SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #5

[MassGuy]

With no suspects or POI over that duration?

Compliance laws are typically something that weren't ignored.

Obviously you follow far more than I so I'd love some cases I can look to as reference.

It’s known as “the slayer rule.”


Key Takeaways

• Even the suspicion of murder can disqualify your beneficiary from receiving life insurance proceeds or any other part of your estate
  
  
• The slayer rule applies even if there's no convinction
  
  
• Each state has its own version of a slayer statute
  
  
• If your beneficiary can’t receive the death benefit, it’s paid to your other beneficiaries or your estate

[URL]https://www.policygenius.com/life-insurance/slayer-rule/
[/URL]
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-east-haddam-murder-life-insurance-20190208-euj7chgh7zbx7bpk22osuq4mum-story.html?outputType=amp

 

[ElementalLaura]

https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article254042998.html

Griffin said that on Saturday, members of the Murdaugh law firm had gone to a rural Hampton County road where Alex Murdaugh had reported being shot. At that scene, Murdaugh law firm members talked to State Law Enforcement Division agents and told them about the missing money at their law firm, Griffin said.

Griffin did not specify what type of drug Alex Murdaugh had problems with.

But two legal sources familiar with the matter said it was oxycodone.

@Rush4087 please see above.

 

[YouWho]

I must’ve missed something. What is it that we “know now about the opiate addiction”? Could you please provide an msm or LE link? Tia

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article254042998.html

 

[otto]

Just a quick rundown of the craziness here:

A dead male who may have been murdered, and whose death may be connected to the Murdaugh’s in some way (SLED opened an investigation based on information learned in the Murdaugh murder investigation).

A dead cleaning lady, who allegedly fell down the stairs.

A boat crash that led to a dead victim, felony charges, and a lawsuit (Paul was allegedly driving).

The double murder of Maggie and Paul.

The death of Alex’s father, which was natural causes, but had interesting timing in relation to the murders.

An incredibly bizarre daytime shooting of Alex, who managed to survive with a superficial head injury.

Alex Murdaugh being forced out of his law firm, accused of opioid abuse, and embezzling millions.

Alex checking into rehab within hours of the shooting and latest revelation.

This case is going to the the subject of countless documentaries, to include Dateline, 48 Hours, and 20/20.

We’ll be hearing about it forever, as you can’t make this stuff up.

That pretty much covers it.

I'm curious whether he was embezzling from malpractice awards, where the law firm oversaw distributions. This is where an in-house lawyer who is also an Accountant counts.

"Steven D."Steve" Murdaugh ... a Juris Doctor degree, ... also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. ... managed and operated a full service Accounting firm in Walterboro for approximately 15 years. ... worked for the Office of the South Carolina State Auditor in Columbia, S.C. for approximately three years and has since worked in Public Accounting until joining the law firm."
​

Three lawyers in the firm handled medical malpractice suits:

"Neil Alger joined the law firm to be an advocate for individuals and their families. He handles a wide range of personal injury litigation including ... medical malpractice"

"Lee Cope's extensive background in litigation ... practice focuses primarily on nursing home litigation, medical malpractice"

Grahame "Grey" Holmes ... devoted to representing individuals and the families of individuals who have been injured or killed due to the negligence of another person or entity ... medical malpractice"
​

Attorney Profiles | Our Team | PMPED Law Firm

 

[LaborDayRN]

Does anyone else think it’s weird he had a 2-day hospital stay for a superficial head wound? Or that he was life flighted for the same superficial wound? Because I’m guessing EMTs would have been able to tell it was superficial. But I’m wondering now if he was suicidal and he’s been in the psych ward until they could find a rehab place for him.

I can't think of any other reason for him to be life flighted or stay in the hospital for 2 days. Especially now with hospitals at maximum + capacity! They must have had a reason and IMO mental health issues may have been that reason.

 

[otto]

Was this a case where members of the law firm with a last name of Murdaugh perhaps more or less knew that Alex was borrowing 'off the books', but expected him to settle the books before anyone noticed?

Did the murder of his wife and son put him in a tailspin, then the sudden death of his father make it worse? Has life insurance money been released? The slayer rule works best after a civil trial. It seems like suspects are less certain in this case.

Why is he, in some ways, invoking the oxycodone defence? <modsnip> I'm a bit surprised that oxycodone is now part of the conversation, just at the moment that missing money is announced.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Why would his "former" law firm partners go to the scene of the shooting. This seems strange to me.

I agree. If they were all on good standing I could see his coworkers being worried about him and wanting to see if there was anything they could do to help. But as it stands now, it seems odd. But who knows. When you've worked (and probably socialized) with someone for years, you may still want to know he's alright.

 

[otto]

I can't think of any other reason for him to be life flighted or stay in the hospital for 2 days. Especially now with hospitals at maximum + capacity! They must have had a reason and IMO mental health issues may have been that reason.

If the shooting scenario was to present himself with injuries that justified an oxycodone prescription, that's rather extreme. That would result in a mental health assessment, with diagnosis of addition treatment.

 

[otto]

I agree. If they were all on good standing I could see his coworkers being worried about him and wanting to see if there was anything they could do to help. But as it stands now, it seems odd. But who knows. When you've worked (and probably socialized) with someone for years, you may still want to know he's alright.

It sounds like they needed to see the situation for themselves before fully believing that he was shot from a random vehicle. It sounds like they made a quick assessment, and then announced on the spot that Alex was under investigation for embezzlement, and that officers should take that into consideration when assessing the scene. Lawyers don't typically make announcements like that without intent.

 

[distracted]

Does anyone else think it’s weird he had a 2-day hospital stay for a superficial head wound? Or that he was life flighted for the same superficial wound? Because I’m guessing EMTs would have been able to tell it was superficial. But I’m wondering now if he was suicidal and he’s been in the psych ward until they could find a rehab place for him.

Not necessarily. Some addictions require a couple of days of detox before a rehab will accept them.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Just a quick rundown of the craziness here:

A dead male who may have been murdered, and whose death may be connected to the Murdaugh’s in some way (SLED opened an investigation based on information learned in the Murdaugh murder investigation).

A dead cleaning lady, who allegedly fell down the stairs.

A boat crash that led to a dead victim, felony charges, and a lawsuit (Paul was allegedly driving).

The double murder of Maggie and Paul.

The death of Alex’s father, which was natural causes, but had interesting timing in relation to the murders.

An incredibly bizarre daytime shooting of Alex, who managed to survive with a superficial head injury.

Alex Murdaugh being forced out of his law firm, accused of opioid abuse, and embezzling millions.

Alex checking into rehab within hours of the shooting and latest revelation.

This case is going to the the subject of countless documentaries, to include Dateline, 48 Hours, and 20/20.

We’ll be hearing about it forever, as you can’t make this stuff up.

LOL. I was just trying to catch up on this thread and sitting here thinking about which investigative show would get this case on the air first!

 

[otto]

From the law firm website

Regarding Alex's father:

"Left to cherish his memories is his wife of 60 years ... his sons, Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh , IV (Christy) of Hampton, Richard Alexander "Alex" Murdaugh of Islandton ...​

PMPED Law Firm | Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick

Steven Murdaugh (the CPA and lawyer) is not mentioned. Is he unrelated? I'm surprised that, if he is related, and he works for the firm, he is not mentioned.

 

[sunshineray]

So the big question is how to the murders factor in?

Many possibilities that could include large sums of money and someone battling addiction. Many different addictions besides drugs too. Only investigation and time will tell the whole truth. AJMO

 

[sunshineray]

Michael Aveneti (sp?) stole from his clients too. I followed that case but can't remember how he did it. Something about giving them smaller amounts than they were due from personal injury settlements.

That's what Girardi, the Erin Brockovich lawyer, out in CA was doing and doing it for years and years. Tens of millions of dollars taken.

 

[sunshineray]

Wondering if COVID caused a big dent in the law firm's practice. New cases not coming in and cases on hold. Did that cause money problems? JMO.

It could have and maybe was the reason more light was shed on the firm's monies?

 

[clearskies1]

If I'm interpreting in full all the MM stories and SLED statements correctly, the timeline for events that night seems very tight. As far as I know the words "iron-clad" and "alibi" were only commented on by the M family. IIRC SLED has never spoken up about anyone's alibi or their lack of alibi.

I've seen no reports that provide a timeline for any of the Murdaughs' whereabouts the day of the murder. The only time I know is the time of the 911 call.

 

[otto]

If I'm interpreting in full all the MM stories and SLED statements correctly, the timeline for events that night seems very tight. As far as I know the words "iron-clad" and "alibi" were only commented on by the M family. IIRC SLED has never spoken up about anyone's alibi or their lack of alibi.

It has been reported that he was visiting his hospitalized father prior to discovering the bodies of his wife and son near the dog kennel. I'm curious about how long he was home before he decided to check whether they were at the dog kennel.

What do we know the his timeline and the estimated time of death? Hypothetically, if he left the hospital one hour after the estimated time of death, suppose the drive is 40 minutes, and he phoned 911 45 minutes later, that seems like a short time to arrive home and discover the bodies at the dog kennel. Did he see the bodies from the driveway, or did he wander around the house and check bedrooms before running to the dog kennel? Did he check the garage for vehicles or were they typically parked in the driveway?

I'm suddenly curious about how long it took him from arriving home to discovering bodies on the acreage.

 

[otto]

I think you pass the dog kennel area as you drive in the most frequently used entrance from the road to the home. So I think you would see the bodies as you drove in. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong).

Is the red roof the house? ... is the small building to the right the dog kennel?

Victims in Colleton County double shooting being laid to rest Friday

 

[otto]

Is the dog kennel the building to the left of the house?

Investigators release timeline of events in Murdaugh murder case

 

[otto]

If the kennel is right next to the house, and the bodies were left in plain sight between the house and the kennel, that seems bold.

That means that there was no attempt to delay discovery of the bodies, or to buy time for the shooter to getaway? If there's one thing I've come to expect after reading about murders like this, it is that murderers usually factor in maximizing getaway time - where possible.

Since his wife and son were marched out of the house to a location where they were shot, why next to the driveway? Why not some distance away in the trees? Why not delay the discovery of the bodies? Why wasn't Alex concerned that the shooter was still in the house?