# Murdaugh Murder Timeline: Alex Murdaugh. This story gets crazier by the day **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2021, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754 "2021-09-16T13:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/101 "2023-03-06T15:48:04Z")
Paul recording Alex at the kennel that night was a very smart thing for him to do. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/102 "2023-03-06T15:48:30Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > paul would have gotten jail time for the boating accident. at least 20 years if not more Is this accurate? Around here it would be treated as a bad DUI-vehicular homicide. He’d get maybe 4 or 5 years. Twenty years is for intentional murders. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/103 "2023-03-06T18:07:40Z")
3 felony counts of boating under the influence. that would carry a penalty of 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/104 "2023-03-06T18:26:10Z")
I’ve only sort of been following this case, but what is the status of the surviving son? His mother and brother are dead, his father is going away forever, probably, and is exposed as a shithead. I can’t imagine his turmoil. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/105 "2023-03-06T19:42:33Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Perhaps he saw his son Paul as a reason for so much stress in his downward spiraling life, largely because of the death of Mallory Beach. I’m sure that’s part of it. From what I understand, the death of the housekeeper and the young guy found on their property are being reopened. I can’t remember if people thought it was Paul or Buster that may be involved in those. > [@Bullitt](#): > > Paul recording Alex at the kennel that night was a very smart thing for him to do. Was that on purpose? I thought he was recording the dog and it was an accident that he caught his dad on tape. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’ve only sort of been following this case, but what is the status of the surviving son? His mother and brother are dead, his father is going away forever, probably, and is exposed as a shithead. I can’t imagine his turmoil. It sounds like he’s squarely behind his dad’s story, which is no surprise. Who wants to believe their dad murdered the rest of his family? Financially, I would think he would be okay at least until they unravel all his dad’s crimes. I’m sure there is other family money too. Alex must have asked Paul to be there, right? Otherwise why bother with bringing two guns to make it look like there was more than a single shooter? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/106 "2023-03-06T22:06:22Z")
There’s a book in the pipeline, scheduled to be released August 8th. (Yeah, let’s see about that.) It’s called “Tangled Vines.” ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/107 "2023-03-06T23:20:21Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > It sounds like he’s squarely behind his dad’s story, which is no surprise. Who wants to believe their dad murdered the rest of his family? It could be more than that. He is the one under suspicion in the death of the teenage boy. His father may know things Buster would rather not be revealed. After all, Alex tried to cover up Paul’s involvement with the boating accident. Who is to say he wasn’t involved in covering up the death of the teenager. Better to stay on his father’s good side. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/108 "2023-03-06T23:27:10Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > I’m sure that’s part of it. From what I understand, the death of the housekeeper and the young guy found on their property are being reopened. I can’t remember if people thought it was Paul or Buster that may be involved in those. I believe the young man (Steven Smith) was found down the road, not actually on the Murdaugh property. There were lots of rumors amongst the public that Buster, the surviving son, was somehow involved. Not sure how much stock to put in those rumors. > [@mordecaiB](#): > > Alex must have asked Paul to be there, right? Otherwise why bother with bringing two guns to make it look like there was more than a single shooter? Yes, Alex asked both Maggie and Paul to be there that evening. > [@Procrustus](#): > > Is this accurate? Around here it would be treated as a bad DUI-vehicular homicide. He’d get maybe 4 or 5 years. Twenty years is for intentional murders. I’m curious about this as well. Not a lawyer and know nothing about SC law. Surely since it was not an intentional murder, he wouldn’t have gotten 20 years? Especially since the other young adults were also drinking? I don’t know. Not that I think it was nothing and he should have gotten a slap on the wrist if found guilty, just that I didn’t think it would be such a long sentence. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/109 "2023-03-06T23:44:35Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > It could be more than that. He is the one under suspicion in the death of the teenage boy. His father may know things Buster would rather not be revealed. After all, Alex tried to cover up Paul’s involvement with the boating accident. Who is to say he wasn’t involved in covering up the death of the teenager. Better to stay on his father’s good side. Ah, I thought it was Paul that was thought to be involved. So it’s possible father and his two sons each killed people. Quite the family. > [@Skypist](#): > > Yes, Alex asked both Maggie and Paul to be there that evening. So the plan was to kill them both all along. I realize he was drug addled, but I wonder if we will ever know just exactly what his plan was? Seems like it’s a variation of the 1) kill family, 2) ?, 3) Profit!!! plan. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/110 "2023-03-07T02:59:52Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Ah, I thought it was Paul that was thought to be involved. So it’s possible father and his two sons each killed people. Quite the family. Yeah but in Paul’s defense, Mallory Beach’s death was accidental. Extremely negligent, but still accidental. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/111 "2023-03-07T05:54:58Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > I’m curious about this as well. Not a lawyer and know nothing about SC law. Surely since it was not an intentional murder, he wouldn’t have gotten 20 years? Three felonies. Boating under the influence. Boating under the influence resulting in injury. Boating under the influence resulting in death. He also lied about being the driver. Punishable up to 25 years in SC according to a lawyer in the documentary and numerous news reports. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/112 "2023-03-07T06:15:36Z")
Add underage drinking and the use of a fake ID, usually misdemeanors in most areas, to those charges, were he still alive to face them. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/113 "2023-03-07T14:20:25Z")
i believe 2 was gain sympathy, get charges dropped (on his son), not deal with a possible forensic account due to divorce filing. leading to 3, continue to keep his house of money cards standing; keep the fraud going. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/114 "2023-03-08T02:57:48Z")
I think he wanted to kill his wife, and had to get rid of Paul because he was a witness. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/115 "2023-03-08T08:28:56Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i believe 2 was gain sympathy, get charges dropped (on his son), not deal with a possible forensic account due to divorce filing. > > leading to 3, continue to keep his house of money cards standing; keep the fraud going. That probably seemed like a good plan to a drug addict, but didn’t his financial crimes only come out after the murders? Or were they found when the suspicious wife was looking into divorce? ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/116 "2023-03-08T20:20:03Z")
I see no reason to take as sincere his assertions that drug addiction impaired his decision making in this matter. That’s a cop out. Not that it’s _always_ a cop out, but in this specific case we’re not talking someone who breaks into homes, steals to get money to feed his addiction, and ends up in a “him or me” situation with a homeowner making to exercise a bit of castle doctrine on them. This is a man of privilege, with a massive estate and a lavish lifestyle who apparently couldn’t handle the thought of finding out that he is actually a FAR FAR WORSE human being then the impoverished individuals him, his father, his father’s father, and his father’s father’s father have been locking up for petty offenses going back generations. Fuck him. ETA: And I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that far from being a drug addict, he is actually a drug dealer. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/117 "2023-03-08T20:40:45Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Fuck him. I think we can agree on that. Doesn’t mean I can’t still want to know what his thought process was that deciding to kill his wife and son seemed like a good option. Not to mention the fake murder/suicide plot. I saw an article yesterday where his brother said he can’t imagine that Murdaugh killed his wife and son, but he doesn’t believe he was telling the truth in his testimony. He’s also the only family member that didn’t attend the trial. Not sure what exactly he thinks happened. He’s also still a lawyer in the same firm that his brother was with. That’s got to be a little awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/118 "2023-03-09T23:01:26Z")
The Legal Eagle and his DA buddy (DAgull?) have a breakdown: [Alex Murdaugh Shouldn't Have Testified - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSGVjX69HPo) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/119 "2023-03-10T00:44:38Z")
That is a brilliant video. Very well done. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754/120 "2023-03-10T08:01:50Z")
Thanks to @Love_Rhombus for the video. I like that the video lays out the timeline of all his crimes. That helped me out because I hadn’t really followed the case in real time. Interesting that the brother that didn’t believe his trial testimony turned him in to police for trying to use a nurse’s phone when he was in the hospital for the fake murder/suicide. I wonder if this guy can even tell the truth. He obviously took after his father and grandfather. Luckily, his brother seems to be able to tell the truth. I wonder if there was bad blood between them before the thefts came to light. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754.md?page=7)