Why Did SLED Never Run the DNA Found Under Maggie Murdaugh’s Fingernails?

Maggie Murdaugh had unknown male DNA beneath her fingernails. Investigators collected it. And then, according to the defense, nobody ever ran it through CODIS — the federal database that exists to match exactly this kind of forensic evidence.

Jim Griffin disclosed this at the press conference and made clear the defense plans to use it at the retrial. It joins a list of investigative shortcomings that SLED will have to answer for in court — including tire tracks that were never processed and GPS data that was overwritten before anyone could examine it.

The retrial timeline is coming into focus, and it is not fast. The defense does not expect to be in a courtroom this year. The preparation alone is staggering: eight thousand pages of transcript to review, a full discovery scrub, new experts to retain and prepare. They are building a defense from the ground up — except this time they know what the prosecution’s case looks like.

Finding a courtroom is its own challenge. A change-of-venue motion is under consideration, but the defense needs a county that demographically matches Colleton. They ruled out Richland and Charleston as likely options. And seating a jury anywhere in South Carolina requires individual voir dire — questioning each potential juror separately to find people who have not already decided this case.

Alex Murdaugh, according to Griffin, has read the Supreme Court opinion himself and reacted with disbelief and emotion. The attorneys noted they have no additional funding and are continuing the representation while operating at a financial loss.

Tony Brueski, criminal defense attorney Bob Motta of Defense Diaries, and retired FBI Chief of the Behavioral Analysis Program Robin Dreeke discuss the untested DNA, the retrial timeline, and why the defense made clear there will never be a plea deal.

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