SLED releases 911 calls from fake Murdaugh shooting
By HEATHER RUPPE
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has released redacted versions of the 911-emergency call made by Alex Murdaugh to the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, where the once-thriving attorney Murdaugh claimed to have been shot on Sept. 4th by a man along Old Salkehatchie Road.
Those claims have since been deemed false, and Murdaugh has been charged with concocting the fake shooting and failed attempted suicide so he could give his surviving son insurance money.
In the 911-audio tape released last week by SLED, a female caller told the emergency operator that she saw a man on the side of the road with “blood all over him.” She said the man’s trunk was open, caution lights were on and there was no damage on the vehicle.
Then, in a second redacted 911-emergency call released by SLED, Murdaugh is heard calling 911 and telling the operator that he on the side of Salkehatchie Road “near a church.”
“I’m by the church … I got a flat tire and I stopped,” he tells the operator. He then says someone pulled up and while he had his back turned, the unknown person shot him.
“I’m ok …” he tells the operator, adding that he was unable to drive.
Since the shooting was first reported, Murdaugh has been charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy to attempt insurance fraud.
Murdaugh is also charged with two felony counts of obtaining property under false pretenses.
The criminal investigation into Murdaugh is ongoing, according to SLED.
Meanwhile, SLED also still has approximately six open criminal investigations into crimes related to the Murdaugh family, including the still unsolved double homicide of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh’s wife and son.
In other Colleton County news:
Toddler found wandering without parents
Colleton County authorities are working a case involving a toddler who was found wandering in a street. According to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies were called to Hudson Street on Oct. 26th when a 3-year-old girl was found wandering in the roadway. This case is still under investigation, so no other details are available. However, the report states that the child’s guardian could be charged with unlawful conduct toward a child.
Child rape allegations under investigation
Investigators with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a case of child rape that allegedly occurred in Colleton County. According to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the local law enforcement agency was notified by an agency in Beaufort about the abuse. The victim is 9 years old. The victim and the victim’s siblings, who are from Ruffin, are all being interviewed for possible abuse. This case is under investigation.
Suspect pretends to be cop
A Colleton County resident is being investigated for impersonating a police officer. According to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, a Walterboro resident called 911 and said that someone came to his house on Oct. 22nd and was pretending to be a police officer. Based on the incident report, it is unclear how the victim knew the suspect was not an officer. This case is still being investigated and details are very limited, according to the sheriff’s office.
Pan handler put on trespass notice
A person was put on trespass notice from the Forks Pit Stop in Walterboro on Oct. 18th because he was repeatedly asking customers for money. According to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies were called to the Cottageville Highway business when the man, who was dressed in a camouflaged hoodie, was outside the business repeatedly asking customers for cash.
