Watch Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal

The docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal examines the rise and abrupt fall of the Murdaugh family of Hampton County, South Carolina. For over 87 years, the Murdaughs were a political powerhouse, controlling the local solicitor's office and influencing every aspect of county life. The patriarch Randolph Murdaugh III and his son Randolph Murdaugh IV dominated the legal system while the family law firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick, held sway over civil matters. The Murdaughs seemed untouchable, but their power unraveled after a fatal 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh exposed dark secrets.

When Paul was charged with boating under the influence for his role in the crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach, the formidable Murdaugh machine swung into action. Paul's charges were delayed as rumors swirled that the family was obstructing the investigation and trying to pin blame on others. The case cast a harsh light on the Murdaugh's influence and privilege. Then in 2021, Paul and his mother Maggie were brutally murdered at their 1,770-acre hunting estate. Authorities began looking into the Murdaugh's finances and opened investigations into missing fees at the family law firm and insurance fraud.

Murdaugh Murders details the family's rapid downfall as their transgressions and schemes come to light. Paul's older brother Buster is left to pick up the pieces as his father Alex Murdaugh faces over 100 charges ranging from tax evasion to plotting his own murder. Alex's possible involvement in the deaths of Maggie and Paul remains a key mystery. Through archival footage and interviews with those close to the case, the series provides insight into a family undone by greed, addiction, and secrets. Hampton County residents also give perspective on the Murdaugh's abuse of power and how one family came to have so much control.

While examining the specifics of the Murdaugh saga, Murdaugh Murders also explores broader themes of injustice, corruption, and the corrosive nature of privilege. The story raises difficult questions about ethics, accountability and the legal system itself. Though the Murdaugh's decades-long reign over Hampton County has ended, the docuseries shows how the consequences of their actions continue to ripple outward. Murdaugh Murders is a fascinating look at a prominent Southern family's ruin and the far-reaching effects of their misconduct.

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (6 episodes). The series first aired on February 22, 2023.