SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #2

[stmarysmead]

Interesting letter to the editor in 2019 from an alcohol and drug counselor for 23 yrs…. referencing the Murdaugh “clout.” Summation of advice…‘don’t love your children to death.’


‘I am unaware of a difference between BUI and DUI charges resulting in death and alcohol monitoring. It wasn’t even brought up that Paul had a prior citation from SCDNR for possession/purchase of beer and wine by a minor. I am confused about what Paul learned in the alcohol diversion program the article said he completed.

Can’t understand why the 17-year-old accused of killing another teen while DUI the same week of Murdaugh’s hearing has to wear an alcohol-detecting ankle monitor while awaiting trial but Paul does not.’

Read more here: https://www.thestate.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article233339902.html#storylink=cpy

This one.

https://www.thestate.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article233339902.html

The video at the top of the page is of the Judge Michael G. Nettles refusing to impose the ankle bracelet.

 

[genuineusa77]

It is natural for parents to support their children through thick and thin. Thus, it is not surprising that AM rode to the rescue.

The only difference between AM and many other parents is that his "cavalry" is better far larger and far more effective. Cavalry aside, symbolism matters. Furthermore, in the days of social media, special treatment gets broadcast far and wide.

Thus, why not dial down the cavalry? For example let the story be:

"PM is shocked and grieving at what happened (probably not that much, but it sounds good). Pursuant to his parole the judge imposed several constraints on him, including the need to wear an ankle monitor (fine print: Our skilled lawyers negotiated several exceptions to those constraints- but those are not public).

Now that its become clear that PM was driving, he is willing to take responsibility (fine print: very reluctantly) He, however, did not throttle the boat and was shocked by the irresponsible acceleration (yeah right).

PM is willing to plead guilty before a Court and will be doing so shortly. He expects to be sentenced to confinement (fine print: Our team of discreet high dollar attorneys and the mercy minded judge will ensure that his jail time is minimal and served at a juvenile work farm). PM is needed there to teach literacy classes to wayward youth.

This is what makes me mad about our justice system. I have seen cases where the the prosecutor will have a psychiatrist testify, paid by
the state, at a hearing against a defendant, then the next hearing for the same defendent, he hires this same psychiatrist for his side! Whoever pays him, he is for and believe me this guy (psychiatrist) is good at convincing. I put in a post a ways back about a guy in my hometown who came from a wealthy family who shot his wife who was divorcing him at point blank in front of her 3 friends and got 7 1/2 years.

 

[GordianKnot]

This one.

https://www.thestate.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article233339902.html

The video at the top of the page is of the Judge Michael G. Nettles refusing to impose the ankle bracelet.

SABBM:

In 2019, after a boat crashed near Parris Island, killing a young woman, Paul Murdaugh was charged with driving the boat while drunk. His father and grandfather intervened at the hospital, refusing to allow police to administer blood-alcohol tests or question the boat passengers.

Paul Murdaugh wasn’t handcuffed or taken to jail, even for fingerprinting. His mug shot was taken in a hallway with an iPhone while he was wearing street clothes. A judge later removed his bond restrictions, allowing him to travel.

Read more here: https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article252500903.html#storylink=cpy

This is beyond appalling.

JMO.

 

[Elley Mae]

SABBM:

In 2019, after a boat crashed near Parris Island, killing a young woman, Paul Murdaugh was charged with driving the boat while drunk. His father and grandfather intervened at the hospital, refusing to allow police to administer blood-alcohol tests or question the boat passengers.

Paul Murdaugh wasn’t handcuffed or taken to jail, even for fingerprinting. His mug shot was taken in a hallway with an iPhone while he was wearing street clothes. A judge later removed his bond restrictions, allowing him to travel.

Read more here: https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article252500903.html#storylink=cpy

This is beyond appalling.

JMO.

Yeah but don’t you know can’t you see!

Their just the average family, as AM’s brothers said.

 

[Sustained]

This one.

https://www.thestate.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article233339902.html

The video at the top of the page is of the Judge Michael G. Nettles refusing to impose the ankle bracelet.

Who was the primary lawyer on PM's criminal cases relating to the boat accident ?

https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Beaufort/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx

Well, none other than Dick Harpootlian who sits on the State Senate Judiciary Committee.

South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography

Did the Murdaughs donate $ to Harpootlian ? That would be a 'yes' ...

And there's amazement PM was not required to wear the SCRAM ankle monitor ?

 

[genuineusa77]

Who was the primary lawyer on PM's criminal cases relating to the boat accident ?

https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Beaufort/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx

Well, none other than Dick Harpootlian who sits on the State Senate Judiciary Committee.

South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography

Did the Murdaughs donate $ to Harpootlian ? That would be a 'yes' ...

And there's amazement PM was not required to wear the SCRAM ankle monitor ?

I just read, at given link awhile back on posts where they gave to his (Harpootlian) campaign.

 

[stmarysmead]

Did they give to Judge Michael Nettles?

 

[Sustained]

Did they give to Judge Michael Nettles?

No need, he was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly.

 

[Cryptic]

This is what makes me mad about our justice system.

I put in a post a ways back about a guy in my hometown who came from a wealthy family who shot his wife who was divorcing him at point blank in front of her 3 friends and got 7 1/2 years.

I understand your anger and read your post regarding the murder. Decades ago, a drag racing / DWI youth from a wealthy and prominent family in my town killed a woman and was eventually sentenced to very token time.

That aside, I think these flaws are indicative of human justice, not just our justice.

Whether the influence is money derived such as in our system, or say, tribally derived as in Africa, caste derived, derived from loyalty to a ruling group, or derived from say, senior membership in a Communist / Socialist party, some humans will always be a little more equal than others in any human society.

 

[Luna20]

SABBM:

In 2019, after a boat crashed near Parris Island, killing a young woman, Paul Murdaugh was charged with driving the boat while drunk. His father and grandfather intervened at the hospital, refusing to allow police to administer blood-alcohol tests or question the boat passengers.

Paul Murdaugh wasn’t handcuffed or taken to jail, even for fingerprinting. His mug shot was taken in a hallway with an iPhone while he was wearing street clothes. A judge later removed his bond restrictions, allowing him to travel.

Read more here: https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article252500903.html#storylink=cpy

This is beyond appalling.

JMO.

This has bothered me from day one. What’s taking place now seems to be a continuation of the same preferential treatment.

I imagine there is frustration within and that’s what is fueling the need to sue for release of information.

 

[waldojabba]

Could be one of the main reasons the bros went on national TV is to let people know their brother had an airtight alibi and how distraught he was over the phone when AM called each of them, and then how AM requested they (the brothers) call Buster as he couldn't do it. And then how they had to console him once they arrived on scene.

If there was a hint that AM had something to do with the murders, as family, they (all 3 of the brothers) had to make sure they quickly buried that notion. (Whether real or not).

That interview bothered me and has stayed with me - the why of it - there really seemed no reason for it - it felt calculated as though it was to establish a narrative - IMO

 

[T rex]

This has bothered me from day one. What’s taking place now seems to be a continuation of the same preferential treatment.

I imagine there is frustration within and that’s what is fueling the need to sue for release of information.

The trick is, how do you use the SS case to solve the Murdaugh case without drawing the Murdaugh's into the SS case? How do you solve the Murdaugh case without making the Murdaugh's look bad? And this is where the preferred treatment and secrecy comes in.
If this new evidence would have surfaced without the need to solve these murders we would have never heard of it and LE would have never reopened the SS investigation. They probably couldn't really careless about Stephen Smith but right now they need him, for the Murdaugh's sake. MOO.

Edited for clarification.

 

[Colorado303]

That was quick to go from intensive care on Tuesday to going home sometime Wednesday and passing away on Thursday.

Perhaps he had been hospitalized for a while, took a turn for the worse and was placed in ICU, and when it was clear he wouldn’t recover he was placed on hospice status and brought home so he could die there.

 

[genuineusa77]

The trick is, how do you use the SS case to solve the Murdaugh case without drawing the Murdaugh's into the SS case? How do you solve the Murdaugh case without making the Murdaugh's look bad? And this is where the preferred treatment and secrecy comes in.
If this new evidence would have surfaced without the need to solve these murders we would have never heard of it and LE would have never reopened the SS investigation. They probably couldn't really careless about Stephen Smith but right now they need him, for the Murdaugh's sake. MOO.

Edited for clarification.

It's crazy isn't it!

 

[Shadow@light]

Since PM had proven in the past he couldn't handle his alcohol, drank to excess, did bizarre things while drunk, and at time became violent, he would've needed to abstain from alcohol totally in the future. That wasn't going to happen with him being a Murdaugh and all of his local friends still drinking and partying. I don't remember if it was stated in a deposition but the Moselle property was considered a party house.

Most of us know someone that abused alcohol like Paul. I had a HS friend like him - knew no limits and drove into a tree leaving a keg party at college and killed himself.

I agree with you.

However all Teenagers had been drinking as well on that tragic night. We look back on our past as teenagers we had done the same thing as well .IMO
In the 1980's, I confess teenagers and myself at the age of 15/16 years (legal Age was still is 18 years in Australia) attended a party by Adults and drank underage. There were sore heads the next day, the worse was for me yes I got a bit drunk however my foster carer (who was at the party) not only informed me, my disgraceful attics they also called my school, local church and phoned all my friends to inform what I had done.(All turned out to be untrue) I asked the host not only denied it but showed party video which showed I was asleep on couch . When said my carer was about to inform my Welfare Officer (Stint in the Reform Girls Home for a few weeks would be good for me she said), I was grateful to my host and kids at the party showing the Carer was at the party as well with me while I was drinking sitting next to me. They said they would be happy to show the Welfare Officer this and the police. Well she still mention it to my Welfare Officer, the Welfare Officer laughed it off stated all teenager try it. .
I never again drank underage again. Host next parties were for adults only

IMO The teenagers if the young girl had not died that tragic night and other person injured would had continued to drink under age. IMO The Adults would had still allowed their children to drink under age.

 

[sunshineray]

"The coroner, Richard M. Harvey, said both victims had been shot multiple times and that the police had initially not found any weapons; he declined to elaborate."

A Mother and Son Are Found Murdered, Deepening a Mystery in South Carolina

Does the bolded above mean the police eventually did find weapons?


"To note: Gowdy said there was "some reporting the victims were bound." Law enforcement officials have not confirmed this. He also mentioned two weapons being used in the crime. SLED has made no public statement on weapons. However, multiple sources familiar with the investigation told The Island Packet and The State newspapers that Paul Murdaugh was shot several times with a shotgun, and Maggie Murdaugh was shot several times with an AR-15 assault rifle."

Live updates: National media weighs in on SC Murdaugh murders; speculation runs wild


Maggie possibly shot with an AR-15?

Senario #1: If you're a single killer, why would you bring a shotgun too if you have an AR-15 rifle with you?

Senario #2: If you're one of two killers and one of you has an AR-15, why would you then choose to bring a shotgun to an AR-15 "fight"? Wouldn't you bring an AR yourself. It's not like they are hard to find or buy in SC...very popular rifle, just ask SC Senator Lindsay Graham.

I wonder if Paul was killed with his own shotgun?

I wonder if Paul was indeed even the target like so many are theorizing?

Maybe Maggie was the target and Paul was shot because he came running to his Mom's aid, heard gunsots, dogs barking?

It was Maggie's phone that was taken/missing, not Paul's, then it was found not long after and not very far away from the murder scene.

If in fact the victims were bound, that to me only makes sense if...
#1: They were moved from one place to another place a distance away.
#2: If their execution was a longer drawn out thing. Otherwise why the need to bind them?

IMO if they were bound the killer(s) most likely invaded the main house (maybe it was primarily a robbery?) then bound and marched them down to the kennel area because that's where the killer's planned egress was, possibly through the woods there.

The other possibilty would be wanting the victims immobilized and incapable of running because you wanted to mentally terrorize them before you killed them (possibly a vendetta situation).

Maybe they caused a ruckus with the dogs to get them down there to the kennels because they didn't want to approach the main house?

It's also possible it was a combination of those two, robbery and terrorizing vendetta.

 

[Watts Bar]

"The coroner, Richard M. Harvey, said both victims had been shot multiple times and that the police had initially not found any weapons; he declined to elaborate."

A Mother and Son Are Found Murdered, Deepening a Mystery in South Carolina

Does the bolded above mean the police eventually did find weapons?


"To note: Gowdy said there was "some reporting the victims were bound." Law enforcement officials have not confirmed this. He also mentioned two weapons being used in the crime. SLED has made no public statement on weapons. However, multiple sources familiar with the investigation told The Island Packet and The State newspapers that Paul Murdaugh was shot several times with a shotgun, and Maggie Murdaugh was shot several times with an AR-15 assault rifle."

Live updates: National media weighs in on SC Murdaugh murders; speculation runs wild


Maggie possibly shot with an AR-15?

Senario #1: If you're a single killer, why would you bring a shotgun too if you have an AR-15 rifle with you?

Senario #2: If you're one of two killers and one of you has an AR-15, why would you then choose to bring a shotgun to an AR-15 "fight"? Wouldn't you bring an AR yourself. It's not like they are hard to find or buy in SC...very popular rifle, just ask SC Senator Lindsay Graham.

I wonder if Paul was killed with his own shotgun?

I wonder if Paul was indeed even the target like so many are theorizing?

Maybe Maggie was the target and Paul was shot because he came running to his Mom's aid, heard gunsots, dogs barking?

It was Maggie's phone that was taken/missing, not Paul's, then it was found not long after and not very far away from the murder scene.

If in fact the victims were bound, that to me only makes sense if...
#1: They were moved from one place to another place a distance away.
#2: If their execution was a longer drawn out thing. Otherwise why the need to bind them?

IMO if they were bound the killer(s) most likely invaded the main house (maybe it was primarily a robbery?) then bound and marched them down to the kennel area because that's where the killer's planned egress was, possibly through the woods there.

The other possibilty would be wanting the victims immobilized and incapable of running because you wanted to mentally terrorize them before you killed them (possibly a vendetta situation).

Maybe they caused a ruckus with the dogs to get them down there to the kennels because they didn't want to approach the main house?

It's also possible it was a combination of those two, robbery and terrorizing vendetta.

You got me thinking about them being bound and the possible reasons for it. To take it a step further, could they have been bound by the perpetrators, at gun point, in an effort to extract information?

Thinking of how far apart MM and RM were, it reminds me of how law enforcement interviews suspects when trying to gain information. They don’t interview suspects together. MM and RM may not have even been able to hear or see what was happening in the others’ interaction with their attacker. If they were bound, I believe the reason had everything to do with what the perpetrators were doing there that night and what they were after. They also probably had what they needed to restrain them. One could make the argument that they found rope or tape there or happened to have whatever they used, but it sounds planned to me.

 

[MassGuy]

I think we need to be patient. A case like this doesn’t typically lead to a quick resolution. I think we’re talking about a criminal conspiracy here, with a minimum of two people involved.

Law enforcement seemed to know that this was a premeditated crime from the beginning, hence the “no threat to the community” remark.

That didn’t mean they had the evidence to make an arrest at the time.

Yes, there was likely corruption involved in both the boat crash, and Smith death. Those were cases the Murdaugh family could influence.

There is no sign of that here.

State law enforcement has this, and they’ve had it from the beginning. I have no reason to believe this won’t end with a resolution.

 

[Sustained]

You got me thinking about them being bound and the possible reasons for it. To take it a step further, could they have been bound by the perpetrators, at gun point, in an effort to extract information?

Thinking of how far apart MM and RM were, it reminds me of how law enforcement interviews suspects when trying to gain information. They don’t interview suspects together. MM and RM may not have even been able to hear or see what was happening in the others’ interaction with their attacker. If they were bound, I believe the reason had everything to do with what the perpetrators were doing there that night and what they were after. They also probably had what they needed to restrain them. One could make the argument that they found rope or tape there or happened to have whatever they used, but it sounds planned to me.

I'd be curious as to whether the remaining Murdaughs have police protection or have hired a private security team. If nothing was stolen and this indeed was a targeted hit, was it a hit on PM or MM or an intended hit to take out the family for construed past misdeeds ? If AM & RM4 are back to work at PMPED, JM is out and about, and Buster is back to his normal routine without security, the murders must have been a targeted hit on either PM or MM. IMO, the M's already know this and so does LE. Something at the crime scene allowed them to come to that conclusion and allowed them to announce the public was not in danger.

JMO

 

[Rivkah11]

By age 19, PM allegedly had already been thru one alcohol diversionary program when the boating accident happened and MB died.

His treatment of his long term girlfriend, as described in the depositions, included slapping her, pushing her, and spitting on her. Think about THAT for awhile.

In the same depositions, PM’s departure from the bar included an incident where he pushed over a chair in anger and almost got into a confrontation with a stranger, but his friend intervened.

His friends describe him as having a nasty alter ego “Timmy” who emerged when he was drunk.

Does anyone think that, burdened with ‘Timmy’, PM was headed for a happy, successful life?

In my opinion, PM really needed help…and not a legal posse cleaning up his mess.

‘Riding to his rescue” would have included getting him help with alcohol issues, anger issues, behavioral issues.

Maybe they were doing that. I hope so.

If not…I think the person who wrote that letter had the perfect epitaph for him…”They loved him to death.”

My opinions only.

If there was a way to “triple-like” your post, I’d click on that! Loved him to death…exactly. PM needed professional help no doubt, IMO. If he was my kiddo and I had the means this family has, he would have been sent to rural Montana for a year or so to a rehab and cut off without a shilling should he choose to keep drinking.