Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh didn’t tell the truth when FBI agents repeatedly asked him where the more than six million dollars he stole ended up and whether another attorney helped him steal from clients and his law firm.
The prosecutors want a judge to revoke the plea deal with Murdaugh on theft and other charges and sentence him to the maximum of well over 100 years in prison when he is sentenced.
Murdaugh, 55, is already serving two life terms without parole in state prison after being found guilty of double murder in the shootings of his wife and younger son. In addition, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 27 years for stealing money from clients and his law firm in federal court on Sept. 21, it was the first time he admitted to a crime and promised to stick to the requirements of his deal, including being “fully truthful and forthright with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies by providing full, complete, and truthful information about all criminal activities about which he has knowledge.”
The federal case was supposed to be even more insurance, with whatever sentence Murdaugh received running at the same time as his state sentences. But that deal is in doubt after the FBI said the disbarred attorney failed a polygraph test in October, after three FBI interviews of Murdaugh led investigators to believe he wasn’t telling the truth about where the money he stole was located.
In court papers, prosecutors have asked to keep the report on the polygraph test and summaries of Murdaugh’s four FBI interviews from the public, saying a grand jury is continuing to investigate and the information could be used to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
Each of the 22 counts Murdaugh pleaded guilty to in federal court carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. Some carry a 30-year maximum. Prosecutors said they will ask for the maximum sentence possible since the plea agreement was breached and requires Murdaugh serve his federal sentence at the end of any state sentences.
Murdaugh stated in court, “I want to take responsibility. I want my son to see me take responsibility. It’s my hope that by taking responsibility that the people I’ve hurt can begin to heal,”
