Murdaugh Murders and Legal Cases Timeline, Key Events, Civil Lawsuits, and the 2026 New Trial Order

The Murdaugh legal saga is not over. Alex Murdaugh was convicted in March 2023 of murdering his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, and received two life sentences. But on May 13, 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the denial of his motion for a new trial and ordered a new trial, finding that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill improperly influenced the jury.

That does not mean Murdaugh was cleared. The 2023 murder convictions no longer stand, and the murder charges are headed back to the trial court. Murdaugh has not been found guilty or not guilty at a new trial, and he is presumed innocent of the murder charges unless and until a jury convicts him. He also remains in prison on separate financial-crime convictions, with the Attorney General’s Office saying he is serving a 27-year state sentence.

Is there a Murdaugh claim form or settlement fund for the public? No. There is no settlement website, claim form, or deadline. The civil cases involve specific victims, estates, and defendants. They are not class actions.

Murdaugh Legal Cases: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Public claim form	None
Public settlement website / deadline	None
Main criminal defendant	Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh killed	June 7, 2021
Murder convictions	March 2, 2023 (two life sentences)
2026 Supreme Court ruling	New trial ordered May 13, 2026
Current murder case status	Awaiting retrial; no new verdict
Murder indictment numbers	2022-GS-15-00592 through 2022-GS-15-00595
2026 appellate case numbers	2023-000392 and 2024-000576
Retrial judge	Judge Debra R. McCaslin
Financial-crime sentence	27 years in South Carolina (the Supreme Court’s opinion also notes a 40-year federal sentence)
Satterfield civil case	Michael “Tony” Satterfield and Brian Harriott v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh, et al., 2021-CP-25-00298
Beach civil case	Renee S. Beach v. Gregory M. Parker, Inc., et al., 2019-CP-25-00111

Timeline of Key Events

July 2015: Stephen Smith’s Death

Stephen Smith, 19, was found dead in Hampton County in July 2015. This is a separate matter (see below).

February 2018: Gloria Satterfield’s Fall

Gloria Satterfield, a longtime Murdaugh family housekeeper, fell at a Murdaugh home and later died. Wrongful-death claims led to insurance settlements totaling $4,305,000, which were later diverted instead of reaching her sons.

February 2019: Mallory Beach Boat Crash

Nineteen-year-old Mallory Beach died in a February 2019 boat crash. Her estate sued Parker’s Corporation and several defendants, including Alex Murdaugh and family members (Case No. 2019-CP-25-00111). A court later placed Murdaugh’s assets into receivership in connection with that litigation, with co-receivers appointed to locate and administer his assets.

June 7, 2021: Maggie and Paul Murdaugh Are Killed

Maggie and Paul were killed in Colleton County. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) opened a double-murder investigation.

September 2021: Financial Investigation and Staged Shooting

• September 4: Murdaugh reported being shot on a roadside. SLED later said the shooting was staged as part of an insurance-fraud scheme.
• September 8: The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended Murdaugh from practicing law.
• September 13: SLED opened an investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds from his former law practice.
• September 16: SLED arrested him on insurance-fraud, conspiracy, and false-report charges.

October 14, 2021: Satterfield Settlement Charges

SLED announced charges involving alleged misappropriation of settlement funds tied to Gloria Satterfield’s death. State prosecutors later brought numerous charges alleging that Murdaugh stole from clients, his law firm, and others.

May 27, 2022: $4.305 Million Confession of Judgment

Murdaugh signed a confession of judgment for $4,305,000 in the Satterfield case, admitting liability for the theft of settlement funds. The Supreme Court’s disciplinary record says only about $113,800 of that amount remained in the law firm’s trust account when the misconduct surfaced in September 2021.

July 12, 2022: Disbarment

The South Carolina Supreme Court disbarred Murdaugh after proceedings over admitted financial misconduct. Disbarment was separate from the murder case and did not decide who killed Maggie and Paul.

March 2–3, 2023: Murder Conviction and Sentence

After a six-week trial, a Colleton County jury convicted Murdaugh of murdering Maggie and Paul and of weapons charges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on March 3, 2023.

2023: Financial-Crime Guilty Pleas

Murdaugh pleaded guilty to financial crimes in state and federal court. The Supreme Court’s 2026 opinion states he received a concurrent 27-year state sentence and a 40-year federal sentence. These convictions are separate from the murder charges, and the 2026 ruling did not erase them.

May 13, 2026: New Trial Ordered

The South Carolina Supreme Court found that former Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill’s improper influence deprived Murdaugh of his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury, and ordered a new trial. The court did not hold that he was innocent. It also gave the trial court guidance on whether evidence of his financial crimes could be admitted at a retrial.

May 29, 2026: Remittitur

The Supreme Court sent the case back to the trial court.

June 8, 2026: Retrial Judge Assigned

The Supreme Court gave Judge Debra R. McCaslin exclusive jurisdiction over the four murder indictments, including any retrial and related matters.

August 2026: Dispute Over a Polygraph Claim

On August 19, 2026, the Attorney General’s Office filed a correction, saying a defense statement at an August 14 hearing that Murdaugh passed a SLED polygraph was false. This is a statement by lawyers in a filing, not a court finding.

October 2026: Retrial Pending

As of early October 2026, public records do not show a completed retrial or new verdict. Attorney General Alan Wilson has said his office intends to retry Murdaugh.

Stephen Smith’s Death Is a Separate Investigation

SLED’s 2023 statement says the medical examiner first concluded Smith died after being struck by a vehicle, and that SLED was not asked to investigate in 2015. SLED opened its own investigation on June 23, 2021, and said in March 2023 that it remained an active homicide investigation. The official SLED material does not establish that Alex Murdaugh or the Murdaugh family caused Smith’s death, and public speculation has gone well beyond what the records show.

These Are Separate Cases

Person / Matter	Year	Legal status
Stephen Smith	2015	SLED homicide investigation
Gloria Satterfield	2018	Wrongful-death claims, then litigation over diverted settlement funds
Mallory Beach	2019	Civil litigation from a boat crash
Maggie Murdaugh	2021	Murder charges against Alex Murdaugh; retrial pending
Paul Murdaugh	2021	Murder charges against Alex Murdaugh; retrial pending

Being linked to the same family does not mean the cases share defendants, claims, evidence, or outcomes.

Can the Public Claim Money From the Murdaugh Cases?

No. The civil cases involve identified plaintiffs, such as the Satterfield sons and the personal representative of Mallory Beach’s estate. Money recovered through receiverships and settlements goes to specific victims and creditors under court supervision.

You do not automatically have a right to money because you lived in South Carolina, knew the family, followed the trial, or believe the financial crimes affected the state.

If you personally suffered a financial loss or injury connected to a Murdaugh-related matter, that is a separate legal question that depends on your facts, South Carolina law, and possibly strict filing deadlines. News coverage does not extend or create a deadline for an unrelated claim. Talk to a licensed South Carolina attorney.

Consumer Lessons: Protect Your Own Settlement Money

The Satterfield case shows why injured people should keep an eye on how settlement money moves. If you have a personal injury claim:

1. Ask where checks go. Settlement funds should be paid to you or held in a proper attorney trust account.
2. Get an itemized disbursement statement showing every fee, lien, and expense.
3. Report concerns about trust-account handling to your state bar or disciplinary counsel.

Key Dates

Date	Event
July 2015	Stephen Smith found dead in Hampton County
February 2018	Gloria Satterfield’s fall
February 2019	Mallory Beach killed in boat crash
June 7, 2021	Maggie and Paul Murdaugh killed
September 8, 2021	Murdaugh suspended from practicing law
September 16, 2021	Murdaugh arrested over staged shooting and insurance fraud
October 14, 2021	Charges over Satterfield settlement funds
May 27, 2022	$4,305,000 confession of judgment signed
July 12, 2022	Murdaugh disbarred
March 2–3, 2023	Murder conviction and life sentences
May 13, 2026	Supreme Court orders new trial
May 29, 2026	Case returned to trial court
June 8, 2026	Judge McCaslin assigned to retrial proceedings
August 19, 2026	Attorney General files correction about polygraph claim
October 2026	Retrial pending

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alex Murdaugh still convicted of murdering Maggie and Paul?

No. The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the denial of his motion for a new trial on May 13, 2026, and sent the case back for a new trial. The charges remain pending.

Is Alex Murdaugh still in prison?

Yes, because of separate financial-crime convictions. The Attorney General’s Office says he is serving a 27-year state sentence.

Will South Carolina retry him?

The Attorney General has said his office intends to. Judge Debra McCaslin has jurisdiction over any retrial.

Why was a new trial ordered?

The court found that former Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill improperly influenced the jury, depriving him of a fair trial by an impartial jury.

Does the new trial mean he was found innocent?

No. The ruling was about the fairness of the 2023 trial, not guilt or innocence.

What are the murder case numbers?

2022-GS-15-00592, 2022-GS-15-00593, 2022-GS-15-00594, and 2022-GS-15-00595.

Can the public file a claim for money from the Murdaugh cases?

No. No public claim form, settlement fund, or deadline has been identified.

Can anyone claim money from the Satterfield settlement?

No. It concerns Gloria Satterfield’s estate and beneficiaries. It is not a public fund.

What was the Mallory Beach lawsuit?

A civil case by Mallory Beach’s estate over the 2019 boat crash, filed as 2019-CP-25-00111 in Hampton County.

Is the Stephen Smith investigation part of the murder case?

No. It is a separate SLED investigation, and official records do not establish that Murdaugh caused Smith’s death.

Was Murdaugh disbarred?

Yes, in July 2022.

How much was the Satterfield settlement?

$4,305,000, for which Murdaugh later signed a confession of judgment.

About the Author: Israr Ahmad is a legal content researcher covering U.S. lawsuits, civil litigation, settlements, and government enforcement actions. AllAboutLawyer.com provides legal information for general readers and is not a law firm.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Criminal charges, civil claims, appeals, and investigations have different legal standards and procedures. Proceedings can change. Consult a qualified attorney about an individual claim or legal deadline.

Sources

1. South Carolina Supreme Court, The State v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Appellate Case Nos. 2023-000392 and 2024-000576, Opinion No. 28329, May 13, 2026. https://www.sccourts.org/media/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/28329.pdf
2. South Carolina Supreme Court, order assigning Judge Debra R. McCaslin, June 8, 2026. https://www.sccourts.org/media/courtOrders/PDFs/2026-06-08-01.pdf
3. South Carolina Appellate Case Management System, State v. Murdaugh, Case No. 2023-000392. https://ctrack.sccourts.org/public/caseView.do?csIID=78062
4. South Carolina Supreme Court, In the Matter of Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Appellate Case No. 2022-000812, and disciplinary opinion No. 47 (2023). https://www.sccourts.org/opinions/advSheets/no472023.pdf
5. South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, “Attorney General Alan Wilson to retry Murdaugh murders.” https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-to-retry-murdaugh-murders/
6. South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, correction of false statement in the Murdaugh case, August 2026. https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-s-office-files-correction-of-false-statement-in-the-murdaugh-case/
7. South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, State Grand Jury indictments against Richard Alexander Murdaugh. https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-announces-state-grand-jury-issues-new-indictments-against-richard-alexander-murdaugh/
8. SLED news releases: June 21, 2021 (murder investigation update); September 13, 2021 (misappropriation investigation); September 16, 2021 (insurance fraud arrest); October 14, 2021 (Satterfield funds charges); March 22, 2023 (Stephen Smith homicide investigation). https://www.sled.sc.gov/
9. South Carolina Appellate Case Management System, Beach v. Gregory M. Parker, Inc., Case No. 2023-001013 (underlying 2019-CP-25-00111). https://ctrack.sccourts.org/public/caseView.do?csIID=78756
10. South Carolina Appellate Case Management System, Satterfield v. Murdaugh, Case No. 2023-001467 (underlying 2021-CP-25-00298). https://ctrack.sccourts.org/public/caseView.do?csIID=79213
11. Nautilus Insurance Company v. Murdaugh et al., No. 2:22-cv-01307 (D.S.C.), Document 77 (receivership). https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/south-carolina/scdce/2%3A2022cv01307/271422/77/