By KATIE McLAUGHLIN
HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (Court TV) – Alex Murdaugh has admitted that he lied to his insurance companies when he said that his family dogs caused his housekeeper to trip and fall on his property in a 2018 incident that led to her death.
Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison after conviction in double murder trial during his sentencing at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on Friday, March 3, 2023 after he was found guilty on all four counts. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool)
Gloria Satterfield suffered a head injury on the brick steps of the Murdaughs’ hunting lodge known as Moselle. 24 days later, she died of complications from the fall, including a stroke.
READ MORE: Alex Murdaugh’s crime saga timeline: Murder, fraud, death and betrayal
What was initially described as a “trip and fall” accident in which one of Murdaugh’s dogs got under Satterfield and caused her to fall, turned out to be fabricated.
Murdaugh, the once-prominent attorney who hailed from a legal dynasty in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, was convicted earlier this year in the 2021 shooting deaths of his wife and son on that same property. He is now serving a life sentence.
READ MORE: SC v. Alex Murdaugh: Murdaugh Family Murders
According to federal court documents filed earlier this week related to an insurance fraud lawsuit, Murdaugh is now saying that no dogs were involved in the February 2, 2018, fall.
The documents go on to state the following:
“After Ms. Satterfield’s death, Defendant invented Ms. Satterfield’s purported statement that dogs caused her fall to force his insurers to make a settlement payment, and he stated that she was not on the property to perform work.”
Satterfield, who was 57 at the time of her death, had worked for the Murdaughs for over 20 years. Upon her death, Murdaugh approached Satterfield’s two sons and promised them they’d be taken care of by his insurance.
The home located on the grounds of the Moselle estate. (Crosby Land Company)
WATCH: Son of Housekeeper Gloria Satterfield Takes the Stand
Murdaugh has admitted to taking millions of dollars in settlement money from Satterfield’s sons.
Nautilus Insurance Company is suing Murdaugh in an effort to recover the money he took. Murdaugh’s lawyers, however, say the lawsuit has been rendered illegitimate because their client lied about the manner of Satterfield’s death.
