oceanside Collegiate (20:29-27:55)4A South Pointe vs South Florence (27:56-36:02)5A Div 2 Northwestern vs Irmo (37:09-47:56)5A Div 1 Dutch Fork vs Summerville (47:57-57:23)Additional SegmentsMerch (1:35-2:30)Pick'Em (58:17-59:43)Polls (59:44-1:06:56)

State Championships Preview Show | 2025 South Carolina High School FootballCarolina Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates Games of the Week1A Lamar vs Bamberg-Ehrhardt (5:12-14:39)2A Strom Thurmond vs Hampton County (14:40-25:55)3A Belton-Honea Path vs Oceanside Collegiate (26:44-40:01)4A South Pointe vs South Florence (40:02-53:10)5A Div 2 Northwestern vs Irmo (54:21-1:05:09)5A Div 1 Dutch Fork vs Summerville (1:05:10-1:16:45)Additional SegmentsMerch (1:15-2:12)Pick'Em (1:17:39-1:19:00)

James Seidel from Crime and Cask Investigations discusses his source that told him about who was responsible for the death of Stephen Smith. A decade ago, 19-year-old Stephen Smith was discovered lying dead in the middle of a quiet country road in Hampton County, South Carolina — killed by a brutal strike to the head. The case was swiftly — and controversially — labeled a hit-and-run. Smith's homicide still remains unsolved. No arrests. No accountability. And those who loved him are still waiting — not only for justice, but for answers. Seton Tucker and Matt Harris began the Impact of Influence podcast shortly after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Now they cover true crime past and present from the southeast region of the U.S. Impact of Influence is part of the Evergreen Podcast Company. Look for Impact of Influence on Facebook and Youtube. Please support our sponsors Elevate your closet with Quince. Go to Quince dot com slash impact for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're revisiting the story or discovering it for the first time, prepare for a revealing, uncompromising look at power, justice, and the pursuit of answers. Alex Murdaugh, a prominent South Carolina attorney whose wife and son were murdered in June, claimed he was shot in the head on September 4, 2021.Nearly three months after his wife and son were murdered, Alex Murdaugh called 911 to report that he himself had been shot... however...  In this gripping episode of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, investigative journalist Mandy Matney breaks down the shocking alleged shooting of Alex Murdaugh and questions the headline-grabbing and murder investigation-diverting narrative. His attorney Dick Harpootlian told the press that he Alex was pulled over to repair his vehicle along Salkehatchie Road in Hampton County en route to Charleston when a motorist opened fire toward Murdaugh's 2021 Mercedes SUV. However, the lead investigating agency, SLED, had not confirmed those details. This special episode explored all the available details on the incident.   The timing of the shooting coincides with recent unfavorable headlines for Murdaugh, and his family's attorney's statements have us questioning all of these narratives.... Let's dive in...

In this remastered episode of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, Journalist Mandy Matney takes listeners deep into the perplexing and unsolved case of Stephen Smith—a 19-year-old nursing student whose suspicious death in 2015 continues to baffle both investigators and the community of Hampton County, South Carolina. Matney begins by recalling her first encounter with Sandy Smith, Stephen's dedicated mother who, frustrated by an apparent lack of official progress, compiled her own exhaustive documentation of her son's case. Mandy shines a light on the systemic issues of jurisdictional confusion, overlooked leads, and possible interference that have plagued the investigation from the beginning.  The Smith family still has hope for justice as Sandy offers a $50,000 reward for valid information leading to an arrest. On today's episode, you'll also hear from Stephen's mom about the kind person he was and listen to police interviews that take several wild turns... Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️ On October 15th, LUNASHARK Premium Members are also getting access to a wealth of additional content matched to each Hulu series episode… We're calling it LUNA VISION! Soak up The Sun Members get to explore the case documents, new case videos, ad-free video episodes, invitations to live events and so much more.  Visit ⁠⁠lunashark.supercast.com⁠⁠ to learn more.  Premium Members also get bonus episodes like our Premium Dives, Corruption Watchlist, Girl Talk, and Soundbites that help you Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunashark.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Here's a link to some of our favorite things: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** ALERT: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@lunasharkmedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** For current & accurate updates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunashark.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/mandy_matney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   |   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/elizfarrell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bsky.app/profile/mandy-matney.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bsky.app/profile/elizfarrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TrueSunlight.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@lunasharkmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Smith was killed in Hampton County, South Carolina in July of 2015 and his homicide remains open and unsolved...On this second installment of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, Investigative Journalist Mandy Matney discusses the Stephen Smith case, highlighting the 2180 days his family has waited for justice at the time of this episodes original release... now 3,744 days for all who are counting. The case was complicated by jurisdictional issues and conflicting reports. Rumors linked the Murdaugh family to Smith's death, but investigators failed to connect the dots or substantiate any of the claims.Plus, we shed light on some other recent developments including an expiring $100,000 reward offered by the Murdaugh family and the discovery of Maggie Murdaugh's cell phone.On this episode, we take a deep dive into case files to find out what went wrong in that investigation and how its potentially connected to the Murdaugh Murders of 2021. Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️ On October 15th, LUNASHARK Premium Members are also getting access to a wealth of additional content matched to each Hulu series episode… We're calling it LUNA VISION! Soak up The Sun Members get to explore the case documents, new case videos, ad-free video episodes, invitations to live events and so much more.  Visit lunashark.supercast.com to learn more.  Premium Members also get bonus episodes like our Premium Dives, Corruption Watchlist, Girl Talk, and Soundbites that help you Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunashark.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Here's a link to some of our favorite things: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** ALERT: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@lunasharkmedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** For current & accurate updates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunashark.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/mandy_matney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   |   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/elizfarrell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bsky.app/profile/mandy-matney.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bsky.app/profile/elizfarrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TrueSunlight.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@lunasharkmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell provide updates on the case of Chris Skinner's suspicious death, Buster Murdaugh's defamation case, Johnnie James' suspicious/not suspicious death and the capital murder charge against Lee Gilley for the death of his pregnant wife Christa Bauer Gilley. [3:37] Hear the latest developments in the tragic and suspicious 2021 drowning death of Chris Skinner, the quadriplegic husband of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, “Pastor” John-Paul Miller's girlfriend, Suzi. In 2024 — after watching video footage of Skinner's final moments and seeing that it didn't seem like his drowning was an “accident” — Mandy and Liz called on the Myrtle Beach Coroner's Office to reopen its investigation into Skinner's death.  This past week, that second investigation was finally announced publicly.  [18:21] Also on the episode, Buster Murdaugh calls on a federal judge to reconsider his order to split Murdaugh's defamation case against Netflix, Warner Brothers and other defendants. Buster's argument? He'll be presenting evidence to the court proving that he didn't kill Stephen Smith — a gay teenager left for dead on a Hampton County road — including DEPOSITIONS of people who have “personal knowledge” of the events that led to Stephen's death in July 2015. Will Buster end up the hero in bringing justice to the Stephen Smith case?  [33:35] Plus, an update on men's rights fan Lee Gilley, who is accused of killing his wife and unborn baby in Houston, Texas, and lying about it. Why is it taking the state so long to indict him and should we be concerned?  [50:42] Finally, a correction in the Jane Doe No. 1 case against JP Miller and an appeal for information. Let's dive in...

Buster Murdaugh is the only surviving son of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, the once-powerful lawyer who was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and youngest son, Paul Murdaugh in 2021. As a member of the influential Murdaugh family, which controlled the legal system in South Carolina's Lowcountry for nearly a century, Buster has lived under intense public scrutiny due to the family's history of legal scandals, crime, and corruption. While Buster Murdaugh has never been charged with a crime, his name has frequently been linked to the unsolved 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student whose body was found on a rural road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Smith's death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but years of speculation and whispers in the community suggested a possible connection between Buster and the case. No evidence has ever officially linked Buster to Smith's death, but renewed media interest, especially following his father's high-profile murder trial, has kept his name in the conversation. In 2024, Buster Murdaugh filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, Warner Bros., and several other media companies, alleging that they falsely implicated him in Stephen Smith's death through true-crime documentaries and news reports. The lawsuit specifically calls out Netflix's “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal”, Discovery+'s “Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty”, and HBO Max's “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty”, arguing that these productions used misleading reenactments, speculative interviews, and selective storytelling to imply he was involved in a crime he has never been charged with. Buster claims that these documentaries damaged his reputation, fueled baseless public suspicion, and caused him emotional distress. His lawsuit seeks monetary damages and demands retractions or corrections from the media companies. The Ongoing Legal Battle Buster Murdaugh's lawsuit has now become one of the most closely watched media defamation cases of recent years. The case was initially filed in Hampton County, South Carolina, a jurisdiction where the Murdaugh family once held significant influence. However, Netflix and the other defendants attempted to move the case to federal court, arguing that they are out-of-state corporations and that the lawsuit belongs in a larger legal arena. In December 2024, a federal judge ruled in favor of Buster Murdaugh, sending the case back to state court in Hampton County, where a local jury could ultimately decide whether the media outlets crossed a legal line in their reporting and documentary portrayals. Netflix, Warner Bros., and the other defendants have denied wrongdoing and are expected to fight the lawsuit aggressively, likely arguing that: They never directly stated that Buster Murdaugh was guilty of any crime. They were simply reporting on existing rumors and public interest cases. Buster Murdaugh is a public figure, making defamation harder to prove under U.S. law. This case has sparked a larger debate on the ethics of true-crime documentaries, the responsibilities of media companies when covering ongoing investigations, and the boundaries between storytelling and defamation. The Impact on the Murdaugh Family Name Buster Murdaugh's legal battle comes at a time when his family name is already synonymous with scandal. His father, Alex Murdaugh, was sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of Maggie and Paul, a crime that exposed the family's web of financial fraud, legal corruption, and hidden secrets. For Buster, this lawsuit represents more than just a fight against Netflix and Warner Bros.—it's an attempt to salvage what remains of his reputation. If he wins, it could set a legal precedent that true-crime documentaries cannot rely on speculation and dramatization to tell stories at the expense of real people's reputations. If he loses, it may further cement his name in true-crime infamy, keeping him permanently tied to Stephen Smith's case in the court of public opinion. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Buster Murdaugh is the only surviving son of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, the once-powerful lawyer who was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and youngest son, Paul Murdaugh in 2021. As a member of the influential Murdaugh family, which controlled the legal system in South Carolina's Lowcountry for nearly a century, Buster has lived under intense public scrutiny due to the family's history of legal scandals, crime, and corruption. While Buster Murdaugh has never been charged with a crime, his name has frequently been linked to the unsolved 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student whose body was found on a rural road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Smith's death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but years of speculation and whispers in the community suggested a possible connection between Buster and the case. No evidence has ever officially linked Buster to Smith's death, but renewed media interest, especially following his father's high-profile murder trial, has kept his name in the conversation. In 2024, Buster Murdaugh filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, Warner Bros., and several other media companies, alleging that they falsely implicated him in Stephen Smith's death through true-crime documentaries and news reports. The lawsuit specifically calls out Netflix's “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal”, Discovery+'s “Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty”, and HBO Max's “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty”, arguing that these productions used misleading reenactments, speculative interviews, and selective storytelling to imply he was involved in a crime he has never been charged with. Buster claims that these documentaries damaged his reputation, fueled baseless public suspicion, and caused him emotional distress. His lawsuit seeks monetary damages and demands retractions or corrections from the media companies. The Ongoing Legal Battle Buster Murdaugh's lawsuit has now become one of the most closely watched media defamation cases of recent years. The case was initially filed in Hampton County, South Carolina, a jurisdiction where the Murdaugh family once held significant influence. However, Netflix and the other defendants attempted to move the case to federal court, arguing that they are out-of-state corporations and that the lawsuit belongs in a larger legal arena. In December 2024, a federal judge ruled in favor of Buster Murdaugh, sending the case back to state court in Hampton County, where a local jury could ultimately decide whether the media outlets crossed a legal line in their reporting and documentary portrayals. Netflix, Warner Bros., and the other defendants have denied wrongdoing and are expected to fight the lawsuit aggressively, likely arguing that: They never directly stated that Buster Murdaugh was guilty of any crime. They were simply reporting on existing rumors and public interest cases. Buster Murdaugh is a public figure, making defamation harder to prove under U.S. law. This case has sparked a larger debate on the ethics of true-crime documentaries, the responsibilities of media companies when covering ongoing investigations, and the boundaries between storytelling and defamation. The Impact on the Murdaugh Family Name Buster Murdaugh's legal battle comes at a time when his family name is already synonymous with scandal. His father, Alex Murdaugh, was sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of Maggie and Paul, a crime that exposed the family's web of financial fraud, legal corruption, and hidden secrets. For Buster, this lawsuit represents more than just a fight against Netflix and Warner Bros.—it's an attempt to salvage what remains of his reputation. If he wins, it could set a legal precedent that true-crime documentaries cannot rely on speculation and dramatization to tell stories at the expense of real people's reputations. If he loses, it may further cement his name in true-crime infamy, keeping him permanently tied to Stephen Smith's case in the court of public opinion. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Buster Murdaugh is the only surviving son of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, the once-powerful lawyer who was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and youngest son, Paul Murdaugh in 2021. As a member of the influential Murdaugh family, which controlled the legal system in South Carolina's Lowcountry for nearly a century, Buster has lived under intense public scrutiny due to the family's history of legal scandals, crime, and corruption. While Buster Murdaugh has never been charged with a crime, his name has frequently been linked to the unsolved 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student whose body was found on a rural road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Smith's death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but years of speculation and whispers in the community suggested a possible connection between Buster and the case. No evidence has ever officially linked Buster to Smith's death, but renewed media interest, especially following his father's high-profile murder trial, has kept his name in the conversation. In 2024, Buster Murdaugh filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, Warner Bros., and several other media companies, alleging that they falsely implicated him in Stephen Smith's death through true-crime documentaries and news reports. The lawsuit specifically calls out Netflix's “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal”, Discovery+'s “Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty”, and HBO Max's “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty”, arguing that these productions used misleading reenactments, speculative interviews, and selective storytelling to imply he was involved in a crime he has never been charged with. Buster claims that these documentaries damaged his reputation, fueled baseless public suspicion, and caused him emotional distress. His lawsuit seeks monetary damages and demands retractions or corrections from the media companies. The Ongoing Legal Battle Buster Murdaugh's lawsuit has now become one of the most closely watched media defamation cases of recent years. The case was initially filed in Hampton County, South Carolina, a jurisdiction where the Murdaugh family once held significant influence. However, Netflix and the other defendants attempted to move the case to federal court, arguing that they are out-of-state corporations and that the lawsuit belongs in a larger legal arena. In December 2024, a federal judge ruled in favor of Buster Murdaugh, sending the case back to state court in Hampton County, where a local jury could ultimately decide whether the media outlets crossed a legal line in their reporting and documentary portrayals. Netflix, Warner Bros., and the other defendants have denied wrongdoing and are expected to fight the lawsuit aggressively, likely arguing that: They never directly stated that Buster Murdaugh was guilty of any crime. They were simply reporting on existing rumors and public interest cases. Buster Murdaugh is a public figure, making defamation harder to prove under U.S. law. This case has sparked a larger debate on the ethics of true-crime documentaries, the responsibilities of media companies when covering ongoing investigations, and the boundaries between storytelling and defamation. The Impact on the Murdaugh Family Name Buster Murdaugh's legal battle comes at a time when his family name is already synonymous with scandal. His father, Alex Murdaugh, was sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of Maggie and Paul, a crime that exposed the family's web of financial fraud, legal corruption, and hidden secrets. For Buster, this lawsuit represents more than just a fight against Netflix and Warner Bros.—it's an attempt to salvage what remains of his reputation. If he wins, it could set a legal precedent that true-crime documentaries cannot rely on speculation and dramatization to tell stories at the expense of real people's reputations. If he loses, it may further cement his name in true-crime infamy, keeping him permanently tied to Stephen Smith's case in the court of public opinion. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

As a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Valerie Bauerlein had a front-row seat to the most captivating murder trial since OJ Simpson. But Bauerlein did more than file dispatches to her newspaper during Alex Murdaugh's trial: She wrote the definitive narrative of not just the Murdaugh story, but the roots of the generational power the Murdaugh family wielded in Hampton County for more than a century as they made problems go away by making lies look like the truth. In The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty, Bauerlein delivers a masterpiece of reporting, organization and storytelling.  Bauerlein, a national reporter who writes about small-town America and Southern politics, economics and culture, joins The Dubcast to reflect not just on her process of writing the book but also some fascinating parts of the backstory that didn't make the final edit -- including an early-1900s march on the Horseshoe in Columbia by Randolph Murdaugh Sr. to bring back football after it was banned. Bauerlein also explores some questions that remain unanswered even as Alex is in prison for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul: Did Alex have help in carrying out the murders? How close was Alex to averting a guilty verdict? Where is all the money he stole from people who most needed it, including the family of Gloria Satterfield? Bauerlein lives in the Raleigh area with her husband and two children. Before joining the Journal in 2005, she worked as a congressional correspondent for the News & Observer in Raleigh, a legislative reporter at The State in Columbia, and a cops reporter at the Winston-Salem Journal.

The guys welcome in Alex Jones of The Big Spur with a new nickname for the Pride of Hampton County. They dive into some hoops talk to kick things off ahead of the Clemson game. Alex gives his thoughts on some of the name of guys expected to visit from the transfer portal. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Jones of The Big Spur joins the guys to talk some ball. They talk the Clemson game, possible rankings outcomes, and dive into some hoops before Alex gets out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On our 101st Cup of Justice podcast episode we tackle how the insurance and legal systems are rigged against consumers in the wake of disaster, how this benefits certain parties (like insurance companies and lawyers), and how the Murdaugh family and their associates exploited these systems for their gain. Specifically, the case of Hampton County, South Carolina, and its reputation for large settlements and verdicts, potentially due to corruption and the influence of powerful figures like the Murdaughs. It raises the question of whether the county's legal system is truly a "hellhole" for those seeking justice. We also look at the role of John Grantland, Alex Murdaugh's attorney in the Satterfield case, who admitted to smelling a trap but proceeded with the settlement anyway. It raises questions about Nautilus' actions and in the scheme - especially now that they are pursuing Alex to get their 3.8 million dollars back... about which we are skeptical to say the least. Premium Members also get to hear a conversation about negotiating the best deal in your own purchases and certain judges connected to these cases. Premium Members also get access to episode videos, case files, live trial coverage and exclusive live experiences with our hosts. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. Check out Luna Shark Merch With a Mission shop at lunasharkmerch.com/ Proud Sponsors of COJ: Lumen - lumen.me/coj for 15% off your purchase. Your metabolic health, in your hands. Understand your unique metabolism, promote fat burn, lose weight, and boost energy naturally. CBDistillery - cbdistillery.com with code “COJ” for 20% off. No fluff. No fillers. Just pure, effective cannabinoid products. Over 43,000 Verified Reviews. 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Free Shipping Over $75. Subscribe & Save Up To 30% Pretty Litter - PrettyLitter.com/coj Save twenty percent on your first order and get a free cat toy! Peloton - onepeloton.com Find your push. Find your power with Peloton at onepeloton.com. Here's a link to some of our favorite things: https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn Find us on social media: Twitter.com/mandymatney - Twitter.com/elizfarrell - Twitter.com/theericbland https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/ |  https://www.instagram.com/cojpod/ YouTube  TIKTOK SUNscribe to our free email list to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBM *** Alert: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** *The views expressed on the Cup of Justice bonus episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investigative reporters Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell celebrate Alex Murdaugh's biggest loss yet … one that will effectively keep him behind bars for the rest of his life. Also on the show, Buster Murdaugh triples down on his defamation claims against Netflix and Hampton County reporter Michael Dewitt. In a federal filing this week, Buster argues that — though he left out the context of Dewitt's words in his original filing in South Carolina — including all of Dewitt's interview on “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,” actually helps strengthen his claim. Plus, the drama outside Solid Rock Ministries church in Myrtle Beach has NOT calmed down. On Sunday, pastor JP Miller was accused of assaulting a protester dressed as Jesus, and protesters were accused of harassing JP's alleged paramour by shouting “demeaning” comments at her.  Mandy and Liz also took a look at the FOIA logs for Myrtle Beach and Horry County police departments to see who was seeking information on Mica Francis. And what they found was shocking: Before her death, Mica was seeking public information from the police … and they gave her next to nothing. Premium Episode Resources Liz's Tweet about Alex Murdaugh's Appeal Dismissal David Weissman's Arthur Badger Article from the Myrtle Beach Sun News Mica Francis Timeline Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️ Join Luna Shark Premium today at Lunashark.Supercast.com. Premium Members also get access to searchable case files, written articles with documents, case photos, episode videos and exclusive live experiences with our hosts on lunasharkmedia.com all in one place. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. What We're Buying... Hungry Root - https://hungryroot.com/mandy to get 40% off your first delivery and get your free veggies.. Hungry Root is the easiest way to eat healthy. They send you fresh, high-quality groceries, simple, delicious recipes, and essential supplements. Task Rabbit - Use promo code "mandy" at https://www.taskrabbit.com/ for 15% off your task. Task Rabbit connects you with skilled Taskers to help with cleaning, moving, furniture assembly, home repairs, and more. Here's a link to some of our favorite things: https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn And a special thank you to our other amazing sponsors: Microdose.com, PELOTON, and VUORI. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! *** ALERT: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** For current & accurate updates: TrueSunlight.com facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/ Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod Twitter.com/mandymatney Twitter.com/elizfarrell youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia tiktok.com/@lunasharkmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cup of Justice Co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — have returned to their respective studios for the latest episode of Cup of Justice in which there was A LOT to talk about.  Over the past few weeks there have been several court filings, including in Alex Murdaugh's murder conviction appeal. Dick Harpootlian suddenly has love for more sunlight in this case and is advocating for the South Carolina Supreme Court to unseal SLED's investigation into Juror 785 … you know, the Egg Lady juror, who was dismissed from Alex's jury WITHOUT objection from Dick. It's not clear what Team Murdaugh wants the public to see, but we're sure it's more distraction and nonsense.  Filings in Buster Murdaugh's defamation case accuse Buster and his attorney of misrepresenting the words of a Hampton County reporter in a Netflix documentary that aired last year. As the big name production companies fight to move Buster's case to federal court, Buster's team has promised to push back. Also on the show, the P Diddy case spotlights a hard truth: People knew bad things were happening, making bystanders nothing more than accomplices. Premium Members get an extra discussion on capital punishment and a deeper dive into the P-Diddy situation... But also!! Premium Members will get a LIVE Virtual Broadcast of our 100th Episode of COJ - open to all Premium Members!  Join us Friday, September 27th at 7pm ET on an unlisted YouTube link to be released on your premium feed this week - join today at lunashark.supercast.com. Premium Members also get access to episode videos, case files, live trial coverage and exclusive live experiences with our hosts. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. Check out Luna Shark Merch With a Mission shop at lunasharkmerch.com/ What We're Buying... Lumen - https://www.lumen.me/coj for 15% off your purchase. Your metabolic health, in your hands. Understand your unique metabolism, promote fat burn, lose weight, and boost energy naturally. CBDistillery - https://cbdistillery.com with code “COJ” for 20% off. No fluff. No fillers. Just pure, effective cannabinoid products. Over 43,000 Verified Reviews. 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Free Shipping Over $75. Subscribe & Save Up To 30% Here's a link to some of our favorite things: https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn Find us on social media: Twitter.com/mandymatney - Twitter.com/elizfarrell - Twitter.com/theericbland https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/ |  https://www.instagram.com/cojpod/ YouTube  TIKTOK SUNscribe to our free email list to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBM *** Alert: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** *The views expressed on the Cup of Justice bonus episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the show we're returning to the Alex Murdaugh saga, as I call it—this is actually not the first time on the show we've spoken about it and not even the first time in season 13 we've spoken about it. It is compelling to me for its savagery—I can't understand it, a man who could do this evil to his family and to so many others, as well. Today on the show we have Valerie Bauerlein, here to talk about her brilliant new book The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty, which comes out today, August 20. Alex was the Prince of Hampton County, South Carolina, as Valerie puts it, and he came from a long line of Murdaughs who believed “To live above the law, you must become the law.” So they did that. They all became lawyers—or solicitors, as they're known in Hampton County—and ran the town and the county. Not only do we learn more about Alex and his immediate family of Maggie, Buster, and Paul Murdaugh in this book, but also the deeper Murdaugh family history, filled with corruption and crime and callousness, quite frankly. Valerie is such a talented writer—she writes that, for Alex, “duplicity was his birthright,” and in this book we learn information I'd never heard or read before about his murder case for the deaths of Maggie and Paul and other crimes he committed, as well. As Valerie writes, “Three generations of Murdaughs had devoted a century to building a legal dynasty. Now, in a little more than ten years, Alex had burned the whole thing down.” This book details how he did just that. Valerie Bauerlein is on the show today, and she is fantastic. She is a national reporter for The Wall Street Journal who writes about small-town America and Southern politics, economics, and culture. She has covered the South her entire career, including 19 years at The Wall Street Journal and four years at The State in Columbia, South Carolina. I'm excited for you to meet her and learn more about this saga from her.   The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty by Valerie Bauerlein

The South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the murders of his wife and son. The appeal centers on allegations of jury tampering during Murdaugh's murder trial, where his defense claims the court clerk improperly influenced the jury. Murdaugh, nearly three years into his sentence, is also appealing a 40-year federal prison sentence for financial crimes after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $11 million from his clients and law firm. His defense argues that the sentence, which is 10 years longer than federal guidelines recommend, is excessive and unconstitutional. The jury tampering allegations are pivotal in Murdaugh's state court appeal. Murdaugh's lawyers contend that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly told jurors not to trust Murdaugh's testimony, had private discussions with the jury foreperson, and pressured the jury to reach a quick verdict. Hill resigned amid an ethics investigation following these claims. Murdaugh's defense argues that this misconduct influenced the jury's decision, warranting a new trial. Judge Jean Toal, a retired South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice assigned to the case, emphasized that overturning a verdict on the grounds of jury tampering requires proving that a juror changed their mind due to improper influence. However, Murdaugh's defense cites a federal standard suggesting that the potential to influence jurors should be enough to overturn the conviction. The South Carolina Supreme Court has given Murdaugh's legal team 30 days to submit further arguments, but no date has been set for the hearing. In federal court, Murdaugh is challenging his 40-year sentence for financial crimes, arguing it violates his right against cruel and unusual punishment. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, who rejected the 17 to 22-year range recommended by federal guidelines. Murdaugh's defense compares his sentence to those given to high-profile defendants like crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried and Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who received 25 and 11 years, respectively. Murdaugh's crimes involved stealing from vulnerable clients, including a quadriplegic man and children whose parents died in a car crash. Judge Gergel highlighted the severe breach of trust in sentencing Murdaugh, stating, “Those people placed all their problems and all their hopes with their lawyer.” Federal prosecutors argue that Murdaugh waived his right to appeal by signing an agreement when he pleaded guilty, stating he would only appeal if prosecutors lied or his defense was inadequate. They also noted that it is rare for a court to overturn such a sentence, citing only one relevant case involving a life sentence for passing a $100 bad check. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, will hear Murdaugh's appeal, with a three-judge panel randomly assigned to the case. Murdaugh's legal troubles began unraveling in 2021 when he was accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their home in Colleton County. Prosecutors argued that the murders were intended to gain sympathy and buy time as his financial schemes collapsed. Murdaugh, who testified in his defense, admitted to lying to police but denied committing the murders. Despite his claims, evidence, including a video recording of his voice at the crime scene minutes before the killings, played a critical role in his conviction. Murdaugh's family had long held significant influence in South Carolina's legal system, with his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather serving as prosecutors in Hampton County for nearly nine decades. Murdaugh's extensive legal battles, including these appeals, are expected to continue for years as he fights to overturn his convictions and reduce his sentences. #AlexMurdaugh #JuryTampering #SouthCarolinaSupremeCourt #FederalAppeal #FinancialCrimes #MurderTrial #LegalAppeal Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

The South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the murders of his wife and son. The appeal centers on allegations of jury tampering during Murdaugh's murder trial, where his defense claims the court clerk improperly influenced the jury. Murdaugh, nearly three years into his sentence, is also appealing a 40-year federal prison sentence for financial crimes after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $11 million from his clients and law firm. His defense argues that the sentence, which is 10 years longer than federal guidelines recommend, is excessive and unconstitutional. The jury tampering allegations are pivotal in Murdaugh's state court appeal. Murdaugh's lawyers contend that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly told jurors not to trust Murdaugh's testimony, had private discussions with the jury foreperson, and pressured the jury to reach a quick verdict. Hill resigned amid an ethics investigation following these claims. Murdaugh's defense argues that this misconduct influenced the jury's decision, warranting a new trial. Judge Jean Toal, a retired South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice assigned to the case, emphasized that overturning a verdict on the grounds of jury tampering requires proving that a juror changed their mind due to improper influence. However, Murdaugh's defense cites a federal standard suggesting that the potential to influence jurors should be enough to overturn the conviction. The South Carolina Supreme Court has given Murdaugh's legal team 30 days to submit further arguments, but no date has been set for the hearing. In federal court, Murdaugh is challenging his 40-year sentence for financial crimes, arguing it violates his right against cruel and unusual punishment. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, who rejected the 17 to 22-year range recommended by federal guidelines. Murdaugh's defense compares his sentence to those given to high-profile defendants like crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried and Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who received 25 and 11 years, respectively. Murdaugh's crimes involved stealing from vulnerable clients, including a quadriplegic man and children whose parents died in a car crash. Judge Gergel highlighted the severe breach of trust in sentencing Murdaugh, stating, “Those people placed all their problems and all their hopes with their lawyer.” Federal prosecutors argue that Murdaugh waived his right to appeal by signing an agreement when he pleaded guilty, stating he would only appeal if prosecutors lied or his defense was inadequate. They also noted that it is rare for a court to overturn such a sentence, citing only one relevant case involving a life sentence for passing a $100 bad check. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, will hear Murdaugh's appeal, with a three-judge panel randomly assigned to the case. Murdaugh's legal troubles began unraveling in 2021 when he was accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their home in Colleton County. Prosecutors argued that the murders were intended to gain sympathy and buy time as his financial schemes collapsed. Murdaugh, who testified in his defense, admitted to lying to police but denied committing the murders. Despite his claims, evidence, including a video recording of his voice at the crime scene minutes before the killings, played a critical role in his conviction. Murdaugh's family had long held significant influence in South Carolina's legal system, with his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather serving as prosecutors in Hampton County for nearly nine decades. Murdaugh's extensive legal battles, including these appeals, are expected to continue for years as he fights to overturn his convictions and reduce his sentences. #AlexMurdaugh #JuryTampering #SouthCarolinaSupremeCourt #FederalAppeal #FinancialCrimes #MurderTrial #LegalAppeal Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

The South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the murders of his wife and son. The appeal centers on allegations of jury tampering during Murdaugh's murder trial, where his defense claims the court clerk improperly influenced the jury. Murdaugh, nearly three years into his sentence, is also appealing a 40-year federal prison sentence for financial crimes after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $11 million from his clients and law firm. His defense argues that the sentence, which is 10 years longer than federal guidelines recommend, is excessive and unconstitutional. The jury tampering allegations are pivotal in Murdaugh's state court appeal. Murdaugh's lawyers contend that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly told jurors not to trust Murdaugh's testimony, had private discussions with the jury foreperson, and pressured the jury to reach a quick verdict. Hill resigned amid an ethics investigation following these claims. Murdaugh's defense argues that this misconduct influenced the jury's decision, warranting a new trial. Judge Jean Toal, a retired South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice assigned to the case, emphasized that overturning a verdict on the grounds of jury tampering requires proving that a juror changed their mind due to improper influence. However, Murdaugh's defense cites a federal standard suggesting that the potential to influence jurors should be enough to overturn the conviction. The South Carolina Supreme Court has given Murdaugh's legal team 30 days to submit further arguments, but no date has been set for the hearing. In federal court, Murdaugh is challenging his 40-year sentence for financial crimes, arguing it violates his right against cruel and unusual punishment. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, who rejected the 17 to 22-year range recommended by federal guidelines. Murdaugh's defense compares his sentence to those given to high-profile defendants like crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried and Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who received 25 and 11 years, respectively. Murdaugh's crimes involved stealing from vulnerable clients, including a quadriplegic man and children whose parents died in a car crash. Judge Gergel highlighted the severe breach of trust in sentencing Murdaugh, stating, “Those people placed all their problems and all their hopes with their lawyer.” Federal prosecutors argue that Murdaugh waived his right to appeal by signing an agreement when he pleaded guilty, stating he would only appeal if prosecutors lied or his defense was inadequate. They also noted that it is rare for a court to overturn such a sentence, citing only one relevant case involving a life sentence for passing a $100 bad check. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, will hear Murdaugh's appeal, with a three-judge panel randomly assigned to the case. Murdaugh's legal troubles began unraveling in 2021 when he was accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their home in Colleton County. Prosecutors argued that the murders were intended to gain sympathy and buy time as his financial schemes collapsed. Murdaugh, who testified in his defense, admitted to lying to police but denied committing the murders. Despite his claims, evidence, including a video recording of his voice at the crime scene minutes before the killings, played a critical role in his conviction. Murdaugh's family had long held significant influence in South Carolina's legal system, with his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather serving as prosecutors in Hampton County for nearly nine decades. Murdaugh's extensive legal battles, including these appeals, are expected to continue for years as he fights to overturn his convictions and reduce his sentences. #AlexMurdaugh #JuryTampering #SouthCarolinaSupremeCourt #FederalAppeal #FinancialCrimes #MurderTrial #LegalAppeal Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

The South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the murders of his wife and son. The appeal centers on allegations of jury tampering during Murdaugh's murder trial, where his defense claims the court clerk improperly influenced the jury. Murdaugh, nearly three years into his sentence, is also appealing a 40-year federal prison sentence for financial crimes after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $11 million from his clients and law firm. His defense argues that the sentence, which is 10 years longer than federal guidelines recommend, is excessive and unconstitutional. The jury tampering allegations are pivotal in Murdaugh's state court appeal. Murdaugh's lawyers contend that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly told jurors not to trust Murdaugh's testimony, had private discussions with the jury foreperson, and pressured the jury to reach a quick verdict. Hill resigned amid an ethics investigation following these claims. Murdaugh's defense argues that this misconduct influenced the jury's decision, warranting a new trial. Judge Jean Toal, a retired South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice assigned to the case, emphasized that overturning a verdict on the grounds of jury tampering requires proving that a juror changed their mind due to improper influence. However, Murdaugh's defense cites a federal standard suggesting that the potential to influence jurors should be enough to overturn the conviction. The South Carolina Supreme Court has given Murdaugh's legal team 30 days to submit further arguments, but no date has been set for the hearing. In federal court, Murdaugh is challenging his 40-year sentence for financial crimes, arguing it violates his right against cruel and unusual punishment. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, who rejected the 17 to 22-year range recommended by federal guidelines. Murdaugh's defense compares his sentence to those given to high-profile defendants like crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried and Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who received 25 and 11 years, respectively. Murdaugh's crimes involved stealing from vulnerable clients, including a quadriplegic man and children whose parents died in a car crash. Judge Gergel highlighted the severe breach of trust in sentencing Murdaugh, stating, “Those people placed all their problems and all their hopes with their lawyer.” Federal prosecutors argue that Murdaugh waived his right to appeal by signing an agreement when he pleaded guilty, stating he would only appeal if prosecutors lied or his defense was inadequate. They also noted that it is rare for a court to overturn such a sentence, citing only one relevant case involving a life sentence for passing a $100 bad check. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, will hear Murdaugh's appeal, with a three-judge panel randomly assigned to the case. Murdaugh's legal troubles began unraveling in 2021 when he was accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their home in Colleton County. Prosecutors argued that the murders were intended to gain sympathy and buy time as his financial schemes collapsed. Murdaugh, who testified in his defense, admitted to lying to police but denied committing the murders. Despite his claims, evidence, including a video recording of his voice at the crime scene minutes before the killings, played a critical role in his conviction. Murdaugh's family had long held significant influence in South Carolina's legal system, with his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather serving as prosecutors in Hampton County for nearly nine decades. Murdaugh's extensive legal battles, including these appeals, are expected to continue for years as he fights to overturn his convictions and reduce his sentences. #AlexMurdaugh #JuryTampering #SouthCarolinaSupremeCourt #FederalAppeal #FinancialCrimes #MurderTrial #LegalAppeal Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Today on the show we have Jason Ryan, here to talk to us about his new book Swamp Kings: The Story of the Murdaugh Family of South Carolina and a Century of Backwoods Power, which came out in April. We have spoken about the Murdaugh saga (as I like to call it) on the show before, and we'll actually speak about it again in season 13. This book certainly talks about Alex Murdaugh, but it also talks about the Murdaugh family of Hampton County, South Carolina, and how Alex's actions—as depraved as they are—are really only the tip of the iceberg. The Murdaugh power dynasty may have ended with him, but crimes like fraud, theft, and even alleged murder certainly didn't begin with him. Jason had so much access to the key players, the history, and the place—the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Jason actually lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and his deep connections to the setting allowed for some really fantastic reporting here. Prior to Swamp Kings, Jason wrote books like Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, and the Sting that Launched the War on Drugs; Hell-Bent: One Man's Crusade to Crush the Hawaiian Mob; and Race to Hawaii: The 1927 Dole Air Derby and the Thrilling First Flights That Opened the Pacific. I found Jason to be a delight, despite our subject matter at hand being pretty dark. Take a listen.   Swamp Kings: The Murdaugh Family of South Carolina and a Century of Backwoods Power by Jason Ryan

              Buster Murdaugh, son of convicted murderer and fraudster Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and several other parties. The suit, lodged in the Court of Common Pleas in Hampton County, South Carolina, claims that the documentaries "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," "Murdaugh Murders: A Deadly Dynasty," and "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty" wrongfully implicated him in the 2015 death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. The lawsuit, filed last Friday, also names Gannett, the publisher of the Hampton County Guardian, the newspaper's editor, Michael Dewitt, Jr., and the production companies behind the documentaries. Murdaugh argues that the defendants defamed him by subtly or explicitly suggesting his involvement in Smith's death. Buster Murdaugh, who testified at his father's trial regarding the shock of his mother, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and younger brother, Paul Murdaugh, being shot in June 2021, categorically denied any involvement in Stephen Smith's death. "I have tried my best to ignore the vicious rumors about my involvement in Stephen Smith's tragic death that continue to be published in the media as I grieve over the brutal murders of my mother and brother," Buster stated in 2023. Smith, an openly gay teenager and former classmate of Murdaugh, was found dead from a blow to the forehead, which an independent autopsy confirmed was likely from a hit-and-run. Despite these findings, Murdaugh claims the documentaries falsely portrayed him as Smith's murderer. The lawsuit highlights a particular 10-minute segment from one series that alluded to Murdaugh as the killer. Murdaugh's complaint describes the documentaries as containing false statements that suggest he murdered Smith with a baseball bat in an anti-gay hate crime. It also disputes any romantic relationship between Murdaugh and Smith. "These statements are untrue in their entirety," the complaint reads. Eric Bland, the attorney for Stephen Smith's family, criticized the lawsuit, predicting it would backfire. Bland noted that the powerful entities named in the suit would likely fight vigorously and might unearth further details damaging to Murdaugh. "Buster will have to answer questions in a multi-day deposition from every single defendant," Bland said, emphasizing the extensive questioning Murdaugh would face regarding his relationship with Smith and knowledge of his death. Bland also pointed out that Buster's name appeared multiple times in the investigative file released by the South Carolina Highway Patrol in 2021. Buster Murdaugh seeks to clear his name of what he calls "baseless," "false," and "defamatory" accusations while offering condolences to Smith's family. The outcome of this high-profile legal battle remains to be seen. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Buster Murdaugh, son of convicted murderer and fraudster Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and several other parties. The suit, lodged in the Court of Common Pleas in Hampton County, South Carolina, claims that the documentaries "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," "Murdaugh Murders: A Deadly Dynasty," and "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty" wrongfully implicated him in the 2015 death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. The lawsuit, filed last Friday, also names Gannett, the publisher of the Hampton County Guardian, the newspaper's editor, Michael Dewitt, Jr., and the production companies behind the documentaries. Murdaugh argues that the defendants defamed him by subtly or explicitly suggesting his involvement in Smith's death. Buster Murdaugh, who testified at his father's trial regarding the shock of his mother, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and younger brother, Paul Murdaugh, being shot in June 2021, categorically denied any involvement in Stephen Smith's death. "I have tried my best to ignore the vicious rumors about my involvement in Stephen Smith's tragic death that continue to be published in the media as I grieve over the brutal murders of my mother and brother," Buster stated in 2023. Smith, an openly gay teenager and former classmate of Murdaugh, was found dead from a blow to the forehead, which an independent autopsy confirmed was likely from a hit-and-run. Despite these findings, Murdaugh claims the documentaries falsely portrayed him as Smith's murderer. The lawsuit highlights a particular 10-minute segment from one series that alluded to Murdaugh as the killer. Murdaugh's complaint describes the documentaries as containing false statements that suggest he murdered Smith with a baseball bat in an anti-gay hate crime. It also disputes any romantic relationship between Murdaugh and Smith. "These statements are untrue in their entirety," the complaint reads. Eric Bland, the attorney for Stephen Smith's family, criticized the lawsuit, predicting it would backfire. Bland noted that the powerful entities named in the suit would likely fight vigorously and might unearth further details damaging to Murdaugh. "Buster will have to answer questions in a multi-day deposition from every single defendant," Bland said, emphasizing the extensive questioning Murdaugh would face regarding his relationship with Smith and knowledge of his death. Bland also pointed out that Buster's name appeared multiple times in the investigative file released by the South Carolina Highway Patrol in 2021. Buster Murdaugh seeks to clear his name of what he calls "baseless," "false," and "defamatory" accusations while offering condolences to Smith's family. The outcome of this high-profile legal battle remains to be seen. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Buster Murdaugh, son of convicted murderer and fraudster Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and several other parties. The suit, lodged in the Court of Common Pleas in Hampton County, South Carolina, claims that the documentaries "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," "Murdaugh Murders: A Deadly Dynasty," and "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty" wrongfully implicated him in the 2015 death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. The lawsuit, filed last Friday, also names Gannett, the publisher of the Hampton County Guardian, the newspaper's editor, Michael Dewitt, Jr., and the production companies behind the documentaries. Murdaugh argues that the defendants defamed him by subtly or explicitly suggesting his involvement in Smith's death. Buster Murdaugh, who testified at his father's trial regarding the shock of his mother, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and younger brother, Paul Murdaugh, being shot in June 2021, categorically denied any involvement in Stephen Smith's death. "I have tried my best to ignore the vicious rumors about my involvement in Stephen Smith's tragic death that continue to be published in the media as I grieve over the brutal murders of my mother and brother," Buster stated in 2023. Smith, an openly gay teenager and former classmate of Murdaugh, was found dead from a blow to the forehead, which an independent autopsy confirmed was likely from a hit-and-run. Despite these findings, Murdaugh claims the documentaries falsely portrayed him as Smith's murderer. The lawsuit highlights a particular 10-minute segment from one series that alluded to Murdaugh as the killer. Murdaugh's complaint describes the documentaries as containing false statements that suggest he murdered Smith with a baseball bat in an anti-gay hate crime. It also disputes any romantic relationship between Murdaugh and Smith. "These statements are untrue in their entirety," the complaint reads. Eric Bland, the attorney for Stephen Smith's family, criticized the lawsuit, predicting it would backfire. Bland noted that the powerful entities named in the suit would likely fight vigorously and might unearth further details damaging to Murdaugh. "Buster will have to answer questions in a multi-day deposition from every single defendant," Bland said, emphasizing the extensive questioning Murdaugh would face regarding his relationship with Smith and knowledge of his death. Bland also pointed out that Buster's name appeared multiple times in the investigative file released by the South Carolina Highway Patrol in 2021. Buster Murdaugh seeks to clear his name of what he calls "baseless," "false," and "defamatory" accusations while offering condolences to Smith's family. The outcome of this high-profile legal battle remains to be seen. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

The Murdaugh family saga continues to unfold as Richard Alexander "Buster" Murdaugh, Jr., the eldest son of Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against several media groups. Buster alleges that various movies, documentaries, and newspaper articles falsely implicated him in the 2015 murder of Stephen Smith, causing significant damage to his reputation and mental well-being. On July 8, 2015, Stephen Smith's car ran out of gas along a rural road in Hampton County. Smith began walking along the road and was allegedly struck by a vehicle part, leading to his death. Despite media speculation, Buster Murdaugh has not been notified by law enforcement of any connection to Smith's case. The lawsuit, filed in Hampton County, names Netflix; Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.; Warner Media Entertainment Pages, Inc.; their production companies Blackfin, Inc.; Campfire Studios Inc.; The Cinemart LLC; and Gannett Co., the publisher of The Hampton County Guardian, along with reporter and editor Michael M Dewitt, Jr., as defendants. Buster's legal complaint alleges that the media portrayals have "irreparably damaged" his reputation and caused him "mental anguish." He seeks both actual and punitive damages, accusing the media entities of reckless conduct in falsely implicating him in the murder. "These false allegations have caused significant harm to Buster's reputation and mental health," the lawsuit states. "He has suffered mental anguish as a result of the reckless conduct of the Defendants." The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reopened Stephen Smith's case, classifying it as a homicide in March 2023. Despite the ongoing investigation, Buster has maintained that he has not been informed of any involvement by law enforcement. "Buster Murdaugh has been unfairly and falsely portrayed by these media outlets," said his attorney. "The defendants acted recklessly, without regard for the truth, and have caused irreparable harm to my client's reputation and mental well-being." The media series and articles in question have drawn significant attention, further entrenching public interest in the Murdaugh family's legal troubles. The Murdaughs have been the focus of extensive media coverage following the high-profile trial of Alex Murdaugh and subsequent legal developments. Buster's lawsuit specifically calls out the series "Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty," "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty," and "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," alleging that these productions presented misleading information that falsely implicated him in Stephen Smith's death. The complaint also targets articles published in The Hampton County Guardian for perpetuating these allegations. "The media's portrayal of Buster Murdaugh in relation to Stephen Smith's murder has been both inaccurate and damaging," the lawsuit claims. "This reckless behavior has resulted in significant personal and emotional distress." As the legal battle unfolds, the Murdaugh family continues to be under intense scrutiny, with Buster's lawsuit adding another layer to the complex narrative. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how the media covers ongoing legal investigations and the responsibilities they hold in reporting on high-profile cases. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing impact of media coverage on individuals involved in or connected to widely publicized legal cases, raising questions about the balance between public interest and the potential for defamation. Buster Murdaugh's quest for justice in the court of law underscores the broader issues of media accountability and the protection of individual reputations in the digital age. As this case progresses, it will be closely watched by legal experts, media professionals, and the public alike. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

The Murdaugh family saga continues to unfold as Richard Alexander "Buster" Murdaugh, Jr., the eldest son of Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against several media groups. Buster alleges that various movies, documentaries, and newspaper articles falsely implicated him in the 2015 murder of Stephen Smith, causing significant damage to his reputation and mental well-being. On July 8, 2015, Stephen Smith's car ran out of gas along a rural road in Hampton County. Smith began walking along the road and was allegedly struck by a vehicle part, leading to his death. Despite media speculation, Buster Murdaugh has not been notified by law enforcement of any connection to Smith's case. The lawsuit, filed in Hampton County, names Netflix; Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.; Warner Media Entertainment Pages, Inc.; their production companies Blackfin, Inc.; Campfire Studios Inc.; The Cinemart LLC; and Gannett Co., the publisher of The Hampton County Guardian, along with reporter and editor Michael M Dewitt, Jr., as defendants. Buster's legal complaint alleges that the media portrayals have "irreparably damaged" his reputation and caused him "mental anguish." He seeks both actual and punitive damages, accusing the media entities of reckless conduct in falsely implicating him in the murder. "These false allegations have caused significant harm to Buster's reputation and mental health," the lawsuit states. "He has suffered mental anguish as a result of the reckless conduct of the Defendants." The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reopened Stephen Smith's case, classifying it as a homicide in March 2023. Despite the ongoing investigation, Buster has maintained that he has not been informed of any involvement by law enforcement. "Buster Murdaugh has been unfairly and falsely portrayed by these media outlets," said his attorney. "The defendants acted recklessly, without regard for the truth, and have caused irreparable harm to my client's reputation and mental well-being." The media series and articles in question have drawn significant attention, further entrenching public interest in the Murdaugh family's legal troubles. The Murdaughs have been the focus of extensive media coverage following the high-profile trial of Alex Murdaugh and subsequent legal developments. Buster's lawsuit specifically calls out the series "Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty," "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty," and "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," alleging that these productions presented misleading information that falsely implicated him in Stephen Smith's death. The complaint also targets articles published in The Hampton County Guardian for perpetuating these allegations. "The media's portrayal of Buster Murdaugh in relation to Stephen Smith's murder has been both inaccurate and damaging," the lawsuit claims. "This reckless behavior has resulted in significant personal and emotional distress." As the legal battle unfolds, the Murdaugh family continues to be under intense scrutiny, with Buster's lawsuit adding another layer to the complex narrative. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how the media covers ongoing legal investigations and the responsibilities they hold in reporting on high-profile cases. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing impact of media coverage on individuals involved in or connected to widely publicized legal cases, raising questions about the balance between public interest and the potential for defamation. Buster Murdaugh's quest for justice in the court of law underscores the broader issues of media accountability and the protection of individual reputations in the digital age. As this case progresses, it will be closely watched by legal experts, media professionals, and the public alike. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

The Murdaugh family saga continues to unfold as Richard Alexander "Buster" Murdaugh, Jr., the eldest son of Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against several media groups. Buster alleges that various movies, documentaries, and newspaper articles falsely implicated him in the 2015 murder of Stephen Smith, causing significant damage to his reputation and mental well-being. On July 8, 2015, Stephen Smith's car ran out of gas along a rural road in Hampton County. Smith began walking along the road and was allegedly struck by a vehicle part, leading to his death. Despite media speculation, Buster Murdaugh has not been notified by law enforcement of any connection to Smith's case. The lawsuit, filed in Hampton County, names Netflix; Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.; Warner Media Entertainment Pages, Inc.; their production companies Blackfin, Inc.; Campfire Studios Inc.; The Cinemart LLC; and Gannett Co., the publisher of The Hampton County Guardian, along with reporter and editor Michael M Dewitt, Jr., as defendants. Buster's legal complaint alleges that the media portrayals have "irreparably damaged" his reputation and caused him "mental anguish." He seeks both actual and punitive damages, accusing the media entities of reckless conduct in falsely implicating him in the murder. "These false allegations have caused significant harm to Buster's reputation and mental health," the lawsuit states. "He has suffered mental anguish as a result of the reckless conduct of the Defendants." The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reopened Stephen Smith's case, classifying it as a homicide in March 2023. Despite the ongoing investigation, Buster has maintained that he has not been informed of any involvement by law enforcement. "Buster Murdaugh has been unfairly and falsely portrayed by these media outlets," said his attorney. "The defendants acted recklessly, without regard for the truth, and have caused irreparable harm to my client's reputation and mental well-being." The media series and articles in question have drawn significant attention, further entrenching public interest in the Murdaugh family's legal troubles. The Murdaughs have been the focus of extensive media coverage following the high-profile trial of Alex Murdaugh and subsequent legal developments. Buster's lawsuit specifically calls out the series "Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty," "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty," and "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," alleging that these productions presented misleading information that falsely implicated him in Stephen Smith's death. The complaint also targets articles published in The Hampton County Guardian for perpetuating these allegations. "The media's portrayal of Buster Murdaugh in relation to Stephen Smith's murder has been both inaccurate and damaging," the lawsuit claims. "This reckless behavior has resulted in significant personal and emotional distress." As the legal battle unfolds, the Murdaugh family continues to be under intense scrutiny, with Buster's lawsuit adding another layer to the complex narrative. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how the media covers ongoing legal investigations and the responsibilities they hold in reporting on high-profile cases. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing impact of media coverage on individuals involved in or connected to widely publicized legal cases, raising questions about the balance between public interest and the potential for defamation. Buster Murdaugh's quest for justice in the court of law underscores the broader issues of media accountability and the protection of individual reputations in the digital age. As this case progresses, it will be closely watched by legal experts, media professionals, and the public alike. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 

Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — formerly of Murdaugh Murders Podcast — give an update on the latest drama involving Alex Murdaugh. His remaining son, Buster Murdaugh, filed a defamation lawsuit this week against major networks over documentaries they ran, which he said falsely insinuated he had something to do with Stephen Smith's death. He is also suing a Hampton County reporter and his newspaper company for that same thing. Also, a federal judge issues an order in the Nautilus case, in which the insurance company who issued a multi-million dollar payout to Cory Fleming in Gloria Satterfield's death is suing to get their money back. In his ruling, Judge Richard Gergel notes that the insurance company KNEW that something fishy was going on with the Satterfield case and yet STILL gave Cory that money. Why? The insurance company feared the payout would be worse if it went to a Hampton County jury. Also on the show, Mandy and Liz continue to connect dots in the Mica Francis case as Mica's estranged husband, John-Paul Miller, continues to make TikTok videos in the hopes of putting out his own narrative about what their marriage was like. Plus, the disturbing patterns in JP's parents' divorce in 2002 and what it tells us about JP's upbringing. Episode Resources: Mica's List & Mica's Law, Documents Mica's Attorney, Regina Ward's, Press Conference Luna Shark Premium Member Resources - Click Here for Access: Buster Murdaugh's Defamation Lawsuit Nautilus vs Murdaugh et al, Judge Gergel's Order Reginald Wayne Miller x Susan Miller Divorce Documents 2001-2009  Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️ If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Learn more about how you can help us fund FOIA's, dive deeper into cases and experience the investigation first-hand on lunasharkmedia.com all in one place. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. In June we're offering your first month of Soak Up The Sun membership with a $6.00 discount. Join Luna Shark Premium today at Lunashark.Supercast.com. Premium Members also get access to searchable case files, written articles with documents, case photos, episode videos and exclusive live experiences with our hosts on lunasharkmedia.com all in one place. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. And for those just wanting ad-free listening without all the other great content, we now offer ad-free listening on Apple Podcast through a subscription to Luna Shark Plus on the Apple Podcasts App. Or become a Premiere Member on YouTube for exclusive videos and ad-free episodes. SUNscribe to our free email list to get that special offer for first time members, receive alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBMJcP Visit our new events page Lunasharkmedia.com/events where you can learn about the upcoming in-person and virtual appearances from hosts! And a special thank you to our sponsors: Microdose.com, PELOTON, and VUORI. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! *** ALERT: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** For current & accurate updates: TrueSunlight.com facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/ Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod Twitter.com/mandymatney Twitter.com/elizfarrell youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two and a half years after the estate of Mallory Beach filed a lawsuit claiming civil conspiracy and outrage by the Parker's team, some discovery may finally take place. The defense filed three motions to compel discovery to attorneys representing the estate. They were seeking information about dissemination of a confidential mediation video, knowledge of jury tampering in Hampton County and communications which could potentially disqualify Beach attorneys. Impact of Influence is part of the Evergreen Podcasting Network Seton Tucker and Matt Harris began the Impact of Influence podcast shortly after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Now they cover true crime past and present from the southeast region of the U.S. Look for Impact of Influence on Facebook and The Impact of Influence Youtube channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most famous man in South Carolina lives in prison. He stands convicted of a staggering amount of wrongdoing—more than 100 crimes and counting. Once a high-flying, smooth-talking, pedigreed Southern lawyer, Alex Murdaugh is now disbarred and disgraced. For more than a decade, prosecutors asserted that Alex was secretly a fraud, a thief, a drug trafficker, and an all-around phony. On the night of June 7, 2021, they claimed, he also became a killer, shooting dead his wife and son in a desperate bid to escape accountability. The many crimes of Alex Murdaugh, exposed piecemeal over the last two years, have appalled the general public. Yet his implosion—the spectacular manner in which he has turned his vaunted family name to mud—has also proved mesmerizing. With every revelation, Alex Murdaugh has been shown to be a man without bottom, though he insists he never harmed his family. Remarkably, all of his misdeeds have precedent. In Swamp Kings, Jason Ryan reveals Alex's evil actions are only the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to the Murdaugh family of Hampton County, history has a way of repeating itself. For every alleged, headline-grabbing crime associated with Alex Murdaugh, mirror-image incidents have played out within his family's past, including parallel instances of fraud, theft, illicit trafficking of babies and booze, calamitous boat crashes, and even alleged murder. There were some crimes committed by Alex's kin that even he would not dare mimic. Covering a century of depravity in an impoverished and isolated stretch of the Deep South, Swamp Kings weaves together the jaw-dropping narratives of generations of Murdaughs before culminating in the telling of a murder trial for the ages. Page after page the family's legacy is laid bare as a spotlight is finally trained on the Murdaugh men who have long lorded over the South Carolina Lowcountry. Jason Ryan is an author and journalist based in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a former reporter for The State and The Beaufort Gazette and has written for The Daily Beast and Agence-France Presse, including coverage of the massacre at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston and the ensuing trial of killer Dylann Roof. He is the author of Jackpot: High Times, High Seas and the Sting that Launched the War on Drugs; Hell-Bent: One Man's Crusade to Crush the Hawaiian Mob(currently under option to HBOMax), and Race to Hawaii: The 1927 Dole Derby and the Thrilling First Flights that Opened the Pacific.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True Sunlight Co-hosts Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell are finally free from the constant noise of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh and ready to once again focus on the case that deserves all the sunshine: Who killed Stephen Smith? It's been nearly nine years since Stephen — a teenager from Hampton County with high aspirations to become a doctor one day… ground zero of Murdaugh territory — was found dead in the road, less than a mile from his home. While the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh have brought a new focus to Stephen's investigation — which had gone cold almost immediately — Stephen's mother is no closer to getting the answers she so desperately wants. In the meantime, a number of people have come out of the woodwork with claims of wanting to help Sandy only to betray her in the end. In this episode Mandy and Liz talk about the red flags they keep seeing, as well as give an update on two people who have wrongly been identified by one media agency as people of interest. In February we're offering your first month of Soak Up The Sun membership for 50% off. Join Luna Shark Premium today at Lunashark.Supercast.com. Premium Members also get access to searchable case files, written articles with documents, case photos, episode videos and exclusive live experiences with our hosts on lunasharkmedia.com all in one place. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. And for those just wanting ad-free listening without all the other great content, we now offer ad-free listening on Apple Podcast through a subscription to Luna Shark Plus on the Apple Podcasts App. Or become a member on YouTube for exclusive videos and ad-free episodes. SUNscribe to our free email list to get that special offer for first time members, receive alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBMJcP Visit our new events page Lunasharkmedia.com/events where you can learn about the upcoming in-person and virtual appearances from hosts! And a special thank you to our sponsors: Microdose.com, PELOTON, and VUORI. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! For current & accurate updates: TrueSunlight.com facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/ Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod Twitter.com/mandymatney Twitter.com/elizfarrell youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a courtroom packed with victims and spectators, former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his egregious theft of approximately $12 million from clients who had placed their trust in him. The courtroom drama unfolded as victims shared their emotional testimonies, revealing the profound impact of Murdaugh's betrayal.    Murdaugh, once a respected figure in the legal community and a prominent name in Hampton County for generations, faced sentencing for his extensive financial crimes. Over nearly a decade, he exploited the trust of his clients, promising assistance with medical bills and settlements, only to misappropriate the funds for his personal use.    Jordan Jinks, a friend of Murdaugh's since childhood, expressed his anguish, saying, "I'm not crying for what he stole from me. I'm crying for what he did to everybody." Many victims, like Jinks, entrusted Murdaugh with their financial well-being, only to be left financially ruined and emotionally devastated.    Prosecutor Creighton Waters provided a detailed account of Murdaugh's thefts, highlighting how he manipulated more than $12 million to evade detection over nearly a decade. Murdaugh used the trust of his family name and legal credentials to perpetuate his theft, accruing significant sums to pay off loans and credit card bills, which eventually spiraled out of control.    Under the plea deal, Murdaugh faced 22 financial crimes related to his clients, including breach of trust, money laundering, and tax evasion. His victims included individuals like Gloria Satterfield, a longtime family maid who died in a fall at the Murdaugh home. Murdaugh promised to take care of her family but later admitted to stealing every penny of the insurance settlement he obtained on her behalf.    Sandra Taylor, another victim, lost her life in a crash with a drunk driver, leaving behind three children. Murdaugh falsely claimed he could secure only a $30,000 settlement for her estate and secretly pocketed $150,000.    Throughout the sentencing hearing, Murdaugh repeatedly apologized to his family, victims, and those he had wronged. He attributed his actions to a drug addiction to painkillers, expressing remorse for bringing shame and dishonor upon his loved ones.    Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the murder trial that resulted in Murdaugh's life sentence without parole for killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in June 2021, accepted the plea deal for the financial crimes. Newman described Murdaugh as having "the emptiest soul" he had encountered in his 23 years on the bench.    Despite Murdaugh's persistent claims of innocence in the murder case, his lawyers are seeking a new trial, alleging jury tampering by the court clerk. A different judge will decide whether to grant a hearing to question jurors, the clerk, and potentially Judge Newman under oath.    The sentencing for Murdaugh's financial crimes serves as a precautionary measure to prevent his release if his murder conviction is ever overturned. Under South Carolina law, he will have to serve nearly 23 years of the sentence, even with good behavior, before becoming eligible for release, making him 76 years old upon potential release. As part of the deal, Murdaugh relinquished his rights to appeal.    The courtroom proceedings mark another chapter in the stunning fall from grace of Alex Murdaugh, once a legal luminary, whose alleged crimes have garnered attention in true crime podcasts and online discussions. His case continues as he awaits sentencing on federal financial crime charges and faces additional local charges related to insurance fraud.    While Murdaugh expressed remorse during the hearing and offered apologies to his victims, the enduring impact of his actions on the lives of those he defrauded remains a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of betrayal and deceit within the legal profession. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

As the spotlight continues to shine brightly on the Stephen Smith case, some people in Hampton County are feeling the pressure. Murdaugh Murders Podcast co-hosts Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — and everyone's favorite attorney, Eric Bland — talk about the latest interlopers in the Smith case, what's happening in Alex Murdaugh's and Russell Laffitte's cases and a mysterious call from Randy Murdaugh's people. We all want to drink from the same Cup Of Justice — and it starts with learning about our legal system. What questions do y'all have for us? Email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll do our best to answer your questions in these bonus episodes. We'd like to thank Better Help and Microdose.com for sponsoring this episode. Find us on social media: Twitter.com/mandymatney - Twitter.com/elizfarrell - Twitter.com/theericbland https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/ YouTube Support Our Podcast: http://bit.ly/3j9DA27 *The views expressed on the Cup of Justice bonus episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy Monday, y'all. We have some really good news to share with you today. On Friday, the body of Stephen Smith was exhumed and taken to Florida for a second autopsy. His mother, Sandy, waited nearly eight years for this moment to come.  It was a very emotional day but also a peaceful one. Sandy could feel the love and knew her boy was in good hands. We want to again thank all of you who donated to Sandy's GoFundMe. You helped make this happen and I feel confident that we are now well on our way to getting answers — whatever those answers may be. We also want to thank SLED Chief Mark Keel and every agent who took the time Friday to connect with Sandy, who kept everyone safe and protected during the exhumation and who accompanied Stephen's body to the autopsy. And thank you too to forensic pathologist Dr. Michelle DuPre for your empathetic and professional approach. You put everyone at ease during a difficult time. This independent exhumation and autopsy were critical because of how the investigation into Stephen's death was conducted and all the questions surrounding his case. The system had given Sandy no reason to trust in it. Investigators needed to start at Square One and this gets them there. These are just the first steps to finding out why Stephen Smith was found dead on a Hampton County road in 2015 but they are really good first steps. Liz, Eric and Mandy got together online Sunday morning to talk about how the exhumation went, the strange drama surrounding it and what comes next. We also found a little time to talk about the latest with Alex Murdaugh and his life in prison.  There was a lot to say, so let's get into it … We all want to drink from the same Cup Of Justice — and it starts with learning about our legal system. What questions do y'all have for us? Email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll do our best to answer your questions in these bonus episodes. We'd like to thank Better Help and Microdose.com for sponsoring this episode. Find us on social media: Twitter.com/mandymatney - Twitter.com/elizfarrell - Twitter.com/theericbland https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/ YouTube Support Our Podcast: http://bit.ly/3j9DA27 *The views expressed on the Cup of Justice bonus episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There has been a TON of buzz in the Stephen Smith case, which is a good thing. Just like they did in the Satterfield case, Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter have done a full-court press ensuring Stephen's case is front and center in the media.  After eight long years, the family of Stephen Smith is finally seeing momentum in their quest for answers about why he was left to die on a Hampton County road. But challenges remain as DIY detectives on social media spread misinformation about the case and try to paint Stephen's mother as on a crusade against the Murdaugh family. Mandy Matney and Liz Farrel (And EB!) discuss the latest in the case. To learn more about the planned Independent Exhumation and Autopsy for Stephen, click here: http://bit.ly/3JGacec A private medical examiner must be present from the start of the exhumation through the examination period at a cost of approximately $750 per hour. It is a huge expense, but we are hoping that with your support we can make this happen and finally get the answers we need. If you can give, we thank you for your generosity. If you cannot give, we would appreciate you sharing and praying for justice for Stephen. We believe 2023 is Stephen's year. Thank you all again for the love and support. We all want to drink from the same Cup Of Justice — and it starts with learning about our legal system. By popular demand, Cup of Justice has launched as its own weekly show. Go to cupofjusticepod.com to learn more or click the link in the episode description to get a hot cup of justice wherever you get your podcasts! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cup-of-justice/id1668668400 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Itp67SQTZEHQGgrX0TYTl?si=39ff6a0cc34140f3 Consider joining our MMP Premium Membership community to help us SHINE THE SUNLIGHT! CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE SUNscribe to our free email list to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBMJcP And a special thank you to our sponsors: Microdose.com, PELOTON, Simplisafe, and others. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! Find us on social media: Facebook.com/MurdaughPod/ Instagram.com/murdaughmurderspod/ Twitter.com/mandymatney Twitter.com/elizfarrell YouTube.com/c/MurdaughMurders Support Our Podcast at: https://murdaughmurderspodcast.com/support-the-show Please consider sharing your support by leaving a review for MMP on Apple at the following link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/murdaugh-murders-podcast/id1573560247 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following Dateline's 2-hour episode Dark Waters, Craig Melvin and Dateline producer Carol Gable sit down for an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the Murdaugh saga from their unique perspectives as native South Carolinians. Carol has been following the story since she heard about a boat crash in the Lowcountry involving the son of one of Hampton County's most influential citizens, Alex Murdaugh. No one knew then how explosive the story would become. You can listen to the full episode Dark Waters here: https://apple.co/3WMCpEr