Alex Murdaugh's murder trial, its overturned verdict and his coming retrial

Active · last development Oct 6, 2026: “'Completely manufactured': State responds to Murdaugh defense's request for cell phone evidence”

What this arc covers

The case against Alex Murdaugh for murdering his wife and son: his 2023 trial, at which he testified, his conviction and sentencing, his appeal and his motion for a new trial over claims that a court clerk tampered with the jury, the January 2024 hearing on those claims, the judge's refusal to grant him a new trial and the clerk's resignation, the South Carolina Supreme Court's May 2026 decision overturning the convictions because of the clerk's conduct, his lawsuit against the clerk and its dismissal, and the preparations for his retrial in a different county.

South Carolina

Earliest story we hold Dec 9, 2022 · 32 stories · 169 independent sources (counted once each) · 1397 days

Part ofAlex MurdaughSouth CarolinaCharleston

Part of High-profile murder cases

  1. Alex Murdaugh's murder trial, its overturned verdict and his coming retrialThis arcDec 9, 2022 – Oct 6, 2026
  2. The Idaho student killings and the case against Bryan KohbergerDec 30, 2022 – Sep 22, 2026
  3. Lindsay Clancy's murder trial over the deaths of her three childrenJan 25, 2023 – Oct 4, 2026
  4. The trial and conviction of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis for Tupac Shakur's killingSep 29, 2023 – Aug 28, 2026
  5. The Menendez brothers' resentencing and their parole denialsSep 19, 2024 – Sep 18, 2026
  6. Luigi Mangione's prosecution for killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian ThompsonDec 4, 2024 – Oct 2, 2026
  7. The killing of Rob and Michele Reiner and the case against their son NickDec 15, 2025 – Sep 15, 2026
  8. Caleb Flynn's trial and conviction for murdering his wife in OhioSep 14 – Oct 3, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Oct 6– 72026'Completely manufactured': State responds to Murdaugh defense's request for cell phone evidence3 articles · 2 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 30– Oct 22026Murdaugh defense: State hid claims police chief took key evidence in homicides4 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 2 right
Sep 28– 292026Murdaugh defense seeks cell phone data ahead of retrial3 articles · 3 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 1 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jan 21 – 27, 2023Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial starts with cellphones, bullets66 articles · 30 independent sources
    1. Jan 23, 2023Alex Murdaugh goes on trial in 2021 killings of wife, son
    2. Jan 25, 2023The timeline of the investigation stretches back years before the killings.
    3. Jan 27, 2023The Murdaugh family murder trial, explained
  2. Feb 22 – 24, 2023Alex Murdaugh testifies: Here are the key moments from his first day on the stand118 articles · 41 independent sources
  3. Feb 23 – Mar 2, 2023In the Murdaugh murder trial, defense and prosecution make their closing arguments120 articles · 34 independent sources
    1. Feb 27, 2023Jurors in Alex Murdaugh Trial to Visit Scene Where Wife, Son Were Shot
    2. Feb 28, 2023Last Witnesses Testify in Alex Murdaugh Trial Ahead of Jury Trip to Scene Where Wife, Son Were Shot
  4. Mar 3 – 6, 2023Alex Murdaugh sentencing and other key moments as the trial ended this week308 articles · 68 independent sources
    1. Mar 3, 2023Alex Murdaugh Convicted of Murdering Wife and Son
    2. Mar 4, 2023Only center coverage:How Alex Murdaugh's son helped solve his own murder and convict his father
    3. Mar 5, 2023Only center coverage:Alex Murdaugh's risky testimony ultimately brought him down
    4. Mar 6, 2023Murdaugh testimony only confirmed his guilt, jurors say
  5. Sep 5 – 6, 2023Alex Murdaugh seeks new trial, alleges jury tampering in bombshell motion53 articles · 36 independent sources
  6. Jan 29 – 30, 2024Alex Murdaugh is denied new double-murder trial after judge hears jury tampering allegations69 articles · 40 independent sources
  7. May 13, 2026Alex Murdaugh murder conviction overturned by South Carolina Supreme Court55 articles · 30 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Dec 2022Sep 2023Jun 2024Mar 2025Dec 2025Oct 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Dec 5, 20221113
Dec 19, 20220033
Jan 23, 2023713577
Jan 30, 202335115
Feb 6, 202313312
Feb 13, 20230314
Feb 20, 202311176134
Feb 27, 2023104712409
Mar 6, 202316429
Jun 19, 20230124
Sep 4, 2023511651
Oct 16, 202312110
Nov 6, 202314212
Dec 25, 20231124
Jan 29, 2024815477
Mar 25, 202404212
Aug 12, 202404211
Dec 8, 20251117
May 11, 20267168108
May 18, 202633117
Aug 3, 202617233
Aug 10, 202639442
Aug 17, 20260214
Sep 7, 202613214
Sep 28, 20260327
Oct 5, 20260103

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

22% left · 63% center · 15% right of 169 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 32 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. December 2022

    Dec 9Prosecutors say Alex Murdaugh killed wife and son to "escape" accountability for financial crimes3 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  2. Dec 20SC official says Alex Murdaugh will not face death penalty3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right

  3. January 2023

    Jan 21– 27Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial starts with cellphones, bullets66 articles · 30 independent sources
    7 left, 12 center, 4 right
  4. Jan 23Alex Murdaugh goes on trial in 2021 killings of wife, son12 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  5. February 2023

    Feb 1– 6Alex Murdaugh murder jury to hear financial crimes evidence22 articles · 14 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 1 right
  6. Feb 8Alex Murdaugh’s Murder Trial: Courthouse Evacuated Because Of Bomb Threat5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
  7. Feb 14– 17Alex Murdaugh double murder trial: As the prosecution winds down its case, here's where things stand4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  8. Feb 22– 24Alex Murdaugh testifies: Here are the key moments from his first day on the stand118 articles · 41 independent sources
    9 left, 14 center, 6 right
  9. Feb 23– 24Alex Murdaugh back on stand in double murder trial14 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 2 right
  10. Feb 23– Mar 2In the Murdaugh murder trial, defense and prosecution make their closing arguments120 articles · 34 independent sources
    7 left, 22 center, 3 right

  11. March 2023

    Mar 3– 6Alex Murdaugh sentencing and other key moments as the trial ended this week308 articles · 68 independent sources
    9 left, 36 center, 13 right
  12. Mar 9– 10Alex Murdaugh will appeal his convictions in the killings of his wife and son, court filing says22 articles · 16 independent sources
    0 left, 6 center, 3 right

  13. June 2023

    Jun 21Judge in Alex Murdaugh trial says he ‘felt sorry’ for convicted murderer4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 2 right

  14. September 2023

    Sep 5– 6Alex Murdaugh seeks new trial, alleges jury tampering in bombshell motion53 articles · 36 independent sources
    5 left, 11 center, 6 right

  15. October 2023

    Oct 17Alex Murdaugh murder case headed back to lower court over jury tampering allegations10 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  16. November 2023

  17. December 2023

    Dec 26– 27Clerk in Alex Murdaugh murder trial accused of plagiarizing parts of her memoir5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right

  18. January 2024

    Jan 29Did Becky Hill sway the jury? Alex Murdaugh returns to court in bid to toss murder conviction10 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  19. Jan 29– 30Alex Murdaugh is denied new double-murder trial after judge hears jury tampering allegations69 articles · 40 independent sources
    7 left, 14 center, 3 right

  20. March 2024

    Mar 25Court clerk accused of jury tampering in Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial has resigned12 articles · 12 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 2 right

  21. August 2024

  22. December 2025

    Dec 8Court clerk who helped with Alex Murdaugh's trial pleads guilty to showing sealed exhibits7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right

  23. May 2026

    May 13– 19Alex Murdaugh sues former court clerk who served during his double murder trial54 articles · 23 independent sources
    4 left, 10 center, 5 right
  24. May 13Alex Murdaugh murder conviction overturned by South Carolina Supreme Court55 articles · 30 independent sources
    5 left, 12 center, 4 right
  25. May 16Alex Murdaugh retrial could bring potential death penalty19 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  26. August 2026

    Aug 5– 6Alex Murdaugh's $600,000 lawsuit against former clerk thrown out34 articles · 22 independent sources
    1 left, 7 center, 2 right
  27. Aug 10– 16Alex Murdaugh's retrial moved to a different county42 articles · 24 independent sources
    3 left, 9 center, 4 right
  28. Aug 18Alex Murdaugh defense asks judge to move retrial to Richland County4 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right

  29. September 2026

    Sep 8– 9Judge picks new location for Alex Murdaugh's double-murder retrial14 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
  30. Sep 28– 29Murdaugh defense seeks cell phone data ahead of retrial3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  31. Sep 30– Oct 2Murdaugh defense: State hid claims police chief took key evidence in homicides4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 2 right

  32. October 2026

    Oct 6– 7'Completely manufactured': State responds to Murdaugh defense's request for cell phone evidence3 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right