Alex Murdaugh Update: Shocking Twist Could Change Everything in Murder Case
Alex Murdaugh could face a dramatically different outcome if he is convicted of murder again.
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh's 2023 conviction for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on Wednesday, May 13. Now, the prosecution says it may seek the death penalty.
"In light of the Supreme Court's decision, we're back to square one on this case, and that means all our legal options are on the table, including the death penalty," South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said, according to ABC News.
As for why the prosecution didn't seek the death penalty in Murdaugh's first trial, they didn't want a complex trial, instead banking on a guaranteed sentence of life without parole.
Murdaugh, who filed an appeal in March 2023, had his conviction overturned after the court decided that he did not receive a fair trial. The reason? It was determined that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca "Becky" Hill had "improper external influence" on the jury because she told them to "watch [Murdaugh] closely" and to not trust his testimony, per BBC News.
Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife and son at their home in South Carolina back in 2021. To this day, he maintains his innocence.
"Alex has said from day one that he did not kill his wife and son," his lawyers said in a statement, adding that they "look forward to a new trial conducted consistent with the Constitution," according to ABC News.
While awaiting his new trial, Murdaugh remains behind bars, serving a combined total of 67 years after he pled guilty to multiple state and federal financial crimes.
A date for the new trial has not yet been set.
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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 8:10 AM.