The Devil at His Elbow

1. A Dynasty Forged in Deception: The Murdaugh Legacy

To live above the law, you must become the law.

Generational Power. The Murdaugh family, for over a century, wielded immense power in South Carolina's Lowcountry, serving as the region's chief prosecutors and most feared civil litigators. This power was not just about legal prowess but also about a system of control that allowed them to operate above the law.

• Three generations of Murdaughs served as the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit's solicitor, shaping justice to their needs.
• They amassed wealth and influence through a system of favors, jury tampering, and political connections.
• This legacy of power and control was passed down to Alex, shaping his worldview and actions.

Roots in the Old South. The Murdaughs' rise to power was intertwined with the history of Hampton County, a place that had never fully recovered from the Civil War and where the old ways of the South persisted. This created an environment where the family's authority was seen as inviolable.

• Hampton County was founded as a "white county," where the vanquished could exist as if the South had never lost.
• The Murdaughs carved an isolated empire among the cypress trees and loblolly pines, far from the scrutiny of the outside world.
• The family's authority endured for so long it seemed inviolable, a way of being, like the Old South itself, with no beginning and no end.

A Legacy of Secrets. The Murdaughs' history was not just about power but also about secrets, sudden exits, and suspicious deaths. This legacy of violence and chicanery was woven into the family's story, creating a foundation for Alex's own transgressions.

• Sudden exits had haunted the Murdaughs for more than a century: suspicious accidents, unusual deaths, deaths that were faked, deaths rumored to be murders.
• Alex's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather could make secrets disappear, and they had taught Alex to embrace the family ethos.
• Lethal violence was woven into his family’s story, along with chicanery and infidelity and enough hubris for several Greek tragedies.

2. The Seeds of Destruction: Alex Murdaugh's Descent

To be able to look yourself in the mirror, you lie to yourself.

A Turning Point. Alex Murdaugh's downfall was not a sudden event but a gradual descent fueled by a combination of factors, including addiction, financial pressures, and a sense of entitlement. The seeds of his destruction were planted long before the murders at Moselle.

• His addiction to opioids began with a knee injury and escalated over the years, leading to a dependence on oxycodone.
• He lost millions in failed land investments during the housing bust, creating a financial hole he couldn't climb out of.
• His work as a personal injury lawyer, dealing daily in the business of death, may have inured him to the suffering of others.

The Choice Not Taken. Alex's decision to turn down the chance to become the circuit's next solicitor may have been the real trigger for his collapse. This decision marked a shift in his priorities, from public service to personal gain.

• He claimed he was too busy making money at the family firm, but he didn't say where much of that money was really coming from.
• He was already hiding an addiction to opioids, making it impossible for him to prosecute every accused criminal in the Fourteenth Circuit while secretly committing felonies of his own.
• He convinced himself that a badge was all he needed, a symbol of his power and authority.

A Spiral of Deception. The pills, the embezzling, the indulgence of his wayward son—all of these threads braided together to cast Alex into ruin. His downfall was not just about his actions but also about the choices he made and the path he chose to follow.

• He developed a habit of inventing legal expenses so he could make his clients pay for his family’s groceries, vacations, and private school tuition.
• He lost millions in failed land investments during the housing bust, so maybe he’d fallen into a financial hole so deep that he couldn’t climb out.
• Maybe the downfall began the day he first saw his son Paul, barely a teenager, sipping a beer and did not take it from him.

3. The System of Control: Power and Privilege in Hampton County

A jury trial is the mechanism for the redistribution of wealth in Hampton County.

A World Apart. Hampton County was a place where the Murdaughs reigned supreme, their influence extending into every aspect of life. This system of control was built on a foundation of privilege, connections, and a willingness to manipulate the legal system.

• The Murdaughs controlled the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, deciding right and wrong and shifting those parameters at will.
• They tampered with juries, leaned on judges, and called in favors from governors.
• They chose when to set free a violent criminal and when to send someone to the electric chair.

The Courthouse as a Fortress. The courthouse was the physical and spiritual center of Hampton County, a place where the Murdaughs had always held sway. This building was not just a place of justice but also a symbol of the family's power.

• The courthouse was designed by the same architect who created the Washington Monument and was crafted to instill a hushed sense of reverence.
• Portraits of stern-faced court officials, most of them long dead, gazed down from within gilded frames.
• The Murdaughs’ authority had endured for so long it seemed inviolable, a way of being, like the Old South itself, with no beginning and no end.

A Culture of Deference. The Murdaughs cultivated a culture of deference in Hampton County, where people were afraid to challenge their authority. This allowed them to operate with impunity, knowing that their actions would rarely be questioned.

• They bestowed small favors upon people who were pleasantly surprised that he remembered them.
• They tipped generously, always in cash pulled from stacks of bills tossed in the console of his SUV.
• They conferred special attention on state troopers, police officers, and sheriff’s deputies, some of whose fathers had worked with Alex’s father or, better yet, his grandfather.

4. Betrayal of Trust: Exploiting the Vulnerable

I am going to make this right, Lainey. You can trust me.

Preying on the Weak. Alex Murdaugh's crimes were not just about stealing money but also about betraying the trust of the most vulnerable people in his community. He targeted those who were grieving, injured, or otherwise in need of help.

• He defrauded Alania Plyler, a young girl who had lost her mother and brother in a car crash, stealing over $1 million from her settlement.
• He exploited Pamela Pinckney, a mother who had been critically injured in a wreck, stealing millions from her and her son.
• He took advantage of Arthur Badger, a widower who had lost his wife in a car crash, leaving his six children destitute.

A System of Deception. Alex's scam was surprisingly simple, relying on his position of power and the trust that people placed in him. He used his connections at the bank to siphon money from his clients' accounts, often without their knowledge.

• He lined up Russell Laffitte, the local banker, as the conservator for both families, who looked the other way as Alex made withdrawals.
• He often didn’t tell the clients the settlement had arrived or the correct amount.
• He fudged details with the firm, too, billing for experts he never hired, setting aside money for medical bills and later stealing it.

The Human Cost. The impact of Alex's crimes was devastating, leaving his victims financially ruined and emotionally scarred. He stole not just their money but also their hope and their faith in the legal system.

• Alania and Hannah Plyler remained unaware they were being exploited, bouncing checks and struggling to make ends meet.
• Pamela Pinckney was left to care for her quadriplegic son in a nursing home with one of the worst safety records in the South.
• Arthur Badger was forced to sell his children’s trust accounts for a fraction of their value, leaving them with no financial security.

5. A Web of Lies: Deception as a Way of Life

To be able to look yourself in the mirror, you lie to yourself.

A Master Fabulist. Alex Murdaugh was a skilled liar, capable of deceiving not just his clients but also his family, friends, and colleagues. He had a knack for reading people, assessing their vulnerabilities, and divining what they wanted to hear.

• He could lie convincingly and naturally, rearranging reality not just in court but in every square mile of their territory.
• He had a knack for reading people, assessing their vulnerabilities, divining what they wanted to hear.
• He was fundamentally unreadable, a walking mirage, always performing one role or another: devoted husband and father, connected friend, grantor of favors, defender of the downtrodden.

A Double Life. Alex lived a double life, presenting himself as a respectable citizen while secretly engaging in criminal activity. This duality was a key part of his persona, allowing him to operate with impunity.

• He was a family man who used his wife and young children as conversational props to put his targets at ease.
• He was the son of one of the South’s dominant legal dynasties, but also a criminal robbing his most vulnerable clients.
• He was a devoted husband and father, but also a serial cheater and drug addict.

The Power of Deception. Alex's ability to lie was not just a personal flaw but also a tool he used to maintain his power and control. He used deception to manipulate people, evade accountability, and maintain his position in the community.

• He could make threats without saying the threat out loud.
• He had a volcanic temper, especially when drunk, when he was quick to imagine a slight and throw the first punch.
• He was the kind of guy who could, in the course of a day, score some pills, cheat on his long-suffering wife, fix three different court cases in three different counties, head to Hampton’s Little League fields to coach one of his son’s teams, and then host the afterparty for players’ families.

6. The Murders at Moselle: A Family Annihilated

It was so bad.

A Night of Violence. The murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh at their Moselle estate were a shocking act of violence that shattered the family's carefully constructed image of perfection. The events of that night were a culmination of years of deception, addiction, and unchecked power.

• Maggie and Paul were shot at close range near the kennels on their property, a place where they often spent time with their dogs.
• Alex claimed he had been napping at the house and discovered their bodies when he went to check on them.
• The scene was gruesome, with blood and brain matter scattered around the bodies.

A Web of Contradictions. Alex's account of the murders was filled with inconsistencies and contradictions, raising questions about his involvement. His story shifted over time, as new evidence came to light.

• He initially claimed he had not been at the kennels, but a video later revealed he was there with Maggie and Paul just minutes before the shootings.
• He said he had checked their pulses, but he also said he had not touched them.
• He said he had been at Almeda for an hour, but his phone records showed he was there for less than thirty minutes.

The Aftermath. The murders at Moselle were not just a personal tragedy but also a public spectacle, drawing national attention to the Murdaugh family and their long history of power and privilege. The killings exposed the dark underbelly of the family's empire.

• The murders were a culmination of years of deception, addiction, and unchecked power.
• The killings shattered the family's carefully constructed image of perfection.
• The murders exposed the dark underbelly of the family's empire.

7. The Unraveling: Truth and Consequences

He was the scion of a dynasty forged in fraud. Duplicity was his birthright.

The Search for Truth. The investigation into the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh was a complex and challenging process, marked by conflicting accounts, missing evidence, and the Murdaughs' attempts to control the narrative.

• Investigators struggled to piece together the events of that night, facing resistance from some members of the community and the Murdaughs' attempts to manipulate the investigation.
• The discovery of the kennel video was a turning point, revealing that Alex had lied about his whereabouts.
• The investigation uncovered a pattern of deceit and manipulation that extended far beyond the murders.

The Weight of Evidence. As the investigation progressed, the evidence against Alex Murdaugh began to mount, revealing a pattern of lies, financial crimes, and a willingness to do anything to protect himself.

• The discovery of Alex’s financial crimes, including the theft of millions of dollars from his clients, exposed the depth of his corruption.
• The roadside shooting, which Alex had staged to look like an attempted murder, revealed his desperation and willingness to go to extreme lengths to avoid accountability.
• The testimony of witnesses, including his housekeeper and his wife’s sister, revealed the extent of his deception and manipulation.

The Fall of an Empire. The trial of Alex Murdaugh was not just about the murders of Maggie and Paul but also about the fall of a dynasty. The trial exposed the rot at the core of the Murdaugh family and their long history of power and privilege.

• Alex's lies and deceptions were finally exposed, shattering the illusion of respectability he had carefully cultivated.
• The trial revealed the extent of the Murdaughs' influence and the ways they had used their power to manipulate the legal system.
• The trial marked the end of the Murdaughs' reign in Hampton County, a place that had long been under their control.

8. Justice and Accountability: The Fall of a Dynasty

You can’t kill a cur dog.

A Reckoning. The trial of Alex Murdaugh was a reckoning for the family and for Hampton County, a place that had long been under their control. The trial exposed the dark underbelly of the Murdaughs' empire and their long history of corruption and abuse of power.

• The trial was a test of the legal system's ability to hold powerful people accountable.
• The trial was a challenge to Hampton County's insistence that it was immune to progress.
• The trial was a moment of reckoning for a family that had long operated above the law.

The Verdict. The jury's verdict, finding Alex Murdaugh guilty of the murders of Maggie and Paul, was a victory for justice and a sign that the Murdaughs' reign was finally over. The verdict was a testament to the power of truth and the importance of holding powerful people accountable.

• The verdict was a culmination of years of investigation and legal maneuvering.
• The verdict was a sign that the Murdaughs' power was finally waning.
• The verdict was a victory for the victims of Alex's crimes and for the community that had long been under his control.

A Legacy of Change. The Murdaugh saga has left an indelible mark on South Carolina, forcing the state to confront its history of corruption and abuse of power. The case has also served as a reminder of the importance of truth, accountability, and the need to protect the vulnerable.

• The case has prompted calls for reform of the state's legal system.
• The case has exposed the need for greater transparency and accountability in law enforcement.
• The case has served as a warning about the dangers of unchecked power and privilege.

Last updated: February 3, 2025