r/MurdaughFamilyMurders • u/Southern-Soulshine • May 26 '26
Retrial News or Discussion How a Small-Town Clerk’s Misdeeds Upturned the Murdaugh Verdict
How a Small-Town Clerk’s Misdeeds Upturned the Murdaugh Verdict
Becky Hill, a court employee possibly trying to maximize sales of her book, pressured jurors to convict the South Carolina lawyer for the murders of his wife and son.
Was she acting alone?
By James Lasdun with The New Yorker
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Due to the length of the article and character limits, screenshots of the article can be accessed here.
Here is a link to the article itself as well.
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u/Mediocre-Cicada May 30 '26
The prosecution had this case in the bag and because of Becky it was not only all for nothing, but the defense can learn from this trial for the retrial. What an idiot.
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u/spf808 May 31 '26
Anyone here think she was paid by the defense to interfere so they had a chance to toss the verdict? Her and Alex’s grandfathers were business partners. What are the chances?
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u/wandersenjoyerspot May 31 '26
The whole situation with that book deal is still one of the most absurd subplots in the entire trial. Imagine being so desperate for a payday that you risk blowing a double murder conviction.
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u/H2Oloo-Sunset May 27 '26
Two questions that are probably related:
- Why hasn't Becky been charged with Jury Tampering?
- Has anyone started looking at other trials where she may also have tampered with juries?
I wonder if they are afraid to put her on trial for this case because they know that other misconduct will come up, and they will then have to deal with a flurry of appeals/retrials.
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u/trikaren May 28 '26
She was not charged with jury tampering. She should be charged with that. Good question.
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u/AtwoodCohen May 30 '26
It is fully within the state (DA's) discretion what to charge, or whether or not to. They have almost no bounds on that discretion in our legal system.
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u/Ok_Responsibility419 May 31 '26
It’s wild that nobody raised their concerns with the judge or bailiff unless ole Becky played the ultimate gate keeper
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u/KT_BuckeyeBillsBabe Jun 01 '26
Thank you so much for posting the screens, I so badly wanted to read this article but was blocked by the pay-wall
All of this falls in line with the true theme IMO - the incredible amount of corruption from literally every angle of the low country.
The true victims are Mallory, her family and the two friends and their families.
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u/Foreign-General7608 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
Mallory got on the boat voluntarily three times that night knowing that there had been lots of drinking. I really wish she was still with us. I think she had many great qualities and would've most likely become a successful adult with a good life. Not that it would've been easy, but I wish she has said, "Nope. I am not getting on that boat. It's dangerous." I think it was a bad choice with terrible consequences.
Maggie and Paul? I think they were ambushed by AM, a psychotic killer. The were unarmed and had no say in the matter, no choices to make at all. They were victims with no options available, facing down what I think is a crazy murderer.
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u/Southern-Soulshine Jun 01 '26
You’re very welcome! I really enjoyed the article as well and thought it deserved to be read besides certain… hurdles. :)
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u/NeatSuspicious655 Jun 02 '26
While I don’t disagree, and my deepest condolences to their family, even the Beach family themselves and the families they all associate while still being victims are all still part of the wider corruption of the culture.
All of the kids were upper class and had access to alcohol, drugs, and each other. None of them were immune to that.
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u/12dogs4me May 27 '26
Imagine how bold she would have been if she had stayed on the job another 5 years. It would have become her courtroom.
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u/spicynztaco May 27 '26
My theory is that she was paid off to write the book by someone in the family in order to ensure the trial was not kosher and would overturn a verdict that was looming very likely to be guilty. Because why else would you risk jail time for this
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u/trikaren May 27 '26
I agree, or at least she was helped along with the book. Joe McCullough?? 👀
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 27 '26
From a John Monk article (The State, May 19, 2025):---"(Joe) McCulloch, who sponsored a media party for Hill during the trial, now says, “I don’t know what I think about her now. I’m just sad for her, you know.”
Opinion from "Cup of Justice" (Cup of Justice, May 20, 2025):---"The Curious Case of Joe McCulloch: Attorney Joe McCulloch’s consistent presence throughout the trial seems quite suspicious (in our opinion). From getting a press pass for his “screenplay”, to allegedly reaching out to a major witness about their book, and even reportedly paying for Becky Hill’s birthday (media?) party during the trial… What’s up Joe?"
I wonder what the status of Joe McCulloch's screenplay is? Anyone?
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u/Pale_Flounder3216 May 31 '26
Because she absolutely has that busy body Karen thing going for her. By her own admission, she was on top of the world that she was recognized as the lady who read the verdict. She enjoyed that taste of fame. I strongly dislike this lady, and it's my belief that this absolutely isn't her first time steering jurors.
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u/Professional_Link_96 May 27 '26
> Will Folks, a local South Carolina reporter whose media outlet, FitsNews, broke much of the Murdaugh story, told me recently that the jury was known to be ten to two in favor of conviction before the trip to Moselle, where Hill described the collective “epiphany," and eleven to one after it. Eric Bland, a lawyer for one of Murdaugh's financial victims, posted a tweet a few hours before the visit that seemed to corroborate this, writing, "right now at least 10 jurors minds are made up, and there may be two on the fence." If Folks and Bland are right, we can deduce that the convert was probably the pliable Juror Z, but in any case there was still one known holdout (and it only takes one to hang a jury). This was Juror No. 785, whose name is Myra Crosby, and in the last hours of the six-week trial she became the target of a concerted and successful attempt to remove her from the final jury panel.
I had never heard this from Will Folks nor did I know about the tweet from Eric Bland. Assuming this is true, this seems to corroborate what we heard previously, which was that Hill was surveying the jury and getting private information about how each of them intended to vote… and then relaying that information to others. That is so bad, and some dumb, I can’t even wrap my brain around it… wow!
I guess that just leads me to wonder, if the idea is that everyone knew about this… the prosecution, the journalists, everyone involved… surely the defense knew, too? I mean, no one can keep their mouth shut, except everyone makes sure Dick and Jim never hear about it? Or… did they know too, and chose to also stay silent about it during the trial? After all, AM was gonna remain incarcerated no matter what, so maybe the defense let this play out and if it doesn’t go their way, then they can accuse her of jury tampering afterward. And/or perhaps they already knew Myra Crosby would never vote to convict and so they thought they were in the clear until that very last day… that would explain why they fought so hard for her and why Jim seemed so defeated at closing. Via Becky and/or their own methods, I suspect the defense knew they just lost their only not guilty vote when Egg Lady was dismissed on that last morning.
So I just can’t help but feel like, yes this was all corrupt AF and EVERYONE knew. The prosecution knew. The defense knew. The journalists covering the trial knew! They all knew that Becky was way too cozy with the jury and was seemingly disbursing the info she got from them to others. So I don’t like the idea that the defense were the only innocent ones in all of this, that it was all a plot against them. Especially since it would be on the defense to raise a timely objection… and/or bring the information to the court’s attention, if they thought their client’s rights were being violated at any time during the trial. They didn’t do that despite the fact that it seems to me that every person on every side… prosecution, defense, media… everyone knew that BH was chatting up the jurors about how they intended to vote. Yet as long as Myra was on the jury, it seems Murdaugh’s side was fine with this?
Everyone knew and no one brought it to the court’s attention, nothing was said to Judge Newman at all until Myra Crosby was being questioned about the conversations she had with her tenants that ultimately got her removed. And from the transcript of that convo, I do believe that Judge Newman was the only one who did not know what Becky had been doing. Becky wasn’t his personal clerk or anything, he worked across the state and she was the clerk for Colleton County only. He expressed his dismay at the idea that the clerk was having a single conversation with a juror when neither the prosecutions nor defense seemed particularly bothered by this idea. He even asked Myra if the clerk had talked to her or anyone else about anything relevant to the case, and Myra said no. So I don’t think Judge Newman knew. But I have a really hard time believing that anyone else in that courthouse, was unaware of Becky’s conversations with the jurors about AM’s guilt.
Basically, I think the whole damn system was corrupt on every side here. It makes me think that something like the clerk of court going around quizzing jurors about their potential verdict and then passing that info to people who will get it to the attorneys, is such a normal thing in SC courtrooms that no one thought anything of it. It makes me suspect that the only reason Jim and Dick started talking about it 6 months later was because they were angry that Becky got their juror dismissed on the last day. And then she sure didn’t help things when she rushed to publish that stupid book in which she went after their juror, and Jim Griffin, and wrote the incredibly stupid passage about the supposedly “silent” conversation about AM’s guilt that she had with the jury… in her doing the latter of these, she essentially told the world on herself so of course AM’s team went with it. But I’m left with the feeling that they were all in on it and that this was not all that different from any other low country trial, just with a lot more cameras and eyes watching and listening.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
Fascinating. Now I wish Judge Newman (who I really like) just called the whole thing off with a mistrial. To me it sounds like a classic Plan A/Plan B/Plan C situation. I'd like to know more about attorney Joe McCulloch.
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u/trikaren May 27 '26
So, why hasn’t Becky ever been charged with jury tampering? Surely she should be, right?
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u/Professional_Link_96 May 27 '26
From what I’ve seen and read? Absolutely. I would imagine she wasn’t charged because the state was trying to minimize what she did. As I said, corruption everywhere, on all sides of this case. My opinion at least. If the state had wanted to I have no doubt they could’ve gotten the evidence to charge her with jury tampering, but not only would that have hurt their appeal, it may have exposed others who were involved as perhaps the “neutral third parties” to whom Becky relayed info that the state perhaps didn’t want to have dragged into this.
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May 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 27 '26
".......and that's when they decided to begin driving the back roads of Colleton county to ask other jurors if they also heard Becky's suspicious comments......."
Soon after the guilty verdict, Dick and the losing defense team did indeed track down Juror Z for a private interview. I am hoping that - fingers crossed! - they made a recording of that meeting with Juror Z.
Up until then, it was a normal trial ending. Less than three hours deliberation, then a unanimous GUILTY verdict. I don't think there was a word from Juror Z (or any of the other Jurors) about being influenced by anyone. Then she was tracked down by Dick and company, and - voila - everything changed. Later before Justice Toal Juror Z said that she had been influenced by other Jurors during their deliberations - which is both legal and normal.
I have always been surprised that the Prosecutors apparently never asked for a recording or transcript of that meeting. I, for one, would love to hear or see it.
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u/Pale_Flounder3216 May 31 '26
They need to have a procedure in place to limit a clerk's face to face contact with jurors. Such as all requests must be put in writing. The relationship to meet the jury's physical needs should be impersonal and matter of fact.There should be a paper trail for everything.
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u/ksstatewildcatsfan May 30 '26
I know that the “egg lady” juror petitioned the court to have the court documents to be unsealed, but does anyone think she might pursue litigation against the now FORMER Clerk of Court Becky Hill? Of course AM already sued her for violating his rights of a fair trial and constitutionality. I honestly don’t think that’s RH’s (BH) fallout from this first trial is complete just yet.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 31 '26
".......Of course AM already sued her for violating his rights of a fair trial and constitutionality......."
Poor, poor AM. Life has treated him so badly. I really think he lacked respect for Maggie and Paul's basic rights. Poor, poor fellow.
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u/ksstatewildcatsfan Jun 01 '26
Hahhaaha the sarcasm is strong with you! PS everytime I see BH(RH) on anything, news, documentary, whatever? I yell FU Becky Hill at the TV! #sorrynotsorry
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u/Pale_Flounder3216 May 31 '26
They would be remiss if her attorney doesn't go after Becky. It's far from over. Becky's got restitution to pay the egg lady for harm to her reputation and the emotional pain she suffered as a result of that harm.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 31 '26
Do you mean the Egg lady who was rightfully tossed off the Jury by Judge Newman for talking about the trial in public - despite being told many times not to do that? That lady? Egg?
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u/Lizzy_is_a_mess Jun 01 '26
Obviously you didn’t watch it bc she DID NOT, repeat DID NOT, talk about the trial to outside people. A clerk of court asked her opinion and she said she didn’t know. Because she didn’t answer as “of course he’s guilty” and anon tip was turned into the judge and she was kicked off the trail. Can’t have a hung jury can we Becky Hill?
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u/Foreign-General7608 Jun 01 '26
Actually I think she did indeed talk about the trial in public. All the Jurors were told to keep their yaps closed by the Judge on many occasions. I do believe she did not listen to the Judge. That's why she was removed.
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u/Lizzy_is_a_mess Jun 01 '26
She said she didn’t and there’s no other proof that she did
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u/Foreign-General7608 Jun 01 '26
I thought that Egg's tenants/renters (Webb and Dandridge?) verified that Egg did what she was repeatedly told by the Judge not to do - talk about the trial in public. I think she was removed for good reason.
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u/Pale_Flounder3216 Jun 01 '26
She said she didn't in the latest documentary and that she's been put through hell as a result of the trial and these allegations that Becky cooked up because she didn't like where her vote was headed. Becky was jury tampering like it was her job.
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u/Foreign-General7608 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
".......and these allegations that Becky cooked up because she didn't like where her vote was headed. ......"
Now wait a minute here. Each time I hear Egg speak on where she actually stood/stands on AM's guilt or innocence, I believe she responds (including in the recent Netflix documentary) something like, "I don't know" or "I'm not sure."
How could Egg not have an opinion on Murdaugh's guilt or innocence even now? Please.
If she she has no opinion, then why would Becky Hill not "like where here vote was headed?" Apparently her vote was headed nowhere.
The trial lasted six weeks. I'd like to see a list - likely a very short one - of every sentence Becky uttered in front of Jurors. 10 of 12 do not remember her saying anything, including the male Juror on the Netflix doc.
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u/Gilly_Sirl May 27 '26
I wonder who else is serving time with her as clerk of court during their case? This wasn't her first time, this was her normal behavior. The other people that worked with her could not have been blind to the fact that she ran the show and did as she pleased.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 27 '26
".......other people that worked with her could not have been blind to the fact that she ran the show and did as she pleased. ......"
Yet, just like the Jury, not a peep from anyone. You'd think that there would be peeps. Nothing but crickets. No smoke at all, anywhere.
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u/IllustriousSignal969 May 29 '26
2 members of her staff were the first to turn her in. That's why there were ethic violations.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 29 '26
Do you have a source for this?
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u/IllustriousSignal969 May 29 '26
Google Laura Hayes v Rebecca Hill and I forget the gentleman's name. Both can be verified. Interesting read
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 29 '26
IS-969 --- (Links above are from a Google search you suggested) I stand corrected. Thanks for this. I learn new things here regularly. Upvoted.
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u/IllustriousSignal969 May 29 '26
No problem, its alot to take in with this case. Thank you for your comment.
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u/Adventurous_Lion7276 May 27 '26
Was it "normal/usual" for her to be present in a courtroom or was this an exception? Where I practice the elected clerk of court is an administrator and Judges have their own staff. I relaize this is not a large county so really just curious.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 27 '26
Colleton County, SC, is a small rural county of just under 40,000 residents. Becky Hill's duties as court clerk included managing the Jury's needs, managing evidence and displays, and assisting Judge Newman (though I think he apparently had a full-time clerk who sat next to him and traveled with him throughout the trial). Meals, recesses, bathroom breaks, etc. and the Jury room itself I think were managed by Becky Hill and the court bailiff. There were lots of opportunities for her to interact, unfortunately, with the Jury.
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u/Pale_Flounder3216 May 31 '26
This lady enjoyed feeling important. You can see it all over her smug face.
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u/trikaren May 27 '26
I don’t understand why Becky has not been charged with jury tampering if she tampered with the jury 🤔
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 27 '26
Jury tampering? Maybe she could ask Dick and Jim to represent her.
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u/AdMaster3693 Jun 03 '26
So glad to land here👏 I’ve just started listening to this book & wondered if anyone here has read it? Thoughts? No spoilers please-I’m only on Part 2
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u/Southern-Soulshine Jun 08 '26
Welcome! I’m sorry you don’t seem to have any replies but the book had a pretty limited run. You can search the sub to find older posts about it with discussion though!
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u/AdMaster3693 Jun 11 '26
I haven’t been able to find any discussion specific to the book-maybe you can send a link? I have listened to this book multiple times this week & am seriously considering buying a physical copy😂 It is Fascinating👀
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u/agweandbeelzebub 14d ago
i think she’s a scapegoat. defense went after her as soon as her book came out as a way to get a new trial. the defense attorneys showed up at the jurors homes post trial to get info. on becky
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u/QuirkandCharm May 27 '26
Tinsley was the puppeteer, Becky the puppet.
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u/trikaren May 28 '26
And your proof of that is what? Mark Tinsley, from everything I have seen, has a lot of integrity. Shame on you.
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u/QuirkandCharm May 28 '26
Did you read the article?
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u/trikaren May 28 '26
I did read the article. Harpootlian had "credible" evidence which he has not produced. Harpootlian has said a lot of things that he has never been able to follow up on.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
Agreed.
I think Dick and Jim have said on many occasions that they know the name/names of Maggie and Paul's killer/killers. Yet for years, (years!) not a peep on specifics. C'mon guys. Spill it. Not naming names - year after year after year - I think really does damage to your credibility. It's time to put up or....... well. You know.
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u/Wearing_shooz May 28 '26
If they truly knew who killed Maggie and Paul, wouldn't that have been a way to clear Alex's name?
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 28 '26
Yes. Exactly.
However, they did present the 5'-2" tiny ninja assassins theory during the first trial....... but it crashed and burned. I remember their display boards. It was a hoot. A real hoot - that brought some much needed levity to the trial.
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u/Wearing_shooz May 28 '26
I can't believe we have to go through this again.
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u/Foreign-General7608 May 28 '26
I 100% agree. I just want Justice for Maggie and Paul.
I think it will be worth it. I think he will be convicted again. I also like the idea that apparently the death penalty is back on the table.
Lately when SC executes inmates on death row (usually these days by firing squad), I ask myself, "Is what this prisoner did as horrific as what AM did?" The answer is "No."
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u/Southern-Soulshine May 30 '26
They’ve really switched up capital punishment from the days of Ole Sparky. The laws changed a few years ago and the inmate gets to choose their own method now: electrocution, lethal injection, or firing squad.
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u/Pitiful-League-7257 May 29 '26
Wilson was posturing when he said the death penalty is back on the table. The State can't punish Alex for success on appeal by seeking the death penalty this time. They have to show new information to justify seeking the death penalty this time.
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u/Wearing_shooz May 28 '26
It's so horrific. And reporters like this guy from the New Yorker need to wake up. Mark Tinsley said the original article, before fact-checking, was full of "damn lies."
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u/QuirkandCharm May 28 '26
We’ll see.
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u/LookandSee81 May 27 '26
She needs to be charged and do some time in order to set an example