WALTERBORO, S.C. — While jury selection is underway in the Murdaugh double murder trial, Walterboro locals say they haven’t seen much more business than usual, although that might change soon.
Many locals say it's a little bit busier here than normal, who tell News 19 that because jury selection is still happening, not too many visitors have come to town.
Ricky Thigpen is a delivery driver for Castillo's Pizzaria in downtown Walterboro. He says that while the restaurant is normally busy, he's seen an increase in customers since the trial began.
"I heard when I got here this morning that they were extremely busy last night," Thigpen shared.
He's preparing for another busy evening as day two of jury selection wraps up. Customer Jesse Hunsell has noticed an uptick in activity around town.
"The shut down roads and then the cop presence is everywhere now," Hunsell explained.
Castillo's employee Brittany Creel tells me that since the restaurant is close to the Colleton County Courthouse in the heart of downtown, she’s expecting lots of customers.
"You get to see everybody and you’re always in the middle of everything honestly," Creel shared. "Everything that’s going on, whether it’s big or small, we’re always here. We always get to see the before and the after effect of everything."
Everything including the trial, which Creel thinks might make downtown Walterboro a little bit busier once opening arguments begin.
"While the trial is going on, we can be setting up for the business," Creel said about running the restaurant's normal schedule. "And when [the trial ends for the day], they can come down here, they can eat a meal and we’re not too far away so you won’t be too tired."