True crime cases in South Carolina span decades of criminal history, from unsolved disappearances in rural communities to high-profile investigations in the state's largest cities. South Carolina law enforcement agencies, from local police departments to the state bureau of investigation, have tackled cases ranging from cold-case homicides and serial offenders to fraud schemes and domestic violence tragedies. CaseSleuth tracks each South Carolina case with comprehensive timelines, profiles of victims and persons of interest, evidence summaries, and links to media coverage and court documents. Browse the cases below to explore the full scope of criminal investigations in South Carolina.
4 cases found
Richard Alexander Murdaugh, a prominent South Carolina attorney from a powerful legal dynasty, was convicted in March 2023 of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul at the family's hunting estate on June 7, 2021. Prosecutors argued the killings were motivated by Murdaugh's desperation to conceal years of financial crimes, including embezzling approximately $9 million from clients and his law firm. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without parole for the murders, 27 years for state financial crimes, and 40 years in federal prison for fraud and money laundering, with the South Carolina Supreme Court hearing oral arguments on his appeal in February 2026.
On February 24, 2019, a boat driven by an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh crashed into a bridge piling near Parris Island, South Carolina, killing 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The case exposed the Murdaugh family's power and influence in the Lowcountry legal system.
Alex Murdaugh, a prominent South Carolina attorney, was found to have systematically stolen millions of dollars from clients, including vulnerable injury victims and the family of his deceased housekeeper, over a period spanning more than a decade. He was convicted of numerous financial fraud charges in addition to the murders of his wife and son.
On October 25, 1994, Susan Smith of Union, South Carolina, strapped her two young sons into their car seats and rolled her car into John D. Long Lake, drowning them. She falsely reported a carjacking, launching a national manhunt, before confessing nine days later. She was convicted of murder in 1995.