Alex Murdaugh, Curtis Smith indicted in alleged botched murder-for-hire scheme [The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)]

Nov. 4—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 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 cases Murdaugh and Smith are facing.

Jim Griffin, a lawyer for Alex Murdaugh, did not return a voicemail left on Thursday.

Months after the unsolved killings of his wife and younger son, Alex Murdaugh became national news after reporting he was shot in the head on Sept. 4 on the side of the road in Hampton County.

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.

Reporter John Monk contributed to the reporting of this story.

This story was originally published November 4, 2021 2:53 PM.

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