Live updates Tuesday: Paul Murdaugh’s brushes with law, boat crash case questioned
The lawyer for the family of Mallory Beach, the 19-year-old killed in the 2019 Beaufort County boat crash, is questioning the crash’s investigation. And Paul Murdaugh, who was charged in the crash, was ticketed in 2020 and 2021 while he was out on bond, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette learned.
These developments Tuesday come a week after Murdaugh, 22, and his mother Maggie Murdaugh, 52, of the powerhouse South Carolina legal family, were found shot to death outside their home in Colleton County. Those close to the double homicide investigation, including the family and law enforcement, have remained mostly quiet since.
Meanwhile investigators are likely looking for more than one suspect in the June 7 Murdaugh killings, and they won’t be saying much about the case until those arrests are made, a retired police detective and criminal investigator says.
The dearth of official information from those involved in the investigation has prompted speculation and questions, while state and local law enforcement remain mum until a late Tuesday afternoon news release from the lead investigating agency in the case.
Those with information regarding this double homicide can contact Crime Stoppers at 888-CRIMESC (888-274-6372).
PAUL HAD BRUSHES WITH LAW WHILE ON BOND
Tuesday, 3:38 p.m.: Paul Murdaugh was ticketed two separate times for different violations while out on a personal recognizance bond for the three felony charges he was facing in the 2019 fatal boat crash.
One was a traffic ticket in May 2020; the other was a minor boating violation in March. Both incidents occurred in Charleston County.
- Lana Ferguson, Kaycen Bayless
SLED MAKES FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT
Tuesday 3:36 p.m.: The S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the agency leading the Murdaugh double homicide investigation, makes its first detailed public statement.
The statement does not contain much new information but is official confirmation that Alex Murdaugh, Paul’s father and Maggie’s husband, was the one who discovered their bodies and called 911.
The 911 call, which has not been released by the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, was made at 10:07 p.m. Local police responded and soon after contacted SLED, the release says.
It further says: “SLED is committed to conducting a professional and thorough criminal investigation to bring justice in the deaths of Paul and Maggie. SLED is further committed to transparency and will release any additional information, including additional information provided during the 911 call, at the appropriate time. However, we cannot and will not do anything that could jeopardize the integrity of this investigation or that would violate the due process afforded to all in our constitutional system of justice.”
- Lana Ferguson
LAWYER SAYS FATAL BOAT CRASH IMPROPERLY INVESTIGATED
Tuesday, 3:32 p.m.: A lawyer representing the family of Mallory Beach, the 19-year-old woman killed in a 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, says police improperly tried to influence the original boat crash investigation.
Although officials have said the three felony charges against Murdaugh in the crash will be dismissed because of his death, the state Attorney General’s Office has said the criminal investigation of the fatal crash would remain open.
The Beach family attorney, Mark Tinsley, released a statement about the AG’s decision.
“The Beaches have every confidence and are hopeful that the attorney general’s office will continue to investigate and prosecute any improprieties related to any attempts by any member of law enforcement to influence the original criminal investigation related to the boat crash,” it reads. “As such, they support the Attorney General’s decision in how they determine to move forward.”
The Beach family’s statement suggests the scope of the investigation doesn’t include just the boat crash, but what happened afterward.
- Lana Ferguson, Jake Shore
DEBUNKING THE RUMORS
Tuesday, 2 p.m.: As officials remain tightlipped about the double homicide investigation, rumors have begun circulating.
Who are the suspects? What weapons were used? Is this tied to the 2019 fatal boat crash?
Read what we know here: The Murdaugh murder case is rife with rumors and questions. Here’s what we know
- Lana Ferguson, John Monk, Jake Shore
CRIME EXPERT TALKS INVESTIGATION
Tuesday, 12:17 p.m.: Investigators are likely looking for more than one suspect since more than one weapon was used in the double homicide, Joe Giacalone, retired New York Police Department detective sergeant and John Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor, tells The Island Packet.
He also noted that how a person is killed and what weapon was used play a role in any homicide investigation.
The multiple gunshot wounds both Murdaughs sustained “seems like overkill,” he said, if the shooter or shooters just wanted them dead.
Investigators are likely collecting and combing through many pieces of potential evidence as well as conducting interviews, which typically begins with those closest to the victims.
As for the absence of public information on the case, Giacalone says that’s typical.
“It’s going to be awhile” before more information is released, he said. “It’s the right way to play it. Keep everybody guessing. You keep the bad guy guessing. They’ll think they’ve gotten away with it and might make a mistake.”
- Lana Ferguson
8 DAYS WITH NO ARREST
Tuesday, 11:27 a.m.: Today marks the eighth day in the double homicide case where no arrest has been made and no suspect has been publicly named.
“I have no additional information to release at this time, as our investigation is ongoing,” SLED spokesperson Tommy Crosby.
- Lana Ferguson
MURDAUGH FAMILY STATEMENT
Monday, 7:44 a.m.: In a Good Morning America segment, reporter Eva Pilgrim says: “The Murdaugh family releasing a statement saying they are devastated by the deaths but appreciative of law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to find whoever is responsible for these heinous crimes.”
Mother and son from prominent South Carolina family found dead in double murder mystery. @evapilgrim has the story. https://t.co/5JJRGLHfpG pic.twitter.com/1UcrwNIKQv
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 14, 2021
National and international news outlets have tuned in to South Carolina to watch this case unfold.
- Lana Ferguson
FORMER SC LAWMAKER TWEETS ABOUT MURDAUGH DEATHS
Friday, 9:56 a.m.: National attorney and former SC House of Representative Bakari Sellers quote tweeted a McClatchy article about the joint funeral for Paul and Maggie Murdaugh saying he’s sending prayers to Alex Murdaugh, Paul’s dad and Maggie’s husband.
“‘Big Red’ is a kind gentle soul. Keep him in your prayers as this week he’s lost his wife, son, and father,” he tweets.
My prayers go out to my brother, Alex. “Big Red” is a kind gentle soul.
Keep him in your prayers as this week he’s lost his wife, son, and father. https://t.co/T25IxZmZto— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) June 11, 2021
The tweet had 18 total retweets and 149 likes.
In 2006, when Sellers was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives, he became the youngest member of the legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. He is also a CNN political commentator.
- Lana Ferguson
You can follow our previous coverage here.