The Murdaugh political party has been a prominent fixture in state politics for generations. While the Randolph Murdaughs practiced law and politics, the family's influence and power in South Carolina has been felt for centuries. The most recent Murdaugh to make headlines is none other than disgraced attorney, Alex Murdaugh. His pending double murder trial has brought the family's political party into the spotlight.
The Murdaugh family has long been an influential force in South Carolina, with members serving in both chambers of the General Assembly, holding local offices, and running for governor. The Murdaughs have a history of hosting lavish garden parties and bridal showers, and the family has been known to open their doors to some of the state's most influential people. As the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh wraps, the heaps of public attention poured on the case's many twists and turns has put the Murdaugh political party in the center of the controversy.
Prosecutors contend Murdaugh thought he was about to get caught stealing and killed 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh in June 2021. Their bodies were found in the family's home in Colleton County. In the double murder trial of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, his defense lawyers want jurors to believe the crime scene was staged to look like a burglary in an effort to hide the truth.
The story has caught the attention of many, and a new documentary series, 'Murdaugh: The Murdaugh Family's Rise to Power' is now available on Netflix. The documentary follows the Murdaugh family from the early 1800s to their current status as one of the most powerful political forces in South Carolina. The producers let the group of friends who were swept up in the story tell their side of the tale, giving viewers an inside look at the Murdaughs' rise to power.
Murdaugh, 54, is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, 52, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, at their home in June 2021 as the once-prominent attorney was facing an impending criminal investigation. Prosecutors say Murdaugh took out two life insurance policies on his wife and son, totaling more than $2 million. But Murdaugh admitted to stealing from clients and pocketing a check that was supposed to go to another law firm.
The trial has been watched closely by fellow politicians, including Marvin Pendarvis, a Democrat considering a run for North Charleston mayor in 2022. As the jury decides Murdaugh's fate, Pendarvis has voiced his concerns about the Murdaugh political party's influence on the state's politics.
Alex Murdaugh listens as prosecutor Creighton Waters makes closing arguments during his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Wednesday. During his closing argument, Waters reiterated the evidence against Murdaugh, including the fact that he had taken out life insurance policies on his wife and son. Waters said Murdaugh was motivated by money and had planned the killings in advance.
The jury will now decide if Murdaugh is guilty or innocent, and many are anxious to see what the outcome will be. It is unclear how the verdict will affect the Murdaugh political party, but one thing is certain: the Murdaugh family has been thrust into the national spotlight.
