On Wednesday, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the murder convictions and life sentence of in the shooting deaths of his wife and son. Prosecutors said they plan to retry the once-prominent lawyer who was in rural South Carolina. He worked for his family’s century-old law firm and his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were elected county prosecutors. Murdaugh, the subject of numerous documentaries and true crime podcasts, will remain imprisoned on federal convictions for stealing millions from clients.
Here is a look at the events leading up to the high court鈥檚 ruling:
June 7, 2021: Murdaugh to report his wife Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22, have been fatally shot near a dog kennel on their property.
Sept. 4, 2021: Alex Murdaugh attempts to arrange his own death in a plan to secure his surviving son a $10 million life insurance payment, officials say. The plot the shot by a Murdaugh associate only grazes Murdaugh鈥檚 head.
Oct. 14, 2021: Police arrest Murdaugh at a drug rehab facility in Florida on charges he totaling more than $4 million intended for the sons of his late housekeeper.
Nov. 17, 2021: Prosecutors against Murdaugh, saying he stole nearly $5 million in settlement money. Prosecutors allege Murdaugh was hiding money from lawyers who sued him over the death of a teenager killed when authorities say an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh wrecked the boat he was driving.
Jan. 18, 2022: Additional indictments mean Murdaugh now that he stole nearly $8.5 million in wrongful death and wreck settlements from more than a dozen people.
May 4, 2022: Russell Laffitte, the former CEO of Palmetto State Bank before his firing earlier this year, is indicted on charges that he to defraud victims of $1.8 million.
June 28, 2022: Prosecutors outline an eight-year in new indictments.
July 14, 2022: Murdaugh is . The indictments issued by the grand jury contend Murdaugh killed his wife with a rifle and his son with a shotgun
Jan. 23, 2023: Murdaugh in the killings of his wife and son.
Feb. 23, 2023: Murdaugh denies killing them after . But he admits lying to investigators about when he last saw them alive.
March 2, 2023: A jury after a six-week trial. The jury deliberated for less than three hours.
March 3, 2023: A judge to life in prison.
Jan. 29, 2024: A South Carolina judge after his defense team accused a clerk of court of tampering with a jury.
April 2, 2024: Murdaugh is for stealing from clients and his law firm.
Feb. 11, 2026: Murdaugh to throw out his murder convictions.
May 13, 2026: The South Carolina Supreme Court . In a unanimous ruling, the justices said the conduct by the court clerk 鈥渆gregiously attacked Murdaugh鈥檚 credibility鈥� by suggesting to jurors his testimony could not be trusted. Prosecutors say they plan to retry Murdaugh on murder charges.
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