Court sentences Alex Murdaugh to 40 years more for financial crimes

The convicted murderer and former South Carolina lawyer received the sentence on Monday, months after he pleaded guilty to federal financial crimes. The sentence means that even if Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions were reversed, he would still spend life in either state or federal prison, said attorney Eric Bland, whose firm has represented some of Murdaugh’s victims. In September, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 22 federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. Last year, he also received 27 years in prison for state financial crimes to which he pleaded guilty earlier.

What were Murdaugh’s murder sentences regarding? Last year, Murdaugh received two life sentences for the murders of his wife and son. After deliberating for under three hours after a six-week trial, a jury found him guilty.

Dig deeper: Read Johanna Huebscher’s report in The Sift from when Murdaugh pleaded guilty to the federal charges.