Key names to know as Murdaugh double-murder case gets stunning reset

The stranger-than-fiction saga of the Murdaugh household — the Southern ineligible dynasty unraveled by treble execution and monolithic fiscal fraud — is heading backmost to the courtroom for a high-stakes do-over.

Alex Murdaugh, the once-powerful South Carolina lawyer whose household sanction carried courthouse value for generations, was convicted successful 2023 of murdering his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, and younger son, Paul Murdaugh, astatine the family’s Moselle hunting property successful June 2021.

But connected May 13, the authorities Supreme Court unanimously reversed the convictions, uncovering that erstwhile Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca "Becky" Hill improperly influenced jurors.

Here are cardinal names to cognize up of the 2nd trial.

ALEX MURDAUGH LAWYERS FILE APPEAL ALLEGING OUSTED SOUTH CAROLINA COURT CLERK SWAYED JURY

Alex Murdaugh reacts arsenic helium addresses the tribunal during his sentencing for stealing from 18 clients astatine the Beaufort County Courthouse successful Beaufort, S.C., connected Nov. 28, 2023. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier)

1. Alex Murdaugh:

Before the murders, Murdaugh was portion of a ineligible dynasty successful South Carolina’s Lowcountry. His father, gramps and great-grandfather served arsenic elected prosecutors successful the portion for much than 80 years, portion the household instrumentality steadfast was a ineligible powerhouse.

At his 2021 execution trial, prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed his woman Maggie and lad Paul arsenic his fiscal crimes were closing in, hoping the killings would make sympathy and bargain clip from his impending wealth troubles.

While Murdaugh has admitted to stealing wealth and committing security fraud, helium has denied the murders.

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In 2023, helium was convicted aft a six-week proceedings and sentenced to consecutive beingness presumption without parole. But the convictions were precocious overturned, starring to the ineligible scion’s instrumentality to court.

He remains down bars connected authorities and national financial-crimes sentences tied to stealing astir $12 cardinal from clients.

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A household photograph of Buster, Paul, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh is shown during the execution proceedings of Alex Murdaugh astatine the Colleton County Courthouse successful Walterboro connected March 2, 2023. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier)

2. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh

Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, was Alex Murdaugh’s woman and 1 of the 2 victims recovered dormant adjacent the canine kennels astatine Moselle connected June 7, 2021.

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Maggie and Alex were joined astatine the Second Presbyterian Church successful Charleston, South Carolina, connected Aug. 14, 1993.

From near to right, Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh successful an undated photo. (Facebook)

Maggie was changeable 4 oregon 5 times with a rifle, portion Paul was changeable doubly with a shotgun.

In a retrial, Maggie’s decease volition again beryllium cardinal to the state’s burden. Prosecutors indispensable beryllium who killed her and Paul, beyond a tenable doubt, without the payment of the now-vacated 2023 verdict.

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3. Paul Murdaugh

Paul Murdaugh, 22, was Alex and Maggie Murdaugh’s younger lad and the 2nd execution victim. Long earlier his death, Paul was already a arguable fig due to the fact that of the 2019 vessel clang that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

From near to right: Buster, Paul, Alex and Maggie Murdaugh airs unneurotic connected a sportfishing boat. (Facebook)

At the execution trial, Paul became important successful different way: his cellphone video from the kennels. The state’s lawsuit relied heavy connected grounds placing Alex Murdaugh astatine the execution country soon earlier the killings.

4. Richard "Buster" Murdaugh:

Richard "Buster" Murdaugh is Alex and Maggie Murdaugh’s surviving son.

WATCH: Buster Murdaugh: I bash not judge the proceedings was fair

Buster Murdaugh and Brooklynn White permission the Colleton County Courthouse for a luncheon interruption connected Wednesday, March 1, 2023, successful South Carolina. (Mark Sims/Fox News Digital)

In a Fox Nation bid "The Fall of the House of Murdaugh," Buster spoke candidly astir his begetter and his execution proceedings during an exclusive sit-down interrogation conducted by Fox News' Martha MacCallum.

"I bash not deliberation that helium could beryllium affiliated with endangering my parent and brother," helium said. "We person been present for a portion present and that’s been my stance."

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5. Dick Harpootlian:

Since the decision of the archetypal trial, Harpootlian’s connection has been that the archetypal proceedings was tainted by Hill’s misconduct and that the 2nd proceedings indispensable beryllium carried retired nether stricter rules.

Harpootlian, 1 of Murdaugh’s pb defence attorneys, has already previewed a retrial strategy that includes seeking a venue change, attorney-led assemblage questioning and perchance sequestering jurors.

Defense lawyer Dick Harpootlian reacts to authoritative Creighton Waters asking Alex Murdaugh if helium is simply a "family annihilator" during Murdaugh’s proceedings for execution astatine the Colleton County Courthouse connected Friday, February 24, 2023.  (Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool)

6. Jim Griffin:

Jim Griffin, different Murdaugh defence attorney, has been cardinal not lone to the entreaty but besides to Murdaugh’s civilian suit against Hill.

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Defense lawyer Jim Griffin talks with Dick Harpootlian arsenic Alex Murdaugh testifies astatine the Colleton County Courthouse successful Walterboro, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.  (Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool)

After the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed Murdaugh’s convictions, Griffin helped denote a suit against Hill. The suit accuses the erstwhile clerk of violating Murdaugh’s close to a just proceedings and seeks punitive and compensatory damages, arsenic good arsenic $600,000 of attorneys’ fees.

Griffin said the suit was meant to clasp Hill accountable and uncover the "entire scope of her conduct."

7. Creighton Waters:

Creighton Waters is the authoritative who secured the archetypal blameworthy verdicts. Now helium faces the occupation of trying to triumph the lawsuit a 2nd time, nether a microscope, aft the archetypal condemnation was blown up.

Waters and Harpootlian person already previewed competing visions for the retrial, with Waters signaling an impending combat implicit whether Murdaugh tin person a just assemblage successful South Carolina.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters transverse examines Alex Murdaugh during Murdaugh’s proceedings for execution astatine the Colleton County Courthouse connected Friday, February 24, 2023. (Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool)

"We beryllium connected our citizens to bash what their oath requires them, enactment speech things that they mightiness person work successful the media oregon successful a podcast oregon whatever, and basal their grounds and their decisions solely connected the grounds that's presented successful the courtroom," Waters told Fox News Digital.

8. Alan Wilson:

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said prosecutors could question the decease punishment if Murdaugh is convicted again.

WATCH: AG vows speedy retrial aft Supreme Court tosses Murdaugh execution convictions

"We’re backmost to quadrate 1 connected this case," Wilson said successful a connection to Fox News Digital, adding that each ineligible options were connected the table, including the decease penalty.

In the archetypal trial, Murdaugh received beingness without parole. A retrial could, successful theory, exposure him to thing much terrible if prosecutors prosecute superior punishment and conscionable the ineligible requirements.

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9. Rebecca "Becky" Hill:

South Carolina Supreme Court recovered Hill exercised "improper outer influences" during the archetypal trial.

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According to grounds reviewed by the court, jurors said Hill told them to "watch him closely," "watch his actions" and not beryllium "fooled" by the defense.

Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca "Becky" Hill smiles aft pleading blameworthy connected Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, successful St. Matthews, S.C. Hill pleaded blameworthy Monday to showing sealed exhibits from Alex Murdaugh's execution proceedings and different charges.  (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

The court’s ruling besides referenced findings that Hill was drawn by the "siren telephone of celebrity" and allowed nationalist attraction to flooded her duty.

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Hill co-authored a publication astir the proceedings, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," which the suit says earned astir $100,000 earlier being withdrawn amid plagiarism allegations.

WATCH: Becky Hill walks into Colleton County Courthouse

According to the book’s synopsis, Hill had known the Murdaugh household for decades and was alert of "the rumors of corruption and transgression surrounding the Murdaugh family."

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WATCH: Murdaugh tribunal clerk Becky Hill appears successful South Carolina tribunal for hearing

The state’s Supreme Court said Hill "egregiously attacked Murdaugh’s credibility" by suggesting to jurors that helium was blameworthy and that his grounds could not beryllium trusted. Hill aboriginal pleaded blameworthy to lying astir what she said and did during the trial, including showing graphic crime-scene photos to media members.

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Hill had antecedently pleaded blameworthy to 4 charges — obstruction of justness and perjury for showing a newsman photographs that were sealed tribunal exhibits and past lying astir it, positive 2 counts of misconduct successful bureau for taking bonuses and promoting a publication she wrote connected the proceedings done her nationalist office.

"There is nary excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them and volition transportation that shame the remainder of my life," Hill said successful a connection work to the court.

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She was sentenced to 3 years of probation.

Timeline of the reversal:

• October 2023: Murdaugh attorneys allege assemblage tampering
• January 2024: Jurors attest nether oath
• December 2025: Hill pleads blameworthy to related charges
• May 13, 2026: Supreme Court overturns convictions
• May 18, 2026: Murdaugh sues Hill implicit assemblage tampering accusations

10. Mallory Beach:

Beach, 19, died successful a 2019 vessel clang involving Paul Murdaugh. The clang and ensuing litigation helped resistance the Murdaugh family’s powerfulness into nationalist presumption earlier the killings.

Alex's father, Randolph Murdaugh III, was the apical authoritative overseeing South Carolina's Lowcountry until 2005 — including Beaufort County, wherever the clang occurred. The household wielded tremendous power successful the region.

Paul had taken retired 5 friends successful his father's vessel Feb. 23, 2019, and they were each drinking heavily. Paul had a humor intoxicant level 3 times the ineligible bounds erstwhile helium smashed into the piling of the bridge.

After the collision, it took much than a week to retrieve Beach's assemblage astir 5 miles from the clang site.

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Mallory Beach's household filed a wrongful decease suit against the Murdaughs successful 2019 aft she died aboard their boat. (Unknown)

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In the archetypal trial, the prosecution argued Murdaugh’s fiscal beingness was collapsing earlier the murders owed to Beach’s death.