Today, he knows that's not true. via Associated Press. "He would try to talk and then he would break down," Randy added. In cross-examination, the defense reiterated that Alex Murdaugh said he checked Maggie and Paul both for pulses when he found their bodies. The defense "He wants this solved.". ", "I missed some phone calls from him. Alex Murdaugh's attorneys said in October that authorities were looking at him as a person of interest in the deaths of his wife and their son. Riemer said the barrel of the gun was closer to Maggie Murdaugh when the shot to her thigh was fired. The law firm said later that he resigned only after it was discovered that he was alleged to have misappropriated funds from the firm. ", Sept. 3 : Alex Murdaugh resigns from law firm. ", Sept. 6: Murdaugh announces resignation, enters rehab. Two members of the jury for the Murdaugh murder trial have been released after they tested positive for COVID-19. He has been in jail since Oct. 14 and then was arrested on charges of obtaining property by false pretenses, in which he is accused of misappropriating settlement funds from the sons of Gloria Satterfield, the Murdaughs longtime housekeeper and nanny. This photo provided by the Colleton County sheriff's office shows Curtis Edward Smith. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. During his testimony, John Marvin Murdaugh confirmed for prosecutors that his brother, Alex Murdaugh, lied to law enforcement investigating Paul and Maggie 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. "I see words like 'dynasty' used, and 'power,'" Randy said. A bond hearing was scheduled for Oct. 15 in Beaufort County, South Carolina, his lawyers said. ", Oct. 15: Lawyer said Murdaugh had drugs in his system day he was shot. John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV spoke with "Good Morning America" about the deaths of Maggie and Paul, saying they didn't believe their brother was involved in their killings. Marvin Murdaugh drove down to the crime scene to a group of investigators and told them that Maggie's phone was active and could be tracked, he said. Riemer said yes, because some shots would have been fired from behind her and the shot to the back of her head, when she was on the ground, would have come from toward the top of her body. State investigators allege that about $3.4 million was stolen after legal fees were paid. Court is in recess until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Alex was the loving father of Paul and the loving husband of Maggie, Harpootlian said. This is not the first time John Marvin has spoken out in defense of his older brother. "It's just hard to imagine somebody can be so sick as to do this, intentionally kill people like that," Randy tearfully told ABC News. The truth is he did graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice in the early 1990s, but he ultimately chose to evolve into an entrepreneur decently self-employed. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In my mind, I told Paul I loved himI promised him that I'd find out who did this to him., When asked by defense attorney Jim Griffin if he ever found out who killed his nephew and sister-in-law, John Marvin replied: I have not.. Murdaugh submitted his resignation at his law firm to enter rehab the day before he is alleged to have tried to fake his own death. Witnesses said Paul Murdaugh was driving it and that he was extremely drunk and acting belligerently. Law enforcement agents who testified in the trial also noted that Murdaugh also touted the theory that the boat crash was the possible motivation for the murders moments after they were called to the scene. Alex is fully cooperating with SLED in their investigations into his shooting, opioid use and the search to find the person or people responsible for the murder of his wife and son. "On September 4, it became clear Alex believed that ending his life was his only option. Alex Murdaughthe attorney from a prominent South Carolina family who is suspected of committing a staggering number of crimes that were revealed after of a fatal 2019 boat crashwas indicted Thursday for murder. They don't believe Alex is involved in the murders. Marian was like, No, John, I want you to handle it. So Im going to do whatever the court asked me to do, and Im also going to do what I think is best for Maggie," John Marvin Murdaugh said. I was outside with the dogs," Randy recalled. ", "I can tell you he was willing and still is willing to do anything that's asked of him," John added. Social distancing and masking will not be required. The group soon realized that the phone was further away, so they drove together and found it east of the gates of the property, he said. It made everything better. John Marvin Murdaugh said he was sitting inside the house on the Moselle property and asked Alex Murdaugh if he could ping Maggies phone. June 25: Murdaugh family announce $100,000 reward for information. You can share rumors, but they must be clearly labeled as rumors. IE 11 is not supported. Got a tip? Alex Murdaugh's attorneys didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. It was the start of what is expected to be a three-week trial at the Colleton County Courthouse. Alex Murdaugh cried when the autopsy photos, which have been sealed, were shown in court. "Fortunately, Alex was not killed by the gunshot wound. SLED then said they were opening the investigation into Satterfield's death at the request of the Hampton County Coroner's Office and due to information gathered during the course of other ongoing investigations involving AlexMurdaugh. Murdaugh is charged with killing his wife and son on their property in June 2021. "And so we said our goodbyes and tried to be in a celebratory way to my dad, but we're all hurting because of Maggie and Paul.". Both Randy and Alex are lawyers at the firm, while Alex also works as a part time prosecutor for the 14th Judicial Circuit. John Marvin was emotional throughout his testimony. South Carolina attorney A forensic accounting firm will be retained to conduct a thorough investigation.". "So there's no possible way he could have anything to do with this, I can assure you. Id never seen anything like it. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. He was just distraught. SLED announced the arrest of Curtis Edward Smith, 61, in connection with the shooting incident involving Alex Murdaugh on Sept. 4 in Hampton County. Alex pulled over after seeing a low-tire indicator light. A daily report co-sponsored by Arizona State University, Criminal Justice Journalists, and the National Criminal Justice Association, NCJA | 700 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-628-8550 | www.ncja.org | Contact Us | 2023. A male driver in a blue pickup asked him if he had car troubles, as soon as Alex replied, he was shot. Most of the testimony was focused on detailed forensic evidence in the investigation into the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Alongside his other brother, Randy, he participated in a Good Morning America interview just days after the June 7, 2021 murders where John Marvin said Paul received death threats for his role in a 2019 drunken boating accident that killed a teenage girl. The Their brother, Richard Alexander "Alex" Murdaugh, had called 911 just after 10 p.m. John Marvin continues talking about the false information he received from SLED. He was also the second family member to testify on behalf of Murdaugh. In this June 11, 2021, file photo, Buster Murdaugh, center, receives a hug in the rain during the funeral service for his brother, Paul, and mother, Maggie, in Hampton, S.C. Kacen Bayless/The Island Packet via AP, FILE. Buster, he said, told him that he and his mother shared locations with each other and he could ping it. Randy and John described their late nephew as a "carefree spirit" who loved being outdoors. Waters opened the trial with three minutes of graphic description of the scene where the bodies of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul, 22, were found shot with at least one bullet to the head by two different guns, pointing to Paul Murdaughs head and calling it catastrophic damage.. "Now is the time to bring justice for Maggie and Paul. "I want to thank everyone for the incredible love and support that we have received over the last few weeks," Murdaugh said in a statement at the time. Paul and Maggie have been hurt,'" John told ABC News in an exclusive interview airing Thursday on "Good Morning America. Defense attorney Phillip Barber asked if the DNA was submitted to CODIS, the FBIs DNA database, but Zapata said it did not meet the requirements for CODIS because the sample contained only three alleles. "It was very difficult.". He was being held in jail without bail on those counts before he was charged with murder. He has maintained his innocence, and his lawyers said he has an alibi, as he was caring for his mother, who has dementia, the night of the killings. He then walked to the side door of the courtroom where he will be taken to the Colleton County jail where he is staying during his trial. Sept. 8: Brother "shocked" by Murdaugh allegations; Alex Murdaugh's law license suspended, Alex Murdaugh's older brother Randy Murdaugh, who is also still employed by the firm, released a statement saying he was "shocked" to learn of his brother's "settling of money," as well as "drug addiction.". In June 2021, The Island Packet reported that although Paul Murdaughs cell phone was found near his body on the night of the killings, investigators found Maggies phone the next day on a road outside of the familys Colleton County property. Sept. 13: SLED investigates missing money from law firm. ", Oct. 14: Murdaugh arrested, charged in connection to settlement funds from housekeeper's death. "So I got on the phone with him," Randy said. The newspaper was the first to report the document, which was later obtained by NBC News. He later stepped away from the double homicide investigation in August 2021, citing an undisclosed conflict. In response, one of his attorneys called it a "very sad development. Zapata said family members of Mallory Beach, the Cooke brothers, Alex Murdaugh, John Marvin Murdaugh and Buster Murdaugh were excluded as possible sources for the DNA. Their bodies were discovered by Alex Murdaugh, police said. He is accused of killing his wife Maggie and 22-year-old son Paul in June 2021, NCJA | 700 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-628-8550 |. Maggie Murdaugh signed the will in August 2005, according to a report Sunday in The Island Packet newspaper of Hilton Head. On Thursday, Murdaugh briefly described the roadside shooting, saying that he intended to die that day. I mean, in his pants.. John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV spoke with "Good Morning America" about the deaths of Maggie and Paul, saying they didn't believe their Alex Murdaugh was ordered held on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. It made me want to do it longer. On Dec. 13. a judge set Murdaugh's bail at $7 million. Alex Murdaugh is the only publicly known person of interest in the murders, which remain unsolved. She took the stand to explain graphic photographs from her investigation to the jury and said the gunman was likely within three feet of Paul Murdaugh. "I could see the white sheets across the way," he said. Randy, who lives in the nearby town of Hampton, said he arrived at Alex's property about 15 minutes after the telephone call. From 1987 to 2005, Randolph held the job as prosecutor for Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties, like his father and grandfather did before him. SLED said in a statement at the time that he was shot on Old Salkehatchie Road near Varnville,South Carolina. Few other details regarding the deaths have been released. John Marvin told jurors on Monday that he had not been aware of Murdaughs opioid addiction until after the murders, when his brother attempted a botched suicide scheme in September 2021 so that Buster would inherit his $12 million insurance payout. From October: What really happened the night Alex Murdaugh was allegedly shot? Theres no direct evidence. Earlier this month, the photographs were used as campaign fodder against Jojo Woodward, an investigator in the photos who is running for Beaufort County Sheriff. In April 2019 Paul Murdaugh was charged with operating the boat while intoxicated. Smith was charged with assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high-aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. "My brother loved Maggie and loved Paul like nothing else on this earth, just like he loves Buster," Randy said. I felt like it was the right thing to do. They were able to open the phone on site, he said. The 14th Circuit Solicitors Office also confirms to CNN that Murdaugh has been stripped of his privilege of prosecuting cases as a volunteer. His mom and his brother were just killed.". The alleged conspiracy led to a $505,000 settlement, but Satterfield's sons claim they haven't gotten any of that settlement money, which was agreed upon in December 2018, the lawsuit claimed. The cartridges were used in a type of automatic rifle that Alex Murdaugh bought but cant be accounted for, Waters said. The Murdaughs are a prominent legal family in the Palmetto State, with three generations serving as the elected solicitor in the 14th Judicial Circuit for 87 Alex Murdaugh's former law firm filed a lawsuit alleging that he funneled stolen money from clients and the law firm into a fake bank account for years. Both sides finished picking a 12-person jury with six alternates Wednesday. Opiates gave me energy, Murdaugh said. Just days later, the family patriarch, Randolph Murdaugh III, died in a hospital at the age of 81. State law enforcement officials also announced, none of the proceeds from a $4.3 million settlement. We dont know why. The whole family is suffering," John told ABC News. Waters said Murdaugh told investigators he was never at the kennels before finding his wife and sons bodies near them after spending an hour away from the home checking on his mother, who has dementia. Press J to jump to the feed. Maggie Murdaughs phone locks forever about 30 seconds later, Waters said. I just dont know.". "The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. Paul, a student at the University of South Carolina, was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death in a 2019 crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach, whose body was found a week later. She testified that she did not find any defensive wounds on Maggie either. Newman said the remaining jurors tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday and will be retested on Wednesday. The documents released by authorities do The saga began when Murdaugh's wife, Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and their son Paul, 22, were found fatally shot in June. Murdaugh said he called either Alex or Buster (he said he thinks it was Alex) and asked them for the password to Maggies phone so investigators could unlock it. At the end of the day, Alex Murdaugh shook his attorneys hands and then looked back where his surviving son and brother were seated behind him, He smiled and pointed at them. There was gunshot residue on a seat belt, bullets pulled from bodies that matched ammunition boxes from around the home and cellphones never used again just a few minutes after Murdaugh, his wife and son were all heard in a cellphone video, prosecutor Creighton Waters said in his opening statement. Murdaugh murder trial to resume at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Murdaugh Trial, Day 26: Testimony gets heated during states rebuttal, Anonymous tip leads investigators to human remains in Spartanburg, Here's what's next for the Murdaugh murder trial, kelli.radcliff@foxcarolina.com - 864-213-2103. His mother Maggie, they said, was a "classy person" with a "very dynamic personality" and was the "rock of their family." "He said, 'Come as fast as you can. "I can assure you that SLED agents will continue working to bring justice to anyone involved with any criminal act associated with these ongoing investigations," said SLED Chief Mark Keel. The family is pleading for the public's help in bringing justice to Maggie and Paul. The documents released by authorities do not present evidence of his motive or how the murders are believed to have taken place, except to say that Maggie Murdaugh was killed with a rifle and Paul Murdaugh was killed with a shotgun. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. John Marvin was the last witness to testify before the defense rested on Monday. A string of bloody killings and mysteries involving a prominent South Carolina family has sent investigators on a wild chase full of twists and turns. Called it a `` very sad development, police said in a blue asked... Discovered by Alex Murdaugh if he had car troubles, as soon Alex. Murder trial have been released million was stolen after legal fees were.... Decisions that I truly regret calls from him Island Packet newspaper of Hilton Head forensic! I can assure you, '' John what does john marvin murdaugh do ABC News start of what is expected be... 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