Young South Carolina Man Was Subjected To Threats Before He And His Mother Were Murdered, Family Says

While there are still no suspects in the double murder of a son and mother from a prominent South Carolina family who were shot to death last Monday, relatives are insisting that the young man had received threats ahead of his death. 

John Marvin Murdaugh and Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh IV told "Good Morning America" on Thursday that they did not have much cause for concern about the threats aimed at their nephew. They did not elaborate on the details of how he was threatened during the interview. 

“I didn’t think it was a credible threat,” said John Murdaugh. “If it was, I would have tried to do something or notify someone. Maybe I made a mistake."

The brothers are the paternal uncles of 20-year-old Paul Murdaugh, whose body was found alongside his mother, 52-year-old Margaret Murdaugh near a dog kennel on the family’s Islandton, South Carolina estate. Police have not given specifics about the killings but announced that they were shot “multiple times,” according to the New York Post.

Theories have swirled around the Murdaugh family, whose roots are well-steeped in one of South Carolina’s most affluent law families. The family’s firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, & Detrick, was established in 1910 by Paul’s great-great-grandfather, Randolph Murdaugh.

More recently, locals have given sideways glances towards the family since Paul Murdaugh was facing felony charges of boating while under the influence, according to local news source The Island Packet. His actions allegedly resulted in a crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach in February of 2019.

Beach’s body was discovered in the water seven days later.

Paul pleaded not guilty to the charges in May 2019, according to The Island Packet. At the time of his death, he was awaiting trial.

“You hear all this talk on the social media with regard to Paul, but — I don’t know of anybody that would truly be an enemy, or truly want to harm them,” said Randolph Murdaugh on “Good Morning America.”

In the interview, the brothers addressed the low-level hum of rumors that the family used its power within the legal system to help protect Paul in the felony charges.

“Seeing words like ‘dynasty’ and ‘power’ used… but we’re just regular people,” insisted Randy.

For now, authorities continue to investigate what happened to Paul and his mother, while speculating that she was killed by happenstance and that her son was the intended target, according to The Island Packet.

Adding to the tragedy was the unrelated death of Paul’s grandfather, and Margaret’s father-in-law, 81-year-old Randolph Murdaugh III. He had been ill previously and died days after the murders. 

“We’re hurting,” Randy continued in the interview. “Just like they would be hurting if it happened to them.

The case is still under investigation.

You can watch "Alex Mudaugh. Death. Deception. Power." here or on Peacock starting January 6.