SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #2

[Sustained]

I was hoping and thinking that a family of prosecuting attorneys would know evidence rules when dealing with the phone.

Everyone is assuming the someone from the M's family and not LE touched the phone. We don't know that to be true. For all we know, a member of the family could have used 'Find My Phone' from their phone and relayed the location to LE.

 

[stmarysmead]

Everyone is assuming the someone from the M's family and not LE touched the phone. We don't know that to be true. For all we know, a member of the family could have used 'Find My Phone' from their phone and relayed the location to LE.

“Investigators tracked it…”

Murdaugh mom’s phone found outside of property after South Carolina murders

A relative was able to ping the location on Maggie’s phone a day after the mother and son were found dead and investigators tracked it outside the property, a source told The State Wednesday. Police are reportedly trying to test any DNA, although evidence may have been washed away by rain that night.

 

[stmarysmead]

The rumors that swirl around this family create a very unpleasant and negative picture…but at the moment, they are just….rumors.

We don’t know if they had anything to do with Steven Smith’s death or even if that death is a homicide.

We don’t know what actually happened to the maid, or even how she died.

As for the boating accident, it seems from the depositions that all the young people in the boat were drunk. It seems from that same source…unfortunately…a bit unclear whose hand was actually on the wheel at that fatal moment of collision.

Maybe there was obstruction of justice or maybe…this was just a family of extremely talented lawyers who knew every LEGAL trick in the book to protect their own…and used them.

In any event, AM is experiencing about the worst any individual can endure.

His beloved wife and son have been brutally murdered.
His beloved Father has died.
He is facing a civil suit for the boat crash.
There is a grand jury investigating whether obstruction of justice took place during that investigation. His surviving son is also being sued in the boat crash…and
A new investigation has been opened in the Smith case, which could mean more scrutiny for that young man but at the least, more gossip.

 

[Warwick7]

If it’s not robbery, retribution or strangers my mind goes to “follow the money”. The morning of the murders AM had 3 heirs. At the end of the day, he had just one.

And these murders occurred just days before the inevitable death of AM’s father, a man with significant assets of his own. Did the distribution of those assets change as a result of the murders?

Who stands to inherit much more now than they would have before the murders?

MOO

According to the Island Packet, AM to offer $100K reward for tips leading to the killers.

https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article252329953.html

Bout time!!

 

[Warwick7]

Black vehicle towed from crime scene.

https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article252306843.html

 

[stmarysmead]

So now a black suburban was towed away from the scene.
Black Suburban towed from the scene of the Murdaugh murders | Hilton Head Island Packet

‘Colleton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dathan Varandoe, in his redacted case action report, wrote he “escorted the tow service (S&S Super Lube) with the [redacted] back to the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office where I secured it in the impound lot.”


Police investigators escorted the vehicle — one car in front and one behind — on the way to the impound lot, Sherrill said.

The driver from the towing company had to wear rubber gloves and was told not to touch the vehicle, he said.

Sherrill said the driver didn’t notice any blood or bullet holes on the vehicle. ‘

I think Sustained discovered records yesterday that AM and MM had a Mercedes SUV and a Range Rover and a few pickup trucks.

 

[Sustained]

‘Colleton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dathan Varandoe, in his redacted case action report, wrote he “escorted the tow service (S&S Super Lube) with the [redacted] back to the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office where I secured it in the impound lot.”


Police investigators escorted the vehicle — one car in front and one behind — on the way to the impound lot, Sherrill said.

The driver from the towing company had to wear rubber gloves and was told not to touch the vehicle, he said.

Sherrill said the driver didn’t notice any blood or bullet holes on the vehicle. ‘

I think Sustained discovered records yesterday that AM and MM had a Mercedes SUV and a Range Rover and a few pickup trucks.

The towed vehicle was a black Chevy Suburban and according to Hampton/Colleton County tax records does not belong to the M's.
At least as a personal vehicle - it might have been registered to the law firm.

 

[taylorss]

Hmmm

 

[stmarysmead]

It doesn’t seem like the kind of car PM would have. It’s like an airport car service vehicle. Maybe the law firm did use it for that purpose.

 

[Cryptic]

SLED opens own investigation into death of Stephen Smith

In a nutshell, can somebody explain the possible link between this victim and the M family and / or the boating accident?

It’s like an airport car service vehicle. Maybe the law firm did use it for that purpose.

I think you could well be right.

Evidently, the law firm systematically took advantage of a rare judicial practice that enabled lawsuits to be filed locally- even if the accident occurred in another state, so long as the targeted company in question did any kind of business in the local county what so ever.

This undoubtably led to out of state or out of local area clients visiting firm offices and the need for a firm car to take them to and from the airport etc.

 

[MassGuy]

In a nutshell, can somebody explain the possible link between this victim and the M family and / or the boating accident?

<modsnip: Removed hearsay>

During the investigation into Stephen’s death, the Murdaugh name appeared at least nine times in the notes of SC highway patrol. Nothing came of that though, and we don’t know the specifics.

During the double murder investigation, evidence was uncovered that prompted SLED to open their own investigation into Stephen’s death.

 

[Luna20]

In a nutshell, can somebody explain the possible link between this victim and the M family and / or the boating accident?


I think you could well be right.

Evidently, the law firm systematically took advantage of a rare judicial practice that enabled lawsuits to be filed locally- even if the accident occurred in another state, so long as the targeted company in question did any kind of business in the local county what so ever.

This undoubtably led to out of state or out of local area clients visiting firm offices and the need for a firm car to take them to and from the airport etc.

What if one of two ppl were/are involved in stephen’s death. If one was involved and the other/s, were not. Having that knowledge could be dangerous to have.

@Elley Mae post #19 captures the possible link “in a nutshell”

 

[Bridger]

Evidently, the law firm systematically took advantage of a rare judicial practice that enabled lawsuits to be filed locally- even if the accident occurred in another state, so long as the targeted company in question did any kind of business in the local county what so ever.

It’s called forum shopping and it’s not the least bit rare. It’s good legal practice to bring a case in the forum in which a client is likely to be most successful.

 

[sandy_80]

The rumors that swirl around this family create a very unpleasant and negative picture…but at the moment, they are just….rumors.

We don’t know if they had anything to do with Steven Smith’s death or even if that death is a homicide.

We don’t know what actually happened to the maid, or even how she died.

As for the boating accident, it seems from the depositions that all the young people in the boat were drunk. It seems from that same source…unfortunately…a bit unclear whose hand was actually on the wheel at that fatal moment of collision.

Maybe there was obstruction of justice or maybe…this was just a family of extremely talented lawyers who knew every LEGAL trick in the book to protect their own…and used them.

In any event, AM is experiencing about the worst any individual can endure.

His beloved wife and son have been brutally murdered.
His beloved Father has died.
He is facing a civil suit for the boat crash.
There is a grand jury investigating whether obstruction of justice took place during that investigation. His surviving son is also being sued in the boat crash…and
A new investigation has been opened in the Smith case, which could mean more scrutiny for that young man but at the least, more gossip.

you can sense some hostility .. like some ppl talking about justice in the other incidents while you have 2 dead here ?

 

[MsJosie]

The rumors that swirl around this family create a very unpleasant and negative picture…but at the moment, they are just….rumors.

We don’t know if they had anything to do with Steven Smith’s death or even if that death is a homicide.

We don’t know what actually happened to the maid, or even how she died.

As for the boating accident, it seems from the depositions that all the young people in the boat were drunk. It seems from that same source…unfortunately…a bit unclear whose hand was actually on the wheel at that fatal moment of collision.

Maybe there was obstruction of justice or maybe…this was just a family of extremely talented lawyers who knew every LEGAL trick in the book to protect their own…and used them.

In any event, AM is experiencing about the worst any individual can endure.

His beloved wife and son have been brutally murdered.
His beloved Father has died.
He is facing a civil suit for the boat crash.
There is a grand jury investigating whether obstruction of justice took place during that investigation. His surviving son is also being sued in the boat crash…and
A new investigation has been opened in the Smith case, which could mean more scrutiny for that young man but at the least, more gossip.

true but all IMO is what we assume to be fact….and what is read in media. We have no idea if the family is “beloved” to each other, if the family were ‘friends’, the family “hated each other”, or whatever they really felt for each other.

There is strong indication there has been a cover up along the years

One thing fit sure this will be an interesting case. I hope the truth comes out and justice is served for each and every death/murder.

 

[evilwise]

Evidently, the law firm systematically took advantage of a rare judicial practice that enabled lawsuits to be filed locally- even if the accident occurred in another state, so long as the targeted company in question did any kind of business in the local county what so ever.

Well that could explain pretty much everything. I had no idea. It certainly does broaden the suspect pool though. Imagine owning a small business in the west coast that makes fishing lures or something and someone has an accident that they decide to sure you for in South Carolina. You basically are forced to settle just because of the prohibitive expense of traveling and making a case. I'm surprised they never ran afoul of dangerous people before now if they've been doing this for a hundred years. No wonder the family handled their settlement with the house keeper's family so smoothly.

 

[upmysleeve]

The rumors that swirl around this family create a very unpleasant and negative picture…but at the moment, they are just….rumors.

We don’t know if they had anything to do with Steven Smith’s death or even if that death is a homicide.

We don’t know what actually happened to the maid, or even how she died.

As for the boating accident, it seems from the depositions that all the young people in the boat were drunk. It seems from that same source…unfortunately…a bit unclear whose hand was actually on the wheel at that fatal moment of collision.

Maybe there was obstruction of justice or maybe…this was just a family of extremely talented lawyers who knew every LEGAL trick in the book to protect their own…and used them.

In any event, AM is experiencing about the worst any individual can endure.

His beloved wife and son have been brutally murdered.
His beloved Father has died.
He is facing a civil suit for the boat crash.
There is a grand jury investigating whether obstruction of justice took place during that investigation. His surviving son is also being sued in the boat crash…and
A new investigation has been opened in the Smith case, which could mean more scrutiny for that young man but at the least, more gossip.

It is obviously heartbreaking to think of the multiple tragedies that have happened to the family, but this post reads like that of a defense attorney. Raising doubt is important and rumors should obviously be corroborated but no investigation ever reveals 100% complete and unimpeachable truth. We do know that investigators had enough evidence (likely including the depositions, Snapchat, location, and phone records) to charge PM with manslaughter (edit, technically felony BUI). Intoxicated people do not suddenly lack memory or always confabulate information - their statements must obviously be corroborated but at the very least PM was reported by multiple people to have recklessly driven the boat and to have refused to let others drive. Similarly, there has been absolutely no dispute that Stephen Smith's death was a homicide - whether it was vehicular manslaughter or premeditated murder, there is no evidence this was self-inflicted or an accident not caused by another human being.

 

[Echo44]

Could it be the property has many cameras and the area by the dog kennels is one area that does not have them, and the perp knew that?

If the dogs were worth anything that is where the cameras WILL be at. My kennel had cameras before my house did.

 

[stmarysmead]

I am no defense atty for the Murdaugh family. I’m just trying to take my personal animosity and emotions out of the situation and look at what we really factually know. My suspicions…which aren’t facts…are very similar to what yours are.

Unfortunately, the coroner in the Smith case ruled that it was an accident. So there is, at present, an official dispute to the charge of murder. That’s what stands at the moment.

I’m thrilled that the case is reopened and that there is a grand jury investigating obstruction. But, for the moment, the coroner’s ruling stands…so legally, it cannot be called murder.

And, I agree, PM was reportedly recklessly driving the boat. Testimony about his behavior is appalling. Did he call his Dad before they called for help…not proven.

My post was just to point out what we can fairly say we KNOW…from the small amount of factual information we have. Like you, I have read reams of rumors and I grit my teeth and sit on my hands. We can’t discuss that here because WS requires a higher standard.

So we wait….

 

[Luna20]

Just reported on evening news that the Mudaughs refused to comply with the Stephen Smith investigation.

And this:
Murdaugh double murders: Former SC trooper speaks out about suspicions in 2015 cold case linked to family