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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: KILLER ATTORNEY ALEX MURDAUGH RETRIAL ODDS IMPROVE AS FORMER COLLETON COUNTY CLERK PLEADS GUILTY
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Watch with a free trial@britbox.com 10 athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract for 250,000 doll. This is where mindset comes in. Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down. This is Trainer Games. Watch it on Prime Video starting January 8th ever wish you could try the Washington Post and see what all the talk is about Right now you can with a one week pass for just $7. No commitment, no strings attached. Just $7 for one week of unlimited access to the Post. It's the perfect way to explore our award winning journalism and experience what subscribers already know. There's nothing else quite like it. So why not give us a try? Go to washingtonpost.com week and start your $7 one week pass today. That's washingtonpost.com week crime stories with Nancy Grace. Well, it's Friday night and it is special killer attorney Alex Murdaugh retrial. Odds. That long and tortuous trial, the investigations, the twists, the turns, the cross exams. Alex Murdock on the stand lying through his teeth crying. Now the odds are soaring that Alex Murdaugh will have a new trial. Listen, Moselle Road, I need the police to pass this immediately. My wife and Todd bad here. Stay on the line. I'm still here. Okay, I have a Alex Murdock on the line. Caller from 4147 Mo Road. He's advising that his wife and child was shot. Okay. And so can we Again, it's 4147 Moselle Road. I've been up to it. Now it's bad. Okay. How do they shoot? Do they shoot theirself? Oh, no. Hell no. Okay. And are they breathing? No, ma'. Am. Okay. Any kind of sh. Your wife and your son? My wife and my son. No, ma'. Am. They're on the ground out of my kennel. She shot in the head and he shot really bad. Yeah, they're on the ground out by the kennel. Shot really bad because I just shot him. Oops. Did I say that? With me an all star panel to make sense of what is happening right now. How does it go from that guilty verdict to the judge on the bench trying to make a determination whether there has been jury misconduct. Listen, I simply do not believe that the authority of our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial. In a very lengthy trial such as this on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity influence Clerk of court, this is a matter within the discretion of the trial judge and I am the trial judge at this moment. I do not feel that I abuse my discretion when I find the defendant's motion for a new trial on the factual record before me must be denied. And it is so ordered. That was Judge Tolle. So how are we right here, right now? The former South Carolina Colleton County Clerk of Court on the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Becky Hill, pleads guilty to showing sealed court exhibits to a photographer and lying about it in court. Judge Heath Taylor sentences Hill to three years probation. Explaining her sentence would be much harsher if it were ever proof she tampered with the jury. That that has not been proven. Jennifer Gould has the details. Nancy, the woman whose distinctive trembling voice delivered the guilty verdict that sealed Alex Murdaugh's fate, stood before a circuit judge admitting she secretly handed a photographer the sealed blood soaked photos of his slaughtered wife and son, then lied about it under oath. Former Collection County Clerk of court Becky Hill, 58, tearfully pleaded guilty to four felonies, two counts of misconduct in office, obstruction of justice and perjury for slipping the graphic kennel crime scene images to Media in 2023 and swearing she never did it. During Murdoch's failed bid for a new trial, Circuit Judge Heath Taylor spared her a single day though behind bars, sentencing her instead to three years probation and 100 hours of community service. Stating your sentence would have been much harsher if we had found jury tampering, end quote. Confirming the investigation cleared Hill of swaying the 2023 jury that convicted Murdaugh of murdering Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22. The disgraced clerk's misconduct extended beyond the courthouse secrets. Hill also admitted to pocketing $11,000 in unauthorized county bonuses and exploiting her position to profit from her rushed out book on the case called behind the Doors of Justice. Reading the guilty verdict made her famous. Leaking the photos and lying about it just made her a convicted felon blanked by her husband and lawyer. Hill spoke to the court. Listen, there is no excuse for my mistakes. I am ashamed of them and I will carry that shame with me for the rest of my life. The conviction immediately drew fire from Murdoch's defense team. Attorney Dick Harpoutlian fired off a statement questioning the integrity of the jury tampering hearing, saying, quote, if Becky admittedly committed perjury in the jury tampering hearing, what else did she lie about? End quote. The Disgraced legal scion, 56, is already serving life without parole for the murders and another 27 years for stealing millions from clients. His appeal reaches the South Carolina Supreme Court in February. And Hill's newly minted felony conviction is fresh, potent ammunition for his defense. Hill walked out of the Calhoun county courtroom a felon, but a free woman. As Murdoch's fight rages on, the state's Attorney general is trying to hold that conviction. I wrote most of the appellate briefs on murder cases I tried, but the on murder cases, the AG would also write an amicus curie brief, friend of the court, to bolster, to go along with, to partner with my brief. So I guarantee you the state's brief asking the U.S. the South Carolina Supreme Court to do what they want is going to be in tandem with the prosecution brief. They don't want this case heard by the South Carolina Supreme Court. But what I'm asking you, Jennifer Wood, director of research@fitznews.com who threw out the investigation and the trial, isn't it true that the South Carolina Supreme Court has given, given Murdoch's defense the okay to file briefs? They want to consider it. They have. Okay. Joining me again, an all star panel. Regina Ward is a high profile lawyer, criminal defense attorney there in this jurisdiction of South Carolina. And so it begins. Alex Murdaugh is headed for a new trial because the Supreme Court did not have to say, yeah, I'll hear your argument. That is a big indicator, Regina, of what the court's going to do. I think that that's a possibility. But the brief that they filed, there were many, many more issues there. I think it was like 120something or 130 pages. And so there's just this issue. Of course there were going on 200 points raised by Hart putting in or the new defense team. Of course there are. Do they amount to a hill of beans? Probably not. But of course they're going to raise every possible issue. But the South Carolina Supreme Court is limited to the facts in the transcript. If they are arguing factual issues or discrepancies, that's not to be heard by the appellate court. They are hearing legal issues. This is what I think will likely be the single strongest case for Alex Murdoch to get a new trial. And it all goes back. I never thought I'd have to say these words again to the egg lady. Take a listen to her being questioned by the court. Was your verdict based entirely on the testimony, evidence and law presented to you in this case? Yes, ma'. Am. Did you hear Ms. Becky Hill make any comment about this case before your verdict? Yes, ma'. Am. If yes, what did Ms. Hill say? To watch his actions. To watch his actions. What else? To watch him closely. To watch him closely. Anything else you remember? There is, but I can't remember. Okay, that's fine. Oh, okay. She's on the stand, the so called egg lady. And I was there when this happened. A juror was dismissed because of alleged misconduct. And before she left the courthouse, she said she wanted to go back in the jury deliberation room and get the dozen eggs she had brought to court that day. That's how she got that name. Okay, wait a minute. She's on the stand. Let me understand this. Jennifer Wood, Fitz News. She's on the stand to talk about everything the court clerk did wrong. Becky Hill. And the judge says, can you think of anything else? Is there anything else? She's under oath, sitting there prepared for this moment. She goes, there is, but I can't remember. Did she. She did that. She did. Well, that didn't help the defense, but wait a minute. They make a little bit of a comeback. Listen, was your verdict influenced in any way by the communications of the clerk of court in this case? Yes, ma'. Am. And how was it influence? To me, it felt like. She made it seem like he was already guilty. All right. And I understand that that's the tenor of the remark she made. Did that affect your finding of guilty in this case? Yes, ma'. Am. So this is all about the clerk of court, Becky Hill, writing a book. Jennifer Wood, Fitz News. Explain. You know, I think, you know, like Regina said, there are 132 pages of issues, but I think it's really going to come down to the clerk of court's behavior and whether or not things that she allegedly said to jurors during the course of the trial had an impact on their verdict. You know, the two jurors said that she said before Alex Murdoch took the stand. Watch his body language. One of those jurors, flighty or not about it, said that that did impact her decision. Whether or not Alex was guilty or innocent. Maggie and Paul lose their lives gunned down in the dog kennel out in the middle of nowhere. And guess who's on the scene? Alex Murdaugh. He claims he was at his mom's house a few miles away, but video and cell phone data and GPS data seem to indicate he is nothing but a liar. Back to Becky Hill, the court clerk, allegedly affecting the jury. And I guess Jennifer woods is because the defense claims that she wanted a guilty verdict because her book sales would be greater and she would make more money. Is that their claim? That's one of their claims. And, you know, I've always thought about that and thought, you know, I think the book would have been just as interesting, if not more so, if he was found not guilty. I mean, I don't know if I necessarily buy that motivation. But, yes, that is. That is one of their theories. Well, I got to tell you something else. Jennifer Wood, Judge Gene Toll kind of handed this up, served it up on a silver platter, because the judge comments on Becky Hill's credibility. Listen, the facts. Did Clerk of Court Hill make comments to any juror which expressed her opinion of what the verdict would be? Ms. Hill denies a. And so the question becomes, was her denial credible? I find that the clerk of court is not completely credible as a witness. Ms. Hill was attracted by the siren call of celebrity. She wanted to write a book about the trial and expressed that as early as November 2022, long before the trial began. So what does that mean in your mind? Jennifer Wood joining us from Fitch News. The odds are escalating that because of that one issue. And of course, you've pointed out there are many more that have been raised by the defense, whether they amount to anything or not, that there will be a new trial. How would that happen? How would that be executed? Where is Murdoch right now? Murdoch is in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He is serving his two life sentences that he received as a result of this verdict. They would, you know, if they do agree with his attorneys, they will remand it for a new trial and we will start all over after the so called egg lady juror was dismissed. And remember, Jennifer Wood, isn't it true that Becky Hill was the one that brought the attention of the court to the egg lady to get her dismissed from the jury? Yes, that's absolutely true. It involved a alleged Facebook post that she said she had seen in a local Facebook group. Nobody has ever seen that Facebook post. When she brought it to the judge's attention, she could not find it. Again, the post that she did ultimately end up finding was from the husband of somebody, or, you know, it was. It was from somebody with the same name as her ex husband in a different state and totally unrelated. So, I mean, I still have questions whether you know about this post. Where is it? Did it exist? I mean, it was what ultimately partially led to her dismissal. So does the so called egg lady have an axe to grind against the clerk? Becky Wood, that aside, the issue is, did the clerk affect the outcome of the verdict? Many legal eagles like myself say it did not. But even the appearance of impropriety may be enough for Alex Murdaugh to get a new trial. Does it mean he's innocent? H E, double L, N O. But will that stop a new trial? In no way. Listen. Okay, what is her name? Maggie. Please hurry. We're getting somebody out there, too. Me asking you these questions don't slow them down. Okay. Is he moving at all? Your son? I know you said that she was shot, but what about your son? Nobody's. They're not. Neither one of them's moving. My name is Maggie Murdoch. Okay, and what's your son's first name? Paul Gary Murdoch. They are dead, aren't they? Yes, sir. That's what it. That's. If there is a new trial for convicted killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh and the double murder of wife Maggie and son Paul, what will the defense do differently now? They've got the state's whole playbook, for Pete's sake. Well, for one thing, they're going to attack the video taken by son Paul in the kennel, the scene of the double murder. Just minutes, maybe even seconds before gunfire rings out. Listen, one of the biggest issues, hearing Alex Murdaugh on a video on Paul Murdaugh's iPhone when they were down by the kennel minutes before Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were murdered. A time Alex claims he was not at the residence. Paul's iPhone was found right away, but it was locked. The phone was sent to the U.S. secret Service. Using digital forensic technology designed to bypass iPhone encryption, the Secret Service attempted to crack the Passcode and failed. What finally unlocked the phone and contradicted Alex Murdaugh's alibi. Paul Murdaugh's birthday, April 14, 1999. The six digit passcode, 041499. Phone unlocked, alibi crushed. Joining me is Chris McDonough, director of Cold Case foundation, and former homicide detective Chris. Question. They had to send Paul Murdoch's cell phone to the Secret Service using digital forensic technology to bypass iPhone encryption. They couldn't crack it. And finally they cracked it, and it was Paul's birthday. Really? That's one of the very first. One of the very first codes you try. Are various people close to the individual's birthdays? Yeah, Nancy. And what happens there? 9 out of 10 times is just that point. You just made common sense. It's like, let's try the first type of things first, that is, you know, birthday, Social Security numbers, et cetera. But in this case, they sent it off to the Secret Service, and what. What ends up happening is they actually put it in what they call a blank room, meaning they have an algorithm that kind of runs through this phone over and over and over again to try to make matches. And remember, they did that years ago in the shooting in San Bernardino, where they couldn't get into the suspect's phone. So in this case, they were unsuccessful and they sent it back. And the sled was able to get the date of birth in there. To Jennifer Wood, joining me direct research, Fitz News. Jennifer, why is the video on Paul Murdoch's phone so critical? The defense has to have it ruled out or attack it in some way if they want to win the retrial. Yeah, that video is critical because it shattered his alibi. He said he was not down at those dog kennels. And when they got that phone open and saw that video, they realized he was lying. You're absolutely correct. They've got to be able to attack this video. Hey, let's see the video. Roll it. Get back. Get back. Quit. Cash, come here. Quite kind of come post it. Hey, he's got a bird in his mouth. Bubba. Damn, Bubba. It's a guinea. This is a chicken. Come here, bottle. Come here, Cash. Come here, bottle. Ca. You have to know what you're listening for. Jennifer Wood. The argument is made that you hear Alex Murdog on that video. That is the argument. And I'm not gonna lie. I. I listened to Alex testify for two straight days, and I heard that voice in the video. They are the same voice. And what is Alex Murdock saying? Because this is this is the point of the video. Paul Murdog, the murdered son, had a friend's dog in the kennel. At the friend's request, the dog was going to be taken to the vet. And it had some kind of a laceration or something or a rash on its hindquarters or tail. So Paul and Maggie were out there in the kennels after she had been lured there, by the way, by Alex Murdaugh. And they're taking the video to send to the friend to send to the vet. That's why they're there. And what is it you hear Murdog say in the background? So they had a dog named Bubba that had gotten a hold of one of their either guineas or chickens. And he's yelling at the dog, trying to catch it. You hear him say something about a guinea and then say, it's a chicken. Okay, Right. You can hear him in the background. And I remember you sitting there in court listening to Murdoch drone on. And it really only got good when he started snotting and crying on the stand. But that said, that's his voice and the jury believed it. Now let's. This is just. What would you say a minute or two before Maggie and Paul were shot? I mean, when he was saying that it's a chicken, it's a guinea, Whatever he's saying, he had to have the gun and the plan ready to murder them. And you hear him talking to Maggie and Paul like everything's fine. Within minutes, those two were shot dead. Paul, I believe, was shot first. Maggie went to go defend Paul, and then she was murdered. What is the time differential there? I mean, like you said, it is within minutes, like three to five minutes. I can't remember the exact, exact time frame, but I mean, we're talking minutes. It's the coziest time of year on Britbox. That means curling up with a gripping murder mystery, basking in a sumptuous period drama, or discovering a new hidden gem. See the holidays differently when you stream the best of British TV with BritBox. Watch Britbox original series, including the new season of the award winning Belfast police drama Blue Lights. However you cozy this holiday, it's a bit warmer with Britbox. Watch with a free trial@britbox.com 10 athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. Let go. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract for $250,000. This is where mindset comes in. Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down. This is Trainer Games. Watch it on prime video starting January 8th. Grand Canyon University, an affordable private Christian university based in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the largest universities in the country. Praised for its culture of community and impact, GCU integrates the free market system, a welcoming Christian worldview, and free and open discourse into 369 academic programs with over 300 of them online. Join a nationwide community of learners redefining what online education looks like through academically rigorous, industry driven programs that can spark bold ideas and prepare you for a future that matters. In addition to federal grants and aid, GCU's online students receive nearly $161 million in institutional scholarships in 2024 alone. Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University Private, Christian Affordable. Visit GCU g. Edu myoffer to see the scholarships for which you could qualify. Ever wish you could try the Washington Post and see what all the talk is about? Right now you can. With a one week pass for just $7. No commitment, no strings attached. Just $7 for one week of unlimited access to the Post. It's the perfect way to explore our award winning journalism and experience what subscribers already know. There's nothing else quite like it, so why not give us a try? Go to washingtonpost.com week and start your $7 one week pass today. That's washingtonpost.com week crime stories with Nancy Grace. It all starts here. Paul dead, the son of Alex Murdoch brutally gunned down along with Maggie, Alex Murlog's wife. Where will the defense go when a retrial occurs? They're going here attacking the state cell phone expert regarding Maggie's cell phone Listen Part of Murdoch's appeal of his murder conviction centers around the testimony of cell phone Expert Witness Paul McManigle of the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. He testified about using his darkened office as a lab and and tossing an iPhone around the room to see if the backlight would come on. He kept no records, took no measurements, then testified as an expert about what it would take to make the backlight come on. The importance is the state, says Alec Murdaugh, based on his suburban GPS data, drove by the area. Maggie's iPhone was located at 9:08pm saying Murdaugh tossed the phone out of his vehicle as he drove down the road. But Maggie's iPhone indicated her backlight did not come on again after 9:07pm the argument is that if Murdoch passed the location at 9:08pm and tossed out the phone, the backlight would have come on. But Maggie's iPhone didn't light up again after 9:07pm Jennifer Wood. That's a lot of speculation on the defense part. But if they can get one juror to believe that Maggie's cell phone light. The lamp would have come on when Murdoch threw it out the window. And by the way, Murdog's navigation equipment on his Suburban shows where he let the window down on the passenger side. To throw the phone out, by the way, as he was dashing to his mother's house. To create an alibi, they would have to convince a jury that the phone absolutely would have turned on as it was thrown out in that soft grass. So tell me why this is so critical. Well, if the last time it lit up was before. Before he drove by that spot, then he wasn't the one disposing of that phone. And somebody else was there. Hello? Yeah, can you ask the patient what kind of pain she's having? Ma', am, she can't talk. Okay. Do you know she's cracked the head and there's blood on the concrete and she's breathing out of her left ear. Okay. She's bleeding out of her ear and out of her head. She's coming to school. Okay. All right. The other lady said that she had tried to stand up and fell down again. No, she. I was holding her up. Okay. She told me to turn her loose, and she was trying to move on, but then she fell back over. Okay. Do you guys know who she is? Yes, she works for us. Okay. Do you know she's ever had a stroke or anything before? Man, can you stop asking? Another death connected to the Murdaugh family. And Alex Murdock orchestrates an extensive and intricate plot to steal the insurance money from Gloria Satterfield's family. I'm talking about millions of dollars stolen, a deadly fall, and about $4 million stolen by Murdoch. Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Another bombshell in the Murdoch case. Joining me, Jennifer Wood, Fitz News. Jennifer, what's the latest in the Gloria Satterfield case? Right, so Gloria Satterfield, the insurance company for that, took Corey Fleming and Alex Murdoch to federal court. That trial just occurred and a jury ordered Alex Murdoch to pay $14.8 million in damages. And his co conspiratorial conspirator, over $3 million in damages. And what we're talking about regarding a conspiracy. Gloria Satterfield falls down the steps at Murdoch's mansion. She dies, then Murdoch, and correct me if I'm wrong, Jennifer Wood. Murdock approaches Satterfield's Family and gets them to hire him to represent them in an insurance claim, then proceeds to steal the money. Do I have that right, Jennifer? Absolutely right. He stole the bunny. Joining me is Dr. Kendall Crowns, Chief Medical Examiner, Tarrant county, that's Fort Worth. Esteemed lecturer at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU. Dr. Kendall Crowns, thank you for being with us. Explain to me what happened to Gloria Satterfield. There have been so many theories. She was pushed down the stairs, she tripped over dogs. There was a delay in reporting it. No assistance was made. But you hear son Paul, now dead, and wife Maggie now dead, on the phone with 911. So what were the injuries? Why did she have to die from a slip and fall or Some. Some have called it a fake and fall. What happened? So what she had was injuries to her head. She had a laceration of her right side of her head. She had a right sided subdural hemorrhage, which is a hemorrhage on the brain as well as injuries to the brain itself. And then she had left sided rib fractures. So there's some comment that she fell or she tripped over a dog or she fell downstairs. The problem with these injuries is a right sided laceration with a right sided subdural is often from a blow to the head and it's not from a fall. Usually what you're seeing is a right sided laceration with a opposite side subdural. So it's not consistent. And then with the left sided rib fractures, I mean, if she fell downstairs, there'd be multiple injuries about the skin and body that would show that she was tumbling downstairs resulting in all these injuries. So the injuries are inconsistent with the story that's provided. Wow, when you put it like that, it makes the fall seem very, very nefarious, doesn't it, Doctor? Guys, joining me in addition to medical examiner. Not just medical examiner, Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Kendall Crowns is a very special guest. Joining us, Blanca Simpson, the Murdaughs former housekeeper and friend of Gloria Satterfield. Blanca, what was your reaction when you learned Gloria had fallen down those steep steps and died? It was heartbreaking. She was a very nice lady. She would do anything for you. And you two were fairly close, weren't you? Yes. While we were there, she would tell me about her children, her life. She loved working for Maggie and Alec. Blanca, I want to ask you about the days that preceded Maggie and Paul's murder. A few months before the murder, I believe Maggie told you about a lawsuit that was demanding around $30 million. Now, that lawsuit of course, was the death of a 19 year old girl, Mallory beach, who was in a boat with Paul, driving drunk, horribly drunk. Maggie was worried about that money, wasn't she? She was worried about the money and Alec knew it because when the first time she ever mentioned. They ever mentioned it, it kind of hushed up right there at the counter in the kitchen. And then after that, that's when I came in that morning, probably a couple of days later. And I guess they had discussed it, I'm not sure, but that's when I came in and she said, I got to tell you something. And that's when we went in there and she finished telling me everything else, you know, that where were they gonna get that money? They didn't have that kind of money. And she just couldn't understand what was going on. And it wasn't that she was trying to be that she was trying to cover up anything I listening to her. She really did not know the total extent of the lawsuit. She didn't know. She knew bits and pieces, but she didn't know exactly what was going on. But she was crying and upset and told you confidentially that there was a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the Murdoch family because of that boat crash and that they didn't have that kind of money. That's correct. Alec didn't like any crying. I remember her telling me that if he ever says anything and you feel bad or he makes you feel bad, just don't let him see you cry. So I, I believe that's why we went in that room. Even though he, he was there at the house, but he was all the way on the other side. And when we went in there, she could express herself. No judgment. I had no reason to judge her. I just listened to her. So Maggie would have to walk off in another room and shut the door. So Murdog would not see her cry. Yeah, she didn't cry in front of him. That was just one thing. Even if sometimes he would say something, we just. You just don't, don't cry in front of him. He didn't like that. It didn't, you know, it wasn't going to affect how he felt or whatever the situation was. So I do. That was from the very beginning. I remember when I first started working there, when Gloria was still there. Even Gloria made that comment to me. What comment? About if he says anything that might hurt your feelings, don't let him see you cry. What was Murdaugh like to work for? He was good to me. I. I never had an incident I can't. I know there's people that want me to speak badly about him or say things. You know, as far as when I work there, he was always. He was always very nice to me. Anything that I needed. Blanca. Yes. I want you to understand that. I don't want you to say anything other than the truth, because, believe me, I've seen plenty of killers, stone cold killers, that had everybody else charmed. So I'm. I'm not surprised at all. I mean, how do you think he got all those bank loans for millions and millions of dollars? He charmed the bank into thinking that he could pay it all off. He charmed all of his clients and stole their money. I agree. Even clients that were quadriplegics. So I would not expect anything different. Because he needed you. He needed you to see him in a certain way. Now, I'm curious. Many people have told me, hey, that's not an evidence. That's not true. But isn't it true that the night of the murders, Maggie told you she had been called to the hunting lodge, Moselle. She didn't want to go because she was at the beach house and didn't want to leave yet. But Murdoch called her and convinced her to come to Moselle the night she was murdered. She did. And I have the text where she said she didn't really want to go. I still have her text on my phone. Tell me what she said. She had workers, and she still had workers out there at the beach house, and she felt that she needed to just complete all the finishing touches. And, you know, that. That. That were. There was still some little projects that had to be completed at Edisto, and she just wanted to be there. She was very. Like I said in my testimony, she was very detail oriented. She. It had to be, you know, perfect in her eyes, and that's one of the reasons she wanted to be there. She knew that I had Moselle, and if anything came up, I was at Moselle. And she. So I handled pretty much, you know, Moselle. Whatever came up, whatever needed to be done, I took care of Moselle. And she felt comfortable staying at Edisto, and we just used to talk. And if she needed for me to take care of anything, she would just give me a call or text me. But that. That. On June 7th, she texted me that Alex wanted her to come home and Paul as well. And she. And that was. I meant what I said. She was hesitant to come to Moselle. She didn't want to come to Moselle despite the fact that, yes, she did love Mr. Randolph. Mr. Randolph was really good to her. But and that would have been Alex Murdaugh's father is Mr. Randolph? Yes. You know, I'm thinking about this call. The text from Maggie at that time. Ms. Simpson, did you have any reason to suspect Alex Murdock? No. It's the coziest time of year on Britbox. That means curling up with a gripping murder mystery, basking in a sumptuous period drama, or discovering a new hidden gem. See the holidays differently when you stream the best of British TV with BritBox. Watch Britbox original series including the new season of the award winning Belfast police drama Blue Lights. However you cozy this holiday, it's a bit warmer with Britbox. Watch with a free trial@britbox.com 10 athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract worth $250,000. This is where mindset comes in. Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down. This is Trainer Games. Watch it on prime video starting January 8th Grand Canyon University, an affordable private Christian university based in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the largest universities in the country. Praised for its culture of community and impact, GCU integrates the free market system, a welcoming Christian worldview, and free and open discourse into 369 academic programs with over 300 of them online. Join a nationwide community of learners redefining what online education looks like through academically rigorous, industry driven programs that can spark bold ideas and prepare you for a future that matters. In addition to federal grants and aid, GCU's online students receive nearly $161 million in institutional scholarships in 2024 alone. Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University. Private Christian, Affordable. Visit gcu Edu myoffer to see the scholarships for which you could qualify. Ever wish you could try the Washington Post and see what all the talk is about? Right now you can with a one week pass for just $7. No commitment, no strings attached. Just $7 for one week of unlimited access to the Post. It's the perfect way to explore our award winning journalism and experience what subscribers already know. There's nothing else quite like it. So why not give us a try? Go to washingtonpost.com week and start your $7 one week pass today. That's washingtonpost.com week crime stories with Nancy Grace. Alex Murdog Double Killer Convicted Lawyer Gets a New Trial. Is that where we're headed? Joining me right now, special guest Blanca Simpson, former housekeeper for the Alex Murdoch family. Blanca, another critical point regarding your perspective is that the night of the murders, both just before Paul and Maggie were shot dead, you were actually at the home of the. At Maggie's request, and you made supper, right? Yes, I did. And then the next morning, you got a phone call from Alex Murdaugh. What happened? Alex called me as I was getting my husband ready to go to work that morning, and I was getting ready as well to go out to Moselle. And he. That's when he tells me, they're gone be. You know, they're gone. And like I said in my testimony, I thought I was like, did she go back to Edista? She said, no, B. They're dead. And I still. I can still hear him repeatedly saying that in my head, you know, they're dead. What was his demeanor? How did he sound? He was jittery, crying, you know, having small episodes of crying. You know, you could tell he sounded distraught. I was in shock, to tell you the truth. Blanca, he asked you to come clean the house up. I know you found pots of leftovers in the kitchen, but you've also noticed something very odd about Maggie's pajamas. What? Her pajamas were in the middle of the doorway going into the laundry room, which is usually the first place that I went when I got there. I used to drop off my keys in there and my phone, go straight in the laundry room. That morning, when I walked through, I left all the lights off. I. I just walked in, and it was just a cold, eerie feeling that went through me. And it was just a thought that, oh, my God, you know, I still could not grasp the concept that I was never going to see them again. And, you know, I was never going to. When you're talking about her pajamas being laid out neatly in a doorway, they also had with them underwear. Was it. Were they laid out? What were they on the floor or though they on a hanger? Where were they? They were on the floor. When you say laid out neatly, what do you mean laid out flat neatly? One on you? It was like the pants were spread out. Laid out. Then you had the underwear. And then her pajama top stretched out on top neatly. They weren't folding. Maggie would never have done that. Plus, she didn't wear underwear to bed, right? That is correct. She didn't do that. And I stand by that. She did not do that. That was not her. Several weeks later, Alex Murdaugh called you. Well, actually got together with you, and he was very agitated, pacing back and forth Asking you about what you remembered regarding the night Maggie and Paul were murdered. What did he ask you? He was pacing back and forth in the living room, and he kept going back and forth. He's like, sit down. Be. Sit down. I gotta tell you something. Something's not right. And he said, I gotta, you know, I got a bad feeling. And he. At that point, he motioned and he touched his stomach. He said, I got a bad feeling. I got a bad feeling. And then he says, you remember what I was wearing that day? You know, the Vinnie Vines? And like I said, I was kind of like, you know, no, that's not what. And I understand that people have said, well, Beanie Vines also makes, you know, the fit. I should have described it better on the stand. When I said, no, you weren't wearing a Vinnie Vines. He. That Vinnie Vines also makes the fishing style. What was he wearing? He was wearing a sea foamy green polo shirt when he left that house. You got a good memory. So Jennifer Wood joining me direct to research Fitz News. That's critical because in these video that we're showing, the video we're showing right now when the cops get there, he is wearing a Vineyard Vines, Vinnie Vines T shirt that he was trying to convince Blanca to say he was wearing when she talked to him. Why is that so critical, Jennifer? You know, it's just another. Another serious. It's another lie in his web of lies. I mean, why, why, why, why ask her to verify something that wasn't true? The odds are soaring that Alex Murdaugh will have a new trial. Becky Hill pleads guilty. Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca Becky Hill pleaded guilty to four charges. Obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter photographs that were sealed court exhibits and then lying about it. There are also two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting through her public office a book she wrote. On the trial, Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Hill to three years of probation. Hill was not convicted nor pleaded to tampering with Alex Murdaugh's jury trial. The judge told Hill the sentence would have been more harsh if investigators had found that she tampered with the jury. Hill read a short statement asking the judge for a chance to do better. There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I'm ashamed of them and will carry that shame for the rest of my life. Hill's position put her in charge of taking care of the jury, overseeing exhibits, and helping the judge. During Murdoch's six week trial, the judge heard testimony that a journalist told investigators that Hill showed graphic crime scene photos to several media members. The photos were briefly posted online and metadata from the images matched up with the time where Hill's courthouse keycard said she was there. The misconduct in the office charge involved money that investigators said Hill took for herself. She brought a check to the court to pay back nearly $10,000 meant for bonuses from federal money meant to improve child support collection and about $2,000 in money from the clerk of court's office. Hill was also accused of 76 counts of ethics violations. Officials said Hill allowed a photo of Murdaugh in a holding cell to be taken to promote her book on the trial and used county money to buy dozens of lunches for her staff, prosecutors and a vendor. Hill's long awaited plea deal comes just before the South Carolina Supreme Court is scheduled to hear retrial arguments in the new year in February. Murdaugh's defense team pointed to Hill's misconduct as evidence that jury integrity was compromised. Some legal pundits have expressed opinions that Hill's plea is not the strongest grounds for a retrial. Even if Murdaugh were granted a retrial, he would remain incarcerated due to his lengthy state and federal sentences related to to his financial crimes. In a statement to Fox News, Murdaugh's defense attorney said the guilty plea is not surprising. More importantly, the agency expected to impartially investigate these charges has a vested interest in avoiding any outcome that would question the verdict of the initial Alex Murdaugh murder trial. If Becky admittedly perjured herself in the jury tampering hearing held by Judge Hole, what else could she have lied about? End quote. We wait as justice unfolds in the Alex Murdock double murder case. Nancy Grace signing off. Goodbye friend. It's the coziest time of year on BritBox. That means curling up with a gripping murder, miss basking in a sumptuous period drama or discovering a new hidden gem. See the holidays differently when you stream the best of British TV with BritBox. Watch Britbox original series, including the new season of the award winning Belfast police drama Blue Lights. However you cozy this holiday, it's a bit warmer with Britbox. Watch with a free trial@britbox.com 10 athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract for $250,000. This is where mindset comes in. Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down. This is Trainer Games watch it on prime video starting January 8th. Ever wish you could try the Washington Post and see what all the talk is about? Right now you can with a one week pass for just $7. No commitment, no strings attached. Just $7 for one week of unlimited access to the Post. It's the perfect way to explore our award winning journalism and experience what subscribers already know. There's nothing else quite like it, so why not give us a try? Go to washingtonpost.com week and start your $7 one week pass today. That's washingtonpost.com week. The world's best ski and snowboard athletes are chasing medals. Now you can follow their every move. Join Insider, the official US Ski and snowboard fan loyalty program, and get premium viewing at World cup ski events, exclusive athlete meetups, discounts from brands you love, and a custom welcome gift mailed direct to your doorstep. This winter, show your support as they race for the podium. Head to Insider, usski and snowboard.org and join today. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.