Skip to content
Alex Murdaugh— Case Archive
personpersonRussell LaffitteRussell LaffitteFormer Palmetto State Bank executive whose loans and conservatorship transactions with Alex Murdaugh appeared in the financial evidence.← All People
Mentioned

Russell Laffitte

Former Palmetto State Bank executive whose loans and conservatorship transactions with Alex Murdaugh appeared in the financial evidence.

Mentioned2023 Murder Trial
11 proceedings·11 mentions

About

Financial testimony identified Russell Laffitte as a Palmetto State Bank officer, first its COO and later its CEO, whose dealings with Alex Murdaugh formed part of the State's motive evidence. Witnesses and bank records connected Laffitte to conservatorship funds, payments applied toward Murdaugh's personal obligations, and a $400,000 overdraft-covering deposit made before supporting loan documentation was created.

Cross-examination examined Laffitte's approval of a $750,000 loan and emphasized Murdaugh's account balances, borrowing history, and continued access to credit. Murdaugh acknowledged discussing the structure of conservatorship transactions with Laffitte but maintained that Laffitte did not knowingly help him steal.

Trial Record (11)

20232023 Murder TrialJan 23, 2023 – Mar 3, 2023

Financial evidence identified Russell Laffitte as a Palmetto State Bank officer involved in loans, account funding, and conservatorship transactions connected to Alex Murdaugh. The defense emphasized Murdaugh's access to credit, and Murdaugh denied that Laffitte knowingly participated in his thefts.

Day 9

ProceduralRule 404(b) Hearing Argument and SchedulingMentioned

Summary

The parties contested whether alleged financial misconduct supported motive or fear of detection. The court found enough evidence for the law-firm misconduct threshold but deferred final admissibility decisions pending the Satterfield documents, proposed Mark Tinsley testimony, bank witnesses, and further argument.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 10

Day 12

Day 14

Day 20

DirectPeter Rudofski - DirectPeter RudofskiCreighton WatersMentioned

Summary

Peter Rudofski combined phone, carrier, telemetry, and newly received OnStar data into a June 7 timeline emphasizing the victims' final phone activity, the Suburban's movements and speeds, missing extracted call-log entries, and the interval between arrival at the kennels and the 911 call.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 23