20/20 After Show: The Murdaugh Family Murders

Podcast: 20/20
Host: Deborah Roberts (ABC News)
Guest: Mandy Matney (Investigative Journalist, Podcaster, Author)
Date: November 3, 2025
Episode Focus: The Southern scandal of the Murdaugh family murders, Mandy Matney's investigative role, her true crime podcast, and the Hulu/Disney+ scripted adaptation.

Overview of Episode Theme

This episode dives deep into the infamous Murdaugh Murders case, a true crime saga that shook South Carolina’s legal and social foundations. Host Deborah Roberts interviews Mandy Matney, the journalist whose tenacious reporting brought the case crucial national attention and who inspired the new Hulu/Disney+ drama "Murdaugh: Death in the Family." The conversation covers Matney's journey into the story, her work turning local suspicions into headline news, the challenges faced as a young woman reporter, and the cultural impact of bringing the case to mainstream television.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mandy Matney’s Path to the Story

• Mandy began covering the Murdaugh family in 2019, at age 28, after hearing about a fatal boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh.
• She worked with small-town reporters at The Island Packet, often chasing rumors of deeper corruption and other deaths linked to the influential family (06:00).
• Being young and an outsider to South Carolina, Mandy credits her "fresh eyes" and distance from local power structures as assets in her reporting (04:55).

Notable Quote:

"I saw something wrong and went for it."
— Mandy Matney (04:39)

The Boat Crash and Reporting Obstacles

• The 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach became the catalyst for greater scrutiny of the Murdaughs.
• Mandy and her colleagues were tipped off about attempts to cover up the incident because of the Murdaugh’s legal influence (05:53).
• The subsequent lawsuit from Mallory Beach’s family was instrumental in bringing new details to light (07:00).

Expanding Investigation and Mounting Dangers

• Early rumors pointed to a pattern of mysterious deaths around the family (06:21).

• Mandy faced veiled and overt threats as she focused on the family:

  “I would watch your back if I were you.”
  — Mandy Matney recalling anonymous warnings (06:35)

• The murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in 2021 escalated the case:

  “It felt like being a journalist in a movie… I had a whole murder board, you call it, in my house… I knew in my gut there was something more...”
  — Mandy Matney (08:32–08:59)

• Mandy frequently suspected the killer had to be someone close:

  “The fact they were killed at the dog kennels on their property… I could not imagine a scenario where anybody outside of the family would have the guts to do that.”
  — Mandy Matney (10:03)

Emotional Toll and Staying the Course

• Mandy admits to living in “fear for a very long time” due to threats and the power the Murdaughs wielded—only feeling safer after Alex Murdaugh’s first arrest for financial crimes (11:16).
• She used intuition and resolve to press on, despite being told she was “too obsessive” or “too emotionally involved” (25:42).

The Case’s National Impact and Current Status (13:05, 21:52)

• Alex Murdaugh’s Fate:
  Convicted in 2023 for the murders—currently appealing but with no sign a new trial is imminent. He's also been found guilty of extensive financial crimes (13:05–13:35; 22:36).

  “He has a very expensive and skilled team of lawyers… but I have confidence in the system that his conviction is going to stick.”
  — Mandy Matney (23:10–23:36)

Behind the Scenes: Bringing the Story to TV

• Matney’s reporting inspired “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” starring Patricia Arquette (Maggie), Jason Clarke (Alex), and Brittany Snow (Mandy).

• Mandy was actively involved as a co-producer and formed a bond with Brittany Snow.

• Brittany Snow did deep research into Mandy’s life, notably focusing on a childhood trauma that shaped her journalistic sense of justice (16:44).

  “She was like, I can tell your purpose to get justice… all revolves around what happened to you as a child.”
  — Mandy Matney (16:53)

• The series dramatizes real moments—like locking eyes with Alex Murdaugh at a bond hearing—while merging several real-life incidents for dramatic effect (17:56–18:34).

  "It was very easy for me to have evil eyes at that point. I was like, something's up with you."
  — Mandy Matney (18:47)

Portraying Women’s Experiences and Domestic Violence

• Patricia Arquette’s portrayal of Maggie Murdaugh aims to recognize women who are murdered by their partners.
• Mandy notes the importance of honoring Maggie and not just her death. She speaks on the lack of time in podcasting to dwell deeply on victims, a gap the scripted series helps to fill (20:02).

Women in Journalism, Empowerment, and Advice

• Mandy sees her work as part of a broader arc of women breaking barriers—relating her own drive to women like Erin Brockovich and documentary creator Erin Lee Carr (24:00).
• She celebrates how the series brings out the voices of women like Mallory Beach’s mother, Renee, who bravely filed a lawsuit against Alex Murdaugh (24:39).
• Advice for aspiring journalists:

  “Please care. Care about the stories that you cover. Care about the people that you cover. Cause it gets you further… My passion for the people involved in this story really drove me to keep going.”
  — Mandy Matney (25:42–26:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Youth and Outsider Perspective:

  "I think it was good for me that I was young. And also I was not from South Carolina. I didn't have any ties... I saw something wrong and went for it." — Mandy Matney (04:39)

• On Facing Threats:

  "When you're investigating a story... randomly get an email of someone you don't know saying, I would watch your back if I were you." — Mandy Matney (06:35)

• On Meeting Brittany Snow:

  "I could not believe it... she listened to your entire podcast front to end and she knows this story... I was just flabbergasted." — Mandy Matney (14:36)

• On Honoring Maggie Murdaugh:

  "She [Patricia Arquette] was very, very serious about it...to really portray a cautionary tale for Maggie and so many other women who are just caught in a bad relationship and can't get out." — Mandy Matney (20:02)

• Advice for Young Journalists:

  "Listen to your gut... I did care and I was emotionally involved in this story. But that got me where I am... please care." — Mandy Matney (25:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:36–04:55]: Mandy describes her entry to the story, youth, and outsider status
• [05:53–07:00]: Early days: boat crash, rumors, and cover-up
• [08:32–11:16]: The double murder, speculation, and personal danger
• [13:05–13:35]: Murdaugh’s convictions and ongoing appeal
• [14:07–15:59]: Inspiring the Hulu series, meeting Brittany Snow
• [16:27–17:36]: Brittany Snow’s preparation and focus on Mandy’s past
• [17:56–18:47]: Real-life “locking eyes” with Alex Murdaugh dramatized
• [20:02–21:01]: Honoring Maggie Murdaugh and impact of domestic violence portrayal
• [24:39–25:02]: Empowering other women: Mallory Beach's mother and inclusivity in newsrooms
• [25:42–26:26]: Real-talk advice to aspiring female journalists

Closing

Mandy Matney’s integrity and persistence brought a dynastic legal family to justice and inspired a mainstream re-telling of the story. Her advice and experience resonate beyond true crime, offering a master class in investigative reporting, resilience, and empathy.

Watch “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.