In the series of fatal accidents, unexplained deaths, and deliberate killings gouged into the dark landscape of the Murdaugh story, there are few uncontested facts. Almost every claim concerning the deaths of Stephen Smith in 2015, Gloria Satterfield in 2018, Mallory Beach in 2019, and Paul and Maggie Murdaugh in 2021 is countered by at least one credible alternate claim. As a result, an element of thick murk pervades these episodes, and the thirteen-minute interval in which Maggie and Paul were almost certainly killed is among the murkiest of them all.
James Lasdun is a journalist at the News Desk. He covers topics related to crime and law enforcement, with a particular focus on New York City, as well as exploring themes of memoir and violence. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, London Review of Books, CrimeReads, and The Times.
