Alex Murdaugh and former client Curtis Smith facing new indictment

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– A new indictment has been issued for former disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh and his former client, Curtis Smith. The State Grand Jury indicted them for two conspiracy counts, including a narcotics count for oxycodone.

Curtis Smith was arrested last week and also indicted on four counts of money laundering, three counts of forgery and one count of criminal conspiracy. Last year, he turned himself in for allegedly conspiring to shoot Murdaugh in a botched suicide for hire plot that would have given a multi-million dollar life insurance policy payout to Murdaugh’s only living son.

Smith claims he was set up by Murdaugh, and the gun accidentally went off when Smith tried to take it away.

On November 4, 2021, officials say Smith was indicted by the Hampton County Grand Jury for false claim for payment, filing a false police report, conspiracy, pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and assisted suicide. Two weeks after this indictment, the Colleton County Grand Jury indicted Smith for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.

A bond hearing for Smith is being held at the Richland County Courthouse.

Authorities say a State Grand Jury indictment based in Colleton County alleges that 437 checks, valued at roughly $2.4 million went from Murdaugh to Smith from October 7, 2013-February 28, 2021. The two are further indicted on allegations regarding the distribution and purchase of Oxycodone.

This latest indictment is Murdaugh’s 16th, according to officials, totaling 81 charges accusing him of schemes to defraud victims out of $8,492,888.31.