FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 15, 2021
Contact: Tommy Crosby
tcrosby@sled.sc.gov
(803) 896-8396
SLED UPDATE ON STATUS OF ONGOING MURDAUGH DOUBLE MURDER INVESTIGATION
On June 7, 2021 at 10:07 PM, Alex Murdaugh called 911. During that call, Murdaugh
indicated to the Colleton County Dispatch Center that he had returned to family property
located at 4147 Moselle Road in Islandton, South Carolina to find the bodies of his wife
Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh and his son Paul Murdaugh shot outside of the residence on
the property.
Colleton County Sheriff’s deputies immediately responded to the location where it
appeared that Paul and Maggie had both sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The Sheriff’s
Office secured the scene and contacted SLED at 10:28 PM to request SLED’s assistance
in conducting this double murder investigation.
SLED Lowcountry Regional agents were dispatched at that time and began arriving on
scene at 11:47 PM. SLED agents began working with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office
immediately to evaluate the crime scene and take the lead on this investigation. SLED
Crime Scene agents began arriving on scene at 12:07 AM. Crime scene personnel worked
throughout the morning of June 8 to collect evidence and
submitted it to SLED’s forensic
lab, which immediately began processing and testing the evidence.
SLED agents have been working the case continuously since arriving on scene with the
assistance of the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office deputies and others, and that work
continues. We continue to pursue all leads and the investigation is certainly active and
ongoing at this time. We will continue to submit all forensic evidence to SLED’s forensic
lab.
SLED is committed to conducting a professional and thorough criminal investigation to
bring justice in the deaths of Paul and Maggie. SLED is further committed to transparency
and will release any additional information, including additional information provided
during the 911 call, at the appropriate time. However, we cannot and will not do anything
that could jeopardize the integrity of this investigation or that would violate the due process
afforded to all in our constitutional system of justice.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division