Alex Murdaugh on Wednesday (May 24) was indicted on financial fraud charges related to the housekeeper's death. A federal court in the United States charged the former South Carolina lawyer with 22 counts of financial fraud.&nbsp;

According to the US Attorney's Office in South Carolina, the 54-year-old Murdaugh apparently conspired with another personal injury lawyer — Cory Fleming — to siphon settlement funds in the death of the housekeeper Gloria Satterfield.&nbsp;

The longtime housekeeper died in 2018 following what had been described as a "trip and fall accident" at the family home.&nbsp;

The prosecutors said that Murdaugh directed Fleming to draw checks totalling nearly $3.5 million to a bank account that he utilised for his profit, while Satterfield's estate received none of the settlement cash.

Fleming, 54, is set to plead guilty on Thursday on a charge of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud in connection with the Satterfield case, according to federal authorities.&nbsp;

As quoted by NBC News, US Attorney Adair Boroughs said in a statement: "Trust in our legal system begins with trust in its lawyers."&nbsp;

The statement added: "South Carolinians turn to lawyers when they are at their most vulnerable, and in our state, those who abuse the public's trust and enrich themselves by fraud, theft, and self-dealing will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Murdaugh's lawyers revealed part of a lawsuit that accused him of life insurance fraud in Satterfield's death.&nbsp;

The suit stated that he "invented the critical facts" surrounding her original trip and fall accident in order to earn millions of dollars in the settlement.&nbsp;

Nautilus Insurance Co. had filed a suit alleging it was defrauded and the attorney for Satterfield's children said that Murdaugh never told the family about the settlement money.&nbsp;

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Today has been a great day for justice in South Carolina related to the ongoing criminal investigations into Alex Murdaugh and Cory Fleming. A new federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging Alex Murdaugh with 22 new financial crimes, many of which stem from the…
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<h2>Murdaugh's legal troubles&nbsp;</h2>

In March, he was convicted of murdering his wife and son. He later said that he was appealing his conviction in the sensational case.&nbsp;

A jury only needed a few hours to convict him despite the lack of specific evidence, such as a murder weapon or DNA proving he shot his son Paul and wife Maggie on June 7, 2021.&nbsp;

Murdaugh was the only one with them at the estate's hunting dog kennels several minutes before Maggie was slain with an assault rifle and Paul with a shotgun, according to evidence from his son's cell phone.&nbsp;

The court condemned Murdaugh to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole one day following the jury's decision.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Alex Murdaugh on Wednesday (May 24) was indicted on financial fraud charges related to the housekeeper's death. A federal court in the United States charged the former South Carolina lawyer with 22 counts of financial fraud.

Alex Murdaugh on Wednesday (May 24) was indicted on financial fraud charges related to the housekeeper's death. A federal court in the United States charged the former South Carolina lawyer with 22 counts of financial fraud. According to the US Attorney's Office in South Carolina, the 54-year-old Murdaugh apparently conspired with another personal injury lawyer — Cory Fleming — to siphon settlement funds in the death of the housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. The longtime housekeeper died in 2018 following what had been described as a "trip and fall accident" at the family home. The prosecutors said that Murdaugh directed Fleming to draw checks totalling nearly $3.5 million to a bank account that he utilised for his profit, while Satterfield's estate received none of the settlement cash. Fleming, 54, is set to plead guilty on Thursday on a charge of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud in connection with the Satterfield case, according to federal authorities. As quoted by NBC News, US Attorney Adair Boroughs said in a statement: "Trust in our legal system begins with trust in its lawyers." The statement added: "South Carolinians turn to lawyers when they are at their most vulnerable, and in our state, those who abuse the public's trust and enrich themselves by fraud, theft, and self-dealing will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Earlier this month, Murdaugh's lawyers revealed part of a lawsuit that accused him of life insurance fraud in Satterfield's death. The suit stated that he "invented the critical facts" surrounding her original trip and fall accident in order to earn millions of dollars in the settlement. Nautilus Insurance Co. had filed a suit alleging it was defrauded and the attorney for Satterfield's children said that Murdaugh never told the family about the settlement money. Today has been a great day for justice in South Carolina related to the ongoing criminal investigations into Alex Murdaugh and Cory Fleming. A new federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging Alex Murdaugh with 22 new financial crimes, many of which stem from the… — Eric Bland (@TheEricBland) May 24, 2023 × Murdaugh's legal troubles In March, he was convicted of murdering his wife and son. He later said that he was appealing his conviction in the sensational case. A jury only needed a few hours to convict him despite the lack of specific evidence, such as a murder weapon or DNA proving he shot his son Paul and wife Maggie on June 7, 2021. Murdaugh was the only one with them at the estate's hunting dog kennels several minutes before Maggie was slain with an assault rifle and Paul with a shotgun, according to evidence from his son's cell phone. The court condemned Murdaugh to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole one day following the jury's decision. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Alex Murdaugh indicted on financial fraud charges linked to housekeeper’s death

Just weeks after conviction of prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh in the murder of his wife and son, another death possibly linked to the Murdaugh family may bring more trouble to the powerful clan. Body of a teenager, whose death six years ago was deemed to have been a hit-and-run incident, is now going to be exhumed and a private autopsy is going to be done.

Body of Stephen Smith, who was 19 at the time of his death, was found on a country road near property owned by the Murdaughs. The death has puzzled South Carolina investigator, who reopened the case.

"It’s Stephen’s year,” said Sandy Smith, Stephen's mother. She spoke with NBC News. A GoFundMe campaign launched for exhumation of Stephen's body has raised USD 43,000.

Smith thanked the donors for "not allowing Stephen's story to be swept under a rug".

Murdaughs have been a powerful family of lawyers with political influence in South Carolina going back generations. Although Alex Murdaugh himself is now behind bars for murdering his wife and son, number of other deaths over the years have reportedly been suspected to be linked to the members of the family.

Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-alex-murdaugh-found-guilty-of-killing-wife-and-son-all-about-the-sensational-murder-case-567973">EXPLAINED: Alex Murdaugh found guilty of killing wife and son. All you need to know about the case</a>

An investigator report at the time of death of Stephen Smith had noted that Smith's body had "defensive wound" on his hand, as reported by The Guardian. However, a medical examiner's report had said that Smith's death was caused by an injury to the head caused by car mirror.

As reported by The Guardian, state investigators said that an inquiry was opened into Smith's death “based upon information gathered during the course of the double murder investigation”. They reportedly said last week that they had "made progress" in the investigation and that it &nbsp;“remains active and ongoing”.

The trial of Alex Murdaugh and deaths with possible links to the powerful family caught attention across the US to the extent that there is even a web series on the entire saga.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Just weeks after conviction of prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh in the murder of his wife and son, another death possibly linked to the Murdaugh family may bring more trouble to the powerful clan.

Just weeks after conviction of prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh in the murder of his wife and son, another death possibly linked to the Murdaugh family may bring more trouble to the powerful clan. Body of a teenager, whose death six years ago was deemed to have been a hit-and-run incident, is now going to be exhumed and a private autopsy is going to be done. Body of Stephen Smith, who was 19 at the time of his death, was found on a country road near property owned by the Murdaughs. The death has puzzled South Carolina investigator, who reopened the case. "It’s Stephen’s year,” said Sandy Smith, Stephen's mother. She spoke with NBC News. A GoFundMe campaign launched for exhumation of Stephen's body has raised USD 43,000. Smith thanked the donors for "not allowing Stephen's story to be swept under a rug". Murdaughs have been a powerful family of lawyers with political influence in South Carolina going back generations. Although Alex Murdaugh himself is now behind bars for murdering his wife and son, number of other deaths over the years have reportedly been suspected to be linked to the members of the family. Read | EXPLAINED: Alex Murdaugh found guilty of killing wife and son. All you need to know about the case An investigator report at the time of death of Stephen Smith had noted that Smith's body had "defensive wound" on his hand, as reported by The Guardian. However, a medical examiner's report had said that Smith's death was caused by an injury to the head caused by car mirror. As reported by The Guardian, state investigators said that an inquiry was opened into Smith's death “based upon information gathered during the course of the double murder investigation”. They reportedly said last week that they had "made progress" in the investigation and that it “remains active and ongoing”. The trial of Alex Murdaugh and deaths with possible links to the powerful family caught attention across the US to the extent that there is even a web series on the entire saga. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Body of youngster to be exhumed to investigate if death was linked to Murdaughs

Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the disbarred lawyer in South Carolina, who is accused of murdering his wife and son, admitted on Thursday (February 23) that he had lied to investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the killings. However, he has denied any guilt.

The high-profile trial is into its fourth week. Murdaugh told the court that he did not shoot his wife Maggie (52) or son Paul (22). Both of them were gunned down near&nbsp;the dog kennels on the family's estate on June 7, 2021.

"I didn't shoot my wife or my son anytime, ever," Murdaugh said in response to questions from his lawyer Jim Griffin, who wrapped up his questioning in mid-afternoon on Thursday. "I was nowhere near Paul and Maggie when they got shot," he added.

"On June 7, I wasn't thinking clearly. I don’t think I was capable of reason and I lied about being down there. And I'm so sorry that I did," Murdaugh testified.

During roughly two hours of cross-examination before the judge recessed for the day, the lead prosecutor focused on Murdaugh's financial crimes, in an apparent effort to establish his dishonesty. The prosecution will continue its examination on Friday.

Murdaugh, the scion of an influential South Carolina legal family, was indicted by a grand jury in July on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the shootings. He pleaded not guilty.

The murders have been subject to intense media coverage given the political influence of the Murdaugh family in the low-lying region of South Carolina in which they took place, as well as a string of scandals hanging over the defendant, once a prominent personal injury attorney in the state.

Prosecutors have said Murdaugh killed his wife and child to generate sympathy and distract from an array of financial crimes for which he is also facing criminal charges, an alleged motive that Murdaugh's lawyers have argued does not make sense.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the disbarred lawyer in South Carolina, who is accused of murdering his wife and son, admitted on Thursday (February 23) that he had lied to investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the killings.

Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the disbarred lawyer in South Carolina, who is accused of murdering his wife and son, admitted on Thursday (February 23) that he had lied to investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the killings. However, he has denied any guilt. The high-profile trial is into its fourth week. Murdaugh told the court that he did not shoot his wife Maggie (52) or son Paul (22). Both of them were gunned down near the dog kennels on the family's estate on June 7, 2021. "I didn't shoot my wife or my son anytime, ever," Murdaugh said in response to questions from his lawyer Jim Griffin, who wrapped up his questioning in mid-afternoon on Thursday. "I was nowhere near Paul and Maggie when they got shot," he added. "On June 7, I wasn't thinking clearly. I don’t think I was capable of reason and I lied about being down there. And I'm so sorry that I did," Murdaugh testified. During roughly two hours of cross-examination before the judge recessed for the day, the lead prosecutor focused on Murdaugh's financial crimes, in an apparent effort to establish his dishonesty. The prosecution will continue its examination on Friday. Murdaugh, the scion of an influential South Carolina legal family, was indicted by a grand jury in July on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the shootings. He pleaded not guilty. The murders have been subject to intense media coverage given the political influence of the Murdaugh family in the low-lying region of South Carolina in which they took place, as well as a string of scandals hanging over the defendant, once a prominent personal injury attorney in the state. Prosecutors have said Murdaugh killed his wife and child to generate sympathy and distract from an array of financial crimes for which he is also facing criminal charges, an alleged motive that Murdaugh's lawyers have argued does not make sense. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: At murder trial, Murdaugh admits to lying earlier but denies killing wife, son

Over the past few weeks, American media has closely followed the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, a well-known South Carolina-based lawyer who is facing charges that he killed his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son Paul, 22.

Over the past few weeks, American media has closely followed the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, a well-known South Carolina-based lawyer who is facing charges that he killed his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son Paul, 22. Each twist and turn in this case has been broadcast live on national television and now American streaming giant Netflix has come out with a three-part documentary series called "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal". Alex Murdaugh, 54, belongs to a family of prominent lawyers that have dominated South Carolina's legal landscape for decades. He has maintained his innocence in the killings. If convicted, Murdaugh would face 30 years to life in prison. What are the Murdaugh murders about? On the night of June 7, 2021, at around 10 pm, Alex Murdaugh called 911 to report that his wife Maggie and youngest son Paul were shot dead. Murdaugh said that their bodies were discovered near the dog kennels at the family's hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina. Earlier in the day, Murdaugh was at home with Maggie and Paul and phone records indicated that he left home to visit his ailing mother at 9 pm, according to a report by the New York Times on Wednesday. ALSO READ | Murdaugh Murders A Southern Scandal: Everything to know about Netflix's timely docuseries The murders of Maggie and Paul shocked South Carolina's Lowcountry region. Law enforcement officers who were at the crime scene found shell casings and said they looked for surveillance cameras from nearby areas. But police reports did not indicate that they found any. Murdaugh told the officers that his son Paul, a student at the University of South Carolina, was getting death threats due to a fatal boat accident he had been involved in 2019 in which 19-year-old Mallory Beach, one of the passengers, had died. Paul was allegedly drunk while operating the boat and he was charged with felonies related to the accident. No arrests were made in connection to the murders of Maggie and Paul for more than a year. July 2022: Alex Murdaugh indicted for murders of wife, son In July last year, Alex Murdaugh was indicted for the murders of Maggie and Paul, with authorities saying he shot his wife with a rifle and his son with a shotgun, the New York Times report added. Prosecutors accused the 54-year-old of killing his wife and son in a failed attempt to conceal his financial crimes. On September 3, 2021, Murdaugh resigned from the law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED) after he was confronted for years of suspected embezzlement. A day later, the former lawyer claimed that he was shot in the head on a roadside while he was changing a flat tyre. However, investigators soon discovered that Murdaugh asked a former client to kill him so that his oldest son, Buster, would receive $10 million in life insurance. But the shooter missed. Murdaugh survived and was charged with fraud. He was jailed in October 2021 and since then has faced several financial charges. What is the latest development in the trial? On Wednesday, Mark Ball, a former law partner of Alex Murdaugh and friend of over three decades, testified that over a dozen people walked around the crime scene (of the killings of Maggie and Paul) before law enforcement officers arrived. “This is a pretty big farm and I don’t know who is over there. Two people have been gunned down. Safety is one concern. And is that house part of what has gone on here? Where does the crime scene start and stop,” Ball said, the news agency AP reported. Ball also said that he identified Murdaugh's voice in a video taken at the dog kennels minutes before Maggie and Paul were murdered. Has the Murdaugh family been involved in any other case? The scrutiny on Alex Murdaugh in the murder of his wife and son has opened investigations into three other deaths in proximity to the family. These three deaths are of Mallory Beach, Gloria Satterfield and Stephen Smith. As mentioned before, Mallory Beach was killed in a fatal boat crash in 2019 and questions were raised about whether the police were sloppy in their probe or gave Paul Murdaugh favourable treatment. Paul was out on bail after he was charged. A year before the boat accident, Gloria Satterfield, who was a housekeeper for Alex Murdaugh and his family for more than two decades, died after falling down the stairs at their residence. Murdaugh stole millions of dollars paid by an insurance company to the relatives of Satterfield. The investigation is this case is still going on. And in 2015, Stephen Smith, a former classmate of Murdaugh's oldest son Buster, was found dead on a road about 16 kilometres from the Murdaugh residence. Smith's death was initially investigated as a possible shooting but was then considered to be a hit and run, the New York Times reported. It was rumoured that the Murdaughs were involved but the police have not accused the family of any wrongdoing. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: The crime saga of Murdaugh Murders in South Carolina, US, and the mysteries so far