SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #13

[MerryB]

I’m basing that on AM not realizing PM was there. If wording is right and AM asked MM to meet at the cabin he may not have seen him.

Jmo

Agree. And remember Paul was alive to record the argument.
So I think he was inside the kennels (white roof) videoing the dog and his parents were outside the kennels near the shed/cabin with the red roof that’s adjacent to the kennels (where all the investigators were photographed the next day).
Paul heard the argument and rushed out to his mother’s aid with the shotgun.
MOO

 

[Elley Mae]

Agree. And remember Paul was alive to record the argument.
So I think he was inside the kennels (white roof) videoing the dog and his parents were outside the kennels near the shed/cabin with the red roof that’s adjacent to the kennels (where all the investigators were photographed the next day).
Paul heard the argument and rushed out to his mother’s aid with the shotgun.
MOOView attachment 355802

In reference the word “cabin” being used by AM I was thinking the small house that sits close to the road, just to the left of the pic you posted. When entering that driveway the house sits on the right.

Jmo

 

[Seattle1]

These words describing AM have stuck with me since I first read them. Parking them here:

“Paul’s daddy don’t look like Boss Hogg,” said an older resident of Hampton who did not want to be identified by name, “but that’s who he is.”

[..]

“When you’re talking about that area of the state,” Proctor said, “it’s a place time has left behind.”

“These are good ol’ boys but they’re really smart good ol’ boys,” Gabby Thomas said. “And they’re not all bad, neither. They got a lot of support here. There’s no way we seen the last of them.”

Inside the toxic Murdaugh family dynasty of money, murder and mayhem

After the murder of two members of the powerful Murdaugh clan shocked the tiny town of Islandton, SC, locals reveal alleged cover-ups and corruption, and their theories on whodunit.

nypost.com

 

[sunshineray]

I can agree from both points. BM is 26. He’s an adult. Adults need to make adult decisions. I got my home/mortgage at 26, and been here ever since.

At the same time. He’s lost EVERYTHING. Mom, Dad, and his brother. His childhood home, his friends, and most likely his small/hometown to go with it. I’ll cut him some slack. Not to mention. I’m sure he’s confused. His father has most likely brainwashed him these last 13 months. Unless he‘s cut him off. Which I give him praise if he has.

Also, I feel like Alex’s brothers and families are victims to this. I believe they’re innocent. The inlaws and their families. Yikes. So Sorry for them. It’s a pretty horrible situation.

I still feel like the prosecutors will have a tough time with the two gun deal. Something is missing to solve this. One man. Two guns. How did he pull this off? And how did he do it so quickly? That will be a BIG question, and BIG for the defense.

AM had to have had a arsenal ready. But how do you plan the unknown? The unknown your son will be there or not? MM would meet you at the kennels and not the house? MM would even show up? You don’t leave expensive firearms (loaded) just sitting around? Lots of questions. And Poot and staff will pounce on this.

PM is apparently on video/audio showing a dog in a kennel. Seems to me he’s not walking around the kennels with a double barreled shotgun while video taping. Could be. But I doubt it. I find it hard to believe he runs at his father who is armed and tries to wrestle a gun away. If AM shoots MM with AR. While on the ground and to the back of the head? “ Lots of time folks” Why not shoot PM with the same gun? Does he really have time to go to a shed or vehicle to load another gun to shoot his son? If his son is witnessing this? Highly unlikely. There’s something missing here?

To me the bottom line is the blood spatter found somewhere on AM's clothes (the amount, location and pattern) AND whatever PM/MM's phones contain. His alibi depends on not seeing either his wife nor son until he "found" them dead right around 10 pm that night. Hard to keep an alibi that science and tech prove is not possible. AJMO

 

[sunshineray]

I heard that statement from AM very early on in the 911 call right after the murders but in the 911 call that is being played lately in various places, it is not there. I wonder if when AM became a real suspect that LE removed that portion so as not to influence jurors one way or the other. I remember thinking when I heard it that AM had murdered them both

It's actually been removed?

 

[Elley Mae]

Going off the idea that Maggie was asked to meet at the cabin,

Alex Murdaugh Allegedly Lured Wife to Cabin On Night She Was Killed — and She Texted Friend It Seemed 'Fishy'

To me that would be the small home that sits to the right of the driveway that leads to the kennels. Looking at maps it appears that you could be at the kennels and not see the house. If Maggie did pull in and park near the house and got out when AM arrived he may have gunned her down there, PM would definitely heard the shot/s. He probably hollowed out not knowing what was going on and gave himself away.

Jmo

Trying to make sense of it.

 

[Betty P]

These words describing AM have stuck with me since I first read them. Parking them here:

“Paul’s daddy don’t look like Boss Hogg,” said an older resident of Hampton who did not want to be identified by name, “but that’s who he is.”

[..]

“When you’re talking about that area of the state,” Proctor said, “it’s a place time has left behind.”

“These are good ol’ boys but they’re really smart good ol’ boys,” Gabby Thomas said. “And they’re not all bad, neither. They got a lot of support here. There’s no way we seen the last of them.”

Inside the toxic Murdaugh family dynasty of money, murder and mayhem

After the murder of two members of the powerful Murdaugh clan shocked the tiny town of Islandton, SC, locals reveal alleged cover-ups and corruption, and their theories on whodunit.

nypost.com

Thanks for that reference. It's helpful to know the locals have used the "Boss Hogg" reference and shared that history in the news media.

As a genealogist, I've studied that area a little. Several of my ancestors came through "Carolina" during pre-Colonial and Colonial times. The Europeans who migrated there back then were called Cavaliers and they brought their own unique culture, different from the English settlers in New England. The Pilgrim Fathers cast off the old traditions of England and created their own. The Cavaliers who settled the Carolinas and Virginia embraced English custom and kept it.

Interesting stuff to study, if you like genealogy and history. Their legal and court systems are slightly different, too. It might help understand things going forward.

Accept Terms and Conditions on JSTOR

JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources.

www.jstor.org

Land Ownership and Labor in Carolina

2008 This entry explains the key elements of feudalism, including its hierarchy of personal relationships and system of landholding, and how those

www.ncpedia.org

ETA: I think this material is also relevant in this case due to the long family history of the Murdaugh and other local families and their active involvement in the criminal justice system for so many generations.

 

[stmarysmead]

I am still stuck on the timing and the running car. Now I’ll add the weather.

Wasn’t it raining? Was it raining steadily that night? More importantly, was it raining at the time the coroner says the murders took place?

What would cause MM to leap out of her car, leaving ot running, to argue with AM in the rain. Was he threatening to kill himself…and that was a ruse to kill her?

If Paul is inside one of the kennels…were his parents arguing out in the rain? They had to be close enough that the phone picked up their voices.

I’d love to know the direction the car was facing…like it was entering or exiting.

Having several loaded guns available doesn’t surprise me. Even where I live we have bear, wild hogs, coyotes, snakes etc. And I don’t like at a dedicated hunting lodge. I just think AM was experienced enough to grab what he needed. I still believe, at the moment and opinion only…that MM was shot first and PM grabbed a gun to protect himself, or his Mother…and AM took that gun away from him. In the process, PM was shot. I am guessing that AM then made a grand tour around the carnage and finished everyone off.

 

[Elley Mae]

The SUV was among two vehicles police discovered at the Colleton County estate on June 7. Both vehicles, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, are owned by the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick law firm based in Hampton.

However, the Suburban appears to be the only vehicle that police investigators removed from the property, according to a copy of the computer-aided dispatch, or CAD, report released Thursday.

https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article252975148.html

A driver with the company arrived at the Murdaugh property, donned gloves and drove the Suburban to the tow truck, then hauled it to the Sheriff’s Office impound lot, the newspaper previously reported.

It was parked near the dog pens where the two Murdaughs were found shot to death, the newspaper reported.

 

[sunshineray]

Yes I know this is the Daily Mail. I only bring attention to it because I've never recalled hearing any talk (except by Harpootlian to deny existence of any life insurance policies) of MM or PM having insurance. Interesting that it was stated back in Oct 2021 that combined MM and PM had policies totaling $10 million.

Could insurance money have been the reason for MM's murder? I don't believe PM was originally a target like MM but an unplanned AJMO

"Just one week before this bizarre incident [ the botched "suicide" ], according to the source, 'Buster and Alex were talking about the fact that the life insurance wasn't paying out on Maggie or Paul. My understanding was that there was a $6million policy on her and $4million on him.'

Murdaugh's attorney Dick Harpootlian has denied the existence of any such policies.

The source maintained, 'Alex was talking to Buster about it and told him that soon he 'wouldn't have to worry about any of that.'

'That was about one week before he got shot in that shooting, he supposedly staged to get his own life insurance."

Redirect Notice

 

[Elley Mae]

I am still stuck on the timing and the running car. Now I’ll add the weather.

Wasn’t it raining? Was it raining steadily that night? More importantly, was it raining at the time the coroner says the murders took place?

What would cause MM to leap out of her car, leaving ot running, to argue with AM in the rain. Was he threatening to kill himself…and that was a ruse to kill her?

If Paul is inside one of the kennels…were his parents arguing out in the rain? They had to be close enough that the phone picked up their voices.

I’d love to know the direction the car was facing…like it was entering or exiting.

Having several loaded guns available doesn’t surprise me. Even where I live we have bear, wild hogs, coyotes, snakes etc. And I don’t like at a dedicated hunting lodge. I just think AM was experienced enough to grab what he needed. I still believe, at the moment and opinion only…that MM was shot first and PM grabbed a gun to protect himself, or his Mother…and AM took that gun away from him. In the process, PM was shot. I am guessing that AM then made a grand tour around the carnage and finished everyone off.

On 6/07/21 at about 22:30 I was contacted by Captain Chapman and informed of a shooting involving two victims in the Islandton area. I responded to the address he had provided, upon hearing my radio transmission that I was on the way Capt requested that I divert to Headquarters and retrieve at large tent to cover some of the evidence exposed to the elements. I did as instructed and arrived at the scene
While assisting on scene, the Medical Examiner had contaminated his gloves and asked if i would use his camera an take the necessary photos he required and I did so at his direction. I remained
on scene until Sled Crime Scene had completed their effort at the incident location.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.tow...-11eb-afdb-d3f46ba7adfb/60d102ba870af.pdf.pdf

 

[MerryB]

I am still stuck on the timing and the running car. Now I’ll add the weather.

Wasn’t it raining? Was it raining steadily that night? More importantly, was it raining at the time the coroner says the murders took place?

What would cause MM to leap out of her car, leaving ot running, to argue with AM in the rain. Was he threatening to kill himself…and that was a ruse to kill her?

It’s my understanding that it did not start raining until later, and then it was on & off, not steady.

 

[sunshineray]

I am still stuck on the timing and the running car. Now I’ll add the weather.

Wasn’t it raining? Was it raining steadily that night? More importantly, was it raining at the time the coroner says the murders took place?

What would cause MM to leap out of her car, leaving ot running, to argue with AM in the rain. Was he threatening to kill himself…and that was a ruse to kill her?

If Paul is inside one of the kennels…were his parents arguing out in the rain? They had to be close enough that the phone picked up their voices.

I’d love to know the direction the car was facing…like it was entering or exiting.

Having several loaded guns available doesn’t surprise me. Even where I live we have bear, wild hogs, coyotes, snakes etc. And I don’t like at a dedicated hunting lodge. I just think AM was experienced enough to grab what he needed. I still believe, at the moment and opinion only…that MM was shot first and PM grabbed a gun to protect himself, or his Mother…and AM took that gun away from him. In the process, PM was shot. I am guessing that AM then made a grand tour around the carnage and finished everyone off.

I think the running car may be explained by MM thinking AM was arriving soon and she was going to be in her car ready to follow him icer to hospital. She was, according to that texting with a friend, a bit uneasy about meeting up with AM that night. Maybe when MM pulled in she saw unexpectedly that PM was at the kennels and walked over to say hi?

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Two brothers and their wives and children. Probably a ton of cousins. Maybe JM was speaking of/includingMaggie's family also?

Thank you @sunshineray

 

[MerryB]

Going off the idea that Maggie was asked to meet at the cabin,

Alex Murdaugh Allegedly Lured Wife to Cabin On Night She Was Killed — and She Texted Friend It Seemed 'Fishy'

To me that would be the small home that sits to the right of the driveway that leads to the kennels. Looking at maps it appears that you could be at the kennels and not see the house. If Maggie did pull in and park near the house and got out when AM arrived he may have gunned her down there, PM would definitely heard the shot/s. He probably hollowed out not knowing what was going on and gave himself away.

Jmo

Trying to make sense of it.

There was no activity by the caretaker’s home though. SLED was in and around the red-roofed shed (which was called a “cabin” in one article, but is an equipment shed) and adjacent kennels. and the area between the two buildings seemed to get a lot of attention. It also makes sense to me, knowing what we now know, that if Alex and Maggie were in or around that shed, Paul could hear but not be seen from the kennels.

MOO

 

[Warwick7]

I think the running car may be explained by MM thinking AM was arriving soon and she was going to be in her car ready to follow him icer to hospital. She was, according to that texting with a friend, a bit uneasy about meeting up with AM that night. Maybe when MM pulled in she saw unexpectedly that PM was at the kennels and walked over to say hi?

I thought it was interesting 3 other people knew she didn't want to meet her husband.

"These same sources say Maggie had expressed her hesitancy to meet with her estranged husband to at least three other people in her life, but ultimately decided it was the right thing to do."

Maggie Murdaugh Was Lured To Moselle On The Night Of Her Murder

Latest in the Murdaugh Murders Saga: Maggie Murdaugh was lured to the family's Moselle hunting property the night she was killed.

www.fitsnews.com

 

[Rosiebones]

I thought it was interesting 3 other people knew she didn't want to meet her husband.

"These same sources say Maggie had expressed her hesitancy to meet with her estranged husband to at least three other people in her life, but ultimately decided it was the right thing to do."

Maggie Murdaugh Was Lured To Moselle On The Night Of Her Murder

Latest in the Murdaugh Murders Saga: Maggie Murdaugh was lured to the family's Moselle hunting property the night she was killed.

www.fitsnews.com

I wonder if one of these three was Paul and that became known after his phone was unlocked. MOO MOO MOO

 

[MerryB]

Adding photo showing location of tent between kennels and shed.

 

[Elley Mae]

Adding photo showing location of tent between kennels and shed.

Sorry but that looks like a flatbed trailer, i see the double tires and the hitch. There is one there on google maps with other vehicles.

Jmo

 

[stmarysmead]

Please correct my mistakes as i stumble through my confusion.

PM worked for his Uncle that day, but did not have dinner there.

Do we know when he arrived at Moselle?

MM arrived at 7:30pm.

PM was making a video that caught his two -arents arguing, shortly before his death around 9:30pm.

MM was also killed around 9:30pm.

Her car was found with the ignition running.

So the mystery is in those two hours between her arrival and their murders. Did she drive PM to the kennels because it was raining and then AM showed up? Would she have waited that long for him to show up…for this fishy trip to the hospital an hour away? Was she planning on staying the night at Moselle and leaving in the morning? Then she could just head back to Edisto from the hospital. Was PM staying the night with Mom?