Will We Ever Know What Really Happened To Maggie & Paul Murdaugh?
Sep 29, 2023, 05:00 PM
For those who have been following the unnerving tale of Alex Murdaugh, a disgraced South Carolina attorney, each new revelation seems to twist the narrative further into the realm of the uncanny. And a recent podcast episode of "Hidden Killers" with host Tony Brueski and psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott sheds even more light on the perplexing details surrounding this case.
To recap, Alex Murdaugh, after being convicted in March for the murders of his wife and son, recently pleaded guilty to 22 financial crime charges. Yet, this only represents a fraction of the myriad charges awaiting him. But what might be even more gripping than the sheer number of legal charges is the narrative surrounding the man himself.
"It's the first time he's admitted blame in front of a judge," Brueski noted in the podcast. But the reason for his guilty plea? To "show his son [Buster] responsibility," which prompted Brueski to exclaim, "How about you decide to step up and be a dad now?"
This sentiment is echoed by Scott, who commented on the conundrum of understanding Murdaugh's psyche, stating, "In a recent interview, he said he does have the traits of a psychopath. I think we can go beyond 'he has the traits of' to 'he's a glaring example of a psychopath.'"
While the nation remains perplexed by Murdaugh's dual image - a man deeply involved in a series of crimes yet seemingly a devoted family man - the narrative becomes even more conflicting when one considers the testimony of his surviving son, Buster.
"Buster in that interview on Fox Nation, when asked, 'Do you believe he did it?', said that he did not believe his father did it," Brueski shared. "He claims that he saw the love, he saw the care, he saw a family that was not murderous."
Scott chimes in with an analysis, questioning if this is Buster's way of "trying to put the pieces together." She stated, "I can see how Buster would struggle with how to integrate the dad he felt was always loving with someone capable of doing something so monstrous."
The plot takes another turn with the introduction of Cousin Eddie Smith. According to a recent Netflix documentary, Eddie claims that Murdaugh once asked him to kill him (Murdaugh), fearing that it would soon be proven he was responsible for the murders of Maggie and Paul.
Brueski found the timing of Eddie's revelation puzzling, asking, "Why now?" Scott, skeptical of both men's honesty, responded, "My impression of Cousin Eddie is pretty much the same as Alex when it comes to telling the truth."
Indeed, the crux of the Murdaugh case is its inherent contradictions. Here we have a man, according to family friends and acquaintances, who adored his family, yet is embroiled in a series of heinous crimes and murky relationships that suggest a darker side.
In a telling comment on the enigma that is the Murdaugh case, Brueski remarked, "It's the weirdest case, I think, because of all the money and the power that this family had. And then it's just weird. I don't think anybody can wrap their head around it."
So, we're left pondering: Just how many layers are there to the Alex Murdaugh story, and can we ever truly understand the full scope of it?
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
To recap, Alex Murdaugh, after being convicted in March for the murders of his wife and son, recently pleaded guilty to 22 financial crime charges. Yet, this only represents a fraction of the myriad charges awaiting him. But what might be even more gripping than the sheer number of legal charges is the narrative surrounding the man himself.
"It's the first time he's admitted blame in front of a judge," Brueski noted in the podcast. But the reason for his guilty plea? To "show his son [Buster] responsibility," which prompted Brueski to exclaim, "How about you decide to step up and be a dad now?"
This sentiment is echoed by Scott, who commented on the conundrum of understanding Murdaugh's psyche, stating, "In a recent interview, he said he does have the traits of a psychopath. I think we can go beyond 'he has the traits of' to 'he's a glaring example of a psychopath.'"
While the nation remains perplexed by Murdaugh's dual image - a man deeply involved in a series of crimes yet seemingly a devoted family man - the narrative becomes even more conflicting when one considers the testimony of his surviving son, Buster.
"Buster in that interview on Fox Nation, when asked, 'Do you believe he did it?', said that he did not believe his father did it," Brueski shared. "He claims that he saw the love, he saw the care, he saw a family that was not murderous."
Scott chimes in with an analysis, questioning if this is Buster's way of "trying to put the pieces together." She stated, "I can see how Buster would struggle with how to integrate the dad he felt was always loving with someone capable of doing something so monstrous."
The plot takes another turn with the introduction of Cousin Eddie Smith. According to a recent Netflix documentary, Eddie claims that Murdaugh once asked him to kill him (Murdaugh), fearing that it would soon be proven he was responsible for the murders of Maggie and Paul.
Brueski found the timing of Eddie's revelation puzzling, asking, "Why now?" Scott, skeptical of both men's honesty, responded, "My impression of Cousin Eddie is pretty much the same as Alex when it comes to telling the truth."
Indeed, the crux of the Murdaugh case is its inherent contradictions. Here we have a man, according to family friends and acquaintances, who adored his family, yet is embroiled in a series of heinous crimes and murky relationships that suggest a darker side.
In a telling comment on the enigma that is the Murdaugh case, Brueski remarked, "It's the weirdest case, I think, because of all the money and the power that this family had. And then it's just weird. I don't think anybody can wrap their head around it."
So, we're left pondering: Just how many layers are there to the Alex Murdaugh story, and can we ever truly understand the full scope of it?
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com