by JENN WOOD
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The ‘Murdaugh Murders’ crime and corruption saga has taken plenty of detours. Interstate 95 wasn’t one of them, though.
A photograph circulating on Facebook purported to show Alex Murdaugh being escorted along the highway following a massive vehicular crash near Lake Marion. With emergency vehicles nearby and a man in orange walking alongside officers, social media supplied the identification — and the storyline.
There was just one problem: it wasn’t him.
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Chrysti Shain, director of communications for the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDOC), confirmed to FITSNews that Murdaugh was not the man pictured.
“It is definitely not him,” Shain said. “He did not leave the institution that day.”
One Facebook post claimed Murdaugh was being transported back to prison and was “seen in this photo being escorted off the bridge.” Another asked whether he had been caught up in the highway accident.
Consider that particular Murdaugh mystery solved.
The next time we are likely to see Murdaugh is at an October 16, 2026 hearing, as attorneys prepare for his second trial for the June 2021 killings of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and their younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh.
As FITSNews previously reported, his attorneys have asked the court to address demands for evidence concerning an alleged disposal of the missing murder weapons. His retrial is scheduled to begin April 5, 2027, in Sumter County, following the reversal of his murder convictions earlier this year.
Until then, the latest roadside “sighting” belongs in the social media breakdown lane…
Want the real scoop on all things Murdaugh? Get caught up on our latest ‘Week in Review.’
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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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