SC - Paul Murdaugh & mom Margaret Found Shot To Death - Alex Murdaugh Accused - Islandton #22

[Edvis]

I am not a hunter and know little about guns and shooting targets. But why did it take so many shots for the victims to be killed? Was that overkill or does it just take so many blasts? This sounds so awful.

PM was shot first at close range 3ft or less with bird shot, pellets in a shell. The first shot was to his chest area and bird shot at that range can do extreme damage, slower painful death but the second shot was to his head at same range, deadly even with birdshot. MM was shot with semi auto rife, bullets but difference is that I believe she was in the process of trying to move away and from the shot placements on her body dictate someone moving or starting to since the placement wasn't a tight pattern. The killer had to put more then just one round into the victim to subdue her then the victim was bending, falling or even on her knees the last several rounds focused on the victim's head. It's ugly any way you look at it since seeing this play out in my minds eye was just a family member killing his own in cold, cold blood.

 

[Tanager]

In addition to the sunflower ruse, I think AM also noted something about forcing Paul to go to the doctor for his blood pressure and swollen feet as an agenda item for the family get-together that evening. He was very pointed about mentioning this in one of the interviews and it seemed out-of-place in the conversation. I kept thinking, "What is he driving at with that?" I think it was an attempt to shift the notion from "I lured him here" to "We were going to express our health concerns as a united front as parents". It is super evil to use concern as bait in this case, not that we haven't already maxed out the evil scale with this one.

 

[Luna20]

Maggie was certainly listening to her killer while he circled her. First shot to her abdomen as they're facing each other may as she asking what he'd done to Paul. Then he comes closer, maybe she starts backing up looking around to escape. He shoots her in her thigh so she can't run causing her to hunch over. As she's doing so she's shot through her body organs on one side. Her pain must have been excruciating. She may even have passed out hopefully before the last shot to her head.

Killer circled her, sounds like he was full of anger and IMO must have been vocal about it. This was done by someone who knew her well, not some random killer. The killer knew his prey very well, like a partner would. AJMO and suppositions.

In the case of “anger”, finding out about a surprise possible divorce from his spouse could induce anger. Aside from that I don’t know why he would have rage. Who knows though…

 

[TDoc72]

OK, why do I believe this-- powerful friends still at play? Just sayin. MOO

https://twitter.com/x/status/1625208911186780160

Lol..I briefly wondered about that. GM= General Murdaugh

A few main reasons to kill Paul first

1) He's in an enclosed space--there's no room for him to run away. It's going to be quicker to kill him. The first time that gun goes off, the 2nd victim is going to be alerted and likely will start running so you want to get that 1st kill done as quickly as possible to reduce the 2nd victim's time to flee/react.

2) IMHO, between Paul and Maggie, Paul is the hunter type. If you kill Maggie first, Paul's reaction at hearing gunshots is more likely to be to go for a gun and go on attack (although naturally Alex would want to make sure that there were no firearms nearby for Paul to grab). And if there was a gun near him that Alex didn't know about, he'd likely be in a lot more danger from Paul with a gun than Maggie with a gun (I've seen all the photos of Paul hunting and not heard anything about Maggie participating).

3) Between Paul and Maggie, Paul is also the one more likely to have a faster "grab my phone and call 911" response time. Sure, you might think you see Paul put his phone in his pocket in order to do something in the feed room, but once you turn your back and decide to start with Maggie, you have no guarantee your phone addicted son won't have it back in his hand to send that video/check a text/etc.

4) Maggie is a mom, and by all account her boys were her life. If she hears a gunshot in the vicinity of Paul, whether she thinks there is a shooter or that Paul misfired a gun and hit himself, she's going to run TOWARDS HIM to take care of him. Not away. I suspect Paul would have much less of an instinct to run towards his mom--from where he was standing he would see the shooter was his Dad, he would see Maggie fall, and Paul would be likely to either try to make a run for the woods or to go grab a gun himself.

Yes. To quote Fried Green Tomatoes, Paul was “younger and faster”.

And Paul saw his own father shoot him. The last thing he saw.

With all of those guns and all of the hunting AM couldn't at lest take them out with one shot each that they were not expecting? Nope! Not only that but both PM and MM saw him shooting at them and close contact injuries.
That is sick as hell.

And now we know where Bubba was. Did Bubba put himself in the kennel?

I believe he killed them. He was a hunter/experienced with guns but I believe it may have been hard for him to shoot them, especially Paul.

 

[Luna20]

https://twitter.com/AveryGWilks

Court is back after a short break.

The state calls its 51st witness, MUSC pathologist Dr. Ellen Riemer.

Riemer conducted the autopsies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

Riemer is walking the jury through the shotgun wounds Paul Murdaugh suffered. Using a pair of black and red markers to label entry/exit wounds.

I've seen some reporting on this elsewhere, but there is a chance Alex Murdaugh will testify at this trial. It's not a guarantee. If so, he would be the defense's last witness, meant to explain things no other witness could possibly explain. A big risk to put him on the stand.

The last I heard (this morning), my sense was that no decision had been made. Perhaps that has changed already. It could also easily change again before the time comes.

Riemer comes off as someone who really loves her job. She's bright and energetic even as she explains graphic wounds. Reminds me of Mrs. Kreamer, my eighth grade Algebra 1 teacher, teaching fractions.

Riemer explains that Paul could have remained standing after the first shotgun blast to his chest. But the second shot blew his brain out of the back of his head, leaving only the brain stem left inside the skull.

The fact that Paul's face remained intact tells you he was facing his shooter, Riemer testifies.

Riemer is showing the jury graphic images of Paul's body. Thankfully, we are not seeing them as well. "It's horrible, I know," Riemer tells the jury.

Judge Newman just excused the jury for a break.

Alex Murdaugh is deeply distraught, crying and fidgeting in his seat.

“The fact that Paul's face remained intact tells you he was facing his shooter, Riemer testifies”

I would have thought the reverse. If he was facing AM I would think that his face would not be intact?

 

[Luna20]

https://twitter.com/AveryGWilks

Court is back after a short break.

The state calls its 51st witness, MUSC pathologist Dr. Ellen Riemer.

Riemer conducted the autopsies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

Riemer is walking the jury through the shotgun wounds Paul Murdaugh suffered. Using a pair of black and red markers to label entry/exit wounds.

I've seen some reporting on this elsewhere, but there is a chance Alex Murdaugh will testify at this trial. It's not a guarantee. If so, he would be the defense's last witness, meant to explain things no other witness could possibly explain. A big risk to put him on the stand.

The last I heard (this morning), my sense was that no decision had been made. Perhaps that has changed already. It could also easily change again before the time comes.

Riemer comes off as someone who really loves her job. She's bright and energetic even as she explains graphic wounds. Reminds me of Mrs. Kreamer, my eighth grade Algebra 1 teacher, teaching fractions.

Riemer explains that Paul could have remained standing after the first shotgun blast to his chest. But the second shot blew his brain out of the back of his head, leaving only the brain stem left inside the skull.

The fact that Paul's face remained intact tells you he was facing his shooter, Riemer testifies.

Riemer is showing the jury graphic images of Paul's body. Thankfully, we are not seeing them as well. "It's horrible, I know," Riemer tells the jury.

Judge Newman just excused the jury for a break.

Alex Murdaugh is deeply distraught, crying and fidgeting in his seat.

“The fact that Paul's face remained intact tells you he was facing his shooter, Riemer testifies”

I would have thought the reverse. If he was facing AM I would think that his face would not be intact?

 

[Zoe]

As I listened to Dr. Riemer this afternoon, all I could think about was the utter bewilderment and terror PM and MM must have felt during the last moments of their lives.

JMO.

 

[ilovewings]

Brutality detailed in Alex Murdaugh case; 2 jurors get COVID

A pathologist detailed the close range shots that killed Alex Murdaugh's wife and son as prosecutors on Monday started winding up their case in the disgraced South Carolina attorney's double murder trial. Two jurors were dismissed Monday morning after contracting COVID-19, leaving just three...

www.yahoo.com

2 jurors have Covid but trial will go on according to the judge

 

[Luna20]

I find it so odd that Maggie’s parents and sister are on the defense witness list.

Defense Only List
223. Buster Murdaugh
224. John Marvin Murdaugh
225. Liz Murdaugh
226. Kennedy Branstetter
227. Terry Branstetter
228. Marian Branstetter

No one in MM bio family has made any statements throughout the entirety. We haven’t seen or heard anything from them. No interviews with them have been referenced. It’s quite unusual but I’m sure they have their reasons.

 

[Boodles]

I believe he killed them. He was a hunter/experienced with guns but I believe it may have been hard for him to shoot them, especially Paul

I agree. I don’t think it was rage driven. I think it was a man desperate to lose his familial dynastic legacy, get exposed as a thieving embezzler and client swindler, be humiliated and degraded further by the boat case, and the aforementioned crimes and ego issues.

I think he loved his son and probably Maggie, but not as much as he loved and wanted to save himself - save face, save further financial ruin.

In other words, greed, status and pure selfishness were what convinced him that they must be gotten rid of. They were worth the sacrifice. What a sob.

And I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow, and the next day, etc.

 

[Seattle1]

I recall that AM responded by text to MM at one point on Monday afternoon that PM told him she was getting a pedicure (i.e., as in MM likely wanted AM to believe she had a long wait for her medical appointment).

It wasn't until I heard today that MM also had a manicure that might explain the wedding band left inside MM's vehicle on Monday. MOO

 

[Batman's Mommy]

In addition to the sunflower ruse, I think AM also noted something about forcing Paul to go to the doctor for his blood pressure and swollen feet as an agenda item for the family get-together that evening. He was very pointed about mentioning this in one of the interviews and it seemed out-of-place in the conversation. I kept thinking, "What is he driving at with that?" I think it was an attempt to shift the notion from "I lured him here" to "We were going to express our health concerns as a united front as parents". It is super evil to use concern as bait in this case, not that we haven't already maxed out the evil scale with this one.

Right?! And Maggie was the one that had the doctor's appointment... I am almost the same age she was when she was killed, and I can see her having swollen feet and blood pressure issues more than her 22 year old son.......

 

[Snoopster]

After the testimony of the friend who was in law enforcement about how the kennels were usually cleaned, and the placement of the dog house when cleaning the kennels, for some reason, I think this will be significant. We know that at 8:40 pm Bubba was running around with a chicken in his mouth, but I haven't heard any mention of there being dog prints in the blood. Around MM or PM...

JMO....moo

Great point!

 

[Boodles]

I wonder if there will be further juror fallout after the trauma they experienced today. I won’t be surprised if another juror(s) drops out due to stress-related illness and/or Covid.

I have a gut feeling this trial isn’t going to come to a finish this go-around. Just a bad feeling. I hope I’m dead wrong.

Apparently, the sudden break after the Paul autopsy testimony was due to a juror falling apart, and the judge noticed (source linked below). I can’t imagine what the photos looked like, but they’re no doubt causing big time distress for some people tonight and for who knows how long.

PODCAST: Murdaugh Day 15 Recap I Unsolved South Carolina

Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson offers revelatory new insight into the Murdaugh family as she takes the witness stand.LISTEN: The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery |

abcnews4.com

 

[Derph]

Just noticed something in the 2nd police interview in the car. Alex was dipping the entire time. Drinking out of his drink and swallowing it. Swallowing his snot as he inhales and pretends to cry. As a person who used to dip for over 40 yrs it's a disgusting habit, I never drank anything while dippin, and I certainly wouldn't be inhaling snot with a dip in my mouth. He should have been spitting every few minutes. Instead he swallowed it!!! Gross.

I don't think I'd be packing a lipper during a police interview for the brutal murders of my wife and son. That pretty disrespectful. I don't care how much a red-neck you are!! Thankfully I gave that habit up 20 years ago.

Oh wait....I get it now. He had the tobacco residue on his fingers so when he went to his eyes....ya know to milk the tears, he would actually have tears.

I'm picking up so much from these police interviews.

 

[skyedaze]

Bring on that OnStar GPS! I knew that was BS that they couldn't get more exact info on AM's Suburban. Bring it!

 

[Megnut]

Man this is worse than the 1st interview at the crime scene. Lies on top of lies on top of lies. It's more about what he didn't say then what he said. He just rambles and rambles about absolutely nothing.

Question: How would anyone but Paul know that both Maggie and Paul were even going to be at Moselle that night???!!!! Blanca knew but I doubt she called a hit man to come out there that night. Even IF Paul's friends and Maggies friends knew they were going to be there that night, they would have what, told the person who was going to kill them that they were going to be there!!!! No way!! No one else knew they were going to Moselle that night but Alex.

From the interview: Alex doesn't know how Maggie or Paul got to the kennels? Wha-huh?

And a cat? He doesn't think a cat did it but a cat "or something, I don't think it was a person" darted out from his car.

This would be cringey. If it weren't HORRIFIC.

JMO

 

[Iwondertoo]

Man this is worse than the 1st interview at the crime scene. Lies on top of lies on top of lies. It's more about what he didn't say then what he said. He just rambles and rambles about absolutely nothing.

Question: How would anyone but Paul know that both Maggie and Paul were even going to be at Moselle that night???!!!! Blanca knew but I doubt she called a hit man to come out there that night. Even IF Paul's friends and Maggies friends knew they were going to be there that night, they would have what, told the person who was going to kill them that they were going to be there!!!! No way!! No one else knew they were going to Moselle that night but Alex.

Can someone tell me who the 2 men are in the back seat, during this interview? TIA

Thanks for posting Derph. Somehow I had missed watching this.

 

[Megnut]

Do we have a sense of whether the three of them ate together? Not at a table, mind you, but at all? We know Paul and Maggie ate.... what was the conversation? Black panthers and sunflowers? Did Alec spin a new weevil (why did Maggie think a 30 million dollar judgment was barreling toward them)? Was he telling her how he needed to move properties around (sell Edisto) and and and... and Maggie was having none of it? Was he demanding, angry, sniveling?

I'm really unsettled by today's testimony.

I find my greatest relief in all this is that Bubba is safe. With Blanca.

Murdaughs have done enough damage.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

If Alec was at his mother's, you know, for an hour and a half, and he returned, going directly to the kennels, how'd he know all the guns were accounted for? How'd he know his house wasn't ransacked, his gun room cleared out?