By HEATHER RUPPE
The criminal investigation into the double murder of a mother and son in Islandton last week continues by both the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office continues its supportive role in the investigation. SLED is the lead agency handling this case.
The bodies of Paul Murdaugh, 22, and Margaret Murdaugh, 52, were both found shot to death on June 7th at their rural residence in the Moselle Community, near Islandton.
According to Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey, both Murdaughs died of gunshot wounds. The victims were mother and son.
A forensic autopsy was done last week on both victims. According to Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey, the results of those forensic autopsies reveal that both victims died of gunshot wounds.
These two victims in this double homicide are members of the Murdaugh family, a powerful legal family in the Hampton and Colleton counties, for decades.
The Murdaugh family has been involved in practicing law out of their Hampton firm for nearly 100 years. Members of the Murdaugh family also work as state prosecuting attorneys (solicitors) with the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which includes prosecuting crimes in Colleton County, as well as Beaufort, Allendale, Hampton, and Jasper counties.
The family also became public figures in 2019, when the deceased – Paul Murdaugh - allegedly crashed his boat near Parris Island, S.C., and killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. There were pending felony charges against Paul Murdaugh when he was killed.
