What Phone and Other Data Showed About the Night of the Murders

As they built their case against Alex Murdaugh, law enforcement officials used a wealth of data to detail the key moments on the night his younger son, Paul Murdaugh, and his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, were murdered.

Here is a look at the roughly 25-minute period on June 7, 2021, that became the focus of the case.

8:44 to 8:45 p.m.: Paul Murdaugh records a video that captures Alex and Maggie Murdaugh’s voices near the dog kennels on their family hunting estate, where the shootings took place.

8:48: Paul Murdaugh and a friend text back and forth about movie recommendations.

8:49:01: The last moment when anyone unlocks Paul Murdaugh’s cellphone, which had a passcode. Prosecutors said this suggested that he was killed at or shortly after this moment.

8:49:31: The last moment when Maggie Murdaugh’s phone is unlocked.

8:53 to 8:55: Maggie Murdaugh’s phone records 59 steps.

8:53: Someone appears to activate the voice assistant on Maggie Murdaugh’s phone very briefly by holding the lock button.

9:02 to 9:06: Alex Murdaugh’s phone records 283 steps.

9:04: Alex Murdaugh calls his wife’s phone. No one answers.

9:06: Alex Murdaugh calls Maggie Murdaugh again. No answer.

9:06: Alex Murdaugh shifts his car out of park.

9:07: The car leaves the vicinity of the house.

9:08: Alex Murdaugh’s car passes by an area where his wife’s phone was later found on the side of the road. The car does not slow down.

9:08:58: Alex Murdaugh texts Maggie Murdaugh: “Going to check on Em be rite back.” (Em is Mr. Murdaugh’s mother.)

9:10: Alex Murdaugh calls Buster Murdaugh, his older son, and they speak for one minute. Buster Murdaugh testified that his father called to say that he was driving to check on his ailing mother, and that he sounded normal on the phone.