Disgraced South Carolina attorney, Alex Murdaugh, has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. The sentencing came the day after Murdaugh was found guilty on two counts of murder and two weapons charges for the June 7, 2021 shooting. Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son near the dog kennels of the family's hunting estate as personal and financial struggles became overwhelming. During the trial, Murdaugh claimed his innocence, but the prosecutor called him a "cunning manipulator" who placed himself above all others, including his family.
Before Murdaugh's sentencing, Judge Clifton Newman addressed him, suggesting that the opioid addiction Murdaugh suffered may have turned him into a monster. Paul was shot in the chest and head with a shotgun at close range, while Maggie was shot multiple times and had been shot with 300 Blackout ammo from an AR-style rifle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Murdaugh initially denied being near the dog kennels, but a Snapchat video taken by Paul showed him at the scene just five minutes before the murders. During his defense, Murdaugh later admitted to lying about his whereabouts.
Murdaugh also faces dozens of charges for alleged financial crimes, including misappropriating money from his law firm, defrauding clients of funds, and computer crimes. Additionally, he allegedly defrauded the family of his former housekeeper out of a $4.5 million insurance settlement after she died in a mysterious slip-and-fall accident at his home. A trial for those charges will be held at a later date.
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