Alex Murdaugh claims social media vigilante killed his son over boat wreck

Alex Murdaugh claimed on the stand someone from social media killed his son, Paul.AP

Mallory Beach and her boyfriend Anthony Cook4

Paul Murdaugh was drunk when he crashed the boat he was captaining into a bridge and Killing Mallory Beach.Mallory Beach/Facebook

Alex Murdaugh4

Alex Murdaugh said he believes the killer was angry about his son’s fatal boat crash.AP

“I never thought people involved in the boat wreck did this to Paul and Maggie,” Murdaugh said — adding he didn’t think the culprit was a family member of any of the youths who had been on board that day, either.


“So what you’re telling this jury is that it’s a random vigilante?” Waters asked skeptically.

“I believe that when Paul was charged criminally, there were so many leaks, half truths, half-reports, half-statements… that ended up in the media,” Murdaugh replied.

Evidence image, surveillance cameras captured Paul Murdaugh purchasing alcohol at a local convenience store. He used the ID of his older brother, Buster.4


Surveillance cameras captured Paul Murdaugh purchasing alcohol at a local convenience store. SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

“I did then believe [they were killed] because of the boat wreck and I do now,” he said, hinting that the killer was likely a mysterious stranger.

The disgraced attorney stands accused of gunning down Paul, 22, and Maggie, 52, near the dog kennels at one of their homes in South Carolina on June 7, 2021.


Murdaugh family boat4

The Murdaugh family boat was involved in the fatal incident.SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

During the trial, Waters asked Murdaugh if he had any evidence to back up the theory that “someone off social media” with a vendetta slipped onto his property and killed Paul and Maggie during the narrow window when he was not with them.


Murdaugh didn’t respond to the question, nor did he elaborate on why Maggie would have been targeted.

Murdaugh’s wild theory came the day after he admitted in court to lying about being near the kennels with his wife and son just moments before they were shot dead.

Murdaugh, who comes from a powerful lineage of South Carolina lawyers, has also admitted on the stand to stealing money and being addicted to opioids at the time of the slayings.