Alex Murdaugh Prison Files: Latest Release Includes Phone Call With Buster

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The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has released the third round of public records related to the incarceration of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh – the disbarred Hampton County lawyer who was found guilty earlier this year of murdering his wife and son.

On March 2, 2023, Murdaugh was convicted in the savage slayings of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh  on June 7, 2021 at Moselle, the family’s 1,700-acre hunting property straddling the Salkehatchie River on the border of Colleton and Hampton counties. The following day, S.C. circuit court judge Clifton Newman sentenced Murdaugh to consecutive life sentences on those charges.

That afternoon, Murdaugh was sent to Kirkland Correctional Institution, an SCDC intake center located just north of Columbia, S.C. A month later, he was moved to an undisclosed location within the SCDC system.

This news outlet exclusively reported on the first round of correspondence sent to Murdaugh – a.k.a. Inmate No. 00390394. We filed a subsequent report on the second batch of communications to Murdaugh behind bars.

Murdaugh records were obtained by this news outlet’s director of research, Jenn Wood, under the Palmetto State’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

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Neither of the first two releases contained any indication Murdaugh was responding to his many admirers … nor did they contain any audio files.

The latest release, however, contained three audio files – two apparent hang-ups and one connected call between Murdaugh and his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh.

That connected call – the first time the public has heard Murdaugh’s voice since his conviction – did not last long.

“Hey buddy,” Murdaugh said to his son following the operator’s disclaimer language about inmate calls being “subject to monitoring and recording.”

“Hey I don’t have a whole of time I just boarded a ferry to go back to Hilton Head Island from Daufuskie (Island),” a hurried Buster told his father.

“Yeah I know, I – I been trying to call – I was supposed to call you while you were with Jim, um, about this meeting,” Murdaugh said. “But anyway. How about text him and let him know I’m trying to call him?”

“Mm-kay,” Buster replied.

Murdaugh is likely referring to Jim Griffin, who served as one of the lead defense attorneys during his double homicide trial in Walterboro.

“Did he talk to you about that – about the thing (line crackles) that I told him?” Murdaugh asked.

“No, I can’t really understand you either,” Buster said.

“Alright, alright … I’m gone, um, I’m going to leave word with Jim and he’ll be in touch with you,” Murdaugh told his son.

At this point in the conversation – which lasted all of 42 seconds – an awkward father-son moment

“Love you,” Murdaugh told his surviving son.

“Alright, love you, too,” Buster responded following a pregnant pause.

“Proud of you,” Murdaugh added.

“Thanks,” Buster said, quickly hanging up the phone.

Here is the recording of the call in its entirety …

(Click to View)

The call between Murdaugh and his son connected at 5:38 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

I reached out to Griffin in an attempt to ascertain what “meeting” Alex Murdaugh was referring to on the call – and to see if he knew the “thing” the convicted killer asked him to pass along to Buster – but did not immediately receive a response.

Sources familiar with the timing of the call said it was right around the time Buster was filming his interview for an upcoming documentary on the Murdaugh family set to air on Fox Nation. In fact, filming for the three-episode production took place on Daufuskie – indicating Buster was returning from the shoot at the time of his conversation with his father.

Obviously, conversations between Murdaugh and his attorneys – who are appealing his conviction – are confidential and not subject to monitoring.

This is a developing story … please check back for updates.

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THE RECORDS …

(Via: S.C. Department of Corrections)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.

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