South Carolina police are requesting FBI assistance in the double-murder investigation of Paul and Margaret Murdaugh, who were found shot dead in their home on June 7.
Paul was shot in the head and upper body with a shotgun, while Margaret was shot with an assault rifle, the source said.
Their bodies were found several yards apart from one another and shell casings were discovered at the scene.
Their deaths have been ruled a double murder and two firearms – a shotgun and an assault rifle – were used to carry out the killings.
Cops are yet to officially reveal a motive, suspect, or any further information about the case.
They are now asking the FBI for assistance as the case continues, citing ‘other potential crimes that warrant further investigation.’
Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, left, were shot dead on June 2. Police say Alex Murdaugh, center, also orchestrated a separate shooting to kill himself with the help of a hitman in a scheme to deliver a $10 million life insurance payout to his other son Buster, right
Buster is seen hugging mourners at the funeral service for his brother and mother on June 11
‘SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) agents continue to work diligently to bring justice to all victims in these cases,’ Chief Mark Keel said in a statement to FOX News. ‘As I have previously stated, our agents remain committed to following the facts no matter where they lead us.
‘I have been in contact with the FBI as well as the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina,’ he said. ‘From very early on in this investigation, SLED has utilized federal resources as needed.
‘We will continue to call upon our federal partners as their assistance is needed to successfully investigate and prosecute specific aspects of these cases.’
Public Information Officer Tommy Crosby added: ‘As a result of the brutal murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh on June 7, SLED’s initial priority was finding anyone responsible for their deaths.
‘During the course of the double murder investigation, SLED agents have uncovered c.’
Prior to his death, Paul had been facing trial in connection to a fatal boat crash in February 2019.
The boat was carrying five additional passengers, and at least three were launched into the water as a result from the crash.
Mallory Beach, 19, was among those who went overboard and was found dead a week later by two fishermen about five miles from where the boat crashed.
According to a police report, all passengers on the boat were ‘grossly intoxicated’ despite being under the legal drinking age.
Paul had since pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of boating under the influence. He had been released on a personal recognizance bond of $50,000 just before his murder.
Paul, second from left, had been facing trial in connection to a fatal boat crash in February 2019 prior to his death
The boat was carrying five additional passengers, and at least three were launched into the water as a result from the crash. Mallory Beach, 19, (pictured) was among those who went overboard and was found dead a week later
Alex Murdaugh was the one who dialed 9-1-1, telling dispatchers that he came home to find his wife and son shot dead.
The Murdaugh family has ruled the county’s legal system for decades, prosecuting nearly every criminal case in the southern part of the state.
Several family members have served as county elected prosecutors going back almost 87 years. The local community felt Paul was receiving special treatment in the boating death case due to his family’s power.
In September, Murdaugh stepped down from his role at his family’s law firm, PMPED, after it was discovered he had misused $1 million of work funds on his opioid addiction.
Murdaugh’s brother, Randy, released a statement claiming he was ‘shocked’ by claims of his brother Alex Murdaugh’s drug addiction and blasted him over allegations he stole money from his law firm.
‘I was shocked, just as the rest of my PMPED family, to learn of my brother, Alex’s, drug addiction and stealing of money. I love my law firm family and also love Alex as my brother,’ Randy Murdaugh wrote.
Alex Murdaugh, meanwhile, is out on his own recognizance on a $20,000 bond
He was seen weeping during his bond hearing on September 16, after he surrendered to police to face insurance fraud and other charges for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill him so his son would get a $10 million life insurance payout
As if things couldn’t get more odd, on September 4, Murdaugh was allegedly shot by his 61-year-old drug supplier, Curtis Edward Smith, while changing a tire.
Smith told authorities he was hired by the prominent lawyer to kill him so that his son Buster, 25, could receive a $10 million insurance police.
Murdaugh didn’t think the insurance company would pay any money if he died by suicide.
Smith was arrested last week and charged on multiple counts including conspiracy and assisted suicide for his role in the shooting.
Just a few hours later, Alex Murdaugh was seen arriving at the Hampton County jail after surrendering to police on a charge of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Murdaugh spent about five hours in the Hampton County jail before being issued a $20,000 bond and being released on his own recognizance on September 16.
Magistrate Tonja Alexander noted Murdaugh had no prior criminal record and she didn’t think he would be a risk to the community.
Craig Waters for the Attorney General’s office asked for Murdaugh to surrender his passport, which sat before him on the table.
Waters also asked him to waive extradition, which he did, and is attending an out of state rehab center.
TIMELINE OF MURDAUGH FAMILY MURDERS, DEATHS, LAWSUITS AND ARRESTS
Cops investigating the double murder have also reopened the case into a 2015 hit-and-run of teen Stephen Smith
Murdaugh family housekeeper Gloria Sattlerfield dies
Mallory Beach, 19, died in February 2019
2015: Teenager Stephen Smith dies
Smith was found on the side of the road.
Police officially rule his death a hit-and-run but he had suffered blunt force trauma to the head
His mother has since shared her belief that she thinks he was killed in a hate-crime because he was gay
Case notes obtained by DailyMail.com revealed Paul’s older brother Buster was named multiple times in the investigation.
Police wanted to know more about his relationship with Stephen
Stephen’s mother said he had been having a ‘fling’.
In a deposition years later, one of Paul’s friends said the family had ‘covered’ other killings up.
He mentioned Smith’s death.
2018: Murdaugh family housekeeper Gloria Satterfield dies
Gloria died after ‘falling’ down the stairs in the family house
The family gave her family $500.000 in a wrongful death settlement but it’s unclear why her death was ruled to be their fault.
Alex Murdaugh was listed as the defendant in the lawsuit.
Satterfield was only 57 when she died.
She left behind a husband and children.
Her death was also mentioned in the deposition by Paul Murdaugh’s friend.
2019: Mallory Beach dies being thrown from boat driven by Paul Murdaugh
Paul was charged afterwards because he’d been drinking and was behaving ‘belligerently’ that night.
He had been released on bond.
Other kids were on the boat but were unharmed.
One testified that they were scared to speak about the Murdaugh family because they knew how to ‘cover things up’.
That boy named Stephen Smith and the housekeeper, and claimed Paul pushed her
June 7 2021: Paul and Maggie are murdered
The mom and son were found shot dead at the family home in Hampton, South Carolina.
Alex Murdaugh says he found them at the home.
The medical examiner said the pair had been dead for an hour at most when he discovered them.
Alex’s son Paul, 22, (left) and wife Maggie, 52, (right) were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on June 7 at the family hunting lodge
Alex’s father Randolph Murdaugh III died ‘peacefully’ at home three days after Maggie and Paul were found shot dead
June 10 2021: Alex’s 81-year-old father Randolph Murdaugh III dies ‘naturally’ and ‘peacefully’ at home
September 3: Alex resigns from his law firm amid claims he misused funds
The firm has hired a forensic investigator to go through the accounts
September 4: Alex calls 911 claiming he’s been shot in the head in a drive-by.
He only had ‘surface’ wounds and was also able to call his brother
September 6: Alex releases a statement confirming his resignation from the firm and announcing he has entered rehab
Says ‘I’m resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated these murders.’