Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh searched online for a popular South Carolina restaurant shortly after his wife and son were found shot dead at their Colleton County hunting property in 2021, a special agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said.
SLED Special Agent Peter Rudofski took the stand Friday to testify about Murdaugh’s movements the day of the murders, Fox News Digital reports. Rudosfki, who specializes in “analyzing phone data,” testified that Murdaugh called 911 at 10:11 p.m. on June 7, 2021, to report finding his wife Maggie, and his son, Paul, both fatally shot.
At around 10:40 p.m. that same night, Murdaugh opened up a group text message with “a picture of a woman in a bikini.” He then searched online for Whaley’s restaurant in Edisto Beach, according to Rudofski.
“He would seem to be in a state of shock,” defense attorney Phillip Barber argued.
Barber: “None of that makes any sense, does it? You’re not going to Google the name of a restaurant after you find your son murdered.”
Rudofski: “I wouldn’t be on my phone.”
Murdaugh then allegedly called his brothers, John Marvin Murdaugh and Randy Murdaugh. He then called Paul’s friend, Rogan Gibson, who had been in contact with Paul on the day in question.
Barber: “As an investigator, do you think it’d be terribly unreasonable that after calling other family members, someone would call the person who is the best friend of the dead son…to ask that person what happened? What’s going on?”
Rudofski: “As an investigator, I do think that would be very odd, given the scene and the whole situation, that you’re on the phone constantly. … I am standing over my son and wife, and just witnessing that for the first time, I would think that would be — to have someone on their phone constantly like that right after given the scene and the situation … I would think that is very odd.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Murdaugh is currently on trial in Colleton County, accused of killing his wife and son and possessing weapons during the commission of a violent crime.
In 2022, he pleaded not guilty. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to a previous episode on the case below.
[Featured image: Alex Murdaugh listens to testimony about his car’s movements on the night of his wife and son’s murder during his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, in Walterboro, S.C. The 54-year-old attorney is standing trial on two counts of murder in the shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County home and hunting lodge on June 7, 2021. (Joshua Boucher/The State via AP, Pool)]
