Review: Murdaugh’s: The All American Family

  The Netflix special “Murdaugh’s: The All American Family” sheds light on the history of a prominent and influential family tree in the legal and political circles of South Carolina. The Murdaugh’s have a long history of practicing law, as well as connections to questionable circumstances over the last century. 

  As the episodes went on and I learned more and more about the family, I couldn’t help but think that this family is the epitome of white privilege. They have gotten away with theft and murder for years. All the while portraying this all American everyday family. These people were murderers and crooks. 

  When I saw the trailer to the series I thought to myself, now that looks interesting. I didn’t think much more of it until the next day when I saw a thumbnail about Alex Murdaugh while scrolling YouTube. I clicked the link and realized that the trailer I watched the day before wasn’t something that happened twenty years ago, it was happening now. I decided to watch the series and was locked in within the first five minutes.

  The first episode focuses on the death of Mallory Beach, a young woman from Hampton County, South Carolina, who died in a boating accident in Feb. 2019. Beach was thrown from the boat and her body was later found in the creek.

  Controversy began when police arrived and wanted to know who was driving the boat. Enter Paul Murdaugh, who was 20 years old at the time and highly intoxicated.

  The documentary paints the family’s youngest son as a spoiled rich kid with a drinking problem. Paul was known to be a hot head and was abusive towards his girlfriend. At the hospital it was alleged that Paul’s father, Alex, was pressuring one of the other boat passengers to say he didn’t know who was driving.

  Following the accident, Paul was charged with several criminal offenses, including boating under the influence resulting in death. 

  As the series progresses you learn that the family possibly killed their maid as well as another young teenager. The young man, Stephen Smith, was alleged to have been in a secret relationship with Buster Murdaugh.

  Gloria Satterfield worked as a nanny and housekeeper for the Murdaughs for 20 years. In Feb. 2018, Satterfield fell on the front steps of the family’s home and died from her injuries.

  The story takes several turns and will leave you sitting on your couch with your eyes wide open in amazement. When you think you’ve heard it all, you see that members of the high profile Murdaugh family were also victims.

  Paul was found shot to death along with his mother, Maggie, on June 7, 2021. 

  This blew my mind. I couldn’t believe someone had murdered members of this powerful family. Then to see someone try to kill Alex made me believe that this family had death surrounding them 24/7.

  On Sep. 4, 2021, Alex was found with a gunshot wound to the head on a rural road in Hampton County. According to a statement from his lawyer, he had been changing a tire when he was shot. Alex survived and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

  Alex’s attack was investigated as a separate incident from the deaths of his wife and son. However, following the shooting, his law firm announced that he had resigned and was entering rehab for substance abuse issues. It was later revealed he had allegedly misappropriated funds from his law firm, and he was arrested and charged with embezzlement and fraud in connection with those allegations. In addition to being charged with the murder of his wife and son. 

  While HBO has their own three-part series, the Netflix docuseries adds a little more substance to the story due to the insanity and chill factor of the entire situation.

  This is one of the best docuseries I’ve watched in a long time. I recommend this documentary for all murder crime drama fans who like to be shocked by what is revealed.

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