Margaret and Paul Murdaugh are killed at Moselle
Margaret Kennedy Branstetter Murdaugh and Paul Terry Murdaugh were shot and killed at the family's Colleton County property.
Alex Murdaugh murder case timeline
Major events from the June 2021 killings through the first trial, the challenge to the verdicts, and the murder retrial now scheduled for April 2027.
- Events
- 21
- Span
- 2021–2027
- Retrial
- Apr. 5, 2027
2021–2022
Killings and charges
The June 2021 homicides at Moselle and the murder indictments returned the following year.
- Homicides
- Charges
Grand jury returns the murder indictments
The Colleton County grand jury indicted Richard Alexander Murdaugh on two murder counts and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
January–March 2023
The first trial
Jury selection, six weeks of evidence, guilty verdicts, and two consecutive life sentences.
- Trial
Jury qualification begins
The certified trial transcript begins with jury qualification in Colleton County before Judge Clifton Newman. Opening statements followed on January 25.
- Verdict
Jury returns guilty verdicts
The jury found Murdaugh guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
- Sentencing
Two consecutive life sentences imposed
Judge Newman imposed a life sentence for each murder and ordered the terms to run consecutively.
2023–2024
New-trial litigation
The defense challenged the verdicts based on allegations involving the Colleton County Clerk of Court.
- Motion
Motion for a new trial filed
Murdaugh sought a new trial based on allegations that the Colleton County Clerk of Court improperly influenced jurors.
- Ruling
New-trial motion denied
After evidentiary hearings on January 26 and 29, the circuit court denied the motion. That ruling later became part of the consolidated appeal.
2026–2027
Reversal and retrial
The Supreme Court ordered a new trial and the circuit court began setting the schedule, judge, and venue.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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.
- 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.
- Motion
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.
- Motion
Defense requests cellphone extraction files
The defense sought complete forensic cellphone files so its experts could independently examine the digital timeline and underlying data used at the first trial.
- Motion
Defense seeks records about missing weapons and clothing
The defense asked the court to order disclosure of investigative files, witness interviews and grand jury material concerning alleged handling, concealment or disposal of the murder weapons and clothing.
- Retrial
Court schedules urgent evidentiary hearing
Judge McCaslin scheduled an in-person hearing on urgent evidence issues for October 16 at the Lexington Courthouse and ordered the State to respond by noon October 8. Defense counsel said the hearing would address DNA, cellphone extraction, ballistics and FARO scan data. Other motions remain scheduled for November 13.
- Motion
State responds to discovery requests
Prosecutors offered additional DNA analysis files and original FARO crime-scene scans, while opposing the requested .300 Blackout comparisons and seeking further information before DNA testing that could consume remaining samples. FITSNews reported that the State invoked grand jury secrecy in its response to the missing-weapons disclosure motion.
- Motion
Defense replies on testing and disclosure
The defense filed four replies seeking permission for further DNA testing, independent microscopic ballistics comparisons, production deadlines for laboratory files and original FARO scans, and disclosure of investigative records concerning the alleged disposal of the murder weapons. It also asked the judge to privately review grand jury testimony before deciding what must be disclosed.
- Ruling
Court allows defense DNA testing, denies broad ballistics review
At a pretrial hearing in Lexington County, Judge McCaslin allowed the defense to conduct its own Y-STR testing of the remaining unidentified male DNA from Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails and phone; defense counsel said the testing would take about 90 days. She denied the defense request to compare .300 Blackout casings from shootings in eight surrounding counties, calling it a fishing expedition, and told both sides to resolve discovery disputes without further motions to compel. She said the defense would receive the FARO crime-scene scan by the following Monday and raw ballistics data for its expert, set an October 30 deadline for further motions with responses due November 6, and scheduled a pretrial conference for January 20, 2027 in Sumter County. The April 5, 2027 trial date remains in place.
Sources- Judge allows defense DNA testing and rejects broad ballistics review
- Judge rules on DNA testing and ballistics, sets next hearing
- Live courtroom coverage of the October 16 pretrial hearing
- Transcript of the October 16 pretrial hearing
- Judge sets limits as defense and prosecutors argue over DNA and ballistics evidence