How Old Is Alex Murdaugh? Full Coverage Of The High-Profile Murdaugh Murder Case

The Murdaugh murder case began on June 7, 2021, when Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie (52), and their younger son, Paul (22), shot multiple times with different guns at their Islandton, South Carolina hunting lodge. Notably, the Murdaugh family's prominence in the legal system drew national attention, with three generations serving as the 14th Circuit Solicitor for five southern South Carolina counties. 

In terms of Alex Murdaugh’s career, he was a partner at the prestigious law firm PMPED. Additionally, the case had ties to a 2019 tragedy when Paul faced boating under the influence charges for a fatal crash.

Aside from his murder charges, Alex Murdaugh also pleaded guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges in 2023 and agreed to cooperate with the authorities. So, how old is Alex Murdaugh when he is eligible for pardon? Unfortunately, he is not eligible for a pardon in South Carolina. 

Convicted in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison without parole, he doesn't meet any eligibility criteria in South Carolina. Even if he could apply, given the gravity of his crimes, his pardon request would likely be denied by the board.

According to Alex Murdaugh's Wikipedia and various news sources, the former lawyer has pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Double homicides: Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul in June 2021, resulting in a life sentence without parole. He confessed to the killings during a September 2021 interview with a state agent. 
• Insurance fraud: In the same year, he hired his cousin Curtis Eddie Smith for a failed suicide-for-hire plot, aiming to secure a $10 million life insurance payout for his surviving son Buster. The plan led to charges of insurance fraud, conspiracy, and filing a false police report for Murdaugh, while Smith faced multiple charges, including assisted suicide and methamphetamine distribution. 
• Embezzlement: Murdaugh's criminal activities extended to embezzling millions from his family's law firm, PMPED, where he was a partner until his forced departure in September 2021. He later pleaded guilty to 27 federal fraud and money laundering charges in January 2023, agreeing to cooperate with authorities.

Initially, Alex Murdaugh claimed he had an alibi, stating he was with his dementia-afflicted mother during the killings. However, cellphone data and video evidence contradicted this. In July 2022, he was arrested, charged with two counts of murder and weapon possession, and pleaded not guilty throughout the trial. 

The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including DNA, gunshot residue, fingerprints, ballistics, and a motive. It was revealed that he hired a hitman in September 2021 to fake his death and collect insurance money, but the hitman, Curtis Edward Smith, cooperated with authorities and testified against Alex Murdaugh. 

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Alex Murdaugh guilty on all four counts on March 2, 2023. 

Alex Murdaugh's five-week trial began on January 25, 2023, at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, featuring over 100 witnesses and exhibits. Solicitor Duffie Stone led the prosecution, while Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin led the defense. The trial, dubbed South Carolina's 'trial of the century,' exposed family secrets, including drug abuse and financial fraud. 

On March 2, 2023, the jury unanimously found him guilty on all four counts. The following day, Judge Newman sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences without parole, citing 'ultimate betrayal' and 'no remorse, empathy, or humanity.'

The prosecution argued Alex Murdaugh's motives for killing his wife and son included financial problems, legal troubles, dissatisfaction in his marriage, and a desire to be with his mistress. They also alleged he blamed his son for a prior tragedy. The defense countered by asserting his love for his family and claiming unknown intruders might be the real culprits, casting doubt on the investigation's integrity and the reliability of evidence.

The jury ultimately rejected the defense's arguments and accepted the prosecution's theory of the case.

Alex Murdaugh, 55 as of 2023, born June 16, 1967, in Hampton County, South Carolina, is the son of Randolph and Elizabeth Murdaugh. He graduated from Hampton High School in 1985, earned a degree from the University of South Carolina in 1989, and obtained his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992. 

He joined the family's law firm, PMPED, in 1994, eventually becoming a partner and specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He married Margaret "Maggie" Branstetter in 1991 and had two sons, Buster (born 1994) and Paul (born 1999). Currently, he is 55 years old and serving a life sentence at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina.

This Alex Murdaugh wikipedia aims to capture everything about one of the most high-profile case in South Carolina history. While the murderer is still appealing the charges as of September 2023, Alex Murdaugh will now spend the next few years in prison, paying for what he has done.