More deaths linked to Murdaugh legal dynasty as questions emerge over housekeeper killed in ‘fall’ & teen found by road
AFTER the double homicide of Paul Murdaugh and his mother, questions are now being raised about two other mysterious deaths linked to the family.
The deaths of a 19-year-old boy and a former housekeeper are all believed to be connected to the Murdaugh family.
Paul, 22, and his mother Maggie were found shot dead on the family hunting lodge, known as “Moselle”, in Hampton, South Carolina on June 7.
The bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds yards apart from each other near the family’s dog kennel.
An early forensic investigation suggests they were murdered with two different firearms.
Paul suffered wounds to his upper body and head from what appeared to have been a shotgun, while an assault rifle is thought to have been used to kill 52-year-old Maggie.
A law enforcement source told The Island Packet that Paul was likely the target, while Margaret may have just been killed because she was there.
Now, startling new information suggests the family could be linked to another two deaths.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Paul was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.
The youngster pleaded not guilty to the allegations that he crashed his father’s 17-foot boat into a bridge “full throttle” after a drunken argument with friends on board.
The six passengers were all flung from the boat and Beach’s body was only found seven days later.
Local media reports at the time claimed Paul was never given a sobriety test at the hospital because his father and uncle – both prominent lawyers with links to the District Attorney’s office in Hampton Country – stopped it, the New York Post claims.
The teen was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond after his not guilty plea in May 2019.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol received an anonymous tip connecting the Murdaugh family to the mysterious death of Stephen Smith back in 2015, the New York Post reports.
Stephen was found dead in the middle of a rural road outside of Hampton. The 19-year-old had his skull partially crushed and his shoulder dislocated.
Sandy and Todd Proctor, two former South Carolina Highway Patrol detectives who investigated Stephen’s death believe the well-to-do family had some involvement in the murder, but could not back up their claims with proof.
No one in the family was charged or ever considered a formal suspect.
A third death now being traced back to the Murdaughs was 57-year-old Gloria Satterfield who died as a result of a “trip and fall” accident, according to document obtained by FITSNews.
Court documents don’t explain where Gloria died but local reports indicted she was a housekeeper for the Murdaughs – something also mentioned in her obituary.
Alex, Paul’s father, was said to have settled the wrongful death claim for $500,000.
The Murdaugh family is heavily involved in local law and ran the prosecutors office in the five counties that make up the Lowcountry.
Most read in News
At the same, Paul’s father, Alex, works for the law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Elzroth and Detrick, which was founded by Randolph Murdaugh more than 100 years ago.
Randolph Murdaugh III, who was 81, passed away just three days after Paul and Margaret were killed. His death was confirmed by the law firm.
Local authorities say Alex and son Buster are not suspects in the murder case.