Current:Home > FinanceAlex Murdaugh's Lawyers Say He "Invented" Story About Dogs Causing Housekeeper's Fatal Fall -MoneyStream
Alex Murdaugh's Lawyers Say He "Invented" Story About Dogs Causing Housekeeper's Fatal Fall
View
Date:2025-04-13 15:31:39
Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul Murdaugh, has made a bombshell confession with regard to a life insurance fraud lawsuit filed against him in connection with the death of his longtime housekeeper.
In a May 1 response to Nautilus Insurance Company's filing, Murdaugh's lawyers stated that their client lied when he said Gloria Satterfield, 57, had tripped over his family's dogs when she fell on his property in 2018, NBC News reported.
"No dogs were involved in the fall of Gloria Satterfield on February 2, 2018," the attorneys said in the legal filing, adding that after Satterfield's death, Murdaugh "invented Ms. Satterfield's purported statement that dogs caused her to fall to force his insurers to make a settlement payment."
However, according to his May 1 response, Murdaugh "denies the existence of any conspiracy to improperly cause Nautilus to pay a fraudulent claim."
The insurance company filed its civil suit against Murdaugh in 2022, alleging that that after Satterfield's death, he made a claim on his $5 million umbrella policy and helped coordinate efforts to "improperly obtain" the insurance money.
In October 2021, Murdaugh was arrested for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for the Satterfield family. "Mr. Murdaugh coordinated with (Gloria) Satterfield's family to sue himself in order to seek an insurance settlement with the stated intent to give the proceeds to the Satterfield family to pay for funeral expenses and monetary compensation for Satterfield's children," CNN quoted a South Carolina Enforcement Division affidavit as saying.
In a wrongful death lawsuit filed a month prior, Satterfield's adult sons, Michael "Tony" Satterfield and Brian Harriott, alleged that they had received none of the proceeds from a $4.3 million settlement they said Murdaugh arranged in secret, NBC News reported.
This past February, at a hearing for his double murder trial in the deaths of his wife and son, Satterfield's son Michael told the court that Murdaugh offered to "go after my insurance company" to help their family with medical bills and other expenses, but that they ultimately never got the money and Murdaugh never mentioned his $5 million umbrella policy.
"Neither myself, my law firm, or my clients have ever possessed even $1 of the stolen Nautilus money," Ronnie Richter, one of the Satterfield family attorneys, tweeted May 2, a day after Murdaugh's latest filing.
In March, Murdaugh was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for fatally shooting his wife and son in what prosecutors said was a bid to distract from financial misdeeds. His attorneys have filed a notice to appeal the murder case.
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (31)
Related
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Ta'Kiya Young's grandmother pushes for justice for pregnant mom shot by police
- Tyre Nichols: Timeline of investigation into his death
- These tech giants are at the White House today to talk about the risks of AI
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Drew Barrymore dropped as National Book Awards host after her talk show resumes during strike
- Pulitzer officials expand eligibility in arts categories; some non-U.S. citizens can now compete
- House passes bipartisan measures targeting Iran over death of Mahsa Amini, missile program
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Whatever happened to the project to crack the wealthy world's lock on mRNA vaccines?
Ranking
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Imprisoned Iranian activist hospitalized as hunger strike reaches 13th day
- NFL power rankings Week 2: Are Jets cooked after Aaron Rodgers' injury?
- Flooding evacuates residents in northern Massachusetts; waters recede showing damage
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Kentucky’s chief justice decides not to seek reelection in 2024
- The complete VMAs winners list, including Taylor Swift and Stray Kids
- See *NSYNC Reunite for the First Time in 10 Years at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards
Recommendation
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Vatican opens up a palazzo built on ancient Roman ruins and housing its highly secretive tribunals
5 ex-Memphis police officers charged in Tyre Nichols death indicted on federal charges
Former Florida football coach Dan Mullen picks Tennesee to beat Gators in Gainesville
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
Michigan deputy suffers serious head injury in struggle with suspect
5 former officers charged in death of Tyre Nichols are now also facing federal charges
Bea Romer, Colorado first lady who championed state-funded preschool, dies at 93