Alex Murdaugh sentencing: Disgraced SC attorney gets life in prison

Murdaugh was found guilty in the 2021 murders of his wife and youngest son.

Last Updated: March 3, 2023, 6:11 PM EST

Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was sentenced Friday to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and their youngest son.

Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds near the dog kennels at the family's estate in June 2021, authorities said.

Alex Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty Thursday on all charges -- two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in the commitment of a violent crime.

"Murdaugh Family Murders," a deep dive into the trial, featuring new interviews, airs Friday at 9 ET/8 CT on ABC's "20/20."

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Mar 03, 2023, 10:12 AM EST

'You have to see Paul and Maggie during the night,' judge says

Before imposing the sentence of life in prison, Judge Clifton Newman said, “This has been perhaps one of the most troubling cases, not just for me as a judge, for the state, for the defense team, but for all of the citizens in this community, all citizens in this state.”

“A person from a respected family who has controlled justice in this community for over a century. A person whose grandfather's portrait hanging at the back of the courthouse that I had to have ordered removed in order to ensure that a fair trial was held by both the state and the defense," he said.

Alex Murdaugh is sentenced on the murders of his wife Maggie and his son Paul Murdaugh, Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on March 3, 2023.
ABC News

To the convicted attorney, Newman said, “As a member of the legal community and a well-known member of the legal community, you've practiced law before me, and we've seen each other at various occasions throughout the years. And that was especially heartbreaking for me to see you go in the media from being a grieving father who lost a wife and a son to being the person indicted and convicted of killing them.”

Judge Clifton Newman said “the monster you’ve become” could be responsible for the murders of Murdaugh’s wife and youngest son.
2:28

Alex Murdaugh’s lies are ‘unfortunate,’ judge says

Judge Clifton Newman said “the monster you’ve become” could be responsible for the murders of Murdaugh’s wife and youngest son.
ABCNews.com

“I know you have to see Paul and Maggie during the night when you are attempting to go to sleep,” the judge said. “I'm sure they come and visit you.”

Alex Murdaugh is sentenced on the murders of his wife Maggie and his son Paul Murdaugh, Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on March 3, 2023.
ABC News

"This case qualifies under our death penalty statute," the judge said. "I don't question at all the decision of the state not to pursue the death penalty. But as I sit here in this courtroom and look around the many portraits of judges and other court officials, and reflect on the fact that over the past century, your family, including you, have been prosecuting people here in this courtroom, and many have received the death penalty, probably for lesser conduct. … The question is, when will it end? When will it end? And it's ended already for the jury, because they've concluded that you continue to lie and lied throughout your testimony."

PHOTO: Alex Murdaugh is led to the Colleton County Courthouse by sheriff's deputies for sentencing, March 3, 2023 in Walterboro, S.C..
Alex Murdaugh is led to the Colleton County Courthouse by sheriff's deputies for sentencing, March 3, 2023 in Walterboro, S.C., after being convicted of two counts of murder in the June 7, 2021, shooting deaths of Murdaugh's wife and son.
Joshua Boucher/AP

Mar 03, 2023, 10:10 AM EST

Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison

Alex Murdaugh was sentenced Friday to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and their youngest son.

The life sentences for each murder will run consecutively.

The disgraced lawyer addressed the court ahead of his sentencing.
0:25

Alex Murdaugh to court before sentencing: ‘I’m innocent'

The disgraced lawyer addressed the court ahead of his sentencing.
ABCNews.com

Before the judge imposed the sentence, Murdaugh said, “I’ll tell you again. I respect this court. But I am innocent, and I would never under any circumstances hurt my wife, Maggie, and I would never under any circumstances hurt my son, Paul."

The disgraced lawyer was found guilty in the 2021 murders of his wife and youngest son.
1:05

Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison

The disgraced lawyer was found guilty in the 2021 murders of his wife and youngest son.
ABCNews.com

Judge Clifton Newman responded, "It might not have been you. It might have been the monster you become when you take 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 opioid pills. Maybe you become another person. I've seen that before."

The judge said, "The person standing before me was not the person who committed the crime, though it's the same individual."

Judge Clifton Newman said “the monster you’ve become” could be responsible for the murders of Murdaugh’s wife and youngest son.
2:28

Alex Murdaugh’s lies are ‘unfortunate,’ judge says

Judge Clifton Newman said “the monster you’ve become” could be responsible for the murders of Murdaugh’s wife and youngest son.
ABCNews.com

Mar 03, 2023, 10:03 AM EST

Prosecutor asks for consecutive life sentences

Before the sentence was announced, prosecutor Creighton Waters asked the judge to impose a maximum of consecutive life sentences.

Buster Murdaugh watches his father Alex Murdaugh sentenced on the murders of his wife Maggie and his son Paul Murdaugh, Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on March 3, 2023.
ABC News

Waters called Alex Murdaugh “a cunning manipulator, a man who placed himself above all others, including his family, a man who violated the trust of so many, including his friends, his family, his partners, his profession. But most of all, Maggie and Paul.”

Alex Murdaugh is sentenced on the murders of his wife Maddie and his son Paul Murdaugh, Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on March 3, 2023.
ABC News

“Both of them, like everyone else, was unaware of who he really was,” he said.

“I've looked at his eyes. And he liked to stare me down as he would walk by me during this trial. And I could see the real Alex Murdaugh when he looked at me,” Waters said. “The depravity, the callousness, the selfishness of these crimes are stunning. The lack of remorse and the effortless way in which he lies, including here sitting right over there, in this witness stand. Your honor, a man like that, a man like this man, should never be allowed to be among free, law-abiding citizens again.”

Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters addressed the court ahead of the sentencing of Alex Murdaugh.
2:11

Alex Murdaugh is 'chilling', prosecutor says

Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters addressed the court ahead of the sentencing of Alex Murdaugh.
ABCNews.com

Mar 03, 2023, 9:56 AM EST

'I’m innocent'

Alex Murdaugh gave a brief statement to the judge before sentencing, saying, “I’m innocent. I would never hurt my wife, Maggie, and I would never hurt my son, Paw-Paw.”

The disgraced lawyer addressed the court ahead of his sentencing.
0:25

Alex Murdaugh to court before sentencing: ‘I’m innocent'

The disgraced lawyer addressed the court ahead of his sentencing.
ABCNews.com