FILE · SC-2021-COLLETON
ACTIVE · RETRIAL PENDING
State of South Carolina v. Richard A. Murdaugh
A plain-English guide to the murder case over the June 7, 2021 killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh: the 2023 trial, the jury-interference ruling that set aside the verdict, the separate financial-crimes cases, and the road to a retrial.
Active case. Alex Murdaugh's 2023 murder convictions were vacated on May 13, 2026. He is again presumed innocent of the murder charges unless proven guilty at a new trial. His separate guilty pleas to financial crimes are not affected.
$9 USD · 16-page PDF · instant download
Buy the PDF · $9Prints on US Letter or A4. Price shown in USD; your bank converts at checkout.
- Indictments
- 2022-GS-15-00592 to -00595 · Court of General Sessions (filed in Colleton County)
- Date of the killings
- June 7, 2021 · Moselle property, Colleton County, S.C.
- Status
- 2023 murder convictions vacated May 13, 2026; retrial set for April 5, 2027 in Sumter County
- Next hearing
- Evidentiary hearing, October 16, 2026 · Lexington County Courthouse
The case in brief
On the night of June 7, 2021, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, 52, and her son Paul, 22, were shot and killed near the dog kennels at Moselle, the family's hunting property in Colleton County, South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh, a Hampton personal-injury lawyer, called 911 and said he had found them.
Months later he was forced out of his family's law firm over missing money and arrested on financial charges; he has been in custody since October 2021. He later pleaded guilty to stealing millions from clients and his firm, receiving 40 years in federal court and 27 years in state court, served concurrently. A Colleton County grand jury indicted him for the two murders in July 2022, and on March 2, 2023, a jury found him guilty; he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He has consistently denied the killings.
On May 13, 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court, ruling on claims that the Colleton County Clerk of Court improperly influenced jurors, unanimously reversed the denial of his new-trial motion and ordered a new trial. The murder convictions and life sentences no longer stand, and he is again presumed innocent of those charges. The retrial is set for April 5, 2027, in Sumter County.
In memory of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.
What's inside the pack
- Plain-English summary with an at-a-glance fact box and a presumption-of-innocence note
- Remembering Maggie and Paul, and a schematic of key places
- Three-part timeline (killings, charges & trial; pleas, appeal & new trial; toward a retrial)
- Key people: court, prosecution, defense, investigators
- Eight court documents explained, with official links or published copies
- Glossary of legal terms
- Discussion questions
- Full numbered source list (42 sources) and a case-notes worksheet
Contains no photos and no graphic description of the scene or evidence. It does not name jurors or private witnesses and does not repeat unproven claims about other people.
Preview pages
Free short timeline
A condensed version of the pack's three-part timeline. Source numbers match the pack's source list. Current as of October 14, 2026.
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh are killed at Moselle; Alex Murdaugh calls 911 and says he found them. [4][18]
A Colleton County grand jury indicts him on two counts of murder and two weapons counts. [4]
After a six-week trial in Walterboro, the jury convicts him; Judge Clifton Newman imposes two consecutive life sentences. [1][20]
Sentenced to 27 years after pleading guilty to state financial crimes. [21]
A motion for a new trial over alleged jury interference by the Clerk of Court is denied. [1][22]
Sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for financial crimes, concurrent with the state sentences. [6]
The S.C. Supreme Court reverses and orders a new trial (Op. No. 28329); the Attorney General says the State will retry him. [1][5]
Judge Debra R. McCaslin is assigned the case, including any retrial. [3]
The judge rules the retrial will take place in Sumter County; the April 5, 2027 date stands. [12][25]
Upcoming evidentiary hearing on DNA, ballistics and other evidence disputes. [30]
Sources for this timeline
- S.C. Supreme Court, State v. Murdaugh, Op. No. 28329 (May 13, 2026), 931 S.E.2d 294 — www.sccourts.org
- S.C. Supreme Court, Order assigning Judge Debra R. McCaslin (June 8, 2026) — www.sccourts.org
- S.C. Attorney General, “Colleton County Grand Jury indicts Alex Murdaugh for two counts of murder” (July 14, 2022) — www.scag.gov
- S.C. Attorney General, “Attorney General Alan Wilson to retry Murdaugh murders” (May 13, 2026) — www.scag.gov
- U.S. Attorney's Office, D.S.C., “Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Federal Financial Crimes” (Apr. 1, 2024) — www.justice.gov
- Order Granting Defendant's Motion to Transfer Venue (Sept. 8, 2026); copy via FITSNews — www.fitsnews.com
- NPR, “Alex Murdaugh is indicted on murder charges, accused of killing his wife and son” (July 14, 2022) — www.npr.org
- NPR, “Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to 2 life terms for murder charges” (Mar. 3, 2023) — www.npr.org
- CNN, “Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to 27 years in prison for nearly 2 dozen state financial crimes” (Nov. 28, 2023) — www.cnn.com
- NPR, “Alex Murdaugh is denied new trial after judge hears jury tampering allegations” (Jan. 29, 2024) — www.npr.org
- WRDW, “Murdaugh retrial to take place in Sumter County” (Sept. 8, 2026) — www.wrdw.com
- ABC News 4 (WCIV/WACH), “Hearing on DNA, ballistics evidence in Murdaugh case scheduled for Oct. 16” (Oct. 2, 2026) — abcnews4.com
Follow the official record: S.C. Judicial Branch, C-Track appellate docket.
Get the full case file
16 printable pages, 8 court documents explained, 42 numbered sources.
Buy the PDF · $9Independent educational resource. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any court, agency, party, organization or family.