Alex Murdaugh bond denied in hearing; pleads not guilty in killing of wife, son

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. — Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney now accused of murdering his own wife and son while committing scores of financial crimes, pleaded not guilty and was denied bond during a hearing Wednesday in front of Judge Clifton Newman in the Colleton County Courthouse.

Both Murdaugh's defense and prosecutors with the Attorney General's Office had agreed to a "no bond" prior to the hearing on double murder charges, a condition Judge Newman granted, in light of the existing $7 million bond Murdaugh has been unable to meet.

Last week, the Attorney General's Office and the State Law Enforcement Division charged Murdaugh with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime last week, following a year-long investigation into the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul.

During Wednesday's hearing, Murdaugh, in court with dark glasses perched atop a close-cropped haircut and wearing khaki pants with a white dress shirt, pleaded not guilty to those charges. He did not address the court at length but only to answer direct questions.

When asked how he wished to be tried, Murdaugh replied, "By God and country."

During the hearing, Murdaugh was officially served with the murder indictments and given an arraignment on the four felony charges by Creighton Waters, Chief Attorney with the State Grand Jury division of the AG's Office. Murdaugh waived a formal reading of the indictments.

The defense and prosecution had also agreed to several motions prior to the hearing, including a motion for a gag order on both parties, particularly with disclosing evidence and details the media. 

"We both agree that (a gag order) would be appropriate given the media attention," Waters said. "The state wants very much for this case to be tried fairly and justly."

"We are trying to get a fair trail for our client and not try it in the media," Murdaugh attorney Richard Harpootlian said.

Judge Newman agreed to consider the gag order pending a written order prepared by both parties.

Both parties also agreed to file a motion that any filings or motions discussing "evidentiary material," as well as subsequent discovery responses be sealed by confidential order until the trial. This would include evidence in the many financial crimes Murdaugh is charged with, as they may pertain to the murder charges.

Newman agreed to consider these motions as they are filed on a case by case basis, but warned both parties that while there may be confidential motions, there will be no "private hearings" in his courtroom.

"Let's make it clear: it's a public matter and a public trial," Newman said. 

In a final joint motion, both parties expressed the desire for a speedy trial, if possible and practical. The defense stated it would like for the case to be heard within 90 to 120 days, preferably by the next terms of Colleton County General Sessions in October or November.

"We would like to get this matter before a Colleton County jury as soon as possible so Alex can get this behind him and so SLED could look for the real killer," Harpootlian said. 

While Waters said that the state had "substantial forensic evidence," a fact disputed by the defense, no new evidence or details of the case was presented or discussed during the hearing.

"A further discussion of facts in an open courtroom could possibly taint the jury pool," Harpootlian said. 

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Family members of the homicide victims were not present, but were viewing the proceedings live through remote procedures. A victim's advocate was present in the courtroom.

Wednesday's bond hearing was attended by curious locals, interested attorneys in other Murdaugh cases, and throngs of media outlets, including Court TV, NBC Dateline, ABC 20/20, The New Yorker and the Wall Street Journal. Several authors were also in attendance, including Jason Ryan, author of the bestselling Jackpot, who is one of several authors writing a book on the Murdaugh case.

A portrait of former 14th Circuit Solicitor Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. hung at the rear of the Colleton County Courthouse during the hearing. The late Buster once faced federal moonshine charges in this same Lowcountry county almost 70 years before Murdaugh faced felony charges of his own.

Waters commended SLED investigators on a "long and arduous investigation."

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The felony indictments, signed by a Colleton County grand jury and unsealed July 14, allege that Murdaugh shot and killed his wife with a rifle, and shot and killed his younger son with a shotgun. No other details were included in the indictments. Both had been shot multiple times, Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey said not long after the killings.

Murdaugh's attorneys Jim Griffin and Harpootlian denied the allegations from the onset with a statement issued just minutes after the charges were announced by the state.

"Alex wants his family, friends and everyone to know that he did not have anything to do with the murders of Maggie and Paul. He loved them more than anything in the world," the statement from Harpootlian and Griffin reads. "It was very clear from day one that law enforcement and the Attorney General prematurely concluded that Alex was responsible for the murder of his wife and son. But we know that Alex did not have any motive whatsoever to murder them."

Because this is an active investigation and is now a pending court case, Attorney General Alan Wilson said then he could not comment on specifics.

“All the efforts of our office and the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation have been focused on seeking justice for the victims’ families," Wilson said.

“Over the last 13 months, SLED agents and our partners have worked day in and day out to build a case against the person responsible for the murders of Maggie and Paul and to exclude those who were not. At no point did agents lose focus on this investigation. From the beginning I have been clear, the priority was to ensure justice was served. Today is one more step in a long process for justice for Maggie and Paul,” SLED Chief Mark Keel said.

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Murdaugh's wife, Margaret, better known as Maggie, 52, and his son, Paul, 22, were shot and killed at their Colleton County estate, Moselle, between the hours of 9 and 9:30 p.m. on the night of June 7, 2021. Murdaugh called 911 at 10:07 p.m. and reported that he had found the pair unresponsive and lying on the ground near the family's dog kennels. At the time of his death, Paul Murdaugh was facing three felony boating under the influence charges related to the February 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, 19, of Hampton.

Since the killings, the Attorney General's Office and SLED have uncovered a web of financial and drug crimes allegedly involving Murdaugh that span more than a decade in several Lowcountry counties.

Prior to today's bond hearing, Murdaugh was facing a total of 88 criminal charges and 11 civil suits and is being detained in Richland County's Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on a $7 million bond he has been unable to meet.