A prominent South Carolina lawyer who found the bodies of his wife and son three months ago tried to arrange his own death earlier this month, so his surviving son received life insurance from $ 10 million, but the planned deadly shot only grazed his head. said police.
The shooter, Curtis Edward Smith, was charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other offenses related to the shooting of Alex Murdaugh on Sept. 4 on a lonely Hampton County highway, state police division reported in a statement.
Murdaugh was not charged Tuesday night, but officers said more charges were expected.
Murdaugh handed Smith a gun and drove him to Old Salkehatchie Road. Smith fired a shot at the lawyer while he was on the road, an agent said in an affidavit.
But that bullet only burst into Murdaugh’s head and he was able to call 911 for help, authorities said. Murdaugh’s lawyer said last week his skull was fractured by the bullet.
Murdaugh wanted Smith killed so his surviving son could get his $ 10 million life insurance policy, state agents said.
Smith withdrew after the shooting and removed the weapon, authorities reported.
State officials said Murdaugh admitted he was trying to organize his own death Monday.
Murdaugh’s attorney, Jim Griffin, did not respond to any text messages from the Associated Press Tuesday night.
Murdaugh said last week through a family spokesman that he retired after the low-pressure light on the tires of his Mercedes SUV was turned on. A man passing by in a van asked him if he had problems with the car and then shot him.
Officers said Smith, 61, confessed Tuesday and was charged with assisted suicide, assault and very aggravated battery, which he had pointed out and presented with a firearm, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud. insurance, methamphetamine distribution and marijuana possession.
It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Colleton County court records showed Murdaugh had been Smith’s attorney in a 2013 speeding case.
The June 7 murders of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, have not yet been resolved. Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife and son at his home in Colleton County. Both had been shot several times.
Murdaugh announced two days after the shooting that he was going to rehab for an opioid addiction.
He apologized to his family and said he was leaving his law firm.
“The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I’ve made a lot of decisions that I’m really sorry about, “Murdaugh said without going into details.
A few hours later, the PMPED law firm announced that Murdaugh had taken money from the business and was fired from the company. The amount of money has not been announced.
Along with the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and the shooting of Alex Murdaugh, law enforcement is investigating the missing money, if anyone tried to obstruct the investigation of a 2019 boat accident in which it was finally accused Paul Murdaugh and a July 2015 assault — execution in Hampton County.
Murdaugh’s ancestors were important in the area for many decades.