COLUMBIA, S.C. — The family of a South Carolina mother and son shot to death at their home are offering a $100,000 reward in hopes of finding the killer.
Fifty-two-year-old Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh and her son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh were found shot multiple times June 7 near dog kennels on their hunting lodge property near the border of Hampton and Colleton counties. State police have made no arrests and released little information on the progress of their case.
The double homicide has garnered the attention of national media due to the Murdaugh family's history in the state. Generations of the Murdaugh family have held positions in local government -- Randolph Murdaugh, Paul Murdaugh's great-grandfather, was elected a chief prosecutor in the county 101 years ago.
In 2019, Paul Murdaugh was charged in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. He had allegedly been operating a boat while intoxicated and Beach died when the boat crashed into a bridge at Parris Island in Beaufort County.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is also reopening a case from 2015 when the body of 19-year-old Steven Smith was found in the middle of the road in Hampton County. The Charleston Post and Courier reports new information in that case allegedly has some connection to the Murdaugh killings.
On Friday, June 25, Alex Murdaugh released a statement to the press saying, “I want to thank everyone for the incredible love and support that we have received over the last few weeks. Now is the time to bring justice for Maggie and Paul. Buster (Murdaugh's other son) and I, along with Maggie’s mother, father and our entire family, ask that anyone with helpful information immediately call the SLED tip line or Crime Stoppers.”
SLED set up a 24-hour tip line at (803) 896-2605, asking the public for information about the June 7 killings.
Also, Crime Stoppers of the Low Country can be contacted by calling 843-554-1111. Calls to the Crime Stoppers tip line are completely anonymous.
To be eligible for the $100,000 reward, the person(s) claiming the reward must submit the tip that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible to SLED or Crime Stoppers on or before September 31, 2021.