A lawyer shoots and kills his wife and son to distract the authorities from his financial crimes
Former South Carolina attorney Richard “Alex” Murdo, who was already convicted of killing his wife and son, pleaded guilty in federal court today to more than 20 counts of bank fraud and other financial crimes that netted him millions of dollars.
Murdo, 54, the scion of a powerful legal and judicial family with great influence in West Charleston, was convicted in March 2021 of the murders of his wife, Margaret, and their youngest son, Paul. He appealed the ruling, insisting that he is innocent and demanding a new trial in this case.
Today in federal court in Charleston, he pleaded guilty to 22 counts of financial crimes and agreed to pay $9 million in compensation, his lawyer said. “Honestly, Alex will tell you two things. One, that he stole the money. Two, that he didn’t kill Maggie and Paul,” said attorney Dick Harpootlian.
Prosecutors say Murdoch shot and killed his wife and son to distract authorities from his financial crimes, dating back to 2011. He used money from fraud and money laundering to buy drugs — he was chronically addicted to opioids — and maintain a lavish lifestyle. .
Following these revelations, his license to practice in South Carolina was revoked.
“Today is the first time he has been held accountable for decades of theft,” said Deputy District Attorney Emily Evans.
The financial crimes carry a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, but prosecutors will ask Judge Richard Gergel to order the sentence to be served concurrently with the two life sentences he received for the murders.
Murdo also faces other financial crimes charges, this time at the state level, and his trial is scheduled to begin in late November.
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