>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH I NEED THE POLICE AND AN
AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY! MY WIFE AND SON HAVE BEEN SHOT,
BADLY. >> THE MURDER OF MAGGIE AND
PAUL - THE NIGHT THAT IT HAPPENED, I
HAD A FEELING. >> Reporter: YOU THINK HE DID
IT >> NO QUESTION
* >> EXPLOSIVE NEW DETAILS IN THE
STORY THAT STUNNED THE COUNTRY >> THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON
UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE >> HIS WORLD WAS UNRAVELING FROM
THE BOAT CRASH >> IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS.
"WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY.
HE WAS DEVASTATED. >> IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW FAST
LIFE CAN END >> WITHOUT THE BOAT CRASH, NO
ONE BEGINS TO LOOK INTO THE FINANCES
>> Reporter: THE STORIES ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE BEIN' SWINDLED
OUTTA ALL THIS MONEY - >> I NEVER SAW THAT COMING
>> THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.
HE HAD SO MANY SECRETS >> BETRAYAL, THEFT, INTRIGUE
* IT HAS ALL THE DEADLY SINS
>> A FAMILY DYNASTY. A DOUBLE MURDER.
AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MISSING. GET READY FOR A MIND-BENDER OF A
SOUTHERN MYSTERY I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS
"DATELINE. HERE'S CRAIG MELVIN WITH "DARK
* *
HERE'S CRAIG MELVIN WITH "DARK WATERS."
>> Reporter: THIS IS "THE LOW COUNTRY.
* A REMOTE AND WATERY CORNER OF
SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE SPANISH MOSS HANGS FROM THE OLD OAKS
THAT LINE THE STREETS. WHERE FAMILIES TRACE THEIR
LINEAGE BACK GENERATIONS AND WHERE A CERTAIN FAMILY --
THE MURDAUGHS -- HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP IN A NIGHTMARE THAT SEEMS TO
HAVE NO END. >> NOW TO OVERNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA CASE THAT FRANKLY JUST GETS MORE BIZARRE
BY THE DAY >> THAT SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYER
WHO ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO STAGE HIS OWN MURDER WAS ARRESTED TODAY ON
CHARGES RELATED TO THE SCHEME. >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH WAS
ONCE A PARTNER IN THE FAMILY'S CENTURY-OLD LAW FIRM
HE WAS RICH, SUCCESSFUL, POWERFUL, AND KNOWN TO EVERYONE
IN THE LOW COUNTRY AND THEN IN JUNE OF 2021, HE
DIALED 911 >> I NEED THE POLICE AND AN
AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY. MY WIFE AND CHILD HAVE BEEN SHOT
BADLY. >> Reporter: NOW ALEX MURDAUGH
IS KNOWN ACROSS AMERICA, EVEN THE WORLD, THANKS TO MORE THAN A
YEAR OF COVERAGE THAT SOUNDS LESS LIKE A CRIME STORY AND MORE
LIKE A SOUTHERN GOTHIC TALE OF TRUST AND BETRAYAL
>> IT'S FROM FAULKNER. IT'S FROM SHAKESPEARE.
IT'S FROM GRISHAM. AND I THINK IT REALLY IS SOME
ELEMENT OF ALL THREE >> Reporter: TONIGHT, WE WILL
CUT THROUGH THE HEADLINES WITH NEW INTERVIEWS FROM THOSE
CLOSEST TO THE TRAGEDIES, AND SCANDALS SURROUNDING
ALEX MURDAUGH. >> GOOD LAWYERS DON'T STEAL
THEIR CLIENTS' MONEY GOOD LAWYERS DON'T BETRAY
PEOPLE'S TRUST GOOD LAWYERS DON'T WATCH YOU
BURY YOUR SON AND THEN STEAL YOUR SON'S MONEY
>> HE PAINTED A PRETTY PICTURE IN FRONT OF MY PRESENCE.
BUT BEHIND MY BACK, IT WAS OTHERWISE.
>> Reporter: SO EVERYONE'S ALWAYS KNOWN THAT HE'S NOT WHO
HE PRETENDED TO BE >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: AND NOW THE WORLD KNOWS.
>> NOW THE WORLD KNOWS *
>> Reporter: THIS STORY REALLY STARTS ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO,
LONG BEFORE ALEX MURDAUGH BECAME A NAME KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.
IT WAS FEBRUARY 23, 2019 - >> MILEY AND CONNOR LEFT THE
HOUSE. >> Reporter: CHRISTINE COOK'S
SON CONNOR AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE ON THEIR WAY TO A LOCAL
OYSTER ROAST CONNOR'S COUSIN ANTHONY, AND HIS
GIRLFRIEND MALLORY BEACH WERE GOING TO MEET THEM
ANTHONY'S MOM, BEVERLY COOK. >> I REMEMBER THEM COMIN' HOME
AND SAYING THAT THEY WERE PACKIN' A BAG AND GOIN' TO
PAUL'S RIVER HOUSE >> Reporter: PAUL MURDAUGH WAS
ALEX MURDAUGH'S SON. HIS FAMILY'S RIVERFRONT PROPERTY
WAS A POPULAR SPOT FOR SOCIALIZING, DATING BACK
DECADES. ANTHONY'S DAD KEITH HAD BEEN
THERE TOO. >> THEY CALLED IT THE ISLAND
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE WAY OUT OFF THE COAST ISLAND, BUT IT'S
INTERCOASTAL ISLAND. IT'S GOT A COUPLE HOUSES -- BOAT
HOUSE, DOCKS >> Reporter: THEY WERE ALL
THEIRS >> OH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: THE TWO COUPLES, PLUS PAUL AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
PLANNED TO TAKE THE MURDAUGH FAMILY BOAT TO THE OYSTER ROAST
THAT NIGHT BUT THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND THE
WINTER SUN SET QUICKLY, WHICH CONCERNED CONNOR'S MOM
>> THE LAST THING I SAID TO THEM, I SAID, "Y'ALL, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT TO BE OUT IN A BOAT.
CONNOR WAS, LIKE, "MOM, WE GOT IT," AND THAT THEY WOULD CHECK
THE WEATHER BEFORE THEY LEFT >> Reporter: HER WORDS WERE
SADLY PROPHETIC. BECAUSE JUST HOURS LATER -
>> 911 WHERE'S YOUR EMERGENCY
>> WE'RE IN A BOAT CRASH ON ARCHER'S CREEK
>> Reporter: THE CALL CAME IN JUST BEFORE 2:30 A.M
CONNOR COOK WAS ON THE LINE. >> THERE'S -- THERE'S SIX OF US
AND ONE IS MISSING >> MALLORY
>> PLEASE SEND SOMEONE >> UH, NO, I'M COMING -- WE'RE
COMING WE'RE COMING, OKAY
>> Reporter: FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED TO A CHAOTIC SCENE
THE BOAT HAD CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE
SEVERAL PASSENGERS WERE INJURED, AND 19-YEAR-OLD MALLORY BEACH
WAS LOST SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK WATER.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
>> CONNOR CALLED HE SAID, "DADDY, WE'VE BEEN IN
AN ACCIDENT IN ARCHER'S CREEK, AND WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY.
>> Reporter: CONNOR HAD CALLED FROM AN AMBULANCE ON HIS WAY TO
THE HOSPITAL HIS COUSIN, ANTHONY -- MALLORY'S
BOYFRIEND -- WAS STILL AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT WHEN HE
CALLED HOME. HE'S OFF CAMERA HERE, BUT HIS
DESPERATE CALL WAS RECORDED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT VIDEO.
>> MOM, Y'ALL NEED TO COME TO BEAUFORT QUICK
>> HE WAS DEVASTATED, AND HE JUST KEPT SAYIN', "WE CAN'T FIND
MALLORY. WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, AS CONNOR'S PARENTS RACED TO THE
HOSPITAL, SOMEONE ELSE WAS EAGER TO TALK.
>> MY PHONE KEPT BLOWIN' UP. >> RING-RINGIN'.
>> Reporter: IT WAS PAUL'S FATHER, ALEX MURDAUGH, ON THE
LINE >> ALEX CALLING ME
GOIN' ON AND ON ABOUT AN ACCIDENT, AND THE GIRL WAS
MISSIN'. AND "CONNOR WAS DRIVIN' THE
BOAT." >> Reporter: HE TOLD YOU "CONNOR
WAS DRIVING" >> YES, HE DID
>> Reporter: A TEENAGER WAS MISSING, AND OTHERS WERE HEADING
FOR THE HOSPITAL BUT CONNOR'S PARENTS SAY ALEX
WAS FOCUSED ON WHO WAS DRIVING HIS BOAT THAT NIGHT, THE BOAT
HIS SON PAUL OFTEN DROVE >> MULTIPLE TIMES HE CALLED
TELLIN' -- >> Reporter: TO CHECK ON YOU, TO
CHECK ON CONNOR -- >> NO, HELL NO
TO TRYIN' TO GET THIS SCHEME GOIN'.
TO TELLIN' US ABOUT HOW HE - >> TO CONVINCE US THAT OUR SON
WAS DRIVIN' THE BOAT - AND IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR HIM
TO GET CONNOR OUT OF TROUBLE THAN HIS SON
>> Reporter: TROUBLE, PROTECTION, PROMISES
THOSE WORDS SEEMED TO COME OUT OF ALEX MURDAUGH'S MOUTH RATHER
EASILY BUT ON THAT COLD, CHAOTIC NIGHT,
DID HE HAVE ANY IDEA THAT THIS NIGHTMARE WAS ONLY JUST
BEGINNING? >>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- THE
ACCIDENT ON ARCHER'S CREEK >> HE WAS LIKE, "Y'ALL AIN'T
GONNA TELL ME I CAN'T DRIVE THE BOAT
I KNOW I'M FINE TO DRIVE THE BOAT."
>> ANTHONY COOK TELLS HIS STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME
>> I GRABBED MALLORY AND PULLED HER DOWN NEAR INTO MY LAP.
I WOKE UP IN THE WATER, JUST THAT FAST.
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT CALL EVERY PARENT
DREADS CONNOR COOK TOLD HIS PARENTS
THAT HE AND FIVE OF HIS FRIENDS HAD BEEN IN A TERRIBLE BOATING
ACCIDENT AND SEVERAL OF THEM, INCLUDING HIM, HAD BEEN RUSHED
TO THE HOSPITAL. PLUS 19-YEAR-OLD MALLORY BEACH
WAS MISSING. WHAT'D YOU SAY
>> I SAID, "OH, LORD." THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID
"OH, LORD. >> Reporter: WHEN CHRISTINE AND
MARTY COOK ARRIVED, ATTORNEY ALEX MURDAUGH WAS WAITING FOR
THEM HIS SON PAUL WAS HOSPITALIZED
TOO. >> ALEX IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO US
TIME WE GOT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS, "Y'ALL CALM DOWN
BETWEEN ALL THE JUDGES AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, LET'S
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THIS." YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL LIKE,
"WHAT -- LET -- LET ME TALK TO MY SON."
>> Reporter: ALEX HAD ALREADY BEEN AT THE HOSPITAL FOR A
WHILE. >> SEVERAL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT WERE AT THE HOSPITAL THAT NIGHT HAVE SAID ALEX WAS GOING
ROOM TO ROOM >> Reporter: VALERIE BAUERLEIN
IS A NATIONAL REPORTER FOR "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
>> HE WAS KIND OF TRYING TO TALK TO THE KIDS, GET 'EM ALL ON THE
SAME PAGE. "I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU."
>> Reporter: THE COOKS WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT ALEX
THEY WERE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE CONNOR WAS OKAY.
THEY FOUND HIM IN HIS ROOM, SHAKEN UP, WITH A BROKEN JAW
>> CONNOR WAS VERY EMOTIONAL THE FIRST THING -- HE'S LIKE,
"HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANYBODY? HAVE THEY FOUND MALLORY?
HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE
>> Reporter: NEITHER DID CONNOR'S COUSIN, ANTHONY, WHO
WAS STILL ON THE RIVERBANK, FRANTICALLY LOOKING FOR HIS
GIRLFRIEND >> MOM, THERE'S 50 COPS HERE
COAST GUARD. EVERYTHING
WE CAN'T FIND MALLORY. >> Reporter: ANTHONY AND MALLORY
HAD BOTH BEEN THROWN FROM THE BOAT
EVENTUALLY ANTHONY MANAGED TO SWIM TO SHORE.
AS HIS PARENTS ARRIVED, HE WAS STILL TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER
WHAT HAPPENED. >> WHENEVER I WALKED UP ON THE
BANK, MILEY CAME RUNNING OVER TO ME AND SAID, "WHERE'S MALLORY?
>> Reporter: ANTHONY AND MALLORY HAD BEEN PRACTICALLY INSEPARABLE
FROM THE TIME THEY WERE CHILDREN
WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF MALLORY AND ANTHONY TOGETHER
>> WELL, PLAYIN' TOGETHER AT SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AND EVEN FROM WHEN THEY WERE REALLY LITTLE, SHE LOOKED AT HIM
WITH THIS INFATUATION. >> Reporter: ANTHONY'S PARENTS
GREW UP IN TINY HAMPTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
DO YOU EAT ALL THIS OR DO YOU ACTUALLY GIVE IT AWAY?
>> YEAH, WE EAT -- I MEAN, WE SHARE WITH FAMILY, BUT WE EAT
IT >> Reporter: IT WAS A MAYBERRY
KIND OF PLACE WITH LOTS OF LAND TO ROAM.
>> WE MOVED HERE WHEN I WAS AROUND 11, 10.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWIN' UP OUT HERE?
>> MY DREAM. ALL I DID EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE
WAS WALK OUT THE DOOR AND GO SQUIRREL HUNTING OR DEER HUNTING
IF IT WAS DEER SEASON. IT DIDN'T MATTER
>> Reporter: AS THEY GOT OLDER, MALLORY AND ANTHONY REALIZED
THEY WERE MORE THAN JUST CHILDHOOD PALS
>> ABOUT THE TIME SHE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WAS PROBABLY
WHENEVER WE STARTED FIGURING OUT IT WAS A LOT MORE FEELINGS THERE
THAN JUST FRIENDS. >> Reporter: ON NEW YEARS EVE
2018, ANTHONY MADE THINGS OFFICIAL
HE ASKED MALLORY TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND
>> I LOVED HER FOR A LONG TIME, YEARS.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE -- WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
MARRIED? >> YES, SIR.
WHEN I ASKED HER TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND, THAT WAS ME KNOWING
I WAS GONNA MARRY HER. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT
HER THAT -- THAT MADE HER SO SPECIAL?
>> ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS LOOK AT ME TO MAKE -- TO MAKE ME SMILE
JUST OUTGOING, LOVED EVERYBODY SHE HAD TWO PERSONALITIES.
SHE COULD BE A GIRL, AND SHE COULD BE MY BEST FRIEND.
WE COULD GO FISHING' WE COULD GO HUNTIN'.
I HAD A CO-CAPTAIN >> Reporter: SHE COULD KEEP UP
WITH YOU >> RIGHT
SHE MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL ALL THE TIME
>> Reporter: ANTHONY ALSO GREW UP WITH PAUL MURDAUGH.
WHAT -- WHAT WAS HE LIKE GROWING UP
>> PAUL WAS A LITTLE WILDER THAN -- THAN MOST.
BUT HE WAS ALSO A REALLY GOOD FRIEND
HE HAD A GREAT HEART >> Reporter: SO NO ONE THOUGHT
TWICE OF RIDING WITH PAUL IN THE MURDAUGH'S BOAT THAT FEBRUARY
NIGHT IN 2019. BUT THEN THE DRINKING BEGAN,
EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THEM WERE UNDER 21
PAUL USED HIS OLDER BROTHER BUSTER'S I.D. TO BUY ALCOHOL AT
A LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE. CONNOR'S GIRLFRIEND BOUGHT
ALCOHOL THERE TOO. ANTHONY AND MALLORY BROUGHT
THEIR OWN. THE GROUP DRANK STEADILY AT THE
OYSTER ROAST ANTHONY KNEW THIS WAS NOT AN
IDEAL FORECAST FOR A BOAT RIDE BACK HOME.
HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS THE FIRST TIME ANY OF
THE FRIENDS FROM THE BOAT CRASH HAVE SPOKEN ON NETWORK
TELEVISION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT
>> I MENTIONED TWO OR THREE TIMES, YOU KNOW, "WE -- WE
DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE BOAT.
WE COULD GET SOMEBODY TO TAKE US BACK."
>> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS PAUL WAS INSISTENT ON DRIVING
EVERYONE HOME, EVEN THOUGH HE SEEMED TO BE INTOXICATED
>> I KIND OF THINK PAUL'S PRIDE GOT TO HIM
YOU KNOW AND HE WAS LIKE, "Y'ALL AIN'T
GONNA TELL ME I CAN'T DRIVE THE BOAT
I KNOW I'M FINE WITH DRIVING THE BOAT
THIS IS MY BOAT, AND I'M TAKING IT BACK TO MY HOUSE.
WELL, THEN MALLORY WAS LIKE, "WELL, I DON'T WANT THEM GOING
WITHOUT US." YOU KNOW
IT WAS KIND OF A SCARY FEELING >> Reporter: THE GROUP PILED
BACK IN THE BOAT BUT THEN PAUL ANNOUNCED HE
WANTED TO STOP AT A WATERFRONT BAR NEARBY
>> I WAS LIKE, "COME ON, LET'S GO TO THE HOUSE.
IT'S ALREADY LATE. >> Reporter: SECURITY CAMERA
FOOTAGE SHOWS THE GROUP STOPPING AT THE WATERFRONT.
PAUL AND CONNOR HEADED INSIDE THE BAR WHERE THEY EACH TOOK TWO
SHOTS. THE REST OF THE GROUP WAITED
OUTSIDE. 30 MINUTES LATER, THEY HEADED
BACK TO THE BOAT RIGHT THERE, THAT'S
PAUL MURDAUGH IN THE GREEN AND ORANGE SWEATER
>> WHEN THEY CAME BACK OUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, "WELL, WHAT ARE WE
DOING HERE," YOU KNOW? I WAS MAD WITH MY COUSIN AND
PAUL I WAS MAD WITH BOTH OF 'EM
AND I WAS ARGUING WITH BOTH OF 'EM.
SO WE GOT BACK ON THE BOAT >> Reporter: WHEN THEY LEFT THE
DOCK, ANTHONY SAYS PAUL STARTED BEHAVING ERRATICALLY
>> WHEN HE GETS VERY INTOXICATED, FOR SOME REASON HE
DOESN'T LIKE TO HAVE CLOTHES ON. HE WOULD STRIP DOWN INTO HIS
BOXERS THIS NIGHT, IT'S -- IT'S, LIKE,
50 DEGREES I THINK HE STRIPPED DOWN INTO HIS
BOXERS, AND THERE WAS A FEW ALTERCATIONS, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT PEOPLE HOLLERIN' BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH OTHER.
AND -- >> Reporter: WHAT ARE THEY
HOLLERIN' AT HIM >> EVERYBODY ELSE IS HOLLERIN',
YOU KNOW, "I'M READY TO GO HOME."
>> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS HE OFFERED TO DRIVE BUT PAUL
REFUSED. >> YOU KNOW, HE POINTED AT
MALLORY. YOU KNOW, LIKE, HE WAS FIXIN',
LIKE, CUSS AT HER OR SOMETHIN' YOU KNOW, I SAID, "PAUL, YOU
BETTER THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND."
>> Reporter: AND THEN, ANTHONY SAYS, PAUL PUSHED THE THROTTLE
>> THAT'S WHEN THE BOAT TOOK OFF.
SO IT THREW ME DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT
I GRABBED MALLORY AND PULLED HER DOWN NEAR INTO MY LAP, WHICH I
FELT LIKE WAS THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE.
>> Reporter: BUT THE NEXT THING HE KNEW --
>> I WOKE UP IN THE WATER JUST THAT FAST.
>> Reporter: THE BOAT HAD CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE PILING,
THROWING SEVERAL OF THE FRIENDS INTO THE ICY WATER
WHEN ANTHONY GOT TO SHORE, HIS FRIENDS WERE ASSESSING THEIR
INJURIES ONLY THEN DID HE REALIZE, TO HIS
HORROR, THAT MALLORY WAS GONE. >>> COMING UP --
>> MY GIRLFRIEND'S GONE, BO! HE WAS UNDERAGE, INTOXICATED,
AND JUST CRASHED A BOAT. >> AS THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS,
ALEX MURDAUGH STEPS IN >> Reporter: ESSENTIALLY HE'S
ASKIN' YOU TO SACRIFICE YOUR OWN SON.
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: IN THE PRE-DAWN
HOURS OF FEBRUARY 24, 2019, MUCH OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S LOW COUNTRY
WAS QUIET. BUT ON THE BANKS OF
ARCHER'S CREEK, IT WAS LOUD AND FRANTIC AS RESCUE TEAMS SEARCHED
FOR MALLORY BEACH. ANTHONY COOK PACED THE WATER'S
EDGE, DISTRAUGHT >> EVERYBODY ELSE WENT TO THE
HOSPITAL AND THEY TRIED TO MAKE ME GO
BUT I -- I WASN'T. YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T A CHANCE
IN THE WORLD THAT I WAS LEAVING. >> Reporter: BUT EVEN AS HE
STARED ACROSS THE WATER, HIS ANGER ROSE AGAINST THE FRIEND HE
BLAMED FOR THE DISASTER THAT NIGHT, PAUL MURDAUGH
IN FACT, ANTHONY HAD ALREADY CONFRONTED PAUL WHEN HE FIRST
CAME OUT OF THE CREEK. >> WHEN HE CAME CRAWLIN' BACK UP
THE BANK, I KINDA SAW RED, YOU KNOW
I FLIPPED OUT. AND I -- I REMEMBER MY -- I
GRABBED HIM. SLAMMED HIM ON THE DIRT UNDER
THE BRIDGE AND, YOU KNOW, "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?"
>> Reporter: HIS RAGE, AND HIS PAIN OVER MALLORY, PLAYED OUT ON
THE DASHCAM. >> BO, YOU -- SMILING LIKE
IT'S -- FUNNY. MY -- GIRLFRIEND'S GONE, BO.
HE KEPT SAYING, "EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY.
I PROMISE. THAT MADE ME SO MUCH MORE MAD
THAT I WAS ALMOST KINDA TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS PROBABLY
FIXIN' TO BEAT HIM HOPE YOU ROT IN -- HELL!
>> Reporter: AFTER PAUL WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, ANTHONY
WAS LEFT TO STEW IN HIS ANGER ABOUT A FRIEND HE SAID WAS USED
TO DOING WHAT HE WANTED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.
THAT NIGHT WAS UNLIKELY TO BE AN EXCEPTION.
>> HE WAS UNDER-AGE, INTOXICATED, AND JUST CRASHED A
BOAT AND THERE WAS PARRIS ISLAND
POLICE, BEAUFORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, DNR, AND NONE OF
THEM WAS GONNA LAY A FINGER ON HIM.
AND HE LOVED IT. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THAT
NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL, THE COOKS HEARD CONNOR'S STORY FIRSTHAND
>> HE AND MILEY BOTH SAID THAT "HE WAS NOT DRIVING THE BOAT."
>> Reporter: HE SAID, "MOM, DAD, IT WASN'T ME
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: MARTY REALIZED HIS
SON MIGHT NEED A LAWYER. HE SAYS HE ONLY KNEW ONE,
ALEX MURDAUGH. >> I WAS TALKING TO HIM AND I
SAID, "ALEX, DNR OFFICERS ARE ALL OVER CONNOR.
AND I KNOW THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET A LAWYER, ALEX.
AND I DON'T KNOW ANY YOU'RE THE ONLY LAWYER I KNOW OF
REALLY." SO I WAS, LIKE, "WHAT DO -- WHAT
DO YOU THINK, ALEX WHAT SHOULD I DO?"
HE SAID, "WELL, I KNOW EXACTLY WHO FOR YOU -- FOR YOU TO CALL."
>> Reporter: ALEX RECOMMENDED THIS MAN, AN ATTORNEY NAMED
CORY FLEMING, TO REPRESENT CONNOR
BUT IF WE THOUGHT THAT THE PERSON WHO WAS GOING TO
WRONGFULLY ACCUSE HIM WAS GOING TO BE ALEX MURDAUGH, THEN WHY
WOULD WE TAKE ALEX MURDAUGH'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A LAWYER?
>> 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW OF ANYBODY ELSE
>> I DIDN'T KNOW OF ANYBODY ELSE
>> Reporter: UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, CORY WAS PAUL MURDAUGH'S
GODFATHER AND ALEX'S COLLEGE ROOMMATE
WHAT WAS CORY FLEMING'S ADVICE TO YOU AND -- AND TO YOUR SON
CONNOR >> JUST THAT IF WE WERE
APPROACHED BY ANYONE ASKING QUESTIONS, TO REFER THEM TO HIM.
>> AND NOT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: HE SAID, "DON'T COOPERATE"
>> "DON'T SAY -- >> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH
CORY WAS NOW THEIR LAWYER, MARTY SAYS ALEX WAS STILL WORKING
BEHIND THE SCENES. >> I GOT A CALL TO MEET ALEX UP
AT HIS LAW OFFICE ONE LATE -- IT'S PROBABLY 8:00 OR SOMETHIN'.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- IT WAS AFTER DARK
SO, WE GO IN THE ROOM AND HE JUST GOES ON ABOUT HE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WHAT MY STANCE WAS AND WAS I GONNA TALK TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT, TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS DRIVING.
>> Reporter: HE WAS LOOKING FOR A LOYALTY PLEDGE
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR.
>> Reporter: WHY WOULD HE THINK THAT YOU WOULD TRUST HIM
>> I DON'T KNOW. BUT I -- YOU KNOW, I WASN'T
TRUSTING HIM >> Reporter: BUT IN --
ESSENTIALLY, HE'S ASKING YOU TO SACRIFICE YOUR OWN SON
>> YES SIR >> Reporter: FOR HIS SON
>> YES SIR >> Reporter: AND HE THOUGHT YOU
WOULD BE OKAY WITH IT? >> YEAH, YEAH HE THOUGHT I WAS
GONNA BELIEVE THAT HE'S GONNA KEEP CONNOR OUT OF PRISON.
>> Reporter: DID YOU >> NO, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT -
>> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH WAS TRYING TO KEEP AN AIRTIGHT SEAL
ON WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT ON ARCHER'S CREEK
AND HE WAS USED TO GETTING HIS WAY.
BUT WAS HE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROTECT HIS YOUNGEST SON, OR WAS
SOMETHING BIGGER GOING ON? >>> COMING UP --
>> WE THOUGHT, "OKAY, THE MURDAUGHS ARE IN CHARGE HERE
THEY'VE GOT BOATS ON THE WATER THEY'RE LOOKING FOR HER.
WHAT IF THEY FIND HER BEFORE SEARCH AND RESCUE?
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF A COVER-UP?
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: NO QUESTION
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF HER CREWS ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH
FOR A FORMER USC STUDENT WHO WENT MISSING OVER THE WEEKEND
NEAR PARRIS ISLAND ON THE BANKS OF ARCHER'S CREEK
AND BEYOND, A SMALL ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA'S
LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY JOINED THE SEARCH FOR 19-YEAR-OLD
MALLORY BEACH. MALLORY'S BOYFRIEND ANTHONY COOK
RARELY LEFT THE WATER'S EDGE BUT AS THE DAYS PASSED IT BECAME
CLEAR MALLORY WOULD NOT BE FOUND ALIVE.
>> YOU WANNA HAVE FAITH, BUT YOU, YOU KINDA KNOW BETTER
YOU -- YOU STILL WANTIN' THE CLOSURE, NO MATTER THE OUTCOME
>> Reporter: ONE DAY DURING THE SEARCH, ANTHONY'S MOM,
BEVERLY COOK, SAID SHE HAD A STRANGE ENCOUNTER WITH
MAGGIE MURDAUGH -- PAUL'S MOTHER AND ALEX'S WIFE.
>> THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN YOU KINDA BREAK DOWN AND YOU JUST
NEED TO BE BY YOURSELF AND I WAS HAVIN' THAT MOMENT
AND SO I WAS IN THE TRUCK BY MYSELF
ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR SOMEBODY CLIMB IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK
WITH ME. I LOOK BACK AND MAGGIE'S SITTIN'
IN MY BACKSEAT SHE SAID, "WELL BEVERLY, WHAT --
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN? WHAT IF THEY NEVER FIND HER?
AND I WAS DEVASTATED AT THAT I SAID, "I CAN'T EVEN THINK LIKE
THAT THEY'RE GONNA FIND HER."
>> Reporter: WHAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN OFFHAND COMMENT STRUCK
BEVERLY AS ALMOST SINISTER >> WE THOUGHT, "THE MURDAUGHS
ARE IN CHARGE HERE THEY'VE GOT BOATS ON THE WATER
THEY'RE LOOKIN' FOR HER. WHAT IF THEY FIND HER BEFORE
SEARCH AND RESCUE? AND I HATE THAT I EVEN THOUGHT
LIKE THAT, BUT I DID >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
THEY WERE CAPABLE OF -- OF A COVER-UP
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: NO QUESTION
>> NO QUESTION >> Reporter: WHY
>> THEY WERE OVER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY PUT PEOPLE IN PLACES. THIS ONE GETS THIS JOB, THIS ONE
GETS THIS JOB, THIS ONE GETS THIS JOB
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE GROWIN' UP.
>> Reporter: THE MURDAUGH FAMILY HAD SEEMINGLY BEEN 'IN CHARGE'
IN THE LOW COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, EVER SINCE ALEX'S
GREAT-GRANDFATHER RANDOLPH THE FIRST ESTABLISHED THE FAMILY
BUSINESS >> HE STARTED THIS LAW FIRM THAT
HAS BECOME A GIANT HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
OVER THE GENERATIONS, THIS MYSTIQUE, THIS FAMILY DYNASTY
AND FAMILY HISTORY HAS BUILT UP. >> Reporter: HAMPTON COUNTY
GUARDIAN MANAGING EDITOR MICHAEL DeWITT HAS COVERED THE
FAMILY FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. >> THEY WERE WEALTHY BEFORE THEY
WERE ATTORNEYS THAT TRADITION BEGAN IN 1910 AND
HAD BEEN PASSED DOWN EVER SINCE. AND IF YOU LIVED IN THIS TOWN,
YOU HAD SOME RELATIONSHIP WITH A MURDAUGH
>> Reporter: RANDOLPH WAS ALSO ELECTED SOLICITOR, OR
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, FOR A FIVE COUNTY AREA IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
A POWERFUL POSITION HE HELD FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE HIS SON
SUCCEEDED HIM, AND WAS THEN FOLLOWED BY HIS SON.
>> "POWER. IT'S A COMPLICATED THING WITH
THE MURDAUGHS. THEY KNEW ALL THE JUDGES
THEY KNEW ALL THE LAWYERS. THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT. BUT IT WAS ALSO THIS CONNECTION
WITH PEOPLE. >> Reporter: PEOPLE, LIKE THE
COOK FAMILIES WHO'D GROWN UP WITH ALEX MURDAUGH
>> EVERYBODY KNEW WHO THEY WERE. THEY KNEW THE -- THE POWER THAT
THEY HAD IF YOU GOT IN TROUBLE AND NEEDED
ANYTHING, THAT'S WHO YOU'D GO TO, NO MATTER WHAT
EVERYBODY ALWAYS KNEW THAT >> EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THE
MURDAUGHS WERE BASICALLY THE LAW, ABOVE THE LAW, EVERYTHING
ELSE >> Reporter: ALEX AND
MAGGIE MURDAUGH HAD BEEN COLLEGE SWEETHEARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTH CAROLINA THEY WERE MARRIED WHEN HE WAS IN
LAW SCHOOL THEY LATER MOVED TO HAMPTON, HIS
HOMETOWN, AND SOON HAD TWO BOYS, BUSTER AND PAUL.
ALEX BEGAN WORKING AT THE FAMILY FIRM AND LATER IN THE LOCAL
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. MAGGIE WAS THE NEWCOMER.
WHAT WAS MAGGIE LIKE >> MAGGIE WAS GOOD TO THE KIDS
SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR THE KIDS
SHE WAS FRIENDLY SHE WAS OUTGOING
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS LIKE SHE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE
WAS BETTER THAN YOU. I'D-- I MEAN, I-- THAT'S JUST
THE TRUTH. >> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T TRY TO
HIDE IT? >> SHE DID NOT
SHE-- SHE WAS VERY PROUD, ARROGANT, SO TO SPEAK, BUT
FRIENDLY AT THE SAME TIME. IF YOU CAN PICTURE ALL THAT
TOGETHER >> Reporter: I'M FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA, SO I CAN YES, YES
LOTTA, "BLESS YOUR HEARTS. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AS ALEX'S CAREER TOOK OFF, MAGGIE'S STATURE GREW.
>> SHE SHOWED HER WEALTH AND HER HUSBAND'S POWER.
SHE WALKED AROUND WITH HER NOSE UP, SO TO SPEAK.
>> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS NO ONE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THE SWAY
THE MURDAUGHS HAD BETTER THAN PAUL
HOW DID HE GROW UP >> I MEAN, MONEY WILL MAKE
ANYBODY ANY WAY THAT IT WANTS TO MAKE YOU
I HATE TO USE THE WORD POWER >> Reporter: INFLUENCE
>> YEAH. YEAH, INFLUENCE >> Reporter: HOW'D YOU FEEL
ABOUT ANTHONY HANGIN' OUT WITH -- WITH PAUL GROWIN' UP
>> I TOLD HIM-- I SAID, "YOU GO AND GET IN TROUBLE WITH PAUL NOW
IF YOU WANT TO AND YOU'LL BE THE ONE SUFFERIN'
THE CONSEQUENCES." I SAID, "NOT PAUL.
>> Reporter: CONNOR COOK'S PARENTS ECHOED THAT SENTIMENT.
>> I ALWAYS TRIED TO DETER CONNOR FROM HANGING OUT WITH
PAUL I ALWAYS TOLD HIM, "CONNOR, IF
YOU HANG OUT WITH PAUL AND Y'ALL GET IN SOME MISCHIEF, HIS FAMILY
CAN GET HIM OUT OF ANYTHING. YOUR DAD AND I WOULD HAVE A
LITTLE TROUBLE GETTIN' YOU OUT." >> Reporter: THAT'S WHY IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE BOAT CRASH MARTY WASN'T SURPRISED THAT ALEX
WAS THROWING HIS WEIGHT AROUND AND YOU KNEW THE FIRST TIME THAT
HE CALLED THAT SOMETHIN' DIDN'T SMELL RIGHT?
>> YEAH. I KNEW HIM THAT WELL
YOU KNOW, I HAD MY FILL OF HIM, YOU KNOW, COMIN' UP THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL AND ALL I KNOW HOW HE CAN TURN ON
SOMEBODY, LIE. >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS
SON IS INVOLVED. >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: AS EVERYONE FEARED, THE SEARCH FOR MALLORY BEACH
ENDED SADLY. ON MARCH 3 2019, ONE WEEK AFTER
SHE WAS THROWN INTO THE CREEK, TWO VOLUNTEERS DISCOVERED HER
BODY >> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST
FUNERAL I'VE EVER SEEN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, THAT PEOPLE FROM
EVERYWHERE >> Reporter: IN THE DAYS AND
WEEKS AFTER MALLORY'S FUNERAL, MANY IN HAMPTON WONDERED IF
ANYONE WOULD EVER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DEATH.
BUT MALLORY'S PARENTS REFUSED TO LET IT GO.
THEY BELIEVED IN FACT THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO SOMETHING BIGGER
AND THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES. >> I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE BOAT
CRASH WAS GOIN' TO BRING SOMETHIN' TO LIGHT
MALLORY'S DAD -- WE-- WE-- WE WOULD ALL STAND OUT AT THE
BRIDGE AND SAY A PRAYER EVERY NIGHT BEFORE WE LEFT
AND HE TOLD US "MY DAUGHTER WILL NOT DIE IN VAIN.
SOMETHIN' BIG IS COMIN'. SOMETHIN'S GONNA HAPPEN.
THIS IS GONNA-- THIS IS GONNA BE BIG.
>> HE SAYS, "THERE'S GONNA BE A GREATER GOOD COME OUTTA THIS."
>> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID >> Reporter: COMING UP -
>> IT'S A LOSS THAT THEY'LL NEVER GET OVER
>> Reporter: MALLORY'S FAMILY FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE
AND A SECRET INVESTIGATION INTO PAUL MURDAUGH!
>> HE WAS ALLOWED TO JUST GO ON ABOUT HIS LIFE
>> Reporter: IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HIRED PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS?
>> IT IS >>> ON FEBRUARY 24th, 2019,
MALLORY WENT TO HEAVEN >> Reporter: MALLORY BEACH'S
DEATH BROUGHT A CASCADE OF GRIEF DOWN ON ANTHONY COOK
>> I -- I'M SORRY. I'M KIND OF A LITTLE SHOOKEN UP
AFTER SAYING THAT. >> Reporter: HE SHARED THIS
VIDEO AFTER SHE DIED >> EVERYONE'S ALWAYS TOLD ME,
YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE GOT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW THAT -- "THAT
GIRL'S -- THAT GIRL'S BEEN GOOD TO YOU, ANTHONY.
SHE'S COMPLETELY CHANGED YOU ALL THE WAY AROUND
SHE'S CHANGED YOU FOR THE BETTER."
I AM NOW A VERY, VERY DEEPLY STRONG MAN OF FAITH.
>> Reporter: MALLORY'S PARENTS POURED THEIR GRIEF INTO TRYING
TO GET JUSTICE >> IT'S A LOSS THAT THEY'LL
NEVER GET OVER I MEAN, YOUR CHILD'S NOT
SUPPOSED TO DIE BEFORE YOU DO. YOU KNOW
WE ARE INCAPABLE OF DEALIN' WITH THAT KIND OF LOSS.
>> Reporter: A MONTH AFTER THE FUNERAL, ATTORNEY MARK TINSLEY
FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT ON THE BEACH FAMILY'S BEHALF.
THE SUIT NAMED ALEX MURDAUGH, HIS OLDEST SON BUSTER, AND
SEVERAL OTHERS >> WE FILED PRETTY QUICKLY TO
GET A SUBPOENA POWER, TO GET A VOICE, TO HAVE A SAY
THEY REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO
SOMEBODY ELSE'S DAUGHTER OR SON. SO IT WAS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY
AND HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRYING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE >> Reporter: MARK SAYS HE HAD
GOOD REASON TO NAME ALEX MURDAUGH IN THE LAWSUIT, AS
WELL AS PAUL'S BROTHER BUSTER. >> YOU KNOW, PARENTS ARE -- ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILD. IF YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CHILD'S
GOT A FAKE I.D. AND -- AND YOU CONDONED IT, YOU'VE ALLOWED IT,
YOUR BROTHER GOES AND PROCURES A FALSE IDENTIFICATION
SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU TO BUY ALCOHOL AS AN UNDERAGE PERSON --
ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THIS FROM
HAPPENING. >> Reporter: IN A DEPOSITION,
BUSTER DENIED GIVING PAUL A COPY OF HIS I.D
THE BEACH SUIT DID NOT NAME PAUL, BUT HE WAS IN HOT WATER
TOO. ON APRIL 18th, 2019, A GRAND
JURY INDICTED HIM ON THREE COUNTS OF BOATING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE, CAUSING DEATH AND GREAT BODILY INJURY.
HE FACED A MAXIMUM OF 55 YEARS IN PRISON AND PLEADED NOT
GUILTY >> I WAS SHOCKED AT FIRST.
I -- I CAN SAY THAT. I DIDN'T THINK THAT HE WOULD
EVER REALLY GO TO PRISON JUST THE SIMPLE FACT THAT HE WAS
CHARGED AT ALL WAS A HUGE STATEMENT TO THE WORLD
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE ATTORNEY TINSLEY WAS DIGGING INTO
ALEX MURDAUGH'S FINANCES HE NEEDED TO KNOW JUST HOW MUCH
MONEY ALEX HAD TO DETERMINE WHAT HIS CLIENTS COULD SEEK IN
DAMAGES. FINANCIALLY ASSESSING A
DEFENDANT IN A CIVIL CASE. THAT'S COMMON PRACTICE, RIGHT?
>> SURE. >> Reporter: BUT IN THIS CASE HE
DID NOT GET COOPERATION. WHAT DID YOU FIND WHEN YOU
LOOKED INTO HIS -- HIS ASSETS FOR THE CIVIL TRIAL?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE HE -- HE WOULDN'T GIVE
ME ANYTHING. >> Reporter: NO BANK ACCOUNTS,
NO -- NO CHECK STATEMENTS, NO 401K INFORMATION, NOTHING.
>> NOTHING >> Reporter: TINSLEY WAS NOT THE
ONLY ONE DOING SOME INVESTIGATING.
>> Reporter: BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, GREG, WHAT DID YOU
KNOW ABOUT -- ABOUT THE MURDAUGHS?
>> I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MURDAUGHS.
I'D NEVER HEARD OF THEM. >> Reporter: GREG PARKER IS THE
FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE PARKER'S CONVENIENCE STORE CHAIN, WHICH
HE STARTED IN GEORGIA AND EXPANDED TO SOUTH CAROLINA
HIS COMPANY WAS ALSO NAMED IN THE BEACH FAMILY'S WRONGFUL
DEATH LAWSUIT BECAUSE ONE OF ITS STORES SOLD ALCOHOL TO UNDERAGE
PAUL MURDAUGH THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT
PARKER MAINTAINS HIS EMPLOYEES DID NOTHING WRONG AND POINTS OUT
THAT THE STORE WAS NOT CITED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT. SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LOOKED AT IT EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT
NO CITATION GIVEN. WE DID EVERYTHING THAT THE LAW
WOULD'VE HAD US DO >> Reporter: HE WAS SURPRISED TO
LEARN THAT HIS COMPANY COULD BE FOUND LIABLE FOR MILLIONS IN
DAMAGES. HE THOUGHT IF ANYONE SHOULD BE
LIABLE IT WAS PAUL MURDAUGH. SO HE SET OUT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHAT PAUL WAS UP TO IN THE MONTHS AFTER THE BOAT CRASH.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HIRED PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS?
>> IT IS >> Reporter: WHY
>> LAW FIRMS DO THIS IN ANY CASE LIKE THIS.
THEY'RE GONNA GET THE BEST INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN GET.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE IN -- IN USING PRIVATE
INVESTIGATORS TO -- TO FOLLOW PAUL MURDAUGH?
>> FOR ONE REASON, AND THAT WAS TO GET VIDEO OF PAUL MURDAUGH
DRINKING HE WAS ALLOWED TO JUST GO ON
ABOUT HIS LIFE AND HIS LIFE INCLUDED DRINKING,
AND HE CONTINUED TO DO IT. >> Reporter: WHY -- WHAT WOULD
THAT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT DID THAT ACCOMPLISH
>> WHAT IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH IS PUTTIN' A SPOTLIGHT ON THE
CORRUPTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND WHAT WAS GOIN' ON WITH THE
MURDAUGH FAMILY IN THAT AREA I MEAN, HOW COULD IT BE THAT
THIS YOUNG MAN WHO SHOWED NO REMORSE, NO REMORSE --
HE DIDN'T CARE ANTHONY COOK GOT FURIOUS WITH
HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T CARE WHEN HE WENT IN THE HOSPITAL, HE
DIDN'T CARE. BUT HE WENT ON ABOUT HIS LIFE.
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY A LOT OF PEOPLE AND LAWYERS SEEMED TO BE
POKING IN TO ALEX MURDAUGH'S BUSINESS
TINSLEY HAD FILED A MOTION HOPING TO FINALLY GET ACCESS TO
ALEX'S FINANCIAL RECORDS >> I WAS ASKING FOR ALL OF HIS
ACCOUNT INFORMATION, CHECKING ACCOUNT, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS,
RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS, EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO A PERSON'S
FINANCES I WAS ASKING FOR ACCESS TO IT.
HIS TAX RETURNS, EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: BUT THEN, JUST DAYS
BEFORE HIS COURT DATE, THE CASE TOOK A DRAMATIC AND FATAL TURN
>> 911 WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?
>> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH I NEED THE POLICE AND AN
AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY. >>> COMING UP --
GUNFIRE AT THE MURDAUGH FAMILY PROPERTY
>> ARE THEY BREATHING? >> NO, MA'AM
>> AND THE TARGETS ALEX'S WIFE MAGGIE AND HIS SON
PAUL >> I THINK I WAS JUST IN SHOCK
>> 911 WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?
>> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH >> Reporter: SHORTLY AFTER 10:00
P.M. ON JUNE 7, 2021, 53-YEAR-OLD ALEX MURDAUGH MADE A
FRANTIC CALL >> ARE THEY BREATHING?
>> NO MA'AM. >> Reporter: HE WAS CALLING FROM
HIS FAMILY'S SPRAWLING PROPERTY IN THE WOODS OUTSIDE HAMPTON
>> DO YOU SEE ANYONE IN THE AREA
>> NO, MA'AM >> OKAY.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING OR DID YOU COME HOME AND FIND THEM?
>> NO MA'AM. I'VE BEEN GONE, I -- I JUST CAME
BACK >> Reporter: COLLETON COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO A DREADFUL SCENE
52-YEAR-OLD MAGGIE MURDAUGH AND PAUL MURDAUGH, NOW 22, WERE
DEAD >> THE BODIES WERE AT SOME
DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER IT WAS A CONFUSING CRIME SCENE,
HONESTLY >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS FROM
SLED, THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, STARTED
GATHERING EVIDENCE MAGGIE AND PAUL HAD BEEN FOUND
OUTSIDE THE HOME NEAR THE DOG KENNELS.
>> PAUL HAD BEEN SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE WITH A SHOTGUN, WHICH IS
JUST A -- A BRUTAL, BRUTAL WAY TO GO.
MAGGIE WAS SHOT WITH AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON MULTIPLE TIMES
AND FELL FACING AWAY FROM WHERE PAUL WAS AS IF SHE WERE RUNNING
AWAY FROM SOMETHING. >> Reporter: IN THE FIRST HOURS
AFTER MAGGIE AND PAUL'S DEATHS, SLED TRIED TO KEEP THE
INVESTIGATION CLOSE TO THE VEST. BUT NEWS THIS BIG ABOUT MEMBERS
OF THE MOST PROMINENT FAMILY IN THE AREA WAS ALREADY TRAVELING
FAST HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHAT HAD
HAPPENED TO PAUL AND HIS MOM >> I GOT A PHONE CALL EARLY.
IT WAS REALLY EARLY IN THE MORNIN
AND I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
WHAT'S HAPPENED?" AND-- AND SHE TOLD ME THAT PAUL AND MAGGIE HAD
BEEN SHOT AND KILLED AND I THINK I WAS JUST IN SHOCK.
>> Reporter: LATER THAT DAY, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RELEASED
AN UNUSUAL STATEMENT >> THEY FELT IT NECESSARY TO
TELL THE PUBLIC THAT THERE'S NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW
>> OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE WONDERIN', "WHAT DO YOU MEAN
THERE'S NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC? TWO PEOPLE JUST GOT KILLED."
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS WEREN'T SAYING MUCH, BUT IT
SEEMED THEY WERE TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT THE BOAT ACCIDENT TO
DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A CONNECTION TO THE MURDERS.
THEY ASKED EVERY PASSENGER FOR A DNA SAMPLE AND AN EXPLANATION OF
WHERE THEY WERE THE NIGHT PAUL AND MAGGIE DIED.
CONNOR COOK WAS ONE. HIM?
>> OF COURSE THEY QUESTIONED ME
>> Reporter: THEY QUESTIONED YOU?
>> I WAS HIS WITNESS THAT HE, YOU KNOW, GOT HOME FROM WORK,
AND HE NEVER LEFT THE HOUSE. >> Reporter: BUT CONNOR'S COUSIN
ANTHONY MIGHT HAVE BEEN OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT. AFTER ALL, HE'D BEEN FURIOUS
WITH PAUL THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT
WAS HE CONSIDERED A SUSPECT? >> HE WAS NEVER CONSIDERED A
SUSPECT. BUT ALL OF THE BOAT OCCUPANTS
AND I GUESS MALLORY'S FAMILY WERE -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WOULD CALL IT A PERSON OF INTEREST
>> THEY SAID IT WAS FOLLOWING PROTOCOL
>> THEY WERE NEVER SUSPECTS. YEAH, THEY HAD TO-
>> TO CLEAR THEIR NAMES SO THEY COULD MOVE ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE
>> YES THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD US
YEAH - >> Reporter: WAS ANTHONY HOLDING
A GRUDGE AGAINST PAUL ALMOST TWO-AND-A- HALF YEARS LATER?
>> WHEN HE WAS SHOT PEOPLE'S ASKED ME, "WERE YOU RELIEVED."
>> Reporter: JUSTICE SERVED. >> JUSTICE, YEAH
NOT A CHANCE, NO IT BROKE MY HEART.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I WISH DEATH ON ANYBODY, MUCH
LESS-- HE -- HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE
>> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS HE'S FORGIVEN PAUL.
BUT LIKE MALLORY BEACH'S FAMILY, HE AND THE OTHER THREE SURVIVING
BOAT PASSENGERS FILED SUIT AGAINST ALEX MURDAUGH AND
OTHERS HOW HAS THE BOAT WRECK AFFECTED
HIM? >> WELL, HE'LL NEVER BE THE
SAME >> Reporter: PATRICK CARR
REPRESENTS ANTHONY COOK. >> THIS CASE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE
OF, WELL, SEVERAL THINGS -- THE MAGNITUDE OF HARMS THAT RESULTED
FROM IT. YOU'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A
SINGLE VICTIM, YOU KNOW? YOU'VE GOT A BOAT FULL OF PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES ARE FOREVER IMPACTED
>> Reporter: IF NONE OF THE BOAT PASSENGERS WERE PLAUSIBLE
SUSPECTS, WHO MIGHT BE WHILE THE INVESTIGATORS PONDERED
THAT, ALEX'S FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS WERE LEFT TO PICK UP THE
PIECES >> A COMMUNITY GATHERING TO
REMEMBER A MOTHER AND SON KILLED IN THE LOW COUNTRY
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD FOR 52-YEAR-OLD MAGGIE AND HER
22-YEAR-OLD SON PAUL MURDAUGH. >> Reporter: ON JUNE 25, TWO AND
A HALF WEEKS AFTER THE MURDERS, ALEX AND HIS REMAINING SON,
25-YEAR-OLD BUSTER PUT OUT A STATEMENT.
THEY ASKED FOR HELP TO "BRING JUSTICE TO MAGGIE AND PAUL."
>> THEY ISSUE A $100,000 REWARD FOR ANYBODY WITH ANY INFORMATION
IN THESE DOUBLE HOMICIDES THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST AND
CONVICTION >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH
SEEMED TO BE A GRIEVING FATHER WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP
FIND OUT WHO KILLED HIS WIFE AND SON.
BUT BY NOW, NATIONAL NEWS TRUCKS HAD ARRIVED IN HAMPTON COUNTY,
AND ATTENTION WOULD FOCUS ON HIM.
COULD HE WITHSTAND THE SCRUTINY? >>> COMING UP --
>> OK, WHAT'S GOING ON >> Reporter: THEY TRIED TO SHOOT
ME ANOTHER EMOTIONAL CALL
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING. >> DID THEY ACTUALLY SHOOT YOU
OR THEY TRIED TO SHOOT YOU >> THEY SHOT ME AND I'M BLEEDING
A LOT. >> Reporter: THE VICTIM THIS
TIME * (MÚSICA) *
PICKING THE BEST MELON >> Reporter: FOR 80 YEARS, THE
MOST FAMOUS THING ABOUT HAMPTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS ITS
WEEK-LONG WATERMELON FESTIVAL. >> WE ARE THE LONGEST RUNNING
FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: EVERY SUMMER, THE LOCALS GATHER TOGETHER TO
CELEBRATE HAMPTON'S FAVORITE FRUIT.
>> HERE'S TO YA! >> Reporter: BUT IN JUNE 2021,
HAMPTON SUDDENLY BECAME KNOWN FOR SOMETHING ELSE, OR RATHER
SOMEONE ELSE -- ALEX MURDAUGH. AS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THIS STATE,
VALERIE BAUERLEIN COULD SEE THE TOWN STRUGGLING TO MAKE SENSE OF
IT ALL >> YOU START TO REALIZE QUICKLY
THAT THE DYNASTY THAT IN MANY WAYS BUILT HAMPTON COUNTY HAS
EXPLODED WITH THE DOUBLE HOMICIDE, AND THEN THE QUICK
UNRAVELING OF WHAT WAS THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE MURDAUGHS ARE THE FABRIC OF HAMPTON COUNTY
>> Reporter: THE MURDERS ALSO FED AN INTERNET FRENZY
>> ALMOST IMMEDIATELY YOU'VE GOT SOCIAL MEDIA SLEUTHS THAT ARE
SETTIN' UP CHATROOMS, AND REDDIT GROUPS, AND FACEBOOK GROUPS, AND
CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AND THEY'RE TALKIN' ABOUT THIS CASE.
>> Reporter: SPECULATION RAN WILD
HAD THEIR DEATHS BEEN PART OF A REVENGE PLOT ON PAUL FOR THE
BOAT ACCIDENT? OR HAD SOMETHING GONE
DRASTICALLY WRONG IN THE FAMILY? WHEN ALEX'S 911 CALL WAS
RELEASED IN LATE JULY, EVERY WORD WAS DISSECTED
>> THIS IS ALEX MURDAUGH >> AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE OFFER
THE OPINION THAT HE'S THE BEST ACTOR IN THE WORLD
YOU CAN TELL HE'S FAKIN' IT, OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE ARE TIMES IN
THAT CALL IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAN IN ABSOLUTE DISTRESS
>> Reporter: BUT COULD ALEX REALLY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE MURDERS OF THE SON HE SO STAUNCHLY DEFENDED AND HIS
WIFE OF ALMOST THIRTY YEARS? JOINING US NOW EXCLUSIVELY -
NO WAY, MURDAUGH'S ATTORNEY, DICK HARPOOTLIAN, TOLD ME ON THE
"TODAY" SHOW, IN AN INTERVIEW SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE
MURDERS. >> CLEARLY, HE IS DISTRAUGHT
ABOUT THEIR DEATHS HE DID NOT MURDER THEM
>> Reporter: SO DICK, SO HE DIDN'T MURDER THEM
DOES HE PERHAPS KNOW WHO DID AND WHY?
>> I DON'T THINK HE DOES >> Reporter: THE IDEA THAT ALEX
COULD HAVE DONE IT MADE NO SENSE TO BEACH FAMILY ATTORNEY
MARK TINSLEY EITHER. TINSLEY HAD KNOWN PAUL SINCE HE
WAS A CHILD. >> I CAN REMEMBER ALEC REFERRIN'
TO PAUL AS, "BABY," CALLING HIM, "BABY."
SO EVERY INDICATION WAS THAT HE LOVED HIS FAMILY
HE LOVED HIS WIFE. HE LOVED HIS SONS.
HE WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HARM HIS -- CERTAINLY HIS SONS
I MEAN, WHO -- WHO -- WHO WOULD BE CAPABLE OF KILLIN' THEIR
CHILD? >> Reporter: AFTER THE MURDERS,
ALEX TOLD INVESTIGATORS WHERE HE WAS THAT NIGHT
HE SAID HE'D BEEN AT HOME AND EATEN DINNER WITH MAGGIE AND
PAUL, THEN TOOK A NAP AT 8:30. WHEN HE WOKE UP AT 9:00, HE
DROVE TO SEE HIS MOTHER AT HER HOME, ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY.
WHEN HE CAME BACK AROUND 10:00 P.M., HE FOUND PAUL AND
MAGGIE SHOT, AND DIALED 9-1-1. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE PAUL AND
MAGGIE WERE KILLED SOMETIME AFTER 8:30
>> HIS LAWYERS HAVE SAID HE HAS AN IRONCLAD ALIBI THE NIGHT OF
THE DOUBLE HOMICIDE. THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE SAID.
>> Reporter: WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT RELEASING NO NEW
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE, COVERAGE OF THE MURDERS STARTED
TO WANE BY THE END OF SUMMER BUT THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 4th,
2021, THREE MONTHS AFTER PAUL AND MAGGIE WERE KILLED, THE
MURDAUGH NAME LIT UP NEWSROOMS AND THE INTERNET ONCE AGAIN.
ALEX MADE A SECOND CALL TO 9-1-1, AND THE STORY HE HAD TO
TELL WAS WILD. HE WAS CALLING TO REPORT ANOTHER
SHOOTING THIS TIME ALEX SAID HE WAS THE
TARGET >> OK. WHAT'S GOING ON
>> I STO --I GOT A FLAT TIRE, AND I STOPPED AND SOMEBODY
STOPPED TO HELP ME AND WHEN I TURNED MY BACK, THEY TRIED TO
SHOOT ME >> Reporter: ALEX CLAIMED HE WAS
ON THE SIDE OF THIS COUNTRY ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED
>> DID THEY ACTUALLY SHOOT YOU, OR THEY TRIED TO SHOOT YOU
>> THEY SHOT ME, AND I'M BLEEDING A LOT
>> WHAT --WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY
>> UH I'M NOT SURE SOMEWHERE ON MY HEAD.
>> CAN YOU GIVE ME A DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON THAT SHOT YOU OR
SHOT AT YOU? >> YES MA'AM
I MEAN, IT WAS UH A WHITE FELLA. UH, I'D SAY --
>> A WHITE MALE? >> A FAIR AMOUNT YOUNGER THAN
ME >> Reporter: ALEX WAS AIRLIFTED
TO A GEORGIA HOSPITAL. DOCTORS DISCOVERED HE HAD A
FRACTURED SKULL, AND A MINOR BRAIN BLEED.
HE TOLD THEM HE'D TEMPORARILY LOST HIS VISION.
IT LOOKED FOR ALL THE WORLD LIKE ANOTHER BRAZEN ATTACK ON THE
MURDAUGH FAMILY. BUT WAS IT REALLY?
>> Reporter: COMING UP -- ANOTHER JAW-DROPPER.
>> IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SET UP
>> Reporter: ALEX'S DRAMATIC TALE ABOUT A ROADSIDE SHOOTING
IS ABOUT TO CRASH AND BURN >> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH HAD
CALLED 911 WITH A FRIGHTENING STORY.
SOMEONE HAD SEEN HIM BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHOT AT HIM.
BUT PEOPLE STARTED TO QUESTION THAT STORY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
>> SO IT WAS VERY WEIRD, JUST VERY WEIRD FROM THE GET-GO
>> Reporter: FOR ONE THING, WHY HAD ALEX STOPPED WHEN HIS SUV
COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON A FLAT
>> THE MERCEDES BENZ HE WAS DRIVING, YOU KNOW, IT HAD STATE
OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING RUN FLAT TIRES
>> Reporter: FOR ANOTHER, ALEX TOLD THE 911 OPERATOR HE'D BEEN
SHOT IN THE HEAD AND WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY
BUT THE NEXT DAY SLED REPORTED THE GUNSHOT WOUND WAS
"SUPERFICIAL." AND THEN THERE WAS THE FACT THAT
A WOMAN WHO DROVE BY THE SCENE TOLD ANOTHER 911 OPERATOR THAT
THE WHOLE THING LOOKED LIKE IT WAS STAGED
>> THERE IS A MAN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH BLOOD ALL OVER
HIM, AND HE'S WAVING HIS HANDS HE JUST LAYING THERE -- WAVING
HIS HANDS AROUND HE LOOKS FINE.
HE LOOKS FINE BUT IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SET UP SO WE DIDN'T
STOP >> Reporter: WHAT ON EARTH WAS
GOING ON INVESTIGATORS GOT A BREAK WHEN
THEY WERE TIPPED OFF TO THE ALLEGED SHOOTER -- A MAN NAMED
CURTIS "EDDIE" SMITH HE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT STORY TO
TELL I TALKED TO CURTIS AND HIS
ATTORNEY AT THE TIME -- JOHNNY McCOY --
SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE SHOOTING
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW ALEX MURDAUGH?
>> PLAYED BALL AGAINST HIM YEARS AND YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS GOING
TO LAW SCHOOL AND -- >> Reporter: SOFTBALL.
>> SOFTBALL, YEAH. >> Reporter: CURTIS INSISTED HE
DID NOT TRY TO KILL ALEX THAT DAY.
HE SAYS ALEX ACTUALLY CALLED HIM THAT MORNING AND SUGGESTED THEY
MEET UP. CURTIS SAYS ALEX REPRESENTED HIM
AS AN ATTORNEY, AND CURTIS DID OCCASIONAL ODD JOBS FOR ALEX
YOU CAN SEE CURTIS HERE ON SECURITY VIDEO DRIVING TO MEET
ALEX AND THERE'S ALEX FOLLOWING RIGHT
BEHIND WHEN THEY CAME TO A STOP AND GOT
OUT, CURTIS SAYS ALEX MADE A REQUEST THAT LEFT HIM REELING.
>> HE SAID, "AH, I NEED YOU TO SHOOT ME IN THE BACK OF THE
HEAD." >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO
CURTIS, ALEX WANTED TO DIE SO WHEN HE ASKED YOU TO SHOOT
HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, HE DIDN'T --
HE DIDN'T SAY WHY. >> JUST THAT HE DIDN'T NEED TO
BE AROUND HERE NO MORE THAT BUSTER BE BETTER OFF IF HE
WASN'T HERE. >> Reporter: BUSTER IS HIS
REMAINING SON. CURTIS SAID HE FLAT OUT REFUSED.
BUT THEN, ALEX PULLED OUT A GUN. >> HE SAID, "YOU GONNA SHOOT
ME?" I SAID, "NO.
HE SAID, "WELL, YOU GOTTA DO IT."
AND HE MADE THIS MOVE LIKE -- LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW?
AND I JUST GRABBED HIS ARM >> Reporter: YOU -- YOU TOOK THE
GUN. >> AND SHOVED IT UP BEHIND HIM,
BETWEEN ME AND HIM AND IT WENT OFF.
>> Reporter: THE GUN WENT OFF. DID IT HIT HIM
DID THE BULLET - >> NO.
>> Reporter: -- HIT HIM? >> NO.
THERE'S NO BLOOD ON ME THERE'S NO BLOOD ON HIM.
>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T GET SHOT IN THE HEAD.
>> NO. >> Reporter: THINKING ALEX MIGHT
PULL THE TRIGGER HIMSELF, CURTIS SAYS HE GRABBED THE GUN AND TOOK
OFF. BUT IF CURTIS'S STORY WAS TRUE,
WHY WOULD ALEX MURDAUGH WANT TO KILL HIMSELF
A STATEMENT FROM ALEX'S LAW FIRM TWO DAYS LATER OFFERED A CLUE.
IT TURNS OUT THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE SHOOTING, ALEX HAD BEEN
KICKED OUT OF HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER'S FIRM
THE PARTNERS, INCLUDING HIS OLDER BROTHER RANDY, ACCUSED HIM
OF STEALING. >> WE THOUGHT HE LOST EVERYTHING
ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 7th HE TRULY BEGAN LOSING EVERYTHING
THAT FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE LAW FIRM SAID, "YOU'RE OUT
WE WANT NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOU.
THE MAN BECOMES DESPERATE. >> Reporter: A WEEK AFTER THE
SHOOTING, ALEX CONFESSED TO INVESTIGATORS.
HE TOLD THEM THE ROADSIDE SHOOTING WAS INDEED A PLOT TO
KILL HIMSELF HE'D ASKED CURTIS TO DO IT SO IT
WOULDN'T APPEAR TO BE A SUICIDE, AND BUSTER COULD COLLECT HIS
$10 MILLION LIFE INSURANCE POLICY
THE MORNING AFTER THE NEWS BROKE, ATTORNEY DICK HARPOOTLIAN
TRIED TO EXPLAIN ALEX'S THINKING ON THE "TODAY" SHOW.
>> HE WAS IN A MASSIVE DEPRESSION, REALIZED THINGS WERE
GOING TO GET VERY, VERY, VERY BAD, AND HE DECIDED TO END HIS
LIFE HE BELIEVED THAT $10 MILLION
DOLLAR POLICY HAD A SUICIDE EXCLUSION.
SO HE ARRANGED TO HAVE THIS GUY SHOOT HIM.
>> Reporter: HARPOOTLIAN ALSO CLAIMED THAT ALEX WAS ADDICTED
TO OPIOIDS HE SAID ALEX HAD BEEN BATTLING
THE ADDICTION FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND HAD CHECKED HIMSELF
INTO REHAB >> DO YOU FULLY EXPECT THAT YOUR
CLIENT IS -- IS GOING TO BE ARRESTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
>> YES, I THINK HE WILL BE CHARGED.
>> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, ALEX WAS CHARGED IN THE ROADSIDE
SHOOTING INCIDENT FOR INSURANCE FRAUD, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT
INSURANCE FRAUD, AND FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT.
HE TURNED HIMSELF IN CURTIS "EDDIE" SMITH WAS ALSO
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY, AS WELL AS ASSISTED SUICIDE.
BUT CURTIS SAYS HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE INSURANCE SCHEME AND
DID NOT SHOOT ALEX >> IF I'D OF SHOT HIM, HE'D BEEN
DEAD HE'S ALIVE
>> Reporter: ALEX'S ATTORNEYS DISPUTE CURTIS'S ACCOUNT OF THAT
ROADSIDE INCIDENT. THEY SAY THERE WAS NO STRUGGLE
WITH THE GUN, AND THAT CURTIS SHOT ALEX THAT DAY
ON SEPTEMBER 16th, 2021, ALEX WAS LED INTO COURT FOR HIS BOND
HEARING. HE WAS RELEASED ON A
$20,000 BOND AND ALLOWED TO RETURN TO REHAB.
THOUGH HE WOULD SPEND THE NEXT MONTH OUT OF THE PICTURE IN
TREATMENT, HE WAS HARDLY OUT OF THE CONVERSATION
IN EARLY OCTOBER, THE LAW FIRM HIS FAMILY HAD RUN FOR MORE THAN
A CENTURY SUED HIM FOR STEALING HUGE SUMS OF MONEY AND DEMANDED
TO KNOW IF ANY OF IT WAS "HIDDEN AWAY."
THESE REPORTS THAT YOUR CLIENT STOLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM -- FROM THE LAW FIRM. DID HE USE ALL OF THAT MONEY TO
BUY DRUGS, OR DID HE USE SOME OF THE MILLIONS FOR OTHER THINGS?
>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WAS USED TO BUY
DRUGS. >> Reporter: THAT'S A LOT OF --
DICK THAT'S A LOT OF OXY >> WELL, WELL OKAY
SO, LET ME -- OKAY, SO IT IS >> Reporter: ALEX'S ATTORNEYS
CLAIMED THAT CURTIS WAS ALEX'S DRUG DEALER, AN ACCUSATION
CURTIS DENIES. THIS IS THE QUESTION A LOT OF
FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING DID YOU EVER SELL ALEX MURDAUGH
DRUGS? >> NO.
>> Reporter: REPORTER VALERIE BAUERLEIN COULDN'T
CONFIRM THAT ALEX'S OPIOID ADDICTION WAS EVEN REAL.
>> IT'S A STRANGE ONE BECAUSE IN A SMALL TOWN WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS EVERYTHING - DOCTORS WILL KNOW OR OTHERS WILL
KNOW AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, NO.
AND THE LAW FIRM HAS SAID, "WE HAD ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS OVER
THE COURSE OF YEARS. >> Reporter: WHETHER HE WAS
BUYING DRUGS, OR SOMETHING ELSE, IT SEEMED LIKE ALEX MURDAUGH
NEEDED MONEY -- A LOT OF IT. RUMORS WOULD SOON FLY THAT HE
WASN'T JUST STEALING FROM HIS FIRM, HE WAS ALSO STEALING FROM
HIS CLIENTS. AND SOME WEREN'T JUST CLIENTS,
THEY WERE LIFELONG FRIENDS >> IT'S LIKE SHE WAS A NOBODY.
>>> COMING UP -- A TRAGEDY STRIKES THE MURDAUGH
FAMILY HOUSEKEEPER >> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOU TOLD
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? >> JUST THAT SHE HAD FELL, AND
THAT THEY THOUGHT SHE HAD A HEAD INJURY
>> NEW QUESTIONS, NEW SECRETS. >> I SAYS, YOU KNOW,
>> Reporter: BY OCTOBER 2021, ALEX MURDAUGH'S LIFE WAS IN
SHAMBLES HE'D BEEN ARRESTED FOR A
SUICIDE-RELATED INSURANCE SCAM AND BOOTED FROM HIS LAW FIRM FOR
STEALING AND MALLORY BEACH'S FAMILY AND
OTHERS WERE SUING HIM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOAT CRASH.
THE SCOPE AND SPEED OF HIS TAILSPIN MADE SOME WONDER --
COULD HE ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THE MURDERS OF HIS WIFE AND SON?
>> IT JUST CHANGED THE UNDERSTANDING IN HAMPTON AND
ELSEWHERE ABOUT WHO ALEX MURDAUGH REALLY WAS
>> Reporter: REPORTER VALERIE BAUERLEIN WAS WORKING
HER SOURCES, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MURDER INVESTIGATION
WAS HEADED >> THERE WERE NO PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS, NO PRESS CONFERENCES, NO QUESTIONS.
NO SUSPECTS WERE NAMED NOTHING FOR MONTHS, AND MONTHS,
AND MONTHS >> Reporter: BUT THERE WERE
RUMORS ALEX'S ATTORNEY JIM GRIFFIN WENT
ON FOX CAROLINA TO TAKE THOSE ON
>> HE HAD NO MOTIVE TO KILL THEM
HE LOVED HIS WIFE, HE LOVED HIS SON.
IF, IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, I THOUGHT ALEX HAD ANY ROLE IN THE
DEATH OF MAGGIE AND PAUL, I WOULDN'T BE SO AGGRESSIVELY
DEFENDING HIM. >> Reporter: LATER IN OCTOBER,
ALEX CHECKED OUT OF A REHAB CLINIC WHERE HE'D BEEN TRYING TO
RECOVER FROM THAT ALLEGED OPIOID ADDICTION.
BUT HE WASN'T TWO FEET INTO THE PARKING LOT WHEN POLICE
DESCENDED AGAIN. >> WE JUST LEARNED AUTHORITIES
TOOK ALEX MURDAUGH INTO CUSTODY IN FLORIDA
>> Reporter: THE CHARGES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MURDERS
OR THE EMBEZZLEMENT FROM THE LAW FIRM
THEY INVOLVED THE FAMILY OF A WOMAN WHO'D TAKEN CARE OF HIS
FAMILY FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
>> SHE WORKED HARD AT WHAT SHE DID.
AND SHE LOVED WHAT SHE DID >> Reporter: GLORIA SATTERFIELD
HAD BEEN A FIXTURE IN THE MURDAUGH HOUSEHOLD -- CLEANING
THE HOUSE AND BABYSITTING ALEX'S TWO BOYS
GLORIA'S THREE SIBLINGS AND TWO SONS SAY FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING
TO HER, AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW SHE THOUGHT OF THE MURDAUGHS --
AS FAMILY. GINGER IS GLORIA'S SISTER.
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE TO HER. AND THAT'S HOW MUCH SHE LOVED
'EM. SHE TREATED 'EM JUST LIKE HER
KIDS, LIKE HER BOYS. >> Reporter: ANTHONY COOK, WHO
SAW GLORIA EVERY TIME HE VISITED THE MURDAUGHS, REMEMBERS HOW
FOND SHE WAS OF PAUL IN PARTICULAR
>> SHE LOVED PAUL MORE THAN ANY OF 'EM
EVERYBODY WILL TELL YOU THAT SHE CALLED HIM "PAUL PAUL.
EVERY TEN SECONDS, SHE WAS MAKING SURE THAT HE WAS OKAY
>> Reporter: DID -- DID ANY OF YOU GET TO KNOW THE MURDAUGHS
PERSONALLY >> YEAH.
YES. WE THOUGHT OF THEM AS AN
EXTENDED FAMILY ALSO, BECAUSE GLORIA DID
>> Reporter: WHICH IS WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP STOOD BETWEEN THEIR
FAMILIES WHEN, ON THE 2nd OF FEBRUARY, 2018 -- A YEAR BEFORE
THE BOAT CRASH AND MORE THAN THREE YEARS BEFORE THE
MURDERS -- GLORIA FELL DOWN THE FRONT STEPS OF THE MURDAUGH
HOME MAGGIE MURDAUGH CALLED 911
>> MY HOUSEKEEPER HAS FALLEN AND HER HEAD IS BLEEDING
I CANNOT GET HER UP. >> Reporter: YOU CAN HEAR PAUL
ON THE CALL AS WELL. >> SHE'S CRACKED HER HEAD, AND
THERE'S BLOOD ON THE CONCRETE, AND SHE'S BLEEDING OUT OF HER
LEFT EAR >> OKAY, DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHO
SHE IS >> YES, SHE WORKS FOR US
>> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOU TOLD ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
>> JUST THAT SHE HAD FELL, THAT SHE WAS TRIPPED BY THE DOGS, AND
THAT THEY THOUGHT SHE HAD A HEAD INJURY, BECAUSE THEY SAW BLOOD
AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT UNTIL WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> Reporter: GLORIA LANGUISHED IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 21 DAYS
BEFORE SHE DIED. >> IT WAS ABOUT TIME FOR ME TO
LEAVE THAT DAY SO I JUST SAID -
[ CRYING ] "GLORIA, I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW
AND I LOVE YOU." AND SHE TOLD ME, "LOVE YOU TOO."
AND THAT'S THE LAST WORDS I HEARD HER SAY.
>> Reporter: AFTER THE FUNERAL, GLORIA'S SON, TONY, SAYS
ALEX MURDAUGH TOLD HIM HE WOULD WOULD MAKE SURE TONY AND HIS
BROTHER BRIAN GOT AN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT FOR THEIR MOTHER'S
DEATH. >> THAT HE WOULD, YOU KNOW, TAKE
CARE OF US, AND STUFF, AND KINDA LOOK OUT FOR US.
>> Reporter: DID YOU BELIEVE HIM?
>> YEAH, OF COURSE. WHY WOULDN'T I?
>> Reporter: TO GET THEIR INSURANCE MONEY, ALEX SUGGESTED
THE BOYS HIRE CORY FLEMING AS THEIR ATTORNEY AND BRING A CLAIM
AGAINST ALEX HIMSELF BUT NO SETTLEMENT CAME
THREE YEARS WENT BY. >> AND I SAYS, YOU KNOW,
"SOMETHING'S FISHY ABOUT THIS THING.
AND I SAID, "I JUST DON'T THINK THESE BOYS ARE GONNA GET WHAT
THEY DESERVE." >> Reporter: IN JUNE 2021, ERIC
HAPPENED TO READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT PAUL AND MAGGIE'S MURDERS
THAT MENTIONED A SETTLEMENT IN GLORIA'S CASE FOR HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS. THAT WAS NEWS TO HIM
SO THE SATTERFIELDS HIRED NEW LAWYERS TO FIND OUT WHERE THE
MONEY WENT -- ERIC BLAND AND RONNIE RICHTER.
HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE FAMILY GET AFTER GLORIA DIED?
>> $0.0. >> Reporter: NOT A DIME?
>> NOT A DIME. >> Reporter: ERIC AND RONNIE
DECIDED TO SUE THE PARTIES THEY THOUGHT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR
WITHHOLDING THE MONEY -- CORY, ALEX AND A LOCAL BANKER.
THEY WERE STUNNED BY WHAT THEY FOUND.
>> WE WOULD GET LEADS TO SAY, "GUYS, IT'S NOT $505,000
IT'S MORE. IT'S-- IT'S $1 MILLION
IT'S TWO, IT'S FOUR. >> Reporter: AND INSTEAD OF
GIVING IT TO GLORIA'S FAMILY, ALEX AND HIS FRIENDS KEPT IT FOR
THEMSELVES >> I'M PEEVED.
I'M PISSED IT'S LIKE SHE WAS A NOBODY, AS
MUCH AS SHE'S DONE FOR THEM. >> Reporter: YOU FEEL LIKE THEY
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BOYS >> I FEEL LIKE THEY TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF 'EM NOT ONLY THAT, ME TOO.
YOU KNOW >> ALL OF US
>> Reporter: ERIC AND RONNIE
TURNED THE EVIDENCE THEY'D COLLECTED OVER TO INVESTIGATORS.
THEIR CASE FILES ARE WHAT LED TO THAT SECOND ARREST
ALEX WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF OBTAINING PROPERTY BY FALSE
PRETENSES. AT ALEX'S BOND HEARING, ERIC
ADDRESSED THE COURT -- >> HE DOES NOT DESERVE BOND.
HE FORFEITED THAT RIGHT. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE DENIED
ALEX BOND AND ALSO ORDERED A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION
AND AS ALEX SAT IN JAIL, THE TROUBLE AROUND HIM GREW WORSE.
BECAUSE WHAT HE HAD ALLEGEDLY DONE TO THE SATTERFIELD FAMILY
WOULD SOON LOOK LIKE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
>>> COMING UP -- >> MY SON WAS IN A COMA.
NEVER CAME OUTTA THE COMA. >> MORE FAMILIES
MORE HEARTBREAKING STORIES >> YOU'RE LOOKIN' AT OVER A
MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AND TRACE
THIS IS HOW BRAZEN IT IS, AND >> Reporter: IN NOVEMBER 2021,
ALEX MURDAUGH WAS IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE -- JAIL,
CHARGED WITH STEALING MILLIONS FROM HIS HOUSEKEEPER'S FAMILY.
HE WAS ALSO FACING CHARGES IN THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SCHEME
IN RECORDED PHONE CALLS, YOU CAN HEAR HIM COMPLAINING TO FAMILY
AND FRIENDS ABOUT LIFE ON THE INSIDE
>> OH MY GOD YOU DON'T KNOW HOW BAD THIS FOOD
IS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
HEY, YOU THINK HOSPITAL FOOD'S BAD?
I'M TELLING YOU NOW -- >> Reporter: TO FIGHT THE
BOREDOM, HE STARTED AN EXERCISE ROUTINE.
>> THEN I DO FIVE SETS OF 25 MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS LIKE 1-2-3,
1. 1-2-3, 2
1-2-3, 3 >> Reporter: AND HE WAS
DEVOURING BOOKS. >> I TOLD LIZZY.
ANY KIND OF GRISHAM OR JAMES PATTERSON, PAT CONROY.
ANYTHING ANYTHING TO KILL THE MONOTONY.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, LOTS OF JOURNALISTS AND LOW COUNTRY
LAWYERS WONDERED IF THERE WERE MORE FAMILIES LIKE THE
SATTERFIELDS OUT THERE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
JUSTIN BAMBERG WAS ONE OF SEVERAL LAWYERS WHO OFFERED
THEIR SERVICES TO ANYONE WHO THOUGHT ALEX HAD RIPPED THEM
OFF. >> THOSE OF US WHO KNOW BETTER
KNOW THAT NO ONE EVER STARTS OUT STEALING EVERYTHING.
YOUR KID DOESN'T START OUT BY WALKING IN AND TAKING THE WHOLE
COOKIE JAR OFF THE KITCHEN COUNTERTOP
THEY START WITH ONE COOKIE, AND SEE IF YOU SAY ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: AFTER GETTING CALLS FROM SEVERAL ALLEGED VICTIMS,
BAMBERG SAID HE STARTED TO SUSPECT ALEX HAD BEEN USING THE
SAME SCAM HE USED IN THE SATTERFIELD CASE TO SWINDLE
OTHER CLIENTS. AND THAT HE'D BEEN DOING IT FOR
YEARS. >> THINK THAT ALEX HAD BEEN
DOING THIS FOR AT LEAST TWO DECADES.
>> Reporter: BAMBERG SAYS THE VICTIMS ALEX CHOSE WERE PEOPLE
WHO'D HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, LIKE PAMELA PINCKNEY
IN 2009, SHE WAS IN A HORRIBLE CAR CRASH WITH HER SON, HAKEEM
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT HAKEEM AS A CHILD?
>> HE WAS ALWAYS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.
HE ALWAYS MADE AN IMPACT WHEREVER HE GO
WHEN HE ENTER A ROOM IT'S, LIKE, HIS ENERGY WAS JUST A MAGNET FOR
EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: HAKEEM WAS ALSO
DEAF HE'D LOST HIS HEARING AT THE AGE
OF THREE BUT HIS MOM SAID HE NEVER LET
THAT SLOW HIM DOWN HE WAS A FOOTBALL STAR, TELL ME
ABOUT THAT >> HE WAS A DEFENSIVE END AND A
LINEBACKER HE PLAYED FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND HORNETS.
AND WHEN WE WENT TO HIS HOMECOMING GAME, THEY HAD HIM ON
THE FIELD THE WHOLE GAME >> Reporter: BUT IN THAT
2009 CRASH, HAKEEM WAS PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN
PAMELA WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL. >> THE VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING
AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM AROUND THE TIRE AND WE STARTED
FLIPPING NUMEROUS TIMES. HAKEEM GOT THROWN OUT ON HIS
HEAD, SO HE HAD A SPINAL CORD INJURY
>> Reporter: PAMELA HAD TO MOVE HIM TO A HOME WHERE HE COULD BE
ON A VENTILATOR. ENTER ALEX MURDAUGH.
>> HE SEEMED TO BE A REAL NICE GUY, VERY RESPECTFUL, VERY WELL-
MANNERED A GOOD TALKER, AND I WAS
IMPRESSED. >> Reporter: YOU TRUSTED HIM
>> YES, I TRUSTED HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY
>> Reporter: ALEX SAID HE WOULD REPRESENT HAKEEM IN A SUIT
AGAINST THE COMPANY WHO MADE THE TIRES ON PAMELA'S CAR.
BUT HE RECOMMENDED PAMELA USE A DIFFERENT ATTORNEY FOR HER OWN
SUIT YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAME.
>> MR. CORY FLEMING CAME INTO REPRESENT ME AS A DEFENDANT IN
THE CAR ACCIDENT >> Reporter: AND TO HANDLE THE
MONEY, ALEX LOOPED IN THE SAME BANKER HE'D USED IN OTHER CASES.
>> BY ENLISTING HIS BUDDIES, CORY FLEMING, REPRESENTING
MISS PINCKNEY PERSONALLY HE'S REPRESENTING HAKEEM
HE'S GOT RUSSELL LAFFITTE AS CONSERVATOR.
SO, HE'S ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE MONEY, WITH MR. LAFFITTE
PERSONALLY, HIS BUDDY. >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, THE
PINCKNEY CASE SETTLED FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
ACCORDING TO JUSTIN, THEY DIDN'T GET IT ALL
>> AND $100,000 OF THESE PEOPLE'S MONEY GOES TO
MR. LAFFITTE'S DADDY $329,500 GOES TO ALEC'S DADDY.
$10,000 OF THIS MONEY GOES TO MAGGIE MURDAUGH.
SOME OF THIS MONEY WAS USED TO BOOK A PRIVATE PLANE TO FLY TO
THE -- THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO BAMBERG, ALEX WASN'T DONE WITH
THE PINCKNEYS YET. IN 2011, HAKEEM TRAGICALLY DIED
WHEN HIS VENTILATOR BECAME UNPLUGGED.
>> MY SON WAS IN A COMA HAVING SEIZURES BACK-TO-BACK.
NEVER CAME OUT OF THE COMA AND THEY SAID HE WAS CLINICALLY
BRAIN DEAD >> THIS IS HOW BRAZEN IT IS, AND
HOW FREAKING DISGUSTING. GUESS WHO REPRESENTED HAKEEM IN
THE NURSING HOME DEATH CASE, OVER THE VENTILATOR GETTING
UNPLUGGED? ALEX MURDAUGH.
>> Reporter: ALEX ALSO HELPED SETTLE THAT CASE
JUSTIN SAYS ALEX GAVE PAMELA PINCKNEY A PORTION OF THE
SETTLEMENT MONEY AND KEPT THE REST WITHOUT HER KNOWING IT.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO FIND AND TRACE >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU THINK
THAT THE -- THE FACT THAT THIS IS A RURAL AREA, THIS IS A
LARGELY POOR AREA. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT FACTORED
INTO MURDAUGH'S CRIMES >> THESE WERE VERY BIG,
MILLION-DOLLAR CASES AND THE CLIENTS, ARE WALKING
INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW SO, NO ONE IS LOOKING AT -- THE
IDEA OF, "WELL, HOW MUCH DID ALEX TAKE?
BECAUSE WE'RE USED TO NOT REALLY GETTING ANYTHING HERE.
>> Reporter: BAMBERG HAS PRESENTED CLAIMS AGAINST ALEX
FOR STEALING FROM PAMELA PINCKNEY AND HER SON.
RUSS LAFFITTE, THE FORMER BANK EXECUTIVE, SETTLED A CLAIM IN
THE CASE LAFFITTE, CORY FLEMING AND ALEX
HAVE ALSO BEEN CHARGED BY A STATE GRAND JURY FOR FINANCIAL
CRIMES THAT INCLUDE THE PICKNEY CASE
FLEMING AND LAFFITTE ARE OUT ON BOND AND HAVE PLEADED NOT
GUILTY ALEX HAS YET TO COMMENT ON THE
CASE, OR ON OTHER FINANCIAL CASES IN WHICH CHARGES WERE
FILED. >> IN JANUARY 2022, THERE WAS
ANOTHER RAFT OF THESE INDICTMENTS.
AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT JUST KEPT ESCALATING TO, YOU KNOW,
$8.5 MILLION, $9 MILLION >> Reporter: WITH THIS ONSLAUGHT
OF CHARGES AND LAWSUITS, IT SEEMED THAT ALEX MURDAUGH HAD
FINALLY HIT ROCK BOTTOM. BUT EVEN WORSE NEWS WAS COMING
FOR HIM. A CLUE IN MAGGIE AND PAUL'S
MURDER CASE WAS ABOUT TO EMERGE. AND IT WAS A BOMBSHELL
>> HIS ALIBI REALLY COLLAPSED, IN SOME RESPECTS, WHEN WE
REALIZED, "OH, MY GOSH. THERE'S AN AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING OF THAT
NIGHT. >>> COMING UP --
WHAT WOULD THAT RECORDING REVEAL
>> YOU COULD HEAR MAGGIE, AND PAUL, AND ALEX TALKING IN THE
BACKGROUND >> ALEX MURDAUGH, AT THE SCENE
OF THE CRIME >> HE HAD SO MANY SECRETS.
>> Reporter: ALEX MURDAUGH'S REIGN OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA
LOW COUNTRY HAD COME CRASHING DOWN SPECTACULARLY
PERHAPS NO ONE UNDERSTOOD THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF HIS ALLEGED
BETRAYALS AS WELL AS THE COOK FAMILIES WHO HAVE KNOWN ALEX ALL
THEIR LIVES. YOU START TO READ THE ARTICLES
AND HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE BEIN' SWINDLED OUT
OF ALL THIS MONEY. WERE YOU SURPRISED
>> I WAS SHOCKED OVER ALL THAT, YES.
I NEVER WOULD'VE DREAMED THAT. THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT.
THEY HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALREADY.
>> Reporter: ANTHONY COOK WAS EQUALLY STUNNED BY THE
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ALEX >> I HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR
MR. ALEX AND I LOST IT.
>> Reporter: CONNOR COOK'S FATHER MARTY COULDN'T GET PAST
HOW ALEX HAD SEEMINGLY BURNED EVEN LONGTIME FRIENDS.
THE TWO HAD GROWN UP TOGETHER, PLAYED ON THE SAME FOOTBALL
TEAMS. >> WE WERE FAIRLY GOOD FRIENDS
COMIN' UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHAT SHOCKED ME WAS THAT,
YOU KNOW, HE WOULD BE WILLING TO USE MY SON AS A SCAPEGOAT TO GET
HIS SON OUT OF SOMETHIN' THAT HIS SON ACTUALLY DID
YOU KNOW, THAT HURT, YOU KNOW. THOUGHT I HAD A LITTLE BETTER
STANDIN' WITH HIM THAN THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS
ANY STANDING WITH ALEX MURDAUGH. >> Reporter: ALEX'S ATTORNEYS
SAY THAT ALEX DID NOT TRY TO IMPLICATE CONNOR COOK AS THE
BOAT'S DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.
THEY POINT OUT THAT CONNOR TOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHO WAS DRIVING. BUT IN A DEPOSITION, CONNOR SAID
ALEX TOLD HIM TO SAY THAT. AS THE SUMMER OF 2022 DAWNED,
MAGGIE AND PAUL'S MURDER CASE REMAINED UNSOLVED.
FROM HIS JAIL CELL, ALEX SPOKE TO HIS ELDEST SON BUSTER WHO WAS
STRUGGLING WITH ALL THE ATTENTION THE CASE HAD BROUGHT
THE FAMILY >> YOU HAVEN'T SOUNDED GOOD THE
LAST TWO TIMES I'VE TALKED TO YOU.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> I MEAN JUST SOUND LIKE YOU'RE
SORT OF DOWN OR -- >> YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE HONEST
WITH YOU THERE'S A LOT -- A LOT OF
NEGATIVE -- OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. >> HE'S LIKE, "WELL, DAD, THIS
IS -- THIS IS A BIG DEAL." AND ALEC HADN'T REALLY SEEMED TO
GIVE MUCH REFLECTION TO THAT, AND THAT'S REVEALING ABOUT A
PERSON >> Reporter: HE ALSO TALKED TO
HIS SISTER-IN-LAW LIZ ABOUT THE $7 MILLION BOND KEEPING HIM IN
JAIL >> IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO
HELP >> NO, NOTHING
NOTHING YOU CAN DO NOTHING MUCH AS I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU KNOW - >> 'CAUSE I JUST DON'T HAVE
$7 MILLION IN MY POCKET RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH, YOU -- YOU CAN GRAB A CHECK.
YOU KNOW THIS THING ABOUT HOW RICH WE ARE AND HOW POWERFUL WE
ARE AND, I MEAN, TAKEN A LIFE OF ITS OWN.
I --I -- YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WISH IT WAS HALF TRUE.
>> Reporter: BY THIS POINT, ALEX'S LIFE SEEMED TO HAVE
CRATERED COMPLETELY. BUT THEN, IN EARLY JULY, NEWS
REPORTS SURFACED WITH INFORMATION THAT THREATENED TO
BLOW A HOLE IN HIS TIMELINE THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS
>> THERE WAS A RECORDING, A FILMING OF A DOG, A FRIEND'S DOG
AT THE KENNELS, AND YOU COULD HEAR MAGGIE AND PAUL AND ALEC
TALKING IN THE BACKGROUND, TALKING ABOUT THEIR OWN DOG AND
JOKING >> Reporter: REMEMBER, ALEX
INITIALLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE'D TAKEN A NAP BETWEEN
8:30 AND 9:00, THEN GONE TO SEE HIS MOTHER AND WASN'T HOME UNTIL
AROUND 10:00 BUT THIS VIDEO ALLEGEDLY PUT HIM
AT HOME, AWAKE, AND TALKING AT 8:44 P.M.
WITH HIS WIFE AND SON. COULD THIS BE THE BREAK IN THE
CASE INVESTIGATORS HAD BEEN WAITING FOR?
>> AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF SPECULATION AND QUESTIONS,
INVESTIGATORS APPEAR READY TO NAME ALEX MURDAUGH AS THE KILLER
OF HIS WIFE, MAGGIE, AND SON, PAUL
>> Reporter: ON JULY 14th, 2022, IT HAPPENED.
ALEX MURDAUGH WAS INDICTED FOR KILLING HIS WIFE AND SON
>> WHEN WE FINALLY SAW THE INDICTMENTS ON JULY 14th, THEY
REVEALED THAT PROSECUTORS WERE CHARGING ALEX AND ALEX ALONE IN
THE HOMICIDE OF -- OF MAGGIE AND PAUL AND THE USE OF A WEAPON,
MEANING HE -- HE PULLED THE TRIGGER HIMSELF IS WHAT THEY'RE
ALLEGING AND THEY CONFIRMED WHAT HAD BEEN
REPORTED -- THAT PAUL WAS SHOT WITH A SHOTGUN AND MAGGIE
WITH -- WITH A LONG GUN. >> Reporter: THE DETAILS WERE
SCARCE AND THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION
STILL UNANSWERED WHY?
>> THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE
HE HAD SO MANY SECRETS I MEAN, HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF SECRET TRANSACTIONS, LIES
HE HAD SO MUCH TO HIDE >> Reporter: SECRETS THAT MAY
HAVE BEEN ABOUT SPILL AROUND THE TIME OF THE MURDERS.
REMEMBER, THE WEEK MAGGIE AND PAUL WERE KILLED, THE BEACH
FAMILY'S ATTORNEY WAS PUSHING ALEX TO TURN OVER HIS FINANCIAL
INFORMATION FOR THE BOAT CRASH LAWSUIT.
IN YOUR REPORTING, DID YOU DISCOVER WHETHER ALEX MURDAUGH
WAS AT ALL CONCERNED THAT THESE FINANCIAL SCHEMES WERE GOING TO
BE REVEALED AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT -- THAT PAUL AND MAGGIE
WERE SHOT? >> HE CERTAINLY KNEW, IN THE
WEEKS LEADING UP TO PAUL AND MAGGIE BEING SHOT, THAT THERE
WERE PEOPLE TAKING A SERIOUS, HARD LOOK AT HIS FINANCIALS FOR
THE FIRST TIME MAYBE EVER. >> Reporter: COULD THAT MOUNTING
PRESSURE HAVE LED TO MURDER? A BATTLE WAS COMING, AND IT
WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE VERY BUILDING WHERE GENERATIONS OF
MURDAUGHS HAD PRACTICED LAW WHERE A STATELY PORTRAIT OF HIS
OWN ANCESTOR ADORNED THE WALL. WAS ALEX READY
>> HOW SHALL YOU BE TRIED? >> BY GOD AND MY COUNTRY
>>> COMING UP -- >> WHAT SAY YOU, RICHARD
ALEX MURDAUGH? ARE YOU GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY
>> NOT GUILTY. >> A SURPRISE FROM THE DEFENSE
>> Reporter: THEY SEEMED TO BE CLAIMING THAT MAGGIE WAS HAVING
SOME SORT OF TORRID AFFAIR AND PERHAPS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WHY
SHE WAS SHOT TUESDAY STARTING AT 6:00 EASTERN
STREAMING FREE ON NBC "NEWS NOW," WHEREVER YOU STREAM LIVE
>> Reporter: IN JULY 2022, LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA SET UP CAMP
OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, ONCE AGAIN WAITING FOR ALEX MURDAUGH.
IT HAD BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE HIS WIFE, MAGGIE, AND SON,
PAUL, HAD BEEN SHOT TO DEATH NOW, HE WAS IN COURT, CHARGED
WITH THEIR KILLINGS. >> RICHARD ALEX MURDAUGH, IF
THAT IS YOUR NAME, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
>> Reporter: WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE OR JUST THE
HEARING ITSELF >> WELL, CLEARLY, JAIL HAS TAKEN
ITS TOLL ON ALEX MURDAUGH. >> Reporter: JOE McCULLOCH
REPRESENTS CONNOR COOK JOE AND ALEX HAVE KNOWN EACH
OTHER SINCE ALEX'S EARLY DAYS AS AN ATTORNEY.
>> HE'S LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT HE WAS VERY QUIET, FRAIL, ALMOST
IN SOME RESPECTS >> BASED ON EVERYTHING
INVESTIGATORS HAVE TOLD US, WE KNOW HIM TO BE A DIFFERENT
PERSON THAN WE MIGHT'VE THOUGHT HE WAS IN SUMMER OF 2021
BUT HE ALSO LOOKED LIKE A VASTLY DIFFERENT PERSON
>> WHAT SAY YOU, RICHARD "ALEX" MURDAUGH, ARE YOU
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY OF THE FELONIES IN WHICH YOU STAND
INDICTED >> NOT GUILTY.
>> Reporter: BUT THE MAIN REASON MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE, WAS TO
HEAR IF THE STATE WOULD REVEAL WHY ALEX HAD BEEN CHARGED.
>> AND I THINK A LOT OF US WERE CERTAINLY THINKING, "OKAY, IT'S
BEEN, YOU KNOW, 13 MONTHS. PROSECUTORS WILL GIVE US A SENSE
OF WHAT THEIR CASE IS HERE, AS WOULD BE TYPICAL."
>> Reporter: BUT PROSECUTORS DID NOT OFFER MUCH NEW EVIDENCE.
ALL THEY SAID, WAS THAT THE MOTIVE FOR THE MURDERS WAS TIED
TO ALEX'S ALLEGED FINANCIAL CRIMES
>> ALL OF THE 81 ALLEGATIONS OF WHITE COLLAR FRAUD AND OTHER
CRIMES, DRUGS AND THE -- THE LIKE, THAT'S BEEN GATHERED
AGAINST MR. MURDAUGH OVER THE COURSE OF THAT LONG
INVESTIGATION, A LOT OF THAT PROVIDES THE BACKGROUND AND THE
MOTIVE FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 7th, 2021.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT'S ALL WE GOT?
>> THAT'S ALL WE GOT >> Reporter: THAT STATEMENT LEFT
MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, AND A VACUUM FOR ALEX'S LAWYERS TO
FILL THE DEFENSE FILED MOTIONS
SUGGESTING THERE WAS A MORE PLAUSIBLE SUSPECT, POINTING THE
FINGER AT THE MAN ALEX SAID HE ONCE ASKED TO SHOOT HIM,
CURTIS SMITH IN THOSE FILINGS, ALEX'S LAWYERS
SAID SMITH FAILED A POLYGRAPH TEST OVER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
MURDERS. THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY, CURTIS
DENIED FAILING THE TEST. IN THAT SAME FILING, THE DEFENSE
ALSO FLOATED A BOMBSHELL THEORY THAT CURTIS HIMSELF GAVE
INVESTIGATORS. THEY SEEMED TO BE CLAIMING THAT
MAGGIE WAS HAVING SOME SORT OF TORRID AFFAIR WITH -- WITH
SOMEONE WHO WORKED THERE ON THE PROPERTY, AND PERHAPS THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN WHY SHE WAS SHOT >> THE INCLUSION OF THIS -- THIS
ALLEGATION BY CURTIS SMITH, THAT MAYBE SHE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR
WITH THE GROUNDSKEEPER, REALLY ANGERED THE PROSECUTORS.
THEY SAID IT WAS INSULTING TO HER MEMORY
>> Reporter: SO, THE NEXT TIME THE TWO SIDES MET IN COURT, THE
PROSECUTION CAME OUT SWINGING. >> THERE IS A VIDEO THAT SHOWS
ALEX PRESENT AT THE SCENE, DESPITE HIS DENIALS, WITH MAGGIE
AND PAUL AT 8:44 P.M., NOT LONG BEFORE THEIR PHONE CEASED ANY
MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY. >> Reporter: THAT WAS MORE THAN
AN HOUR BEFORE ALEX MADE THAT INFAMOUS 911 CALL.
>> MY WIFE AND CHILD HAVE BEEN SHOT BADLY
>> Reporter: IN COURT FILINGS THIS WEEK, PROSECUTORS SAID THEY
INTEND TO PROVE THAT ALEX COMMITTED THE MURDERS SOMETIME
BETWEEN 8:30 AND 10:06 THAT NIGHT.
THE BATTLE ROYALE WILL CONTINUE THIS JANUARY WHEN THE MURDER
TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO START. A COURTROOM DRAMA THAT'S SURE TO
CAPTURE ATTENTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND CLOSE TO HOME,
WHERE MANY IN THE STATE ARE FIXATED ON THE SPECTACLE OF A
DYNASTY SEEMINGLY ABOUT TO FALL. IN THE DOUBLE MURDER CASE, WHAT
DO YOU EXPECT WE'LL SEE IN THAT COURTROOM?
>> I THINK FROM THE DEFENSE WE'LL SEE A VERY AGGRESSIVE,
BOUNDARY-PUSHING DEFENSE THE LEAD PROSECUTOR IS -- IS
VERY STRAIGHT-LACED. HE'S VERY -- HE'S -- DESCRIBES
HIMSELF AS VERY BY THE BOOK. SO, I THINK WE'LL SEE KIND OF
THIS LAYING OUT OF A METHODICAL CASE ON THE PART OF THE
PROSECUTION AND THEN POKE -- TRYING TO POKE HOLES EVERY WHICH
WAY FROM -- FROM THE DEFENSE >> Reporter: ALEX'S MURDER TRIAL
WON'T BE HIS ONLY COURT APPEARANCE NEXT YEAR
MALLORY BEACH'S FAMILY'S WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT IS ALSO
SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY. WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR YOU TO --
TO GET A VERDICT AGAINST ALEX MURDAUGH IN -- IN THE
WRONGFUL DEATH CASE? >> WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME, OR WHAT
DOES IT MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAMPTON COUNTY
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE -- THEY'RE SORT OF
TOILING AND LIVING UNDER A PRETTY BIG CLOUD OF
ALEX MURDAUGH RIGHT NOW. SO, I MEAN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN
FOR THEM I THINK IT MEANS A LOT TO A
LOTTA PEOPLE IT'LL BE A HEALING EXPERIENCE
FOR THE -- FOR THE BEACH FAMILY. >> Reporter: ALEX'S FORMER LAW
COLLEAGUES HAVE FORMED A NEW PARTNERSHIP UNDER A NEW NAME,
THE PARKER LAW GROUP THEY'VE ALSO BEEN PAYING BACK
STOLEN FUNDS RELATED TO ALEX'S CASES IN THE WAKE OF HIS ALLEGED
CRIMES OF COURSE, BEHIND THE LEGAL
MINUTIAE OF HEARINGS AND FILINGS, ARE THE VICTIMS
IN THE SPRING, ALEX MURDAUGH ADMITTED HE STOLE $4.3 MILLION
FROM GLORIA SATTERFIELD'S FAMILY, WHO HOPE TO EVENTUALLY
RECOVER SOME OF THOSE FUNDS. ACCORDING TO THEIR ATTORNEYS,
THE SATTERFIELDS HAVE RECOVERED IN EXCESS OF $7.5 MILLION FROM
OTHER PARTIES IN THEIR CASE, WHICH THEY DECIDED TO SHARE.
>> WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO SHARE THE PROFITS, SHARE
EVERYTHING WHAT WE GOT WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT WAS JUST LIKE
GLORIA'S STRUGGLE, WORKED HARD BUT STRUGGLED THROUGH HER LIFE
TO PROVIDE >> Reporter: THEY'VE DECIDED TO
USE THE MONEY TO START A CHARITY THAT WILL HELP HAMPTON COUNTY
FAMILIES GET PRESENTS AT THE HOLIDAYS
GINGER SAYS THE CHARITY, "GLORIA'S GIFT," IS A
REPRESENTATION OF HER SISTER, AND A CHANCE TO FIND LIGHT IN
WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY DARK JOURNEY.
>> WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING POSITIVE, OUT OF THIS
ENTIRE SAGA THAT HAS B -- HAD SO MUCH NEGATIVITY.
GLORIA WAS A SISTER TO US, SHE WAS A DAUGHTER, SHE WAS A
MOTHER, AND SHE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS FULL OF LOVE
>> Reporter: PAUL AND MAGGIE MURDAUGH ARE BURIED IN
HAMPTON CEMETERY, A FEW FEET AWAY FROM MANY MURDAUGHS WHO
CAME BEFORE THEM PAMELA PINCKNEY STILL MOURNS HER
SON HAKEEM HER CLAIM AGAINST ALEX IS STILL
PENDING. AND THEN THERE IS MALLORY BEACH.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, THAT LOOK AT MALLORY
AS THOUGH SHE WAS AN ANGEL AND THE REASON I SAY THAT, IS
WITHOUT THAT BOAT CRASH, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS COMES TO
LIGHT. >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED THAT
NIGHT ON ARCHER'S CREEK STILL HAUNTS ANTHONY COOK.
BUT HE IS BUOYED BY MALLORY'S MEMORY, THAT VIBRANT GIRL HE
ONCE HOPED TO MARRY, AND WHO, EVEN NOW, CAN MAKE HIM SMILE
>> THE TATTOO THAT I HAVE IS -- IT'S A HEART WITH ANGEL WINGS ON
THE SIDES OF THE HEART, WITH MAL'S NAME IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
AND OVER THE TOP, IT SAYS, "ALWAYS ON MY MIND
FOREVER IN MY HEART. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,