The Murdaugh Family: Unveiling South Carolina's Enigmatic History and Intricate Family Tree

Summary

The Murdaugh family's history is filled with power and influence in the South Carolina legal system, which has led to a web of alleged crimes.

The family dynasty traces its origins to Randolph Murdaugh Sr., who established his own law firm and eventually became the District Attorney. Despite not holding the position of a District Attorney, Alex Murdaugh wielded considerable influence through his work at the family law firm. Eventually, he was convicted for the murder of his wife and son.

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal on Netflix delves into the history of the Murdaugh family, focusing on the recent events surrounding the shocking deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, as well as the trial of Alex Murdaugh. This true crime documentary series uncovers a troubling tale of deceit that began with a fatal boating incident on February 24, 2019, resulting in the tragic loss of Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old victim. The case unraveled a web of falsehoods surrounding the influential Murdaugh family, ultimately leading to the brutal murders of Maggie and Paul on June 7, 2021.

Alex, stemming from a long-standing lineage of power and influence within South Carolina's legal and law enforcement sectors, was convicted of murdering his wife and son after a six-week trial on March 2, 2023. He received a life sentence, vehemently maintaining his innocence. However, the media frenzy surrounding the court proceedings brought to light numerous other alleged crimes committed by Alex and the Murdaugh family, including embezzlement, fraud, corruption, and more. Alex's birth into an esteemed family afforded him the ability to wield significant influence in South Carolina for an extended period.

Randolph Murdaugh Sr

The Murdaugh family's involvement in the South Carolina law can be traced back to Randolph Murdaugh Sr. It may be a little confusing because there are three men named Randolph in the family who have all sequentially served as circuit solicitor, also known as the elected District Attorney, for South Carolina's 14th judicial district. Unfortunately, this is just the nature of this family.

Born on February 28, 1887, Randolph Murdaugh Sr. established the Murdaugh family dynasty. The family's influential hold over local law enforcement can be attributed to Randolph Murdaugh Sr., who started his own one-man law firm in the 1910s. Over time, his power grew and he was eventually elected as the District Attorney of Varnville, South Carolina in 1920, according to HELLO! Sadly, Randolph Murdaugh Sr. passed away at the age of 53 on July 19, 1940, in a tragic car accident involving a train.

Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr

Randolph Murdaugh Sr.'s wife, Etta Causey Harvey, delivered their son, Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., on January 15, 1915. Continuing his father's legacy as the District Attorney of South Carolina's 14th judicial district, Buster succeeded Randolph Murdaugh Sr. in 1940 after his passing. Holding the position for 46 years, Buster retired at the age of 71 in 1986. Sadly, Buster passed away on February 5, 1998. Notably, his portrait once adorned the courtroom where Alex Murdaugh's trial took place, as depicted in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, but it was removed during the course of the court proceedings.

Randolph Murdaugh III

Randolph Murdaugh Jr. and Gladys Marvin had a sole son, Randolph Murdaugh III. After Randolph Jr.'s retirement in 1986, Randolph Murdaugh III succeeded his father as the circuit solicitor in Varnville, South Carolina. Throughout his tenure, Randolph Murdaugh III faced no opposition in his role as District Attorney until his eventual retirement in 2006. Tragically, he passed away on June 10, 2021, just three days after the devastating murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, his daughter-in-law and grandson.

Alex Murdaugh

Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the central figure in the Netflix series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, was born on May 27, 1968. While he did not follow the family tradition of holding the District Attorney position in South Carolina's 14th judicial district, Alex still found himself in the same line of work. He primarily worked at the Murdaugh family's law firm, giving him significant influence in the county and state.

However, everything crumbled when Alex's wife, Maggie, and son, Paul Murdaugh, were tragically shot and killed on their property in June 2021. A year later, in July 2022, Alex was arrested for their murders. On March 2, 2023, a jury in South Carolina found him guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. As a result, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Maggie Murdaugh

Margaret "Maggie" Kennedy Branstetter, born in 1968, was a socialite who tied the knot with Alex Murdaugh. The couple had two sons, Paul and Buster. Unfortunately, tragedy struck on June 7, 2021, when Maggie, 52 years old at the time, and her son Paul were sadly killed. Alex, Maggie's husband, discovered their bodies and promptly contacted the authorities. Disturbing body cam footage from that fateful night, featured in the Netflix series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, revealed Alex's distress. Consequently, the police initially suspected him as the perpetrator. As previously mentioned, Alex has been convicted of the murders of both Maggie and Paul and is currently serving a life sentence.

Paul Murdaugh

Paul Murdaugh, the son of Maggie and Alex Murdaugh, was born on April 14, 1999. In 2019, he found himself at the center of a scandal when he operated a boat while intoxicated, resulting in a tragic accident that caused the death of Mallory Beach, his best friend's girlfriend. Despite the pleas from those on the boat to let someone else drive and cease his erratic behavior, Paul refused to listen. He faced criminal charges and was indicted for the wrongful death of Mallory until his father, Alex, committed the unthinkable and took Paul's life.

Richard "Buster" Murdaugh

Curtis "Cousin Eddie" Smith

Curtis Smith, also known as Cousin Eddie, completes the Murdaugh family as a key figure in the second season of the Netflix true crime documentary series. On September 4, 2021, Alex Murdaugh suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and initially, law enforcement suspected Curtis to be the perpetrator. Accusations arose suggesting that Alex had arranged for his distant cousin to shoot him, following the tragic deaths of his wife and son, all in an attempt for Buster to collect the life insurance policy. However, as reported by Seventeen, Curtis asserted that he had refused to shoot Alex and the gun accidentally discharged during a struggle. As depicted in the series "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," Curtis faced charges relating to an alleged criminal conspiracy.

Sources: HELLO!, Seventeen