Randolph Murdaugh III

Randolph Murdaugh III
Randolph Murdaugh III
4th circuit solicitor for the 14th judicial district of South Carolina
	In office; 1986–2006
Preceded by	Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr.
Succeeded by	Duffie Stone
Personal details
Born	October 25, 1939; Savannah, Georgia
Died	June 10, 2021 (aged 81); Varnville, South Carolina
Resting place	Hampton Cemetery
Spouse	Elizabeth Alexander
Children	4, including Alex Murdaugh
Parent	Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. (father);
Relatives	Randolph Murdaugh Sr. (grandfather)
Education	University of South Carolina
Known for	3rd-generation patriarch of Murdaugh family
Awards	Order of the Palmetto

Randolph Murdaugh III (October 25, 1939 – June 10, 2021) was an American attorney who served as the circuit solicitor of South Carolina's 14th judicial district from 1986 until 2006. The Murdaugh family had held the office since Randolph Murdaugh Sr.'s election in 1920; Randolph III was the last Murdaugh to hold the office. Randolph III was the third patriarch of the Murdaugh family from the 1980s until he died in 2021.

Early life and education

Randolph Murdaugh III was born October 25, 1939, in Savannah, Georgia, the son of Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. and Gladys Marvin.^[1] Randolph graduated from Wade Hampton High School in 1957, the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1961, and the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1964.^[2]

Circuit solicitor

Randolph Murdaugh III succeeded his father, Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., as circuit solicitor of South Carolina's 14th judicial district in 1986.^[2] He was president of the South Carolina Solicitor's Association between 1995 and 1996 and served on the National District Attorney's Association Board of Directors between 1998 and 2005.^[1] He ran unopposed for all five of his terms and held office until retiring in 2006.^[3] He was succeeded by Duffie Stone.^[4]

Retirement and private practice

After retiring from public office, he returned to private practice at his family's law firm.^[2] In 2019 Randolph III was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian recognition, by Governor Henry McMaster.^[5]

Personal life, family, and death

Randolph III was married to Elizabeth Alexander^[6] and had four children including three sons, Randolph IV (called Randy) and Richard Alexander (called Alex; b. May 27, 1968),^[7] both of whom entered the family firm; and John Marvin.^[8] Randolph III died of natural causes on June 10, 2021 three days after his son Alex murdered his wife, Margaret and his son, Paul. He was buried at Hampton Cemetery.^[1]^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Randolph Murdaugh III". Charleston Post & Courier. June 12, 2021. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "State's highest honor bestowed on former solicitor". 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office. September 21, 2018. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
^ DeWitt, Michael M. (June 24, 2021). "Throwback Thursday: The Randolph Murdaughs of Hampton County". Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ "14th Circuit Solicitor's Office History". scsolicitor14.org. 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
^ Monk, John; Delaney, Cody (April 5, 2019). "Powerful SC family faces scrutiny following boat crash that killed 19-year-old woman". The State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
^ "Paul Terry Murdaugh". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
^ "Alex Murdaugh Cross-Examined In His Murder Trial". transcripts.cnn.com. February 24, 2023. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
^ Bayless, Kacen (July 2, 2021). "Members of Murdaugh family donated over $110K in political contributions, data shows". The Island Packet. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
^ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (September 6, 2021). "Lawyer Shot After Wife and Son Were Killed Had Been Pushed Out of Law Firm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.

[RMIII_obit-1] "Randolph Murdaugh III". Charleston Post & Courier. June 12, 2021. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.

[Official_Order_of_the_Palmetto_PR-2] "State's highest honor bestowed on former solicitor". 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office. September 21, 2018. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.

[3] DeWitt, Michael M. (June 24, 2021). "Throwback Thursday: The Randolph Murdaughs of Hampton County". Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[4] "14th Circuit Solicitor's Office History". scsolicitor14.org. 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office. Retrieved March 12, 2023.

[Monk-2019-5] Monk, John; Delaney, Cody (April 5, 2019). "Powerful SC family faces scrutiny following boat crash that killed 19-year-old woman". The State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.

[Legacy-2021-6] "Paul Terry Murdaugh". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.

[7] "Alex Murdaugh Cross-Examined In His Murder Trial". transcripts.cnn.com. February 24, 2023. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.

[8] Bayless, Kacen (July 2, 2021). "Members of Murdaugh family donated over $110K in political contributions, data shows". The Island Packet. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2023.

[Bogel-2021-9] Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (September 6, 2021). "Lawyer Shot After Wife and Son Were Killed Had Been Pushed Out of Law Firm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.

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