SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #12

[legalmomma]

Joint statement on Murdaugh investigation from SLED, Solicitor's Office

In recent days, some media outlets have published unfounded and ill-informed speculation regarding the role of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in the investigation of the murders of Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh. Per long-standing policies, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will not comment on specifics of any case while it is still under investigation. However, given the persistence of unsubstantiated assertions, both fairness and public confidence in the integrity of the process requires a limited response.

In the hours following the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh on June 7, 2021, SLED notified 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office officials to inform them of what had transpired in Colleton County and to request their assistance in the investigation. SLED’s notification and the Solicitor’s Office’s participation in investigations are routine in the 14th Circuit.

From the first hours of SLED’s investigation, Chief Mark Keel was in direct and regular contact with both 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone and S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson. All agreed that should evidence emerge establishing a potential conflict, Chief Keel would contact Solicitor Stone and Attorney General Wilson immediately. Chief Keel did so, and Stone immediately recused himself from the case on August 11, 2021.

At the scene and in subsequent days, Solicitor’s Office investigators acted solely under SLED’s direction. At no time did the Solicitor’s Office conduct a separate or parallel investigation, or act in any manner to undermine SLED’s role as the lead investigative agency. On a related note, much has been made about media photographs taken at the scene on June 8th that depict Solicitor’s Office investigators speaking with a member of the Murdaugh family. Not only was the depicted action undertaken at SLED’s request, the photographs were taken after the crime scene had been processed and after SLED had cleared the Murdaugh family to return to the property. Other law-enforcement agencies, including SLED, were present at the time. Any speculation to the contrary is simply false.

Chief Keel has maintained from the outset that SLED will pursue justice for Maggie and Paul no matter where that leads, and SLED’s resolve in that regard has not wavered.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Private investigator recorded video of Paul Murdaugh days before murders, Moselle

A private investigator has turned over video footage to authorities she allegedly took of Paul Murdaugh days before his murder last June, and of his family’s Moselle property where Paul and his mother’s bodies were found, according to a transcript of a court hearing.

The investigator, Sara Capelli of the Inquiry Agency, was hired by a firm personally representing Greg Parker, owner of a Lowcountry convenience store chain that allegedly sold Paul Murdaugh alcohol the night he allegedly crashed his family’s boat, killing Mallory Beach.

Capelli was tasked with following Paul Murdaugh for more than a year to capture him on video and did so “within three days of his murder,” attorney Mark Tinsley alleged at a March 16 court hearing for one of his lawsuits against Parker’s.

Tinsley is representing the Beach family.

That video and video where Capelli or other investigators “caused a camera to be placed at the driveway to Moselle” — the family property where Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Maggie, were found shot to death on June 7, 2021 — were turned over to the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating the murders, according to Tinsley.

That video and video where Capelli or other investigators “caused a camera to be placed at the driveway to Moselle” — the family property where Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Maggie, were found shot to death on June 7, 2021 — were turned over to the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating the murders, according to Tinsley.

It’s not clear from the hearing whether the Moselle camera was in place on the day of the murders.

The video evidence turned over to SLED is new information on what the agency might be looking at as SLED has been quietly investigating the killings of two members of the prominent Lowcountry family for more than nine months.

More at link: https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article259937670.html

This could be a real game changer if the video at the driveway shows the comings and goings on the day and night of the murders.
My question would be, though, surely this PI has looked at the video and IF the video does show who was at Moselle at the time of the murders, why would it have not been turned over to SLED much earlier? Was it Parker’s preventing that release too because they didn’t want people knowing they had someone following Paul? So the company’s reputation outweighs a murder investigation?
There’s a lot of despicable behavior flying around this case.

 

[Elley Mae]

Now thinking about the camera I have not heard a word about game camera’s on the property, hunting lodge.

 

[Elley Mae]

If what was shown as to what monies Maggie had available, (not much) could she have been there to get money from AM? I still wonder if she was in the house looking for ? Knowing he was gone.

 

[ElizB]

I think it’s becoming pretty clear that Alex was robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to speak.
He’d take out a loan, spend all the money, then steal from a settlement to repay the loan, etc. The Murdaughs were clearly living way beyond their means. He was good at “working it out” until he wasn’t. I personally don’t believe there’s scads of money hidden away somewhere; rather, I think they were in dire financial shape. The only money they have is in real estate, and even then they owe half of what it’s worth.

I agree. This kind of thing snowballs until it’s unsustainable.

Just reading about all of Alex’s maneuvering is exhausting. I can’t imagine living that way and keeping all of it straight.

 

[NervousNellie]

I agree. This kind of thing snowballs until it’s unsustainable.

Just reading about all of Alex’s maneuvering is exhausting. I can’t imagine living that way and keeping all of it straight.

Right? I can't sleep at night if I am behind on a project at work; I can't imagine the stress of being into as much illegal stuff as he was. Some people just don't have a conscience, I guess.

 

[Satchie]

Continued

Did Maggie Murdaugh have a life insurance policy?
This has been one of the biggest questions surrounding Maggie Murdaugh’s murder since last June.

Unfortunately, the documents don’t provide a full answer.

In the probate filings, John Marvin wrote “none” when asked to list the insurance on the life of the decedent, which is payable to the estate.

He also wrote “none” under life insurance that would be payable to the beneficiaries.

However, sources close to the investigation have said they have a hard time believing that Maggie Murdaugh didn’t have any life insurance.

For nearly a century, the Murdaughs made millions of dollars by suing insurance companies through their law firm.

Are we really supposed to believe that Maggie Murdaugh wouldn’t have had life insurance?

Especially when we know for a fact that Alex Murdaugh had a big life insurance policy on himself.

Remember, after his alleged “suicide for hire” ordeal, he told police that the main reason he wanted Eddie Smith to shoot him on the side of the road that day was so his son Buster could collect on his $10 million life insurance policy.

If is possible that there was a life insurance policy that wasn’t listed?

Absolutely.

Maggie had a lot of unpaid bills
On top of owing more than $2 million in mortgages at the time of her death, Maggie Murdaugh owed $2,435.55 to Coastal Electric Cooperative Inc., likely for unpaid electric bills.

She owed $6,500 for unpaid bills to a Summerville interior design company. The bills were due in April and June 2021. Some of those items that were placed at the Moselle home before Maggie was murdered included:

$3,400 vintage curtains with English linen print
$2,500 drapery panels “fabricated in khaki and black antelope print”
$500 small stuffed pheasant
$180 Turkish rug pillows

It makes me grit my teeth the way Fitsnews is milking this story, rather than providing useful information.

If someone has life insurance that is payable to a named beneficiary, such as a spouse, the insurance will be paid directly, it will not go through probate court.

It's only if, for eg, the person wants to pay off their debts with the proceeds, that they would name their 'estate' as the beneficiary.

Does a Life Insurance Payout Go through Probate?

So whether or not Maggie had life insurance is unknown.

However, looking at this as a 'typical' American family, it's fairly rare for a non-income producing spouse to get a large life insurance policy.

(She has to sign for it, it can't be taken out on her by someone else).

Life insurance is not free, you make the payments only because you think the cost is worth it.

Naturally AM had an insurance policy, he was the only income producer, it would drastically impact the family finances if he died before his retirement.

But, even assuming Maggie would agree to put a large insurance policy on herself, so that she was worth far more dead or disabled than alive and well, police will know and it will form the chief motive and confirmation that he probably murdered her.

As well, because of the way she died, it's unlikely the policy will pay out until the beneficiary is no longer a suspect in her death.

Does Life Insurance Get Paid Out on Murders? | LendEDU

JMO

 

[MerryB]

It makes me grit my teeth the way Fitsnews is milking this story, rather than providing useful information.

If someone has life insurance that is payable to a named beneficiary, such as a spouse, the insurance will be paid directly, it will not go through probate court.

It's only if, for eg, the person wants to pay off their debts with the proceeds, that they would name their 'estate' as the beneficiary.

Does a Life Insurance Payout Go through Probate?

So whether or not Maggie had life insurance is unknown.

However, looking at this as a 'typical' American family, it's fairly rare for a non-income producing spouse to get a large life insurance policy.

(She has to sign for it, it can't be taken out on her by someone else).

Life insurance is not free, you make the payments only because you think the cost is worth it.

Naturally AM had an insurance policy, he was the only income producer, it would drastically impact the family finances if he died before his retirement.

But, even assuming Maggie would agree to put a large insurance policy on herself, so that she was worth far more dead or disabled than alive and well, police will know and it will form the chief motive and confirmation that he probably murdered her.

As well, because of the way she died, it's unlikely the policy will pay out until the beneficiary is no longer a suspect in her death.

Does Life Insurance Get Paid Out on Murders? | LendEDU

JMO

Thank you for saying this. There are several things FITS is making into something they’re just not, in my opinion. Maggie not having life insurance is one. The fact that John Marvin used an app on Buster’s phone to ping Maggie’s phone in the presence of investigators is another. They seem to be alerting readers to the wrong things, which is curious. MOO

 

[LetsSolvIt]

I’d like to see fed involvement in these murders. They can count money and figure those other crimes out later.

I’d like to see the Feds involved for the resources they can bring to bare, but I’d hate to see AM end up in a Club Fed.

I mean even his brother says their family are just “regular folks.” Shouldn’t AM be jailed the rest of his life with the SC regulars?

MOO.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Joint statement on Murdaugh investigation from SLED, Solicitor's Office

In recent days, some media outlets have published unfounded and ill-informed speculation regarding the role of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in the investigation of the murders of Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh. Per long-standing policies, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will not comment on specifics of any case while it is still under investigation. However, given the persistence of unsubstantiated assertions, both fairness and public confidence in the integrity of the process requires a limited response.

In the hours following the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh on June 7, 2021, SLED notified 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office officials to inform them of what had transpired in Colleton County and to request their assistance in the investigation. SLED’s notification and the Solicitor’s Office’s participation in investigations are routine in the 14th Circuit.

From the first hours of SLED’s investigation, Chief Mark Keel was in direct and regular contact with both 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone and S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson. All agreed that should evidence emerge establishing a potential conflict, Chief Keel would contact Solicitor Stone and Attorney General Wilson immediately. Chief Keel did so, and Stone immediately recused himself from the case on August 11, 2021.

At the scene and in subsequent days, Solicitor’s Office investigators acted solely under SLED’s direction. At no time did the Solicitor’s Office conduct a separate or parallel investigation, or act in any manner to undermine SLED’s role as the lead investigative agency. On a related note, much has been made about media photographs taken at the scene on June 8th that depict Solicitor’s Office investigators speaking with a member of the Murdaugh family. Not only was the depicted action undertaken at SLED’s request, the photographs were taken after the crime scene had been processed and after SLED had cleared the Murdaugh family to return to the property. Other law-enforcement agencies, including SLED, were present at the time. Any speculation to the contrary is simply false.

Chief Keel has maintained from the outset that SLED will pursue justice for Maggie and Paul no matter where that leads, and SLED’s resolve in that regard has not wavered.

Yes, Worm! #241
I still can’t understand, as has been said here over and over, why Alex working in Stone’s office, even as a volunteer, wouldn’t have been seen immediately as a COI for the solicitor’s office.

 

[worm]

I’d like to see the Feds involved for the resources they can bring to bare, but I’d hate to see AM end up in a Club Fed.

I mean even his brother says their family are just “regular folks.” Shouldn’t AM be jailed the rest of his life with the SC regulars?

MOO.

If he is got for the murders I don’t think a club prison will be in the cards. As for these finance crimes, it really wouldn’t matter to me. I’ve read about the prison that the stock trader Ivan Boesky was in that had tennis courts and stuff but I think jail is still jail. I wouldn’t be crazy about staying in this shack if they were able to lock it down and called it a prison.
With crimes like he has been shown to have committed so far, while they are bad, I’m not for these decades and decades of keeping somebody on the tax dime since getting these people as much of their money back as possible should be a goal.

 

[worm]

Yes, Worm! #241
I still can’t understand, as has been said here over and over, why Alex working in Stone’s office, even as a volunteer, wouldn’t have been seen immediately as a COI for the solicitor’s office.

Someone corrected me with this earlier today on another site about how SLED meant the “immediate” referred to when Keel suggested he step away. My point was the fact that AM had a badge from that office should have been an instant factor. Not for Stone, the AG, and Keel to kick the idea around for 2 months.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Someone corrected me with this earlier today on another site about how SLED meant the “immediate” referred to when Keel suggested he step away. My point was the fact that AM had a badge from that office should have been an instant factor. Not for Stone, the AG, and Keel to kick the idea around for 2 months.

Agree totally! Sorry I didn’t make that clear.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

PI hired to track Paul Murdaugh says she was being investigated by Murdaugh family | ABC TV - WSIV, 31 March 2022

In an exclusive interview with ABC News 4, a private investigator says she was contracted from February 8 to March 18, 2021, to follow Paul Murdaugh by Parker’s Gas Stations.

<snipped>
She says after her investigation into Paul wrapped up in March 2021, she learned that she was being investigated as well. This time by the Murdaughs. [BBM]

“Actually, I was investigated by the Murdaughs before the murder. At the end of the investigation, it was obvious that I had obtained some evidence that was clearly known, you know, that was from me,” she says.

Right after the murders, she says she reached out to SLED to tell them what she had on Paul.

“I reached out to SLED immediately and they reached out to me, and then we continued to work together,” she says.

Evidence that is now going to be turned over within 30 days to the judge.

“It's placed me in a very uncomfortable situation,” she says.

 

[worm]

Somebody in her camp dipped in the Murtaugh candy jar. That lowcountry good old boy crew would sell anybody out. I’m surprised that we aren’t following more “murder mysteries” there.

 

[worm]

Meant to tag @LetsSolvIt above. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[MerryB]

‎The Murdaugh Family Murders: Impact of Influence: 49. Was Paul Murdaugh Followed Before The Murder? on Apple Podcasts


One thing that was kind of a realization for me while listening was that the “knife fighters” would not be Murdaugh defenders, but rather the opposite. Not sure people realize this. JMO

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Murdaugh Prosecutorial Conflict of Interest w/Researcher Jennifer Wood | FitsNews Week in Review, 2 April 2022 podcast

Related, this slide deck certainly organizes the rabbit holes (MOO): Murdaugh Investigation

 

[NervousNellie]

Murdaugh Prosecutorial Conflict of Interest w/Researcher Jennifer Wood | FitsNews Week in Review, 2 April 2022 podcast

Related, this slide deck certainly organizes the rabbit holes (MOO): Murdaugh Investigation

Wow, that Prezi slide deck is fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

 

[swedeheart]