For years, South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh looked his anguished clients in the eyes and promised to help them with their medical bills, their suffering or simply to survive. Then he stole some, if not all, of what he won for many of them.
Those clients got to look Murdaugh in the eye Tuesday and tell him how he had destroyed their trust, as the disgraced lawyer was sentenced to 27 years in prison for stealing about $12 million.
"I'm not crying for what he stole from me. I'm crying for what he did to everybody," said Jordan Jinks, a friend of Murdaugh's since childhood.
The courtroom drama marked yet another step in the fall of a powerful and respected attorney whose family name dominated the legal scene in a small Hampton County for generations, and whose alleged crimes have been a perennial topic of true crime podcasts and online chat groups.
In court in an orange prison jumpsuit, Murdaugh listened as the victims recounted how the man with a commanding presence and seductive Southern charm had duped them.
Jinks approached Murdaugh seeking help with his mounting medical bills, which had reached hundreds of thousands of dollars due to a neck injury sustained in a car accident. Trusting his friend, Jinks paid the bills in advance, believing that Murdaugh would secure a settlement to reimburse him. However, Murdaugh deceitfully kept the money for himself, causing significant financial harm to Jinks.
"I would have willingly given you the money you stole from me," Jinks expressed, clearly hurt. "Why did you betray our friendship?"
After negotiations between state prosecutors and defense lawyers, Murdaugh has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. This sentence is in addition to the life term without parole he is already serving for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in June 2021. The presiding judge, Clifton Newman, who also oversaw the murder trial, accepted the negotiated sentence.
Murdaugh vehemently denies the charges of killing his family members, and his legal team is currently seeking a new trial. They claim that the court clerk tampered with the jury, and they are requesting a hearing where jurors, the clerk, and even Judge Newman may be questioned under oath. The decision on whether to grant this hearing will be made by a different judge.
The sentence for Murdaugh's financial crimes serves as an insurance policy to prevent his release if his murder conviction is overturned. According to South Carolina law, Murdaugh will have to serve nearly 23 years of the sentence, regardless of his behavior as a prisoner. This means he would be 76 years old before he becomes eligible for release. As part of the agreement, Murdaugh had to relinquish his right to appeal.
Murdaugh Sentenced for Embezzlement, Judge Calls Him "Empty-Souled"
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In a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Judge Newman criticized defendant Murdaugh, stating that he had the emptiest soul he had ever seen in his 23 years on the bench. Murdaugh, who was convicted of embezzlement, spent 45 minutes apologizing to his family and victims, but the judge questioned his understanding of himself.
In a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Judge Newman criticized defendant Murdaugh, stating that he had the emptiest soul he had ever seen in his 23 years on the bench. Murdaugh, who was convicted of embezzlement, spent 45 minutes apologizing to his family and victims, but the judge questioned his understanding of himself.
"The question was asked: What kind of animal are you?" Newman said, referring to additional comments Jinks made during his testimony. "You are an enigmatic person. I don't think you understand yourself."
For his part, Murdaugh spent nearly 45 minutes apologizing to his family for bringing them shame and dishonor, and addressing all his victims, although he did not cry as much as he did when he testified in his own defense during his murder trial.
"I want each of you who spoke to know I listened to you. I heard you. Your pain and hurt is palpable. ... I promise you it resonates with me," Murdaugh said.
Prosecutor Creighton Waters of the state Attorney General's Office opened Tuesday's hearing with a detailed account of all of Murdaugh's thefts and how he moved around the more than $12 million he stole to avoid detection for nearly 10 years.
He ended more than an hour later with the precise figure: $12,425,254.32.
His clients trusted Murdaugh and he used "the trust of his family name and the law license on that wall" to keep stealing to pay off loans and credit card bills, never catching up to bad investments and heavy spending, Waters said.
Former Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Financial Crimes
A former lawyer, whose name has not been disclosed, has pleaded guilty to a series of financial crimes. The charges initially included breach of trust, money laundering, and tax evasion, with 18 victims involved. However, as part of a plea deal, the number of crimes has been reduced to 22 against each client.
One of the victims mentioned in the case is Gloria Satterfield, a long-time family maid who tragically died in a fall at the lawyer's home. The lawyer had promised to take care of her family, but instead admitted to stealing all the insurance money, amounting to approximately $4 million.
Despite forgiving the lawyer, Satterfield's son, Tony, expressed his disappointment and betrayal, stating, "You lied, you cheated, you stole. You betrayed me and my family."
Another victim, Sandra Taylor, was killed in a car accident involving a drunk driver. The lawyer, representing Taylor's estate, falsely claimed that he could only secure a $30,000 settlement. However, he secretly kept $150,000 for himself.
The actions of the lawyer have left the victims' families devastated. Satterfield's sister, Ginger Hadwin, questioned the lawyer's morality, asking, "Do you not have a soul?"
Tuesday's Hearing Marks a New Chapter in Murdaugh's Legal Troubles
Tuesday's hearing was not the end of the road for Murdaugh's legal battles. In addition to awaiting sentencing on federal financial crime charges, Murdaugh still has to face insurance fraud and other local charges. These charges stem from an incident in September 2021 when Murdaugh allegedly asked a friend to kill him in order for his surviving son to collect a $10 million life insurance payout. Fortunately, the shot only grazed Murdaugh's head.
During his speech at the hearing, Murdaugh once again attributed his actions to his addiction to painkillers. He offered detailed apologies to his surviving son, family, in-laws, and law partners. He also extended an invitation for his victims to visit him in prison, expressing his desire to continue apologizing and showing remorse.
However, after the speech, Waters, the judge, expressed skepticism about Murdaugh's sincerity. Waters mentioned that Murdaugh has a history of lying and being able to feign sincerity convincingly. He also noted that Murdaugh seemed more concerned about how others perceive him than truly understanding the impact of his actions.
