Lawyer Who Survived Being Shot in Head Allegedly Hired Hitman So Son Could Collect $10 Million in Life Insurance

The South Carolina lawyer who survived a roadside shooting earlier this month has admitted he arranged for a hitman to kill him in a scheme to leave a $10 million life insurance policy to his son.

NBC News reports Alex Murdaugh, 53, allegedly hired Curtis Edward Smith, 61, to shoot him in the head in order for Murdaugh’s son to to be paid out his life insurance policy. Smith faces charges of assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

“Richard Alex Murdaugh conspired with Curtis Edward Smith in the area of Old Salkehatchie Road, for the purpose of Mr. Smith assisting Mr. Murdaugh to commit suicide,” the affidavit alleges. “Mr. Murdaugh provided Mr. Smith with a firearm and directed Mr. Smith to shoot him in the head for the purpose of causing Mr. Murdaugh’s death and allowing for the payment of a stated death benefit.”

Murdaugh is described as a co-defendant in the affidavit, although no charges against him have been announced.  

The news arrives less than two weeks after Murdaugh survived being shot in the head on Sept. 4 while changing a tire on a rural highway, just three months after both his wife and son were murdered.

On June 7, Murdaugh reported that he found his wife Margaret and 22-year-old son Paul dead outside of their home in Islandton, South Carolina. Colleton County Sheriff’s deputies determined that they suffered gunshot wounds. Their deaths remain under investigation by state police.

Just last week, HBO Max announced that the family’s story will be the subject of a documentary series. The streamer is developing Murdaugh Family Mysteries with Campfire Studios, the production company behind the recent Hulu doc WeWork: or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn.