Nolen Tuten

Nolen Tuten testified for the defense about his lifelong friendship with the Murdaugh family, his close friendship with Paul Murdaugh, and his familiarity with Moselle. His testimony covered the property, the family's firearms, plans he had made with Paul for June 7, and what he observed after learning of the deaths.

Tuten said Buster and Paul had received .300 Blackout rifles. He testified that Paul's tan rifle later disappeared, although he did not know how and believed it had been stolen, and that Paul commonly used Buster's black rifle afterward. He also identified a camouflage Benelli as Paul's favored shotgun and said firearms were sometimes left near the kennels or hangar but were not permanently stored there.

Tuten and Paul had planned to plow under and replant a failing sunflower field on June 7, but work kept Tuten near Columbia. Tuten later received a Snapchat concerning a leaking farm-sprayer cylinder. After the kennel video was played, he identified the voices as those of Paul, Maggie, and Alex Murdaugh. He said the kennel and hangar lights and roof were visible from the house at night, but not what was happening there.

After his mother told him something had happened at Moselle, Tuten tried unsuccessfully to reach Paul and drove to the property. From outside the cordoned area, he saw two sheet-covered bodies. He described Alex as crying and appearing distraught, and testified that Alex repeatedly referred to the boat wreck when they embraced and later asked him to contact Rogan Gibson.