Alex Murdaugh is seeking independent review of DNA evidence that was found under his wife Maggie Murdaugh’s nails after he was accused of killing her and their son Paul Murdaugh in 2021.
As Alex, 57, is preparing for his retrial in the murder case, his attorneys filed a motion asking for an independent laboratory to review DNA evidence that was recovered from underneath Maggie’s fingernails in hopes of proving his innocence, according to court records viewed by People.
Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, were fatally shot on the property of their family’s hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina, on June 7, 2021.
Alex was convicted of their murders in March 2023 and was sentenced to life in prison. He successfully appealed the case in May and the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his convictions and ordered a new trial.
The retrial is scheduled to take place in April 2027.
Alex’s attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, noted in the Thursday, July 30, filing that investigators from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) found DNA under Maggie’s fingernails on her left hand that “belongs to an unknown, unrelated male.” However, the attorneys said that investigators did not make any additional efforts to determine who the DNA belonged to.
The attorneys asked the judge to allow private forensic genetic genealogy lab Othram to conduct advanced testing.
Meanwhile, the defense said that SLED has reserve samples that should be preserved before the agency if able to perform any additional analysis.
Alex’s attorneys said in the filing that they’re concerned SLED could consume so much of the evidence that little or none would remain for independent testing if the division retests the limited DNA sample.
The filing also stated that the defense will incur the costs of having the DNA evidence tested.
Alex, a once prominent lawyer, has always maintained his innocence regarding the murders of Maggie and Paul. However, he did previously plead guilty to several state and federal financial crimes around the same time of his murder conviction.
Alex was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison for the 22 federal financial crimes, which included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
“Murdaugh’s victims turned to him when they were particularly vulnerable, after suffering serious injuries and losing loved ones,” U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Adair F. Boroughs said at the time of his sentencing. “They put their trust in him as their lawyer, and he betrayed them. His crimes were cold, calculated, and brazen, and he earned every day of his 40-year sentence. We hope that it provides at least some closure to his victims.”
He is scheduled to return to court for a hearing regarding the DNA evidence request on August 14.
