SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #9

[Cryptic]

Did he get payouts because he claimed she fell at different properties he owned that were insured with different insurance companies?

I don' think so as the insurance companies would have probably asked for documentation before writing large checks.

Instead, I think he had multiple high dollar insurance policies from different companies. In the end, he had been in the "sue'em game" his entire life and his family had been in it for generations.

I am thinking that he kept multiple polices as, well, "insurance" in the event that the tables were ever turned on him one day and he was targeted by a lawsuit.

Then again, the multiple high dollar policies may reflect something far more sinister than just extra insurance against lawsuits.

 

[Norrmajean]

This case is unfolding and there will be many revelations along the way. What really fascinates me is the entitlement factor. Coupled with a certain audacity that only comes from getting away with everything that you have ever done in life. I have been deeply in loved in another case for more than 5 years now. Totally different narrative but the similarity between them is the accused somehow sharing that same entitlement that not only can they commit murder but that they can avoid the consequences. News for AM It took 5 years to get there in the Rhoden case but Lady Justice will be served in the end. Truth always comes to light eventually. JMO

 

[Kittybunny]

Referencing the news article that LetsSolvit posted upthread. The people at PMPED found a check on Alex's desk that had been deposited into the bogus account. If he had already deposited the check, how was it physically on his desk? Once you deposit a check, you don't see the check again.

Mobile app deposit - I take pictures of my checks and deposit them into my bank app. I still have the physical checks. Now it would be unusual for businesses to do this but it's an easy way to get around things I'm sure.

 

[Kittybunny]

Although there was no signed document approving that settlement filed with the court, on January 7, 2019, Fleming received a $505,000 check from one of the companies with which Murdaugh held an insurance policy, Lloyd’s Underwriters.

That same day, Fleming wrote a check for $403,500 to ‘Forge,’ a shell account that Murdaugh set up to funnel funds he was siphoning from his own former law firm, according to Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, and Detrick (PMPED).

Satterfield attorneys: Documents show over $3M of death settlement funds diverted to Murdaugh shell account | WCBD News 2

Over the next two years, Fleming and Westendorf negotiated a payout of over $4 million from the two companies with which Murdaugh held insurance — Lloyd’s Underwriters and Nautilus Insurance Company. However, none of the associated documents were officially filed in court. Instead, the documents were approved by Judge Carmen Mullen, who previously recused herself from presiding over a separate Murdaugh case.

Mullen apparently approved the final multi-million dollar settlement which directed $2.765 million to the beneficiaries of the Satterfield estate on May 13, 2019. That same day, Fleming wrote another check to Forge for $2.9 million.

On October 5, 2020, Mullen oversaw the dismissal of the settlement, with both parties agreeing that they had come to a resolution.

On October 6, 2020, Fleming wrote a check to Forge for $168,000.

It was smart of Fleming to settle very quickly and publicly, but I don't for a second believe that he was an innocent dupe of AM. He was completely involved in this defrauding scheme, and I hope SLED is looking into this as well. He doesn't deserve to come out of this unscathed either.

 

[Elley Mae]

Do you think that the Satterfield son/sons did not mention to Fleming that AM sent them to him to sue AM.

 

[Elley Mae]

During the 2015 investigation of the death of Stephen Smith — a 19-year-old Hampton, S.C. native who was friends with Alex Murdaugh’s sons — Fleming represented a man named Patrick Wilson who was facing three counts of attempted murder in a separate 2015 shooting. According to investigators’ notes in the Smith case, Wilson told his stepfather that his friend killed Stephen by swiping him with the side view mirror of a vehicle, a theory posited by the coroner but which was not supported by evidence.

When Wilson’s stepfather told police this story, he said “he was passing this information on was because Randy Murdaugh told him to call,” according to the investigation file (more on that story here).

At the time, Buster Murdaugh, Paul’s brother, was on detectives’ “radar” in the Stephen Smith investigation. To be clear, Buster was never named a suspect in the case.

Wilson’s attempted murder charges were later dropped by the S.C. fourteenth circuit solicitor’s office — where Fleming previously worked.

September 14, 2021

Murdaugh Murders: Housekeeper’s Family Says They Never Got Any Money In Death Settlement

 

[Ann99]

Do you think that the Satterfield son/sons did not mention to Fleming that AM sent them to him to sue AM.

Yes, I think they did mention it. Usually Lawyers of a large well established firm never just take "walk ins."

There is almost always a referral and the referral is known and noted.

Maybe things were different in the world of the Low Country.
Seems as if nothing, or very little, is done by
conventional wisdom or standards.

 

[clearskies1]

Do you think that the Satterfield son/sons did not mention to Fleming that AM sent them to him to sue AM.

AM would have almost CERTAINLY given Fleming a heads-up that he had referred the sons to him. JMO.

 

[Deleted member 291279]

We trust Nancy G / Crimeonline for vetting their sources appropriately
That's a joke, right? I do not trust Her at all.

 

[sunshineray]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MandyMatney/status/1445892285787349004
No words for this.

I understand why CF and his law firm have said and approved this...accounting of what happened. I just don't believe it...at all. AJMO

 

[RAISINISBACK]

First post from me on this fascinating case though familiar with sleuths from the Rhoden case. I just read as much as possible so before my eyes close wanted to add a couple thoughts.
I am in recovery over 10 years now. Familiar story prescribed at the beginning then anywhere I could find them at the end. JMO as always but my experience in rehab myself and then assisting other addicts tells me that there are standard protocols upon admission. First they test you. The staff will not take your word for what substances are in your system. Certainly doesn't in any way certify if AM has had a 20 year problem but believe me some of us are really good at functioning and keeping our secrets. That is until we aren't . But between those points the manipulation,lies and need to control everything are very familiar and again JMO AM is exactly the picture of an opioid addict. He spent years of his life juggling it all. Then as it always does his addiction began to unravel and he unraveled as well. Seems to me he has been covering for himself and his family for a long time. Living a lifestyle beyond his means along with practicing law and covering for his son took a toll. In no way does that excuse any of his subsequent actions but at least from here I believe the behavior fits with addiction. We can get better with sincere desire but it's no easy road.

I agree NJ. BTW I remember you from the R thread. But yes all of AM's actions that we know of point to a serious addiction to not only opioids but also alcohol.

JMO

 

[Lux et Veritas]

AM approached Satterfield’s son at their mother’s funeral about a lawsuit and recommended Fleming. Dollars to donuts between GS’s fall and her death he had already had the plan in place to make money off her death.

Jmo

At this point, I'm not at all convinced that GS's death was an "accident".

 

[RAISINISBACK]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MandyMatney/status/1445892285787349004
No words for this.

I have words. This is the exact insurance fraud scheme AM engaged in with his insurance companies in GS's death. Admit guilt so your malpractice/fraud insurance company has to pay off and you are off the hook scott free without actually losing a penny. If someone admits guilt, the insurance company cannot fight the lawsuit because their client and star witness in any trial has already said he is guilty.

In this case CF refunded some attorney fees already that are probably covered by an insurance company. I have a business (accounting) in which a mistake can be made costing a client money so I have insurance that covers me and my employees in the event one of us makes a mistake with the paperwork. IMO attorneys would have the same insurance.

Looks like CF learned a very good lesson from AM or else AM learned from CF.

JMO

 

[MassGuy]

At this point, I'm not at all convinced that GS's death was an "accident".

He surely took advantage of it really quickly. The counterpoint is that she did not die right away, which one would expect if this was an intentional act.

There is of course middle ground, in which there was an act of violence that wasn't intended to cause death (someone lost their temper and hurt her).

 

[Lux et Veritas]

Looks like AM was robbing Satterfield estate to pay off Beach lawsuit.

Jmo

Thing is, AM's heinous, fraudulent scheme to steal GS's settlement estate from her sons was put into motion a long time before the Feb 2019 boat crash.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

The part about the addiction story that just doesn't ring true for me is the lack of progression. No one stays addicted to the same thing for 20 years without a significant impact on their health. OR progressing to other substances.
But to look as healthy and borderline overweight as AM does and be addicted to oxy for twenty years?
That's a 'nope' from me dawg.

But to look as healthy and borderline overweight as AM does and be addicted to oxy for twenty years?
BBM
I personally do not have any experience with people who are addicted to opioids so I don't know how they act. But I will tell you this story I heard from a client. I don't know how accurate it is just repeating what she said.

A man and his wife came to my office in March to get their taxes done. Both looked the picture of health if a little on the downside of 50 and the man was a tad overweight. 2 weeks later the wife called and told me he had died and asked what to do about their refund. I asked her what happened to him since he looked very healthy when I saw him. This is the story she told:

He had back surgery in the mid 1990's and they put him on pain meds that were opioids at some pain clinic. She said he took them as prescribed, but said his doctor kept upping his daily dosage from one pill to two ect. That went on for about 15 years. She said a while before he died his colon shut down and he was taking over the counter medications because he couldn't get his bowels to move. One night he woke her up and told her he was really sick. She called an ambulance but when she got to the hospital the doctors told her there was nothing they could do because his organs were all shutting down.

I found it really hard to believe what she said. I thought people addicted to drugs were all skinny, unhealthy, pale, with impaired mental ability and that was certainly not the man I saw 2 weeks earlier.

Then I read about Elvis Pressley and what actually happened before he died. He gained a lot of weight. He had what was called a Mega Colon because his colon had shut down. Then all his organs shut down. And not to argue with those people who think Elvis is living on some island he actually died sitting on his toilet, trying to get his bowels to move, of an overdose of pain medications.

So yeah, I believe AM is actually an addict. Take a look at all the irrational stuff he has did in the last few months. What attorneys or actually anyone you know would try to pulled as stupid a stunt as he did?

JMO

 

[Lux et Veritas]

What about Randy? He didn’t know anything?

Who was looking at the books, no monthly accounting, no balancing of funds?

Wth

Exactly. Great question, what about Randy? Since everything started exploding around AM, seems Randy has been a constant, supporting presence for AM, whether in the public eye or behind the scenes. And he was "shocked" about his own brother's alleged "drug addiction" - the same brother who works at the very same law firm that is now suing AM? Not believable in the extreme. When this all finally shakes out, Randy may possibly have an orange jumpsuit in his future, too.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Exactly. Great question, what about Randy? Since everything started exploding around AM, seems Randy has been a constant, supporting presence for AM, whether in the public eye or behind the scenes. And he was "shocked" about his own brother's alleged "drug addiction" - the same brother who works at the very same law firm that is now suing AM? Not believable in the extreme. When this all finally shakes out, Randy may possibly have an orange jumpsuit in his future, too.

this totally functioning drug addict thing.......... it just has so many different "life forms". This is why earlier on, I just kept saying if a real true addict, it would be KNOWN, other people would speak up...

But his appears to be that type that was still always in control....

which now makes me believe the addiction is real................. but the immediate need for rehab was still just a cover.............

moo.... who knows when it comes to drugs........

 

[Chelly]

I love bologna sandwich, fried.

mustard and thin slice of red onion

 

[LetsSolvIt]

This is a terrific article but too long to provide all of it.
Murdaugh Murders: Why Hasn’t Alex Murdaugh Been Arrested In The Satterfield Scandal? | Fitsnews, 7 Oct 2021

Now, Bland — and so many others — are questioning where the accountability is in this case after he’s provided law enforcement with an apparent pile of evidence.

Why isn’t Alex Murdaugh — who is accused of devising the plan to steal millions of dollars from Satterfield’s family — in jail?

How is Cory Fleming — who was the Satterfields’ attorney in 2018 and failed almost every step in his duty to serve his clients — still able to practice law in South Carolina?

Why is Chad Westendorf — the personal representative of Gloria’s estate, who played a key role in the scheme to cut Satterfield’s sons out of the settlement before he took $30,000 — still the president of the Independent Banks of South Carolina and still working at Palmetto State Bank?

Will Carmen Mullen — the judge who has ties to the Murdaugh family and approved the under-the-table-settlement in 2019 — ever have to tell the truth about her alleged involvement?

<snipped>

Bland, who is representing Satterfield’s two sons in a civil lawsuit against Murdaugh and his co-conspirators, told FITSNews that he has turned over all of this information to SLED. He believes the documents provide enough probable cause evidence to arrest Murdaugh for multiple financial crimes related to the settlement including conspiracy to commit fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud. [BBM]

SLED officials confirmed that they met with Bland, who provided them documentation.

Bland told FITSNews he is concerned about the status of SLED’s investigation. SLED is the same agency investigating the June 7 double homicide of Alex Murdaugh’s wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul Murdaugh. Since the double homicide, SLED has opened four criminal investigations related to the Murdaugh family.

Bland said it’s been weeks since he provided SLED agents with crucial evidence in this case, yet, he doesn’t appear to be seeing much movement in their criminal investigation.

“How is Alex Murdaugh still walking the streets and not arrested and charged with theft of approximately $3.6 million?” Bland said. “My partner and I solved this apparent and significant crime in two weeks and provided the documents to the court and to the public in our filings.” [BBM]

<snipped>

Bland, who has been a malpractice lawyer for more than 35 years, said has never come across a case as rotten as this one.

“I’ve sued over 175 lawyers and law firms — you could add them all up and it doesn’t equal what’s going on here,” Bland said. “Because this is top to bottom. This is judges, lawyers, money, everything.” [BBM]