SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #4

[Cryptic]

I think of Southerners (being one myself) as fairly traditional and was surprised they did not have a church funeral. JMO

That is a good point.

In the upper south of my youth, every one I knew had a church affiliation of some sort. Likewise, even nominally religious / distantly affiliated families arranged for church funerals for relatives.

<modsnip>

 

[Valiant]

I guess it depends where in the south, because my experience is the decedent's clergy may officiate the funeral, but the service is held at a local stately, funeral home. The funeral homes are quite elaborate on sprawling estates.

 

[worm]

That is a good point.

In the upper south of my youth, every one I knew had a church affiliation of some sort. Likewise, even nominally religious / distantly affiliated families arranged for church funerals for relatives.

<modsnip>

I guess it depends where in the south, because my experience is the decedent's clergy may officiate the funeral, but the service is held at a local stately, funeral home. The funeral homes are quite elaborate on sprawling estates.

I think it’s both. I’ve noticed this change over the last 35 plus years. The services that take place at the graveside/funeral chapel seemed to have increase while church has dropped off. I also remember when I was really young, a lot of “visitations” taking place in the deceased persons home, which is rarely done these days.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

That is a good point.

In the upper south of my youth, every one I knew had a church affiliation of some sort. Likewise, even nominally religious / distantly affiliated families arranged for church funerals for relatives.

<modsnip>

But grandpa’s funeral was in, I think Methodist, church. Maybe difference in generations. <modsnip>

 

[LetsSolvIt]

I think it’s both. I’ve noticed this change over the last 35 plus years. The services that take place at the graveside/funeral chapel seemed to have increase while church has dropped off. I also remember when I was really young, a lot of “visitations” taking place in the deceased persons home, which is rarely done these days.

Well and there is usually a reception or lunch after the service, but doubt that happened here. Why provide a forum for everyone to stand around talking about the crime.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Photo by Michael M. DeWitt, Jr.

Hundreds of people turned out to the graveside service held for Paul and Maggie Murdaugh in Hampton.

 

[clearskies1]

"Maggie and Paul, members of the powerhouse Murdaugh family, were found shot to death in Colleton County on Monday. At their funeral service Friday in Hampton County, hundreds gathered in the sweltering heat to mourn the pair's untimely deaths.

Their bodies were cremated, according to the Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home."

'Well-lived and well-loved.' Paul, Maggie Murdaugh honored at emotional funeral service

 

[sunshineray]

I've seen these photos (below) several times with AM's brother (is itRM3?) engaging with LE at the crime scene. I'm wondering if I were in his shoes if I would want to be hanging around the crime scene the day after? What would my motivation be other than to learn immediately what they were finding and thinking or maybe exercise some influence? I think I would be concerned about optics and also if I would be in the way when they have such important work to do. It would seem that he would need to be escorted everywhere to control the security of evidence, and that's taking a couple officers off the investigation.

I seem to have used up my free access to the the Post & Courier and Island Packet so can't find the article that says the M brothers were at Moselle in days after the murder talking to investigators from the solicitors office, which to me sounds unorthodox. As I recall the article was also questioning their reason for being there.

Photos: Questions abound in SC Murdaugh killing. Among them: Should prosecutor step aside?

Also, I bet I'm not alone in having used up my quota of free reading in The Post & Courier and The Island Packet. Just an fyi for those to keep in mind who are referring to articles there.

Those can be explained that he was the family member that used his phone to locate MM's phone.

The picture that gets me thinking why was he standing over there while all the investigators were talking together is this one.

https://do0bihdskp9dy.cloudfront.ne...007ea17ed31_name_file_1280x720_2000_v3_1_.jpg


If that doesn't open right it's the picture right at the top of the article on the video, before it's started.

Solicitor releases statement on killings that targeted prominent Murdaugh family

 

[sunshineray]

In those photographs, the investigators walking with JM have the logo of the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office embroidered on the chest area of their shirts.
Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office

Is it common to have solicitor's investigators at a crime scene so early in an investigation? Could the murders have been related to AM's part-time work at the 14th Circuit Solicitor's office? Like, some kind of retaliation for a prosecution AM was involved in?

If so and if this motive was discovered early in the investigation, that might explain why LE was able to report there was no danger to the public.

I think Duffy Stone needs to recuse himself, his office, from the murders investigation.

 

[sunshineray]

https://www.islandpacket.com/news/l...jNr-XqCKPCMiQTYSF__dYnvi0wLd1O22MfFRGQU5USLED blacked out details about “forced entry” and “force used.” The agency said it did so because it revealed “details about the manner in which the crime [was] committed.”

• • SLED blacked out details about “forced entry” and “force used.” The agency said it did so because it revealed “details about the manner in which the crime [was] committed.”
  
  
• 
  
• Under “Property/Evidence” gathered, the only entry is redacted because SLED said it revealed information “about the firearm seized from the crime scene.”
• 
  
• Other SLED redactions referred to “which homes had video cameras” during law enforcement’s sweep of the area.
  • One paragraph of a page is blacked out, according to SLED, because it shows “steps taken by law enforcement to interview a potential witness/subject to this double homicide.”
  
  
  
• SLED also said revealing more information would show the leads and theories in the case that could cause the media and public to “rush to judgment while speculating on this matter in a way that impedes the law enforcement’s ability to seek justice.”

*(Above are a few snippets from the article. I don't know why it is formatted so strangely, but I could not get rid of those little black dots and make it look neat.)

SLED blacked out details about “forced entry” and “force used.” The agency said it did so because it revealed “details about the manner in which the crime".

I believe this with the new info saying that AM told 911 the victims were "faced down" tends to make me think they could have been tied and that was the force used, restraints. Just a thought.

I don't know how well though that jives with a shotgun wound to the chest and another through an arm into the head.

 

[Hair of the Dog]

Could there have been forced entry because someone broke down a door to get to PM? Or forced entry to a locked room where weapons were stored?

Maybe MM ventured to the area of the crime scene because she texted or called PM and he didn't respond, then met the same terrible fate as her son.

JMO

 

[LetsSolvIt]

"Maggie and Paul, members of the powerhouse Murdaugh family, were found shot to death in Colleton County on Monday. At their funeral service Friday in Hampton County, hundreds gathered in the sweltering heat to mourn the pair's untimely deaths.

Their bodies were cremated, according to the Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home."

'Well-lived and well-loved.' Paul, Maggie Murdaugh honored at emotional funeral service

Thanks for finding and posting this article. I guess I missed it earlier but it answered my question and more, and mentioned that the family had a reception afterwards at Moselle.

Interesting that MM’s sister spoke of AM’s devotion to MM. Certainly if there had ever been a wandering eye, a woman would confide in her sister? Just my wandering brain. OMO.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Those can be explained that he was the family member that used his phone to locate MM's phone.

The picture that gets me thinking why was he standing over there while all the investigators were talking together is this one.

https://do0bihdskp9dy.cloudfront.ne...007ea17ed31_name_file_1280x720_2000_v3_1_.jpg


If that doesn't open right it's the picture right at the top of the article on the video, before it's started.

Solicitor releases statement on killings that targeted prominent Murdaugh family

Yes, agree this seems unorthodox.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

SLED blacked out details about “forced entry” and “force used.” The agency said it did so because it revealed “details about the manner in which the crime".

I believe this with the new info saying that AM told 911 the victims were "faced down" tends to make me think they could have been tied and that was the force used, restraints. Just a thought.

I don't know how well though that jives with a shotgun wound to the chest and another through an arm into the head.

Through the arm makes me think he was putting his hand and arm up/out in a defensive gesture? OMO

<modsnip>

 

[Becky Starkey]

Agree AM and BM seem oddly detached — I’m still surprised they were participating in the Gov’s Cup a week or so ago — but no expressions of grief at the gate or vigils is telling about how community is responding.

There did appear to be a large crowd at graveside service. I think of Southerners (being one myself) as fairly traditional and was surprised they did not have a church funeral. JMO

Does anyone know if they were cremated? Or if there was a reception after the burial? Those details might also help us understand state of mind.

I think more people are being cremated now. I know I wouldn't want to leave my loved one's body in that state that P and M were in. My guess would be because of covid they just had the service at the graveyard. I know I and my husband want to do it just like that. Hopefully we won't be murdered though. I'm from the south as well. I think this type of funeral is becoming more popular and may even be the norm before long. The high cost has something to do with it, but obviously not for the Murdaugh's.

 

[Becky Starkey]

That is a good point.

In the upper south of my youth, every one I knew had a church affiliation of some sort. Likewise, even nominally religious / distantly affiliated families arranged for church funerals for relatives.

I am thinking that the lack of a church funeral in this case just shows how rapidly the country is secularizing.

I think it's more a matter of the price of funerals and the stress of it all and all the other stress in our lives compounding together. So much easier just to do it all in one place and the obvious place would be the graveyard. Add covid into the equation and graveyard it is. Doesn't mean you can't put your religion into that if that's your thing.

 

[Hair of the Dog]

Am I the only one who finds it a bit macabre that they held the repast at Moselle following the memorial service?

 

[swedeheart]

People Magazine article:

Murder, Money & Mystery: Were the Killings of a Mom and Son Connected to 3 Previous Deaths?

 

[sunshineray]

Am I the only one who finds it a bit macabre that they held the repast at Moselle following the memorial service?

Wow, so are the Murdaughs the cover story for just People Magazine online or are they going to be on the cover in every grocery store in the country and with a title like that!

Edit: Never mind I see it, changed the title for the news stands

 

[swedeheart]

New Daily Beast article:

Videos Shed New Light on Wild Boat Crash Saga Roiling South Carolina