This Disturbing Murder Mystery In South Carolina Is So Creepy It Inspired A Movie
By AnneMarie|Updated on October 12, 2023(Originally published November 02, 2022)
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AnneMarie
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South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
CNN called it a story with “more turns than a South Carolina country road.” Indeed, and it’s a murder mystery so creepy it inspired a movie. It happened in one of the state’s smaller towns you may never even have heard of before: Hampton (near Hilton Head). And the murders central to this story were the stuff of horror movies.
What once appeared to be an all-American family that had it all is now known as a family hiding a lot of turmoil and secrets. Maggie had seen a divorce attorney weeks before she was killed and had been living in a secondary home the family owned at the beach. It was discovered that she was lured to the Hampton property by Alex and had been hesitant about going. Paul had been at a relative’s home but for some reason also ended up at the property with his mother. Alex had pled not guilty, but forensic evidence directly links him to the murder scene. One final bizarre twist is that a banker has also been indicted on charges that he helped the accused murderer launder and misappropriate millions of dollars. The trial began in January 2023 and ended in March.
So far a documentary, three TV specials, two streaming projects, and three podcasts have been produced about this murder mystery. Get a sneak peek of the documentary from its trailer:
For an update on this case since the original date of publication of this article, check out this quick synopsis (Hint: Even post-trial, there continue to be interesting “turns”):
Which of the twists in this case do you find the most bizarre? Have you followed this Hilton Head murders case, and if so, do you think he will get a new trial? Share with us in the comments below! If you followed the case closely, you may be interested in this book — Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders.
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More to Explore
Hilton Head Murders & Related Info
by AnneMarie|October 12, 2023
What are the creepiest places in South Carolina?
South Carolina has its fair share of creepy places to explore, including:
The Battery Carriage House Inn in Charleston – said to be the state’s most haunted house!
John D. Long Lake in Union – The site of one of the state’s most hideous crimes involving children. Get some tissues before reading this sad and disturbing story.
Onyx Lane in Easley – Could you live in a haunted neighborhood?
Hilda, S.C. – Learn about a fascinating ghost train in this tiny town, running on tracks that were removed long ago.
Highway 107 in the Walhalla area of the Upstate – Your only chance of a ghostly encounter here is if you’re willing to pick up a hitchhiker, said to vanish once dropped off at the requested location.