*** call for help, please hurry. *** tangled web of lies, attempted coverups and now murder charges, ribs accused of killing his wife and son. The former south Carolina attorney is set to go on trial. The time has come for Alex moral to be all responsible. Do you think they will find who did this? We certainly hope so. Hope so. It's definitely going to go down as one of the most famous trials south Carolina has ever seen the trial of Alex murdock, the Clinton County courthouse. It's *** familiar territory for alec Murdoch except this time, the now disbarred attorney won't be trying *** case here. He'll be defending his own. The trial of Alex Murdoch, Good evening. I'm Riley Miller accused of killing his wife, Maggie and son. Paul Alex claims he found them shot to death at their hunting lodge Moselle june 7th 2021 since their deaths and unraveling saga of twists and turns financial crimes, *** deadly boat crash, the death of the family housekeeper and an unsolved death of *** teenage boy. Countless questions remain, but one question that prosecutors will focus on who killed Maggie and paul, It's definitely going to go down as one of the most famous trials South Carolina has ever seen. It's *** case that's garnered international attention, alec Murdoch wants prominent, low country lawyer will be tried in *** courtroom where he used to drive many case himself. As alec goes to trial for the shooting deaths of his wife and son. *** big question is, are his financial crimes, motive for murder. That's something Judge Clifton Newman now must decide the day that he um is accused of murdering his wife and son. It was *** culmination of pressures. Attorney eric Bland says missing money from Alex law firm was one of those pressures but that was just the tip of the iceberg. You have his son paul who is charged with D. U. I. Felony boating accident. He and his son buster are being sued by Mark Tinsley in the Mallory Beach case and then three days days later there was *** hearing where he was going to have to disclose all of his finances regardless of what Judge Newman decides. Bland says alec has one good thing going for him. His attorneys don't underestimate Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin. They are exceptional trial attorneys, you're talking about Dick Harpootlian who has tried over 100 murder cases either as *** prosecutor or *** defense lawyer. To my knowledge, Creighton Waters has not tried any murder cases, that's really not what an attorney general does. But are those two attorneys enough to get *** not guilty verdict for alec? I don't think there's gonna be *** not guilty verdict, but I think there could be *** high likelihood of *** hung jury, All they have to do is flip one or two jurors and it'll be *** hung jury and this is being tried in Alex's backyard. The Myrtle family backyard and Bland says that's *** big deal when it comes to jury selection. There's people that are scared of the myrtles, you know, there's jurors that I've potential jurors that have called me that are very, very nervous that they're gonna be selected. There's witnesses who do not want to testify, witnesses presumably on the edge of their seat. It's an unsettling feeling of what will happen, but to understand what could happen, we have to understand how we got here. Are they breathing? No ma'am, my wife and my son. Please hurry. And so it makes you wonder, okay, is this alleged shooting that happened this weekend connected in some way to the death of his son and his wife? And that's something we just don't know the answer to beyond Alex Murdoch and his dramatic attorneys one face, you'll see *** lot of circuit judge Clifton Newman Newman is an at large judge of the south Carolina circuit courts at this point, Newman is no stranger to the courtroom. Antics of Murdoch's attorneys in august hearing. Newman kept his composure as the defense counsel waived their arms pointing fingers and raised their voices. Newman Appointed by the Supreme Court is now poised to be the most powerful person in the courtroom. Come Monday while the focus will be on inside the courtroom Walterboro South Carolina, the county seat of Clinton County is bracing for *** surge of strangers with *** population of nearly 6000. Our Brooke Butler went to Walterboro where businesses and residents of the small city are preparing. It may be quiet now, but very soon the city of Walterboro will likely be bustling with activity. The front porch of the low country becoming front and center of *** murder trial that's drawing international attention. It's just *** really welcoming small town, really beautiful Walterboro, *** city known for its antique stores, red rocking chairs in southern hospitality, welcoming hundreds if not thousands of people. As *** result, the Murdoch murder trial, we do inspect *** large influx of people, particularly the first couple of weeks of the trial. The influx of visitors will likely result in *** boom in business. Some stores are admittedly feeling *** little nervous. There's been *** range of reactions, but half of it, you know what you'll get until it gets too. For many. *** top concern revolves around traffic and parking. It's the business that it's going to create the clogging of the roads, the rerouting of traffic, people trying to get to and from work. But the city's tourism director scott groom says they're taking several steps to ensure they're ready for the crowds. We do have free parking all through the area. We've contacted *** local church, we've got parking for media. There are *** number of lots with free parking in the area. The city parking lots on top of addressing parking groom says they're planning on bringing in food trucks. There are not enough restaurants nearby. On main street, we have four restaurants, two of them are only open for dinner. The food trucks will assemble near the courthouse ensuring people will be able to grab *** meal when trial breaks for lunch and as the trial approaches, locals want everyone to remember to be kind and patient with them as they deal with crowds, they're not accustomed to, everybody needs to understand, wait their turn, stand in line, be patient, everything will be fine. The Murdoch murder trial is set to kick off on monday during selection will be the first order of business reporting in Colleton County. I'm Rhett Butler w J C L 22 news for three generations, the Murdoch family had *** large presence in the low country from solicitor to powerful attorneys. But where does it all begin for that? We go back decades For almost *** century. *** member of the Murdoch family held the title of 14 circuit solicitor covering five counties. Alan Dale, Beaufort, Colleton Hampton and Jasper. The function of *** solicitor in South Carolina is the same as the function of the people's attorney or prosecuting attorney or *** district attorney in other states. And that is to prosecute criminal cases. As soon as the position of solicitor became an elected one in 1920 Hampton attorney Randolph murdock senior was chosen for the job. He was killed in *** train wreck in 1940 was succeeded by his son Randolph buster Murdoch who held the position until his retirement in 1986 buster's son Randolph murdock the third was then elected and served until 2005. His influence was not limited to this circuit uh as as solicitors in south Carolina or political animals, they necessarily have uh political bonds um that they maintain, and I think that used to be *** lot more important uh when buster was was coming up um, than it is now. But the influence of the family extended beyond the role of solicitor, the family's powerful law firm. P. M. P. E. D. Has been in operation for more than *** century. That law firm has some really, really fine lawyers who just happened to be very, very skillful P. M. P. E. D. Accused Alex murdock. Randolph, the third son of stealing money Alex resigned, but his brother Randolph murdock. The fourth is still listed on the firm's website, despite the tragedies that have recently surrounded the family and put the Murdoch name in the national spotlight. Mccloskey believes the P. M. P. E. D. Law firms prominence will survive. You bet, uh, those those guys are good at what they do and they're gonna remain prominent, uh is it something that they're gonna have to find ways to quietly overcome? You bet this is not, this is not fun for anybody. This is the kind of story that really has no good ending. P. M. P. E. D. Still exists, but under *** new name parker law group, the Murdoch made mysterious fatal fall, considered an accident at the time. But regardless of what happened, it's what transpired after that caught the attention of authorities. If you look at all the victims of Alex, they were either um people who are extremely vulnerable. The trial of Alex murdock continues to unfathomable tragedies. Three deaths. The Moselle property, the hunting lodge where Maggie and paul Murdoch and Gloria Satterfield all died. The event in the hands of the court, our Brooke Butler visited that property 41 47 Moselle Road County property was once the Murdoch family's hunting lodge. It became the site of *** double murder back in 2021. Now it's on its way to new ownership, june 7th 2021 Murdoch calls 911 saying he found his wife, Maggie and son paul shot to death at their property on Moselle Road investigators created this diagram showing where on the property their bodies were found, not the only ones who met an untimely end at this hunting lodge in 2018, Maggie herself called 911 reporting their housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield had fallen. She did not survive one year after Satterfield's death, 19 year old Mallory Beach was killed in *** boat crash in Beaufort County investigators say paul Murdoch was the one driving the boat and say he was well over the legal limit in *** wrongful death lawsuit filed by beaches family. They list members of the Murdoch family as defendants. *** family recently reached *** potential settlement in that lawsuit. If approved by *** judge. The settlement would require the personal representative of Maggie murdock's estate, john marvin Murdoch to sell assets like the Moselle property. The proceeds will go directly towards the settlement on the website where the hunting lodge is listed, It states the property is under contract meaning an offer has been accepted as to who the potential buyer is that remains unknown. The listing describes this property as top tier one that's complete with all of the amenities and improvements one would expect from *** high end sporting property reporting in college in County I'm Brett Butler W. J. C L. 22 news as the trial gets underway, Murdoch's financial crimes. The missing money from the death settlement of the family housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield will take center stage, millions of dollars were missing after murdock sued himself and he almost got away with it. Gloria Satterfield, humble, hard working mother of two was employed as *** housekeeper and nanny for the Murdoch family for two decades and after her tragic trip and fall death at their home. She and her family became one of alec's many victims. If you look at all the victims of Alex, they were either um people who are extremely vulnerable people who not only were vulnerable because of their lack of education or their lack of sophistication, but it's the worst time of their life Alex Murdoch schemed *** profit off Gloria Satterfield's death worked. That is until her son's read an article in the paper about *** wrongful death settlement that should have awarded them money. However, they had never seen *** dime of it. I think if if Alex wasn't so greedy that if he just gave the boys $25,000 each and said, look, the rest had to go to pay the medical bills, they never would have asked any questions. But that greed is what got alec in trouble again. The Satterfield family's attorneys, eric Bland and Ronnie Richter uncovered what happened and recovered more than $7.5 million for Gloria's sons. In addition to that, they also got *** confession of judgment from alec which got him disbarred the very next day While the money won't bring Gloria back, Bland says her family has some peace and knowing her death served *** purpose. It was her death and the exploitation of her death through the claims and the stolen money that actually brought all the financial crimes uh, to light The South Carolina. Law Enforcement Division announced June three of 2022 that they plan to Exume glorious Satterfield's body as part of their investigation. *** date for when that will happen has not yet been set. He's *** very caring person and she was the rock of their family. In the days after alec claims he found paul and Maggie dead. Other members of the Murdoch family came forward, the trial of Alex Murdoch continues. Just days after alec Murdoch claims he found his son and wife murdered Alex brother spoke to abc news in an exclusive interview I got *** call from, from alec monday night. As soon as I had to devote, I knew something was wrong. Oh man. He just told me, he said, come as fast as you can, paul and Maggie have been hurt his voice to fear. He was just too strong. But the person that did this is out there and there's information, however big or however small it is. Did they have any enemies? I really don't know of any enemies. You hear all this talk on the social media with regard to paul, but I don't know of anybody that would truly, that would truly be an enemy, actually want to harm them. Paul had been awaiting trial accused of being under the influence while crashing *** boat that killed 19 year old passenger, Mallory Beach in 2019. He pleaded not guilty in the case in Hamilton. Now with what happened that night, I never knew what it would be like to go through something like this. Emergency, February 24, 2019 the night that put the murdochs back in the spotlight and changed the beach. Family's life forever, investigators say paul Murdoch was driving *** boat under the influence with five other teenagers, including beach when he crashed into *** Bridge near paris island finally got to the point, I grabbed my girlfriend in the bottom of the boat beach was gone. Police say paul was grossly intoxicated yet he wasn't issued *** field sobriety test, nor did he ever spent *** night in jail. Good luck authorities search teams, friends and family searched for an entire week until 911. What's your emergency? We think we found her beaches body was found on March 3rd 2019 in *** march near the broad river boat landing. Later that month. Her family filed *** wrongful death lawsuit against Alex and buster Murdoch plus parker's convenience store who sold paul the alcohol the night of the crash april 18th 2019 would have been beaches 20th birthday. It is hard, yes, it's hard, there's moments that we have that things remind us of Mallory and We break down at times. It was also the day that Paul was indicted for boating under the influence causing death and two counts of boating under the influence causing great bodily injury. Paul pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court ordered mediation in the wrongful death lawsuit failed on June 4, 2021 meeting the case would then head to trial three days later, Paul and his mother, Maggie are found shot to death at their family's hunting lodge. The family of Mallory Beach has since reached *** settlement with Buster Murdoch, the only surviving son of Alec in *** lawsuit, *** 2015 death could be connected to the Murdoch family. The story of Stephen Smith and the new investigation next. The trial of Alex Murdoch continues While the country and even the world will be focused on the trial. There are still unanswered questions into the death of *** young man found on *** road about 10 miles from the Murdoch home. In the weeks after Paul and Maggie's death Sled announced they're reopening the investigation. Marvis hearing now with what we know. Oh my gosh, we've been waiting on this forever. Sandy smith wakes up every morning thinking about her son steven in her years long search for answers and they said he was shot in the head And then it turned out it was *** hit and run and then he was beat up. And so the story just kept changing Steven Smith's body was found along Sandy Run Road in Hampton County in July of 2015. The official cause of death at the time was that Smith died of *** hit and run. I just couldn't believe it. But he, when they told me hit and run, I said that's impossible because Stephen wouldn't have been walking in the road to start with, he would have cut through the woods. He would not have been in the highway with no arrest made that search for answers continues in the case is reopened. In June 2021, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced that they were reopening the investigation into Steven Smith's death in *** statement. Then they said the decision to look into the death was based on information gathered during the murder investigation into the deaths of paul and Maggie murdock for sandy smith, it could be another step closer to justice or more unanswered questions. It's like he's *** nobody because we're poor people, spouses kill each other frequently in our society. Unfortunately, whether it's, you know, over money, over it's love or hate whatever, But to transcend *** parent killing *** child is really dark. *** motive unclear. *** suspect charged his trial set to begin, no matter the outcome. Legal analysts say the landscape has changed. Do you think all of this will bring change to south Carolina? I do. Um you know, sunlight is the best disinfectant. I think what we've exposed about how settlement agreements are sometimes done off record without *** court reporter and without an order of court. I think all that is changing and everybody's doing it on record and making sure that orders are signed and filed. So, you know, change happens slow in our society. It's incremental, but I only think that good can come from this sunlight and change. We thank you for watching our special presentation of the trial of Alex Murdoch. The conversation does not end here. Be sure to head over to W J C L dot com where we have extensive coverage, including *** timeline of everything you just saw and more. I'm Riley Miller, Good night *** call for help, please hurry. *** tangled web of lies, attempted coverups and now murder charges, ribs accused of killing his wife and son. The former south Carolina attorney is set to go on trial. The time has come for Alex moral to be all responsible. Do you think they will find who did this? We certainly hope so. Hope so. It's definitely going to go down as one of the most famous trials south Carolina has ever seen the trial of Alex murdock, the Clinton County courthouse. It's *** familiar territory for alec Murdoch except this time, the now disbarred attorney won't be trying *** case here. He'll be defending his own. The trial of Alex Murdoch, Good evening. I'm Riley Miller accused of killing his wife, Maggie and son. Paul Alex claims he found them shot to death at their hunting lodge Moselle june 7th 2021 since their deaths and unraveling saga of twists and turns financial crimes, *** deadly boat crash, the death of the family housekeeper and an unsolved death of *** teenage boy. Countless questions remain, but one question that prosecutors will focus on who killed Maggie and paul, It's definitely going to go down as one of the most famous trials South Carolina has ever seen. It's *** case that's garnered international attention, alec Murdoch wants prominent, low country lawyer will be tried in *** courtroom where he used to drive many case himself. As alec goes to trial for the shooting deaths of his wife and son. *** big question is, are his financial crimes, motive for murder. That's something Judge Clifton Newman now must decide the day that he um is accused of murdering his wife and son. It was *** culmination of pressures. Attorney eric Bland says missing money from Alex law firm was one of those pressures but that was just the tip of the iceberg. You have his son paul who is charged with D. U. I. Felony boating accident. He and his son buster are being sued by Mark Tinsley in the Mallory Beach case and then three days days later there was *** hearing where he was going to have to disclose all of his finances regardless of what Judge Newman decides. Bland says alec has one good thing going for him. His attorneys don't underestimate Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin. They are exceptional trial attorneys, you're talking about Dick Harpootlian who has tried over 100 murder cases either as *** prosecutor or *** defense lawyer. To my knowledge, Creighton Waters has not tried any murder cases, that's really not what an attorney general does. But are those two attorneys enough to get *** not guilty verdict for alec? I don't think there's gonna be *** not guilty verdict, but I think there could be *** high likelihood of *** hung jury, All they have to do is flip one or two jurors and it'll be *** hung jury and this is being tried in Alex's backyard. The Myrtle family backyard and Bland says that's *** big deal when it comes to jury selection. There's people that are scared of the myrtles, you know, there's jurors that I've potential jurors that have called me that are very, very nervous that they're gonna be selected. There's witnesses who do not want to testify, witnesses presumably on the edge of their seat. It's an unsettling feeling of what will happen, but to understand what could happen, we have to understand how we got here. Are they breathing? No ma'am, my wife and my son. Please hurry. And so it makes you wonder, okay, is this alleged shooting that happened this weekend connected in some way to the death of his son and his wife? And that's something we just don't know the answer to beyond Alex Murdoch and his dramatic attorneys one face, you'll see *** lot of circuit judge Clifton Newman Newman is an at large judge of the south Carolina circuit courts at this point, Newman is no stranger to the courtroom. Antics of Murdoch's attorneys in august hearing. Newman kept his composure as the defense counsel waived their arms pointing fingers and raised their voices. Newman Appointed by the Supreme Court is now poised to be the most powerful person in the courtroom. Come Monday while the focus will be on inside the courtroom Walterboro South Carolina, the county seat of Clinton County is bracing for *** surge of strangers with *** population of nearly 6000. Our Brooke Butler went to Walterboro where businesses and residents of the small city are preparing. It may be quiet now, but very soon the city of Walterboro will likely be bustling with activity. The front porch of the low country becoming front and center of *** murder trial that's drawing international attention. It's just *** really welcoming small town, really beautiful Walterboro, *** city known for its antique stores, red rocking chairs in southern hospitality, welcoming hundreds if not thousands of people. As *** result, the Murdoch murder trial, we do inspect *** large influx of people, particularly the first couple of weeks of the trial. The influx of visitors will likely result in *** boom in business. Some stores are admittedly feeling *** little nervous. There's been *** range of reactions, but half of it, you know what you'll get until it gets too. For many. *** top concern revolves around traffic and parking. It's the business that it's going to create the clogging of the roads, the rerouting of traffic, people trying to get to and from work. But the city's tourism director scott groom says they're taking several steps to ensure they're ready for the crowds. We do have free parking all through the area. We've contacted *** local church, we've got parking for media. There are *** number of lots with free parking in the area. The city parking lots on top of addressing parking groom says they're planning on bringing in food trucks. There are not enough restaurants nearby. On main street, we have four restaurants, two of them are only open for dinner. The food trucks will assemble near the courthouse ensuring people will be able to grab *** meal when trial breaks for lunch and as the trial approaches, locals want everyone to remember to be kind and patient with them as they deal with crowds, they're not accustomed to, everybody needs to understand, wait their turn, stand in line, be patient, everything will be fine. The Murdoch murder trial is set to kick off on monday during selection will be the first order of business reporting in Colleton County. I'm Rhett Butler w J C L 22 news for three generations, the Murdoch family had *** large presence in the low country from solicitor to powerful attorneys. But where does it all begin for that? We go back decades For almost *** century. *** member of the Murdoch family held the title of 14 circuit solicitor covering five counties. Alan Dale, Beaufort, Colleton Hampton and Jasper. The function of *** solicitor in South Carolina is the same as the function of the people's attorney or prosecuting attorney or *** district attorney in other states. And that is to prosecute criminal cases. As soon as the position of solicitor became an elected one in 1920 Hampton attorney Randolph murdock senior was chosen for the job. He was killed in *** train wreck in 1940 was succeeded by his son Randolph buster Murdoch who held the position until his retirement in 1986 buster's son Randolph murdock the third was then elected and served until 2005. His influence was not limited to this circuit uh as as solicitors in south Carolina or political animals, they necessarily have uh political bonds um that they maintain, and I think that used to be *** lot more important uh when buster was was coming up um, than it is now. But the influence of the family extended beyond the role of solicitor, the family's powerful law firm. P. M. P. E. D. Has been in operation for more than *** century. That law firm has some really, really fine lawyers who just happened to be very, very skillful P. M. P. E. D. Accused Alex murdock. Randolph, the third son of stealing money Alex resigned, but his brother Randolph murdock. The fourth is still listed on the firm's website, despite the tragedies that have recently surrounded the family and put the Murdoch name in the national spotlight. Mccloskey believes the P. M. P. E. D. Law firms prominence will survive. You bet, uh, those those guys are good at what they do and they're gonna remain prominent, uh is it something that they're gonna have to find ways to quietly overcome? You bet this is not, this is not fun for anybody. This is the kind of story that really has no good ending. P. M. P. E. D. Still exists, but under *** new name parker law group, the Murdoch made mysterious fatal fall, considered an accident at the time. But regardless of what happened, it's what transpired after that caught the attention of authorities. If you look at all the victims of Alex, they were either um people who are extremely vulnerable. The trial of Alex murdock continues to unfathomable tragedies. Three deaths. The Moselle property, the hunting lodge where Maggie and paul Murdoch and Gloria Satterfield all died. The event in the hands of the court, our Brooke Butler visited that property 41 47 Moselle Road County property was once the Murdoch family's hunting lodge. It became the site of *** double murder back in 2021. Now it's on its way to new ownership, june 7th 2021 Murdoch calls 911 saying he found his wife, Maggie and son paul shot to death at their property on Moselle Road investigators created this diagram showing where on the property their bodies were found, not the only ones who met an untimely end at this hunting lodge in 2018, Maggie herself called 911 reporting their housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield had fallen. She did not survive one year after Satterfield's death, 19 year old Mallory Beach was killed in *** boat crash in Beaufort County investigators say paul Murdoch was the one driving the boat and say he was well over the legal limit in *** wrongful death lawsuit filed by beaches family. They list members of the Murdoch family as defendants. *** family recently reached *** potential settlement in that lawsuit. If approved by *** judge. The settlement would require the personal representative of Maggie murdock's estate, john marvin Murdoch to sell assets like the Moselle property. The proceeds will go directly towards the settlement on the website where the hunting lodge is listed, It states the property is under contract meaning an offer has been accepted as to who the potential buyer is that remains unknown. The listing describes this property as top tier one that's complete with all of the amenities and improvements one would expect from *** high end sporting property reporting in college in County I'm Brett Butler W. J. C L. 22 news as the trial gets underway, Murdoch's financial crimes. The missing money from the death settlement of the family housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield will take center stage, millions of dollars were missing after murdock sued himself and he almost got away with it. Gloria Satterfield, humble, hard working mother of two was employed as *** housekeeper and nanny for the Murdoch family for two decades and after her tragic trip and fall death at their home. She and her family became one of alec's many victims. If you look at all the victims of Alex, they were either um people who are extremely vulnerable people who not only were vulnerable because of their lack of education or their lack of sophistication, but it's the worst time of their life Alex Murdoch schemed *** profit off Gloria Satterfield's death worked. That is until her son's read an article in the paper about *** wrongful death settlement that should have awarded them money. However, they had never seen *** dime of it. I think if if Alex wasn't so greedy that if he just gave the boys $25,000 each and said, look, the rest had to go to pay the medical bills, they never would have asked any questions. But that greed is what got alec in trouble again. The Satterfield family's attorneys, eric Bland and Ronnie Richter uncovered what happened and recovered more than $7.5 million for Gloria's sons. In addition to that, they also got *** confession of judgment from alec which got him disbarred the very next day While the money won't bring Gloria back, Bland says her family has some peace and knowing her death served *** purpose. It was her death and the exploitation of her death through the claims and the stolen money that actually brought all the financial crimes uh, to light The South Carolina. Law Enforcement Division announced June three of 2022 that they plan to Exume glorious Satterfield's body as part of their investigation. *** date for when that will happen has not yet been set. He's *** very caring person and she was the rock of their family. In the days after alec claims he found paul and Maggie dead. Other members of the Murdoch family came forward, the trial of Alex Murdoch continues. Just days after alec Murdoch claims he found his son and wife murdered Alex brother spoke to abc news in an exclusive interview I got *** call from, from alec monday night. As soon as I had to devote, I knew something was wrong. Oh man. He just told me, he said, come as fast as you can, paul and Maggie have been hurt his voice to fear. He was just too strong. But the person that did this is out there and there's information, however big or however small it is. Did they have any enemies? I really don't know of any enemies. You hear all this talk on the social media with regard to paul, but I don't know of anybody that would truly, that would truly be an enemy, actually want to harm them. Paul had been awaiting trial accused of being under the influence while crashing *** boat that killed 19 year old passenger, Mallory Beach in 2019. He pleaded not guilty in the case in Hamilton. Now with what happened that night, I never knew what it would be like to go through something like this. Emergency, February 24, 2019 the night that put the murdochs back in the spotlight and changed the beach. Family's life forever, investigators say paul Murdoch was driving *** boat under the influence with five other teenagers, including beach when he crashed into *** Bridge near paris island finally got to the point, I grabbed my girlfriend in the bottom of the boat beach was gone. Police say paul was grossly intoxicated yet he wasn't issued *** field sobriety test, nor did he ever spent *** night in jail. Good luck authorities search teams, friends and family searched for an entire week until 911. What's your emergency? We think we found her beaches body was found on March 3rd 2019 in *** march near the broad river boat landing. Later that month. Her family filed *** wrongful death lawsuit against Alex and buster Murdoch plus parker's convenience store who sold paul the alcohol the night of the crash april 18th 2019 would have been beaches 20th birthday. It is hard, yes, it's hard, there's moments that we have that things remind us of Mallory and We break down at times. It was also the day that Paul was indicted for boating under the influence causing death and two counts of boating under the influence causing great bodily injury. Paul pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court ordered mediation in the wrongful death lawsuit failed on June 4, 2021 meeting the case would then head to trial three days later, Paul and his mother, Maggie are found shot to death at their family's hunting lodge. The family of Mallory Beach has since reached *** settlement with Buster Murdoch, the only surviving son of Alec in *** lawsuit, *** 2015 death could be connected to the Murdoch family. The story of Stephen Smith and the new investigation next. The trial of Alex Murdoch continues While the country and even the world will be focused on the trial. There are still unanswered questions into the death of *** young man found on *** road about 10 miles from the Murdoch home. In the weeks after Paul and Maggie's death Sled announced they're reopening the investigation. Marvis hearing now with what we know. Oh my gosh, we've been waiting on this forever. Sandy smith wakes up every morning thinking about her son steven in her years long search for answers and they said he was shot in the head And then it turned out it was *** hit and run and then he was beat up. And so the story just kept changing Steven Smith's body was found along Sandy Run Road in Hampton County in July of 2015. The official cause of death at the time was that Smith died of *** hit and run. I just couldn't believe it. But he, when they told me hit and run, I said that's impossible because Stephen wouldn't have been walking in the road to start with, he would have cut through the woods. He would not have been in the highway with no arrest made that search for answers continues in the case is reopened. In June 2021, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced that they were reopening the investigation into Steven Smith's death in *** statement. Then they said the decision to look into the death was based on information gathered during the murder investigation into the deaths of paul and Maggie murdock for sandy smith, it could be another step closer to justice or more unanswered questions. It's like he's *** nobody because we're poor people, spouses kill each other frequently in our society. Unfortunately, whether it's, you know, over money, over it's love or hate whatever, But to transcend *** parent killing *** child is really dark. *** motive unclear. *** suspect charged his trial set to begin, no matter the outcome. Legal analysts say the landscape has changed. Do you think all of this will bring change to south Carolina? I do. Um you know, sunlight is the best disinfectant. I think what we've exposed about how settlement agreements are sometimes done off record without *** court reporter and without an order of court. I think all that is changing and everybody's doing it on record and making sure that orders are signed and filed. So, you know, change happens slow in our society. It's incremental, but I only think that good can come from this sunlight and change. We thank you for watching our special presentation of the trial of Alex Murdoch. The conversation does not end here. Be sure to head over to W J C L dot com where we have extensive coverage, including *** timeline of everything you just saw and more. I'm Riley Miller, Good night