Murdaugh Boat Crash Victim’s Family Seeks Accountability in Summer Trial

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Mallory Beach’s family, a 19-year-old victim of a boat accident that killed her, is seeking “accountability,” in the upcoming Hampton County trial.

The trial date for the family’s wrongful-death lawsuit against the Murdaughs is Aug. 14, just four years after the Beach family filed the case against them in 2019.

“There’s still a long way to go. There’s still accountability to be had,” Mark Tinsley, an attorney representing the Beach family in their wrongful death lawsuit. “… We’re hopeful that the attorney general’s office will continue to investigate the investigators involved in… the boat crash. We think that there were a number of things that happened there that are worthy of prosecution. And we hope that those people are dealt with as well.”

Tinsley stated that Buster Murdaugh, his youngest son, could be called to testify in the trial. However, Tinsley said it was unlikely that Alex Murdaugh, his father, would be called after he was sentenced last week to life imprisonment for the murders in June 2021 of Maggie and Paul.

Tinsley stated that the Beach family “hopes to achieve accountability” in this trial.

Paul Murdaugh had taken five friends with him to the boat of his family on February 23, 2019. Before they set out on their excursion that turned deadly, Murdaugh used Buster, his older brother’s ID to buy alcohol. Paul drove on despite the pleas of his friend to not drive and crashed into Archers Creek Bridge in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Passengers were left with injuries after the crash. Beach, who was at the back of the boat, was knocked into the water by the impact and then vanished. More than a week after the crash, boaters discovered her body in the water near the scene.

Tinsley testified that Paul used the South Carolina Lowcountry legal prestige of his family to receive preferential treatment following the crash, as he was accused in Alex’s double murder trial.

Tinsley testified that the Beach family stood on a causeway for eight days, while their daughter was in the water. “I don’t believe there’s any amount of money anyone would be willing to pay to go through what they’ve been through.”

Tinsley claimed that Alex Murdaugh approached Tinsley at a bar when he was representing Beach families and tried to bully Tinsley into backing down.

Paul Murdaugh, along with friends, went on a nighttime boat trip along the South Carolina coast. While drinking, he crashed the boat. This resulted in numerous injuries and Mallory Beach’s tragic death.

Paul Murdaugh, who was drinking at the time, took his friends on a nighttime boat trip along the South Carolina coast. He crashed the boat, inflicting multiple injuries and causing the death of Mallory Beach. (Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office).

Tinsley stated that Alex was responsible for his feelings at the time.

Prosecutors claim that Alex killed his wife and son in a Beach lawsuit, as it was likely to expose other financial crimes. The disgraced lawyer is accused of taking millions from the family’s personal injuries law firm and its clients.

An application was filed by the Beach family attorney to make Alex disclose his books and show his financial woes. A hearing was set for three days prior to the murders to determine if Alex would be forced to disclose the sensitive information. Tinsley claims that he does not have full access to Alex’s financial records including the trust of the Murdaugh family.

Tinsley stated that “there was a feeling of relief that there had been some measure of justice” about the Murdaugh trial. However, Tinsley also said that “the fact that…things that happened in a civil case are even associated” with Alex’s motive for the double murder is “not a pleasant feeling” for the Beach families.

He said, “They have taken a lot of comfort in the fact there’s been positive that’s happened as result.”

In January, the Beaches reached an agreement with Maggie’s estate, and Buster (Alex’s only surviving son), to settle their dispute. Alex and Parker’s Kitchen are the remaining defendants in this case. This convenience store is where Paul (then underage) may have bought alcohol for the excursion.