Nearly Half of Alex Murdaugh's Money Will Go to Victims of Deadly 2019 Boat Crash Caused by Late Son
Alex Murdaugh was convicted last March of the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul
Almost half of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh’s remaining assets will be disbursed to the victims of the deadly 2019 boat accident that killed Mallory Beach.
A court order issued on Feb. 5 allocated 29 percent of the funds to go to Mallory's family in particular, according to the Post and Courier. Mallory was killed when the boat she was riding in crashed into a bridge piling. Murdaugh's son, Paul, was allegedly driving the boat under the influence when it crashed and was later charged.
“From the Beach's perspective, it really was never about the money,” says Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley. “It was all about accountability and precedent, and making an example in the hopes that before someone allows their kid to live dangerously and drink and drive, and enables them to engage in this unlawful conduct, that somebody will take stock of what happened and that you can lose everything."
Tinsley added, "You can lose everything that you've got, all of your assets, because bad things happen when kids are allowed to drink and drive. And so, that's the comfort that they find in this, not in the percentage that was awarded to them.”
Paul’s then-girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, who was also on the boat, will receive 11 percent, according to the court order. Miley Altman, another boat survivor, will receive 5 percent. In total, victims of the boat crash and their loved ones will receive 45 percent.
The money was garnered from the sale of some of Murdaugh's properties and farm equipment as well as from a 401 (k) plan and totaled just under $1.8 million, per the Post and Courier.
Related: Family of Murdaugh Boat Crash Victim Mallory Beach Gets $15M in Wrongful Death Settlement
Others filing claims included former clients of Murdaugh’s who were bilked by him as well as his former law practice and law partner, according to the Post and Courier.
Tinsley says Murdaugh’s assets were seized in Nov. 2021.
"At the time, we were just beginning to learn about his financial crimes," he says. "They were actively liquidating his assets and trying to hide those assets. And so, to avoid the creditors. I mean, that's the primary argument. And so, the receivership was put in place. The assets were then marshaled, taken by the court or the court appointed receivers, which meant that property was sold."
A well-known attorney in the South Carolina Lowcountry region, Murdaugh came into the national spotlight after he claimed to have come home on the night of June 7, 2021, to find his wife, Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, shot to death on the grounds of their hunting lodge.
Paul was awaiting trial for the charges he was facing in connection with the deadly crash when he and his mother were killed.
Related: Murdaugh Murder Mystery: 'Behind the Black Ties and Fancy Dresses Were Miserable People'
In July 14, 2022, more than a year after Paul and Maggie's deaths, Murdaugh was indicted for the murders.
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He was found guilty of the murders in March 2023 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
In November, the disgraced lawyer pleaded guilty to 22 financial crimes, including wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud and other crimes, the South Carolina Attorney General's office previously confirmed to PEOPLE.
In January, Murdaugh was denied a new murder trial after his lawyers alleged jury tampering by Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.
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