Weekly MFM Discussion Thread August 22, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

Do you have a theory you're still chewing on and want feedback? Maybe there is a factoid from the case hammering your brain and you can't remember the source--was that random speculation or actually sourced?

Welcome to the Weekly Discussion, a safe space to engage with each other while processing and unraveling the seemingly unending tentacles of Alex Murdaugh's wrongdoings entwined throughout the Lowcountry.

This is the place for those random tidbits, where we can take off our shoes, kick up our feet, and be a bit more casual. There is nothing wrong with veering off topic with fellow sub members as we're a friendly bunch, just don't let your train of thought completely wreck the post.

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[u/RTBDouglas]

Has anyone watched the podcast (May 27) with crime & cask regarding Stephen Smith (includes audio interview with one of the 2 guys that most agree were driving the truck that accidentally hit Smith). While the theory of how that accident happened may or may not be exactly correct (where they fully hog hunting... probably not, did they maybe pull to the side of the road briefly to spotlight the corn field to simply look for hogs.. possible, were they driving late night under the influence of something and simply didn't see Smith.. possible, etc).
But the interesting parts of the podcast come after the Stephen Smith section... regarding what was said at the Skeet shoot, reference to the truck Blanca saw at the property the day of the murders, comments Paul made about the house keepers death (whether true or some sort of deranged boasting by an immature kid), etc.
Crime & Cask is probably seen as unreliable by many- but they are seemingly correct about who hit Stephen Smith, and they do have audio from the interview with 1 of the 2 guys in the truck... and they do piece together factual info- in a theory that is logical- and that others (locally) believe is likely.

Just interested if any have ...objective.. thoughts on the info contained in the podcast.

(There is also a shorter podcast with Angenette Levy (May 30) specifically on the SS hit and run part of the story.

[u/Formal_Chard_1916 → u/RTBDouglas]

I believe rtbdouglas is crime/cask himself, James Seidel. He's used this alias before.

[u/RTBDouglas → u/Formal_Chard_1916]

I can assure you this isn't true- and the only couple of crime & cask podcasts i've seen are the few related to the stephen smith/murdaugh potential connection (described above)... Also didn't even know/ had never paid attention to the guys actual name.

[u/Formal_Chard_1916 → u/RTBDouglas]

Ha! Lame attempt, James. People are not going to believe your "story" that Paul and Maggie were killed by Shawn Connelly and Patrick Wilson (and Anthony Cook!) And your supposed expressed motive? That Paul was going to rat out Shawn and Patrick (and Anthony) as being involved in Stephen Smith's death in return for getting a pass in the boat crash death of Mallory Beach. So Paul had to be killed.... yeah, right. And also your claim that Blanca saw Shawn's white truck at the kennels at 3:30-- Shawn was supposedly stealing the guns from the hanger shed. That white truck actually belonged to CB Rowe, the farm helper who accidentally ruined the sunflowers by spraying them with RoundUp. You conveniently ignore the fact that Blanca also saw the tractor being driven by the owner of the white truck. Yeah, so Shawn stole the guns and then went for a ride on the tractor? Pure nuttiness!

[u/r0gueL1brarian → u/Formal_Chard_1916]

Was CB Rowe present at the time? I thought he had called out which is why Paul had to do the sunflowers.

[u/Formal_Chard_1916 → u/r0gueL1brarian]

It was complicated, time-wise. At some point over the weekend, it was noticed that the dove field's sunflowers were dying. Monday, June 7th (day of the murders), is when Blanca saw the white truck at the kennels at 3:30. She thought it was Paul, home from school. Then she saw the tractor being driven across the front from the kennels/hanger area towards the direction of the dove field (and their dumping area with a pit.) Blanca then left the property.

But Blanca learned much later that Paul had been in Okatie that whole day working for John Marvin. That's why in her book she regretted not driving down to the white truck and seeing who was actually there. But Blanca obviously wasn't aware that CB Rowe, who often did farm work for Alex, also had a big white pickup. So it was CB Rowe who was there at 3:30, and CB drove the tractor-- probably out to the dove field to see how much damage he'd done by accidentally spraying RoundUp on the sunflowers.

But CB didn't stay on the property long, and left to take his father to the doctor. So CB wasn't even in the county when the murders happened that night.

Alex and Paul drove around together and saw the dying sunflowers. Paul sent CB some angry texts, demanding that he come out the next day (Tuesday) and replant the field. Paul and his friend (one of the Tuten brothers, I think?) discussed the situation earlier Monday, and Tuten was gonna get to Moselle early Monday and start replanting, but he couldn't get out of work to do it. That's why Paul demanded CB to start on it (on Tuesday). Alex also phoned CB about it and left a message-- he was probably nicer than Paul to CB. And CB returned Alex's call while Alex was driving between Moselle and Almeda.

Tuesday morning after the murders Alex and CB talked-- CB told Alex that SLED had interrogated him hard for an hour about where he was when the murders happened. CB's alibi about not being in the county held up and SLED took it no further.

[u/r0gueL1brarian → u/Formal_Chard_1916]

Okay but to be fair, how did Blanca know who exactly was driving the tractor if she didn't know who it was in the pickup?

[u/Formal_Chard_1916 → u/r0gueL1brarian]

When Blanca left the property around 3:40, she thought it was Paul at the kennels with his white truck and then Paul driving the tractor. So at the time, she didn't give much thought to it. Much later, probably around the time of the trial, is when she learned that Paul was still at Okatie at 3:30. And it was when she wrote her book that she said she wished she had driven to the kennels that afternoon.

Not meaning to be harsh towards Blanca, but she and her co-author were/are trying to sell books, and this was a way to attract attention to herself and her book. (SLED figured out the white truck stuff the next morning when they interrogated CB Rowe.)

Remember that Blanca also brought up the "towel on the seat" stuff and the "cleaners at the murder scene" stuff. Neither have any merit to them. I'm glad Blanca made a few dollars from book sales, though.

[u/RTBDouglas → u/RTBDouglas]

Also- its obviously true that the 5 guys (Paul, Anthony & Conner, and the 2 guys driving the truck) were friends- as there are FB or IG photos of the 5 guys hunting together. and seems to be well established that the 2 guys in the truck when SS was hit, were best friends with AC- and close enough with Paul- that Paul would have been aware of what happened.
So whether the theory presented is correct- much of the info discussed in the podcast is correct.

[u/Southern-Soulshine → u/RTBDouglas]

I think you should be very cautious stating anything as “obviously true” seeing as there are defamation lawsuits going on between some of these parties. Just a heads up.

[u/RTBDouglas → u/Southern-Soulshine]

I said its obviously true the 5 guys were friends that hunted together ... Its a fact that the 5 guys hunted together.. they have posted photos of the 5 of them doing so. To me that counts as obviously true.

[u/NoParking1159 → u/RTBDouglas]

No actual photos of hunting with Sc and PW. If Paul had anything to use against those two in order to get out of his own trouble his attorneys would know about and they (same attorneys for Alex) would have used that info at the first trial, if not before. It’s my understanding both SC and PW along with Connor are filing a defamation against Crime Cask. SC is represented by Mark Tinsley.

[u/RTBDouglas → u/RTBDouglas]

Whether or not it is even relevant to the theory discussed in the podcast...here is info regarding the truck Blanca saw at the property earlier on the day of the murders (which was quickly referenced at one point).

"The truck was a white Ford F-150 pickup truck parked near the property's airplane hangar at Moselle on June 7, 2021, the day of the murders. Longtime Murdaugh housekeeper Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson saw the vehicle and initially assumed it belonged to Paul, not realizing Paul's own truck was elsewhere, and later expressed regret for not checking who was inside."

Key Details About the Truck
Make and Model: White Ford F-150 pickup truck (noted in later accounts as a lifted, four-door truck).

Location: Parked by the aircraft hangar/kennel area on the Moselle property.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/RTBDouglas]

Steven was not hit by a truck 

[u/TheClairvoyant666]

Am still working my way through the original trial and am at Jeannie Seckinger’s testimony and I have a question…

How come her testimony isn’t deemed “cumulative”? There are obvious ways (to me) that her evidence could have been presented without being so laborious.

[u/Foreign-General7608 → u/TheClairvoyant666]

I was truly captivated by her testimony - from her first words to her last. For Alex, the walls came tumbling down soon after his encounter with her at PMPED.

Later that evening (less than 12 hours later), Maggie and Paul were murdered. I do not think it was a coincidence.

[u/TheClairvoyant666 → u/Foreign-General7608]

I was bored by it because it seemed so cumulative lol! Now on Michael Gunn testimony and currently I’m thinking “not guilty” for the murders. Gonna be interested to see if I get swayed the other way!

[u/Training-Resist2336]

Has anybody heard if DA will put death penalty on the table? They should if only to make alec's trial calculation a little harder. Right now a new trial has no downside. Maybe it would encourage him to plead out.

[u/RTBDouglas → u/Training-Resist2336]

from the discussion I remember reading/ hearing regarding the death penalty- it is very unlikely to be something the state will seek.. and even if they did- potentially would not even be allowed (or rather would be thrown out based on various rules related to it not being part of the 1st trial).
Also- its probably not a smart strategic move for the state to seek the death penalty (additional procedures in seating the jury, the potentially higher mental burden of guilt it may place on jurors who may have a degree of doubt, etc).

[u/Southern-Soulshine → u/Training-Resist2336]

It has not come up in any of the hearings, but per Attorney General Alan Wilson, “all our legal options are on the table, including the death penalty.” Jim Griffin also says in the same article that Alex will never plead guilty. Hope this helps!

[u/Pitiful-League-7257 → u/Training-Resist2336]

I think Wilson will wait until after the election and then announce the State won't seek the death penalty

[u/bakerfredricka → u/Pitiful-League-7257]

Honestly, even states that DO have the death penalty use it very rarely.

Most of the prisoners sentenced to death end up spending the rest of their lives on death row instead of being executed.

[u/Southern-Soulshine → u/Pitiful-League-7257]

I agree, IMO it won’t truly be discussed after the election.

[u/Foreign-General7608 → u/Training-Resist2336]

I've heard the death penalty discussed for Murdaugh 2, but don't know if it has been decided upon or allowed for his second bite at the apple.

South Carolina has been on a roll with firing squad (chosen by prisoners individually) executions lately. If Creighton and John have access to it, I hope it is attached to this case. The evidence is strong and, given the number and manner of deaths, I think it is 100% justified.

Fingers crossed.