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Wednesday 8 September 2021

South Carolina prosecutor's office BANS scion of legal dynasty Alex Murdaugh and his lawyer's license is indefinitely suspended while he's investigated for stealing more than one million dollars from his own firm

 South Carolina legal heir Alex Murdaugh has been banned from volunteering at the prosecutor's office his family has run for decades after being accused of misappropriating over $1million from his private law firm and checking himself into rehab for oxycodone addiction.

Murdaugh, 53, will no longer be allowed to prosecute cases for the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in South Carolina, which his father worked for 20 years before his death earlier this year, and where he too has also tried cases. 

The office said on Tuesday that Alex has not worked on any cases since 2019 but that they wanted to now formalize the end of his tenure there.

The South Carolina bar has also indefinitely suspended his attorney's license.  

Alex's father Randolph Murdaugh III was the third generation to serve as 14th Circuit Solicitor, having held the position from 1985 to 2005. 

It is in response to his resignation from his private law firm -  PMPED in Hampton - amid allegations he misappropriated over $1million in company money. 

Alex has not denied the claims. In a statement on Monday that was issued through his attorney, State Senator Dick  Harpootlian, he said he had made decisions he regrets and was now seeking treatment in rehab after a 'long battle' with addiction that was exasperated by the murders of his wife and son in June. 

Alex Murdaugh, center, will no longer be allowed to volunteer at the the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in South Carolina. Last week, he was pushed out of his private law firm after being accused of misappropriating over $1million in company funds. He said in a statement afterwards he'd made 'a  lot of decisions' he regrets since the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul in June

Alex Murdaugh, center, will no longer be allowed to volunteer at the the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in South Carolina. Last week, he was pushed out of his private law firm after being accused of misappropriating over $1million in company funds. He said in a statement afterwards he'd made 'a  lot of decisions' he regrets since the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul in June 

Maggie Murdaugh and the couple's son Paul were found dead at their home on June 7. They'd been shot and left by the family dog's kennels. 

Alex found them and called 911, sobbing down the phone. 

Three months on, no one has been arrested for their killings and police are yet to name any suspects or persons of interest. 

Three days after they were found shot dead, Alex's father Randolph Murdaugh III died 'peacefully' at home at the age of 81. 

For three months, the case went quiet while police worked on leads then on Saturday September 4, Alex called police claiming he'd been shot in the head while trying to change a tire on his car while driving to Charleston. 

Murdaugh's father Randolph Murdaugh III died in June. The family said he died 'peacefully' at home. He was the 14th Circuit Solicitor for 20 years between 1985 and 2005

Murdaugh's father Randolph Murdaugh III died in June. The family said he died 'peacefully' at home. He was the 14th Circuit Solicitor for 20 years between 1985 and 2005

He survived with a 'surface' wound, went to the hospital then was interviewed by police about the shooting and the deaths of his wife and son again. 

Hours later, he checked himself into rehab. He has not been heard from since. 

SLED - the authority investigating Maggie and Paul's deaths - has not issued any kind of update on the case.   

Details of the alleged fraud have not become public but the firm has hired a forensic accounting firm, and that the misuse of funds amounts to millions of dollars being squandered. 

'It is a ton of money. It is over $1 million,' a legal source told The Raleigh Observer. 

His attorney Jim Griffin said he was seeking treatment for substance abuse on Monday. Law enforcement sources said he is addicted to oxycodone.   

In his statement on Monday, Alex said: 'The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. I'm resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated these murders.


'I am immensely sorry to everyone I've hurt including my family, friends and colleagues.

'I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships.'

The law firm issued a statement on Monday night stating: '[Murdaugh] is no longer associated with PMPED in any manner. 

'His resignation came after the discovery by PMPED that Alex misappropriated funds in violation of PMPED standards and policies. 

'A forensic accounting firm will be retained to conduct a thorough investigation. This is disappointing news for all of us. Rest assured that our firm will deal with this in a straightforward manner.'   

Alex Murdagh is pictured, main, with his wife Maggie and son Paul (far left) who were shot dead in an unsolved double murder in June. Murdaugh claims he was shot in the head on Saturday night but survived. It's unclear where his other son, Buster (right) is

Alex Murdagh is pictured, main, with his wife Maggie and son Paul (far left) who were shot dead in an unsolved double murder in June. Murdaugh claims he was shot in the head on Saturday night but survived. It's unclear where his other son, Buster (right) is 

The law firm that Murdaugh's family founded has disabled its website on Tuesday after his resignation

The law firm that Murdaugh's family founded has disabled its website on Tuesday after his resignation 

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