Crime & Justice with Donna Rotunno

Episode: Alex Murdaugh Update: Inside His Fight for New Trial
Date: March 18, 2026
Host: Donna Rotunno
Guest: Valerie Bauerlein, Investigative Reporter, Wall Street Journal

Episode Overview

This episode offers an in-depth update on the latest legal developments in the Alex Murdaugh case, specifically focusing on his ongoing appeal and the possibility of a new trial. Host Donna Rotunno is joined by Valerie Bauerlein, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of The Devil at His Elbow: Alec Murdoch and the Fall of the Southern Dynasty. Together, they unpack the dynastic influence of the Murdaugh family, the evidence that led to Alex's conviction, and the legal challenges now facing his appeal—including allegations of jury tampering by the court clerk and the contentious introduction of financial crimes as evidence.

The Murdaugh Family: Power, Dynasty, and Downfall

Background:

• Valerie describes her years covering the Murdaugh story, sparked by the double homicide of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in June 2021 (01:35).
• The Murdaughs were "ingrained into the fabric of this low country area of South Carolina," wielding power through their law firm and by holding the district attorney's office for nearly a century (03:23–04:06).
• Quote: “Craig Melvin calls it the redneck Yellowstone. In some regards, it really is a generational story about this family.” – Valerie Bauerlein (04:06)

Power Dynamics:

• The Murdaughs’ power stemmed from deep relationships in the community, their control over civil injury cases, and their dual influence as both prosecutors and private attorneys (04:06–05:51).
• Valerie places this case within a broader context of generational decline: “If it starts to rot from the inside, the weight just can't hold. And that's exactly what happened here.” (05:56)

The Conviction: Key Evidence and Courtroom Moments

“The Kennel Video” — The Smoking Gun

• For months, law enforcement lacked direct evidence connecting Alex to the murders (06:28–07:38).

• The discovery of the “kennel video” on Paul Murdaugh’s phone—unlocked after months of failed attempts—was pivotal. In the video, recorded minutes before Paul was killed, Alex’s voice is clearly heard, undermining his alibi (07:40).

• Quote: “If you’re not there, why’s your voice on this video? And the jurors I talked to—that’s the reason. It boiled down to something as simple as that.” – Valerie (08:50)

• Donna emphasizes the decisive power of a single, unexplainable piece of evidence: “There is one piece of evidence in these cases that you just can’t reconcile...this is the one thing that tells me this has to be guilty.” – Donna (08:50)

The Appeal: Issues Before the Supreme Court

Main Appeal Arguments

• Alex’s appeal centers on two claims:
  1. Financial crimes evidence should not have been allowed during the murder trial.
  2. Allegations that Clerk Becky Hill had improper contact with jurors, potentially biasing the trial (09:35).

Focus on Jury Tampering Allegations

• The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in February 2026, with justices showing intense concern for “the sanctity of that jury room” and the possibility of clerk Becky Hill influencing juror decisions (10:51–12:47).
• Quote: “I was just watching them [the justices] and I was like so surprised how concerned they were about the sanctity of that jury room and whether the clerk of court…put her thumb on the scale.” – Valerie (11:28)

The Becky Hill Allegations

• Becky Hill was respected during the trial, but later accused of making suggestive remarks to jurors (e.g., “don’t be deceived” about Alex's testimony). She later published a book about the trial, faced ethics and criminal probes, and pled guilty to unrelated felonies but not jury tampering itself (13:45–15:56).
• Donna: “She doesn’t get to make that determination if she tampered with the jury. It’s up to the jurors to determine…Even the juror themselves may not know that.” (15:56)

Legal & Ethical Ramifications

• Donna stresses the fundamental issue is not whether Alex is guilty, but whether he received a fair trial:
  “If they allow it, it’s a stain for every defendant…throughout the course of time, really.” (17:30)
• Valerie outlines the legal challenge: does this error amount to harmless error or is it “structural error” undermining the system's very integrity? (18:06–20:27)
• Both agree:
  “It’s bigger than him…none of that takes away from the trial itself, but it questions the veracity and the fairness and the integrity of an entire system.” – Donna (20:53–21:00)

The Financial Crimes Evidence

• A secondary pillar of the appeal questions whether evidence of Alex’s financial crimes should have been admitted, potentially prejudicing the jury (22:02).
• Valerie clarifies that the financial evidence came in partly because defense “opened the door” by personalizing the Murdochs’ relationships, which allowed the prosecution to mention money troubles (22:02–24:52).
• She notes state and federal appellate standards differ; the federal system sets a lower bar for new trials due to jury tampering (22:02–24:52).

The South Carolina Judicial System: Close-Knit and Complicated

• Valerie and Donna discuss the personal, interconnected nature of South Carolina’s legal community; many justices and lawyers went to the same law school and knew each other, leading to unique dynamics in cases of this notoriety (25:22–26:09).

The Human Cost

Buster Murdaugh: Life After the Verdict

• Donna plays a clip from Buster’s interview with Martha MacCallum, where Buster said he did not believe the trial was fair (27:29–28:08).
• Valerie shares that Buster has avoided the public eye, recently married, had a child, and reportedly has had no recent contact with Alex in prison (28:42–29:41).
• Quote: “He lost his mother, his brother, his father, his grandfather died three days later…there is a lot of empathy out when I talk to people for him.” – Valerie (29:08)

Notable Quotes & Moments

On the “Redneck Yellowstone” legacy:

“In some regards, it really is a generational story about this family.” – Valerie (04:06)

On systems and fairness:

“No matter what, no matter where your case is…you should be entitled to a fair trial, full stop.” – Donna (26:09)

On exploring the clerk’s influence:

“Her opinion wouldn’t matter or potentially influence a juror in ways we may not even be able to know.” – Donna (15:56)

On the Supreme Court’s attitude:

“There was a justice calling Alex Murdoch by his nickname…that’s how personal it is in South Carolina.” – Valerie (25:22)

Timeline of Key Segments

• Murdaugh family’s dynastic power: 01:35–05:56
• Discovery and impact of the kennel video: 06:28–08:50
• Explanation of appeal, focusing on jury tampering: 09:35–13:45
• Detailed discussion of Becky Hill allegations: 13:45–15:56
• Legal and fairness implications: 16:00–22:00
• Financial crimes evidence debate: 22:02–24:52
• South Carolina legal community nuances: 25:22–26:09
• Buster Murdaugh update: 27:29–29:41

Conclusion

The episode ends with a reflection on the broader stakes of the Murdaugh appeal, emphasizing that, regardless of public opinion about Alex Murdaugh, the fairness and integrity of the criminal justice system itself is in the spotlight. Donna and Valerie agree: the ultimate decision will resonate beyond South Carolina, sending a message to jurists everywhere about the importance of an unimpeachable process.

For Further Exploration

• Listen to Valerie Bauerlein’s previous appearance on the Camp Swamp Road murders.
• Keep an eye out for forthcoming Supreme Court rulings, which may fundamentally shape how high-profile criminal cases are tried in the future.