Skip to content
Alex Murdaugh— Case Archive
2023 Murder Trialtrial-daytrial-dayJohn B. ConradCreighton WatersPhillip D. BarberJim GriffinDick HarpootlianJeff CroftBritt DovePaul McManigalJohn BedingfieldMichael KnechtJonathan VanHoutencrossredirectrecrossdirectvoir_direDay 5 - January 31, 2023Testimony covered a disputed recorded phrase, Verizon call records, the chain and extraction of phone evidence, Maggie Murdaugh's recorded device activity, and three .300 Blackout rifles built for the family.
← Day 42023 Murder TrialDay 6 →

Day 5 - January 31, 2023

Recorded Interview, Phone Evidence, and .300 Blackout Rifles

Judge Clifton B. Newman
15Proceedings
6Pages
6Witnesses
3,262Lines
Day 5 of 27
Appearing:
John B. Conrad Creighton Waters Phillip D. Barber Jim Griffin Dick Harpootlian Jeff Croft Britt Dove Paul McManigal John Bedingfield Michael Knecht Jonathan VanHouten

Testimony covered a disputed recorded phrase, Verizon call records, the chain and extraction of phone evidence, Maggie Murdaugh's recorded device activity, and three .300 Blackout rifles built for the family.

Full day summary

Jeff Croft's cross-examination addressed firearms, ammunition, evidence handling, and Alex Murdaugh's June 10 interview. Croft said he was unaware that the homicide weapons had been found, acknowledged that Maggie Murdaugh's phone was not placed in a Faraday bag, and maintained that he heard Murdaugh say “I did him so bad.” The court allowed the recording to be replayed at normal and reduced speed, and Croft agreed that jurors could decide what they heard. Verizon custodian Michael Knecht authenticated phone records and explained their limits. Maggie's records showed her last outgoing call at about 7:50 p.m. and later calls routed to voicemail, including a 9:04:24 p.m. call reflected as outgoing in Alex's records. Knecht said voicemail routing cannot establish whether a phone rang unanswered, was off, or was otherwise disconnected, and that the records contained tower information rather than precise GPS data. After testimony about unlocking and extracting Paul's phone, the court found the device non-fungible, ruled that the State had established a sufficient chain of custody, and denied the defense motion to exclude Britt Dove's planned testimony. Firearms dealer John Bedingfield testified that he built two .300 Blackout rifles for the Murdaugh family in 2016 and a replacement in 2018 after Alex said one had been lost or misplaced. Bedingfield acknowledged that the replacement rifle's Form 4473 was unaccounted for and that he later amended his records using other transaction documents. Qualified as a cell-phone-forensics expert, Dove presented reports from Maggie's phone. He identified a message read at 8:49:27 p.m., a lock event seconds later, later orientation changes and an apparent unsuccessful Face ID attempt, and recorded step intervals. Dove cautioned that step counts were not exact and that the data could not identify who held or operated the phone.

Video thumbnail9:37:44
Watch →

2. Jeff Croft — Cross/Redirect/Recross

Defense counsel cross-examined SLED agent Jeff Croft about the Moselle searches, firearm evidence, evidence handling, and a disputed phrase in Alex Murdaugh's recorded interview, followed by redirect and recross on the investigation and collected ammunition.

→
Procedural
Opening Court Proceedings

Counsel thanked court personnel for their assistance before the jury returned and the State's case resumed.

Cross
Jeff CroftJim Griffin
593 lines

Croft faced cross-examination about the limited connection between recovered Moselle firearms and the homicide evidence, gaps in searches and evidence handling, and his disputed interpretation of Alex Murdaugh's recorded words.

Redirect
Jeff CroftCreighton Waters
234 lines

Croft's redirect defended the scope of the firearm searches and June 10 interview, limited his own role in comparison testing, and identified eight admitted Winchester and Federal shotgun-shell exhibits.

Recross
Jeff CroftJim Griffin
46 lines

On recross, Croft addressed stippling and .300 Blackout projectiles, then acknowledged limits on the provenance of shot-shell evidence collected months later from property not secured by law enforcement.

Highlights

Jeff Croft - Crossevidence eventThe court permitted the defense to replay the recorded phrase at normal and one-third speed over the State's objection. Croft continued to hear “I,” while agreeing that jurors could listen and decide for themselves.Jeff Croft - Cross“I agree that they get to hear the tape and make their own mind up as to what he said, yes, sir.”— Jeff CroftAlthough Croft maintained his interpretation, he acknowledged that the jury could independently assess the recording.

3. Michael Knecht — Direct/Cross/Redirect/Recross

Verizon custodian Michael Knecht authenticated cellular records and explained what they showed—and could not show—about unanswered calls to Maggie Murdaugh’s phone.

→
Direct
Michael KnechtJohn B. Conrad
435 lines

Verizon custodian Michael Knecht authenticated nine exhibits and explained records showing a 9:04:24 p.m. call from Alex Murdaugh's account to Maggie's phone that went to voicemail.

Cross
Michael KnechtDick Harpootlian
140 lines

Michael Knecht clarified Verizon call and voicemail codes, identified the last outgoing and answered-call activity in Maggie Murdaugh's reviewed records, and explained limits involving text records, retention, and network ringing.

Redirect
Michael KnechtJohn B. Conrad
14 lines

Michael Knecht clarified that Verizon voicemail-routing records cannot show whether a phone rang unanswered, was turned off, or was otherwise disconnected.

Recross
Michael KnechtDick Harpootlian
26 lines

Michael Knecht confirmed that the reviewed Verizon records lacked specific GPS data and disclaimed expertise in cell-tower triangulation.

Highlights

Michael Knecht - Directtestimony highlightKnecht explained that a 9:04:24 p.m. call to Maggie's phone went to voicemail, leaving no cell-tower data on that side of the record, and that subsequent calls shown in her records were unanswered.

4. Paul McManigal — Direct/Cross

Digital forensic examiner Paul McManigal described handling phone evidence and related custody records, then answered brief questions about the condition and charging of an iPhone when he received it.

→
Direct
Paul McManigalJohn B. Conrad
102 lines

Paul McManigal explained the limited redaction of an extraction attributed to Alex Murdaugh's phone, confirmed that call logs remained intact, and documented his unsuccessful attempt to unlock the phone he believed was Paul's.

Cross
Paul McManigalPhillip D. Barber
15 lines

McManigal said the phone was powered off when received and that he charged it, but he could not recall whether its battery had been completely drained.

5. Jonathan VanHouten — Direct

Secret Service civilian employee Jonathan VanHouten described unlocking a phone for SLED and creating a full file-system extraction. The court admitted State’s Exhibits 271 through 273 without objection, and the defense asked no questions.

→
Direct
Jonathan VanHoutenJohn B. Conrad
137 lines

VanHouten explained how Cellebrite Premium unlocked Paul's phone, established the extraction and chain-of-custody foundation, and said SLED—not he—analyzed the contents.

7. John Bedingfield — Direct/Cross/Redirect

The court denied a defense challenge to the chain of custody for Paul Murdaugh’s phone before John Bedingfield testified about three .300 Blackout rifles he assembled for the Murdaugh family.

→
Procedural
Cell-Phone Chain-of-Custody Motion

The court denied the defense request to exclude testimony about Paul Murdaugh's phone extraction, finding the phone non-fungible and the State's chain of custody sufficient.

Direct
John BedingfieldCreighton Waters
311 lines

John Bedingfield documented three .300 Blackout rifles assembled for Alex Murdaugh, including a 2018 replacement picked up by Maggie, while acknowledging that the third rifle's Form 4473 was missing.

Cross
John BedingfieldJim Griffin
121 lines

Bedingfield distinguished the three Murdaugh .300 Blackout rifles, acknowledged limits in his component-source recollection, described the caliber as commercially available and commonly used for hog hunting, and gave favorable testimony about Alex Murdaugh's relationship with his sons.

Redirect
John BedingfieldCreighton Waters
44 lines

John Bedingfield explained that cerakote finishes can be applied in multiple colors at any time and clarified caliber entries on State's Exhibit 247.

Highlights

Cell-Phone Chain-of-Custody MotionrulingThe court found the cell phone non-fungible, relied particularly on VanHouten's testimony, held that the State had established a sufficient chain of custody, and denied the motion; the defense excepted to the ruling for the record.John Bedingfield - Directtestimony highlightBedingfield testified that Alex said Paul had lost or misplaced a rifle and requested a third .300 Blackout in 2018. He said Maggie picked up the replacement, paid by check, and would have completed Form 4473 with him.John Bedingfield - DirectadmissionBedingfield acknowledged that the third rifle's Form 4473 was unaccounted for. He described using the canceled check and an otherwise blank log entry to identify the transfer and said he amended his records to reflect a sale to Maggie Murdaugh on April 14, 2018.John Bedingfield - Direct“No, sir. The 4473 is unaccounted for.”— John BedingfieldBedingfield acknowledged the central gap in the transfer documentation for the third rifle.

8. Britt Dove — Direct/Voir Dire

SLED Lieutenant Britt Dove was qualified as a cell-phone forensics expert and began explaining records from Maggie Murdaugh’s phone, while cautioning that the data could not identify who operated the device.

→
Voir Dire
Britt DoveJohn B. Conrad
47 lines

SLED Lieutenant Britt Dove described his digital-forensics experience and training before the court, without defense objection, qualified him as a cell-phone forensics expert.

Direct
Britt DoveJohn B. Conrad
948 lines

Britt Dove authenticated forensic reports from Maggie Murdaugh's phone and detailed its calls, messages, lock status, movement, and steps while emphasizing that the data could not identify the user.

Highlights

Britt Dove - Direct“No, sir. I cannot tell you who did it. I can tell you the phone has the information, the phone recorded certain information, but I can't tell you who is actually touching the screen or pushing the buttons on it.”— Britt DoveDove expressly limited his analysis to recorded device activity and declined to identify the person operating the phone.Britt Dove - Directtestimony highlightDove linked an 8:49 p.m. unlock sequence to a read message and testified that the phone was locked at 8:49:31 p.m. and remained locked until the next afternoon.Britt Dove - Directtestimony highlightDove described later orientation changes and a one-second camera activation as movement and an unsuccessful apparent Face ID attempt, while acknowledging that he could not identify what the camera faced.
← Day 42023 Murder TrialDay 6 →