Will Alex Murdaugh be able to attend his mother's funeral?
Libby Murdaugh will be laid to rest in Hampton Cemetery beside her late husband, who died after an extended illness on June 10, 2021, and near Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, who were murdered on June 7, 2021.
Libby's middle son, Alex, was tried and convicted of their murders in March 2023 and is currently serving two life sentences. While state prison inmates are allowed to petition for the right to attend family funerals, will this be the case for Alex Murdaugh, who also stands convicted of more than a score of financial crimes?
It is highly unlikely.
According to S.C. Department of Corrections inmate policy, provided to The Hampton County Guardian by SCDOC spokesperson Chrysti Shain, "Inmates may elect to either visit select family members in the hospital prior to the family member's imminent death or to attend the viewing or funeral service, not to include graveside services, upon the death of select family members at their own expense, subject to the approval of the Agency."
This policy allows transport of the inmate, either by prison officials or law enforcement officials, within South Carolina only, provided there is no security risk to the public and the inmate, or the inmate's family, can pay for all associated costs.
However, such requests for transport "will always result in disapproval," states the policy, under certain circumstances, including if:- The inmate has been convicted of a statutorily violent crime;- The inmate has had any disciplinary convictions within the past year;- The community is in opposition to the inmate's transport.
Not only has Murdaugh been convicted of two counts of murder and two weapons offenses, but he has also had
at least one disciplinary conviction.
Attorneys and a spokesperson for Murdaugh did not respond to questions on whether Murdaugh intended to petition the SCDOC to attend his mother's services, and Shain was unsure if anyone had applied for this action by Wednesday afternoon.
