Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh has faced consequences for breaking prison rules regarding phone calls, including the loss of his phone and canteen privileges. The South Carolina Department of Corrections states that Murdaugh violated regulations by reading his journal entries during a call with his lawyer, Jim Griffin, which Griffin recorded and shared with the media. The Department believes that victims of crime should not have to see or hear their perpetrator in the news, and inmates lose the privilege of speaking to the media upon entering the correctional facility.
Murdaugh, a former attorney, was convicted in March of this year for the murders of his wife and adult son in 2021. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for these crimes. In addition to reading his journal entries, Murdaugh also used another inmate’s PIN during a phone call, further violating prison rules. According to a Corrections Department incident report, he claimed to have used someone else’s PIN because his own was not functioning properly. As a result of these infractions, Murdaugh’s tablet privileges were also revoked.
It is important to note that these violations are administrative in nature and are not considered criminal offenses. The Department specifies that they are taking appropriate action to address the breaches of protocol. In a letter sent to Griffin, the Corrections Department informed him of the incident involving the reading of journal entries during a phone call on June 10. This call was in relation to a forthcoming Fox Nation documentary titled “The Fall of the House of Murdaugh.”
The prison warden received a report from the Office of the Inspector General on August 15 regarding Murdaugh’s alleged participation in an interview with Fox Nation. However, no immediate response has been provided by Griffin or Fox News Media regarding these allegations.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed his wife and younger son in order to gain sympathy and divert attention from his financial crimes. The case garnered significant attention due to Murdaugh’s background as part of a prominent legal family in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
In a correction to the article, it should be noted that a previous version misstated the date of the phone call between Murdaugh and Griffin. The call took place on June 10, not July 10, as indicated by records.
Overall, the South Carolina Department of Corrections has taken action against Alex Murdaugh for breaking prison rules and violating the privileges granted to inmates. These violations have resulted in the loss of phone and canteen privileges, as well as the revocation of tablet access. The Department emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that victims of crime are not subjected to further distress by seeing or hearing their perpetrators in the media.
Original Story at www.nbcnews.com – 2023-08-31 09:05:00
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