The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the murder conviction and life sentence Disgraced lawyer Alex Murdough In the shooting death of his wife and son. Prosecutors said they plan to retry the once prominent lawyer Known for his family lineage and multi-million dollar rulings In rural South Carolina. He worked at his family’s century-old law firm, and his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were elected county prosecutors. Murdaugh, the subject of numerous true crime documentaries and podcasts, will remain in prison on federal convictions for ripping off millions from customers.
Here’s a look at the events leading up to the Supreme Court’s decision:
June 7, 2021: Mardo He calls the police to report that his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22, were shot dead near a dog kennel on their property.
September 4, 2021: Officials say Alex Murdaugh attempts to stage his death in a plan to secure a $10 million life insurance payment for his surviving son. The plot Fails when The bullet fired by one of Murdoch’s aides only hit Murdoch’s head.
October 14, 2021: Police arrest Mardo at a drug rehab facility in Florida on charges related to him. Insurance settlements were stolen A total of more than $4 million is allocated to the children of his late housekeeper.
November 17, 2021: Plaintiffs 27 new charges revealed against Murdaugh, saying he stole nearly $5 million in settlement money. Prosecutors allege Murdaugh was hiding money from lawyers who sued him over the death of a teenager who was killed when authorities say an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh destroyed the boat he was driving.
January 18, 2022: Additional indictments now mean Mardo He faces 71 charges He stole approximately $8.5 million in the unlawful killing and destruction of settlements from more than a dozen people.
May 4, 2022: Russell Lovett, former CEO of Palmetto State Bank before his ouster earlier this year, is indicted on corruption charges. He conspired with Murdoch To defraud victims of $1.8 million.
June 28, 2022: Prosecutors set a prison sentence of eight years Money laundering and painkillers ring In new accusations
July 14, 2022: Murdoch Charged with premeditated murder in the deaths of his wife and son. The grand jury indictments assert that Murdoch killed his wife with a rifle and his son with a rifle
January 23, 2023: Mardu He goes on trial for double murder In the killing of his wife and son.
February 23, 2023: Murdough denies killing them after that He took the witness in his murder trial. But he admits to lying to investigators about the last time he saw them alive.
March 2, 2023: Jury Murdo is convicted of two counts of murder After a six-week trial. The jury deliberated for less than three hours.
March 3, 2023: Judge Camel Marduk To life in prison.
January 29, 2024: South Carolina judge Murdo denies trying to hold a new trial After his defense team accused a court clerk of jury tampering.
April 2, 2024: Murdoch He was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison Charged with stealing from clients and his law firm.
February 11, 2026: Mardu asks the South Carolina Supreme Court To overturn his murder conviction.
May 13, 2026: Supreme Court of South Carolina Overturns Murdoch’s murder convictions and life sentence. In a unanimous ruling, the justices said the court clerk’s behavior was a “scandalous assault on Mardo’s credibility” by signaling to jurors that his testimony could not be trusted. Prosecutors say they plan to retry Murdo on murder charges.