Alex Murdaugh turns himself in on charges connected to insurance fraud scheme

Murdaugh determined to finish his personal life however believed his life insurance coverage coverage had a suicide exclusion, his different lawyer Dick Harpootlian instructed NBC’s “Right now Present,” and that the scheme “was an try on his half to do one thing to guard” his eldest and solely residing baby.

Murdaugh appeared in courtroom Thursday, the place Hampton County Justice of the Peace Choose Tonja Alexander set a $20,000 private recognizance bond. Murdaugh was required to give up his passport to SLED and signal a waiver of extradition.

Harpootlian mentioned in courtroom that Murdaugh can be returning to an out-of-state rehabilitation middle the place he is being handled for an opioid dependancy that Harpootlian says contributed to his monetary points.

Murdaugh entered courtroom handcuffed, sporting a beige jail jumpsuit and a masks, his glasses perched on high of his head. At one level Murdaugh appeared to wipe tears from beneath his glasses whereas Harpootlian described the killings of his spouse Margaret and son Paul and the toll their deaths had on him.

“He has fallen from grace,” Harpootlian mentioned. “However earlier than any of that falling occurred, his spouse and son have been brutally murdered, and that has had a unprecedented impact on him. So we would ask you to permit him to go and assist heal himself.”

If Murdaugh leaves the power with out permission, the choose mentioned, his bond will probably be revoked and a bench warrant will probably be issued for his arrest.

Former shopper charged in suicide scheme

Smith, 61, was charged Wednesday with assisted suicide, assault and battery of a excessive and aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance coverage fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance coverage fraud, in line with the South Carolina Regulation Enforcement Division.

On Thursday, Hampton County Justice of the Peace Choose Alexander set bond for Smith at $55,000. Requested if he was thinking about a public defender, Smith replied, “I am most likely going to have a look at one, sure,” including he would seemingly apply for one early subsequent week.

Alexander ordered Smith to seem for roll name on October 25 on the Hampton County courthouse. Smith should receive an lawyer inside 15 days or his bond will probably be revoked, Alexander mentioned, and he should maintain the courtroom notified of any modifications of deal with.

Smith had a separate bond listening to Wednesday in Colleton County and obtained a $5,000 money surety bond for a meth cost and a private recognizance bond for a marijuana cost. He was transferred to Hampton County custody Wednesday afternoon, authorities mentioned.

Authorities initially described Murdaugh’s damage as a “superficial gunshot wound to the pinnacle,” although Murdaugh’s attorneys mentioned his cranium was fractured within the taking pictures.​

Murdaugh allegedly offered Smith with a firearm and directed Smith to shoot him within the head. Smith admitted Tuesday to being current on the taking pictures and to disposing of the firearm afterward, the affidavit states.

Murdaugh had represented Smith as his lawyer on at the least two events courting again to 2010, in line with courtroom information from the Colleton County 14th Judicial Circuit. He first represented Smith in a private damage lawsuit that Smith introduced towards a land administration firm. Murdaugh can also be listed as Smith’s lawyer for a 2013 site visitors infraction, the courtroom paperwork present.

Authorities now investigating a number of deaths

Murdaugh’s arrest Thursday is the most recent growth in what’s turn out to be a sprawling, high-profile crime saga unfolding within the southern area of the Palmetto State, the place the Murdaugh household has been a strong authorized dynasty for many years.

Over 87 consecutive years, three generations of Murdaughs served because the 14th Circuit Solicitor, an workplace that controls the prosecutions in Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.

Tragedy first struck in early June, when Alex Murdaugh’s spouse and son, Margaret and 22-year-old Paul, have been shot lifeless exterior the household’s dwelling in Islandton, about an hour north of Hilton Head Island, in line with SLED. Colleton County Sheriff’s deputies decided each victims had suffered a number of gunshot wounds.

On the time of his demise, Paul Murdaugh was dealing with fees of sailing underneath the affect (BUI), inflicting nice bodily hurt and inflicting demise in connection to a 2019 boat crash that claimed the lifetime of 19-year-old Mallory Seaside, courtroom information present. Paul had pleaded not responsible and courtroom information present the fees have been dropped after his demise.

About two weeks after the killings, SLED introduced that, primarily based on info gathered in the midst of the investigation, it was reopening an investigation into the demise of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old whose physique was discovered on a Hampton County highway in 2015.

The investigation was opened, SLED mentioned, on the request of the Hampton County coroner, who highlighted inconsistencies with Satterfield’s acknowledged method of demise, in addition to info gathered throughout SLED’s different ongoing investigations involving Alex Murdaugh.

“The decedent’s demise was not reported to the Coroner on the time, nor was an post-mortem carried out,” the coroner’s request to SLED mentioned. “On the demise certificates the style of demise was dominated ‘Pure,’ which is inconsistent with accidents sustained in a visit and fall accident.”