South Carolina PO, Box 21398 wae Columbia, South Carotina Law Enforcement Division 29221-1398 Tesy D. MeMase, Grcernor mae Mark A Red, Ch FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Tommy Crosby September 16, 2021 srosby@sled.sc.gor (803) 896-8396 SLED ARRESTS ALEX MURDAUGH FOR INSURANCE FRAU! AND OTHER CRIMES Agents of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Thursday arrested Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh, 53, in connection to the shooting incident on Sept. 4 in which he conspired with Curtis Edward Smith to assist him in committing suicide for the explicit purpose of allowing a beneficiary to collect life insurance. Murdaugh was charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, along with filing a false police report. “[ can assure you that SLED agents will continue working to bring justice to anyone involved with any criminal act associated with these ongoing investigations,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “The arrests in this case are only the first step in that process.” This SLED investigation was requested by the Hampton County Sherift’s Office ‘Murdaugh was booked at the Hampton County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the Attomey General’s Office Ht www.sled.se.gov Warrants attached — CALEA An Accredited LawARREST WARRANT ‘STATE OF SOUTH CAROLA ) 2021A2510100204 ees STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ORIGINAL AFFIDAVIT ccinenes of [X] Cony 9 Me toto paras DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSE: STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Ax] omens) tact ot ws) Riyal 2, Mur oav ew Ae 2 Doc ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINALSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AFFIDAVIT COUNTY OF HAMPTON SLED CASE# 31-21-0092 Personally appeared before me, a Magistrate of Hampton County, one SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT JEFF CROFT who first being duly sworn, deposes and says that RICHARD ALEXANDER MURDAUGH (DOB: MMI, Race: White, Gender: Mate violate the eriminal laws ofthe State of joulas Di within this County and Staton o about September 4,20 ‘South Carolina inthe following pa DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSE INSURANCE FRAUD 38-55-540, ‘The affiant states there is probable cause to believe thatthe defendant named above did ‘commit the erime(s se forth, and that such probable cause is based upon the following facts: ‘That on or around September 4, 2021, while in the area of 15585 Old Salkchatchie Road, locaed in the town of Varwille, County of Hampton, State of South Carolina, one Richard Alexander Murdaugh id commit the offense of INSURANCE FRAUD, in violation of section 38-55-540 of the South Carolina Code of Laws of 1976, as amended. ‘That on September 4, 2021, Richard Alexander Murdaugh conspired with co-defendant Cutis Edward Smith inthe area of Od Salkchatchie Road, forthe purpose of Mr. Smith assisting Mr. Mardaugh tw commit suede. In that Mr. Murdaugh provided Mr. Smith with firearm and directed Mr. Smith to shoot him inthe head for she purpose of causing Mr. Murdaugh’s death and allowing forthe payment of stated death benefit oa beneficiary ofthe insured, Mr. Murdaugh ‘That on September 4, 2021, Mr. Smith followed Me, Murdaugh to ONE Salkchatchie Road and shot Mr. Murdaugh ashe stood inthe oadway._ After shooting Mr. Murdaugh in the head, Mr. Smith drove to an unknown location where he disposed of the firearm. Mr. Murdaugh survived the shooting and was ‘transported to the hospital for treatment. ‘On September 13, 2021, Mr. Murdaugh provided a satoment to SLED admiting tothe scheme of having Mr. Smith murder him forthe purpose of his son collecting life insurance policy valued at ‘approximately ten million dollars. On September 14, 2021, Mr. Smith admitted to being present during the shooting of Mr. Murdaugh and to disposing of the firearm afierwards, Thal itis unlawful fora person to knowingly make false statements or misrepresentation, and any other person knowingly with n inant wo injure, defraud or deceive or who sits, abet, solicits, or ‘eanspres with # person to make False statement or misrepresentation for an ecanomie advantage or benetit in connection to an insurance transaction “The above information is tue and seeurate and was obtained through witness and suspect statements and the investigation of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, ‘Sworn tq and subseribgd! before me Weg? This IY day of ber (ARFTANT) 2021 SS/A JEFF CROFT . 104 Simmons Street | Walterboro, SC 29488 SIGNATURE OF JUDGE (843) 782-3822ARREST WARRANT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ) __202taesto1oozo7 Arrinay county Ly scott ORIGINAL, THESE Fao DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSE: pot Fling a false police post of a Feo sennenn Od [2 Bel come) my ws) Teer Biaatn. B, Mr OAVGI\ [X] Moser] ers C ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL, ‘ORIGINALSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AFFIDAVIT COUNTY OF HAMPTON ‘SLED CASE# 31-21-0092 Personally appeared before me, a Magistrate of Hampton County, one SE PECIAL AGENT JEFF CROFT who first being duly sworn, deposes and says that sHARD ALEXANDER MURDAUGH. (wos: }968, Race: White, Gender: Male) Did within this County and State on o about September 4, 2021, violate the criminal laws of the State of ‘South Carolina in the following particulars DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSE FILING OF FALSE POLICE REPORT 1617-72 ‘The affiant states there is probable cause to believe thatthe defendant named above did ‘commit the crime(s) set forth, and that such probable eause is based upon the following facts: ‘That on or around September 4 2021, while in the area of 15385 OW Salkehatchie Road, located in the town of Varnville, County of Hampton, State of South Carolina, one Richard Alexander Murdaugh did commit the offense of FILING OF FALSE POLICE REPORT, i violation of section 16-17-72 of the South Carolina Code of Laws of 1976, as amended. That on September 4, 2021, Richard Alexander Murdaugh did report to Hampton County 911 and subsequently to the Hampton County Sheriff's Office, Hampton County EMS, and SLED that he was shot in the head by an unknown assailant while attempting to change a flt tre on Olé Salkehatchie Read. Mr. “Murdaugh survived the shooting and was transported tothe hospital for treatment. ‘On September 13, 2021, Mr. Murdsugh provided a statement to SLED admiting to providing false information during his previous statements to law enforcement and first responders. Mr. Murdaugh sumitted to conspiring with a person kaown to him, Curtis Edwaré Sih, by having Mr. Smith murder him Tor the purpose of Murdaugh's son collecting @ life insurenes policy. Mr, Murdaagh admited to providing Mr. Smith with the firearm used, and also o deflating hs ow tro with knife, On September 4, 2021, Mr. Smith admited to being present during the shooting of Mt Murdaugh and o disposing ofthe firearm afterwards That its unlawful fora person 1o falsely report a felony. ‘That on September 4, 2021, Me Murdaugh did knowingly, willfully, and unlawfully make a false poise report to the Hampton County Sherif's Office (Case# SO-21005172), and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (Case! 3 (0092), aso the circumstances originally reported to investigating law enforcement authorities, The above iaZoemaron is rue and accurate and was obtained through witness and suspect statements and the investigation ofthe South Carolina Lavy Enforcement Division, Sworn jp and subseribgd before me This day of _Stplem ber (AFFIAN SS/A JEFF CROFT 104 Simmons Street Walterboro, SC 29488 (843) 782-3822ARREST WARRANT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA “OnRENAE ___-2021a25to100208 x] comm Tbs ot AFFIDAVIT Sonne ttn con ‘TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THIS STATE OR MUNICIPALITY OR ANY CONSTABLE OF THiS COUNTY: 1 appenng tem to abore fe reasonable goons bale that rgcout: [x] Magee [] cpt Dene ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL, ‘ORIGINAL, ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINALSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AFFIDAVIT COUNTY OF HAMPTON SLED CASE# 31-21-0092 Personally appeared before me, a Magistrate of Hampton County, one SENIOR SPECIAL, AGENT JEFF CROFT who fist being duly sworn, deposes and says that RI ALEXANDER MURDAUGH (08: MMB 968, Race: White, Gender: Male) Did within this County and State on or about September 4, 2021, violate the criminal lays of the State of South Carolina in the follosing particulars DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSE ‘CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT INSURANCE FRAUD 1617-410 ‘The affiant states there is probable cause to beliove that the defendant named above did commit the crime(s) set forth, and that such probable cause is based upon the following fac That on or around September 4 2021, while inthe area of 1538S Old Salkehatchie Road, located in the town of Varavitle, County of Hampton, State of South Carolina, one Richard Alexander Mercaush id commit the offense of CONSPIRACY in violation of setion 16-17-410 of the South Carolina Code of Laws of 1976, as amended, “That on September 4, 2021, Richard Alexander Murdaugh conspired with co-defendant Cutis ‘Edward Smith inthe area of Old Salkehatchie Road, forthe purpose of Mr. Smith assisting Mr, Murdaugh ‘o commit suicide. In that Mr. Murdaugh provided Me, Smith with a firearm and directed Mr. Smith shoot him inthe head forthe purpose of causing Mr. Murdaugh’s death and allowing forthe payment of a stated death benefit toa beneficiary of the insured, Mr. Murdaugh, That on September 4, 2021, Mr. Smith followed Me. Murdaugh to Old Salkehatchie Rowd and shot Mr. Murdaugh as be stood in the roadway. Aer shooting Mc. Murdaugh inthe head, Mr. Smith drove to an unknown location where he disposed of the Firearm, Mr. Murdaugh survived the shooting and was transported to tie hospital for treatment. ‘On September 13, 2021, Mr. Murdaugh provided a statement to SLED admitting to the scheme of having Mr. Smith murder him forthe purpse of his son collecting a life insurance policy valued at approximately ten million dollars. On Sepiember 14, 2021, Mr. Smith admitted to being present during the shooting of Mr. Murdaugh and to disposing ofthe firearm afterwards, A person commits the offense of Conspiracy when they act in a combination with each other for the purpose of accomplishing an unlawful objector lawl object by unlawful means. That itis unlawful for a person to knowingly make Tale statements or mistepresentatin, and any eer person knowingly ‘with an intent to injure, defraud or deceive or who assist, abes, solicits, or conspires with a persoa to make fase statement or misrepresentation for an economic advantage oF benefit in connection fo an insurance raneaction “The above information iste and aceuate and was obtained through witness and suspect statements and the investigation ofthe South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. ‘Sworn tq and subscribed before me Dk ie This aay of Sepbrebee FLAT) 2021 SS/A JEFF CROET 104 Simmons Street. Set De Walterboro, SC 29488 Sic TURE OF UDG (ay Dae