Where Is Alex Murdaugh Today? New Updates in the Shocking Case

By Jessica Sager Parade - Entertainment Stories

Updated May 14, 2026 3:37 PM

Alex Murdaugh was a bigwig white shoe attorney from a family dynasty-but did he also have bloodstained hands?

In a case that would make for a true crime junkie's wet dream, in June 2021, Murdaugh's wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh, were both found dead from gunshot wounds on his property. Prosecutors argued that Alex killed them to cover up his own litany of financial crimes.

Alex Murdaugh maintained his innocence, even after he admitted his own alibi was a lie. A jury found him guilty of the slayings three years ago, but in May 2026, an appeals court overturned his conviction.

The South Carolina Supreme Court found that a court clerk in the murder trials may have skewed the trial in the prosecution's favor, and throughout the initial criminal trial, Murdaugh's defense attorneys painted a picture of mishandled evidence, poor police work and, essentially, a witch hunt.

What really happened, and where is Alex Murdaugh now? Read on for details and the latest updates on the case that captured the world's attention for nearly half a decade (and counting).

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Who is Alex Murdaugh?

Alex Murdaugh was once a wealthy, powerful and prominent South Carolina attorney, and his family had a dynasty in the state's legal field for a century: His great-grandfather, grandfather and father (Randolph Murdaugh Sr., Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. and Randolph Murdaugh III) were all prosecutors in their district, according to PEOPLE.

Alex joined the family's private law firm, then known as Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED).

Alex married Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh in 1993 after meeting and falling in love when they were in college. They shared sons Richard "Buster" Alexander Murdaugh Jr. and Paul Terry Murdaugh.

What happened with Alex Murdaugh?

Phew, we'll try to keep this is as simple as we can, because it's a bit of a doozy.

In February 2019, Paul Murdaugh was operating a boat in an accident that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Paul was scheduled to be criminally indicted in that case in July 2021, and the Murdaugh family also faced a civil suit from the Beach family.

On June 7, 2021, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were both found shot to death near the dog kennels on the Murdaughs' sprawling Colleton County, S.C., property. Paul was shot in the head and chest at point blank range with a shotgun, while Maggie was shot several times, including in the back, with a .300 Blackout assault-style rifle.

Alex Murdaugh called 911 just after 10 p.m. that evening, reportedly telling dispatchers, "I need the police and an ambulance immediately. My wife and child were just shot badly."

Alex Murdaugh initially denied being near the dog kennels on the evening of the slayings, claiming to have been visiting his mother at her home. However, Paul had posted a Snapchat video showing Alex in the vicinity at 8:44 p.m., which ABC 11 reported is right before when investigators believe Maggie and Paul were murdered. In court, Alex apologized and admitted he lied about being at the kennels at the time of the murders, but denied killing his wife and son. The clothes Alex wore in Paul's Snapchat video have never been found.

Though Alex maintained his innocence, other evidence, including GPS and cellphone data, weakened his alibi considerably.

Prosecutors alleged that Alex killed Paul and Maggie in an effort to avoid his own financial crimes from being exposed in the Beach civil and criminal cases. It was a motive that held water with the jury, in part because his firm's chief financial officer confronted him about allegations of defrauding his clients just hours before the slayings.

According to NPR, Alex Murdaugh was charged with 22 financial crimes (including fraud, tax evasion and money laundering) committed over a decade against 18 different victims, stealing a total of more than $12 million from clients. In most of the cases, he'd win a large settlement for a client he represented, but lie and tell the client that the settlement was significantly smaller, and pocketed the difference.

In one case, he told his client-whose mother was killed by a drunk driver-that they won a $30,000 settlement, when in reality, it was a $180,000 settlement, and he kept $150,000 for himself. In another, he sued his insurers after his housekeeper died in a fall on his property. Alex then told his housekeeper's son that they didn't win the case, when in reality, they got $4 million, all of which Alex stole.

Prosecutors accused Alex of stealing clients' funds to support his lavish lifestyle and his opioid addiction.

Alex Murdaugh admitted to his financial crimes, but steadfastly denied murdering Maggie and Paul. He was convicted of both murders in March 2023, with jurors deliberating for less than three hours before announcing their verdict. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

He was also convicted of all 22 financial crime charges, for which he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Where is Alex Murdaugh today?

Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions were overturned on May 13, 2026, but he is still in prison serving his 40-year sentence for his financial crimes.

The New York Times reported that the South Carolina Supreme Court granted Murdaugh a new trial, citing "shocking jury interference" from a court clerk in his original trial.

The clerk in question, Becky Hill, pleaded guilty to jury tampering and perjury in May 2025, and was sentenced to probation, 100 hours of community service and to pay $11,880 in restitution.

What happened with Buster Murdaugh?

Buster Murdaugh was expelled from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2019 for poor academic performance and plagiarism, The State reported. After Alex paid a prominent attorney $60,000 to get Buster readmitted, he was slated to begin classes again in January 2022 ... but deferred for pretty obvious reasons.

Understandably, Buster hasn't had the easiest time adjusting following the murders of his mother and brother (let alone whether or not his dad was the killer).

In September 2021, Alex Murdaugh allegedly hired a man to shoot him in what would, essentially, be an assisted suicide so that Buster could collect a $10 million insurance payout before any of Alex's criminal trials ensued. It didn't work, and the bullet barely grazed Alex's head.

Later, Buster testified for the defense in his father's first murder trial, admitting he knew about his father's opioid addiction and claiming that Alex was "heartbroken" at Paul and Maggie's deaths.

After Alex Murdaugh was convicted, Buster released a statement unequivocally denying that he was involved in the 2015 hit and run homicide of his classmate Stephen Smith. Buster was never a suspect nor was he ever questioned about the Smith case, which was re-opened after Murdaugh's first verdict came down.

Buster also was named the civil suit from the Beach family. In January 2023, he and Maggie Murdaugh's estate reportedly settled for a "substantial" amount.

What is Alex Murdaugh's surviving son doing now?

Buster Murdaugh is essentially living in isolation, a friend told PEOPLE.

"He really withdrew after everything happened," the friend said. "He has really closed off and built walls around himself." The friend noted that Buster also avoids his Hampton, S.C., hometown, and Buster told Alex in recorded prison calls that strangers frequently stopped and berated him on the streets.

Buster and Brooklynn White moved to Bluffton, S.C., in May 2023, TMZ reported, and they married two years later.

An insider told the Daily Mail that Buster was upset when Alex Murdaugh's conviction was overturned.

"He's not happy. This is going to put him through all of this again. He has to relive the hardest years of his life all over again."

The insider added, "Buster needs some time to process this. But he's not happy at all. … This is a nightmare. How is Buster supposed to move forward to have this happen again?"

Does Buster Murdaugh still believe his dad?

Buster Murdaugh revealed in the Fox Nation special The Fall of the House of Murdaugh that he believes his father is innocent.

"I do not think that he could be affiliated with endangering my mother and brother," he said. "We have been here for a while now and that's been my stance."

He added, "I think that I hold a very unique perspective that nobody else in that courtroom ever held. And I know the love that I have witnessed."

How much money did Mallory Beach's family get from the Murdaughs?

The exact amount of the Maggie Murdaugh estate and Buster Murdaugh settlement with Mallory Beach's family hasn't been publicly revealed.

Who was driving the boat that killed Mallory Beach?

Paul Murdaugh was reportedly driving the boat during the accident that killed Mallory Beach. Buster Murdaugh was believed to have provided the ID used to buy alcohol that was consumed at the time of the crash.

What is the Murdaugh family's net worth?

The Murdaugh family net worth is effectively zero: Aside from legal bills, because of Alex Murdaugh's financial crimes, his remaining assets (reportedly about $1.2 million) were ordered to be paid out to his victims.

What is the latest on the Murdaugh case?

Alex Murdaugh's conviction for the murders of Maggie Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh was overturned on appeal in May 2026 due to suspected jury and evidence tampering. A new trial date has not yet been announced.

This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 3:26 PM.