Defense moves to compel forensic material
The defense asked the court to order production of DNA material and laboratory records, .300 Blackout ballistics evidence and records, and raw FARO crime-scene scan data. The request remains pending.
State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander MurdaughCase Nos. 2022-GS-15-00592–00595
Alex Murdaugh murder retrial
The South Carolina Supreme Court set aside the 2023 murder convictions and ordered a new trial. Trial is scheduled for April 5, 2027, before Judge Debra R. McCaslin in Sumter County. The retrial has not begun, and no retrial transcript exists.
- Scheduled start
- April 5, 2027
- Next hearing
- November 13, 2026 · Lexington County
- Judge
- Debra R. McCaslin
- Venue
- Sumter County
Since the Supreme Court decision
Recent retrial developments
- Motion
- Retrial
Court selects Sumter County for the retrial
Judge McCaslin granted the defense motion to transfer venue outside the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and ordered that the retrial take place in Sumter County.
- Retrial
Defense recommends Richland County
Defense counsel told the court that Richland County was its first recommendation for the retrial venue. This was a defense request; the court later selected Sumter County.
- Ruling
Court approves outside fingernail DNA testing
Judge McCaslin approved sending material recovered from beneath Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails to Othram for quantitative analysis under a testing workflow shared with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
- Retrial
Retrial moved out of Colleton County
Judge McCaslin kept the April 5, 2027 start date but ruled that jury selection and trial will occur outside Colleton County. The replacement venue was not selected at the hearing.
- Retrial
Judge McCaslin assigned to the retrial
The Chief Justice vested Judge Debra R. McCaslin with exclusive jurisdiction over the indictments, including any future retrial and related motions.
- Appeal
Remittitur sent to the circuit court
The appellate docket records the remittitur, returning jurisdiction to the circuit court after the Supreme Court's decision.
- Appeal
Supreme Court orders a new trial
The court reversed the denial of Murdaugh's new-trial motion and remanded the murder case for a new trial. The Attorney General announced that the State would retry the charges.
Primary records and reporting
Source documents
Court OpinionOpinion No. 28329, State v. MurdaughSupreme Court of South Carolina · May 13, 2026Court OrderOrder assigning Judge Debra R. McCaslinSupreme Court of South Carolina · June 8, 2026Court DocketAppellate Case 2023-000392South Carolina Judicial Branch · May 29, 2026Prosecutor StatementAttorney General announces intent to retry the murder chargesSouth Carolina Attorney General · May 13, 2026News ReportJudge moves retrial out of Colleton CountyAssociated Press · August 14, 2026News ReportJudge rules on venue, prior testimony, and fingernail DNA testingWTOC · August 14, 2026News ReportMurdaugh defense recommends Richland County for the retrialWIS · August 17, 2026Court OrderOrder granting defendant's motion to transfer venueCourt of General Sessions, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit · September 8, 2026News ReportMurdaugh retrial to take place in Sumter CountyWRDW · September 8, 2026Court FilingDefense motion to compel DNA, ballistics, and FARO scan dataCourt of General Sessions · September 18, 2026News ReportMurdaugh attorneys request further evidence ahead of Sumter retrialWIS · September 18, 2026