After the murders of his mother and brother, Buster Murdaugh had to find a new place to live. He had to pack up his belongings and leave his hunting lodge and beach house behind.
The 26-year-old son of Alex Murdaugh, a well-known lawyer, is currently living in Hilton Head Island with his girlfriend, Brooklynn White. They have a golden retriever named Miller.
1. He was at his mother’s house.
Ever since Maggie Murdaugh and her son Paul Murdaugh were found dead at their Colleton County hunting lodge seven weeks ago, FITSNews readers have been wondering where Buster Murdaugh was during the murders. After the death of his mother and brother, Buster cleared out his belongings and never went back to live at either location.
But he hasn’t spoken out much about the tragic events.
Buster’s a baby-faced 26-year-old who appears to be deeply affected by his father’s legal troubles. He’s been a fixture in the Walterboro, S.C. courtroom for the past six weeks as Alex Murdaugh’s trial has played out, sitting quietly in the back row most of the time.
During his testimony, Buster told the court that his father struggled with an opioid addiction and prosecutors presented evidence that Paul confronted him about a stash of pills a month before the murders occurred. He also said his family was being bullied online and in bars over Paul’s pending trial for a boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.
2. He was at his father’s house.
For the first time, the jury in Alex Murdaugh’s double murder trial heard directly from his family. His eldest son, Richard Alexander “Buster” Murdaugh, took the stand as the defense called its third witness.
During Buster’s testimony, he revealed that the first time he saw his father after the killings, he was devastated and heartbroken. He painted a picture of a close-knit family that was glued together by their love for each other, but also tense over his father’s drug addiction.
He also told jurors that his mother stayed at their beach house that night and that she was concerned about Paul’s legal problems, including his involvement in a boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. In addition, he said that his brother Paul was a victim of bullying after the accident and that he moved away from Hampton County to stay at Edisto Beach.
3. He was at his brother’s house.
Buster Murdaugh is the eldest son of disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh. He’s been a regular fixture at his father’s double murder trial for weeks, but isn’t speaking out publicly about the situation.
He has a quiet life in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with his longtime girlfriend and golden retriever dog. But he’s been in the spotlight again recently, testifying in his father’s defence.
When he took the stand last week, Buster described his father as a loving presence who was destroyed by the deaths of Maggie and Paul. He said he spent “every day” with him after the killings and never saw any signs of danger.
He also questioned a housekeeper’s account that she found wet clothing and towels in the master bedroom as well as a disheveled closet when she visited the Moselle lodge the day after the murders. He also debunked her claim that she found a fallen white t-shirt in the closet.
4. He was at his grandmother’s house.
The eldest son of disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh is now living in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with his girlfriend Brooklynn White. They live in a condo Buster bought in 2021, and Brooklynn works for a law firm.
He has been quiet in the wake of the murders, but recently told PEOPLE he was aware his father had a drug addiction and a history of financial wrongdoing. He also said he knew his mother and brother had found pills in their home before the murders.
His testimony Monday was the first time he’s appeared publicly in the Murdaugh case since the murders and was called to give evidence for the defense.
He also testified that he saw his father a lot the day of the murders and that he wore several different outfits. However, he disputed the family’s housekeeper’s claim that he had never worn one of the white T-shirts he wore on June 7 that she noticed in a pile on the floor in his wardrobe.
