We all know how this story ends: last week, Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife and younger son – shooting them at close range on the sprawling grounds of the area’s most prominent family. But what if it turns out that among the other suspicious deaths that have followed the storied South Carolina family, there are more homicides that have been swept under the rug?
For more than a century, the Murdaugh family seemed to rule the Low County of South Carolina as if it were their kingdom. Not only rich and powerful, but very well connected to law enforcement- and they always seem to get away with everything…until last week.
True Crime fans already know that it stated (at least this branch of the story) in 2019 when a drunk and belligerent Paul Murdaugh (the one killed by his father) drove several of his friends into a bridge piling, killing Mallory Beach.
What the filmmakers really get right, is taking their time with victims and families of victims to set the stage in a comprehensive way. We’ve seen plenty of footage of the ginger and gray haired murderer – now we get to see and really get a feel for the still very young people whose lives changed one night when a Murdaugh rightly assumed that his mess would be cleaned up.
But what shocked me – something I had somehow missed among all the special programs, is that the Murdaugh’s family housekeeper might be among the people who lost their lives on that property – though it was long before the 2019 events.
Holy crap!
I always say that I like True Crime stories because the bad guy usually gets caught in the end. And at least one bad guy is going to spend his life in prison, while the son he killed will never be able to drink and drive and batter other people again.
Seriously, even if you feel burned-out on this story, the filmmakers have lined up the narrative in a way that’ll have you leaning forward into the story from beginning to end.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Victims’ Families and Some Friends of the Murdaughs Make This A Stunning Story