Who Was Paul Murdaugh & What Happened to Him? 2025 Update & Background
Paul Terry Murdaugh was born on April 14, 1999, the younger son of Alex and Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh. He was part of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasty, with deep roots in the Lowcountry stretching back nearly a century. His grandfather, father, and great-grandfather all served as solicitors in the 14th Judicial Circuit, giving the family immense influence over the legal system across multiple counties.
Growing up in the small town of Hampton, Paul enjoyed the privileges that came with the Murdaugh name. He was raised on large family properties, including the 1,770-acre Moselle hunting estate in Islandton. Family friends and classmates described him as outgoing and adventurous, though often reckless. From an early age, Paul was known for partying and drinking, and those close to him noted a pattern of risk-taking behavior.
- “The Murdaugh Family Murders”: 20/20 Reports October 31 2025
- Where is Alex Murdaugh Now? 2025 Update & Background
- Who Was Maggie Murdaugh & What Happened to Her? 2025 Update & Background
- Where is Buster Murdaugh Now? 2025 Update & Background
Contents
The 2019 Boat Crash and Legal Trouble
Paul’s life changed dramatically in February 2019, when a night of drinking with friends ended in tragedy. While allegedly under the influence of alcohol, Paul piloted the family’s boat into a bridge piling near Parris Island. All six passengers were thrown from the vessel, and 19-year-old Mallory Beach was killed. Her body was found days later, drawing statewide media attention and sparking public outrage.
In April 2019, Paul was charged with three felony counts, including boating under the influence causing death and great bodily injury. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond, but the case was still pending at the time of his death. Many in the community believed he was receiving special treatment because of his last name, and the case fueled criticism of the Murdaugh family’s unchecked power.
Life in the Spotlight and Pressure at Home
After the crash, Paul became a symbol of both privilege and accountability in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. His family attempted to shield him from the spotlight, but the scrutiny was relentless. Paul reportedly began using his mother’s maiden name, “Branstetter,” in public to avoid recognition.
Privately, tensions within the Murdaugh household were said to be escalating. The pending wrongful death lawsuit filed by Mallory Beach’s family was placing immense legal and financial pressure on the family. At the time, Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes were also on the brink of exposure, creating an atmosphere of stress, secrecy, and instability.
Murder at Moselle
On June 7, 2021, Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were shot and killed near the dog kennels at the family’s Moselle estate. Paul was shot at close range in the chest and head with a shotgun. Maggie was killed with a rifle. The brutality of the killings stunned the community and reignited media focus on the Murdaugh family.
Alex Murdaugh told police he had discovered their bodies after returning from visiting his mother. However, video taken on Paul’s phone at 8:44 p.m.—minutes before the estimated time of death—captured his father’s voice in the background, placing Alex at the crime scene. That video would become a key piece of evidence in Alex’s later murder trial.
Legacy and Ongoing Impact
Paul Murdaugh’s death became the turning point in a legal and criminal saga that would expose corruption, financial crimes, and cover-ups stretching across years. Though he had not yet faced trial for the 2019 boat crash, the case remained central to the motive prosecutors argued during Alex’s trial. They claimed Alex killed his son to delay or derail the financial and legal consequences that were closing in.
Today, Paul’s name is forever tied to one of the most shocking criminal cases in modern American history. But to those who knew him personally, he was still a son, a brother, and a friend. His life, marked by privilege and controversy, ended before he could face justice—or find redemption. His death, along with Maggie’s, dismantled a Southern dynasty and left a legacy that continues to unfold in courtrooms and documentaries across the country.
