Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh testifies, waits to resume testifying during a break, in his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. He was 81. For example, prosecutors have alleged it was strange Murdaugh, 54, left the familys hunting estate through its main driveway that night, rather than using another driveway by the dog kennels where Maggie and Paul were killed. The slayings of Maggie and Paul opened up another unsolved death from 2015that of Stephen Smith, a gay teenager whose body was found dead on a remote road in Hampton County. My wife and my son theyre on the ground tmoore@postandcourier.com; They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. But, eventually, we got our stuff together and drove down to Moselle.". Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Mike Sutton, forensic engineer with the North Carolina-based Accident Research Specialists discusses gun holding positions during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Prosecutors believe that blue object was a rain jacket, which forensic tests revealed was covered in gunshot residue on the inside. Over the objection of reporters, he barred journalists and the public from being on the property during the juror visit, instead allowing three journalists to see the scene briefly afterward. Eventually, the four of them Buster, Alex, Brooklynn, and uncle John Marvin went and stayed at Alex's parents' home in Almeda. sentencing trial of the school shooter in Parkland, Fla. charged over the fatal Breonna Taylor raid, toured Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, among a minority of jurors who voted for the former, admitted from the witness stand last week. Prosecutors say evidence shows Alex Murdaugh was at the scene of the crime with Maggie and Paul. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh were killed on June 7, 2021, and their bloodied bodies were found at their 1,700-acre hunting estate in Colleton County, South Carolina. document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "© " + html; Fernandez was quick to elicit testimony that Murdaugh paid Suttons company $350 an hour for its work on his case, and that Sutton had already worked more than 40 hours. Like the possibility of the body had been placed in the roadway, per Fox Newsin June 2021. 'It's bad, I checked their pulses,' Murdaugh tells the cop as he paces up and down, wearing a white t-shirt, shorts and sneakersby the kennels on the property. ET. May you find comfort knowing that life continues forever in heaven even as the memories shared live forever in our hearts. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool. ISLANDTON, S.C. The vast estate is as idyllic as it is secluded, its fishing pond, expansive farmland and four-bedroom home shrouded by trees and a winding driveway that keep it all out of view from the highway. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. Produced by Eric Russell. The younger Murdaugh said Tuesday that his father instead said, "They did him so bad.". In a question asked by Alexs lawyer Jim Griffin, Buster affirmed that the family generally handled disagreements civilly, like adults, and that they were never violent. In this daily update episode, hosts Jocelyn Grzeszczak and Eric Russell recap the testimony from Buster and others on day 21 of the trial. In one instance, the defense played Buster Murdaugh an audio recording of his father's interview with police, in which he emotionally discussed seeing his dead son. At the time of his death, Paul Murdaugh was facing three felony counts of boating under the influence. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Buster Murdaugh and Brooklynn White were asked to stand so witness Chris Wilson can see them during Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 9, Alex Murdaugh pictured with his wife Maggie and their two sons Paul (left) and Buster. Before the murders, Buster was a student at the University of South Carolina pursuing his law degree. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Mike Sutton, forensic engineer with the North Carolina-based Accident Research Specialists answers questions about shot trajectory from defense attorney Dick Harpootlian during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Their family later issued a joint statement offering $100,000 for information about the murders. Closing arguments were scheduled for later on Wednesday. Buster recalled helping his father pack a bag of essentials from his closet at the Moselle lodge to bring with them, adding that he stayed there for several days and kept a close eye on his father. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. As jurors had heard earlier in the trial, the yellow Labrador was at the family's dog kennels on the night Maggie and Paul were gunned down at their Moselle hunting estate on June 7, 2021 and his presence could prove damning for Alex who, according to witnesses, was heard speaking to the dog in a video recorded at the kennels. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh listens to his son, Buster Murdaughs testimony during his trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The comments below have not been moderated. The surviving members of the family also did talk about safety concerns in the days after the murders. Emotional Buster Murdaugh was seen honoring the victims in the horrific murder case that has riveted the country: his late mother Maggie and younger brother Paul, as his father's murder trial continues in South Carolina. Simpson trial passed by during their visit to the crime scene. and loved welcoming friends and family into her home Murdaughs attorneys contend an audio recording of the interview clearly shows Murdaugh said, They did him so bad, referring to Pauls killer. Alex Murdaugh, who is about 6-foot-4, would have had to be holding the weapon below his kneecap, Sutton said. Charleston, SC 29403, News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com, Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com, var html = new Date().getFullYear(); Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "© " + html; | Terms of Use| Privacy Policy. When asked by the defense how frequently his father would take a shower or bath in a day, Buster Murdaugh answered: "He could take them a lot, working out there, if he goes outside and sweats a lot. Jurors are typically not allowed to speak with each other about the case until deliberations begin, and Ms. Vanoy said it was a unique experience to walk through and process such a disturbing scene without speaking to her colleagues. Before, hed text immediately. He noted that his father was "destroyed, heartbroken just broken down," adding that the 63-year-old former lawyer was crying and couldn't really speak. Smith denies participating in the scheme and instead claims he tried to stop a suicidal Murdaugh from trying to shoot himself. Cause of death Details of the circumstance surrounding our beloved, Stephen Smithdeath is not public yet, we will share more as we learn. Subscribe here:http://bit.ly/3UDCuZT. Alex Murdaughs Son 10 Food Bloggers You Need to Follow on Instagram. Buster testified in his father's double murder trial on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, and revealed his whereabouts at the time of his mom and brother's deaths. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool. Want more in-depth analysis of the Murdaugh saga? It was quiet.. A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. Follow her on Twitter at @jocgrz. , Post and Courier, an Evening Post Publishing Newspaper Group. Murdaugh has adamantly denied killing his wife and son. We are so saddened by this terrible tragedy. Your email address will not be published. The 12 jurors and two remaining alternates gathered at 9 a.m. at the Colleton County Courthouse to leave for their viewing of Moselle, the Murdaughs' spacious hunting property where Maggie and Paul were killed. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and has kept in touch with many of these friends over the years. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Prosecutors have focused on a cellphone video recorded by Paul just minutes before his death in which voices can be heard in the background ordering Bubba,who had a habit of bothering chickens and birds, to leave the animals alone. He really withdrew after everything happened. Alex told police that he was not home at the time of the murders, which authorities say took place between 9 and 9:30 p.m. that evening. His testimony bolstered some of the defense team's case. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, took the stand on Tuesday and spoke to the courtroom in the trial in which his father is accused of killing his wife and son. Funeral services will be held at noon at Hampton Cemetery on Holly Street, according to both obituaries. The victims were found with Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh is sworn in to testify his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Its bad! exclaims a hysterical Alex on the 911 recording. I am shocked and dont have words to express how terribly sorry I am. "It was stressful," he responded. I was saddened to hear of Margarets passing. Buster Murdaugh has been sitting in the courtroom gallery for almost a month as the trial went into the details of how his mother and younger brother were shot and killed. Dressed in a dark suit and a crisp white shirt, Buster appeared stoic and distant on the witness stand, calmly and politely answering Griffin. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. By Karen Ruiz and Laura Collins, Chief Investigative Reporter, For Dailymail.Com, Published: 14:39 EST, 13 February 2023 | Updated: 18:12 EST, 13 February 2023. Buster," the 22-year-old's A solicitor is otherwise referred to as a District Attorney inother jurisdictions throughout the country. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. All six of the occupants were ejected from the boat. However, he has not been back to law school. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh testifies in his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. His answers helped diffuse some of the theories and suspicions prosecutors floated about his father over the double murder trials first four weeks. Richard "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., 26, is Alex Murdaugh's oldest and only surviving son. On cross-examination, prosecutor David Fernandez took aim at Suttons credibility. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Defense attorney Jim Griffin and Alex Murdaugh listen to testimony during Murdaughs trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Mike Sutton, forensic engineer with the North Carolina-based Accident Research Specialists answers questions from defense attorney Dick Harpootlian during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The Alex Murdaugh trial enters the fifth week as the defense call witnesses. Born to prestige before a mighty fall How murder charges impact other death investigations, lawsuits surrounding Alex Murdaugh Horror in Hampton County: Buster For 85 years, theMurdaugh family has served as a legal powerhouse in the state. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh takes the stand during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Meadors asked the younger Murdaugh. awilks@postandcourier.com; Mr. Mathews said that while he could not be sure, he thought the jury visit had helped jurors in that case understand the scene, and perhaps understand the defense argument that Mr. Hankison did not know there was another apartment attached to Ms. Taylors. Its just a shame.. he asked. Richard Alex Buster Murdaugh Jr., 26, is the oldest son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Ahead of the trial, Murdaugh's defense insinuated that Smith was involved in the killings of Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, at thefamily's sprawling hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina, on June 7, 2021. ), Was it painful? You have permission to edit this article. All rights reserved. Randolph Murdaugh, III, 81, of Varnville, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, June 10, 2021, at his residence. Mr. Murdaugh then left the property to visit his mother, an act the prosecution has painted as a calculated effort to build an alibi. Buster Murdaugh. Busters testimony countered one key aspect of the states theory in particular: that Murdaugh snuck off to his parents house in the days after the slayings to dispose of the murder weapons for good. What Are the Dangers of Boating at Night? Mr. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh, Busters father, is facing charges with the murders of his wife, Maggie, and his younger son, Paul. Much love and respect Maggie was always so kind and friendly to our family. his father killed his mother and brother, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot to death, supposed confession investigators say his father gave, Understand Murdaugh: Alex Murdaugh's son Buster takes the stand in murder trial, Authorities: Bomb threat in Alex Murdaugh trial traced to inmate unrelated to case, Greenville biscuit restaurant adding a new location in the Upstate, JetBlue Airways to add new flight from Charleston to NYC area, Understand Murdaugh: Questions surrounding the Alex Murdaugh trial (Reader Mailbag), Aiken will not provide water to Hampton Avenue car lot, Aiken City Council approves agreement moving Silver Bluff Road grocery store forward, Alex Murdaugh had badge and blue lights in his car, but says distrust of police fueled lie, Confrontation outside Greenville abortion clinic posted to TikTok, Charleston moves to create new board to help homeowners restore dilapidated houses, International African American Museum sets new opening date. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster Murdaugh took There are a lot of dangers with this, said Nancy S. Marder, a law professor and jury expert at the Chicago-Kent College of Law who remembers sitting at a Starbucks in Los Angeles when a bus full of jurors in the O.J. She made the most out of every situation, and lived each and every day to the fullest.". If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. Was there any violence in the family? Griffin asked. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale. Buster Murdaugh was the first witness for the defense in the disgraced South Carolina lawyers double murder trial. Mr. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster Murdaugh took the stand on Tuesday February 21, 2023, and spoke to the courtroom in the trial in which his father is accused of killing his wife and son. "Maggie had a heart of pure generosity and loved welcoming friends and family into her home on any given occasion. Family matters. We had, as evidence, diagrams and photographs, Mr. Mathews said. Your gut is to say, Oh my God, did you see X? But you cant. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh is sworn in to testify his fathers trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Another controversial piece of evidence Buster testified about was the supposed confession investigators say his father gave during a June 10, 2021, interview with State Law Enforcement Division agents. On the night of June 7, 2021, Pauls father, Alex Murdaugh, called 911 to report his wife, Maggie, and his son Paul had been fatally shot on his property. Stephen Smith obituary is not public at the time, we will share more as we learn about the obituary and possibly the funeral. For an optimal Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool, Prosecutor David Fernandez and defense attorney Dick Harpootlian approach Judge Clifton Newmans bench during the Alex Murdaugh trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The dog appears to resemble the Murdaugh family dog, Bubba, who has become somewhat of a key player in the case against Alex, 54, who faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted for the murders of his wife, 52, and son, 22. Mr. Harpootlian asked the judge to ensure that the police secure the scene for the visit, saying that dozens of people had tried to trespass on the property during the trial, with some trying to take pictures near the crime scene. 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