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5 clusters · 32 sources · 41 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated 4 days ago

Alex Murdaugh murder retrial saga

Overview

In August 2026, Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin ordered that Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder retrial be moved out of Colleton County, South Carolina. This follows the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Murdaugh’s 2023 convictions due to improper juror influence by former court clerk Rebecca Hill, who previously pleaded guilty to perjury, obstruction of justice, and misconduct.

Judge McCaslin ruled that the trial cannot take place anywhere within the 14th Judicial Circuit. While the defense initially advocated for Charleston and later filed a motion requesting the proceedings be held in Richland County to access a larger, more impartial jury pool, a new venue has since been selected. In September 2026, Judge McCaslin designated Sumter County as the location for the retrial, citing its superior security measures, courtroom facilities, and technological infrastructure.

During recent proceedings, the judge ruled that Murdaugh’s testimony from his initial trial may be heard by jurors under specific conditions and permitted him to appear in civilian clothing.

Several legal disputes remain unresolved. Murdaugh’s defense continues to seek the dismissal of murder indictments, alleging misconduct and fabricated evidence by investigators. Furthermore, the defense has raised an unverified claim regarding a potential connection between weapons used in the Murdaugh case and a recent homicide in Allendale County, requesting a state investigation.

Murdaugh remains incarcerated on a 40-year federal sentence for extensive financial crimes. Separately, a U.S. District Court judge dismissed a $600,000 civil suit Murdaugh filed against Hill, ruling he lacked standing because her alleged jury tampering did not cause his specific defense costs. The murder retrial is scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027.

Entities

Alex Murdaugh · South Carolina Supreme Court · Colleton County · Becky Hill · Debra McCaslin

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

"Judge Debra McCaslin ordered the Alex Murdaugh retrial to take place in Sumter County." abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7.com

vs

"The retrial will not be held anywhere within the 14th Judicial Circuit."

One claim states the retrial will not be held anywhere within the 14th Judicial Circuit, while the other states it will take place in Sumter County, which is part of that circuit.

[DISPUTED] Judge Debra McCaslin ordered the Alex Murdaugh retrial to take place in Sumter County. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7.com
[DISPUTED] The retrial will not be held anywhere within the 14th Judicial Circuit.
[● 18 SOURCES] The murder retrial of Alex Murdaugh must be moved out of Colleton County.
[● 15 SOURCES] Murdaugh's original murder convictions were overturned due to jury tampering by the court clerk.
[● 10 SOURCES] U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel dismissed Alex Murdaugh's lawsuit against Becky Hill.
[● 10 SOURCES] Murdaugh sought $600,000 in legal fees from Becky Hill.
[● 5 SOURCES] The defense has lobbied to have the retrial held in Charleston.
[● 4 SOURCES] Becky Hill pleaded guilty in December 2025 to perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct and received three years of probation.
[● 4 SOURCES] The retrial is scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027.
[● 4 SOURCES] Murdaugh is permitted to wear civilian clothing in court rather than a prison jumpsuit.

Timeline

4 days ago

[CRIME] 6 sources
Sumter County selected for Alex Murdaugh murder retrial
A South Carolina judge has ordered Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder retrial to be held in Sumter County, scheduled for April 2027, following the overturning of his previous convictions.
27 days ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Alex Murdaugh defense seeks Richland County for murder retrial
Alex Murdaugh’s defense team is seeking to move his double-murder retrial to Richland County, South Carolina, citing the need for a larger, more impartial jury pool.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 21 sources
Alex Murdaugh murder retrial moved out of Colleton County
Judge Debra McCaslin ruled that Alex Murdaugh's murder retrial must be moved out of Colleton County, South Carolina, following a conviction overturn due to jury tampering. The new venue is yet to be decided.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 10 sources
Alex Murdaugh's $600K Lawsuit Against Former Clerk Becky Hill Dismissed
Judge Richard Gergel dismissed Alex Murdaugh's $600,000 lawsuit against former clerk Becky Hill, finding no causal link to his defense costs; the case was dismissed without prejudice amid the backdrop of his 2‑
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Alex Murdaugh Seeks DNA Review and Unsealing of Jury Tampering Files Ahead of Retrial
Alex Murdaugh’s team is pushing to unseal the state probe into former clerk Becky Hill’s alleged jury tampering and to have independent lab Othram re‑test DNA found under his wife’s nails as his retrial nears.

Sources

6abc.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc17news.com · abc30.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com · abc7news.com · breakingnews.com · cbs58.com · cremation.com · fitsnews.com · fox40jackson.com · haberaktuel.com · independent.co.uk · insider.foxnews.com · internewscast.com · kesq.com · keyt.com · krdo.com · ksjbam.com · ktvz.com · livenowfox.com · localnews8.com · myfoxatlanta.com · mymotherlode.com · priskalkulator.no · southernillinoisnow.com · srnnews.com · thepulseofnh.com · usmagazine.com · winnipegfreepress.com

This summary has been updated 6 times: see revision history