Everything About the Murdaugh Family Murders: From Their Legal Legacy to Multiple Unexplained Deaths (Updated)

Update, March 2, 2023: After deliberating for three hours on Thursday evening, a jury found Alex Murdaugh guilty of the murders of his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul, on June 7, 2021 .

Murdaugh still faces a host of serious charges, including money laundering, insurance fraud and alleged embezzlement of funds from a settlement related to the death of his housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. He will face sentencing for the murders of his wife and son on March 3, 2023.

The story of the Murdaugh murders stems from a century-old family legal dynasty in Hampton, South Carolina, which was handed over to fourth-generation attorney Alex Murdaugh.

But what took a century to build came crashing down in June 2021, when Alex called the authorities after finding his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and youngest son, Paul Murdaugh, shot dead in their 1,770 acre hunt at 4147 Moselle Road in Islandton, SC.

These crimes led to a series of revelations about the family, which HBO Max unpacked in the new true-crime documentary, Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty, airing November 3. Followed by another true crime series based on the once-prestigious family Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal set to hit Netflix on February 22.

Image credit: Courtesy of Maggie Murdaugh via Facebook.

Now in the same courthouse where generations of Murdaughs have ruled, Alex is set to stand trial for murder, with jury selection beginning January 23.

“Murdaugh will not be chained during the trial, which begins Monday in Colleton County,” South Carolina public radio reported. "He risks life behind bars if convicted. In the meantime, a portrait of his grandfather that hangs in the courtroom will be removed."

Keep scrolling to learn all about the case and the Murdaugh family.

Who is the Murdaugh family?

The Murdaugh family was born in South Carolina at the turn of the century and were prominent attorneys in the state for decades. Beginning with Alex Murdaugh's great-grandfather, Randolph Murdaugh Sr., who founded Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick in 1910, generations of his family have continued to work in the business, including his son , Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh II, grandson, Randolph Murdaugh III, and his great-great grandsons Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV and Alex Murdaugh.

The company won personal injury cases by taking advantage of a South Carolina law that allows people to sue in any county and not where an incident occurred. could have happened, which can often result in favoritism and landed Hampton County on the 2004 list of "legal hell." However, it has made the Murdaugh Group the go-to lawyers in the county.

Randolph Sr. also became the first elected attorney (or district attorney) for the 14th Judicial Circuit (district) in 1920. Randolph Sr. held the office for 20 years until his death. His son, Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh II, was elected to the next position. He worked from 1940 to 1986, until his son Randolph Murdaugh III took over, working from 1986 to 2006. Alex volunteered and worked part-time in the attorney's office after getting his graduation from USC Law School in 1994 through 2021.

The Murdaugh family served as solicitors in South Carolina for 86 straight years; lead criminal prosecutions for their district and play a key role in deciding which cases will be prosecuted (and when) from 1920 to 2006.

What happened to Paul and Maggie Murdaugh?

Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot on June 7, 2021. Alex Murdaugh called 911 around 10 p.m., saying he had discovered the bodies. However, the coroner found that the two had died between 9 and 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., by NP...