South Carolina judge moves Alex Murdaugh murder retrial to Sumter County
Judge Debra McCaslin ordered that Alex Murdaugh's double-murder retrial be held in Sumter County, scheduling it for April 5, 2027, after ruling the original venue could not ensure a fair trial.
A South Carolina judge has designated Sumter County as the venue for the retrial of former attorney Alex Murdaugh on murder charges involving his wife and son. The decision places the trial about 80 miles from the original court in Colleton County.
Judge Debra McCaslin ruled last month that the case could not be tried anywhere in the 14th Circuit, concluding that Murdaugh would not receive an impartial trial in the county where the first trial was held. In an order issued Tuesday, she said Sumter County is "best suited to accommodate the needs of this case," noting its security measures, courtroom facilities, technological capabilities and supporting infrastructure.
The retrial has been set for April 5, 2027. The South Carolina Supreme Court earlier overturned Murdaugh’s 2023 murder convictions, citing "shocking jury interference" by a court clerk during the original proceedings. Murdaugh remains incarcerated after pleading guilty to separate financial crimes, receiving 27 years on state charges and 40 years on federal charges. He continues to deny involvement in the 2021 killings of his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and son Paul Murdaugh, 22.