A notorious South Carolina attorney has been found guilty of murdering his wife and son to distract attention from his multi-million dollar financial crimes.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours before convicting 54-year-old Alex Murdaugh of two counts of murder at the end of a six-week trial.
He faces up to 30 years in prison without parole for each murder charge.
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot at close range near the dog kennels on their family estate on June 7, 2021.
Alex Murdaugh stood impassive during Thursday evening’s hearing in Walterboro.
“The evidence of guilt is overwhelming,” South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman said. He scheduled sentencing for Friday morning.
Murdaugh had pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife and youngest son in an attempt to cover up years of financial corruption – which he himself admitted in court.
After the 12-person jury’s verdict, dozens of onlookers gathered outside the courthouse where officers quickly led the handcuffed Murdo into a black van.
Reporters asked questions, though he remained silent. As police took him inside the car, a man behind the media line shouted that he was praying for him.
The case — chronicling the fall of a family born to power and privilege — made national headlines, inspired documentaries on Netflix and HBO.
Murdaugh was once an influential personal injury attorney in the state, and for decades until 2006, members of his family served as top prosecutors in the area.
But the trial heard he had been stealing from his law partners and clients for years to feed an addiction to painkillers and an extravagant lifestyle.
