The Real 'Cast' Of Murdaugh: Death In The Family—Where Are They Now? (2025 Updates)

The Murdaugh saga continues to be one of the most compelling and tragic true-crime stories in modern history, captivating millions through the Hulu series Murdaugh: Death in the Family and numerous other documentaries. As of December 2025, the story is far from over, with new legal filings, criminal charges, and ongoing investigations providing fresh, dramatic updates to the lives of the real people—the 'cast'—at the center of the scandal.

The original series and its subsequent media coverage introduced the world to the downfall of a powerful, dynastic South Carolina legal family. But what happened to the key figures after the cameras stopped rolling and the sensational murder trial concluded? The following is an in-depth look at the current status of the most pivotal people involved, from the convicted patriarch to the key victims and the journalists who exposed the truth, incorporating the very latest developments from the ongoing legal aftermath.

The Murdaugh Family and Co-Conspirators: Latest Biography and Status

The Murdaugh family name, once synonymous with legal power in the Lowcountry, is now inextricably linked to murder, financial fraud, and corruption. The fate of the central figures is sealed, yet their legal battles continue to shape the narrative.

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• Richard Alexander "Alex" Murdaugh:
  • Role: Disgraced former attorney, patriarch of the family, and convicted murderer.
  • Current Status: Alex Murdaugh is currently serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. He is incarcerated at a maximum-security facility in South Carolina. Furthermore, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for 22 federal financial crimes, which he pleaded guilty to, involving the theft of millions of dollars from clients and his own law firm.
  • Latest Update: Murdaugh's legal team is actively pursuing an appeal for his murder conviction, largely centered on allegations of jury tampering by former Colleton County Clerk of Court, Becky Hill.
• Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh:
  • Role: Alex Murdaugh's wife and victim of the June 2021 double murder.
  • Current Status: Deceased.
• Paul Murdaugh:
  • Role: Alex Murdaugh's youngest son and victim of the June 2021 double murder. He was facing charges for the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach.
  • Current Status: Deceased.
• Richard "Buster" Murdaugh:
  • Role: Alex and Maggie's surviving eldest son. He has maintained a low profile since the trial.
  • Current Status: Buster continues to live outside the public eye. He was a key witness during his father's trial. He is also the subject of renewed scrutiny regarding the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, though he has consistently denied any involvement.
• Curtis "Eddie" Smith:
  • Role: Alex Murdaugh's alleged drug dealer and co-conspirator in the bizarre 2021 roadside shooting plot, which Alex staged as a suicide-for-insurance scheme.
  • Current Status: Smith remains free on bond despite facing multiple charges, including drug conspiracy, money laundering, and assisting in the staged suicide attempt. He was recently freed from electronic monitoring. Alex Murdaugh's defense even attempted to implicate Smith in the murders of Maggie and Paul during the trial, a claim Smith has denied.

The Victims and Their Families: Pursuing Justice and Homicide Reclassification

The Murdaugh saga is not just about a powerful family’s crimes; it is fundamentally about the victims whose lives were tragically cut short or financially devastated. The latest legal developments show that the fight for justice for these victims is still very much active.

The Stephen Smith Homicide Investigation

Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student, was found dead on a rural road in 2015. His death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but the circumstances have long fueled speculation of a Murdaugh connection, an entity that has been the subject of intense media focus since the original documentary aired.

Latest Update: In a major development, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) officially reclassified Stephen Smith's death as a homicide in 2023. This reclassification, which followed the exhumation of Smith’s body for a second autopsy, confirms the suspicions of his family and the investigative journalists who covered the case for years. A grand jury was reportedly convened to hear evidence, signaling an active and high-stakes investigation into who killed Stephen Smith.

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The Gloria Satterfield Financial Crimes

Gloria Satterfield was the Murdaugh family's longtime housekeeper who died in a "trip and fall" accident at their home in 2018. Alex Murdaugh subsequently stole millions of dollars from the insurance settlement intended for her two sons, Tony Satterfield and Brian Harriott.

Latest Update: The Satterfield family, represented by attorneys Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, has successfully reached settlements with several entities involved in the financial scheme. Most notably, the family accepted a settlement from Palmetto State Bank, which was implicated in facilitating Alex Murdaugh's theft of the insurance funds. This resolution brings a measure of closure to the financial devastation caused by Murdaugh's betrayal.

Legal and Media Figures: The Ongoing Battle for the Verdict

The true-crime genre thrives on the personalities of the legal and media figures who bring the story to light. The aftermath of the trial has seen these figures remain at the forefront of the narrative, especially with the highly contentious appeal process.

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• Becky Hill (Former Colleton County Clerk of Court):
  • Role: The elected clerk who oversaw Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. Her alleged actions are the basis of the appeal.
  • Current Status: Becky Hill was charged with two felony counts of misconduct in office, which included allegations of using her position for personal gain and illegally signing a false document. Her legal troubles stem from allegations that she tampered with the jury during the Murdaugh trial to secure a guilty verdict for her own book deal. While a judge initially denied the request for a new trial, ruling her comments were "fleeting," her subsequent guilty plea in a separate charge has reignited pressure on the conviction.
• Mandy Matney (Investigative Journalist):
  • Role: Investigative journalist and host of the original Murdaugh Murders Podcast, whose work was instrumental in exposing the family’s corruption and connecting the various cases.
  • Current Status: Matney concluded the Murdaugh Murders Podcast in 2023 and has since relaunched her coverage under the new title, True Sunlight. She continues to provide in-depth, real-time updates on the ongoing Murdaugh fallout, the Stephen Smith case, and other related South Carolina legal issues, maintaining her critical role as an entity of accountability in the region.
• Creighton Waters (Lead Prosecutor):
  • Role: The chief prosecutor for the State Grand Jury who led the team that successfully convicted Alex Murdaugh for the double murder and financial crimes.
  • Current Status: Waters is widely praised for his meticulous work that led to the conviction. He continues to serve in the South Carolina Attorney General's office and is a key figure in defending the murder conviction against Murdaugh's aggressive appeal.

The Murdaugh Legacy: A True Crime Documentary That Keeps Evolving

The true crime documentary Murdaugh: Death in the Family captured a specific moment in the Murdaugh saga—the initial shock and the mounting suspicion. However, the story, like the South Carolina legal system it exposed, is a complex, evolving entity that continues to unfold.

The post-conviction updates—Alex Murdaugh's appeal based on the Becky Hill controversy, the reclassification of Stephen Smith's death as a homicide, and the resolution of the Gloria Satterfield financial crimes—are not merely footnotes; they are major new chapters. These developments underscore the documentary’s central theme: the deep-seated corruption that allowed one family to operate above the law for decades.

The ongoing legal battles and the pursuit of justice for all victims ensure that the Murdaugh saga will remain a source of fascination and a critical study in power, privilege, and the relentless work of investigative journalism. The 'cast' has moved from the courtroom to the appeals process, guaranteeing that the true-crime documentary will require an update for years to come.