The family of a woman who was killed in February 2019 when a drunk Paul Murdaugh slammed his boat into a bridge amended their lawsuit on Tuesday to include the estates of Murdaugh and his mother.
According to Greenville News, Mallory Beach’s wrongful death lawsuit also accuses parents Alex and Maggie Murdaugh of allowing Paul Murdaugh, then 19, to illegally drink and buy alcohol before the February 2019 boat crash that killed Beach.
According to the lawsuit, Maggie Murdaugh “actually spoke to an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh by telephone. However, she failed to stop Paul despite knowing he was intoxicated after having paid for the alcohol he consumed earlier.”
The lawsuit also stated that Maggie Murdaugh also knew that Paul Murdaugh was drinking and driving. The suit cites social media posts that Maggie Murdaugh allegedly “liked” which showed her son drinking alcohol despite being underage.
In February 2019, Paul Murdaugh reportedly crashed his boat into Archer’s Creek Bridge in Beaufort County. Beach was ejected from the boat and killed; five other people aboard were injured. A fisherman reportedly discovered Beach’s body a week later.
Paul was charged with felony boating under the influence in connection with Beach’s death, but he was murdered before he could face trial. On June 7, 2021, Paul and his mother were found fatally shot on their 1,770-acre lodge in Colleton County. No arrests have been made in connection with their slayings.
Months later, on September 3, Alex Murdaugh allegedly had ex-client Curtis Smith, 61, try to fatally shoot him so his surviving son would receive a $10 million life insurance payout. Alex Murdaugh reportedly suffered head injuries and called 911 for help.
A day before the shooting, Alex Murdaugh was forced out of his family law firm amid allegations he misappropriated funds. The disgraced attorney was eventually released from custody and underwent rehabilitation in Florida.
Upon his release from rehab in October, Alex Murdaugh was rearrested for allegedly stealing $4.3 million from the estate of his former housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, who suffered a fatal fall on his property in February 2018.
FitsNews reported that Alex Murdaugh currently faces 74 criminal counts, and is now accused of stealing more than $8.4 million from a slew of clients and his former law firm. He remains jailed in Richland County amid undisclosed concerns regarding his mental state.
Read CrimeOnline’s continuing coverage of the Murdaugh family saga.
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[Featured image: Mallory Beach/Facebook; Paul Murdaugh/Handout]
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