Murdaugh murders: SC judge keeps Mallory Beach case local after lawmaker’s controversial move to join defense

A South Carolina judge denied a request to move a lawsuit regarding the 2019 boating accident death of Mallory Beach, 19, out of Hampton County, as controversy over the Murdaugh family was spotlighted.

Alex Murdaugh’s younger son, Paul Murdaugh, was seen on surveillance footage purchasing alcohol at a Parker’s convenience store in Ridgeland, South Carolina, allegedly using an ID belonging to his older brother, Buster Murdaugh, on Feb. 24, 2019, and a credit card belonging to his mother, Maggie Murdaugh. 

Later that night, investigators found additional surveillance footage showing Paul and others again purchasing alcohol at Luther’s Rare & Well Done in Beaufort County. A drunken and underage Paul Murdaugh later allegedly plowed his father’s boat into Archer’s Creek Bridge near Parris Island, throwing several passengers into the water, including Mallory Beach, whose body wasn’t found until a week later.