Gripping Netflix True Crime Series About Corrupt Family Needs To Be Seen
Netflix has gained quite a bit of traction over the past several years by learning heavily about the true crime genre. Among the dozens of titles about the monsters that live among us, Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a terrifying look at how the small community of Islandton, South Carolina was changed forever on June 7, 2021. Across two seasons and six episodes, Murdaugh Murders lays out all the facts as investigators know them, pointing to the murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh at the hands of the family patriarch, Alex.
Documents The Family Before The Fall
The first season of Murdaugh Murders brings you up to speed on how the Murdaugh family operated during times of crisis before the murders and focuses on possible motivations for Alex Murdaugh’s crimes. We learn about a boating accident that occurred in 2019, in which Paul Murdaugh allegedly crashed his boat while intoxicated, resulting in the death of Mallory Beach. Alex Murdaugh, who comes from a long line of generational wealth and influence in his community, is found doing a considerable amount of damage control according to witnesses.
Murder Isn’t The Only Crime
After the granular details of the boating accident are laid out in Murdaugh Murders, we learn how the family tried to cover up what actually happened to preserve their prestige in the community. Through witness testimonials, we learn that Alex Murdaugh wasted no time talking to witnesses to find out how he could manipulate the situation in his favor. But the damage had already been done, as ongoing investigations uncovered a healthy amount of financial impropriety committed by Alex Murdaugh in the form of embezzling funds from his Law Firm, The Parker Law Group.
Murdaugh Murders ends its first season with the murder of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh and hints at the upcoming trial which will be covered extensively in its second season.
Downward Spiral
Season 2 of Murdaugh Murders lays out all of the facts involving the deaths of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh. We get a play-by-play account of what prosecutors believe transpired on June 7, 2021, and during these episodes, the evidence suggests that Alex Murdaugh’s alibi isn’t lining up with the circumstantial evidence that had been collected. We learn that the mounting pressure that manifested from Paul Murdaugh’s boating accident, plus the accusations of embezzlement, was taking a toll on Alex Murdaugh, who was coping with the stress through the heavy use of prescription drugs.
An Attempt To Make Sense Of The Crime
If you followed the news stories on the murder case, you already know that Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of his charges, but is currently working on an appeal case with his legal council. While all signs point to him being guilty of executing his family on their remote property, Murdaugh Murders doesn’t play out like a mystery, but rather as a compilation of evidence, witness testimonials, and character references that try to make sense of why he decided he needed to take the lives of his wife and son.
Still Being Investigated Today
Murdaugh Murders isn’t your typical true crime docuseries, as the crimes being unpacked are still being actively investigated on multiple levels to this day. This deep dive into the lives of the Murdaugh family and those who knew them intimately illustrates how the corruption and questionable motives of Alex Murdaugh had fatal consequences when left unchecked, and can be streamed on Netflix today.
