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Alex Murdaugh: Man charged in the shooting of prominent lawyer in what officials allege was a conspiracy to commit insurance fraud


Curtis Edward Smith, 61, of Colleton County has been charged with assisted suicide; conspiracy to commit insurance coverage fraud; pointing and presenting a firearm; and assault and battery of a excessive and aggravated nature, based on a South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division.

Based on the affidavit filed to help the costs, Murdaugh allegedly conspired with Smith within the taking pictures on September 4, offering him with the firearm and instructing Smith to shoot him within the head.

The aim, based on the affidavit, was for Smith to kill Murdaugh in order that his son may acquire a life insurance coverage payout of roughly $10 million.

Murdaugh, who survived the taking pictures, admitted to the scheme on Monday, the affidavit mentioned. On Tuesday, Smith admitted to being current on the taking pictures of Murdaugh and to disposing of the firearm, the affidavit mentioned.

Murdaugh is described as a co-defendant within the affidavit, though no fees have been introduced towards the 53-year-old legal professional.

SLED mentioned further fees are anticipated within the case. Smith has additionally been charged with the distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, based on SLED.

It is not clear if Smith has retained authorized counsel presently. CNN has reached out to a Murdaugh household spokesperson for remark.

Within the quick aftermath of the taking pictures, Murdaugh referred to as 911 to report he had been shot on a street in Hampton County, based on an announcement from SLED spokesperson Tommy Crosby. He was taken to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, the place he was handled for a “superficial gunshot wound to the pinnacle,” the assertion mentioned.

The following week, a household spokesperson issued an announcement indicating that the harm was extra severe and outlining extra particulars of the incident.

“Alex pulled over after seeing a low tire indicator gentle. A male driver in a blue pick-up requested him if he had automobile troubles, as quickly as Alex replied, he was shot,” the assertion mentioned.

Alex Murdaugh leaves a hearing in a personal injury lawsuit at the Richland County Courthouse in March of 2019.

Notable household in South Carolina

Murdaugh is a member of a really well-known household in authorized circles in South Carolina. The Murdaugh household has had three generations function the 14th Circuit Solicitor, which leads prosecutions for Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties within the southern a part of South Carolina.

Extra lately, they’ve been embroiled in a sequence of bloody tragedies — together with the deadly shootings of Murdaugh’s spouse and son Margaret and Paul in June.

The day earlier than the taking pictures incident, Murdaugh had resigned from the regulation agency Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED), based on the agency.

South Carolina attorney shot in the head 3 months after his wife and son were killed

Days later, the agency mentioned Murdaugh’s resignation got here “after the invention by PMPED that Alex misappropriated funds in violation of PMPED requirements and insurance policies.”

His license was subsequently suspended, based on the South Carolina Supreme Court docket.

Randy Murdaugh IV, Alex Murdaugh’s brother and likewise an legal professional at PMPED regulation agency, launched an announcement concerning the resignation acknowledging what legal professional Jim Griffin would later specify as Alex Murdaugh’s opioid dependancy.

“I used to be shocked, simply as the remainder of my PMPED household, to be taught of my brother, Alex’s, drug dependancy and stealing of cash,” Randy Murdaugh wrote within the assertion.

SLED introduced Monday that it has opened an investigation into Murdaugh primarily based upon the misappropriation fund allegations.

A household tragedy

Two days after the taking pictures, Murdaugh launched an announcement saying he was coming into rehab.

“The murders of my spouse and son have triggered an extremely tough time in my life. I’ve made a variety of selections that I actually remorse,” he mentioned within the assertion. “I am resigning from my regulation agency and coming into rehab after an extended battle that has been exacerbated by these murders. I’m immensely sorry to everybody I’ve damage together with my household, associates and colleagues. I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships.”

On June 7, Alex Murdaugh referred to as 911 and reported he discovered his spouse Margaret, 52, and son Paul, then 22, shot lifeless exterior of their dwelling in Islandton, a small neighborhood about an hour north of Hilton Head Island, based on the SLED.

South Carolina attorney resigns and enters rehab after being shot in the head months after deaths of his wife and son

Colleton County Sheriff’s deputies decided each victims had a number of gunshot wounds.

His brothers, John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh IV, quickly after spoke to “Good Morning America” concerning the killings and mentioned they didn’t imagine Alex was concerned.

“My brother liked Maggie and liked Paul like nothing else on this earth, identical to he loves (his different son) Buster,” Randy informed “GMA.” “So, there isn’t any attainable means he may have something to do with this, I can guarantee you.”

The SLED requested the general public to withhold judgment till the investigation is full.

Whereas investigating the mom and son’s deaths, SLED gathered info that prompted them to reopen an investigation into the unsolved demise of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, whose physique was discovered within the street in 2015 in Hampton County, the company mentioned.

CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Eric Levenson, Martin Savidge and Angela Barajas contributed to this report.



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