Alex Murdaugh was sentenced on Friday morning to two life sentences in prison, with the sentences running consecutively. Murdaugh’s sentencing comes a day after the 54-year-old was found guilty of the murders of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie, and 22-year-old Paul.
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He is facing two counts of murder and two weapon charges for the June 7th, 2021 shooting. Authorities stated that he killed his wife and son as financial and personal struggles became very overwhelming. Prior to sentencing, he addressed judge Clifton Newman, saying, “I’m innocent. I would never hurt my wife Maggie. And I would never hurt my son Paul Paul.”
Before Murdaugh spoke, prosecutor Creighton Waters had asked for two consecutive life sentences, calling him a “cunning manipulator. A man who placed himself above all others, including his family.”
“A man like this man should never be allowed to be among free, law-abiding citizens again,” Waters stated. Just before the sentencing, Newman had addressed him saying, “I know you have to see Paul and Maggie during the nighttime when you’re attempting to go to sleep. I’m sure they will come and visit you.”
After Murdah claimed he was innocent for the second time, Newman stated “It might not have been you. It might have been the monster you become. When you take 20, 40, 50, 60 opioid pills, maybe you become another person.”
Alex Murdaugh Gets 2 Life Sentences
Paul was tragically shot in the head and chest with a shotgun at close range. Maggie was shot several times, including one shot in the back and several other shots while she was lying on the ground. She was shot with a 300 Blackout ammo from an AR-style rifle, and both of them were pronounced dead at the scene.
Murdaugh’s defense team had insisted that he was visiting his mother at the time of the murders. He had initially stated that he wasn’t near the dog kennels, but according to a Snapchat video taken by Paul, he was seen at the scene at 8:44 p.m., 5 minutes before authorities stated that Maggie and Paul were murdered.
While on stand in his own defense, Murdaugh went on to admit that he had lied about his whereabouts, siding he didn’t trust the police and admitting that he was paranoid due to a 20-year-old opioid addiction.
This isn’t it for Murdaugh, as he is also facing several other legal charges for alleged financial crimes, including misappropriating money from his own law firm as well as defrauding clients of funds and computer crimes. Authorities also allege that he defrauded the family of his former housekeeper out of a $4.5 million insurance settlement after she died due to a mysterious slip-and-fall accident at their home. A trial for those charges are said to be held at a later date.