New indictments: Murdaugh now facing more than 50 charges

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A salient South Carolina lawyer whose woman and lad were gunned down six months agone successful unsolved killings was indicted Thursday connected 21 much charges that helium stole colony and different wealth from clients.

When combined with erstwhile charges from the authorities expansive jury, Murdaugh present faces astir 50 counts of breach of spot with fraudulent intent; machine crimes; wealth laundering and forgery. State prosecutors said helium has stolen much than $6.2 million. He besides faces a fewer different charges aft constabulary said helium tried to fake his ain death.

The latest indictments handed up Thursday against Alex Murdaugh see 7 much alleged schemes betwixt 2016 and 2020 wherever the lawyer told clients their settlements were smaller than expected oregon they had to wage other fees for things similar mishap reconstruction, according to tribunal records.

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Murdaugh, 53, past sent that information of the colony wealth to a fake relationship helium created, prosecutors said.

This acceptable of indictments said Murdaugh stole astir $1.4 million.

Murdaugh's father, gramps and great-grandfather were prosecutors in tiny Hampton County, wherever each roadworthy starring to the region spot is 2 lanes. The household besides founded what has go a elephantine backstage instrumentality steadfast with dozens of attorneys known for suing railroads and getting wounded claims for workers.

Murdaugh's ineligible troubles began aft his wife, Maggie, 52, and lad Paul, 22, were recovered changeable to decease astatine the family's property successful June. No 1 has been charged successful their deaths and Murdaugh's lawyers said helium has denied having thing to bash with their killings. They didn't instantly remark connected the latest fiscal charges.

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In 1 indictment Thursday, prosecutors said Murdaugh told the typical of a dormant woman's property helium lone recovered $30,000, but since the grant was truthful small, helium would waive his lawyer fee. Instead, Murdaugh recovered much than $180,000 and wrote a cheque to his slope relationship for the much than $150,000 difference, the indictment said.

In different case, Murdaugh told a household person $85,000 of a colony had to beryllium acceptable speech for a “medical security lien" and past sentthat wealth to himself, according to the indictment.

Murdaugh has been held without bond for much than 7 weeks — a justice said it was for the defendant’s ain information aft his apprehension connected charges helium stole $3.4 cardinal successful security wealth meant for the sons of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died aft a autumn astatine 1 of the family’s homes successful 2018. Murdaugh’s lawyers are appealing the nary enslaved determination to the authorities Supreme Court.

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Murdaugh volition beryllium successful tribunal again Friday for a virtual enslaved proceeding connected 27 indictments from astir 3 weeks ago. Prosecutors said the charges see taking $125,000 from a colony for a authorities trooper injured connected duty.

Murdaugh besides is charged successful what investigators said was an effort to person himself changeable and killed truthful his surviving lad could cod a $10 cardinal beingness security policy.

All the charges against Murdaugh are felonies and helium could look hundreds of years successful situation if convicted of each them.

All the charges impact a fraudulent slope account Murdaugh created with a sanction akin to a institution that handles ineligible settlements, according to investigators.

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Murdaugh utilized the wealth to wage slope overdraft fees, recognition paper payments, checks written to friends and household and different items, according to the indictments.

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Follow Jeffrey Collins connected Twitter astatine https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.

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