1 00:00:16,449 --> 00:00:18,051 >>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- 2 00:00:18,051 --> 00:00:21,221 >> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH I NEED THE POLICE AND AN 3 00:00:21,221 --> 00:00:23,456 AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY! MY WIFE AND SON HAVE BEEN SHOT, 4 00:00:23,456 --> 00:00:24,891 BADLY. >> THE MURDER OF MAGGIE AND 5 00:00:24,891 --> 00:00:28,061 PAUL - THE NIGHT THAT IT HAPPENED, I 6 00:00:28,061 --> 00:00:33,099 HAD A FEELING. >> Reporter: YOU THINK HE DID 7 00:00:33,099 --> 00:00:35,902 IT >> NO QUESTION 8 00:00:35,902 --> 00:00:37,504 * >> EXPLOSIVE NEW DETAILS IN THE 9 00:00:37,504 --> 00:00:40,140 STORY THAT STUNNED THE COUNTRY >> THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON 10 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:44,878 UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE >> HIS WORLD WAS UNRAVELING FROM 11 00:00:44,878 --> 00:00:46,946 THE BOAT CRASH >> IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS. 12 00:00:46,946 --> 00:00:51,184 "WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY. 13 00:00:51,184 --> 00:00:54,888 HE WAS DEVASTATED. >> IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW FAST 14 00:00:54,888 --> 00:00:56,990 LIFE CAN END >> WITHOUT THE BOAT CRASH, NO 15 00:00:56,990 --> 00:00:59,092 ONE BEGINS TO LOOK INTO THE FINANCES 16 00:00:59,092 --> 00:01:01,194 >> Reporter: THE STORIES ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE BEIN' SWINDLED 17 00:01:01,194 --> 00:01:04,898 OUTTA ALL THIS MONEY - >> I NEVER SAW THAT COMING 18 00:01:04,898 --> 00:01:10,136 >> THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. 19 00:01:10,136 --> 00:01:14,341 HE HAD SO MANY SECRETS >> BETRAYAL, THEFT, INTRIGUE 20 00:01:14,341 --> 00:01:16,976 * IT HAS ALL THE DEADLY SINS 21 00:01:16,976 --> 00:01:21,715 >> A FAMILY DYNASTY. A DOUBLE MURDER. 22 00:01:21,715 --> 00:01:23,817 AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MISSING. GET READY FOR A MIND-BENDER OF A 23 00:01:23,817 --> 00:01:26,486 SOUTHERN MYSTERY I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS 24 00:01:26,486 --> 00:01:32,258 "DATELINE. HERE'S CRAIG MELVIN WITH "DARK 25 00:01:32,258 --> 00:01:39,165 * * 26 00:01:39,165 --> 00:01:52,979 HERE'S CRAIG MELVIN WITH "DARK WATERS." 27 00:01:52,979 --> 00:01:53,813 >> Reporter: THIS IS "THE LOW COUNTRY. 28 00:01:53,813 --> 00:01:57,417 * A REMOTE AND WATERY CORNER OF 29 00:01:57,417 --> 00:02:02,655 SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE SPANISH MOSS HANGS FROM THE OLD OAKS 30 00:02:02,655 --> 00:02:06,860 THAT LINE THE STREETS. WHERE FAMILIES TRACE THEIR 31 00:02:06,860 --> 00:02:10,063 LINEAGE BACK GENERATIONS AND WHERE A CERTAIN FAMILY -- 32 00:02:10,063 --> 00:02:12,665 THE MURDAUGHS -- HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP IN A NIGHTMARE THAT SEEMS TO 33 00:02:12,665 --> 00:02:15,802 HAVE NO END. >> NOW TO OVERNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS 34 00:02:15,802 --> 00:02:19,472 IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA CASE THAT FRANKLY JUST GETS MORE BIZARRE 35 00:02:19,472 --> 00:02:21,608 BY THE DAY >> THAT SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYER 36 00:02:21,608 --> 00:02:28,081 WHO ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO STAGE HIS OWN MURDER WAS ARRESTED TODAY ON 37 00:02:28,081 --> 00:02:30,684 CHARGES RELATED TO THE SCHEME. >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH WAS 38 00:02:30,684 --> 00:02:32,786 ONCE A PARTNER IN THE FAMILY'S CENTURY-OLD LAW FIRM 39 00:02:32,786 --> 00:02:37,524 HE WAS RICH, SUCCESSFUL, POWERFUL, AND KNOWN TO EVERYONE 40 00:02:37,524 --> 00:02:41,728 IN THE LOW COUNTRY AND THEN IN JUNE OF 2021, HE 41 00:02:41,728 --> 00:02:44,364 DIALED 911 >> I NEED THE POLICE AND AN 42 00:02:44,364 --> 00:02:48,568 AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY. MY WIFE AND CHILD HAVE BEEN SHOT 43 00:02:48,568 --> 00:02:51,705 BADLY. >> Reporter: NOW ALEX MURDAUGH 44 00:02:51,705 --> 00:02:54,874 IS KNOWN ACROSS AMERICA, EVEN THE WORLD, THANKS TO MORE THAN A 45 00:02:54,874 --> 00:02:58,778 YEAR OF COVERAGE THAT SOUNDS LESS LIKE A CRIME STORY AND MORE 46 00:02:58,778 --> 00:03:02,749 LIKE A SOUTHERN GOTHIC TALE OF TRUST AND BETRAYAL 47 00:03:02,749 --> 00:03:05,919 >> IT'S FROM FAULKNER. IT'S FROM SHAKESPEARE. 48 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,055 IT'S FROM GRISHAM. AND I THINK IT REALLY IS SOME 49 00:03:09,055 --> 00:03:13,293 ELEMENT OF ALL THREE >> Reporter: TONIGHT, WE WILL 50 00:03:13,293 --> 00:03:15,929 CUT THROUGH THE HEADLINES WITH NEW INTERVIEWS FROM THOSE 51 00:03:15,929 --> 00:03:19,065 CLOSEST TO THE TRAGEDIES, AND SCANDALS SURROUNDING 52 00:03:19,065 --> 00:03:21,701 ALEX MURDAUGH. >> GOOD LAWYERS DON'T STEAL 53 00:03:21,701 --> 00:03:24,938 THEIR CLIENTS' MONEY GOOD LAWYERS DON'T BETRAY 54 00:03:24,938 --> 00:03:28,074 PEOPLE'S TRUST GOOD LAWYERS DON'T WATCH YOU 55 00:03:28,074 --> 00:03:32,245 BURY YOUR SON AND THEN STEAL YOUR SON'S MONEY 56 00:03:32,245 --> 00:03:34,848 >> HE PAINTED A PRETTY PICTURE IN FRONT OF MY PRESENCE. 57 00:03:34,848 --> 00:03:39,619 BUT BEHIND MY BACK, IT WAS OTHERWISE. 58 00:03:39,619 --> 00:03:42,255 >> Reporter: SO EVERYONE'S ALWAYS KNOWN THAT HE'S NOT WHO 59 00:03:42,255 --> 00:03:44,357 HE PRETENDED TO BE >> UH-HUH. 60 00:03:44,357 --> 00:03:47,360 >> Reporter: AND NOW THE WORLD KNOWS. 61 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,731 >> NOW THE WORLD KNOWS * 62 00:03:51,731 --> 00:03:55,935 >> Reporter: THIS STORY REALLY STARTS ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO, 63 00:03:55,935 --> 00:04:03,309 LONG BEFORE ALEX MURDAUGH BECAME A NAME KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD. 64 00:04:03,309 --> 00:04:05,945 IT WAS FEBRUARY 23, 2019 - >> MILEY AND CONNOR LEFT THE 65 00:04:05,945 --> 00:04:08,581 HOUSE. >> Reporter: CHRISTINE COOK'S 66 00:04:08,581 --> 00:04:11,718 SON CONNOR AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE ON THEIR WAY TO A LOCAL 67 00:04:11,718 --> 00:04:15,422 OYSTER ROAST CONNOR'S COUSIN ANTHONY, AND HIS 68 00:04:15,422 --> 00:04:23,163 GIRLFRIEND MALLORY BEACH WERE GOING TO MEET THEM 69 00:04:23,163 --> 00:04:25,265 ANTHONY'S MOM, BEVERLY COOK. >> I REMEMBER THEM COMIN' HOME 70 00:04:25,265 --> 00:04:27,367 AND SAYING THAT THEY WERE PACKIN' A BAG AND GOIN' TO 71 00:04:27,367 --> 00:04:30,070 PAUL'S RIVER HOUSE >> Reporter: PAUL MURDAUGH WAS 72 00:04:30,070 --> 00:04:32,605 ALEX MURDAUGH'S SON. HIS FAMILY'S RIVERFRONT PROPERTY 73 00:04:32,605 --> 00:04:35,775 WAS A POPULAR SPOT FOR SOCIALIZING, DATING BACK 74 00:04:35,775 --> 00:04:39,813 DECADES. ANTHONY'S DAD KEITH HAD BEEN 75 00:04:39,813 --> 00:04:43,683 THERE TOO. >> THEY CALLED IT THE ISLAND 76 00:04:43,683 --> 00:04:46,853 I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE WAY OUT OFF THE COAST ISLAND, BUT IT'S 77 00:04:46,853 --> 00:04:48,955 INTERCOASTAL ISLAND. IT'S GOT A COUPLE HOUSES -- BOAT 78 00:04:48,955 --> 00:04:50,523 HOUSE, DOCKS >> Reporter: THEY WERE ALL 79 00:04:50,523 --> 00:04:53,660 THEIRS >> OH, YEAH. 80 00:04:53,660 --> 00:04:56,863 >> Reporter: THE TWO COUPLES, PLUS PAUL AND HIS GIRLFRIEND 81 00:04:56,863 --> 00:05:00,033 PLANNED TO TAKE THE MURDAUGH FAMILY BOAT TO THE OYSTER ROAST 82 00:05:00,033 --> 00:05:04,504 THAT NIGHT BUT THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND THE 83 00:05:04,504 --> 00:05:08,908 WINTER SUN SET QUICKLY, WHICH CONCERNED CONNOR'S MOM 84 00:05:08,908 --> 00:05:11,044 >> THE LAST THING I SAID TO THEM, I SAID, "Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, 85 00:05:11,044 --> 00:05:14,180 IT'S NOT GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT TO BE OUT IN A BOAT. 86 00:05:14,180 --> 00:05:17,884 CONNOR WAS, LIKE, "MOM, WE GOT IT," AND THAT THEY WOULD CHECK 87 00:05:17,884 --> 00:05:21,588 THE WEATHER BEFORE THEY LEFT >> Reporter: HER WORDS WERE 88 00:05:21,588 --> 00:05:24,224 SADLY PROPHETIC. BECAUSE JUST HOURS LATER - 89 00:05:24,224 --> 00:05:27,594 >> 911 WHERE'S YOUR EMERGENCY 90 00:05:27,594 --> 00:05:29,529 >> WE'RE IN A BOAT CRASH ON ARCHER'S CREEK 91 00:05:29,529 --> 00:05:34,768 >> Reporter: THE CALL CAME IN JUST BEFORE 2:30 A.M 92 00:05:34,768 --> 00:05:37,404 CONNOR COOK WAS ON THE LINE. >> THERE'S -- THERE'S SIX OF US 93 00:05:37,404 --> 00:05:40,573 AND ONE IS MISSING >> MALLORY 94 00:05:40,573 --> 00:05:43,209 >> PLEASE SEND SOMEONE >> UH, NO, I'M COMING -- WE'RE 95 00:05:43,209 --> 00:05:45,278 COMING WE'RE COMING, OKAY 96 00:05:45,278 --> 00:05:47,914 >> Reporter: FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED TO A CHAOTIC SCENE 97 00:05:47,914 --> 00:05:51,084 THE BOAT HAD CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE 98 00:05:51,084 --> 00:05:54,754 SEVERAL PASSENGERS WERE INJURED, AND 19-YEAR-OLD MALLORY BEACH 99 00:05:54,754 --> 00:05:58,458 WAS LOST SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK WATER. 100 00:05:58,458 --> 00:06:01,928 HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED 101 00:06:01,928 --> 00:06:04,798 >> CONNOR CALLED HE SAID, "DADDY, WE'VE BEEN IN 102 00:06:04,798 --> 00:06:09,536 AN ACCIDENT IN ARCHER'S CREEK, AND WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY. 103 00:06:09,536 --> 00:06:12,706 >> Reporter: CONNOR HAD CALLED FROM AN AMBULANCE ON HIS WAY TO 104 00:06:12,706 --> 00:06:16,376 THE HOSPITAL HIS COUSIN, ANTHONY -- MALLORY'S 105 00:06:16,376 --> 00:06:20,613 BOYFRIEND -- WAS STILL AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT WHEN HE 106 00:06:20,613 --> 00:06:24,818 CALLED HOME. HE'S OFF CAMERA HERE, BUT HIS 107 00:06:24,818 --> 00:06:30,056 DESPERATE CALL WAS RECORDED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT VIDEO. 108 00:06:30,056 --> 00:06:34,794 >> MOM, Y'ALL NEED TO COME TO BEAUFORT QUICK 109 00:06:34,794 --> 00:06:37,430 >> HE WAS DEVASTATED, AND HE JUST KEPT SAYIN', "WE CAN'T FIND 110 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:40,600 MALLORY. WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY. 111 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,203 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, AS CONNOR'S PARENTS RACED TO THE 112 00:06:43,203 --> 00:06:47,941 HOSPITAL, SOMEONE ELSE WAS EAGER TO TALK. 113 00:06:47,941 --> 00:06:50,610 >> MY PHONE KEPT BLOWIN' UP. >> RING-RINGIN'. 114 00:06:50,610 --> 00:06:53,813 >> Reporter: IT WAS PAUL'S FATHER, ALEX MURDAUGH, ON THE 115 00:06:53,813 --> 00:06:56,383 LINE >> ALEX CALLING ME 116 00:06:56,383 --> 00:06:59,085 GOIN' ON AND ON ABOUT AN ACCIDENT, AND THE GIRL WAS 117 00:06:59,085 --> 00:07:02,188 MISSIN'. AND "CONNOR WAS DRIVIN' THE 118 00:07:02,188 --> 00:07:06,026 BOAT." >> Reporter: HE TOLD YOU "CONNOR 119 00:07:06,026 --> 00:07:09,162 WAS DRIVING" >> YES, HE DID 120 00:07:09,162 --> 00:07:11,264 >> Reporter: A TEENAGER WAS MISSING, AND OTHERS WERE HEADING 121 00:07:11,264 --> 00:07:13,366 FOR THE HOSPITAL BUT CONNOR'S PARENTS SAY ALEX 122 00:07:13,366 --> 00:07:17,570 WAS FOCUSED ON WHO WAS DRIVING HIS BOAT THAT NIGHT, THE BOAT 123 00:07:17,570 --> 00:07:22,208 HIS SON PAUL OFTEN DROVE >> MULTIPLE TIMES HE CALLED 124 00:07:22,208 --> 00:07:23,109 TELLIN' -- >> Reporter: TO CHECK ON YOU, TO 125 00:07:23,109 --> 00:07:24,944 CHECK ON CONNOR -- >> NO, HELL NO 126 00:07:24,944 --> 00:07:27,080 TO TRYIN' TO GET THIS SCHEME GOIN'. 127 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,683 TO TELLIN' US ABOUT HOW HE - >> TO CONVINCE US THAT OUR SON 128 00:07:29,683 --> 00:07:31,785 WAS DRIVIN' THE BOAT - AND IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR HIM 129 00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:36,056 TO GET CONNOR OUT OF TROUBLE THAN HIS SON 130 00:07:36,056 --> 00:07:39,693 >> Reporter: TROUBLE, PROTECTION, PROMISES 131 00:07:39,693 --> 00:07:42,862 THOSE WORDS SEEMED TO COME OUT OF ALEX MURDAUGH'S MOUTH RATHER 132 00:07:42,862 --> 00:07:47,600 EASILY BUT ON THAT COLD, CHAOTIC NIGHT, 133 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:54,441 DID HE HAVE ANY IDEA THAT THIS NIGHTMARE WAS ONLY JUST 134 00:07:54,441 --> 00:07:57,610 BEGINNING? >>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- THE 135 00:07:57,610 --> 00:07:59,713 ACCIDENT ON ARCHER'S CREEK >> HE WAS LIKE, "Y'ALL AIN'T 136 00:07:59,713 --> 00:08:01,648 GONNA TELL ME I CAN'T DRIVE THE BOAT 137 00:08:01,648 --> 00:08:03,416 I KNOW I'M FINE TO DRIVE THE BOAT." 138 00:08:03,416 --> 00:08:07,087 >> ANTHONY COOK TELLS HIS STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME 139 00:08:07,087 --> 00:08:09,723 >> I GRABBED MALLORY AND PULLED HER DOWN NEAR INTO MY LAP. 140 00:08:09,723 --> 00:08:29,909 I WOKE UP IN THE WATER, JUST THAT FAST. 141 00:08:29,909 --> 00:08:33,046 >> Reporter: IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT CALL EVERY PARENT 142 00:08:33,046 --> 00:08:35,648 DREADS CONNOR COOK TOLD HIS PARENTS 143 00:08:35,648 --> 00:08:38,818 THAT HE AND FIVE OF HIS FRIENDS HAD BEEN IN A TERRIBLE BOATING 144 00:08:38,818 --> 00:08:43,957 ACCIDENT AND SEVERAL OF THEM, INCLUDING HIM, HAD BEEN RUSHED 145 00:08:43,957 --> 00:08:46,059 TO THE HOSPITAL. PLUS 19-YEAR-OLD MALLORY BEACH 146 00:08:46,059 --> 00:08:48,828 WAS MISSING. WHAT'D YOU SAY 147 00:08:48,828 --> 00:08:56,202 >> I SAID, "OH, LORD." THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID 148 00:08:56,202 --> 00:08:58,338 "OH, LORD. >> Reporter: WHEN CHRISTINE AND 149 00:08:58,338 --> 00:09:00,407 MARTY COOK ARRIVED, ATTORNEY ALEX MURDAUGH WAS WAITING FOR 150 00:09:00,407 --> 00:09:05,178 THEM HIS SON PAUL WAS HOSPITALIZED 151 00:09:05,178 --> 00:09:07,781 TOO. >> ALEX IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO US 152 00:09:07,781 --> 00:09:10,250 TIME WE GOT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS, "Y'ALL CALM DOWN 153 00:09:10,250 --> 00:09:12,519 BETWEEN ALL THE JUDGES AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, LET'S 154 00:09:12,519 --> 00:09:15,188 DON'T WORRY ABOUT THIS." YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL LIKE, 155 00:09:15,188 --> 00:09:17,791 "WHAT -- LET -- LET ME TALK TO MY SON." 156 00:09:17,791 --> 00:09:21,027 >> Reporter: ALEX HAD ALREADY BEEN AT THE HOSPITAL FOR A 157 00:09:21,027 --> 00:09:24,097 WHILE. >> SEVERAL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE 158 00:09:24,097 --> 00:09:26,733 THAT WERE AT THE HOSPITAL THAT NIGHT HAVE SAID ALEX WAS GOING 159 00:09:26,733 --> 00:09:29,369 ROOM TO ROOM >> Reporter: VALERIE BAUERLEIN 160 00:09:29,369 --> 00:09:32,739 IS A NATIONAL REPORTER FOR "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. 161 00:09:32,739 --> 00:09:34,674 >> HE WAS KIND OF TRYING TO TALK TO THE KIDS, GET 'EM ALL ON THE 162 00:09:34,674 --> 00:09:38,044 SAME PAGE. "I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU." 163 00:09:38,044 --> 00:09:39,946 >> Reporter: THE COOKS WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT ALEX 164 00:09:39,946 --> 00:09:44,684 THEY WERE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE CONNOR WAS OKAY. 165 00:09:44,684 --> 00:09:49,422 THEY FOUND HIM IN HIS ROOM, SHAKEN UP, WITH A BROKEN JAW 166 00:09:49,422 --> 00:09:51,524 >> CONNOR WAS VERY EMOTIONAL THE FIRST THING -- HE'S LIKE, 167 00:09:51,524 --> 00:09:53,093 "HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANYBODY? HAVE THEY FOUND MALLORY? 168 00:09:53,093 --> 00:09:58,898 HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE 169 00:09:58,898 --> 00:10:00,500 >> Reporter: NEITHER DID CONNOR'S COUSIN, ANTHONY, WHO 170 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:03,670 WAS STILL ON THE RIVERBANK, FRANTICALLY LOOKING FOR HIS 171 00:10:03,670 --> 00:10:05,772 GIRLFRIEND >> MOM, THERE'S 50 COPS HERE 172 00:10:05,772 --> 00:10:10,210 COAST GUARD. EVERYTHING 173 00:10:10,210 --> 00:10:11,311 WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY. >> Reporter: ANTHONY AND MALLORY 174 00:10:11,311 --> 00:10:14,714 HAD BOTH BEEN THROWN FROM THE BOAT 175 00:10:14,714 --> 00:10:18,418 EVENTUALLY ANTHONY MANAGED TO SWIM TO SHORE. 176 00:10:18,418 --> 00:10:22,756 AS HIS PARENTS ARRIVED, HE WAS STILL TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER 177 00:10:22,756 --> 00:10:36,302 WHAT HAPPENED. >> WHENEVER I WALKED UP ON THE 178 00:10:36,302 --> 00:10:39,239 BANK, MILEY CAME RUNNING OVER TO ME AND SAID, "WHERE'S MALLORY? 179 00:10:39,239 --> 00:10:41,041 >> Reporter: ANTHONY AND MALLORY HAD BEEN PRACTICALLY INSEPARABLE 180 00:10:41,041 --> 00:10:43,677 FROM THE TIME THEY WERE CHILDREN 181 00:10:43,677 --> 00:10:45,779 WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF MALLORY AND ANTHONY TOGETHER 182 00:10:45,779 --> 00:10:48,148 >> WELL, PLAYIN' TOGETHER AT SUNDAY SCHOOL. 183 00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:50,116 AND EVEN FROM WHEN THEY WERE REALLY LITTLE, SHE LOOKED AT HIM 184 00:10:50,116 --> 00:10:52,352 WITH THIS INFATUATION. >> Reporter: ANTHONY'S PARENTS 185 00:10:52,352 --> 00:10:54,754 GREW UP IN TINY HAMPTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 186 00:10:54,754 --> 00:10:56,856 DO YOU EAT ALL THIS OR DO YOU ACTUALLY GIVE IT AWAY? 187 00:10:56,856 --> 00:10:59,492 >> YEAH, WE EAT -- I MEAN, WE SHARE WITH FAMILY, BUT WE EAT 188 00:10:59,492 --> 00:11:01,594 IT >> Reporter: IT WAS A MAYBERRY 189 00:11:01,594 --> 00:11:05,432 KIND OF PLACE WITH LOTS OF LAND TO ROAM. 190 00:11:05,432 --> 00:11:07,367 >> WE MOVED HERE WHEN I WAS AROUND 11, 10. 191 00:11:07,367 --> 00:11:11,071 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWIN' UP OUT HERE? 192 00:11:11,071 --> 00:11:15,275 >> MY DREAM. ALL I DID EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE 193 00:11:15,275 --> 00:11:17,911 WAS WALK OUT THE DOOR AND GO SQUIRREL HUNTING OR DEER HUNTING 194 00:11:17,911 --> 00:11:21,581 IF IT WAS DEER SEASON. IT DIDN'T MATTER 195 00:11:21,581 --> 00:11:24,217 >> Reporter: AS THEY GOT OLDER, MALLORY AND ANTHONY REALIZED 196 00:11:24,217 --> 00:11:30,090 THEY WERE MORE THAN JUST CHILDHOOD PALS 197 00:11:30,090 --> 00:11:36,463 >> ABOUT THE TIME SHE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WAS PROBABLY 198 00:11:36,463 --> 00:11:37,897 WHENEVER WE STARTED FIGURING OUT IT WAS A LOT MORE FEELINGS THERE 199 00:11:37,897 --> 00:11:40,000 THAN JUST FRIENDS. >> Reporter: ON NEW YEARS EVE 200 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,635 2018, ANTHONY MADE THINGS OFFICIAL 201 00:11:42,635 --> 00:11:44,204 HE ASKED MALLORY TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND 202 00:11:44,204 --> 00:11:46,973 >> I LOVED HER FOR A LONG TIME, YEARS. 203 00:11:46,973 --> 00:11:48,708 >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE -- WOULD HAVE GOTTEN 204 00:11:48,708 --> 00:11:50,543 MARRIED? >> YES, SIR. 205 00:11:50,543 --> 00:11:52,645 WHEN I ASKED HER TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND, THAT WAS ME KNOWING 206 00:11:52,645 --> 00:11:55,682 I WAS GONNA MARRY HER. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT 207 00:11:55,682 --> 00:11:57,384 HER THAT -- THAT MADE HER SO SPECIAL? 208 00:11:57,384 --> 00:12:01,588 >> ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS LOOK AT ME TO MAKE -- TO MAKE ME SMILE 209 00:12:01,588 --> 00:12:04,758 JUST OUTGOING, LOVED EVERYBODY SHE HAD TWO PERSONALITIES. 210 00:12:04,758 --> 00:12:07,627 SHE COULD BE A GIRL, AND SHE COULD BE MY BEST FRIEND. 211 00:12:07,627 --> 00:12:10,797 WE COULD GO FISHING' WE COULD GO HUNTIN'. 212 00:12:10,797 --> 00:12:12,165 I HAD A CO-CAPTAIN >> Reporter: SHE COULD KEEP UP 213 00:12:12,165 --> 00:12:14,234 WITH YOU >> RIGHT 214 00:12:14,234 --> 00:12:16,336 SHE MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL ALL THE TIME 215 00:12:16,336 --> 00:12:20,173 >> Reporter: ANTHONY ALSO GREW UP WITH PAUL MURDAUGH. 216 00:12:20,173 --> 00:12:22,942 WHAT -- WHAT WAS HE LIKE GROWING UP 217 00:12:22,942 --> 00:12:25,311 >> PAUL WAS A LITTLE WILDER THAN -- THAN MOST. 218 00:12:25,311 --> 00:12:31,618 BUT HE WAS ALSO A REALLY GOOD FRIEND 219 00:12:31,618 --> 00:12:34,754 HE HAD A GREAT HEART >> Reporter: SO NO ONE THOUGHT 220 00:12:34,754 --> 00:12:37,924 TWICE OF RIDING WITH PAUL IN THE MURDAUGH'S BOAT THAT FEBRUARY 221 00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:40,560 NIGHT IN 2019. BUT THEN THE DRINKING BEGAN, 222 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:45,331 EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THEM WERE UNDER 21 223 00:12:45,331 --> 00:12:49,836 PAUL USED HIS OLDER BROTHER BUSTER'S I.D. TO BUY ALCOHOL AT 224 00:12:49,836 --> 00:12:52,138 A LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE. CONNOR'S GIRLFRIEND BOUGHT 225 00:12:52,138 --> 00:12:56,376 ALCOHOL THERE TOO. ANTHONY AND MALLORY BROUGHT 226 00:12:56,376 --> 00:13:00,046 THEIR OWN. THE GROUP DRANK STEADILY AT THE 227 00:13:00,046 --> 00:13:03,216 OYSTER ROAST ANTHONY KNEW THIS WAS NOT AN 228 00:13:03,216 --> 00:13:08,488 IDEAL FORECAST FOR A BOAT RIDE BACK HOME. 229 00:13:08,488 --> 00:13:10,657 HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS THE FIRST TIME ANY OF 230 00:13:10,657 --> 00:13:13,259 THE FRIENDS FROM THE BOAT CRASH HAVE SPOKEN ON NETWORK 231 00:13:13,259 --> 00:13:17,464 TELEVISION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT 232 00:13:17,464 --> 00:13:19,566 >> I MENTIONED TWO OR THREE TIMES, YOU KNOW, "WE -- WE 233 00:13:19,566 --> 00:13:21,134 DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE BOAT. 234 00:13:21,134 --> 00:13:25,872 WE COULD GET SOMEBODY TO TAKE US BACK." 235 00:13:25,872 --> 00:13:29,075 >> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS PAUL WAS INSISTENT ON DRIVING 236 00:13:29,075 --> 00:13:31,711 EVERYONE HOME, EVEN THOUGH HE SEEMED TO BE INTOXICATED 237 00:13:31,711 --> 00:13:34,314 >> I KIND OF THINK PAUL'S PRIDE GOT TO HIM 238 00:13:34,314 --> 00:13:36,950 YOU KNOW AND HE WAS LIKE, "Y'ALL AIN'T 239 00:13:36,950 --> 00:13:43,790 GONNA TELL ME I CAN'T DRIVE THE BOAT 240 00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:44,591 I KNOW I'M FINE WITH DRIVING THE BOAT 241 00:13:44,591 --> 00:13:47,260 THIS IS MY BOAT, AND I'M TAKING IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. 242 00:13:47,260 --> 00:13:49,396 WELL, THEN MALLORY WAS LIKE, "WELL, I DON'T WANT THEM GOING 243 00:13:49,396 --> 00:13:51,464 WITHOUT US." YOU KNOW 244 00:13:51,464 --> 00:13:54,100 IT WAS KIND OF A SCARY FEELING >> Reporter: THE GROUP PILED 245 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:56,736 BACK IN THE BOAT BUT THEN PAUL ANNOUNCED HE 246 00:13:56,736 --> 00:13:59,906 WANTED TO STOP AT A WATERFRONT BAR NEARBY 247 00:13:59,906 --> 00:14:03,610 >> I WAS LIKE, "COME ON, LET'S GO TO THE HOUSE. 248 00:14:03,610 --> 00:14:06,246 IT'S ALREADY LATE. >> Reporter: SECURITY CAMERA 249 00:14:06,246 --> 00:14:10,583 FOOTAGE SHOWS THE GROUP STOPPING AT THE WATERFRONT. 250 00:14:10,583 --> 00:14:14,120 PAUL AND CONNOR HEADED INSIDE THE BAR WHERE THEY EACH TOOK TWO 251 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,756 SHOTS. THE REST OF THE GROUP WAITED 252 00:14:16,756 --> 00:14:19,392 OUTSIDE. 30 MINUTES LATER, THEY HEADED 253 00:14:19,392 --> 00:14:22,562 BACK TO THE BOAT RIGHT THERE, THAT'S 254 00:14:22,562 --> 00:14:27,133 PAUL MURDAUGH IN THE GREEN AND ORANGE SWEATER 255 00:14:27,133 --> 00:14:28,868 >> WHEN THEY CAME BACK OUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, "WELL, WHAT ARE WE 256 00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:31,071 DOING HERE," YOU KNOW? I WAS MAD WITH MY COUSIN AND 257 00:14:31,071 --> 00:14:33,340 PAUL I WAS MAD WITH BOTH OF 'EM 258 00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:35,742 AND I WAS ARGUING WITH BOTH OF 'EM. 259 00:14:35,742 --> 00:14:39,412 SO WE GOT BACK ON THE BOAT >> Reporter: WHEN THEY LEFT THE 260 00:14:39,412 --> 00:14:43,116 DOCK, ANTHONY SAYS PAUL STARTED BEHAVING ERRATICALLY 261 00:14:43,116 --> 00:14:45,752 >> WHEN HE GETS VERY INTOXICATED, FOR SOME REASON HE 262 00:14:45,752 --> 00:14:48,888 DOESN'T LIKE TO HAVE CLOTHES ON. HE WOULD STRIP DOWN INTO HIS 263 00:14:48,888 --> 00:14:52,592 BOXERS THIS NIGHT, IT'S -- IT'S, LIKE, 264 00:14:52,592 --> 00:14:55,862 50 DEGREES I THINK HE STRIPPED DOWN INTO HIS 265 00:14:55,862 --> 00:14:58,431 BOXERS, AND THERE WAS A FEW ALTERCATIONS, YOU KNOW, 266 00:14:58,431 --> 00:15:00,767 DIFFERENT PEOPLE HOLLERIN' BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH OTHER. 267 00:15:00,767 --> 00:15:02,569 AND -- >> Reporter: WHAT ARE THEY 268 00:15:02,569 --> 00:15:04,671 HOLLERIN' AT HIM >> EVERYBODY ELSE IS HOLLERIN', 269 00:15:04,671 --> 00:15:07,307 YOU KNOW, "I'M READY TO GO HOME." 270 00:15:07,307 --> 00:15:10,477 >> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS HE OFFERED TO DRIVE BUT PAUL 271 00:15:10,477 --> 00:15:13,646 REFUSED. >> YOU KNOW, HE POINTED AT 272 00:15:13,646 --> 00:15:17,884 MALLORY. YOU KNOW, LIKE, HE WAS FIXIN', 273 00:15:17,884 --> 00:15:20,553 LIKE, CUSS AT HER OR SOMETHIN' YOU KNOW, I SAID, "PAUL, YOU 274 00:15:20,553 --> 00:15:22,589 BETTER THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND." 275 00:15:22,589 --> 00:15:25,258 >> Reporter: AND THEN, ANTHONY SAYS, PAUL PUSHED THE THROTTLE 276 00:15:25,258 --> 00:15:35,101 >> THAT'S WHEN THE BOAT TOOK OFF. 277 00:15:35,101 --> 00:15:40,407 SO IT THREW ME DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT 278 00:15:40,407 --> 00:15:42,142 I GRABBED MALLORY AND PULLED HER DOWN NEAR INTO MY LAP, WHICH I 279 00:15:42,142 --> 00:15:45,311 FELT LIKE WAS THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE. 280 00:15:45,311 --> 00:15:46,913 >> Reporter: BUT THE NEXT THING HE KNEW -- 281 00:15:46,913 --> 00:15:49,182 >> I WOKE UP IN THE WATER JUST THAT FAST. 282 00:15:49,182 --> 00:15:51,084 >> Reporter: THE BOAT HAD CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE PILING, 283 00:15:51,084 --> 00:15:53,753 THROWING SEVERAL OF THE FRIENDS INTO THE ICY WATER 284 00:15:53,753 --> 00:15:55,855 WHEN ANTHONY GOT TO SHORE, HIS FRIENDS WERE ASSESSING THEIR 285 00:15:55,855 --> 00:16:00,093 INJURIES ONLY THEN DID HE REALIZE, TO HIS 286 00:16:00,093 --> 00:16:04,831 HORROR, THAT MALLORY WAS GONE. >>> COMING UP -- 287 00:16:04,831 --> 00:16:09,035 >> MY GIRLFRIEND'S GONE, BO! HE WAS UNDERAGE, INTOXICATED, 288 00:16:09,035 --> 00:16:13,773 AND JUST CRASHED A BOAT. >> AS THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS, 289 00:16:13,773 --> 00:16:16,176 ALEX MURDAUGH STEPS IN >> Reporter: ESSENTIALLY HE'S 290 00:16:16,176 --> 00:16:17,444 ASKIN' YOU TO SACRIFICE YOUR OWN SON. 291 00:16:17,444 --> 00:16:36,463 >> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: IN THE PRE-DAWN 292 00:16:36,463 --> 00:16:42,268 HOURS OF FEBRUARY 24, 2019, MUCH OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S LOW COUNTRY 293 00:16:42,268 --> 00:16:45,405 WAS QUIET. BUT ON THE BANKS OF 294 00:16:45,405 --> 00:16:49,109 ARCHER'S CREEK, IT WAS LOUD AND FRANTIC AS RESCUE TEAMS SEARCHED 295 00:16:49,109 --> 00:16:54,080 FOR MALLORY BEACH. ANTHONY COOK PACED THE WATER'S 296 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,949 EDGE, DISTRAUGHT >> EVERYBODY ELSE WENT TO THE 297 00:16:55,949 --> 00:16:59,152 HOSPITAL AND THEY TRIED TO MAKE ME GO 298 00:16:59,152 --> 00:17:04,124 BUT I -- I WASN'T. YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T A CHANCE 299 00:17:04,124 --> 00:17:07,527 IN THE WORLD THAT I WAS LEAVING. >> Reporter: BUT EVEN AS HE 300 00:17:07,527 --> 00:17:10,163 STARED ACROSS THE WATER, HIS ANGER ROSE AGAINST THE FRIEND HE 301 00:17:10,163 --> 00:17:14,367 BLAMED FOR THE DISASTER THAT NIGHT, PAUL MURDAUGH 302 00:17:14,367 --> 00:17:19,105 IN FACT, ANTHONY HAD ALREADY CONFRONTED PAUL WHEN HE FIRST 303 00:17:19,105 --> 00:17:21,741 CAME OUT OF THE CREEK. >> WHEN HE CAME CRAWLIN' BACK UP 304 00:17:21,741 --> 00:17:24,344 THE BANK, I KINDA SAW RED, YOU KNOW 305 00:17:24,344 --> 00:17:26,479 I FLIPPED OUT. AND I -- I REMEMBER MY -- I 306 00:17:26,479 --> 00:17:29,649 GRABBED HIM. SLAMMED HIM ON THE DIRT UNDER 307 00:17:29,649 --> 00:17:34,888 THE BRIDGE AND, YOU KNOW, "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?" 308 00:17:34,888 --> 00:17:45,965 >> Reporter: HIS RAGE, AND HIS PAIN OVER MALLORY, PLAYED OUT ON 309 00:17:45,965 --> 00:17:48,068 THE DASHCAM. >> BO, YOU -- SMILING LIKE 310 00:17:48,068 --> 00:17:50,704 IT'S -- FUNNY. MY -- GIRLFRIEND'S GONE, BO. 311 00:17:50,704 --> 00:17:52,772 HE KEPT SAYING, "EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY. 312 00:17:52,772 --> 00:17:54,908 I PROMISE. THAT MADE ME SO MUCH MORE MAD 313 00:17:54,908 --> 00:17:57,077 THAT I WAS ALMOST KINDA TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS PROBABLY 314 00:17:57,077 --> 00:18:00,180 FIXIN' TO BEAT HIM HOPE YOU ROT IN -- HELL! 315 00:18:00,180 --> 00:18:05,418 >> Reporter: AFTER PAUL WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, ANTHONY 316 00:18:05,418 --> 00:18:08,688 WAS LEFT TO STEW IN HIS ANGER ABOUT A FRIEND HE SAID WAS USED 317 00:18:08,688 --> 00:18:13,293 TO DOING WHAT HE WANTED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. 318 00:18:13,293 --> 00:18:16,463 THAT NIGHT WAS UNLIKELY TO BE AN EXCEPTION. 319 00:18:16,463 --> 00:18:20,133 >> HE WAS UNDER-AGE, INTOXICATED, AND JUST CRASHED A 320 00:18:20,133 --> 00:18:24,371 BOAT AND THERE WAS PARRIS ISLAND 321 00:18:24,371 --> 00:18:26,473 POLICE, BEAUFORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, DNR, AND NONE OF 322 00:18:26,473 --> 00:18:30,610 THEM WAS GONNA LAY A FINGER ON HIM. 323 00:18:30,610 --> 00:18:33,847 AND HE LOVED IT. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THAT 324 00:18:33,847 --> 00:18:38,051 NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL, THE COOKS HEARD CONNOR'S STORY FIRSTHAND 325 00:18:38,051 --> 00:18:41,488 >> HE AND MILEY BOTH SAID THAT "HE WAS NOT DRIVING THE BOAT." 326 00:18:41,488 --> 00:18:42,789 >> Reporter: HE SAID, "MOM, DAD, IT WASN'T ME 327 00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:45,925 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: MARTY REALIZED HIS 328 00:18:45,925 --> 00:18:50,196 SON MIGHT NEED A LAWYER. HE SAYS HE ONLY KNEW ONE, 329 00:18:50,196 --> 00:18:52,766 ALEX MURDAUGH. >> I WAS TALKING TO HIM AND I 330 00:18:52,766 --> 00:18:55,402 SAID, "ALEX, DNR OFFICERS ARE ALL OVER CONNOR. 331 00:18:55,402 --> 00:18:57,070 AND I KNOW THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET A LAWYER, ALEX. 332 00:18:57,070 --> 00:18:59,205 AND I DON'T KNOW ANY YOU'RE THE ONLY LAWYER I KNOW OF 333 00:18:59,205 --> 00:19:02,275 REALLY." SO I WAS, LIKE, "WHAT DO -- WHAT 334 00:19:02,275 --> 00:19:04,878 DO YOU THINK, ALEX WHAT SHOULD I DO?" 335 00:19:04,878 --> 00:19:08,014 HE SAID, "WELL, I KNOW EXACTLY WHO FOR YOU -- FOR YOU TO CALL." 336 00:19:08,014 --> 00:19:10,116 >> Reporter: ALEX RECOMMENDED THIS MAN, AN ATTORNEY NAMED 337 00:19:10,116 --> 00:19:14,754 CORY FLEMING, TO REPRESENT CONNOR 338 00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:17,023 BUT IF WE THOUGHT THAT THE PERSON WHO WAS GOING TO 339 00:19:17,023 --> 00:19:19,059 WRONGFULLY ACCUSE HIM WAS GOING TO BE ALEX MURDAUGH, THEN WHY 340 00:19:19,059 --> 00:19:21,194 WOULD WE TAKE ALEX MURDAUGH'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A LAWYER? 341 00:19:21,194 --> 00:19:22,762 >> 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW OF ANYBODY ELSE 342 00:19:22,762 --> 00:19:27,033 >> I DIDN'T KNOW OF ANYBODY ELSE 343 00:19:27,033 --> 00:19:30,670 >> Reporter: UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, CORY WAS PAUL MURDAUGH'S 344 00:19:30,670 --> 00:19:33,807 GODFATHER AND ALEX'S COLLEGE ROOMMATE 345 00:19:33,807 --> 00:19:38,545 WHAT WAS CORY FLEMING'S ADVICE TO YOU AND -- AND TO YOUR SON 346 00:19:38,545 --> 00:19:43,249 CONNOR >> JUST THAT IF WE WERE 347 00:19:43,249 --> 00:19:46,453 APPROACHED BY ANYONE ASKING QUESTIONS, TO REFER THEM TO HIM. 348 00:19:46,453 --> 00:19:48,521 >> AND NOT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 349 00:19:48,521 --> 00:19:50,623 >> Reporter: HE SAID, "DON'T COOPERATE" 350 00:19:50,623 --> 00:19:53,259 >> "DON'T SAY -- >> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH 351 00:19:53,259 --> 00:19:56,963 CORY WAS NOW THEIR LAWYER, MARTY SAYS ALEX WAS STILL WORKING 352 00:19:56,963 --> 00:20:00,600 BEHIND THE SCENES. >> I GOT A CALL TO MEET ALEX UP 353 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:02,802 AT HIS LAW OFFICE ONE LATE -- IT'S PROBABLY 8:00 OR SOMETHIN'. 354 00:20:02,802 --> 00:20:06,940 YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- IT WAS AFTER DARK 355 00:20:06,940 --> 00:20:11,678 SO, WE GO IN THE ROOM AND HE JUST GOES ON ABOUT HE WANTED TO 356 00:20:11,678 --> 00:20:14,347 MAKE SURE WHAT MY STANCE WAS AND WAS I GONNA TALK TO LAW 357 00:20:14,347 --> 00:20:16,349 ENFORCEMENT, TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS DRIVING. 358 00:20:16,349 --> 00:20:19,719 >> Reporter: HE WAS LOOKING FOR A LOYALTY PLEDGE 359 00:20:19,719 --> 00:20:21,688 >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR. 360 00:20:21,688 --> 00:20:25,191 >> Reporter: WHY WOULD HE THINK THAT YOU WOULD TRUST HIM 361 00:20:25,191 --> 00:20:27,627 >> I DON'T KNOW. BUT I -- YOU KNOW, I WASN'T 362 00:20:27,627 --> 00:20:29,529 TRUSTING HIM >> Reporter: BUT IN -- 363 00:20:29,529 --> 00:20:31,631 ESSENTIALLY, HE'S ASKING YOU TO SACRIFICE YOUR OWN SON 364 00:20:31,631 --> 00:20:34,834 >> YES SIR >> Reporter: FOR HIS SON 365 00:20:34,834 --> 00:20:35,835 >> YES SIR >> Reporter: AND HE THOUGHT YOU 366 00:20:35,835 --> 00:20:37,971 WOULD BE OKAY WITH IT? >> YEAH, YEAH HE THOUGHT I WAS 367 00:20:37,971 --> 00:20:40,573 GONNA BELIEVE THAT HE'S GONNA KEEP CONNOR OUT OF PRISON. 368 00:20:40,573 --> 00:20:43,710 >> Reporter: DID YOU >> NO, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT - 369 00:20:43,710 --> 00:20:46,346 >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH WAS TRYING TO KEEP AN AIRTIGHT SEAL 370 00:20:46,346 --> 00:20:50,050 ON WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT ON ARCHER'S CREEK 371 00:20:50,050 --> 00:20:55,855 AND HE WAS USED TO GETTING HIS WAY. 372 00:20:55,855 --> 00:21:01,528 BUT WAS HE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROTECT HIS YOUNGEST SON, OR WAS 373 00:21:01,528 --> 00:21:05,832 SOMETHING BIGGER GOING ON? >>> COMING UP -- 374 00:21:05,832 --> 00:21:09,069 >> WE THOUGHT, "OKAY, THE MURDAUGHS ARE IN CHARGE HERE 375 00:21:09,069 --> 00:21:12,138 THEY'VE GOT BOATS ON THE WATER THEY'RE LOOKING FOR HER. 376 00:21:12,138 --> 00:21:15,141 WHAT IF THEY FIND HER BEFORE SEARCH AND RESCUE? 377 00:21:15,141 --> 00:21:17,077 >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF A COVER-UP? 378 00:21:17,077 --> 00:21:39,466 >> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: NO QUESTION 379 00:21:39,466 --> 00:21:42,602 THERE WAS NO SIGN OF HER CREWS ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH 380 00:21:42,602 --> 00:21:46,272 FOR A FORMER USC STUDENT WHO WENT MISSING OVER THE WEEKEND 381 00:21:46,272 --> 00:21:49,476 NEAR PARRIS ISLAND ON THE BANKS OF ARCHER'S CREEK 382 00:21:49,476 --> 00:21:56,282 AND BEYOND, A SMALL ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA'S 383 00:21:56,282 --> 00:21:58,918 LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY JOINED THE SEARCH FOR 19-YEAR-OLD 384 00:21:58,918 --> 00:22:03,656 MALLORY BEACH. MALLORY'S BOYFRIEND ANTHONY COOK 385 00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:07,360 RARELY LEFT THE WATER'S EDGE BUT AS THE DAYS PASSED IT BECAME 386 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:12,065 CLEAR MALLORY WOULD NOT BE FOUND ALIVE. 387 00:22:12,065 --> 00:22:16,269 >> YOU WANNA HAVE FAITH, BUT YOU, YOU KINDA KNOW BETTER 388 00:22:16,269 --> 00:22:21,207 YOU -- YOU STILL WANTIN' THE CLOSURE, NO MATTER THE OUTCOME 389 00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:24,678 >> Reporter: ONE DAY DURING THE SEARCH, ANTHONY'S MOM, 390 00:22:24,678 --> 00:22:27,313 BEVERLY COOK, SAID SHE HAD A STRANGE ENCOUNTER WITH 391 00:22:27,313 --> 00:22:30,984 MAGGIE MURDAUGH -- PAUL'S MOTHER AND ALEX'S WIFE. 392 00:22:30,984 --> 00:22:33,687 >> THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN YOU KINDA BREAK DOWN AND YOU JUST 393 00:22:33,687 --> 00:22:35,255 NEED TO BE BY YOURSELF AND I WAS HAVIN' THAT MOMENT 394 00:22:35,255 --> 00:22:39,959 AND SO I WAS IN THE TRUCK BY MYSELF 395 00:22:39,959 --> 00:22:42,095 ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR SOMEBODY CLIMB IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK 396 00:22:42,095 --> 00:22:46,299 WITH ME. I LOOK BACK AND MAGGIE'S SITTIN' 397 00:22:46,299 --> 00:22:49,969 IN MY BACKSEAT SHE SAID, "WELL BEVERLY, WHAT -- 398 00:22:49,969 --> 00:22:53,106 WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN? WHAT IF THEY NEVER FIND HER? 399 00:22:53,106 --> 00:22:54,674 AND I WAS DEVASTATED AT THAT I SAID, "I CAN'T EVEN THINK LIKE 400 00:22:54,674 --> 00:22:58,378 THAT THEY'RE GONNA FIND HER." 401 00:22:58,378 --> 00:23:04,284 >> Reporter: WHAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN OFFHAND COMMENT STRUCK 402 00:23:04,284 --> 00:23:06,820 BEVERLY AS ALMOST SINISTER >> WE THOUGHT, "THE MURDAUGHS 403 00:23:06,820 --> 00:23:10,056 ARE IN CHARGE HERE THEY'VE GOT BOATS ON THE WATER 404 00:23:10,056 --> 00:23:12,092 THEY'RE LOOKIN' FOR HER. WHAT IF THEY FIND HER BEFORE 405 00:23:12,092 --> 00:23:15,662 SEARCH AND RESCUE? AND I HATE THAT I EVEN THOUGHT 406 00:23:15,662 --> 00:23:16,830 LIKE THAT, BUT I DID >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT 407 00:23:16,830 --> 00:23:19,466 THEY WERE CAPABLE OF -- OF A COVER-UP 408 00:23:19,466 --> 00:23:21,568 >> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: NO QUESTION 409 00:23:21,568 --> 00:23:24,738 >> NO QUESTION >> Reporter: WHY 410 00:23:24,738 --> 00:23:26,840 >> THEY WERE OVER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. 411 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:28,908 THEY PUT PEOPLE IN PLACES. THIS ONE GETS THIS JOB, THIS ONE 412 00:23:28,908 --> 00:23:31,544 GETS THIS JOB, THIS ONE GETS THIS JOB 413 00:23:31,544 --> 00:23:37,350 I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE GROWIN' UP. 414 00:23:37,350 --> 00:23:42,088 >> Reporter: THE MURDAUGH FAMILY HAD SEEMINGLY BEEN 'IN CHARGE' 415 00:23:42,088 --> 00:23:48,395 IN THE LOW COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, EVER SINCE ALEX'S 416 00:23:48,395 --> 00:23:56,002 GREAT-GRANDFATHER RANDOLPH THE FIRST ESTABLISHED THE FAMILY 417 00:23:56,002 --> 00:23:58,471 BUSINESS >> HE STARTED THIS LAW FIRM THAT 418 00:23:58,471 --> 00:24:00,240 HAS BECOME A GIANT HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA 419 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,342 OVER THE GENERATIONS, THIS MYSTIQUE, THIS FAMILY DYNASTY 420 00:24:02,342 --> 00:24:04,444 AND FAMILY HISTORY HAS BUILT UP. >> Reporter: HAMPTON COUNTY 421 00:24:04,444 --> 00:24:06,579 GUARDIAN MANAGING EDITOR MICHAEL DeWITT HAS COVERED THE 422 00:24:06,579 --> 00:24:09,182 FAMILY FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. >> THEY WERE WEALTHY BEFORE THEY 423 00:24:09,182 --> 00:24:13,920 WERE ATTORNEYS THAT TRADITION BEGAN IN 1910 AND 424 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,556 HAD BEEN PASSED DOWN EVER SINCE. AND IF YOU LIVED IN THIS TOWN, 425 00:24:16,556 --> 00:24:18,124 YOU HAD SOME RELATIONSHIP WITH A MURDAUGH 426 00:24:18,124 --> 00:24:21,294 >> Reporter: RANDOLPH WAS ALSO ELECTED SOLICITOR, OR 427 00:24:21,294 --> 00:24:25,498 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, FOR A FIVE COUNTY AREA IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 428 00:24:25,498 --> 00:24:30,236 A POWERFUL POSITION HE HELD FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE HIS SON 429 00:24:30,236 --> 00:24:35,075 SUCCEEDED HIM, AND WAS THEN FOLLOWED BY HIS SON. 430 00:24:35,075 --> 00:24:37,077 >> "POWER. IT'S A COMPLICATED THING WITH 431 00:24:37,077 --> 00:24:39,212 THE MURDAUGHS. THEY KNEW ALL THE JUDGES 432 00:24:39,212 --> 00:24:42,349 THEY KNEW ALL THE LAWYERS. THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH LAW 433 00:24:42,349 --> 00:24:45,452 ENFORCEMENT. BUT IT WAS ALSO THIS CONNECTION 434 00:24:45,452 --> 00:24:48,655 WITH PEOPLE. >> Reporter: PEOPLE, LIKE THE 435 00:24:48,655 --> 00:24:51,825 COOK FAMILIES WHO'D GROWN UP WITH ALEX MURDAUGH 436 00:24:51,825 --> 00:24:54,461 >> EVERYBODY KNEW WHO THEY WERE. THEY KNEW THE -- THE POWER THAT 437 00:24:54,461 --> 00:24:56,563 THEY HAD IF YOU GOT IN TROUBLE AND NEEDED 438 00:24:56,563 --> 00:25:01,434 ANYTHING, THAT'S WHO YOU'D GO TO, NO MATTER WHAT 439 00:25:01,434 --> 00:25:03,937 EVERYBODY ALWAYS KNEW THAT >> EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THE 440 00:25:03,937 --> 00:25:07,440 MURDAUGHS WERE BASICALLY THE LAW, ABOVE THE LAW, EVERYTHING 441 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,743 ELSE >> Reporter: ALEX AND 442 00:25:09,743 --> 00:25:12,879 MAGGIE MURDAUGH HAD BEEN COLLEGE SWEETHEARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 443 00:25:12,879 --> 00:25:16,549 SOUTH CAROLINA THEY WERE MARRIED WHEN HE WAS IN 444 00:25:16,549 --> 00:25:21,187 LAW SCHOOL THEY LATER MOVED TO HAMPTON, HIS 445 00:25:21,187 --> 00:25:26,159 HOMETOWN, AND SOON HAD TWO BOYS, BUSTER AND PAUL. 446 00:25:26,159 --> 00:25:29,195 ALEX BEGAN WORKING AT THE FAMILY FIRM AND LATER IN THE LOCAL 447 00:25:29,195 --> 00:25:33,400 PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. MAGGIE WAS THE NEWCOMER. 448 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,336 WHAT WAS MAGGIE LIKE >> MAGGIE WAS GOOD TO THE KIDS 449 00:25:36,336 --> 00:25:38,104 SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR THE KIDS 450 00:25:38,104 --> 00:25:41,808 SHE WAS FRIENDLY SHE WAS OUTGOING 451 00:25:41,808 --> 00:25:47,647 BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS LIKE SHE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE 452 00:25:47,647 --> 00:25:49,683 WAS BETTER THAN YOU. I'D-- I MEAN, I-- THAT'S JUST 453 00:25:49,683 --> 00:25:51,785 THE TRUTH. >> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T TRY TO 454 00:25:51,785 --> 00:25:54,421 HIDE IT? >> SHE DID NOT 455 00:25:54,421 --> 00:25:56,589 SHE-- SHE WAS VERY PROUD, ARROGANT, SO TO SPEAK, BUT 456 00:25:56,589 --> 00:25:58,692 FRIENDLY AT THE SAME TIME. IF YOU CAN PICTURE ALL THAT 457 00:25:58,692 --> 00:26:00,760 TOGETHER >> Reporter: I'M FROM 458 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,396 SOUTH CAROLINA, SO I CAN YES, YES 459 00:26:03,396 --> 00:26:07,067 LOTTA, "BLESS YOUR HEARTS. >> YEAH. 460 00:26:07,067 --> 00:26:09,336 >> Reporter: AS ALEX'S CAREER TOOK OFF, MAGGIE'S STATURE GREW. 461 00:26:09,336 --> 00:26:11,838 >> SHE SHOWED HER WEALTH AND HER HUSBAND'S POWER. 462 00:26:11,838 --> 00:26:16,576 SHE WALKED AROUND WITH HER NOSE UP, SO TO SPEAK. 463 00:26:16,576 --> 00:26:18,678 >> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS NO ONE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THE SWAY 464 00:26:18,678 --> 00:26:21,848 THE MURDAUGHS HAD BETTER THAN PAUL 465 00:26:21,848 --> 00:26:25,518 HOW DID HE GROW UP >> I MEAN, MONEY WILL MAKE 466 00:26:25,518 --> 00:26:28,688 ANYBODY ANY WAY THAT IT WANTS TO MAKE YOU 467 00:26:28,688 --> 00:26:33,426 I HATE TO USE THE WORD POWER >> Reporter: INFLUENCE 468 00:26:33,426 --> 00:26:36,062 >> YEAH. YEAH, INFLUENCE >> Reporter: HOW'D YOU FEEL 469 00:26:36,062 --> 00:26:38,164 ABOUT ANTHONY HANGIN' OUT WITH -- WITH PAUL GROWIN' UP 470 00:26:38,164 --> 00:26:40,300 >> I TOLD HIM-- I SAID, "YOU GO AND GET IN TROUBLE WITH PAUL NOW 471 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:42,402 IF YOU WANT TO AND YOU'LL BE THE ONE SUFFERIN' 472 00:26:42,402 --> 00:26:46,573 THE CONSEQUENCES." I SAID, "NOT PAUL. 473 00:26:46,573 --> 00:26:51,311 >> Reporter: CONNOR COOK'S PARENTS ECHOED THAT SENTIMENT. 474 00:26:51,311 --> 00:26:53,947 >> I ALWAYS TRIED TO DETER CONNOR FROM HANGING OUT WITH 475 00:26:53,947 --> 00:26:59,219 PAUL I ALWAYS TOLD HIM, "CONNOR, IF 476 00:26:59,219 --> 00:27:01,855 YOU HANG OUT WITH PAUL AND Y'ALL GET IN SOME MISCHIEF, HIS FAMILY 477 00:27:01,855 --> 00:27:08,061 CAN GET HIM OUT OF ANYTHING. YOUR DAD AND I WOULD HAVE A 478 00:27:08,061 --> 00:27:10,263 LITTLE TROUBLE GETTIN' YOU OUT." >> Reporter: THAT'S WHY IN THE 479 00:27:10,263 --> 00:27:15,568 AFTERMATH OF THE BOAT CRASH MARTY WASN'T SURPRISED THAT ALEX 480 00:27:15,568 --> 00:27:17,103 WAS THROWING HIS WEIGHT AROUND AND YOU KNEW THE FIRST TIME THAT 481 00:27:17,103 --> 00:27:18,705 HE CALLED THAT SOMETHIN' DIDN'T SMELL RIGHT? 482 00:27:18,705 --> 00:27:22,409 >> YEAH. I KNEW HIM THAT WELL 483 00:27:22,409 --> 00:27:25,078 YOU KNOW, I HAD MY FILL OF HIM, YOU KNOW, COMIN' UP THROUGH HIGH 484 00:27:25,078 --> 00:27:28,181 SCHOOL AND ALL I KNOW HOW HE CAN TURN ON 485 00:27:28,181 --> 00:27:30,650 SOMEBODY, LIE. >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS 486 00:27:30,650 --> 00:27:35,055 SON IS INVOLVED. >> UH-HUH. 487 00:27:35,055 --> 00:27:38,692 >> Reporter: AS EVERYONE FEARED, THE SEARCH FOR MALLORY BEACH 488 00:27:38,692 --> 00:27:43,463 ENDED SADLY. ON MARCH 3 2019, ONE WEEK AFTER 489 00:27:43,463 --> 00:27:47,667 SHE WAS THROWN INTO THE CREEK, TWO VOLUNTEERS DISCOVERED HER 490 00:27:47,667 --> 00:27:51,338 BODY >> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST 491 00:27:51,338 --> 00:27:55,575 FUNERAL I'VE EVER SEEN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, THAT PEOPLE FROM 492 00:27:55,575 --> 00:27:58,211 EVERYWHERE >> Reporter: IN THE DAYS AND 493 00:27:58,211 --> 00:28:03,483 WEEKS AFTER MALLORY'S FUNERAL, MANY IN HAMPTON WONDERED IF 494 00:28:03,483 --> 00:28:05,585 ANYONE WOULD EVER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DEATH. 495 00:28:05,585 --> 00:28:10,557 BUT MALLORY'S PARENTS REFUSED TO LET IT GO. 496 00:28:10,557 --> 00:28:16,796 THEY BELIEVED IN FACT THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO SOMETHING BIGGER 497 00:28:16,796 --> 00:28:18,732 AND THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES. >> I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE BOAT 498 00:28:18,732 --> 00:28:23,036 CRASH WAS GOIN' TO BRING SOMETHIN' TO LIGHT 499 00:28:23,036 --> 00:28:25,572 MALLORY'S DAD -- WE-- WE-- WE WOULD ALL STAND OUT AT THE 500 00:28:25,572 --> 00:28:29,275 BRIDGE AND SAY A PRAYER EVERY NIGHT BEFORE WE LEFT 501 00:28:29,275 --> 00:28:32,946 AND HE TOLD US "MY DAUGHTER WILL NOT DIE IN VAIN. 502 00:28:32,946 --> 00:28:35,048 SOMETHIN' BIG IS COMIN'. SOMETHIN'S GONNA HAPPEN. 503 00:28:35,048 --> 00:28:37,484 THIS IS GONNA-- THIS IS GONNA BE BIG. 504 00:28:37,484 --> 00:28:42,422 >> HE SAYS, "THERE'S GONNA BE A GREATER GOOD COME OUTTA THIS." 505 00:28:42,422 --> 00:28:44,491 >> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID >> Reporter: COMING UP - 506 00:28:44,491 --> 00:28:47,327 >> IT'S A LOSS THAT THEY'LL NEVER GET OVER 507 00:28:47,327 --> 00:28:50,830 >> Reporter: MALLORY'S FAMILY FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE 508 00:28:50,830 --> 00:28:54,067 AND A SECRET INVESTIGATION INTO PAUL MURDAUGH! 509 00:28:54,067 --> 00:28:55,068 >> HE WAS ALLOWED TO JUST GO ON ABOUT HIS LIFE 510 00:28:55,068 --> 00:28:57,170 >> Reporter: IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HIRED PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS? 511 00:28:57,170 --> 00:29:19,893 >> IT IS >>> ON FEBRUARY 24th, 2019, 512 00:29:19,893 --> 00:29:23,563 MALLORY WENT TO HEAVEN >> Reporter: MALLORY BEACH'S 513 00:29:23,563 --> 00:29:30,737 DEATH BROUGHT A CASCADE OF GRIEF DOWN ON ANTHONY COOK 514 00:29:30,737 --> 00:29:34,107 >> I -- I'M SORRY. I'M KIND OF A LITTLE SHOOKEN UP 515 00:29:34,107 --> 00:29:37,811 AFTER SAYING THAT. >> Reporter: HE SHARED THIS 516 00:29:37,811 --> 00:29:42,549 VIDEO AFTER SHE DIED >> EVERYONE'S ALWAYS TOLD ME, 517 00:29:42,549 --> 00:29:45,185 YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE GOT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW THAT -- "THAT 518 00:29:45,185 --> 00:29:48,355 GIRL'S -- THAT GIRL'S BEEN GOOD TO YOU, ANTHONY. 519 00:29:48,355 --> 00:29:50,957 SHE'S COMPLETELY CHANGED YOU ALL THE WAY AROUND 520 00:29:50,957 --> 00:29:54,127 SHE'S CHANGED YOU FOR THE BETTER." 521 00:29:54,127 --> 00:29:59,399 I AM NOW A VERY, VERY DEEPLY STRONG MAN OF FAITH. 522 00:29:59,399 --> 00:30:03,603 >> Reporter: MALLORY'S PARENTS POURED THEIR GRIEF INTO TRYING 523 00:30:03,603 --> 00:30:05,705 TO GET JUSTICE >> IT'S A LOSS THAT THEY'LL 524 00:30:05,705 --> 00:30:08,074 NEVER GET OVER I MEAN, YOUR CHILD'S NOT 525 00:30:08,074 --> 00:30:09,943 SUPPOSED TO DIE BEFORE YOU DO. YOU KNOW 526 00:30:09,943 --> 00:30:12,545 WE ARE INCAPABLE OF DEALIN' WITH THAT KIND OF LOSS. 527 00:30:12,545 --> 00:30:15,749 >> Reporter: A MONTH AFTER THE FUNERAL, ATTORNEY MARK TINSLEY 528 00:30:15,749 --> 00:30:19,919 FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT ON THE BEACH FAMILY'S BEHALF. 529 00:30:19,919 --> 00:30:23,623 THE SUIT NAMED ALEX MURDAUGH, HIS OLDEST SON BUSTER, AND 530 00:30:23,623 --> 00:30:26,793 SEVERAL OTHERS >> WE FILED PRETTY QUICKLY TO 531 00:30:26,793 --> 00:30:32,032 GET A SUBPOENA POWER, TO GET A VOICE, TO HAVE A SAY 532 00:30:32,032 --> 00:30:36,770 THEY REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO 533 00:30:36,770 --> 00:30:40,106 SOMEBODY ELSE'S DAUGHTER OR SON. SO IT WAS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY 534 00:30:40,106 --> 00:30:43,610 AND HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRYING TO MAKE A 535 00:30:43,610 --> 00:30:46,780 DIFFERENCE >> Reporter: MARK SAYS HE HAD 536 00:30:46,780 --> 00:30:50,984 GOOD REASON TO NAME ALEX MURDAUGH IN THE LAWSUIT, AS 537 00:30:50,984 --> 00:30:54,654 WELL AS PAUL'S BROTHER BUSTER. >> YOU KNOW, PARENTS ARE -- ARE 538 00:30:54,654 --> 00:30:57,857 RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILD. IF YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CHILD'S 539 00:30:57,857 --> 00:31:00,460 GOT A FAKE I.D. AND -- AND YOU CONDONED IT, YOU'VE ALLOWED IT, 540 00:31:00,460 --> 00:31:04,130 YOUR BROTHER GOES AND PROCURES A FALSE IDENTIFICATION 541 00:31:04,130 --> 00:31:06,766 SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU TO BUY ALCOHOL AS AN UNDERAGE PERSON -- 542 00:31:06,766 --> 00:31:11,504 ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THIS FROM 543 00:31:11,504 --> 00:31:13,640 HAPPENING. >> Reporter: IN A DEPOSITION, 544 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:18,078 BUSTER DENIED GIVING PAUL A COPY OF HIS I.D 545 00:31:18,078 --> 00:31:22,082 THE BEACH SUIT DID NOT NAME PAUL, BUT HE WAS IN HOT WATER 546 00:31:22,082 --> 00:31:25,885 TOO. ON APRIL 18th, 2019, A GRAND 547 00:31:25,885 --> 00:31:29,422 JURY INDICTED HIM ON THREE COUNTS OF BOATING UNDER THE 548 00:31:29,422 --> 00:31:34,160 INFLUENCE, CAUSING DEATH AND GREAT BODILY INJURY. 549 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,796 HE FACED A MAXIMUM OF 55 YEARS IN PRISON AND PLEADED NOT 550 00:31:36,796 --> 00:31:39,432 GUILTY >> I WAS SHOCKED AT FIRST. 551 00:31:39,432 --> 00:31:42,802 I -- I CAN SAY THAT. I DIDN'T THINK THAT HE WOULD 552 00:31:42,802 --> 00:31:45,238 EVER REALLY GO TO PRISON JUST THE SIMPLE FACT THAT HE WAS 553 00:31:45,238 --> 00:31:49,442 CHARGED AT ALL WAS A HUGE STATEMENT TO THE WORLD 554 00:31:49,442 --> 00:31:53,646 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE ATTORNEY TINSLEY WAS DIGGING INTO 555 00:31:53,646 --> 00:31:57,884 ALEX MURDAUGH'S FINANCES HE NEEDED TO KNOW JUST HOW MUCH 556 00:31:57,884 --> 00:32:03,456 MONEY ALEX HAD TO DETERMINE WHAT HIS CLIENTS COULD SEEK IN 557 00:32:03,456 --> 00:32:05,225 DAMAGES. FINANCIALLY ASSESSING A 558 00:32:05,225 --> 00:32:09,462 DEFENDANT IN A CIVIL CASE. THAT'S COMMON PRACTICE, RIGHT? 559 00:32:09,462 --> 00:32:13,133 >> SURE. >> Reporter: BUT IN THIS CASE HE 560 00:32:13,133 --> 00:32:16,302 DID NOT GET COOPERATION. WHAT DID YOU FIND WHEN YOU 561 00:32:16,302 --> 00:32:21,307 LOOKED INTO HIS -- HIS ASSETS FOR THE CIVIL TRIAL? 562 00:32:21,307 --> 00:32:23,677 >> WELL, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE HE -- HE WOULDN'T GIVE 563 00:32:23,677 --> 00:32:27,347 ME ANYTHING. >> Reporter: NO BANK ACCOUNTS, 564 00:32:27,347 --> 00:32:31,084 NO -- NO CHECK STATEMENTS, NO 401K INFORMATION, NOTHING. 565 00:32:31,084 --> 00:32:33,687 >> NOTHING >> Reporter: TINSLEY WAS NOT THE 566 00:32:33,687 --> 00:32:37,390 ONLY ONE DOING SOME INVESTIGATING. 567 00:32:37,390 --> 00:32:40,093 >> Reporter: BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, GREG, WHAT DID YOU 568 00:32:40,093 --> 00:32:42,128 KNOW ABOUT -- ABOUT THE MURDAUGHS? 569 00:32:42,128 --> 00:32:44,764 >> I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MURDAUGHS. 570 00:32:44,764 --> 00:32:49,469 I'D NEVER HEARD OF THEM. >> Reporter: GREG PARKER IS THE 571 00:32:49,469 --> 00:32:52,105 FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE PARKER'S CONVENIENCE STORE CHAIN, WHICH 572 00:32:52,105 --> 00:32:56,343 HE STARTED IN GEORGIA AND EXPANDED TO SOUTH CAROLINA 573 00:32:56,343 --> 00:33:01,581 HIS COMPANY WAS ALSO NAMED IN THE BEACH FAMILY'S WRONGFUL 574 00:33:01,581 --> 00:33:04,751 DEATH LAWSUIT BECAUSE ONE OF ITS STORES SOLD ALCOHOL TO UNDERAGE 575 00:33:04,751 --> 00:33:08,922 PAUL MURDAUGH THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT 576 00:33:08,922 --> 00:33:12,459 PARKER MAINTAINS HIS EMPLOYEES DID NOTHING WRONG AND POINTS OUT 577 00:33:12,459 --> 00:33:16,830 THAT THE STORE WAS NOT CITED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. 578 00:33:16,830 --> 00:33:18,965 >> EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT. SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT 579 00:33:18,965 --> 00:33:21,568 LOOKED AT IT EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT 580 00:33:21,568 --> 00:33:25,271 NO CITATION GIVEN. WE DID EVERYTHING THAT THE LAW 581 00:33:25,271 --> 00:33:28,408 WOULD'VE HAD US DO >> Reporter: HE WAS SURPRISED TO 582 00:33:28,408 --> 00:33:30,510 LEARN THAT HIS COMPANY COULD BE FOUND LIABLE FOR MILLIONS IN 583 00:33:30,510 --> 00:33:34,447 DAMAGES. HE THOUGHT IF ANYONE SHOULD BE 584 00:33:34,447 --> 00:33:38,151 LIABLE IT WAS PAUL MURDAUGH. SO HE SET OUT TO LEARN MORE 585 00:33:38,151 --> 00:33:40,186 ABOUT WHAT PAUL WAS UP TO IN THE MONTHS AFTER THE BOAT CRASH. 586 00:33:40,186 --> 00:33:42,822 IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HIRED PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS? 587 00:33:42,822 --> 00:33:45,792 >> IT IS >> Reporter: WHY 588 00:33:45,792 --> 00:33:48,962 >> LAW FIRMS DO THIS IN ANY CASE LIKE THIS. 589 00:33:48,962 --> 00:33:52,098 THEY'RE GONNA GET THE BEST INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN GET. 590 00:33:52,098 --> 00:33:54,234 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE IN -- IN USING PRIVATE 591 00:33:54,234 --> 00:33:58,271 INVESTIGATORS TO -- TO FOLLOW PAUL MURDAUGH? 592 00:33:58,271 --> 00:33:59,506 >> FOR ONE REASON, AND THAT WAS TO GET VIDEO OF PAUL MURDAUGH 593 00:33:59,506 --> 00:34:01,574 DRINKING HE WAS ALLOWED TO JUST GO ON 594 00:34:01,574 --> 00:34:04,210 ABOUT HIS LIFE AND HIS LIFE INCLUDED DRINKING, 595 00:34:04,210 --> 00:34:06,312 AND HE CONTINUED TO DO IT. >> Reporter: WHY -- WHAT WOULD 596 00:34:06,312 --> 00:34:08,415 THAT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT DID THAT ACCOMPLISH 597 00:34:08,415 --> 00:34:10,517 >> WHAT IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH IS PUTTIN' A SPOTLIGHT ON THE 598 00:34:10,517 --> 00:34:14,220 CORRUPTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND WHAT WAS GOIN' ON WITH THE 599 00:34:14,220 --> 00:34:18,091 MURDAUGH FAMILY IN THAT AREA I MEAN, HOW COULD IT BE THAT 600 00:34:18,091 --> 00:34:20,060 THIS YOUNG MAN WHO SHOWED NO REMORSE, NO REMORSE -- 601 00:34:20,060 --> 00:34:22,629 HE DIDN'T CARE ANTHONY COOK GOT FURIOUS WITH 602 00:34:22,629 --> 00:34:24,764 HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T CARE WHEN HE WENT IN THE HOSPITAL, HE 603 00:34:24,764 --> 00:34:28,501 DIDN'T CARE. BUT HE WENT ON ABOUT HIS LIFE. 604 00:34:28,501 --> 00:34:32,672 >> Reporter: SUDDENLY A LOT OF PEOPLE AND LAWYERS SEEMED TO BE 605 00:34:32,672 --> 00:34:37,377 POKING IN TO ALEX MURDAUGH'S BUSINESS 606 00:34:37,377 --> 00:34:41,614 TINSLEY HAD FILED A MOTION HOPING TO FINALLY GET ACCESS TO 607 00:34:41,614 --> 00:34:45,251 ALEX'S FINANCIAL RECORDS >> I WAS ASKING FOR ALL OF HIS 608 00:34:45,251 --> 00:34:49,489 ACCOUNT INFORMATION, CHECKING ACCOUNT, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, 609 00:34:49,489 --> 00:34:52,092 RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS, EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO A PERSON'S 610 00:34:52,092 --> 00:34:56,363 FINANCES I WAS ASKING FOR ACCESS TO IT. 611 00:34:56,363 --> 00:35:01,034 HIS TAX RETURNS, EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: BUT THEN, JUST DAYS 612 00:35:01,034 --> 00:35:05,271 BEFORE HIS COURT DATE, THE CASE TOOK A DRAMATIC AND FATAL TURN 613 00:35:05,271 --> 00:35:08,408 >> 911 WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY? 614 00:35:08,408 --> 00:35:10,510 >> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH I NEED THE POLICE AND AN 615 00:35:10,510 --> 00:35:14,748 AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY. >>> COMING UP -- 616 00:35:14,748 --> 00:35:17,450 GUNFIRE AT THE MURDAUGH FAMILY PROPERTY 617 00:35:17,450 --> 00:35:20,553 >> ARE THEY BREATHING? >> NO, MA'AM 618 00:35:20,553 --> 00:35:23,556 >> AND THE TARGETS ALEX'S WIFE MAGGIE AND HIS SON 619 00:35:23,556 --> 00:35:40,073 PAUL >> I THINK I WAS JUST IN SHOCK 620 00:35:40,073 --> 00:35:44,310 >> 911 WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY? 621 00:35:44,310 --> 00:35:47,947 >> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH >> Reporter: SHORTLY AFTER 10:00 622 00:35:47,947 --> 00:35:50,583 P.M. ON JUNE 7, 2021, 53-YEAR-OLD ALEX MURDAUGH MADE A 623 00:35:50,583 --> 00:35:54,821 FRANTIC CALL >> ARE THEY BREATHING? 624 00:35:54,821 --> 00:35:57,991 >> NO MA'AM. >> Reporter: HE WAS CALLING FROM 625 00:35:57,991 --> 00:36:01,594 HIS FAMILY'S SPRAWLING PROPERTY IN THE WOODS OUTSIDE HAMPTON 626 00:36:01,594 --> 00:36:06,032 >> DO YOU SEE ANYONE IN THE AREA 627 00:36:06,032 --> 00:36:08,335 >> NO, MA'AM >> OKAY. 628 00:36:08,335 --> 00:36:10,437 DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING OR DID YOU COME HOME AND FIND THEM? 629 00:36:10,437 --> 00:36:12,539 >> NO MA'AM. I'VE BEEN GONE, I -- I JUST CAME 630 00:36:12,539 --> 00:36:14,107 BACK >> Reporter: COLLETON COUNTY 631 00:36:14,107 --> 00:36:22,549 SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO A DREADFUL SCENE 632 00:36:22,549 --> 00:36:25,285 52-YEAR-OLD MAGGIE MURDAUGH AND PAUL MURDAUGH, NOW 22, WERE 633 00:36:25,285 --> 00:36:27,821 DEAD >> THE BODIES WERE AT SOME 634 00:36:27,821 --> 00:36:30,423 DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER IT WAS A CONFUSING CRIME SCENE, 635 00:36:30,423 --> 00:36:32,559 HONESTLY >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS FROM 636 00:36:32,559 --> 00:36:34,661 SLED, THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, STARTED 637 00:36:34,661 --> 00:36:36,763 GATHERING EVIDENCE MAGGIE AND PAUL HAD BEEN FOUND 638 00:36:36,763 --> 00:36:41,067 OUTSIDE THE HOME NEAR THE DOG KENNELS. 639 00:36:41,067 --> 00:36:43,636 >> PAUL HAD BEEN SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE WITH A SHOTGUN, WHICH IS 640 00:36:43,636 --> 00:36:48,375 JUST A -- A BRUTAL, BRUTAL WAY TO GO. 641 00:36:48,375 --> 00:36:53,113 MAGGIE WAS SHOT WITH AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON MULTIPLE TIMES 642 00:36:53,113 --> 00:36:55,815 AND FELL FACING AWAY FROM WHERE PAUL WAS AS IF SHE WERE RUNNING 643 00:36:55,815 --> 00:36:58,918 AWAY FROM SOMETHING. >> Reporter: IN THE FIRST HOURS 644 00:36:58,918 --> 00:37:02,589 AFTER MAGGIE AND PAUL'S DEATHS, SLED TRIED TO KEEP THE 645 00:37:02,589 --> 00:37:04,724 INVESTIGATION CLOSE TO THE VEST. BUT NEWS THIS BIG ABOUT MEMBERS 646 00:37:04,724 --> 00:37:09,462 OF THE MOST PROMINENT FAMILY IN THE AREA WAS ALREADY TRAVELING 647 00:37:09,462 --> 00:37:13,633 FAST HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHAT HAD 648 00:37:13,633 --> 00:37:16,369 HAPPENED TO PAUL AND HIS MOM >> I GOT A PHONE CALL EARLY. 649 00:37:16,369 --> 00:37:18,405 IT WAS REALLY EARLY IN THE MORNIN 650 00:37:18,405 --> 00:37:21,074 AND I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT? 651 00:37:21,074 --> 00:37:23,743 WHAT'S HAPPENED?" AND-- AND SHE TOLD ME THAT PAUL AND MAGGIE HAD 652 00:37:23,743 --> 00:37:27,080 BEEN SHOT AND KILLED AND I THINK I WAS JUST IN SHOCK. 653 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:31,618 >> Reporter: LATER THAT DAY, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RELEASED 654 00:37:31,618 --> 00:37:33,720 AN UNUSUAL STATEMENT >> THEY FELT IT NECESSARY TO 655 00:37:33,720 --> 00:37:36,890 TELL THE PUBLIC THAT THERE'S NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW 656 00:37:36,890 --> 00:37:40,093 >> OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE WONDERIN', "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 657 00:37:40,093 --> 00:37:42,662 THERE'S NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC? TWO PEOPLE JUST GOT KILLED." 658 00:37:42,662 --> 00:37:45,298 >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS WEREN'T SAYING MUCH, BUT IT 659 00:37:45,298 --> 00:37:48,468 SEEMED THEY WERE TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT THE BOAT ACCIDENT TO 660 00:37:48,468 --> 00:37:52,706 DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A CONNECTION TO THE MURDERS. 661 00:37:52,706 --> 00:37:55,842 THEY ASKED EVERY PASSENGER FOR A DNA SAMPLE AND AN EXPLANATION OF 662 00:37:55,842 --> 00:37:59,079 WHERE THEY WERE THE NIGHT PAUL AND MAGGIE DIED. 663 00:37:59,079 --> 00:38:02,716 CONNOR COOK WAS ONE. HIM? 664 00:38:02,716 --> 00:38:05,318 >> OF COURSE THEY QUESTIONED ME 665 00:38:05,318 --> 00:38:08,021 >> Reporter: THEY QUESTIONED YOU? 666 00:38:08,021 --> 00:38:13,793 >> I WAS HIS WITNESS THAT HE, YOU KNOW, GOT HOME FROM WORK, 667 00:38:13,793 --> 00:38:15,895 AND HE NEVER LEFT THE HOUSE. >> Reporter: BUT CONNOR'S COUSIN 668 00:38:15,895 --> 00:38:18,498 ANTHONY MIGHT HAVE BEEN OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO LAW 669 00:38:18,498 --> 00:38:21,134 ENFORCEMENT. AFTER ALL, HE'D BEEN FURIOUS 670 00:38:21,134 --> 00:38:23,236 WITH PAUL THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT 671 00:38:23,236 --> 00:38:28,041 WAS HE CONSIDERED A SUSPECT? >> HE WAS NEVER CONSIDERED A 672 00:38:28,041 --> 00:38:30,643 SUSPECT. BUT ALL OF THE BOAT OCCUPANTS 673 00:38:30,643 --> 00:38:32,212 AND I GUESS MALLORY'S FAMILY WERE -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU 674 00:38:32,212 --> 00:38:36,416 WOULD CALL IT A PERSON OF INTEREST 675 00:38:36,416 --> 00:38:38,551 >> THEY SAID IT WAS FOLLOWING PROTOCOL 676 00:38:38,551 --> 00:38:41,154 >> THEY WERE NEVER SUSPECTS. YEAH, THEY HAD TO- 677 00:38:41,154 --> 00:38:43,256 >> TO CLEAR THEIR NAMES SO THEY COULD MOVE ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE 678 00:38:43,256 --> 00:38:45,392 >> YES THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD US 679 00:38:45,392 --> 00:38:48,061 YEAH - >> Reporter: WAS ANTHONY HOLDING 680 00:38:48,061 --> 00:38:50,530 A GRUDGE AGAINST PAUL ALMOST TWO-AND-A- HALF YEARS LATER? 681 00:38:50,530 --> 00:38:52,232 >> WHEN HE WAS SHOT PEOPLE'S ASKED ME, "WERE YOU RELIEVED." 682 00:38:52,232 --> 00:38:55,402 >> Reporter: JUSTICE SERVED. >> JUSTICE, YEAH 683 00:38:55,402 --> 00:38:58,071 NOT A CHANCE, NO IT BROKE MY HEART. 684 00:38:58,071 --> 00:39:00,173 NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I WISH DEATH ON ANYBODY, MUCH 685 00:39:00,173 --> 00:39:03,309 LESS-- HE -- HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE 686 00:39:03,309 --> 00:39:06,479 >> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS HE'S FORGIVEN PAUL. 687 00:39:06,479 --> 00:39:10,150 BUT LIKE MALLORY BEACH'S FAMILY, HE AND THE OTHER THREE SURVIVING 688 00:39:10,150 --> 00:39:13,319 BOAT PASSENGERS FILED SUIT AGAINST ALEX MURDAUGH AND 689 00:39:13,319 --> 00:39:17,023 OTHERS HOW HAS THE BOAT WRECK AFFECTED 690 00:39:17,023 --> 00:39:19,626 HIM? >> WELL, HE'LL NEVER BE THE 691 00:39:19,626 --> 00:39:23,329 SAME >> Reporter: PATRICK CARR 692 00:39:23,329 --> 00:39:27,033 REPRESENTS ANTHONY COOK. >> THIS CASE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE 693 00:39:27,033 --> 00:39:30,170 OF, WELL, SEVERAL THINGS -- THE MAGNITUDE OF HARMS THAT RESULTED 694 00:39:30,170 --> 00:39:33,340 FROM IT. YOU'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A 695 00:39:33,340 --> 00:39:36,042 SINGLE VICTIM, YOU KNOW? YOU'VE GOT A BOAT FULL OF PEOPLE 696 00:39:36,042 --> 00:39:38,611 WHOSE LIVES ARE FOREVER IMPACTED 697 00:39:38,611 --> 00:39:42,816 >> Reporter: IF NONE OF THE BOAT PASSENGERS WERE PLAUSIBLE 698 00:39:42,816 --> 00:39:44,918 SUSPECTS, WHO MIGHT BE WHILE THE INVESTIGATORS PONDERED 699 00:39:44,918 --> 00:39:47,053 THAT, ALEX'S FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS WERE LEFT TO PICK UP THE 700 00:39:47,053 --> 00:39:49,689 PIECES >> A COMMUNITY GATHERING TO 701 00:39:49,689 --> 00:39:56,062 REMEMBER A MOTHER AND SON KILLED IN THE LOW COUNTRY 702 00:39:56,062 --> 00:40:00,233 FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD FOR 52-YEAR-OLD MAGGIE AND HER 703 00:40:00,233 --> 00:40:04,437 22-YEAR-OLD SON PAUL MURDAUGH. >> Reporter: ON JUNE 25, TWO AND 704 00:40:04,437 --> 00:40:07,140 A HALF WEEKS AFTER THE MURDERS, ALEX AND HIS REMAINING SON, 705 00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:11,311 25-YEAR-OLD BUSTER PUT OUT A STATEMENT. 706 00:40:11,311 --> 00:40:17,117 THEY ASKED FOR HELP TO "BRING JUSTICE TO MAGGIE AND PAUL." 707 00:40:17,117 --> 00:40:20,787 >> THEY ISSUE A $100,000 REWARD FOR ANYBODY WITH ANY INFORMATION 708 00:40:20,787 --> 00:40:23,423 IN THESE DOUBLE HOMICIDES THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST AND 709 00:40:23,423 --> 00:40:28,161 CONVICTION >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH 710 00:40:28,161 --> 00:40:30,263 SEEMED TO BE A GRIEVING FATHER WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP 711 00:40:30,263 --> 00:40:32,899 FIND OUT WHO KILLED HIS WIFE AND SON. 712 00:40:32,899 --> 00:40:36,069 BUT BY NOW, NATIONAL NEWS TRUCKS HAD ARRIVED IN HAMPTON COUNTY, 713 00:40:36,069 --> 00:40:41,875 AND ATTENTION WOULD FOCUS ON HIM. 714 00:40:41,875 --> 00:40:45,045 COULD HE WITHSTAND THE SCRUTINY? >>> COMING UP -- 715 00:40:45,045 --> 00:40:46,613 >> OK, WHAT'S GOING ON >> Reporter: THEY TRIED TO SHOOT 716 00:40:46,613 --> 00:40:51,885 ME ANOTHER EMOTIONAL CALL 717 00:40:51,885 --> 00:40:53,987 ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING. >> DID THEY ACTUALLY SHOOT YOU 718 00:40:53,987 --> 00:40:56,089 OR THEY TRIED TO SHOOT YOU >> THEY SHOT ME AND I'M BLEEDING 719 00:40:56,089 --> 00:40:57,657 A LOT. >> Reporter: THE VICTIM THIS 720 00:40:57,657 --> 00:41:19,546 TIME * (MÚSICA) * 721 00:41:19,546 --> 00:41:22,716 PICKING THE BEST MELON >> Reporter: FOR 80 YEARS, THE 722 00:41:22,716 --> 00:41:26,386 MOST FAMOUS THING ABOUT HAMPTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS ITS 723 00:41:26,386 --> 00:41:28,521 WEEK-LONG WATERMELON FESTIVAL. >> WE ARE THE LONGEST RUNNING 724 00:41:28,521 --> 00:41:31,124 FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW. 725 00:41:31,124 --> 00:41:33,760 >> Reporter: EVERY SUMMER, THE LOCALS GATHER TOGETHER TO 726 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:39,099 CELEBRATE HAMPTON'S FAVORITE FRUIT. 727 00:41:39,099 --> 00:41:43,737 >> HERE'S TO YA! >> Reporter: BUT IN JUNE 2021, 728 00:41:43,737 --> 00:41:50,610 HAMPTON SUDDENLY BECAME KNOWN FOR SOMETHING ELSE, OR RATHER 729 00:41:50,610 --> 00:41:54,280 SOMEONE ELSE -- ALEX MURDAUGH. AS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THIS STATE, 730 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:57,984 VALERIE BAUERLEIN COULD SEE THE TOWN STRUGGLING TO MAKE SENSE OF 731 00:41:57,984 --> 00:42:01,621 IT ALL >> YOU START TO REALIZE QUICKLY 732 00:42:01,621 --> 00:42:05,325 THAT THE DYNASTY THAT IN MANY WAYS BUILT HAMPTON COUNTY HAS 733 00:42:05,325 --> 00:42:08,461 EXPLODED WITH THE DOUBLE HOMICIDE, AND THEN THE QUICK 734 00:42:08,461 --> 00:42:10,597 UNRAVELING OF WHAT WAS THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY. 735 00:42:10,597 --> 00:42:13,767 THE MURDAUGHS ARE THE FABRIC OF HAMPTON COUNTY 736 00:42:13,767 --> 00:42:17,404 >> Reporter: THE MURDERS ALSO FED AN INTERNET FRENZY 737 00:42:17,404 --> 00:42:21,608 >> ALMOST IMMEDIATELY YOU'VE GOT SOCIAL MEDIA SLEUTHS THAT ARE 738 00:42:21,608 --> 00:42:25,845 SETTIN' UP CHATROOMS, AND REDDIT GROUPS, AND FACEBOOK GROUPS, AND 739 00:42:25,845 --> 00:42:28,782 CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AND THEY'RE TALKIN' ABOUT THIS CASE. 740 00:42:28,782 --> 00:42:33,186 >> Reporter: SPECULATION RAN WILD 741 00:42:33,186 --> 00:42:36,856 HAD THEIR DEATHS BEEN PART OF A REVENGE PLOT ON PAUL FOR THE 742 00:42:36,856 --> 00:42:41,094 BOAT ACCIDENT? OR HAD SOMETHING GONE 743 00:42:41,094 --> 00:42:43,697 DRASTICALLY WRONG IN THE FAMILY? WHEN ALEX'S 911 CALL WAS 744 00:42:43,697 --> 00:42:48,968 RELEASED IN LATE JULY, EVERY WORD WAS DISSECTED 745 00:42:48,968 --> 00:42:51,604 >> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH >> AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE OFFER 746 00:42:51,604 --> 00:42:56,343 THE OPINION THAT HE'S THE BEST ACTOR IN THE WORLD 747 00:42:56,343 --> 00:42:58,945 YOU CAN TELL HE'S FAKIN' IT, OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE ARE TIMES IN 748 00:42:58,945 --> 00:43:01,815 THAT CALL IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAN IN ABSOLUTE DISTRESS 749 00:43:01,815 --> 00:43:04,751 >> Reporter: BUT COULD ALEX REALLY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO 750 00:43:04,751 --> 00:43:08,421 WITH THE MURDERS OF THE SON HE SO STAUNCHLY DEFENDED AND HIS 751 00:43:08,421 --> 00:43:14,227 WIFE OF ALMOST THIRTY YEARS? JOINING US NOW EXCLUSIVELY - 752 00:43:14,227 --> 00:43:19,466 NO WAY, MURDAUGH'S ATTORNEY, DICK HARPOOTLIAN, TOLD ME ON THE 753 00:43:19,466 --> 00:43:22,869 "TODAY" SHOW, IN AN INTERVIEW SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE 754 00:43:22,869 --> 00:43:24,971 MURDERS. >> CLEARLY, HE IS DISTRAUGHT 755 00:43:24,971 --> 00:43:27,073 ABOUT THEIR DEATHS HE DID NOT MURDER THEM 756 00:43:27,073 --> 00:43:29,175 >> Reporter: SO DICK, SO HE DIDN'T MURDER THEM 757 00:43:29,175 --> 00:43:31,778 DOES HE PERHAPS KNOW WHO DID AND WHY? 758 00:43:31,778 --> 00:43:33,880 >> I DON'T THINK HE DOES >> Reporter: THE IDEA THAT ALEX 759 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:35,982 COULD HAVE DONE IT MADE NO SENSE TO BEACH FAMILY ATTORNEY 760 00:43:35,982 --> 00:43:38,585 MARK TINSLEY EITHER. TINSLEY HAD KNOWN PAUL SINCE HE 761 00:43:38,585 --> 00:43:41,221 WAS A CHILD. >> I CAN REMEMBER ALEC REFERRIN' 762 00:43:41,221 --> 00:43:43,857 TO PAUL AS, "BABY," CALLING HIM, "BABY." 763 00:43:43,857 --> 00:43:47,093 SO EVERY INDICATION WAS THAT HE LOVED HIS FAMILY 764 00:43:47,093 --> 00:43:51,231 HE LOVED HIS WIFE. HE LOVED HIS SONS. 765 00:43:51,231 --> 00:43:54,401 HE WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HARM HIS -- CERTAINLY HIS SONS 766 00:43:54,401 --> 00:43:58,605 I MEAN, WHO -- WHO -- WHO WOULD BE CAPABLE OF KILLIN' THEIR 767 00:43:58,605 --> 00:44:00,273 CHILD? >> Reporter: AFTER THE MURDERS, 768 00:44:00,273 --> 00:44:05,945 ALEX TOLD INVESTIGATORS WHERE HE WAS THAT NIGHT 769 00:44:05,945 --> 00:44:09,115 HE SAID HE'D BEEN AT HOME AND EATEN DINNER WITH MAGGIE AND 770 00:44:09,115 --> 00:44:12,285 PAUL, THEN TOOK A NAP AT 8:30. WHEN HE WOKE UP AT 9:00, HE 771 00:44:12,285 --> 00:44:16,456 DROVE TO SEE HIS MOTHER AT HER HOME, ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY. 772 00:44:16,456 --> 00:44:21,728 WHEN HE CAME BACK AROUND 10:00 P.M., HE FOUND PAUL AND 773 00:44:21,728 --> 00:44:24,330 MAGGIE SHOT, AND DIALED 9-1-1. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE PAUL AND 774 00:44:24,330 --> 00:44:28,535 MAGGIE WERE KILLED SOMETIME AFTER 8:30 775 00:44:28,535 --> 00:44:31,204 >> HIS LAWYERS HAVE SAID HE HAS AN IRONCLAD ALIBI THE NIGHT OF 776 00:44:31,204 --> 00:44:35,408 THE DOUBLE HOMICIDE. THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE SAID. 777 00:44:35,408 --> 00:44:37,510 >> Reporter: WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT RELEASING NO NEW 778 00:44:37,510 --> 00:44:41,181 INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE, COVERAGE OF THE MURDERS STARTED 779 00:44:41,181 --> 00:44:46,453 TO WANE BY THE END OF SUMMER BUT THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 4th, 780 00:44:46,453 --> 00:44:50,657 2021, THREE MONTHS AFTER PAUL AND MAGGIE WERE KILLED, THE 781 00:44:50,657 --> 00:44:55,395 MURDAUGH NAME LIT UP NEWSROOMS AND THE INTERNET ONCE AGAIN. 782 00:44:55,395 --> 00:45:04,871 ALEX MADE A SECOND CALL TO 9-1-1, AND THE STORY HE HAD TO 783 00:45:04,871 --> 00:45:07,040 TELL WAS WILD. HE WAS CALLING TO REPORT ANOTHER 784 00:45:07,040 --> 00:45:09,576 SHOOTING THIS TIME ALEX SAID HE WAS THE 785 00:45:09,576 --> 00:45:12,212 TARGET >> OK. WHAT'S GOING ON 786 00:45:12,212 --> 00:45:15,348 >> I STO --I GOT A FLAT TIRE, AND I STOPPED AND SOMEBODY 787 00:45:15,348 --> 00:45:20,620 STOPPED TO HELP ME AND WHEN I TURNED MY BACK, THEY TRIED TO 788 00:45:20,620 --> 00:45:23,289 SHOOT ME >> Reporter: ALEX CLAIMED HE WAS 789 00:45:23,289 --> 00:45:25,892 ON THE SIDE OF THIS COUNTRY ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED 790 00:45:25,892 --> 00:45:28,528 >> DID THEY ACTUALLY SHOOT YOU, OR THEY TRIED TO SHOOT YOU 791 00:45:28,528 --> 00:45:31,431 >> THEY SHOT ME, AND I'M BLEEDING A LOT 792 00:45:31,431 --> 00:45:34,300 >> WHAT --WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY 793 00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:37,470 >> UH I'M NOT SURE SOMEWHERE ON MY HEAD. 794 00:45:37,470 --> 00:45:39,572 >> CAN YOU GIVE ME A DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON THAT SHOT YOU OR 795 00:45:39,572 --> 00:45:47,447 SHOT AT YOU? >> YES MA'AM 796 00:45:47,447 --> 00:45:51,117 I MEAN, IT WAS UH A WHITE FELLA. UH, I'D SAY -- 797 00:45:51,117 --> 00:45:53,787 >> A WHITE MALE? >> A FAIR AMOUNT YOUNGER THAN 798 00:45:53,787 --> 00:45:57,457 ME >> Reporter: ALEX WAS AIRLIFTED 799 00:45:57,457 --> 00:46:00,093 TO A GEORGIA HOSPITAL. DOCTORS DISCOVERED HE HAD A 800 00:46:00,093 --> 00:46:03,263 FRACTURED SKULL, AND A MINOR BRAIN BLEED. 801 00:46:03,263 --> 00:46:08,535 HE TOLD THEM HE'D TEMPORARILY LOST HIS VISION. 802 00:46:08,535 --> 00:46:11,705 IT LOOKED FOR ALL THE WORLD LIKE ANOTHER BRAZEN ATTACK ON THE 803 00:46:11,705 --> 00:46:21,915 MURDAUGH FAMILY. BUT WAS IT REALLY? 804 00:46:21,915 --> 00:46:22,949 >> Reporter: COMING UP -- ANOTHER JAW-DROPPER. 805 00:46:22,949 --> 00:46:25,085 >> IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SET UP 806 00:46:25,085 --> 00:46:26,653 >> Reporter: ALEX'S DRAMATIC TALE ABOUT A ROADSIDE SHOOTING 807 00:46:26,653 --> 00:46:45,872 IS ABOUT TO CRASH AND BURN >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH HAD 808 00:46:45,872 --> 00:46:49,075 CALLED 911 WITH A FRIGHTENING STORY. 809 00:46:49,075 --> 00:46:55,348 SOMEONE HAD SEEN HIM BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHOT AT HIM. 810 00:46:55,348 --> 00:47:00,620 BUT PEOPLE STARTED TO QUESTION THAT STORY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. 811 00:47:00,620 --> 00:47:04,791 >> SO IT WAS VERY WEIRD, JUST VERY WEIRD FROM THE GET-GO 812 00:47:04,791 --> 00:47:08,028 >> Reporter: FOR ONE THING, WHY HAD ALEX STOPPED WHEN HIS SUV 813 00:47:08,028 --> 00:47:11,131 COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON A FLAT 814 00:47:11,131 --> 00:47:13,733 >> THE MERCEDES BENZ HE WAS DRIVING, YOU KNOW, IT HAD STATE 815 00:47:13,733 --> 00:47:17,404 OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING RUN FLAT TIRES 816 00:47:17,404 --> 00:47:20,040 >> Reporter: FOR ANOTHER, ALEX TOLD THE 911 OPERATOR HE'D BEEN 817 00:47:20,040 --> 00:47:24,778 SHOT IN THE HEAD AND WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY 818 00:47:24,778 --> 00:47:29,516 BUT THE NEXT DAY SLED REPORTED THE GUNSHOT WOUND WAS 819 00:47:29,516 --> 00:47:34,220 "SUPERFICIAL." AND THEN THERE WAS THE FACT THAT 820 00:47:34,220 --> 00:47:37,390 A WOMAN WHO DROVE BY THE SCENE TOLD ANOTHER 911 OPERATOR THAT 821 00:47:37,390 --> 00:47:40,527 THE WHOLE THING LOOKED LIKE IT WAS STAGED 822 00:47:40,527 --> 00:47:43,063 >> THERE IS A MAN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH BLOOD ALL OVER 823 00:47:43,063 --> 00:47:44,764 HIM, AND HE'S WAVING HIS HANDS HE JUST LAYING THERE -- WAVING 824 00:47:44,764 --> 00:47:49,602 HIS HANDS AROUND HE LOOKS FINE. 825 00:47:49,602 --> 00:47:51,638 HE LOOKS FINE BUT IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SET UP SO WE DIDN'T 826 00:47:51,638 --> 00:47:53,707 STOP >> Reporter: WHAT ON EARTH WAS 827 00:47:53,707 --> 00:47:56,876 GOING ON INVESTIGATORS GOT A BREAK WHEN 828 00:47:56,876 --> 00:48:00,547 THEY WERE TIPPED OFF TO THE ALLEGED SHOOTER -- A MAN NAMED 829 00:48:00,547 --> 00:48:03,283 CURTIS "EDDIE" SMITH HE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT STORY TO 830 00:48:03,283 --> 00:48:06,486 TELL I TALKED TO CURTIS AND HIS 831 00:48:06,486 --> 00:48:08,922 ATTORNEY AT THE TIME -- JOHNNY McCOY -- 832 00:48:08,922 --> 00:48:11,224 SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE SHOOTING 833 00:48:11,224 --> 00:48:15,795 HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW ALEX MURDAUGH? 834 00:48:15,795 --> 00:48:18,431 >> PLAYED BALL AGAINST HIM YEARS AND YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS GOING 835 00:48:18,431 --> 00:48:24,704 TO LAW SCHOOL AND -- >> Reporter: SOFTBALL. 836 00:48:24,704 --> 00:48:26,940 >> SOFTBALL, YEAH. >> Reporter: CURTIS INSISTED HE 837 00:48:26,940 --> 00:48:28,942 DID NOT TRY TO KILL ALEX THAT DAY. 838 00:48:28,942 --> 00:48:31,044 HE SAYS ALEX ACTUALLY CALLED HIM THAT MORNING AND SUGGESTED THEY 839 00:48:31,044 --> 00:48:33,646 MEET UP. CURTIS SAYS ALEX REPRESENTED HIM 840 00:48:33,646 --> 00:48:38,418 AS AN ATTORNEY, AND CURTIS DID OCCASIONAL ODD JOBS FOR ALEX 841 00:48:38,418 --> 00:48:41,554 YOU CAN SEE CURTIS HERE ON SECURITY VIDEO DRIVING TO MEET 842 00:48:41,554 --> 00:48:44,691 ALEX AND THERE'S ALEX FOLLOWING RIGHT 843 00:48:44,691 --> 00:48:48,395 BEHIND WHEN THEY CAME TO A STOP AND GOT 844 00:48:48,395 --> 00:48:51,064 OUT, CURTIS SAYS ALEX MADE A REQUEST THAT LEFT HIM REELING. 845 00:48:51,064 --> 00:48:57,337 >> HE SAID, "AH, I NEED YOU TO SHOOT ME IN THE BACK OF THE 846 00:48:57,337 --> 00:49:01,541 HEAD." >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO 847 00:49:01,541 --> 00:49:04,177 CURTIS, ALEX WANTED TO DIE SO WHEN HE ASKED YOU TO SHOOT 848 00:49:04,177 --> 00:49:07,781 HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, HE DIDN'T -- 849 00:49:07,781 --> 00:49:11,084 HE DIDN'T SAY WHY. >> JUST THAT HE DIDN'T NEED TO 850 00:49:11,084 --> 00:49:13,119 BE AROUND HERE NO MORE THAT BUSTER BE BETTER OFF IF HE 851 00:49:13,119 --> 00:49:16,289 WASN'T HERE. >> Reporter: BUSTER IS HIS 852 00:49:16,289 --> 00:49:21,027 REMAINING SON. CURTIS SAID HE FLAT OUT REFUSED. 853 00:49:21,027 --> 00:49:23,129 BUT THEN, ALEX PULLED OUT A GUN. >> HE SAID, "YOU GONNA SHOOT 854 00:49:23,129 --> 00:49:25,765 ME?" I SAID, "NO. 855 00:49:25,765 --> 00:49:28,401 HE SAID, "WELL, YOU GOTTA DO IT." 856 00:49:28,401 --> 00:49:33,640 AND HE MADE THIS MOVE LIKE -- LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW? 857 00:49:33,640 --> 00:49:37,344 AND I JUST GRABBED HIS ARM >> Reporter: YOU -- YOU TOOK THE 858 00:49:37,344 --> 00:49:42,048 GUN. >> AND SHOVED IT UP BEHIND HIM, 859 00:49:42,048 --> 00:49:44,684 BETWEEN ME AND HIM AND IT WENT OFF. 860 00:49:44,684 --> 00:49:47,487 >> Reporter: THE GUN WENT OFF. DID IT HIT HIM 861 00:49:47,487 --> 00:49:49,456 DID THE BULLET - >> NO. 862 00:49:49,456 --> 00:49:51,558 >> Reporter: -- HIT HIM? >> NO. 863 00:49:51,558 --> 00:49:53,626 THERE'S NO BLOOD ON ME THERE'S NO BLOOD ON HIM. 864 00:49:53,626 --> 00:49:56,162 >> Reporter: HE DIDN'T GET SHOT IN THE HEAD. 865 00:49:56,162 --> 00:49:57,430 >> NO. >> Reporter: THINKING ALEX MIGHT 866 00:49:57,430 --> 00:49:59,532 PULL THE TRIGGER HIMSELF, CURTIS SAYS HE GRABBED THE GUN AND TOOK 867 00:49:59,532 --> 00:50:03,103 OFF. BUT IF CURTIS'S STORY WAS TRUE, 868 00:50:03,103 --> 00:50:07,841 WHY WOULD ALEX MURDAUGH WANT TO KILL HIMSELF 869 00:50:07,841 --> 00:50:14,681 A STATEMENT FROM ALEX'S LAW FIRM TWO DAYS LATER OFFERED A CLUE. 870 00:50:14,681 --> 00:50:16,783 IT TURNS OUT THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE SHOOTING, ALEX HAD BEEN 871 00:50:16,783 --> 00:50:19,953 KICKED OUT OF HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER'S FIRM 872 00:50:19,953 --> 00:50:22,989 THE PARTNERS, INCLUDING HIS OLDER BROTHER RANDY, ACCUSED HIM 873 00:50:22,989 --> 00:50:26,259 OF STEALING. >> WE THOUGHT HE LOST EVERYTHING 874 00:50:26,259 --> 00:50:29,963 ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 7th HE TRULY BEGAN LOSING EVERYTHING 875 00:50:29,963 --> 00:50:33,099 THAT FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE LAW FIRM SAID, "YOU'RE OUT 876 00:50:33,099 --> 00:50:35,735 WE WANT NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOU. 877 00:50:35,735 --> 00:50:37,871 THE MAN BECOMES DESPERATE. >> Reporter: A WEEK AFTER THE 878 00:50:37,871 --> 00:50:41,007 SHOOTING, ALEX CONFESSED TO INVESTIGATORS. 879 00:50:41,007 --> 00:50:44,711 HE TOLD THEM THE ROADSIDE SHOOTING WAS INDEED A PLOT TO 880 00:50:44,711 --> 00:50:49,416 KILL HIMSELF HE'D ASKED CURTIS TO DO IT SO IT 881 00:50:49,416 --> 00:50:51,518 WOULDN'T APPEAR TO BE A SUICIDE, AND BUSTER COULD COLLECT HIS 882 00:50:51,518 --> 00:50:55,755 $10 MILLION LIFE INSURANCE POLICY 883 00:50:55,755 --> 00:51:02,595 THE MORNING AFTER THE NEWS BROKE, ATTORNEY DICK HARPOOTLIAN 884 00:51:02,595 --> 00:51:05,065 TRIED TO EXPLAIN ALEX'S THINKING ON THE "TODAY" SHOW. 885 00:51:05,065 --> 00:51:07,100 >> HE WAS IN A MASSIVE DEPRESSION, REALIZED THINGS WERE 886 00:51:07,100 --> 00:51:10,270 GOING TO GET VERY, VERY, VERY BAD, AND HE DECIDED TO END HIS 887 00:51:10,270 --> 00:51:12,906 LIFE HE BELIEVED THAT $10 MILLION 888 00:51:12,906 --> 00:51:14,474 DOLLAR POLICY HAD A SUICIDE EXCLUSION. 889 00:51:14,474 --> 00:51:17,677 SO HE ARRANGED TO HAVE THIS GUY SHOOT HIM. 890 00:51:17,677 --> 00:51:20,814 >> Reporter: HARPOOTLIAN ALSO CLAIMED THAT ALEX WAS ADDICTED 891 00:51:20,814 --> 00:51:24,484 TO OPIOIDS HE SAID ALEX HAD BEEN BATTLING 892 00:51:24,484 --> 00:51:28,188 THE ADDICTION FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND HAD CHECKED HIMSELF 893 00:51:28,188 --> 00:51:30,790 INTO REHAB >> DO YOU FULLY EXPECT THAT YOUR 894 00:51:30,790 --> 00:51:33,993 CLIENT IS -- IS GOING TO BE ARRESTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE? 895 00:51:33,993 --> 00:51:37,097 >> YES, I THINK HE WILL BE CHARGED. 896 00:51:37,097 --> 00:51:40,266 >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, ALEX WAS CHARGED IN THE ROADSIDE 897 00:51:40,266 --> 00:51:43,937 SHOOTING INCIDENT FOR INSURANCE FRAUD, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT 898 00:51:43,937 --> 00:51:49,242 INSURANCE FRAUD, AND FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT. 899 00:51:49,242 --> 00:51:52,379 HE TURNED HIMSELF IN CURTIS "EDDIE" SMITH WAS ALSO 900 00:51:52,379 --> 00:51:57,150 CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY, AS WELL AS ASSISTED SUICIDE. 901 00:51:57,150 --> 00:52:00,286 BUT CURTIS SAYS HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE INSURANCE SCHEME AND 902 00:52:00,286 --> 00:52:02,922 DID NOT SHOOT ALEX >> IF I'D OF SHOT HIM, HE'D BEEN 903 00:52:02,922 --> 00:52:05,558 DEAD HE'S ALIVE 904 00:52:05,558 --> 00:52:08,695 >> Reporter: ALEX'S ATTORNEYS DISPUTE CURTIS'S ACCOUNT OF THAT 905 00:52:08,695 --> 00:52:12,365 ROADSIDE INCIDENT. THEY SAY THERE WAS NO STRUGGLE 906 00:52:12,365 --> 00:52:18,171 WITH THE GUN, AND THAT CURTIS SHOT ALEX THAT DAY 907 00:52:18,171 --> 00:52:20,240 ON SEPTEMBER 16th, 2021, ALEX WAS LED INTO COURT FOR HIS BOND 908 00:52:20,240 --> 00:52:23,410 HEARING. HE WAS RELEASED ON A 909 00:52:23,410 --> 00:52:29,215 $20,000 BOND AND ALLOWED TO RETURN TO REHAB. 910 00:52:29,215 --> 00:52:31,317 THOUGH HE WOULD SPEND THE NEXT MONTH OUT OF THE PICTURE IN 911 00:52:31,317 --> 00:52:34,988 TREATMENT, HE WAS HARDLY OUT OF THE CONVERSATION 912 00:52:34,988 --> 00:52:40,427 IN EARLY OCTOBER, THE LAW FIRM HIS FAMILY HAD RUN FOR MORE THAN 913 00:52:40,427 --> 00:52:42,896 A CENTURY SUED HIM FOR STEALING HUGE SUMS OF MONEY AND DEMANDED 914 00:52:42,896 --> 00:52:46,099 TO KNOW IF ANY OF IT WAS "HIDDEN AWAY." 915 00:52:46,099 --> 00:52:49,202 THESE REPORTS THAT YOUR CLIENT STOLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 916 00:52:49,202 --> 00:52:52,372 FROM -- FROM THE LAW FIRM. DID HE USE ALL OF THAT MONEY TO 917 00:52:52,372 --> 00:52:56,576 BUY DRUGS, OR DID HE USE SOME OF THE MILLIONS FOR OTHER THINGS? 918 00:52:56,576 --> 00:52:59,212 >> THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WAS USED TO BUY 919 00:52:59,212 --> 00:53:01,314 DRUGS. >> Reporter: THAT'S A LOT OF -- 920 00:53:01,314 --> 00:53:05,051 DICK THAT'S A LOT OF OXY >> WELL, WELL OKAY 921 00:53:05,051 --> 00:53:08,188 SO, LET ME -- OKAY, SO IT IS >> Reporter: ALEX'S ATTORNEYS 922 00:53:08,188 --> 00:53:11,324 CLAIMED THAT CURTIS WAS ALEX'S DRUG DEALER, AN ACCUSATION 923 00:53:11,324 --> 00:53:15,595 CURTIS DENIES. THIS IS THE QUESTION A LOT OF 924 00:53:15,595 --> 00:53:19,733 FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING DID YOU EVER SELL ALEX MURDAUGH 925 00:53:19,733 --> 00:53:22,902 DRUGS? >> NO. 926 00:53:22,902 --> 00:53:25,772 >> Reporter: REPORTER VALERIE BAUERLEIN COULDN'T 927 00:53:25,772 --> 00:53:29,209 CONFIRM THAT ALEX'S OPIOID ADDICTION WAS EVEN REAL. 928 00:53:29,209 --> 00:53:32,345 >> IT'S A STRANGE ONE BECAUSE IN A SMALL TOWN WHERE EVERYBODY 929 00:53:32,345 --> 00:53:36,082 KNOWS EVERYTHING - DOCTORS WILL KNOW OR OTHERS WILL 930 00:53:36,082 --> 00:53:39,185 KNOW AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, NO. 931 00:53:39,185 --> 00:53:42,422 AND THE LAW FIRM HAS SAID, "WE HAD ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS OVER 932 00:53:42,422 --> 00:53:45,492 THE COURSE OF YEARS. >> Reporter: WHETHER HE WAS 933 00:53:45,492 --> 00:53:51,297 BUYING DRUGS, OR SOMETHING ELSE, IT SEEMED LIKE ALEX MURDAUGH 934 00:53:51,297 --> 00:53:55,535 NEEDED MONEY -- A LOT OF IT. RUMORS WOULD SOON FLY THAT HE 935 00:53:55,535 --> 00:53:58,171 WASN'T JUST STEALING FROM HIS FIRM, HE WAS ALSO STEALING FROM 936 00:53:58,171 --> 00:54:03,443 HIS CLIENTS. AND SOME WEREN'T JUST CLIENTS, 937 00:54:03,443 --> 00:54:09,215 THEY WERE LIFELONG FRIENDS >> IT'S LIKE SHE WAS A NOBODY. 938 00:54:09,215 --> 00:54:14,187 >>> COMING UP -- A TRAGEDY STRIKES THE MURDAUGH 939 00:54:14,187 --> 00:54:17,657 FAMILY HOUSEKEEPER >> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOU TOLD 940 00:54:17,657 --> 00:54:20,260 ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? >> JUST THAT SHE HAD FELL, AND 941 00:54:20,260 --> 00:54:22,929 THAT THEY THOUGHT SHE HAD A HEAD INJURY 942 00:54:22,929 --> 00:54:42,882 >> NEW QUESTIONS, NEW SECRETS. >> I SAYS, YOU KNOW, 943 00:54:42,882 --> 00:54:44,417 >> Reporter: BY OCTOBER 2021, ALEX MURDAUGH'S LIFE WAS IN 944 00:54:44,417 --> 00:54:48,121 SHAMBLES HE'D BEEN ARRESTED FOR A 945 00:54:48,121 --> 00:54:51,825 SUICIDE-RELATED INSURANCE SCAM AND BOOTED FROM HIS LAW FIRM FOR 946 00:54:51,825 --> 00:54:55,495 STEALING AND MALLORY BEACH'S FAMILY AND 947 00:54:55,495 --> 00:55:01,801 OTHERS WERE SUING HIM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOAT CRASH. 948 00:55:01,801 --> 00:55:06,539 THE SCOPE AND SPEED OF HIS TAILSPIN MADE SOME WONDER -- 949 00:55:06,539 --> 00:55:10,744 COULD HE ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THE MURDERS OF HIS WIFE AND SON? 950 00:55:10,744 --> 00:55:13,413 >> IT JUST CHANGED THE UNDERSTANDING IN HAMPTON AND 951 00:55:13,413 --> 00:55:16,049 ELSEWHERE ABOUT WHO ALEX MURDAUGH REALLY WAS 952 00:55:16,049 --> 00:55:18,685 >> Reporter: REPORTER VALERIE BAUERLEIN WAS WORKING 953 00:55:18,685 --> 00:55:22,055 HER SOURCES, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MURDER INVESTIGATION 954 00:55:22,055 --> 00:55:23,923 WAS HEADED >> THERE WERE NO PUBLIC 955 00:55:23,923 --> 00:55:27,627 ANNOUNCEMENTS, NO PRESS CONFERENCES, NO QUESTIONS. 956 00:55:27,627 --> 00:55:30,764 NO SUSPECTS WERE NAMED NOTHING FOR MONTHS, AND MONTHS, 957 00:55:30,764 --> 00:55:34,467 AND MONTHS >> Reporter: BUT THERE WERE 958 00:55:34,467 --> 00:55:37,237 RUMORS ALEX'S ATTORNEY JIM GRIFFIN WENT 959 00:55:37,237 --> 00:55:41,307 ON FOX CAROLINA TO TAKE THOSE ON 960 00:55:41,307 --> 00:55:43,410 >> HE HAD NO MOTIVE TO KILL THEM 961 00:55:43,410 --> 00:55:47,113 HE LOVED HIS WIFE, HE LOVED HIS SON. 962 00:55:47,113 --> 00:55:52,085 IF, IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, I THOUGHT ALEX HAD ANY ROLE IN THE 963 00:55:52,085 --> 00:55:55,822 DEATH OF MAGGIE AND PAUL, I WOULDN'T BE SO AGGRESSIVELY 964 00:55:55,822 --> 00:55:57,991 DEFENDING HIM. >> Reporter: LATER IN OCTOBER, 965 00:55:57,991 --> 00:56:00,593 ALEX CHECKED OUT OF A REHAB CLINIC WHERE HE'D BEEN TRYING TO 966 00:56:00,593 --> 00:56:02,696 RECOVER FROM THAT ALLEGED OPIOID ADDICTION. 967 00:56:02,696 --> 00:56:06,332 BUT HE WASN'T TWO FEET INTO THE PARKING LOT WHEN POLICE 968 00:56:06,332 --> 00:56:09,502 DESCENDED AGAIN. >> WE JUST LEARNED AUTHORITIES 969 00:56:09,502 --> 00:56:12,639 TOOK ALEX MURDAUGH INTO CUSTODY IN FLORIDA 970 00:56:12,639 --> 00:56:15,308 >> Reporter: THE CHARGES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MURDERS 971 00:56:15,308 --> 00:56:19,045 OR THE EMBEZZLEMENT FROM THE LAW FIRM 972 00:56:19,045 --> 00:56:21,147 THEY INVOLVED THE FAMILY OF A WOMAN WHO'D TAKEN CARE OF HIS 973 00:56:21,147 --> 00:56:24,918 FAMILY FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. 974 00:56:24,918 --> 00:56:28,455 >> SHE WORKED HARD AT WHAT SHE DID. 975 00:56:28,455 --> 00:56:32,125 AND SHE LOVED WHAT SHE DID >> Reporter: GLORIA SATTERFIELD 976 00:56:32,125 --> 00:56:35,829 HAD BEEN A FIXTURE IN THE MURDAUGH HOUSEHOLD -- CLEANING 977 00:56:35,829 --> 00:56:39,499 THE HOUSE AND BABYSITTING ALEX'S TWO BOYS 978 00:56:39,499 --> 00:56:45,305 GLORIA'S THREE SIBLINGS AND TWO SONS SAY FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING 979 00:56:45,305 --> 00:56:48,441 TO HER, AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW SHE THOUGHT OF THE MURDAUGHS -- 980 00:56:48,441 --> 00:56:52,645 AS FAMILY. GINGER IS GLORIA'S SISTER. 981 00:56:52,645 --> 00:56:55,281 >> THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE TO HER. AND THAT'S HOW MUCH SHE LOVED 982 00:56:55,281 --> 00:56:57,417 'EM. SHE TREATED 'EM JUST LIKE HER 983 00:56:57,417 --> 00:57:00,553 KIDS, LIKE HER BOYS. >> Reporter: ANTHONY COOK, WHO 984 00:57:00,553 --> 00:57:03,723 SAW GLORIA EVERY TIME HE VISITED THE MURDAUGHS, REMEMBERS HOW 985 00:57:03,723 --> 00:57:07,861 FOND SHE WAS OF PAUL IN PARTICULAR 986 00:57:07,861 --> 00:57:10,563 >> SHE LOVED PAUL MORE THAN ANY OF 'EM 987 00:57:10,563 --> 00:57:14,267 EVERYBODY WILL TELL YOU THAT SHE CALLED HIM "PAUL PAUL. 988 00:57:14,267 --> 00:57:16,870 EVERY TEN SECONDS, SHE WAS MAKING SURE THAT HE WAS OKAY 989 00:57:16,870 --> 00:57:19,506 >> Reporter: DID -- DID ANY OF YOU GET TO KNOW THE MURDAUGHS 990 00:57:19,506 --> 00:57:23,743 PERSONALLY >> YEAH. 991 00:57:23,743 --> 00:57:26,346 YES. WE THOUGHT OF THEM AS AN 992 00:57:26,346 --> 00:57:30,050 EXTENDED FAMILY ALSO, BECAUSE GLORIA DID 993 00:57:30,050 --> 00:57:34,788 >> Reporter: WHICH IS WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP STOOD BETWEEN THEIR 994 00:57:34,788 --> 00:57:38,458 FAMILIES WHEN, ON THE 2nd OF FEBRUARY, 2018 -- A YEAR BEFORE 995 00:57:38,458 --> 00:57:41,628 THE BOAT CRASH AND MORE THAN THREE YEARS BEFORE THE 996 00:57:41,628 --> 00:57:44,264 MURDERS -- GLORIA FELL DOWN THE FRONT STEPS OF THE MURDAUGH 997 00:57:44,264 --> 00:57:48,468 HOME MAGGIE MURDAUGH CALLED 911 998 00:57:48,468 --> 00:57:51,204 >> MY HOUSEKEEPER HAS FALLEN AND HER HEAD IS BLEEDING 999 00:57:51,204 --> 00:57:55,308 I CANNOT GET HER UP. >> Reporter: YOU CAN HEAR PAUL 1000 00:57:55,308 --> 00:57:57,911 ON THE CALL AS WELL. >> SHE'S CRACKED HER HEAD, AND 1001 00:57:57,911 --> 00:58:00,280 THERE'S BLOOD ON THE CONCRETE, AND SHE'S BLEEDING OUT OF HER 1002 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:03,183 LEFT EAR >> OKAY, DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHO 1003 00:58:03,183 --> 00:58:06,886 SHE IS >> YES, SHE WORKS FOR US 1004 00:58:06,886 --> 00:58:13,193 >> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOU TOLD ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED? 1005 00:58:13,193 --> 00:58:15,829 >> JUST THAT SHE HAD FELL, THAT SHE WAS TRIPPED BY THE DOGS, AND 1006 00:58:15,829 --> 00:58:18,431 THAT THEY THOUGHT SHE HAD A HEAD INJURY, BECAUSE THEY SAW BLOOD 1007 00:58:18,431 --> 00:58:22,635 AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT UNTIL WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL. 1008 00:58:22,635 --> 00:58:26,339 >> Reporter: GLORIA LANGUISHED IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 21 DAYS 1009 00:58:26,339 --> 00:58:29,042 BEFORE SHE DIED. >> IT WAS ABOUT TIME FOR ME TO 1010 00:58:29,042 --> 00:58:32,679 LEAVE THAT DAY SO I JUST SAID - 1011 00:58:32,679 --> 00:58:36,850 [ CRYING ] "GLORIA, I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW 1012 00:58:36,850 --> 00:58:42,655 AND I LOVE YOU." AND SHE TOLD ME, "LOVE YOU TOO." 1013 00:58:42,655 --> 00:58:47,394 AND THAT'S THE LAST WORDS I HEARD HER SAY. 1014 00:58:47,394 --> 00:58:50,563 >> Reporter: AFTER THE FUNERAL, GLORIA'S SON, TONY, SAYS 1015 00:58:50,563 --> 00:58:53,700 ALEX MURDAUGH TOLD HIM HE WOULD WOULD MAKE SURE TONY AND HIS 1016 00:58:53,700 --> 00:58:57,070 BROTHER BRIAN GOT AN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT FOR THEIR MOTHER'S 1017 00:58:57,070 --> 00:58:58,972 DEATH. >> THAT HE WOULD, YOU KNOW, TAKE 1018 00:58:58,972 --> 00:59:01,241 CARE OF US, AND STUFF, AND KINDA LOOK OUT FOR US. 1019 00:59:01,241 --> 00:59:03,176 >> Reporter: DID YOU BELIEVE HIM? 1020 00:59:03,176 --> 00:59:05,845 >> YEAH, OF COURSE. WHY WOULDN'T I? 1021 00:59:05,845 --> 00:59:09,015 >> Reporter: TO GET THEIR INSURANCE MONEY, ALEX SUGGESTED 1022 00:59:09,015 --> 00:59:12,152 THE BOYS HIRE CORY FLEMING AS THEIR ATTORNEY AND BRING A CLAIM 1023 00:59:12,152 --> 00:59:17,924 AGAINST ALEX HIMSELF BUT NO SETTLEMENT CAME 1024 00:59:17,924 --> 00:59:20,026 THREE YEARS WENT BY. >> AND I SAYS, YOU KNOW, 1025 00:59:20,026 --> 00:59:22,162 "SOMETHING'S FISHY ABOUT THIS THING. 1026 00:59:22,162 --> 00:59:25,832 AND I SAID, "I JUST DON'T THINK THESE BOYS ARE GONNA GET WHAT 1027 00:59:25,832 --> 00:59:28,468 THEY DESERVE." >> Reporter: IN JUNE 2021, ERIC 1028 00:59:28,468 --> 00:59:31,604 HAPPENED TO READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT PAUL AND MAGGIE'S MURDERS 1029 00:59:31,604 --> 00:59:36,876 THAT MENTIONED A SETTLEMENT IN GLORIA'S CASE FOR HALF A MILLION 1030 00:59:36,876 --> 00:59:41,614 DOLLARS. THAT WAS NEWS TO HIM 1031 00:59:41,614 --> 00:59:45,385 SO THE SATTERFIELDS HIRED NEW LAWYERS TO FIND OUT WHERE THE 1032 00:59:45,385 --> 00:59:49,055 MONEY WENT -- ERIC BLAND AND RONNIE RICHTER. 1033 00:59:49,055 --> 00:59:54,260 HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE FAMILY GET AFTER GLORIA DIED? 1034 00:59:54,260 --> 00:59:56,896 >> $0.0. >> Reporter: NOT A DIME? 1035 00:59:56,896 --> 00:59:59,532 >> NOT A DIME. >> Reporter: ERIC AND RONNIE 1036 00:59:59,532 --> 01:00:02,435 DECIDED TO SUE THE PARTIES THEY THOUGHT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR 1037 01:00:02,435 --> 01:00:06,339 WITHHOLDING THE MONEY -- CORY, ALEX AND A LOCAL BANKER. 1038 01:00:06,339 --> 01:00:10,043 THEY WERE STUNNED BY WHAT THEY FOUND. 1039 01:00:10,043 --> 01:00:12,645 >> WE WOULD GET LEADS TO SAY, "GUYS, IT'S NOT $505,000 1040 01:00:12,645 --> 01:00:15,281 IT'S MORE. IT'S-- IT'S $1 MILLION 1041 01:00:15,281 --> 01:00:17,917 IT'S TWO, IT'S FOUR. >> Reporter: AND INSTEAD OF 1042 01:00:17,917 --> 01:00:20,053 GIVING IT TO GLORIA'S FAMILY, ALEX AND HIS FRIENDS KEPT IT FOR 1043 01:00:20,053 --> 01:00:23,189 THEMSELVES >> I'M PEEVED. 1044 01:00:23,189 --> 01:00:25,792 I'M PISSED IT'S LIKE SHE WAS A NOBODY, AS 1045 01:00:25,792 --> 01:00:27,927 MUCH AS SHE'S DONE FOR THEM. >> Reporter: YOU FEEL LIKE THEY 1046 01:00:27,927 --> 01:00:30,063 TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BOYS >> I FEEL LIKE THEY TOOK 1047 01:00:30,063 --> 01:00:32,665 ADVANTAGE OF 'EM NOT ONLY THAT, ME TOO. 1048 01:00:32,665 --> 01:00:34,768 YOU KNOW >> ALL OF US 1049 01:00:34,768 --> 01:00:37,937 >> ALL OF US >> Reporter: ERIC AND RONNIE 1050 01:00:37,937 --> 01:00:40,073 TURNED THE EVIDENCE THEY'D COLLECTED OVER TO INVESTIGATORS. 1051 01:00:40,073 --> 01:00:44,811 THEIR CASE FILES ARE WHAT LED TO THAT SECOND ARREST 1052 01:00:44,811 --> 01:00:49,015 ALEX WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF OBTAINING PROPERTY BY FALSE 1053 01:00:49,015 --> 01:00:51,651 PRETENSES. AT ALEX'S BOND HEARING, ERIC 1054 01:00:51,651 --> 01:00:54,821 ADDRESSED THE COURT -- >> HE DOES NOT DESERVE BOND. 1055 01:00:54,821 --> 01:00:58,525 HE FORFEITED THAT RIGHT. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE DENIED 1056 01:00:58,525 --> 01:01:03,229 ALEX BOND AND ALSO ORDERED A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION 1057 01:01:03,229 --> 01:01:07,434 AND AS ALEX SAT IN JAIL, THE TROUBLE AROUND HIM GREW WORSE. 1058 01:01:07,434 --> 01:01:11,137 BECAUSE WHAT HE HAD ALLEGEDLY DONE TO THE SATTERFIELD FAMILY 1059 01:01:11,137 --> 01:01:15,375 WOULD SOON LOOK LIKE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG 1060 01:01:15,375 --> 01:01:18,078 >>> COMING UP -- >> MY SON WAS IN A COMA. 1061 01:01:18,078 --> 01:01:21,681 NEVER CAME OUTTA THE COMA. >> MORE FAMILIES 1062 01:01:21,681 --> 01:01:26,186 MORE HEARTBREAKING STORIES >> YOU'RE LOOKIN' AT OVER A 1063 01:01:26,186 --> 01:01:30,123 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AND TRACE 1064 01:01:30,123 --> 01:01:52,312 THIS IS HOW BRAZEN IT IS, AND >> Reporter: IN NOVEMBER 2021, 1065 01:01:52,312 --> 01:01:55,782 ALEX MURDAUGH WAS IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE -- JAIL, 1066 01:01:55,782 --> 01:02:00,553 CHARGED WITH STEALING MILLIONS FROM HIS HOUSEKEEPER'S FAMILY. 1067 01:02:00,553 --> 01:02:02,655 HE WAS ALSO FACING CHARGES IN THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SCHEME 1068 01:02:02,655 --> 01:02:05,892 IN RECORDED PHONE CALLS, YOU CAN HEAR HIM COMPLAINING TO FAMILY 1069 01:02:05,892 --> 01:02:09,229 AND FRIENDS ABOUT LIFE ON THE INSIDE 1070 01:02:09,229 --> 01:02:11,631 >> OH MY GOD YOU DON'T KNOW HOW BAD THIS FOOD 1071 01:02:11,631 --> 01:02:14,267 IS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. 1072 01:02:14,267 --> 01:02:16,369 HEY, YOU THINK HOSPITAL FOOD'S BAD? 1073 01:02:16,369 --> 01:02:19,539 I'M TELLING YOU NOW -- >> Reporter: TO FIGHT THE 1074 01:02:19,539 --> 01:02:24,277 BOREDOM, HE STARTED AN EXERCISE ROUTINE. 1075 01:02:24,277 --> 01:02:26,379 >> THEN I DO FIVE SETS OF 25 MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS LIKE 1-2-3, 1076 01:02:26,379 --> 01:02:29,549 1. 1-2-3, 2 1077 01:02:29,549 --> 01:02:33,753 1-2-3, 3 >> Reporter: AND HE WAS 1078 01:02:33,753 --> 01:02:37,457 DEVOURING BOOKS. >> I TOLD LIZZY. 1079 01:02:37,457 --> 01:02:39,926 ANY KIND OF GRISHAM OR JAMES PATTERSON, PAT CONROY. 1080 01:02:39,926 --> 01:02:43,797 ANYTHING ANYTHING TO KILL THE MONOTONY. 1081 01:02:43,797 --> 01:02:45,932 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, LOTS OF JOURNALISTS AND LOW COUNTRY 1082 01:02:45,932 --> 01:02:50,637 LAWYERS WONDERED IF THERE WERE MORE FAMILIES LIKE THE 1083 01:02:50,637 --> 01:02:52,739 SATTERFIELDS OUT THERE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY 1084 01:02:52,739 --> 01:02:55,375 JUSTIN BAMBERG WAS ONE OF SEVERAL LAWYERS WHO OFFERED 1085 01:02:55,375 --> 01:02:58,545 THEIR SERVICES TO ANYONE WHO THOUGHT ALEX HAD RIPPED THEM 1086 01:02:58,545 --> 01:03:02,215 OFF. >> THOSE OF US WHO KNOW BETTER 1087 01:03:02,215 --> 01:03:04,317 KNOW THAT NO ONE EVER STARTS OUT STEALING EVERYTHING. 1088 01:03:04,317 --> 01:03:07,053 YOUR KID DOESN'T START OUT BY WALKING IN AND TAKING THE WHOLE 1089 01:03:07,053 --> 01:03:09,589 COOKIE JAR OFF THE KITCHEN COUNTERTOP 1090 01:03:09,589 --> 01:03:13,793 THEY START WITH ONE COOKIE, AND SEE IF YOU SAY ANYTHING. 1091 01:03:13,793 --> 01:03:16,963 >> Reporter: AFTER GETTING CALLS FROM SEVERAL ALLEGED VICTIMS, 1092 01:03:16,963 --> 01:03:20,133 BAMBERG SAID HE STARTED TO SUSPECT ALEX HAD BEEN USING THE 1093 01:03:20,133 --> 01:03:23,303 SAME SCAM HE USED IN THE SATTERFIELD CASE TO SWINDLE 1094 01:03:23,303 --> 01:03:28,341 OTHER CLIENTS. AND THAT HE'D BEEN DOING IT FOR 1095 01:03:28,341 --> 01:03:33,079 YEARS. >> THINK THAT ALEX HAD BEEN 1096 01:03:33,079 --> 01:03:35,915 DOING THIS FOR AT LEAST TWO DECADES. 1097 01:03:35,915 --> 01:03:39,619 >> Reporter: BAMBERG SAYS THE VICTIMS ALEX CHOSE WERE PEOPLE 1098 01:03:39,619 --> 01:03:45,925 WHO'D HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, LIKE PAMELA PINCKNEY 1099 01:03:45,925 --> 01:03:50,196 IN 2009, SHE WAS IN A HORRIBLE CAR CRASH WITH HER SON, HAKEEM 1100 01:03:50,196 --> 01:03:52,265 WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT HAKEEM AS A CHILD? 1101 01:03:52,265 --> 01:03:55,435 >> HE WAS ALWAYS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. 1102 01:03:55,435 --> 01:03:59,639 HE ALWAYS MADE AN IMPACT WHEREVER HE GO 1103 01:03:59,639 --> 01:04:02,776 WHEN HE ENTER A ROOM IT'S, LIKE, HIS ENERGY WAS JUST A MAGNET FOR 1104 01:04:02,776 --> 01:04:05,412 EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: HAKEEM WAS ALSO 1105 01:04:05,412 --> 01:04:08,581 DEAF HE'D LOST HIS HEARING AT THE AGE 1106 01:04:08,581 --> 01:04:11,751 OF THREE BUT HIS MOM SAID HE NEVER LET 1107 01:04:11,751 --> 01:04:14,421 THAT SLOW HIM DOWN HE WAS A FOOTBALL STAR, TELL ME 1108 01:04:14,421 --> 01:04:18,058 ABOUT THAT >> HE WAS A DEFENSIVE END AND A 1109 01:04:18,058 --> 01:04:20,160 LINEBACKER HE PLAYED FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA 1110 01:04:20,160 --> 01:04:22,796 SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND HORNETS. 1111 01:04:22,796 --> 01:04:27,567 AND WHEN WE WENT TO HIS HOMECOMING GAME, THEY HAD HIM ON 1112 01:04:27,567 --> 01:04:31,738 THE FIELD THE WHOLE GAME >> Reporter: BUT IN THAT 1113 01:04:31,738 --> 01:04:37,077 2009 CRASH, HAKEEM WAS PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN 1114 01:04:37,077 --> 01:04:40,180 PAMELA WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL. >> THE VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING 1115 01:04:40,180 --> 01:04:43,850 AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM AROUND THE TIRE AND WE STARTED 1116 01:04:43,850 --> 01:04:46,486 FLIPPING NUMEROUS TIMES. HAKEEM GOT THROWN OUT ON HIS 1117 01:04:46,486 --> 01:04:51,758 HEAD, SO HE HAD A SPINAL CORD INJURY 1118 01:04:51,758 --> 01:04:53,860 >> Reporter: PAMELA HAD TO MOVE HIM TO A HOME WHERE HE COULD BE 1119 01:04:53,860 --> 01:04:58,598 ON A VENTILATOR. ENTER ALEX MURDAUGH. 1120 01:04:58,598 --> 01:05:00,700 >> HE SEEMED TO BE A REAL NICE GUY, VERY RESPECTFUL, VERY WELL- 1121 01:05:00,700 --> 01:05:03,303 MANNERED A GOOD TALKER, AND I WAS 1122 01:05:03,303 --> 01:05:05,405 IMPRESSED. >> Reporter: YOU TRUSTED HIM 1123 01:05:05,405 --> 01:05:08,575 >> YES, I TRUSTED HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY 1124 01:05:08,575 --> 01:05:11,745 >> Reporter: ALEX SAID HE WOULD REPRESENT HAKEEM IN A SUIT 1125 01:05:11,745 --> 01:05:17,117 AGAINST THE COMPANY WHO MADE THE TIRES ON PAMELA'S CAR. 1126 01:05:17,117 --> 01:05:20,687 BUT HE RECOMMENDED PAMELA USE A DIFFERENT ATTORNEY FOR HER OWN 1127 01:05:20,687 --> 01:05:25,959 SUIT YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAME. 1128 01:05:25,959 --> 01:05:29,662 >> MR. CORY FLEMING CAME INTO REPRESENT ME AS A DEFENDANT IN 1129 01:05:29,662 --> 01:05:35,402 THE CAR ACCIDENT >> Reporter: AND TO HANDLE THE 1130 01:05:35,402 --> 01:05:39,539 MONEY, ALEX LOOPED IN THE SAME BANKER HE'D USED IN OTHER CASES. 1131 01:05:39,539 --> 01:05:42,175 >> BY ENLISTING HIS BUDDIES, CORY FLEMING, REPRESENTING 1132 01:05:42,175 --> 01:05:44,811 MISS PINCKNEY PERSONALLY HE'S REPRESENTING HAKEEM 1133 01:05:44,811 --> 01:05:47,981 HE'S GOT RUSSELL LAFFITTE AS CONSERVATOR. 1134 01:05:47,981 --> 01:05:52,185 SO, HE'S ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE MONEY, WITH MR. LAFFITTE 1135 01:05:52,185 --> 01:05:54,287 PERSONALLY, HIS BUDDY. >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, THE 1136 01:05:54,287 --> 01:05:57,957 PINCKNEY CASE SETTLED FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. 1137 01:05:57,957 --> 01:06:02,195 ACCORDING TO JUSTIN, THEY DIDN'T GET IT ALL 1138 01:06:02,195 --> 01:06:06,900 >> AND $100,000 OF THESE PEOPLE'S MONEY GOES TO 1139 01:06:06,900 --> 01:06:11,137 MR. LAFFITTE'S DADDY $329,500 GOES TO ALEC'S DADDY. 1140 01:06:11,137 --> 01:06:15,842 $10,000 OF THIS MONEY GOES TO MAGGIE MURDAUGH. 1141 01:06:15,842 --> 01:06:20,747 SOME OF THIS MONEY WAS USED TO BOOK A PRIVATE PLANE TO FLY TO 1142 01:06:20,747 --> 01:06:24,818 THE -- THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA 1143 01:06:24,818 --> 01:06:28,488 >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO BAMBERG, ALEX WASN'T DONE WITH 1144 01:06:28,488 --> 01:06:31,658 THE PINCKNEYS YET. IN 2011, HAKEEM TRAGICALLY DIED 1145 01:06:31,658 --> 01:06:35,328 WHEN HIS VENTILATOR BECAME UNPLUGGED. 1146 01:06:35,328 --> 01:06:39,532 >> MY SON WAS IN A COMA HAVING SEIZURES BACK-TO-BACK. 1147 01:06:39,532 --> 01:06:44,671 NEVER CAME OUT OF THE COMA AND THEY SAID HE WAS CLINICALLY 1148 01:06:44,671 --> 01:06:47,440 BRAIN DEAD >> THIS IS HOW BRAZEN IT IS, AND 1149 01:06:47,440 --> 01:06:50,076 HOW FREAKING DISGUSTING. GUESS WHO REPRESENTED HAKEEM IN 1150 01:06:50,076 --> 01:06:51,644 THE NURSING HOME DEATH CASE, OVER THE VENTILATOR GETTING 1151 01:06:51,644 --> 01:06:54,247 UNPLUGGED? ALEX MURDAUGH. 1152 01:06:54,247 --> 01:06:57,650 >> Reporter: ALEX ALSO HELPED SETTLE THAT CASE 1153 01:06:57,650 --> 01:07:01,621 JUSTIN SAYS ALEX GAVE PAMELA PINCKNEY A PORTION OF THE 1154 01:07:01,621 --> 01:07:05,859 SETTLEMENT MONEY AND KEPT THE REST WITHOUT HER KNOWING IT. 1155 01:07:05,859 --> 01:07:10,563 >> YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'VE BEEN 1156 01:07:10,563 --> 01:07:12,665 ABLE TO FIND AND TRACE >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU THINK 1157 01:07:12,665 --> 01:07:14,768 THAT THE -- THE FACT THAT THIS IS A RURAL AREA, THIS IS A 1158 01:07:14,768 --> 01:07:18,471 LARGELY POOR AREA. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT FACTORED 1159 01:07:18,471 --> 01:07:24,778 INTO MURDAUGH'S CRIMES >> THESE WERE VERY BIG, 1160 01:07:24,778 --> 01:07:26,880 MILLION-DOLLAR CASES AND THE CLIENTS, ARE WALKING 1161 01:07:26,880 --> 01:07:31,751 INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. 1162 01:07:31,751 --> 01:07:34,287 YOU KNOW SO, NO ONE IS LOOKING AT -- THE 1163 01:07:34,287 --> 01:07:35,855 IDEA OF, "WELL, HOW MUCH DID ALEX TAKE? 1164 01:07:35,855 --> 01:07:37,957 BECAUSE WE'RE USED TO NOT REALLY GETTING ANYTHING HERE. 1165 01:07:37,957 --> 01:07:40,060 >> Reporter: BAMBERG HAS PRESENTED CLAIMS AGAINST ALEX 1166 01:07:40,060 --> 01:07:45,065 FOR STEALING FROM PAMELA PINCKNEY AND HER SON. 1167 01:07:45,065 --> 01:07:48,468 RUSS LAFFITTE, THE FORMER BANK EXECUTIVE, SETTLED A CLAIM IN 1168 01:07:48,468 --> 01:07:53,173 THE CASE LAFFITTE, CORY FLEMING AND ALEX 1169 01:07:53,173 --> 01:07:54,774 HAVE ALSO BEEN CHARGED BY A STATE GRAND JURY FOR FINANCIAL 1170 01:07:54,774 --> 01:07:58,445 CRIMES THAT INCLUDE THE PICKNEY CASE 1171 01:07:58,445 --> 01:08:01,081 FLEMING AND LAFFITTE ARE OUT ON BOND AND HAVE PLEADED NOT 1172 01:08:01,081 --> 01:08:04,751 GUILTY ALEX HAS YET TO COMMENT ON THE 1173 01:08:04,751 --> 01:08:07,921 CASE, OR ON OTHER FINANCIAL CASES IN WHICH CHARGES WERE 1174 01:08:07,921 --> 01:08:10,023 FILED. >> IN JANUARY 2022, THERE WAS 1175 01:08:10,023 --> 01:08:18,798 ANOTHER RAFT OF THESE INDICTMENTS. 1176 01:08:18,798 --> 01:08:24,371 AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT JUST KEPT ESCALATING TO, YOU KNOW, 1177 01:08:24,371 --> 01:08:27,040 $8.5 MILLION, $9 MILLION >> Reporter: WITH THIS ONSLAUGHT 1178 01:08:27,040 --> 01:08:29,075 OF CHARGES AND LAWSUITS, IT SEEMED THAT ALEX MURDAUGH HAD 1179 01:08:29,075 --> 01:08:31,177 FINALLY HIT ROCK BOTTOM. BUT EVEN WORSE NEWS WAS COMING 1180 01:08:31,177 --> 01:08:33,813 FOR HIM. A CLUE IN MAGGIE AND PAUL'S 1181 01:08:33,813 --> 01:08:36,449 MURDER CASE WAS ABOUT TO EMERGE. AND IT WAS A BOMBSHELL 1182 01:08:36,449 --> 01:08:39,085 >> HIS ALIBI REALLY COLLAPSED, IN SOME RESPECTS, WHEN WE 1183 01:08:39,085 --> 01:08:43,656 REALIZED, "OH, MY GOSH. THERE'S AN AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING OF THAT 1184 01:08:43,656 --> 01:08:45,892 NIGHT. >>> COMING UP -- 1185 01:08:45,892 --> 01:08:48,561 WHAT WOULD THAT RECORDING REVEAL 1186 01:08:48,561 --> 01:08:50,663 >> YOU COULD HEAR MAGGIE, AND PAUL, AND ALEX TALKING IN THE 1187 01:08:50,663 --> 01:08:53,433 BACKGROUND >> ALEX MURDAUGH, AT THE SCENE 1188 01:08:53,433 --> 01:09:13,086 OF THE CRIME >> HE HAD SO MANY SECRETS. 1189 01:09:13,086 --> 01:09:15,722 >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH'S REIGN OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA 1190 01:09:15,722 --> 01:09:20,460 LOW COUNTRY HAD COME CRASHING DOWN SPECTACULARLY 1191 01:09:20,460 --> 01:09:24,698 PERHAPS NO ONE UNDERSTOOD THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF HIS ALLEGED 1192 01:09:24,698 --> 01:09:28,835 BETRAYALS AS WELL AS THE COOK FAMILIES WHO HAVE KNOWN ALEX ALL 1193 01:09:28,835 --> 01:09:34,341 THEIR LIVES. YOU START TO READ THE ARTICLES 1194 01:09:34,341 --> 01:09:38,044 AND HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE BEIN' SWINDLED OUT 1195 01:09:38,044 --> 01:09:39,779 OF ALL THIS MONEY. WERE YOU SURPRISED 1196 01:09:39,779 --> 01:09:42,048 >> I WAS SHOCKED OVER ALL THAT, YES. 1197 01:09:42,048 --> 01:09:44,684 I NEVER WOULD'VE DREAMED THAT. THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT. 1198 01:09:44,684 --> 01:09:46,786 THEY HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALREADY. 1199 01:09:46,786 --> 01:09:50,256 >> Reporter: ANTHONY COOK WAS EQUALLY STUNNED BY THE 1200 01:09:50,256 --> 01:09:52,058 ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ALEX >> I HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR 1201 01:09:52,058 --> 01:09:56,262 MR. ALEX AND I LOST IT. 1202 01:09:56,262 --> 01:10:00,066 >> Reporter: CONNOR COOK'S FATHER MARTY COULDN'T GET PAST 1203 01:10:00,066 --> 01:10:04,037 HOW ALEX HAD SEEMINGLY BURNED EVEN LONGTIME FRIENDS. 1204 01:10:04,037 --> 01:10:06,806 THE TWO HAD GROWN UP TOGETHER, PLAYED ON THE SAME FOOTBALL 1205 01:10:06,806 --> 01:10:11,011 TEAMS. >> WE WERE FAIRLY GOOD FRIENDS 1206 01:10:11,011 --> 01:10:17,851 COMIN' UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHAT SHOCKED ME WAS THAT, 1207 01:10:17,851 --> 01:10:21,021 YOU KNOW, HE WOULD BE WILLING TO USE MY SON AS A SCAPEGOAT TO GET 1208 01:10:21,021 --> 01:10:25,725 HIS SON OUT OF SOMETHIN' THAT HIS SON ACTUALLY DID 1209 01:10:25,725 --> 01:10:28,895 YOU KNOW, THAT HURT, YOU KNOW. THOUGHT I HAD A LITTLE BETTER 1210 01:10:28,895 --> 01:10:33,633 STANDIN' WITH HIM THAN THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS 1211 01:10:33,633 --> 01:10:36,770 ANY STANDING WITH ALEX MURDAUGH. >> Reporter: ALEX'S ATTORNEYS 1212 01:10:36,770 --> 01:10:39,673 SAY THAT ALEX DID NOT TRY TO IMPLICATE CONNOR COOK AS THE 1213 01:10:39,673 --> 01:10:44,177 BOAT'S DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. 1214 01:10:44,177 --> 01:10:48,381 THEY POINT OUT THAT CONNOR TOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT HE DIDN'T KNOW 1215 01:10:48,381 --> 01:10:54,187 WHO WAS DRIVING. BUT IN A DEPOSITION, CONNOR SAID 1216 01:10:54,187 --> 01:10:56,823 ALEX TOLD HIM TO SAY THAT. AS THE SUMMER OF 2022 DAWNED, 1217 01:10:56,823 --> 01:11:01,061 MAGGIE AND PAUL'S MURDER CASE REMAINED UNSOLVED. 1218 01:11:01,061 --> 01:11:04,197 FROM HIS JAIL CELL, ALEX SPOKE TO HIS ELDEST SON BUSTER WHO WAS 1219 01:11:04,197 --> 01:11:06,800 STRUGGLING WITH ALL THE ATTENTION THE CASE HAD BROUGHT 1220 01:11:06,800 --> 01:11:09,069 THE FAMILY >> YOU HAVEN'T SOUNDED GOOD THE 1221 01:11:09,069 --> 01:11:13,106 LAST TWO TIMES I'VE TALKED TO YOU. 1222 01:11:13,106 --> 01:11:15,742 >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> I MEAN JUST SOUND LIKE YOU'RE 1223 01:11:15,742 --> 01:11:18,378 SORT OF DOWN OR -- >> YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE HONEST 1224 01:11:18,378 --> 01:11:21,081 WITH YOU THERE'S A LOT -- A LOT OF 1225 01:11:21,081 --> 01:11:25,218 NEGATIVE -- OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. >> HE'S LIKE, "WELL, DAD, THIS 1226 01:11:25,218 --> 01:11:28,888 IS -- THIS IS A BIG DEAL." AND ALEC HADN'T REALLY SEEMED TO 1227 01:11:28,888 --> 01:11:31,624 GIVE MUCH REFLECTION TO THAT, AND THAT'S REVEALING ABOUT A 1228 01:11:31,624 --> 01:11:35,729 PERSON >> Reporter: HE ALSO TALKED TO 1229 01:11:35,729 --> 01:11:39,966 HIS SISTER-IN-LAW LIZ ABOUT THE $7 MILLION BOND KEEPING HIM IN 1230 01:11:39,966 --> 01:11:43,603 JAIL >> IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO 1231 01:11:43,603 --> 01:11:47,307 HELP >> NO, NOTHING 1232 01:11:47,307 --> 01:11:49,943 NOTHING YOU CAN DO NOTHING MUCH AS I APPRECIATE IT. 1233 01:11:49,943 --> 01:11:52,112 YOU KNOW - >> 'CAUSE I JUST DON'T HAVE 1234 01:11:52,112 --> 01:11:54,647 $7 MILLION IN MY POCKET RIGHT NOW. 1235 01:11:54,647 --> 01:11:56,750 >> YEAH, YOU -- YOU CAN GRAB A CHECK. 1236 01:11:56,750 --> 01:12:00,420 YOU KNOW THIS THING ABOUT HOW RICH WE ARE AND HOW POWERFUL WE 1237 01:12:00,420 --> 01:12:05,191 ARE AND, I MEAN, TAKEN A LIFE OF ITS OWN. 1238 01:12:05,191 --> 01:12:10,463 I --I -- YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WISH IT WAS HALF TRUE. 1239 01:12:10,463 --> 01:12:15,702 >> Reporter: BY THIS POINT, ALEX'S LIFE SEEMED TO HAVE 1240 01:12:15,702 --> 01:12:19,906 CRATERED COMPLETELY. BUT THEN, IN EARLY JULY, NEWS 1241 01:12:19,906 --> 01:12:21,508 REPORTS SURFACED WITH INFORMATION THAT THREATENED TO 1242 01:12:21,508 --> 01:12:26,246 BLOW A HOLE IN HIS TIMELINE THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS 1243 01:12:26,246 --> 01:12:28,348 >> THERE WAS A RECORDING, A FILMING OF A DOG, A FRIEND'S DOG 1244 01:12:28,348 --> 01:12:31,484 AT THE KENNELS, AND YOU COULD HEAR MAGGIE AND PAUL AND ALEC 1245 01:12:31,484 --> 01:12:36,089 TALKING IN THE BACKGROUND, TALKING ABOUT THEIR OWN DOG AND 1246 01:12:36,089 --> 01:12:39,359 JOKING >> Reporter: REMEMBER, ALEX 1247 01:12:39,359 --> 01:12:42,495 INITIALLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE'D TAKEN A NAP BETWEEN 1248 01:12:42,495 --> 01:12:46,733 8:30 AND 9:00, THEN GONE TO SEE HIS MOTHER AND WASN'T HOME UNTIL 1249 01:12:46,733 --> 01:12:51,871 AROUND 10:00 BUT THIS VIDEO ALLEGEDLY PUT HIM 1250 01:12:51,871 --> 01:12:55,709 AT HOME, AWAKE, AND TALKING AT 8:44 P.M. 1251 01:12:55,709 --> 01:12:58,845 WITH HIS WIFE AND SON. COULD THIS BE THE BREAK IN THE 1252 01:12:58,845 --> 01:13:02,048 CASE INVESTIGATORS HAD BEEN WAITING FOR? 1253 01:13:02,048 --> 01:13:05,118 >> AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF SPECULATION AND QUESTIONS, 1254 01:13:05,118 --> 01:13:07,354 INVESTIGATORS APPEAR READY TO NAME ALEX MURDAUGH AS THE KILLER 1255 01:13:07,354 --> 01:13:10,924 OF HIS WIFE, MAGGIE, AND SON, PAUL 1256 01:13:10,924 --> 01:13:15,128 >> Reporter: ON JULY 14th, 2022, IT HAPPENED. 1257 01:13:15,128 --> 01:13:18,765 ALEX MURDAUGH WAS INDICTED FOR KILLING HIS WIFE AND SON 1258 01:13:18,765 --> 01:13:23,536 >> WHEN WE FINALLY SAW THE INDICTMENTS ON JULY 14th, THEY 1259 01:13:23,536 --> 01:13:27,741 REVEALED THAT PROSECUTORS WERE CHARGING ALEX AND ALEX ALONE IN 1260 01:13:27,741 --> 01:13:30,377 THE HOMICIDE OF -- OF MAGGIE AND PAUL AND THE USE OF A WEAPON, 1261 01:13:30,377 --> 01:13:32,479 MEANING HE -- HE PULLED THE TRIGGER HIMSELF IS WHAT THEY'RE 1262 01:13:32,479 --> 01:13:36,149 ALLEGING AND THEY CONFIRMED WHAT HAD BEEN 1263 01:13:36,149 --> 01:13:40,387 REPORTED -- THAT PAUL WAS SHOT WITH A SHOTGUN AND MAGGIE 1264 01:13:40,387 --> 01:13:44,591 WITH -- WITH A LONG GUN. >> Reporter: THE DETAILS WERE 1265 01:13:44,591 --> 01:13:47,761 SCARCE AND THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION 1266 01:13:47,761 --> 01:13:51,464 STILL UNANSWERED WHY? 1267 01:13:51,464 --> 01:13:54,100 >> THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE 1268 01:13:54,100 --> 01:13:57,203 HE HAD SO MANY SECRETS I MEAN, HUNDREDS IF NOT 1269 01:13:57,203 --> 01:14:01,374 THOUSANDS OF SECRET TRANSACTIONS, LIES 1270 01:14:01,374 --> 01:14:06,112 HE HAD SO MUCH TO HIDE >> Reporter: SECRETS THAT MAY 1271 01:14:06,112 --> 01:14:12,419 HAVE BEEN ABOUT SPILL AROUND THE TIME OF THE MURDERS. 1272 01:14:12,419 --> 01:14:15,055 REMEMBER, THE WEEK MAGGIE AND PAUL WERE KILLED, THE BEACH 1273 01:14:15,055 --> 01:14:17,190 FAMILY'S ATTORNEY WAS PUSHING ALEX TO TURN OVER HIS FINANCIAL 1274 01:14:17,190 --> 01:14:20,860 INFORMATION FOR THE BOAT CRASH LAWSUIT. 1275 01:14:20,860 --> 01:14:24,564 IN YOUR REPORTING, DID YOU DISCOVER WHETHER ALEX MURDAUGH 1276 01:14:24,564 --> 01:14:27,200 WAS AT ALL CONCERNED THAT THESE FINANCIAL SCHEMES WERE GOING TO 1277 01:14:27,200 --> 01:14:30,337 BE REVEALED AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT -- THAT PAUL AND MAGGIE 1278 01:14:30,337 --> 01:14:34,107 WERE SHOT? >> HE CERTAINLY KNEW, IN THE 1279 01:14:34,107 --> 01:14:38,278 WEEKS LEADING UP TO PAUL AND MAGGIE BEING SHOT, THAT THERE 1280 01:14:38,278 --> 01:14:43,083 WERE PEOPLE TAKING A SERIOUS, HARD LOOK AT HIS FINANCIALS FOR 1281 01:14:43,083 --> 01:14:46,686 THE FIRST TIME MAYBE EVER. >> Reporter: COULD THAT MOUNTING 1282 01:14:46,686 --> 01:14:50,890 PRESSURE HAVE LED TO MURDER? A BATTLE WAS COMING, AND IT 1283 01:14:50,890 --> 01:14:56,663 WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE VERY BUILDING WHERE GENERATIONS OF 1284 01:14:56,663 --> 01:15:00,333 MURDAUGHS HAD PRACTICED LAW WHERE A STATELY PORTRAIT OF HIS 1285 01:15:00,333 --> 01:15:05,038 OWN ANCESTOR ADORNED THE WALL. WAS ALEX READY 1286 01:15:05,038 --> 01:15:14,547 >> HOW SHALL YOU BE TRIED? >> BY GOD AND MY COUNTRY 1287 01:15:14,547 --> 01:15:17,684 >>> COMING UP -- >> WHAT SAY YOU, RICHARD 1288 01:15:17,684 --> 01:15:19,786 ALEX MURDAUGH? ARE YOU GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY 1289 01:15:19,786 --> 01:15:22,422 >> NOT GUILTY. >> A SURPRISE FROM THE DEFENSE 1290 01:15:22,422 --> 01:15:24,524 >> Reporter: THEY SEEMED TO BE CLAIMING THAT MAGGIE WAS HAVING 1291 01:15:24,524 --> 01:15:26,626 SOME SORT OF TORRID AFFAIR AND PERHAPS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WHY 1292 01:15:26,626 --> 01:15:33,633 SHE WAS SHOT TUESDAY STARTING AT 6:00 EASTERN 1293 01:15:33,633 --> 01:15:43,710 STREAMING FREE ON NBC "NEWS NOW," WHEREVER YOU STREAM LIVE 1294 01:15:43,710 --> 01:15:48,448 >> Reporter: IN JULY 2022, LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA SET UP CAMP 1295 01:15:48,448 --> 01:15:53,720 OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, ONCE AGAIN WAITING FOR ALEX MURDAUGH. 1296 01:15:53,720 --> 01:15:57,390 IT HAD BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE HIS WIFE, MAGGIE, AND SON, 1297 01:15:57,390 --> 01:16:03,163 PAUL, HAD BEEN SHOT TO DEATH NOW, HE WAS IN COURT, CHARGED 1298 01:16:03,163 --> 01:16:05,765 WITH THEIR KILLINGS. >> RICHARD ALEX MURDAUGH, IF 1299 01:16:05,765 --> 01:16:07,867 THAT IS YOUR NAME, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. 1300 01:16:07,867 --> 01:16:10,503 >> Reporter: WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE OR JUST THE 1301 01:16:10,503 --> 01:16:14,741 HEARING ITSELF >> WELL, CLEARLY, JAIL HAS TAKEN 1302 01:16:14,741 --> 01:16:18,945 ITS TOLL ON ALEX MURDAUGH. >> Reporter: JOE McCULLOCH 1303 01:16:18,945 --> 01:16:21,081 REPRESENTS CONNOR COOK JOE AND ALEX HAVE KNOWN EACH 1304 01:16:21,081 --> 01:16:25,819 OTHER SINCE ALEX'S EARLY DAYS AS AN ATTORNEY. 1305 01:16:25,819 --> 01:16:31,591 >> HE'S LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT HE WAS VERY QUIET, FRAIL, ALMOST 1306 01:16:31,591 --> 01:16:34,427 IN SOME RESPECTS >> BASED ON EVERYTHING 1307 01:16:34,427 --> 01:16:36,830 INVESTIGATORS HAVE TOLD US, WE KNOW HIM TO BE A DIFFERENT 1308 01:16:36,830 --> 01:16:38,965 PERSON THAN WE MIGHT'VE THOUGHT HE WAS IN SUMMER OF 2021 1309 01:16:38,965 --> 01:16:42,135 BUT HE ALSO LOOKED LIKE A VASTLY DIFFERENT PERSON 1310 01:16:42,135 --> 01:16:45,805 >> WHAT SAY YOU, RICHARD "ALEX" MURDAUGH, ARE YOU 1311 01:16:45,805 --> 01:16:47,874 GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY OF THE FELONIES IN WHICH YOU STAND 1312 01:16:47,874 --> 01:16:53,680 INDICTED >> NOT GUILTY. 1313 01:16:53,680 --> 01:16:55,849 >> Reporter: BUT THE MAIN REASON MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE, WAS TO 1314 01:16:55,849 --> 01:16:59,152 HEAR IF THE STATE WOULD REVEAL WHY ALEX HAD BEEN CHARGED. 1315 01:16:59,152 --> 01:17:01,554 >> AND I THINK A LOT OF US WERE CERTAINLY THINKING, "OKAY, IT'S 1316 01:17:01,554 --> 01:17:05,358 BEEN, YOU KNOW, 13 MONTHS. PROSECUTORS WILL GIVE US A SENSE 1317 01:17:05,358 --> 01:17:08,928 OF WHAT THEIR CASE IS HERE, AS WOULD BE TYPICAL." 1318 01:17:08,928 --> 01:17:14,234 >> Reporter: BUT PROSECUTORS DID NOT OFFER MUCH NEW EVIDENCE. 1319 01:17:14,234 --> 01:17:16,169 ALL THEY SAID, WAS THAT THE MOTIVE FOR THE MURDERS WAS TIED 1320 01:17:16,169 --> 01:17:21,041 TO ALEX'S ALLEGED FINANCIAL CRIMES 1321 01:17:21,041 --> 01:17:25,779 >> ALL OF THE 81 ALLEGATIONS OF WHITE COLLAR FRAUD AND OTHER 1322 01:17:25,779 --> 01:17:27,380 CRIMES, DRUGS AND THE -- THE LIKE, THAT'S BEEN GATHERED 1323 01:17:27,380 --> 01:17:30,517 AGAINST MR. MURDAUGH OVER THE COURSE OF THAT LONG 1324 01:17:30,517 --> 01:17:32,719 INVESTIGATION, A LOT OF THAT PROVIDES THE BACKGROUND AND THE 1325 01:17:32,719 --> 01:17:35,255 MOTIVE FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 7th, 2021. 1326 01:17:35,255 --> 01:17:38,958 >> Reporter: BUT THAT'S ALL WE GOT? 1327 01:17:38,958 --> 01:17:42,629 >> THAT'S ALL WE GOT >> Reporter: THAT STATEMENT LEFT 1328 01:17:42,629 --> 01:17:45,532 MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, AND A VACUUM FOR ALEX'S LAWYERS TO 1329 01:17:45,532 --> 01:17:48,935 FILL THE DEFENSE FILED MOTIONS 1330 01:17:48,935 --> 01:17:52,639 SUGGESTING THERE WAS A MORE PLAUSIBLE SUSPECT, POINTING THE 1331 01:17:52,639 --> 01:17:56,910 FINGER AT THE MAN ALEX SAID HE ONCE ASKED TO SHOOT HIM, 1332 01:17:56,910 --> 01:18:00,513 CURTIS SMITH IN THOSE FILINGS, ALEX'S LAWYERS 1333 01:18:00,513 --> 01:18:04,718 SAID SMITH FAILED A POLYGRAPH TEST OVER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 1334 01:18:04,718 --> 01:18:09,489 MURDERS. THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY, CURTIS 1335 01:18:09,489 --> 01:18:13,793 DENIED FAILING THE TEST. IN THAT SAME FILING, THE DEFENSE 1336 01:18:13,793 --> 01:18:17,897 ALSO FLOATED A BOMBSHELL THEORY THAT CURTIS HIMSELF GAVE 1337 01:18:17,897 --> 01:18:21,601 INVESTIGATORS. THEY SEEMED TO BE CLAIMING THAT 1338 01:18:21,601 --> 01:18:24,738 MAGGIE WAS HAVING SOME SORT OF TORRID AFFAIR WITH -- WITH 1339 01:18:24,738 --> 01:18:28,942 SOMEONE WHO WORKED THERE ON THE PROPERTY, AND PERHAPS THAT COULD 1340 01:18:28,942 --> 01:18:32,112 HAVE BEEN WHY SHE WAS SHOT >> THE INCLUSION OF THIS -- THIS 1341 01:18:32,112 --> 01:18:34,748 ALLEGATION BY CURTIS SMITH, THAT MAYBE SHE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR 1342 01:18:34,748 --> 01:18:37,384 WITH THE GROUNDSKEEPER, REALLY ANGERED THE PROSECUTORS. 1343 01:18:37,384 --> 01:18:41,054 THEY SAID IT WAS INSULTING TO HER MEMORY 1344 01:18:41,054 --> 01:18:44,224 >> Reporter: SO, THE NEXT TIME THE TWO SIDES MET IN COURT, THE 1345 01:18:44,224 --> 01:18:48,428 PROSECUTION CAME OUT SWINGING. >> THERE IS A VIDEO THAT SHOWS 1346 01:18:48,428 --> 01:18:53,733 ALEX PRESENT AT THE SCENE, DESPITE HIS DENIALS, WITH MAGGIE 1347 01:18:53,733 --> 01:18:59,472 AND PAUL AT 8:44 P.M., NOT LONG BEFORE THEIR PHONE CEASED ANY 1348 01:18:59,472 --> 01:19:02,108 MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY. >> Reporter: THAT WAS MORE THAN 1349 01:19:02,108 --> 01:19:04,244 AN HOUR BEFORE ALEX MADE THAT INFAMOUS 911 CALL. 1350 01:19:04,244 --> 01:19:13,720 >> MY WIFE AND CHILD HAVE BEEN SHOT BADLY 1351 01:19:13,720 --> 01:19:15,288 >> Reporter: IN COURT FILINGS THIS WEEK, PROSECUTORS SAID THEY 1352 01:19:15,288 --> 01:19:18,925 INTEND TO PROVE THAT ALEX COMMITTED THE MURDERS SOMETIME 1353 01:19:18,925 --> 01:19:21,594 BETWEEN 8:30 AND 10:06 THAT NIGHT. 1354 01:19:21,594 --> 01:19:25,298 THE BATTLE ROYALE WILL CONTINUE THIS JANUARY WHEN THE MURDER 1355 01:19:25,298 --> 01:19:29,469 TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO START. A COURTROOM DRAMA THAT'S SURE TO 1356 01:19:29,469 --> 01:19:33,139 CAPTURE ATTENTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND CLOSE TO HOME, 1357 01:19:33,139 --> 01:19:41,581 WHERE MANY IN THE STATE ARE FIXATED ON THE SPECTACLE OF A 1358 01:19:41,581 --> 01:19:43,283 DYNASTY SEEMINGLY ABOUT TO FALL. IN THE DOUBLE MURDER CASE, WHAT 1359 01:19:43,283 --> 01:19:45,919 DO YOU EXPECT WE'LL SEE IN THAT COURTROOM? 1360 01:19:45,919 --> 01:19:51,057 >> I THINK FROM THE DEFENSE WE'LL SEE A VERY AGGRESSIVE, 1361 01:19:51,057 --> 01:19:53,693 BOUNDARY-PUSHING DEFENSE THE LEAD PROSECUTOR IS -- IS 1362 01:19:53,693 --> 01:19:55,795 VERY STRAIGHT-LACED. HE'S VERY -- HE'S -- DESCRIBES 1363 01:19:55,795 --> 01:19:59,466 HIMSELF AS VERY BY THE BOOK. SO, I THINK WE'LL SEE KIND OF 1364 01:19:59,466 --> 01:20:03,670 THIS LAYING OUT OF A METHODICAL CASE ON THE PART OF THE 1365 01:20:03,670 --> 01:20:07,874 PROSECUTION AND THEN POKE -- TRYING TO POKE HOLES EVERY WHICH 1366 01:20:07,874 --> 01:20:09,576 WAY FROM -- FROM THE DEFENSE >> Reporter: ALEX'S MURDER TRIAL 1367 01:20:09,576 --> 01:20:13,146 WON'T BE HIS ONLY COURT APPEARANCE NEXT YEAR 1368 01:20:13,146 --> 01:20:18,952 MALLORY BEACH'S FAMILY'S WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT IS ALSO 1369 01:20:18,952 --> 01:20:23,156 SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY. WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR YOU TO -- 1370 01:20:23,156 --> 01:20:26,292 TO GET A VERDICT AGAINST ALEX MURDAUGH IN -- IN THE 1371 01:20:26,292 --> 01:20:28,428 WRONGFUL DEATH CASE? >> WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME, OR WHAT 1372 01:20:28,428 --> 01:20:30,530 DOES IT MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAMPTON COUNTY 1373 01:20:30,530 --> 01:20:33,166 YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE -- THEY'RE SORT OF 1374 01:20:33,166 --> 01:20:36,836 TOILING AND LIVING UNDER A PRETTY BIG CLOUD OF 1375 01:20:36,836 --> 01:20:38,972 ALEX MURDAUGH RIGHT NOW. SO, I MEAN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN 1376 01:20:38,972 --> 01:20:43,176 FOR THEM I THINK IT MEANS A LOT TO A 1377 01:20:43,176 --> 01:20:49,015 LOTTA PEOPLE IT'LL BE A HEALING EXPERIENCE 1378 01:20:49,015 --> 01:20:51,618 FOR THE -- FOR THE BEACH FAMILY. >> Reporter: ALEX'S FORMER LAW 1379 01:20:51,618 --> 01:20:56,322 COLLEAGUES HAVE FORMED A NEW PARTNERSHIP UNDER A NEW NAME, 1380 01:20:56,322 --> 01:21:00,093 THE PARKER LAW GROUP THEY'VE ALSO BEEN PAYING BACK 1381 01:21:00,093 --> 01:21:05,432 STOLEN FUNDS RELATED TO ALEX'S CASES IN THE WAKE OF HIS ALLEGED 1382 01:21:05,432 --> 01:21:07,901 CRIMES OF COURSE, BEHIND THE LEGAL 1383 01:21:07,901 --> 01:21:14,207 MINUTIAE OF HEARINGS AND FILINGS, ARE THE VICTIMS 1384 01:21:14,207 --> 01:21:16,843 IN THE SPRING, ALEX MURDAUGH ADMITTED HE STOLE $4.3 MILLION 1385 01:21:16,843 --> 01:21:21,581 FROM GLORIA SATTERFIELD'S FAMILY, WHO HOPE TO EVENTUALLY 1386 01:21:21,581 --> 01:21:26,319 RECOVER SOME OF THOSE FUNDS. ACCORDING TO THEIR ATTORNEYS, 1387 01:21:26,319 --> 01:21:29,989 THE SATTERFIELDS HAVE RECOVERED IN EXCESS OF $7.5 MILLION FROM 1388 01:21:29,989 --> 01:21:46,906 OTHER PARTIES IN THEIR CASE, WHICH THEY DECIDED TO SHARE. 1389 01:21:46,906 --> 01:21:50,110 >> WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO SHARE THE PROFITS, SHARE 1390 01:21:50,110 --> 01:21:52,145 EVERYTHING WHAT WE GOT WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT WAS JUST LIKE 1391 01:21:52,145 --> 01:21:54,781 GLORIA'S STRUGGLE, WORKED HARD BUT STRUGGLED THROUGH HER LIFE 1392 01:21:54,781 --> 01:21:56,883 TO PROVIDE >> Reporter: THEY'VE DECIDED TO 1393 01:21:56,883 --> 01:21:58,985 USE THE MONEY TO START A CHARITY THAT WILL HELP HAMPTON COUNTY 1394 01:21:58,985 --> 01:22:01,621 FAMILIES GET PRESENTS AT THE HOLIDAYS 1395 01:22:01,621 --> 01:22:04,257 GINGER SAYS THE CHARITY, "GLORIA'S GIFT," IS A 1396 01:22:04,257 --> 01:22:07,394 REPRESENTATION OF HER SISTER, AND A CHANCE TO FIND LIGHT IN 1397 01:22:07,394 --> 01:22:10,063 WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY DARK JOURNEY. 1398 01:22:10,063 --> 01:22:12,132 >> WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING POSITIVE, OUT OF THIS 1399 01:22:12,132 --> 01:22:14,234 ENTIRE SAGA THAT HAS B -- HAD SO MUCH NEGATIVITY. 1400 01:22:14,234 --> 01:22:18,972 GLORIA WAS A SISTER TO US, SHE WAS A DAUGHTER, SHE WAS A 1401 01:22:18,972 --> 01:22:25,812 MOTHER, AND SHE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS FULL OF LOVE 1402 01:22:25,812 --> 01:22:28,515 >> Reporter: PAUL AND MAGGIE MURDAUGH ARE BURIED IN 1403 01:22:28,515 --> 01:22:31,618 HAMPTON CEMETERY, A FEW FEET AWAY FROM MANY MURDAUGHS WHO 1404 01:22:31,618 --> 01:22:35,288 CAME BEFORE THEM PAMELA PINCKNEY STILL MOURNS HER 1405 01:22:35,288 --> 01:22:41,094 SON HAKEEM HER CLAIM AGAINST ALEX IS STILL 1406 01:22:41,094 --> 01:22:45,832 PENDING. AND THEN THERE IS MALLORY BEACH. 1407 01:22:45,832 --> 01:22:50,003 >> THERE ARE A LOT OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, THAT LOOK AT MALLORY 1408 01:22:50,003 --> 01:22:54,741 AS THOUGH SHE WAS AN ANGEL AND THE REASON I SAY THAT, IS 1409 01:22:54,741 --> 01:22:58,411 WITHOUT THAT BOAT CRASH, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS COMES TO 1410 01:22:58,411 --> 01:23:01,081 LIGHT. >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED THAT 1411 01:23:01,081 --> 01:23:06,853 NIGHT ON ARCHER'S CREEK STILL HAUNTS ANTHONY COOK. 1412 01:23:06,853 --> 01:23:12,125 BUT HE IS BUOYED BY MALLORY'S MEMORY, THAT VIBRANT GIRL HE 1413 01:23:12,125 --> 01:23:19,499 ONCE HOPED TO MARRY, AND WHO, EVEN NOW, CAN MAKE HIM SMILE 1414 01:23:19,499 --> 01:23:23,203 >> THE TATTOO THAT I HAVE IS -- IT'S A HEART WITH ANGEL WINGS ON 1415 01:23:23,203 --> 01:23:27,440 THE SIDES OF THE HEART, WITH MAL'S NAME IN THE MIDDLE OF IT 1416 01:23:27,440 --> 01:23:33,646 AND OVER THE TOP, IT SAYS, "ALWAYS ON MY MIND 1417 01:23:33,646 --> 01:23:35,849 FOREVER IN MY HEART. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION 1418 01:23:35,849 --> 01:23:39,519 OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY 1419 01:23:39,519 --> 01:23:41,588 AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU 1420 01:23:41,588 --> 01:23:43,690 EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 1421 01:23:43,690 --> 01:23:47,927 I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,