Convicted Murderer Alex Murdaugh Has Been Moved Into Protective Custody In South Carolina Prison

Alex Murdaugh, a former attorney from South Carolina convicted of killing his wife and son, has been moved to protective custody in the state prison where he is being held.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) announced last week that Murdaugh had been processed through the system and recommended for protective custody. The recommendation came from a board consisting of SCDC security, mental health, and classification experts.

“Inmates in this unit have validated protective concerns and are placed in a specialized unit to separate them from the general population. Their location is not disclosed for safety and security reasons. This unit has 28 inmates currently,” said SCDC in a statement. “Murdaugh will be in a single eight by ten cell that contains a bed, toilet, and sink. Inmates in this unit receive all privileges afforded those in the general population inside this self-contained unit.”

Murdaugh will stay in protective custody for at least one year, after which the decision will be reassessed.

Last month, Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife and youngest son as part of an alleged attempt to distract from his financial crimes, which he still faces prosecution for. Over 70 witnesses testified during the six-week trial, which ended in a few hours of deliberation.

During sentencing, lead prosecutor Creighton Waters told Judge Clifton Newman that the trial evidence “shows [Alex] to be a cunning manipulator, a man who placed himself above all others, including his family.” Waters requested consecutive life sentences, saying Murdaugh’s family “like everyone else, was unaware of who he really was.”

Murdaugh’s attorneys declined to comment during the hearing, but Murdaugh himself once again declared his innocence.

Following the conviction and sentence, Murdaugh filed a notice of appeal, though it contained no arguments. During the trial, his attorneys had disputed the investigators’ handling of the crime scene, claiming that they did not explore other possibilities before focusing on Murdaugh as a suspect.