Last Podcast on the Left

Episode 650: Alex Murdaugh Part III – Under the Capri Sun

Release Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, Edwin Arroyave

Episode Overview

The conclusion of the Last Podcast on the Left’s deep dive into the spectacular downfall of South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, focusing on the events leading up to the infamous double murder of his wife Maggie and son Paul, the subsequent investigation and trial, and the broader collapse of the Murdaugh dynasty. The hosts blend detailed research, dark humor, and Southern-fried irreverence, exposing the intersection of wealth, power, addiction, and violence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

I. Recap of the Murdaugh Family Catastrophe

• Series finale overview: The unraveling of the Murdaugh legacy and Alex’s descent into murder and disgrace.
• Paul Murdaugh’s involvement in Mallory Beach’s death; Alex’s immediate interference to protect him.
• Widespread corruption and the Murdaughs' habitual use of their connections and intimidation to skirt justice.

II. The Boat Crash Fallout & Arrival of Mark Tinsley

• Attorney Mark Tinsley takes on the Beach family's wrongful death suit against the Murdaughs (08:11).
  • “...the moment that Tinsley truly said, ‘fuck this guy’... was when Alec boxed Tinsley out of a million dollar fee. On a big case, you don't fuck with a lawyer's money.” — Edwin Arroyave (08:11)
• Tinsley’s relentless pursuit: pressing for full financial disclosure from Alec despite stonewalling and obfuscation by the Murdaughs (18:00).
• The use and abuse of solicitor’s badges: Alec impersonating law enforcement to influence crash investigations and avoid DUIs (06:42).

III. Legal Maneuvers, Delays, and The COVID Effect

• The Murdochs exploit their power to ensure Paul receives special treatment after the crash (16:14).
  • “Paul’s mugshot was taken at his hearing in the hallway outside of the courtroom in his street clothes. Never went through processing, never spent a day, never spent an hour uncomfortable.” — Edwin Arroyave (16:14)
• Senator Dick Harpootlian brought in for Paul’s defense—with a $500k retainer, demonstrating Murdaugh’s resources (15:23).
• COVID-19 conveniently delays proceedings, aiding the family’s evasion of accountability (16:58).

IV. Crumbling Foundations: Murdoch Finances and Family Fallout

• Mounting pressure: Tinsley's motions, PMPED (Murdaugh’s law firm) scrutiny, Maggie’s plans for divorce, rumors of Alec’s infidelity and drug abuse (28:22; 31:03).
• Alex’s oxycontin addiction and elaborate financial crimes—stealing millions from clients, laundering money with the help of banker Russell Lafitte and cousin “Fast Eddie” (19:11; 20:18).
• Maggie moves out and quietly consults a divorce lawyer—a Rubicon in the Murdoch family, as “Murdochs don’t divorce, they murder.” — Edwin Arroyave (29:56)

V. Motivation and Lead-up to the Murders

• Family pressure and impending financial exposure catalyze Alec’s decision (30:42).
• Theory: The murders aimed to avoid financial disclosure in the divorce/wrongful death suit, eliminate a liability (Paul), and generate sympathy (31:01–33:24).
  • “A divorce would trigger a full audit of his finances, an audit that he could never get away from.” — Edwin Arroyave (31:03)
• The murder plan: Call Maggie and Paul home under the pretext of seeing Alec’s dying father; arrange for Buster (the older son) to be elsewhere (44:21).

VI. The Night of the Murders (June 7, 2021)

• Detailed rundown of the evening:
  • Capri Sun as a murder-day comfort food (38:26).
  • Paul and Alec ride ATVs, shoot videos (47:17).
  • Gathering at dog kennels; Paul’s last text at 8:48pm (49:57).
  • Alec’s double kill using a shotgun and AR15—staged to mimic a two-assailant scenario (53:08; 54:11).
    • “He had two guns. What single person uses two guns at the same crime scene?” — Edwin Arroyave (54:11)
  • Bizarre details: Paul’s “Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am” shirt at his death (53:07).
• Alec swiftly enacts his alibi—visiting his mother, calling multiple associates (55:50–56:44).
• Posts murder: Cleaning himself, disposing evidence (notably, the murder weapons are never found) (57:36; 57:39).

VII. The Immediate Aftermath and Incriminating Behavior

• Alec’s 911 call: Oscar-worthy (and suspicious) performance (59:23).
  • “That’s really all you need to hear. Child, badly... It is so hard, my wife. My child.” — Henry Zebrowski & Marcus Parks parody (59:23–59:44)
• At the scene: Alec pushes alternate suspects, claims Paul had many enemies and received threats (60:48).
• Investigators’ eye for detail: note Alec’s clean appearance, conflicting stories about handling evidence, lack of physical evidence for an ambush (63:17–64:48).
• “He was so clean, they went on to notice that he smelled like fresh laundry.” — Marcus Parks (64:05)

VIII. The Investigation: Evidence Mounts

• The “Capri Sun” left behind becomes an accidental but incriminating detail (72:20).
• Breakthrough: Paul’s phone unlocked (using his birthday as the passcode), revealing a video at the kennels minutes before the murders—Alec’s voice captured, shattering his alibi (99:39; 101:10).
  • “This proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Alec Murdoch was indeed at the scene after he said over and over again that he wasn't.” — Edwin Arroyave (101:10)
• Blood spatter found on Alec’s shirt confirms proximity during murders (101:43).
• Investigators focus only on Alec; community instantly suspects him; the wrongful death suit is delayed due to “sympathy” from the court (77:53).

IX. Collapse of the Murdaugh Empire

• PMPED uncovers and exposes Alec’s massive financial crimes; the firm ultimately dissolves and reforms without the Murdaugh name (94:37).
• Alec arrested for financial crimes, then for the murders; he adapts bizarrely well to jail life, even bragging about mastering barter trades (97:26).
• Investigators connect more dots: money laundering through “Fast Eddie”; embezzlement; settlement theft from the family of their dead housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield (20:18; 94:24).

X. The Murder Trial and Alec’s Downfall

• Prosecution (led by Creighton Waters) meticulously builds its case: cell data, kennel video, blood evidence, and financial motive all laid bare (105:41).
• Alec’s fatal mistake: testifying in his own defense, invoking the infamous phrase, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave.” (107:27)
• Harpootlian’s defense crumbles—resorting to emotional appeals. The defense’s “kooky” expert witness claims the shooter must have been “no taller than 5’2”” (109:18).
• Jury quickly returns a guilty verdict; even one skeptical juror is convinced after learning how common familial murder is (111:02).
• Alec sentenced to life in prison; legacy destroyed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You don't fuck with a lawyer's money.” — Edwin Arroyave (08:11)
• “Paul’s mugshot was taken in the hallway outside the courtroom, never spent a day uncomfortable.” — Edwin Arroyave (16:14)
• “A divorce would trigger a full audit of his finances, an audit that he could never get away from.” — Edwin Arroyave (31:03)
• “He smelled like fresh laundry.” — Marcus Parks (64:05)
• “This proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Alec Murdoch was indeed at the scene...” — Edwin Arroyave (101:10)
• “Oh, what a tangled web we weave.” — Alec (quoting himself on the stand) (107:24)
• “He tried throwing too many ingredients into the soup... he just, he threw too much out there.” — Marcus Parks (55:44)
• “How dumb’s my son?” — Marcus Parks, regarding the phone passcode (99:39)
• “People say I got the eyes of a cockatiel... lifeless, lifeless eyes of a plush doll covered in blood.” — Marcus Parks (104:36)
• “Folksiness has no place in a murder trial.” — Edwin Arroyave (108:02)
• “Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma’am is as tasteless and bloody as the shirt that Paul Murdoch was wearing the night Alec killed him.” — Edwin Arroyave (121:43)
• “In America, men who believe they are kings always get what's coming sooner or later.” — Edwin Arroyave (121:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mallory Beach Crash Recap: 04:06
• Tinsley Takes the Civil Suit: 07:55–08:31
• Solicitor’s Badge Shenanigans: 06:21–06:42
• Paul’s Mugshot/Legal Favors: 16:14
• The COVID Delay: 16:58
• Mark Tinsley's Pursuit of Financial Disclosure: 18:00
• Maggie’s Divorce Preparations: 29:56–31:03
• Murder Motivation Theories: 30:42–33:24
• Bizarre Murder Day Details: 38:26–39:02
• The Murders Recounted: 49:57–55:05
• Alec’s Alibi Moves: 55:50–56:44
• The Incriminating Capri Sun: 72:20
• Paul's Phone Passcode Breakthrough: 99:39–101:10
• Trial & “Tangled Web” Moment: 107:24–108:02
• Verdict and Sentencing: 111:46
• Final Thoughts on the Murdoch Legacy: 121:44

Tone and Style

The hosts maintain their signature irreverent, darkly comedic tone throughout, slipping seamlessly between in-depth legal analysis and biting social commentary. They frequently parody Southern affectations and the Murdaughs’ country-club attempts at “folksiness,” making pointed remarks about wealth, privilege, and the uniquely corrupt culture that enabled such a monstrous crime spree.

Henry, Marcus, and Edwin’s banter underscores how absurd the entire saga was—recurring in-jokes about Capri Suns, nicknames (“PowPow” “Roro” “Grandma Snappy”), and the universally ridiculed “Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma’am” shirt all serve as comedic counters to the grimness of double homicide and systemic corruption.

Conclusion

Alex Murdaugh Part III – Under the Capri Sun offers a cutting, thorough examination of the Murdaugh murders, exposing not only the evidence that destroyed Alex’s alibi and doomed his fate but also the rotten systems that shielded his family’s misdeeds for generations. With the trial over, the family’s legacy lies in ruins, the dynasty finished, and the podcast hosts can finally close the book on one of America’s most jaw-dropping true crime sagas.

For further context:

• See previous episodes for the full case background, including the deaths of Mallory Beach, Gloria Satterfield, and Stephen Smith.
• The podcast’s entire Murdaugh series takes you from the first whiff of scandal to the echoing gavel against Alex’s future.

End of Summary