Newly released audio taken from a jail call between Alex Murdaugh and his son he didn't kill, Buster, has given a chilling insight into the pair's tattered relationship.
The incredibly awkward conversation between the subject of Netflix's Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal and his eldest child was made on 16 May, just months after Murdaugh's conviction for the murder of his wife and second son.
Murdaugh, 54, was ringing the 26-year-old from the South Carolina maximum security facility, McCormick Correctional Institution, where he will spend the rest of his days after being handed a life term in March.
He was convicted in March of shooting dead his wife Maggie, 52, and younger son, Paul, 22, on his family’s South Carolina estate in June 2021.
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Paul was shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun in the kennels of their 1,700-acre Moselle estate - the second shot almost blowing his brain entirely from his skull.
Prosecutors surmised that Murdaugh then grabbed a .300 Blackout semiautomatic rifle and fired on his wife as she fled.
Maggie was shot five times in total after falling to her knees.
Murdaugh ultimately confessed to lying about his alibi on the night of the crimes.
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He's facing more than 100 charges of financial fraud, which saw him steal millions of dollars from law firm clients over several decades and a botched hitman plot where he paid an accomplice to shoot him.
The brief but incredibly uncomfortable conversation sees the former lawyer telling his son that he's been trying to contact him and that he 'loves' and is 'proud' of him.
Meanwhile, Buster, who publicly supported his father during the trial and even testified in his defense, saying his dad was 'destroyed' and 'heartbroken' after finding the bodies of his family members, seemed like he was no longer on friendly terms with his father.
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The audio, obtained by local outlet FITSNews under a Freedom of Information Act request, sees the convicted murderer open the call with a friendly: "Hey buddy.”
Buster seemingly coldly responds: "Hey, I don’t have a whole lot of time.
“I just boarded a ferry to get back to the Hilton Head Island from Daufuskie [Island].”
His dad then says: “Yeah, I know, I - I been trying to call. I was supposed to call you while you were with Jim [his attorney, Jim Griffin], um, about this meeting.”
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Apparently referring to Griffin, Murdaugh then says: “But anyway. How about [you] text him and let him know I’m trying to call him?”
Buster simply replies: “Mm-kay.”
“Did he talk to you about that? About the thing, about [inaubile],” Murdaugh continues as the line begins to break up.
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The outlet reported that the 'thing' could refer to Buster’s upcoming interview for a Fox Nation documentary on the disgraced scion and his family.
“No, I can’t really understand you either,” Buster answers bluntly.
Finally receiving the not-so-subtle signals, Murdaugh responds: “Alright, alright. I’m gonna, um, I’m going to leave word with Jim and he’ll be in touch with you.
“Love you.”
After an excruciatingly awkward pause, Buster flatly replies: “Alright. Love you too.”
“So proud of you,” adds the father.
“Thanks,” Buster says before quickly disconnecting, bringing the total call time to a paltry 42 seconds.
Topics: Crime, Gun Crime, True crime, News, US News, Netflix