SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #3

[Elley Mae]

A guy’s thinking. I really like it. Who, and why does your other half think did it?

‍

No one in particular.

I think it was the shot in face/torso, shotgun. Personal

 

[LetsSolvIt]

They could have been and someone was forced to unlock them or like someone just mentioned they could have been locked inside a structure with other hunting items. I could see MM asking PM to help her feed the digs before they went up to the main house. Saying that they were possibly getting back to the property themselves after seeing the grandfather in hospital. Just some possibilities.

For clarification, what I am picturing on a hunting compound like this, is a gun room, not a safe. With a large family and numerous groups using the property, I'm assuming they might have had two dozen or more guns for various preferences and types of hunting. I've seen these rooms where there is a rack along one wall about 4 ft. off the floor with a slot for each gun. What I saw had chains mounted on each end that were strung through all the trigger guards. The two pieces of chain are locked with a pad lock where they meet in the center. (I think I have inserted a photo below.) Remember it was more than just AM and two sons who were hunting, and different gages are used for different size birds, small game, deer, etc. They probably had two or three of these racks full of guns.

While a group is there the overseer has the chain unlocked so he can easily access the weapons. The door to the room would probably be locked for double security when the guns weren't going to be used, say at night.

 

[Diddian]

I had considered this as well, when I mentioned earlier about the possibility of a home invasion.
One of the victims may have been forced to open the safe, even though nothing was stolen.
The fact that nothing of value was stolen removes one of the most practical motives for this crime: Robbery.

Not entirely. IIRC, the manager of the apt building where PM had his college apt (with a roommate) reported a door left open on that apt to LE on the day following the murders.

IF the perpetrator(s) wanted something that PM had, but PM kept whatever that was at this apt, it is possible they would attack PM or MM to get PM to hand over his magnetic key (assuming the apt complex used those, as many college apt complexes do) and that the items robbed were missing from the college apt location. I hope LE checked to see if PM's apt key was on his person or in his property at Moselle.

 

[Elley Mae]

Not entirely. IIRC, the manager of the apt building where PM had his college apt (with a roommate) reported a door left open on that apt to LE on the day following the murders.

IF the perpetrator(s) wanted something that PM had, but PM kept whatever that was at this apt, it is possible they would attack PM or MM to get PM to hand over his magnetic key (assuming the apt complex used those, as many college apt complexes do) and that the items robbed were missing from the college apt location. I hope LE checked to see if PM's apt key was on his person or in his property at Moselle.

Wonder if “information gathered “ to re open SS open was gathered from the apartment.

 

[Cryptic]

Possibly...maybe this was a robbery gone bad?

I think its clearly possible.

Sadly, there are plenty of instances of doped up or just not too bright perpetrators initiating poorly planned robberies that involve fuzzy planning and turn horribly violent "on a dime".

At the same time, one of the victims was mutilated in the face, thus implying a more personal motive. But..... I see and support your point. The murders dont have to be linked to a "big picture" motive.

Rather, the motive could be PM having a $5oo.00 - $1,000drug debt. Just because one has the money to pay such a debt, does not mean they are willing to.

Then factor in that drug debts can have interest and penalties that were not part of the original uhmm.... "sale terms" leading to the customer to conclude that he is being subject to extortion and refusing to pay.

 

[sunshineray]

I've been trying to find where it was mentioned, was it 3 or 4 days after the murders that PM interviewed with LE?

I'm so sorry, I meant AM

 

[sunshineray]

The best time to break into the house and steal things is when the family is gone. If MM and PM had come home and found thieves in the house, then its likely the bodies would have been located in the house and items would be missing. Yet nothing was taken, the bodies were found near the kennels, and the dogs were left unharmed.

If they were looking to steal firearms also they could have been marched down to the other buildings, if that's where they were located.

 

[Cryptic]

The best time to break into the house and steal things is when the family is gone.

If MM and PM had come home and found thieves in the house, then its likely the bodies would have been located in the house and items would be missing.

Yet nothing was taken, the bodies were found near the kennels, and the dogs were left unharmed.

I think all of your points are valid and the totality would detract from a robbery motive. And now, the "but".....

The validity of your points, however, are based to a degree on the presumption that the robbers are of say, average intelligence or higher and are not doped up nor drug addled.

Needless to say, the resumes of a certain number of robbers feature notations such as: "low intelligence", "constantly drugged", and / or "known to be impulsive and violent".

If they were looking to steal firearms also they could have been marched down to the other buildings, if that's where they were located.

Though possible, I dont think this is very likely.

Even "starter" hunting firearms owned by wealthy individuals interested in hunting can be worth 1-3K per gun. Prices can quickly go north from there as entry level luxury, then true luxury levels are reached. In short, my strong guess is that any fire arms would be secured in the main house.

This still does not eliminate a fogged and impulsively violent robbery. Perhaps say:

First two victims dont have the mandatory bling items that we think all wealthy people have. Dont want to get cornered in the house.

So, lets march the victims to the kennels and wait for the last one to arrive- he must have the mandatory bling. Now, we are two not very bright guys getting frustrated and impulsively violent. Oh, we dont like wealthy people to begin with....

 

[genuineusa77]

If they were looking to steal firearms also they could have been marched down to the other buildings, if that's where they were located.

Could it be these two different firearms were stolen from one of the M's buildings? It's possible, they in the act of getting away when PM and MM drove up?

 

[genuineusa77]

A few pages back someone posted the settlement, which included $5000 for medical costs. (I’m on my phone and its very tedious to try to click back to find it.) That seems low when you start talking hospitals so I wondered if her expenses were just for ER. I think it would have been more if she had been admitted. Ergo, she maybe died in ER?

I would like to see affidavit, too. And also wondered how to get a hold of death cert to see COD. I haven't had much experience looking for this stuff online.

JMO.

I believe her family got $500,000.

 

[Betty P]

‍

No one in particular.

I think it was the shot in face/torso, shotgun. Personal

I'm not certain, but it sure appears to be personal.

It seems it would take a lot to shoot someone you know in the face and chest with a shotgun. That's a brutal, violent way to kill someone and the damage would be difficult to observe, especially so if it was a friend or family member. Seems like the killer would have to be either very angry and upset or very afraid.

ETA: Drugs can also have a similar impact.

 

[worm]

I'm not certain, but it sure appears to be personal.

It seems it would take a lot to shoot someone you know in the face and chest with a shotgun. That's a brutal, violent way to kill someone and the damage would be difficult to observe, especially so if it was a friend or family member. Seems like the killer would have to be either very angry and upset or very afraid.

I’ve only a vague recall of it so I may be wrong but i think I read that PM was shot from an angle, is that right? It sounded like he was trying to get away or something.

 

[sunshineray]

I'm not certain, but it sure appears to be personal.

It seems it would take a lot to shoot someone you know in the face and chest with a shotgun. That's a brutal, violent way to kill someone and the damage would be difficult to observe, especially so if it was a friend or family member. Seems like the killer would have to be either very angry and upset or very afraid.

ETA: Drugs can also have a similar impact.

That type wound is similar to SS wound. I'm by no means accusing anyone with that statement, just noting similarity.

 

[sunshineray]

I'm sorry I messed up the last post about this. I can't remember or find it again, was it 3 or 4 days after the murders that AM gave his statement to LE?

 

[Echo44]

Isn't that odd then that AM's address listed on official LE documents is a property he no longer owned. Why would that be? He just never updated his records with the DMV? Wouldn't he legally of had to do that, if for nothing else than for insurance (all kinds) purposes?

When I move I update my drivers license online but they charge if you want your new address on a new license. So I just keep my old ( still valid) license until it's time to renew and then get updated address printed on new license.

 

[worm]

When I move I update my drivers license online but they charge if you want your new address on a new license. So I just keep my old ( still valid) license until it's time to renew and then get updated address printed on new license.

That’s worth a ticket in some places. It was to be changed in 30 days when I moved here, in the same county, some 8 years ago.

 

[sunshineray]

When I move I update my drivers license online but they charge if you want your new address on a new license. So I just keep my old ( still valid) license until it's time to renew and then get updated address printed on new license.

So if AM had updated online after selling house wouldn't LE have had his new address? LE has direct line to DMV records, at least here in my state.

 

[Elley Mae]

If You’re Moving Within South Carolina
South Carolina requires that you update your driver’s license within just 10 days with your new address when moving within the state (and no, changing your address with the post office doesn’t cut it). With little time to waste, make sure to keep this at the top of your post-moving to do list.

https://www.moving.com/tips/how-to-do-a-south-carolina-dmv-change-of-address/

 

[Sheila Terranova]

That type wound is similar to SS wound. I'm by no means accusing anyone with that statement, just noting similarity.

I think when you shoot to kill head and chest are the normal targets.

 

[Elley Mae]

I think when you shoot to kill head and chest are the normal targets.

Chest- center mass, heart/lungs. Kill shot

Head- face is what I see as personal.

Jmo