Alex Murdaugh, Curtis Smith indicted in alleged botched murder-for-hire scheme [The Charlotte Observer]

A Hampton County grand jury indicted Alex Murdaugh and the man accused of shooting him in an alleged arranged murder gone wrong in early September, according to court documents.

The S.C. Attorney General’s Office released indictments issued by the Hampton County grand jury Thursday on charges brought by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division against Murdaugh, 53, and Curtis Edward Smith, 61.

A grand jury indictment signals the AG’s Office feels comfortable to take the case to trial eventually and elevates the seriousness of the charges Murdaugh and Smith — the alleged triggerman — are facing.

Jim Griffin, a lawyer for Alex Murdaugh, declined comment.

Months after the June unsolved killings of his wife and younger son, Alex Murdaugh became national news on Sept. 4 when he reported he was shot in the head on the side of a Hampton County road after his car broke down.

Later, he would tell SLED the whole thing was a set-up and that he employed Smith to shoot him in the head for a $10 million life insurance payout for his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh.

Smith was charged on Sept. 14. Through his lawyers, he has denied any knowledge of the scheme and said he’s being made out as the “fall guy” for Murdaugh.

Murdaugh and Smith were both indicted for “false claim for payment” which replaces prior charges from SLED for “insurance fraud,” according to AG’s office spokesperson Robert Kittle.

Alex Murdaugh faces three indictments, which include one count of false claim for payment, one count of conspiracy, and one count of filing a false police report.

Smith was indicted on one count of assisted suicide, one count of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, one count of pointing and presenting a firearm, one count of false claim for payment, and one count of conspiracy.

The botched murder-for-insurance scheme is just one of numerous controversies swirling around Murdaugh. He also faces criminal charges for allegedly stealing millions from the estate of his deceased housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, his former law firm has publicly accused him of embezzling millions of the firm’s and clients’ money and his law license was suspended by the S.C. Supreme Court.

Murdaugh has also been named a “person of interest” in the deaths of his wife and son and he has revealed he has been addicted for years to oxycodone.

Murdaugh is currently in the Alvin S. Glenn detention center in Richland County being held without bond. On Oct. 19, a state judge ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. This week, a different state judge put all his assets under the control of two receivers to prevent Murdaugh and his surviving son, Buster, from spending them without prior approval.

Reporter John Monk contributed to the reporting of this story.

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