1:55
- ABC News
- May 14, 2026
Murdaugh family murders, mysteries: Timeline
Alex Murdaugh was granted a new trial after being convicted of murder.
1:55
Dec. 13, 2021: $7 million bond
A judge set Alex Murdaugh's bond at $7 million on nearly 50 financial crimes charges.
June 28, 2022: Indicted for conspiracy
Murdaugh and Smith were indicted by the state's grand jury on two conspiracy counts, including a narcotics count related to Oxycodone.
July 12, 2022: Alex Murdaugh disbarred
The Supreme Court of South Carolina officially disbarred Alex Murdaugh from practicing law in the state based on his \"admitted reprehensible misconduct.\"
July 14, 2022: Alex Murdaugh indicted for murder
A grand jury indicted Alex Murdaugh on two counts of murder for the fatal shootings of his wife and son.
July 20, 2022: Not guilty plea
Alex Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to the murder charges at a bond hearing. Judge Clifton Newman denied bond.
Dec. 16, 2022: Alex Murdaugh indicted on tax evasion
A grand jury indicted Alex Murdaugh on nine counts of tax evasion, alleging he failed to pay nearly $490,000 in state income taxes over nearly a decade. He now faces over 100 criminal charges.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/murdaugh-file-ap-ml-230301_1677699534009_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Jan. 23, 2023: Murder trial begins
The double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh begins with jury selection in the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina.
March 2, 2023: Guilty verdict
A jury found Alex Murdaugh guilty of murdering his wife and son after deliberating for nearly three hours.
March 3, 2023: Sentenced to life in prison
Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison. The life sentences for each murder will run consecutively.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/Alex-Murdaugh-ap-gmh-260513_1778682323338_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
March 10, 2023: Notice of appeal filed
Alex Murdaugh's attorneys filed a notice of appeal for his convictions and sentences in the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
March 21, 2023: Stephen Smith probe now a homicide
Lawyers for Stephen Smith's mother announced that South Carolina authorities are now conducting a homicide probe into his 2015 death. SLED also confirmed to ABC News that they are investigating the death, which was initially determined to be highway vehicular manslaughter, as a homicide.
May 24, 2023: Alex Murdaugh indicted on federal fraud charges
A grand jury has indicted Alex Murdaugh on federal fraud charges in connection with several alleged schemes while he worked as a personal injury attorney, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina announced.
Sept. 5, 2023: Alex Murdaugh seeks new trial
Alex Murdaugh's attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, alleging jury tampering.
Sept. 21, 2023: Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to federal fraud charges
Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty to all federal charges.
Nov. 17, 2023: Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to state financial charges
Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 22 of his 101 state financial charges, as part of a plea agreement in which the state sought a 27-year prison sentence.
Nov. 28, 2023: Alex Murdaugh sentenced for state financial crimes
Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years in prison on the state financial crimes. Under the plea agreement, Murdaugh will be guaranteed to serve at least 85% -- more than 22 years -- of the sentence.
![\"Murdaugh](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/wirestory_65a2ea0610bdb80763b39838ab4fcdb6_4x3_384.jpg\")
April 1, 2024: Alex Murdaugh sentenced for federal charges
Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the federal financial crimes.
May 14, 2025: Former court clerk faces charges stemming from case
Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca \"Becky\" Hill, the court clerk who served during the double murder trial, was charged with perjury, obstructing justice and misconduct in office. The arrest warrants alleged that she obstructed justice during the 2023 trial and abused her office for her own financial gain in its wake, including over the promotion of her book about the high-profile trial, as well as committed perjury during a hearing amid Murdaugh's bid for a new trial.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/mary-rebecca-hill-ap-jef-251208_1765212534653_hpEmbed_2_3x2_384.jpg\")
Dec. 8, 2025: Former court clerk pleads guilty
Hill pleaded guilty to perjury, obstructing justice and misconduct in office and was sentenced to three years' probation and 100 hours of community service.
\"I take full responsibility for my actions, and I know I have let down this Court, my community, and the people who placed their trust in me,\" Hill said in court. \"There is no excuse for my mistakes. I am ashamed of them, and I will carry that shame with me for the rest of my life.\"
Feb. 11, 2026: South Carolina Supreme Court hears case
The South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments over Alex Murdaugh's bid for a new trial. Among his attorneys claims, they alleged that Hill influenced the verdict through remarks heard by some jurors during the trial, including in one instance to watch Murdaugh's body language during his testimony.
May 13, 2026: Murder convictions overturned
The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh, finding that the court clerk had \"improper external influence\" on the jury, denying him a fair trial.
Following the decision, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said his office will \"aggressively\" seek to retry Murdaugh for the murders \"as soon as possible\" -- possibly by the end of the year.
ABC News' Eva Pilgrim, Alexandra Faul, William Gretsky, Janice McDonald, Jen Leong and Mike Repplier contributed to this report.
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