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| verdict = Charges dropped following the death of Paul Murdaugh
| verdict = Charges dropped following the death of Paul Murdaugh
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At approximately 2:17&nbsp;a.m. on February 24, 2019, Paul Terry Murdaugh<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Murdaugh Obituary (1999 - 2021) - Moselle, SC - The State |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thestate/name/paul-murdaugh-obituary?id=10213282 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref> crashed his family boat into the Archers Creek Bridge in [[Beaufort, South Carolina]].<ref name="CBS" >{{Cite web |title=Mallory Beach death: Inside the boat crash that killed S.C. teen |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/mallory-beach-boat-crash-death-alex-murdaugh-family/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On board the boat at the time of the accident were Mallory Beach and several other teenagers.<ref name="CBS" /> Beach was killed in the accident and Murdaugh was charged in relation to the accident.
At approximately 2:17&nbsp;a.m. on February 24, 2019, Paul Terry Murdaugh<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Murdaugh Obituary (1999 - 2021) - Moselle, SC - The State |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thestate/name/paul-murdaugh-obituary?id=10213282 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref> crashed his family boat into the Archers Creek Bridge in [[Beaufort, South Carolina]].<ref name="CBS" >{{Cite web |title=Mallory Beach death: Inside the boat crash that killed S.C. teen |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/mallory-beach-boat-crash-death-alex-murdaugh-family/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On board the boat at the time of the accident were Mallory Beach and several other teenagers.<ref name="CBS" /> Beach was killed in the accident and Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts of boating under the influence, including causing the death of Mallory Beach, and seriously injuring two other passengers.


Paul was murdered along with his mother in 2021, and his father, [[Trial of Alex Murdaugh|Alex Murdaugh was found guilty]] of their murders on March 3, 2023.
Paul was murdered along with his mother in 2021, and his father, [[Trial of Alex Murdaugh|Alex Murdaugh was found guilty]] of their murders on March 3, 2023.
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Several of the teens were injured and required surgery. Paul Murdaugh was uncooperative with the medical staff. Several hours after the crash, his [[blood alcohol content]] was .24, three times the legal limit.<ref name="CBS" /> Paul claimed that one of the other teens, Connor Cook, had been driving the boat; however, evidence from his injuries proved that Connor Cook was a passenger, and he was not charged.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Alex Murdaugh Orchestrated Cover-Up, Tried to Blame Someone Else for Son's Deadly Boating Crash: Lawsuit |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/alex-murdaugh-orchestrated-cover-up-tried-to-blame-someone-else-for-sons-deadly-boating-crash-lawsuit/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}</ref>
Several of the teens were injured and required surgery. Paul Murdaugh was uncooperative with the medical staff. Several hours after the crash, his [[blood alcohol content]] was .24, three times the legal limit.<ref name="CBS" /> Paul claimed that one of the other teens, Connor Cook, had been driving the boat; however, evidence from his injuries proved that Connor Cook was a passenger, and he was not charged.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Alex Murdaugh Orchestrated Cover-Up, Tried to Blame Someone Else for Son's Deadly Boating Crash: Lawsuit |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/alex-murdaugh-orchestrated-cover-up-tried-to-blame-someone-else-for-sons-deadly-boating-crash-lawsuit/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}</ref>


Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts on April 18, 2019, including boating under the influence and boating under the influence causing death. Paul pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. On June 7, 2021, Paul and his mother Maggie were murdered, and the charges against the now-deceased Paul were dropped.<ref name="CBS"/> At the time, his father Alex Murdaugh theorized that Paul and Maggie had been killed in retaliation for the boat accident.<ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |date=2023-02-26 |title=Alex Murdaugh: Power, privilege, murder and the downfall of a dynasty |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64645725 |access-date=2023-09-26}}</ref>
Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts on April 18, 2019, including boating under the influence, including causing the death of Mallory Beach and seriously injuring two other passengers. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. On June 7, 2021, Paul and his mother Maggie were murdered, and the charges against the now-deceased Paul were dropped.<ref name="CBS"/> At the time, his father Alex Murdaugh theorized that Paul and Maggie had been killed in retaliation for the boat accident.<ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |date=2023-02-26 |title=Alex Murdaugh: Power, privilege, murder and the downfall of a dynasty |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64645725 |access-date=2023-09-26}}</ref>
Alex Murdaugh was [[Trial of Alex Murdaugh|charged with their homicides over 13 months later]], on July 15, 2022, and was found guilty.<ref name="AutoX7-1">{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Murders, fraud, and a hitman plot: Alex Murdaugh's spectacular fall from grace |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alex-murdaugh-story-murder-trial-b2269235.html |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129210921/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alex-murdaugh-story-murder-trial-b2269235.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Alex Murdaugh was [[Trial of Alex Murdaugh|charged with their homicides over 13 months later]], on July 15, 2022, and was found guilty.<ref name="AutoX7-1">{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Murders, fraud, and a hitman plot: Alex Murdaugh's spectacular fall from grace |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alex-murdaugh-story-murder-trial-b2269235.html |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129210921/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alex-murdaugh-story-murder-trial-b2269235.html |url-status=live }}</ref>



Revision as of 04:09, 7 July 2024

Death of Mallory Beach
DateFebruary 24, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-02-24)
LocationBeaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
TypeBoat crash
DeathsMallory Beach
Non-fatal injuriesConnor Cook
Morgan Doughty
Anthony Cook
Miley Altman
AccusedPaul Murdaugh
ChargesBoating under the influence
VerdictCharges dropped following the death of Paul Murdaugh

At approximately 2:17 a.m. on February 24, 2019, Paul Terry Murdaugh[1] crashed his family boat into the Archers Creek Bridge in Beaufort, South Carolina.[2] On board the boat at the time of the accident were Mallory Beach and several other teenagers.[2] Beach was killed in the accident and Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts of boating under the influence, including causing the death of Mallory Beach, and seriously injuring two other passengers.

Paul was murdered along with his mother in 2021, and his father, Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of their murders on March 3, 2023.

Mallory Beach

Mallory Madison Beach was born to Phillip Harley and Renee Searson Beach on April 18, 1999, in Walterboro, South Carolina. She was a Wade Hampton High School graduate. At the time of her death, the 19-year-old was attending college and working at a clothing store.[3]

Accident

Paul Murdaugh purchased alcohol in the hours before the accident at a convenience store in Ridgeland, South Carolina using his brother's ID.[4] Three couples, including Beach and her boyfriend, and Murdaugh and his girlfriend Morgan Doughty,[5][6] met at Murdaugh's grandfather's Chechesee River house and boarded a center console boat to travel to an oyster roast.[4]

At 1 a.m., during the return trip, they stopped at a dockside bar in Beaufort where Murdaugh and another passenger, Connor Cook, drank shots. Murdaugh began behaving erratically, and while other passengers asked him to allow someone else to drive the boat, he refused.[4] Murdaugh reportedly shoved, spit on and slapped his then-girlfriend just prior to the crash.[5][6] At 2:17 a.m. the boat hit a piling on the bridge to Parris Island.[4]

Following the accident

The passengers were transported to a nearby hospital, except for Beach, who could not be found after the crash, and Beach's boyfriend, Anthony Cook, who insisted on staying behind to wait for news about Beach. Investigators and volunteers spent eight days searching for Beach, according to CBS News. On March 3, 2019, two volunteers found her body about five miles down the river from the scene of the crash.[2] According to the coroner's office, Beach died from drowning and blunt force trauma.[citation needed]

Several of the teens were injured and required surgery. Paul Murdaugh was uncooperative with the medical staff. Several hours after the crash, his blood alcohol content was .24, three times the legal limit.[2] Paul claimed that one of the other teens, Connor Cook, had been driving the boat; however, evidence from his injuries proved that Connor Cook was a passenger, and he was not charged.[7]

Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts on April 18, 2019, including boating under the influence, including causing the death of Mallory Beach and seriously injuring two other passengers. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. On June 7, 2021, Paul and his mother Maggie were murdered, and the charges against the now-deceased Paul were dropped.[2] At the time, his father Alex Murdaugh theorized that Paul and Maggie had been killed in retaliation for the boat accident.[8] Alex Murdaugh was charged with their homicides over 13 months later, on July 15, 2022, and was found guilty.[9]

Lawsuits

Beach's mother, Renee Beach, filed a lawsuit against several members of the Murdaugh family: Paul's brother, Buster Murdaugh, who allegedly lent the underage Paul his driver's license so that he could obtain alcohol, and Paul's mother Maggie, who allegedly allowed Paul to use the boat while drinking. Alex Murdaugh and the store where the underage teens bought the alcohol were also named in the lawsuit, which was settled in January 2023.[10] Suits were also filed against other Murdaugh family members, the hosts of the oyster roast, the owner of the bar where Murdaugh drank shots after the oyster roast, and the owner of the convenience store that sold Murdaugh alcohol.[4] In July 2023, the Beach family reached a $15 million settlement with Parker’s Corporation, owners of the convenience store which had sold alcohol to Paul Murdaugh.[11] The Beachs were represented by Mark Tinsley, who filed a motion to compel Alex Murdaugh to disclose his finances after the latter claimed that he was broke. Paul and Maggie were murdered on June 7, 2021, three days before the hearing on the motion that was scheduled on June 10, 2021. Tinsley said "The fuse was lit" as the disclosure would reveal Alex Murdaugh's corporate fraud had run for years.[8]

Media portrayals

References

  1. ^ "Paul Murdaugh Obituary (1999 - 2021) - Moselle, SC - The State". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Mallory Beach death: Inside the boat crash that killed S.C. teen". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  3. ^ Mehrotra, Kriti (2021-10-29). "Who Was Mallory Beach? How Did She Die?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bauerlein, Valerie. "A Convenience-Store Magnate, Teen Drinking and a Fatal Boat Crash: The Legal Case Shaking South Carolina". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  5. ^ a b Ruiz, Michael (2023-03-09). "UK TikTokers reveal Paul Murdaugh in 2017 Bahamas video, stunned to discover his deadly demise". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  6. ^ a b "Murdaugh slapped girlfriend before fatal Beaufort boat crash: court records". 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. ^ "Alex Murdaugh Orchestrated Cover-Up, Tried to Blame Someone Else for Son's Deadly Boating Crash: Lawsuit". Law & Crime. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  8. ^ a b "Alex Murdaugh: Power, privilege, murder and the downfall of a dynasty". BBC News. 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  9. ^ "Murders, fraud, and a hitman plot: Alex Murdaugh's spectacular fall from grace". The Independent. January 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  10. ^ Clifford, Ted; Monk, John (25 February 2023). "Mallory Beach family settles lawsuit with Buster Murdaugh in fatal boat crash". The State. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  11. ^ Tacopino, Joe. "Family of Murdaugh boat crash victim Mallory Beach gets $15M in wrongful death settlement". New York Post. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  12. ^ Lawrence, Andrew (December 16, 2021). "The lawyer who tried faking his death, and the writer exposing his crime dynasty". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Bella, Timothy (March 3, 2023). "Netflix, HBO and podcasts made the public case against Alex Murdaugh". The Washington Post. Among those influential media spaces is the "Murdaugh Murders," the popular podcast hosted by reporters Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell that helped introduce audiences to the South Carolina legal dynasty and its alleged crimes for the first time. At nearly 100 episodes, the podcast has 28,000 reviews and ranked first globally in 2021, according to Apple Podcasts
  14. ^ Salazar, Savannah (January 31, 2023). "New on Netflix: February 2023". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.