Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Wife, Son

Former influential South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh received two life prison sentences Friday for murdering his wife and 22-year-old son in 2021.

The Details: Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son on the family's large rural property. More than 75 witnesses were used in the trial, and roughly 800 pieces of evidence were presented. The now-disbarred Murdaugh said he stole millions of dollars from his firm and clients to fund his drug habit, and prosecutors said the killings were Murdaugh's attempt to escape accountability for his financial crimes. Murdaugh was awaiting trial on about 100 other charges, including insurance fraud and tax evasion.

Key Quotes: "I am innocent. I would never hurt my wife, Maggie, and I would never hurt my son," Murdaugh said Friday before his sentencing. "This is a great day for the people of South Carolina where they get to see justice delivered to someone who desperately needed a measure of it," South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said.

For Context: Murdaugh was the leader of a powerful South Carolina legal firm. Over an 80-year period, Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather all tried cases as the area's elected prosecutor, in the same room where Murdaugh was sentenced.

How the Media Covered it: Many major national news sources focused on Murdaugh's trial. His conviction and sentencing were the top story across the political spectrum Friday.