SC lawyer Alex Murdaugh surrenders before bond hearing after botched suicide plot
Fox News
Prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh on Thursday arrived at the Hampton County Law Enforcement Center, where he turned himself to authorities and was arrested after allegedly organizing a plot to arrange his own death so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy.
An affidavit says 53-year-old Murdaugh provided Smith with a firearm and asked the previous client who Murdaugh was buying drugs from to shoot him in the head – the shooting on Sept. 4 ended with what was intended to be the fatal shot only grazing Murdaugh. South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh arrived at the Hampton County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, where he was arrested for insurance fraud and other crimes. (Image: Fox News) (Fox News) South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh arrived at the Hampton County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, where he was arrested for insurance fraud and other crimes. (Image: Fox News) (Fox News) This photo provided by the Colleton County sheriff's office shows Curtis Edward Smith. State police say a prominent South Carolina lawyer tried to arrange his own death this month so his son would get $10 million in life insurance. But authorities say the planned fatal shot only grazed Alex Murdaugh's head on Sept. 4. The State Law Enforcement Division says it charged the shooter, 61-year-old Curtis Edward Smith, with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts. ((Colleton County Sheriffs Office via AP))
The State Law Enforcement Division confirmed that Murdaugh was arrested and charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and filing a false police report. Murdaugh's lawyers said he had been in drug rehab for about 10 days after his law firm fired him over missing money that could total millions of dollars.
"I can assure you that SLED agents will continue working to bring justice to anyone involved with any criminal act associated with these ongoing investigations," said SLED Chief Mark Keel. "The arrests in this case are only the first step in that process."