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by JENN WOOD
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Convicted fraudster and accused killer Alex Murdaugh will return to court Friday (August 14, 2026) as attorneys continue preparing for his second trial in the June 2021 murders of his wife and son.
Murdaugh is again facing two counts of murder and two weapons charges in connection with the killings of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and their younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh.
The pair were found shot to death near the dog kennels at the family’s Moselle hunting property in Colleton County, South Carolina, on June 7, 2021.
A jury convicted Murdaugh on all four charges in March 2023. The South Carolina supreme court unanimously overturned those convictions in May 2026 after concluding former Colleton County clerk of court Rebecca “Becky” Hill improperly inserted herself into the jury’s deliberative process.
The reversal did not acquit Murdaugh. It returned the case to circuit court for a new trial, which is scheduled to begin April 5, 2027. S.C. circuit court judge Debra McCaslin must now resolve a growing list of disputes that could significantly change the case presented to the next jury.
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WHAT TO EXPECT…
TTwo of the most immediate questions involve where the retrial will be held and whether the defense may conduct independent DNA testing.
Murdaugh’s attorneys want the trial moved from Colleton County to Charleston County, arguing intense publicity and the family’s deep Lowcountry ties make it impossible to seat an impartial jury within the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
Prosecutors acknowledge the publicity is “undeniably unique” but argue careful jury screening can identify impartial jurors. They oppose what they call a “Charleston or bust” approach and have suggested Spartanburg, Newberry, Lancaster, York or Florence counties as alternatives.
McCaslin could also rule on the defense’s request for independent testing of DNA and other biological evidence. The defense says additional analysis is needed to evaluate SLED’s testing and unidentified genetic material, while prosecutors have raised concerns about preserving limited samples.
Other pending disputes include whether prosecutors may use Murdaugh’s prior trial testimony and whether the defense must turn over a cellphone extraction performed by its expert.
The defense is also seeking dismissal of the indictments over lead SLED investigator David Owen’s grand jury testimony about purported blood spatter on Murdaugh’s shirt. Owen later acknowledged his testimony was “not correct,” and the State presented no blood-spatter evidence at trial.
It remains unclear which motions McCaslin will decide Friday, though venue and DNA appear among the most likely to produce rulings from the bench.
This story will be updated throughout the hearing…
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THE FEED…
9:01 a.m. EDT: The doors to the courtroom are opening shortly.
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???? #Murdaugh
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) August 14, 2026
The doors of justice are about to open in Lexington, S.C. ahead of a key motions hearing in the retrial of confessed fraudster/accused killer Alex Murdaugh.
Team coverage incoming ? pic.twitter.com/70fwhBAatK
9:48 a.m. EDT: Court should be starting shortly. The last hearing began around 10:00 a.m. FITSNews founding editor Will Folks is in the courtroom for the first part of the hearing while research director Jenn Wood runs the live feed from the media room,
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9:53 a.m. EDT: There are a lot of pending motions today. The two most likely to get a ruling from the bench are the motion related to DNA testing and venue transfer. All the motions being heard today can be found on our Murdaugh Retrial landing page.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
As a private investigator turned journalist, Jenn Wood brings a unique skill set to FITSNews as its research director. Known for her meticulous sourcing and victim-centered approach, she helps shape the newsroom’s most complex investigative stories while producing the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts. Jenn lives in South Carolina with her family, where her work continues to spotlight truth, accountability, and justice.
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SOUND OFF…
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