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Caregiver says Alex Murdaugh made unusual visit on night of murders: full video — Transcript

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0:00Michelle, Shelly Smith.
0:05Take a deep breath. Yes.
0:09What is your first name? Michelle. Spell
0:12that, please.
0:13M u s h e l l
0:15Where did you get that name from? My
0:17auntie named me.
0:18And where did she get that name from? I
0:20don't know.
0:23Is it Michelle with a with a u? Yes,
0:26correct.
0:28Um
0:29During the course of this, if you don't
0:31mind, is it okay if I call you Miss
0:32Smith or Miss Shelly or Shelly? I really
0:34don't know what's going to come out of
0:35my mouth sometimes. Is that okay?
0:36That's okay. But do you go by Shelly?
0:39Yes.
0:41Please tell these folks um Miss Smith
0:43about Michelle Smith um
0:46where you were born, where you were
0:47raised, please. Hampton, South Carolina.
0:50And and ma'am, I can if you if you don't
0:51mind, just pull it in this up a little
0:52bit and speak into it. Okay. Thank you.
0:55Thank you.
1:00Go ahead.
1:01I was born in Hampton County.
1:03Um
1:05have four grown kids. Louder, Miss
1:07Smith.
1:08I was born in Hampton County, four grown
1:10kids, six eight grands.
1:12And I work for the Hampton County school
1:13district
1:15for the last 28 years. Food service is
1:18my professional. Pull that chair up. I
1:19just want you to be comfortable.
1:24I could say you had four adult kids.
1:25Yes. And then you said six to eight
1:27grands.
1:27Six eight grands. Eight grands. Okay.
1:30And um
1:33raised where?
1:35Hampton.
1:36South Carolina. Where did you go to high
1:37school? Wade Hampton High School.
1:40And and what did you do after high
1:42school, Miss Smith? Um got married.
1:46Um raised my kids.
1:47And um that's it. My professional,
1:49that's it.
1:51And uh and that is the hardest
1:53profession, raising children.
1:54Yes.
1:54You've got you had four kids.
1:56Four kids. And when you were raising
1:58them um you were raising them taking
1:59care of
2:00Yes.
2:01And is your are you and your family here
2:02today? Yes, my brother and my daughter.
2:05Who's Who's What's your brother's name?
2:07Um Michael Smith. Michael Smith, will
2:09you stand up?
2:12That's your brother? Yes, that's my
2:13brother. And who else is here? My
2:15daughter, Rochelle. Miss Rochelle, will
2:16you stand up?
2:18Thank you.
2:20They in here supporting you today? Yes.
2:28Don't take this the wrong way, but other
2:30than raising a family, which is the
2:32hardest job, were you doing doing
2:34anything else during that time period?
2:36No, till 1995.
2:38I started working at the school
2:39district. Okay. Did you work in your
2:41church while you were raising your
2:42family?
2:42Yes, so I worked at church. Okay, and
2:44that's what I'm asking. What did you do
2:45with your church while you were raising
2:46your family?
2:47Usher.
2:48Kitchen ministry.
2:50Kitchen ministry?
2:51Mhm.
2:51Yes.
2:53And um how long did you do that?
2:55All my all my life, church.
2:58Are you still doing that?
2:58Yes.
3:00And and you don't have to name your
3:01church, but where where where is your
3:02church located? Fairfax, South Carolina.
3:07So at some point after your children
3:10moved up in years or got older, did you
3:14start another profession? Yes. Okay. And
3:16tell the ladies and gentlemen what that
3:17was, please, ma'am. Private home care.
3:20I'm sorry? Private home care, caregiver.
3:23How did you get into that? My aunt.
3:25Mhm.
3:26And was she in that business? Yes, she's
3:28a LPN.
3:29Yes. An LPN? Yes. Licensed practical
3:32nurse.
3:32Yes.
3:33And and when did you get in the home
3:35care uh business?
3:39About 10 or 12 years ago. Okay.
3:41Now, prior to that, had you already
3:43started with the school? Yes, I'm still
3:45at the school also. Okay. Tell tell tell
3:47them when you started with the school.
3:48The school in 1995. It's That's correct,
3:511995.
3:53And and what school did you start with?
3:54At North District Middle School,
3:56Yemassee, South Carolina.
3:58North Central Middle, Yemassee.
3:59North District Middle School. Yes. What
4:01did you do for them? Food service. Okay.
4:05And how long did you do that at that
4:06school? I've been there for 19 years at
4:08North District Middle School.
4:12After that, did you change Yes.
4:14locations?
4:15Yes, six years later I went to Wade
4:16Hampton High School. Okay. Mhm.
4:19And for those of us that don't know,
4:21where is that? Yemassee, South Carolina.
4:24And
4:25you've been there six years? Oh, no. Six
4:27years there in Wade Hampton High School.
4:29So total years in the school system is
4:31what? 28 years.
4:33And you're still there? Still there.
4:36So you started home health care while
4:38you were still teaching school or still
4:40going to school?
4:40Going to school working. Mhm.
4:41Food service. And um
4:43will you please tell them you said you
4:45ain't got in your business
4:48Were you working with one family at a
4:49time or did you have
4:51Different families at a time. Okay.
4:53Different families. And how long would
4:54you stay with the family once you became
4:56their caregiver?
4:57It all depends on how long they they
4:59deceased I moved on to some another
5:00family.
5:02So is it fair to say you stay with the
5:03family until the person passed on?
5:06Passed on, yes, correct.
5:08And then how did you get other jobs as
5:10far in that caregiving profession? My
5:12aunt always called me and said there was
5:13a job and she let me put you on that
5:15job.
5:18So give the jury an idea before we get
5:19to this case, your schedule would be
5:22what when you were you were still
5:23working at school
5:24Yes, still at the school. Yes. Okay, so
5:26how would you What was your typical day
5:28like? My typical day was I leave home at
5:307:20, have to be to school at 8:00 that
5:32morning. And I would stay there till a
5:34quarter to two, make my deposit for the
5:36school, then leave and go to my previous
5:38next job.
5:56Can you Can Can you tell this jury, Miss
6:00Smith,
6:02how it came about that you started
6:04working for the Murdaughs?
6:06Um it was a job opening. I think one of
6:08the caregivers um mentioned it to me and
6:11I said, "Yes, I'd be interested in
6:12going."
6:13And that's how it started. Okay. And and
6:16one of the caregivers mentioned your
6:17name. Do you know who that was?
6:19Yes, yes, sir.
6:20Okay. It's Barbara Mixson. Miss Barbara
6:22Mixson?
6:22Yes, sir.
6:23So there's an opening and your name got
6:25brought up.
6:26Yes.
6:27And can you tell uh these folks when
6:29that was? When did you start working for
6:32um the Murdaugh family? September
6:34October of 19 2019.
6:39And what was your role as a caregiver
6:41specifically for the Murdaughs? Miss
6:43Libby, taking care of Miss Libby. Them
6:45Miss Libby.
6:47Was Mr. Randolph I knew him as Solicitor
6:50Randolph Murdaugh, but was Mr. Randolph
6:53was he
6:54there living when you started there?
6:56Yes, yes, yes. And then that's what we
6:58referred to as Almeda? Yes, Almeda's
7:00yes.
7:06Who was What What was your primary job
7:08as the caregiver? Were you Were you
7:10there to take care of uh
7:11Solicitor Mr. Randolph or was your
7:13primary job for Miss Libby? Miss Libby.
7:15Okay.
7:16Did you also ever tend to
7:19Mr. Randolph's? Yeah, every now and
7:20then.
7:23But your main focus was Miss Libby.
7:25yes.
7:27From October 19th up to June 21st, Miss
7:30Smith,
7:32and I want to be very delicate in this
7:34question.
7:38I think something This affects everybody
7:40in the world, this jury and everybody,
7:41but did Miss Libby's condition get
7:43worse? Yes.
7:46And um
7:48she's suffering from something that
7:49affects all our families, it's
7:51Alzheimer's. Yes.
7:53And that got worse from the time you
7:55started till June? Yes.
8:21Well, in June of 2021,
8:25how would you describe Miss Libby's
8:26condition?
8:31Um
8:33Alzheimer's, you know,
8:35couldn't remember anything at times.
8:38In your opinion as her head caregiver,
8:40was she aware of what was going on
8:42around her? No, no.
8:49I specifically
8:51in June of 2021, Miss Smith,
8:55uh May June of '21, tell these folks
8:58what your
8:59school schedule was and then your work
9:01schedule with the Murdaughs. Okay.
9:03My school schedule was 7:20 I would
9:06leave home,
9:07be to school at 8:00,
9:09and I leave there at 1:45,
9:12go home, make my deposit at the bank, go
9:14home, rest, come back to work at a
9:17quarter to eight, had to be there at
9:188:00 p.m. that night. I would stay all
9:21night and leave a quarter to eight the
9:23next morning, leave there and go back to
9:25the school.
9:28So was that the shift you were working
9:30for the Murdaughs Yes. primarily? Yes.
9:34An 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
9:35Yes.
9:38When did you sleep after you went to
9:39school?
9:40Took a cat nap every night then.
9:42But would you go home after you made
9:44your deposit?
9:44Yes. And you would rest?
9:45Yeah, rest for a couple hours or so.
9:48And then did you have a change of
9:50clothes at the Murdaughs or when you
9:51went straight to school the next
9:52morning?
9:52Yes. Mhm.
10:00Well, ma'am, I'd like to take you to
10:01June 7th of 2021. If you'll go back
10:04there, if we can take him back in your
10:05mind and take this jury back there right
10:07now, please, ma'am.
10:08Um, were you working
10:11as a caregiver for Miss Libby Murdaugh
10:12on June 7th of 2021? Yes.
10:17Now, had Mr. Randolph, again, I don't
10:19know Mr. Lister, but had had Mr. um
10:21Randolph's condition worsened?
10:24Had he gotten
10:26Was he in the hospital Was he there when
10:27you got there on June 7th?
10:28No, he was not. Do you know where he
10:30was? He was in the hospital.
10:35What time did you get to the um
10:38Murdaugh's
10:39Miss Libby's residence and Mr.
10:41Randolph's residence on June 7th of
10:432021? About 8:00. Okay. And that's the
10:45time you were there? Yes.
10:48And you never late, are you? No. Okay.
10:51And were And was Is somebody waiting to
10:52leave for you to get there? Yes. Okay.
10:54And this night, who was there?
10:57It was Miss
10:58It was Papa Mixon, I'm thinking. Okay. I
11:00can't remember. I think it was Papa.
11:02Ma'am, I'm having trouble I'm sorry.
11:04understanding your words. Um
11:09Can you speak maybe louder?
11:11Okay. I I know you can't change your
11:13voice, but Yes, sir.
11:15A little louder, please.
11:18Or closer to the mic.
11:29Could you tell tell us what
11:32Miss Libby
11:34When you got there on June 7th of 2021,
11:37shortly before 8:00,
11:40where was Miss Libby? In the bed.
11:44And as a professional caregiver,
11:47and this was what time of night? 8:00
11:49that night.
11:52If one of your patients that you're
11:54taking care of is in the bed resting,
11:57do you like to disturb them? No.
12:00If they're sleeping, do you want to wake
12:02them up? No.
12:04So, when you got there, was Miss Libby
12:06in bed?
12:06She was in bed, yes.
12:09And do you get briefed by Miss Mixon on
12:11what happened during the day or do y'all
12:13exchange say You know, you just
12:16come in and you know, change her She
12:18said she need to be changed or whatever
12:19like that.
12:21Make sure that She's dry. She's dry.
12:23It's okay, yes.
12:28And then
12:31And what's your desk or what's your
12:33What's your position when you're there
12:34when
12:35you're in her room, Miss Libby's room?
12:37Yes. Okay. Where are you
12:39Where Where's your Where do you sit when
12:41you're in the room? What What do you do
12:42to to take care of her? In a in a
12:44recliner. Have a recliner, sit there.
12:48And is there a TV in the room? Yes.
12:50Okay.
12:51And do you Is the TV usually on when
12:54you're there with Miss Libby in the
12:55evening or is it
12:56Yes. Okay. Was it on this night?
12:59on, yes.
13:00And do you remember what y'all were
13:01watching or what What was on TV?
13:03American Says, the game show. Say it
13:05again. American Says, the game show.
13:07Okay.
13:08How long's that been on?
13:11It's um
13:12Says on It's repeats. It's after repeats
13:15itself.
13:18What channel's that on?
13:19Um The Game Network show.
13:23Channel, excuse me.
13:25At some point on the evening of June 7th
13:27of 2021, did you see Alex Murdaugh? Yes.
13:30Okay.
13:31Do you remember what time it was?
13:34Approximately.
13:40The game show was on, so it had to been
13:42um
13:438:00 8:30 9:30 somewhere up in there.
13:468:30 9:00 9:30?
13:48Yes, somewhere up in there.
13:50Is it fair to say it was later in the
13:51evening? It was late in the evening,
13:52yes. Okay.
13:54And you had worked that schedule for
13:57that 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. shift for
13:59how long? 2 years.
14:012 years? 2 years.
14:08Was it unusual to see Alex Murdaugh
14:11at that residence that time of night?
14:15Yes, on my shift, yes.
14:17And that's the only shift you'd work?
14:19Yes.
14:21So, the 8:00 p.m. to the 8:00 a.m.
14:22shift, it was unusual to see Alex
14:25Murdaugh there visiting, correct?
14:28Correct, yes.
14:31Had you ever been over there before at
14:32that time of night?
14:34I think different off and on. It depend
14:36on the pins.
14:40When he got there, can you tell the jury
14:42um what happened?
14:47He called the house. He told me he was
14:49outside. All right.
14:51He called the house. Mhm. Yes. What What
14:54phone did he
14:55Oh.
14:57I'm It's a terrible question. I mean,
14:58was it your phone, the house phone?
15:00House phone. The house phone.
15:02And when you answered the house phone,
15:05uh what did he say?
15:06He was outside. He let me in.
15:09He was at the house. Yes.
15:11Right outside the house. Yes.
15:13And he called you. Yes.
15:15And he said, "Let me in." Mhm. Yes.
15:19And after he called you,
15:20um how long did it take you to go open
15:23the door to let him in? About 5 5
15:25minutes. So, he was right there. Mhm. At
15:28the house. Yes.
15:30You let him in? Of course, yes. Okay. Do
15:32you remember what he was wearing?
15:34Shorts. Okay. And a T-shirt.
15:38Do you remember what kind of shoes he
15:39had on? It was cloth cloth shoes, like
15:42Sperrys, that type of material. Like
15:43Sperrys, that type of material cloth
15:45shoes.
15:46Cloth shoes?
15:47Yeah, like cloth material, yes. And you
15:49said something called Sperrys?
15:50Something like Sperrys, that you know,
15:51that kind of material, but it was cloth.
15:53Okay. That kind Yeah.
15:56Weren't boots? No, wasn't boots, no.
15:59And are you familiar with tennis shoes?
16:00Yes. It was a tennis shoes?
16:02No, it wasn't tennis shoes.
16:04Cloth Sperry type shoes.
16:06Yes.
16:07Did he have any socks on?
16:09No, no.
16:15Tell the ladies and gentlemen of the
16:16jury um
16:24Can you describe Alex Murdaugh's
16:25demeanor on June 7th when you were there
16:28with him and his mother Libby?
16:30He How was he acting?
16:33Like
16:36Fidgety. Just came in, you know,
16:38Speak up, please, ma'am.
16:38Fidgety, like fidgety, I'm thinking.
16:41It's normal.
16:42What did you say, ma'am?
16:43Like he was fidgety, like
16:45Fidgety? Yeah. Fidgety. Yes. Okay. Same
16:48thing.
16:50And um um
16:53Did he tell you why he was there?
16:55No, he just came to see his mother.
16:58Did he talk to his mother? Mhm. But she
17:00was asleep, yes. She was asleep.
17:03Mhm.
17:03Okay.
17:04And what did he do?
17:06What did Alex Murdaugh do when his
17:07mother was asleep?
17:10He came and sat on the bed. He was
17:12asking me what I was watching. I said
17:13American Says. I said the game show.
17:19Did he Did he say anything to his mama?
17:22He said, "Hey, Mom, how you doing? You
17:23know, I just came to check up on you."
17:24Yeah.
17:26Did he say why he'd come to check up on
17:27her?
17:28Cuz his daddy was in the hospital, you
17:29know, called him handsome. He was in the
17:31hospital.
17:32And in your opinion, as being there her
17:34caregiver, did she even know that he was
17:37there? No. Objection, Your Honor.
17:40The objection's overruled.
17:45You said no? No, my mother no.
17:51How long did he stay in the room with
17:53y'all?
17:55When I say y'all for the record, you and
17:57Miss Libby, I apologize. About 15 to 20
17:59minutes. 20 minutes.
18:01Was he moving around the room? No, he
18:03was laying on the bed.
18:05Did he have his phone with him? Yes.
18:07Was he looking at his phone?
18:09Yes, he was on his phone, yes. I'm
18:11sorry, ma'am. What Yes.
18:21After that initial conversation, you
18:23said he said, "I'm here."
18:25Mhm.
18:26Did he have any other attempt to have
18:27any other conversation with Miss Libby?
18:29No. Okay.
18:31Did he hold her hand up?
18:33Did he ever hold her hand?
18:35Yes, he did hold her hand. He did hold
18:36her. Mhm. Did he talk to her? Yes, she
18:38was in the bed, yeah. Yes. And her
18:39condition then was what? She was, you
18:41know, asleep off and on, asleep.
18:51How long did he stay there?
18:54Judge, can I ask again?
18:56I forgot.
18:5820 minutes. About 20 minutes.
19:0520 minutes?
19:07Mhm. About 20 minutes. Okay.
19:09What happened after that?
19:12He left.
19:14Mhm.
19:17Your shift ended when? 8:00 the next
19:19morning. At some point after that, did
19:21you get a call from
19:23Miss Mixon? Yes. Okay. Did you learn
19:26what had happened at Moselle? Yes.
19:31At some point after that, did you get a
19:32call from a family member? I don't I
19:34really don't know who it was, but Yes,
19:35yes. Do you remember who it was? Yes.
19:37Okay. Who was it? It was Randy. Randy
19:39Randy Murdaugh? Randy Murdaugh, yes.
19:41Alex Murdaugh's brother? Yes.
19:43And as a result of that, what was uh
19:47Were you expecting people to come over
19:48after that? No. After that phone call,
19:50were you expecting people to come spend
19:51the night that night?
19:52Yes. Okay. Who? Who was going to come
19:54over?
19:54Um Randy told me um
19:58John Marvin
20:00and Buster and his girlfriend and Alex.
20:03John Marvin Mhm.
20:04Buster and his girlfriend and Alex.
20:06Yes. Okay.
20:07And did you in in fact see them later on
20:10that night?
20:11Or that morning, the next morning, I'm
20:13sorry.
20:13Did they come to Alameda after you got
20:16the call from Mr. Randolph saying they
20:17were coming? Did they come? Yes, they
20:19came. Yes.
20:24And at some point later on that morning,
20:26did you see Alex Murdaugh again?
20:30Did you see him again that morning? No.
20:35Did he ever come looking for glasses?
20:37That morning, that night he was in
20:38there. He came looking for glasses. He
20:40said he couldn't sleep.
20:50And Mr. Randolph, or Solicitor Randolph,
20:52died
20:54shortly a couple of days after that?
20:56Yes.
20:57Now, you were working the 8:00 p.m. to
20:598:00 a.m. shift. Were you asked to work
21:01more after this to get the family
21:03through this? Were you asked to help
21:04more at the house?
21:05Yes, mhm.
21:06And were you happy to do that? Of
21:08course.
21:12And do you remember the day of uh Mr. um
21:16Solicitor, I'm going to call him
21:16Solicitor, that's the way I know him.
21:17Solicitor Randolph's funeral?
21:20Yes.
21:21And and and
21:25I've been reading through all this stuff
21:26here. What's a repast?
21:28A repast is where everybody come back
21:30after the funeral to eat. Everybody
21:32comes back and eats?
21:33Yes.
21:34Well, after the funeral, did people come
21:36to Alameda
21:38so like a visitation after a funeral?
21:40Yes. Okay.
21:42Did folks come over there then? Yes.
21:45And was the family there then? Yes.
21:49And during this um
21:53repast, visitation
21:55where were you? What And I said, what
21:57was your job during that or
21:59what were you doing during the
22:00visitation? I was in the room with Miss
22:02Libby, moving this back and forth.
22:05And and and sometime that afternoon, did
22:07you see Alex Murdaugh?
22:08Yes. Okay.
22:10Tell the jury about that, please.
22:12He came in the room, you know, as Did
22:13you speak up, please, ma'am? Came in the
22:15room and speak that, you know, spoke
22:16like he always do.
22:17Okay.
22:18And and what did he say?
22:29That he was at the house. He was at the
22:31house.
22:33Say it again.
22:34He was at the house.
22:43And I'm not 100% following. He was
22:45telling you or saying to you that he was
22:46at the house? Mhm. When? Um the night of
22:49the murders. The night of the murders?
22:51Yes. And what was he telling you about
22:53that he was at the house the night of
22:54the murders?
22:56That he'd been there 30 to 40 minutes.
23:02Was he telling you that?
23:08Did he ask you anything about that when
23:10he was talking to you?
23:21Yes.
23:24Did he indicate to you what he wanted
23:26you to do with that information? No.
23:27Mhm. No. What did he say?
23:30He did say that he was at the house for
23:3230 to 40 minutes, I said.
23:37You said what?
23:44Was he there 30 or 40 minutes that
23:45night?
23:52Not to my recall.
23:53Why are you crying, Miss Libby?
23:57Cuz they were a good fam- a good family
24:00and I loved working there.
24:02And I'm sorry all this happened.
24:04They're good people, you know.
24:08But he wasn't there no 30 or 40 minutes,
24:10was he? No. No. Judge, can I leave?
24:12Can't leave the witness.
24:17Did that Did that conversation upset
24:19you?
24:20Somewhat.
24:21You upset right now? Yes.
24:23Did you call anybody about it? My
24:25brother.
24:27You called your brother after that
24:28conversation with Alex? Yes.
24:30To tell him about that conversation?
24:32Yes.
24:56And just to be clear
25:01what was the statement he said about how
25:03long he was here?
25:0530 to 40 minutes. But but his phrase
25:07was, I was here or you know I was I was
25:09here 30 to 40 minutes.
25:25Not to pry, but I can't help it
25:26sometimes.
25:28What else was going on in your life
25:30right there?
25:34Just um
25:36just working.
25:38Hours and hours. You're really you're
25:40whispering. I can't understand what
25:41you're saying.
25:44Were you going to get married? I was I
25:45was planning on getting married. I was
25:47planning on to.
25:49And and had Alex Murdaugh mentioned
25:51anything to you about your upcoming nut-
25:53nuptials? Yes.
25:56And and when was that?
26:01The day after was I thinking. The day
26:03after this?
26:04I don't think it was. After the
26:04conversation you said?
26:06Where were you?
26:08At Miss Libby at the house.
26:10And uh what did he say about your
26:12marriage or upcoming potential marriage?
26:14He I heard you was getting married. I
26:16said, yes. He said, if I can um you just
26:18let me know cuz I know wedding's going
26:19to be expensive. I said, well, thank
26:20you.
26:21The wedding's going to be expensive?
26:22wedding's going to be expensive. I said,
26:23well, thank you. Did he offer to help?
26:25Yes, he offered. He offered. That's the
26:27type of person, a good person.
26:29And did he ever mention the wedding to
26:30you before?
26:32No. Did you mention that to him before?
26:34No. Well,
26:37Did he have a conversation any- anything
26:39else about your job?
26:42Were you working at the school? Yes, at
26:43the school. Yes. Did Mr. Murdaugh
26:45mention to you about your school and
26:47your position there? Yes. Tell them what
26:49he said, please. He said that um
26:51you know, if you need a position at
26:53school, you know, my good friend is
26:54there. I said, yeah, I know. Working at
26:56the school, the principal.
27:13I believe you testified you Did you help
27:14out
27:16more than just your regular shift the
27:17rest of this week? Yes.
27:18That week after this?
27:19Yes.
27:21The murders and Solicitor Murdaugh's
27:24death.
27:25Were you working full-time then trying
27:27to help? Yes. Was school out then? No.
27:30So, you still going to school and
27:32helping? Yes.
27:39And after Mr. Randolph's funeral, did
27:42you have an occasion to see um Alex
27:44Murdaugh early one morning? Yes.
27:47Um
27:50Do you know how long it was, how many
27:51days after the funeral of Mr. Murdaugh?
27:55I think 3 days, I think. 3 days.
27:59Can you tell the um ladies and gentlemen
28:01of this jury um
28:04what time it was in the morning
28:06that you saw Alex Murdaugh?
28:086:30 that morning. Say that again. 6:30
28:10that morning.
28:13And that had been a part of your regular
28:14shift, right? 8:00 to 8:00 a.m.
28:16Yes.
28:18And uh
28:20Did he call you and tell you that he was
28:21coming?
28:22No.
28:23He didn't? Mhm.
28:25How did
28:26Had he called you on June 7th and told
28:28you he was coming? Yes. And he was right
28:30outside the house? Yes.
28:32And this morning at 6:30, he did not
28:35call you? How
28:36did you know he was on the premises? He
28:39knocked on the door.
28:40By the bedroom, yeah, the window.
28:42Knocked? Yes, on the wall.
28:45Or did you hear him say anything after
28:47that? He said, I'm outside.
28:49Say it again. I'm outside.
28:53Had he ever been there
28:55at 6:30 in the morning before that
28:58while you were working there? No, sir.
29:01Never? No.
29:05And tell the ladies and gentlemen of the
29:06jury what you observed that morning when
29:08you saw Alex Murdaugh.
29:11He came in with the white Let me in the
29:13white truck. Came in the white truck.
29:15Was there still
29:19um um
29:21funeral stuff out in the world or was
29:23there still funeral equipment in the
29:25yard? Mhm. Yes. Like what? The tent was
29:28still there and the um
29:30the big old building that it that they
29:31put the food in had out there. I thought
29:33yeah. Like a food truck? Yeah, food
29:35truck. Yes, it was.
29:36And was that blocking your view some?
29:38Yes, it blocked my view. Yes.
29:42So, when you saw Alex Murdaugh this
29:43morning at 6:30, what did he do after he
29:46knocked on the door? Did you let him in?
29:47Yes. Then what did he do?
29:50Came inside.
29:52And
29:53was Miss Libby sleeping? Yes, she was
29:55still sleeping. Okay. Did he go check on
29:57Miss Libby? No, he didn't came in here.
30:00He didn't go check on her?
30:02I can't
30:05I can't remember. Well, what did he do
30:07then?
30:08He came inside. Okay. Mhm.
30:11And
30:12did he have anything or was he holding
30:14anything?
30:15He had a blue something in his hand. Say
30:17that one more time.
30:18tar blue something in his hand.
30:19Something blue. A blue something in his
30:21hand.
30:21Mhm.
30:22And uh
30:23can you show me
30:25how he was holding it? Like this. Sorry
30:27if I touch you. This one. How was he
30:29doing it? Like this.
30:31Holding it something like this.
30:32Yes. And what did it look like?
30:35Like a blue tarp. Like a tarp.
30:37Blue?
30:38Blue. Okay.
30:40Was it vinyl?
30:42It's like a tarp that you put on a car
30:43you keep your car covered up.
30:45Big thing. Yeah, blue. Yeah. And was he
30:47holding it like this?
30:48He was holding it like this. Could you
30:49tell if there was anything in it or do
30:51you know? No, I couldn't tell.
30:54But not holding like this. Mhm.
30:57Did he say anything when he walked in?
30:58No.
31:00What did he do when he walked in? Went
31:02upstairs.
31:11State course notes.
31:56You want to state spiritual? 230.
32:06223.
32:10222.
32:13413. 412.
32:19At this time without objection, I'll
32:20save the other two.
32:29They're admitted without objection.
32:35If this is where Mr. Murdaugh came in
32:37your Almeda residence that morning,
32:40this is state's 223. Do you recognize
32:42that? Yes. What is that? Upstairs, going
32:46upstairs. And is that where he went,
32:48Alex Murdaugh, that morning? Yes.
32:51Carrying some blue thing. Mhm.
32:54And this may be duplicate. If it is, I'm
32:55sorry. That's 222.
32:59Same stairs, same house? Yes.
33:05State's 413. What is this? That's the
33:08bedroom. Okay.
33:11Where in Almeda is this bedroom? First
33:12floor or second floor? First floor.
33:15Is this where Miss Libby stayed? No.
33:19And 412.
33:22Is that the same? Yeah, same bedroom.
33:23Yes.
33:44How you marked was marked 411. Don't
33:47don't call out the answer.
33:49This is state's 411. For identification
33:51at this point, do you see the blue
33:52object in the
33:54center? Yes.
33:56Does that appear to look like the object
33:58you've described? Yes. You're saying
34:00yes? Yes. Is it blue? It's blue. Is it
34:03vinyl? Yes. That appears to be the same
34:05thing you saw the defendant holding
34:08um this early morning hours when he came
34:10in the house. Is that right? It looks
34:12so, yes.
34:14You know, this is
34:15state's 411 we'd offer at this point.
34:17No objection. So it's admitted.
34:34Let me let me just I don't know how to
34:36ask except nasty.
34:37Did you ever see that blue thing
34:39unfolded when you were that morning or
34:41did you see him carrying it?
34:43It was unfolded. Okay. Where did you see
34:45it? In the bedroom.
34:47And where in the bedroom?
34:48On the chair.
34:51And again, I'm not clear. Was that in
34:52one of these pictures we showed you?
34:56What chair?
35:00Did they disappear?
35:01Oh, I'm sorry.
35:03I apologize.
35:07Was that on one of these chairs in this?
35:09Yes. Okay. And I'm referring again to
35:11412. You saw it on the chair? Yes.
35:17Did you come
35:18You ended up leaving at some point that
35:19day, right?
35:20Yes.
35:21When you came back the next day, was
35:22that there? No, it wasn't.
35:24gone? Yes, it was gone.
35:29And did you see Alex Murdaugh leave?
35:32After he went upstairs. Do you know what
35:34he did upstairs?
35:35No, I No.
35:37Did you actually see him leave the house
35:39after he went upstairs?
35:40Yes.
35:41And um
35:43where did he go?
35:45Oh, I don't know. He just slept outside
35:47and left. Okay. Did he say, "Hey, I'm
35:48leaving"? Yes, he said he's going. Yes.
35:51And at that point, what did you think?
35:55Did you think he'd gone? I thought he
35:56left, yes.
35:58Did you see him after that? Yes.
36:01Yeah, then where? Please. That morning.
36:03He came back to the house.
36:05And and how do you know that?
36:07Cuz I the blinds was open and I seen him
36:09came through
36:10the driveway.
36:12And and
36:13what did you see him? Was he walking or
36:15was he driving when you saw him in the
36:16driveway? He was driving a truck.
36:20And and I'm sorry, Miss Smith, but I'm
36:21not What truck was he driving?
36:23The white truck. And whose white truck
36:25was it?
36:26I'm thinking it was Mr. Randolph. I
36:27thought it was his truck. He had the
36:28white truck also.
36:30He had a white truck also.
36:31Mhm.
36:32So when you saw you testified Mr.
36:34Murdaugh coming back in a white truck,
36:35that was Mr. Randolph's truck? Mhm.
36:38Whose truck was it? I don't know. Ma'am,
36:40you must use words as opposed to
36:44or because we need need to know exactly
36:46what you're saying. Say yes or no if you
36:49can.
36:51Whose truck did you think it was?
36:55I thought it was Mr. Randolph's truck.
36:58And
37:00were there four-wheelers or ATVs out on
37:02that property? Yes. Okay. What if
37:05anything had you observed about a
37:06four-wheeler that morning? It was at the
37:09house.
37:10Where had it been previously? At the
37:12smokehouse.
37:13When did it get moved? The same day of
37:15that
37:17the same morning.
37:18Same morning when Mr. Murdaugh was
37:20there? Yes.
37:22And
37:23in what direction did you see Mr.
37:24Murdaugh leave when you saw him leave
37:27the house and you thought he was gone?
37:28Mhm.
37:29Do you know where he went? No.
37:32And when he came back in this white
37:34truck, what did he do?
37:35He got in another truck.
37:37How long was he gone? For about 10
37:39minutes or 15 minutes, thinking.
37:41And then you say this other truck. What
37:43truck are you talking about?
37:44It was a black truck.
37:46Had you not seen that before? No. Why
37:48not? Cuz the
37:50the
37:52um the food truck that the catering
37:53thing was still out there in the way, so
37:55I couldn't see it. So that blocked your
37:56view? It blocked my view, yes.
37:59So what vehicle did Mr. Murdaugh leave
38:01after he came back in the white truck?
38:02What color truck? It was a black truck.
38:04Do you know whose that was?
38:06No.
38:14That morning, this morning when you
38:16first saw him at 6:30, did you observe
38:18anything about his face?
38:21Any
38:22on his face?
38:24He had like a little cut a little blue
38:25cut or something. And and ma'am, I
38:27apologize. A little what cut?
38:29Like a like a little bruise or
38:30something. Where was it? It was like
38:32above his forehead. Okay. I don't want
38:34to ask you to touch me, but can you
38:35touch yourself to show where? Right
38:36here. Right here.
38:37Did it look fresh?
38:40It looked like a cut. No.
38:43I wouldn't say fresh, but it looked
38:53Was there a video system
38:57in in in the house
38:59for either Mr. Murdaugh or Miss Libby
39:01Murdaugh? Yes. Can you tell them about
39:04that? Where was that and what was that?
39:06It was in the Miss Miss Libby's bedroom.
39:09And how was that activated
39:12or operated better? Do you know? No.
39:16Well, was it on all the time or not?
39:18Yes.
39:19And what color would it be when if it
39:21was on? Was there a marker there or a
39:23red and black or red and
39:25green? Mhm. That's how it was, yes.
39:30And would there be times when that
39:31wasn't on? Yes.
39:33And do you know who controlled it? No.
39:40Can I get the Elmo?
42:34Can I get that helmet?
42:57I'm going to show you what's marked 410.
43:00Do you recognize this?
43:05Yes. Okay. And does it relate to what
43:08we're talking about this morning as far
43:09as your location?
43:12Yes.
43:13Your Honor, 410. I believe without
43:15objection.
43:17Does it relate?
43:18Her testimony where she was at the
43:20house.
43:21No objection. So, admit it.
43:24Without objection, it's admitted.
43:34Can Can you see this on your little You
43:36got a little thing up there? Mhm.
43:48Do you mind
43:49coming down here?
43:51Judge, can she come down here?
43:53Briefly, it won't be long.
44:02If you would stand over there so you
44:03just don't block the jurors, please.
44:04Just so Mr. Griffin can see.
44:09Is this a picture of what we refer to as
44:11Almeda? Yes. Okay.
44:13And can you show where the I guess I've
44:15called the main house?
44:18And I'm sorry we don't have a pointer.
44:22That's the main house.
44:23Mhm.
44:24And you have to say yes for the record,
44:25please, ma'am.
44:26Yes.
44:27And And
44:29down here, I know it's hard to see. Can
44:30you tell what that is?
44:42I'm sorry.
44:43Can you point to the main house again? I
44:44thought you blocked the jurors. That's
44:45all I did.
44:46Right here.
44:47Is that where you took care of Miss
44:48Libby? Yes. Okay.
44:50Now, down here, there's even a little
44:51hole on it. Do you know what this is
44:52down here?
45:00Let me ask you this. What other
45:01buildings are on the property? Um the
45:03smokehouse and a um
45:05barn and a little shed. And where were
45:08the ATVs usually? At the smokehouse.
45:10Where's the smokehouse? That's it right
45:12there. Thank you. Okay. That's the
45:13smokehouse. Mhm. And that's where the
45:14ATVs were.
45:15She was. Yes.
45:17And where did the ATV end up when you
45:19saw it after you thought Mr. Murdaugh
45:21left?
45:23Had it moved? At the main house.
45:25Say that again, please.
45:26main house. Okay.
45:27And um
45:32when you saw him coming back, you
45:33thought he'd left. Where'd you see him
45:35in the white truck? Do you remember?
45:49He left me across the railroad
45:51railroad track, you know.
45:54He left me across the railroad track and
45:56went out.
45:56Which way are the railroad tracks?
45:59Oh gosh.
46:04This way. I mean, that's the house. So,
46:06he had to go around cuz I had to drive
46:07through.
46:08I'm
46:10trying to ask a
46:12That's good. Go back and sit down.
46:13That's fine. Thank you.
47:04Sorry.
47:28Now, have you um
47:30talked to either Mr. Griffin or Mr.
47:32Harriott or any of the investigators?
47:34Yes. Okay. And when was that?
47:36I don't remember.
47:42Best you remember. I'm not looking for a
47:44date and time, but Do you know how long
47:45ago that
47:47It was last year.
47:49And I met with you a couple weeks ago.
47:50Yes. And just a little while ago this
47:52morning.
47:52Yes.
48:00And I have to ask you for the record of
48:02um
48:03this Alex Murdaugh who came and saw you
48:06the night of the murders with the
48:08shorts and the
48:10shirt and the
48:12starry type letters on. Is that him over
48:14there? Yes, sir. Okay.
48:16And is he also the person um
48:20that you said
48:22told you he'd been there 30 40 minutes?
48:24Yes.
48:26Um
48:28And is he also the person you saw in the
48:31house that night with some kind of blue
48:32vinyl that you say consistent with this
48:34picture we put in? Mhm. Is that him?
48:36Yes. Thank you. That's all.
48:39Thanks.
48:40Thank you, Your Honor.
48:52Good afternoon, Miss Smith. Good
48:54afternoon.
48:55We have met once or twice. The um
49:00Did anyone ever show you
49:02a blue rain jacket?
49:05No.
49:06No, not that one.
49:08Yes, I thought Yes, I think so. Yes.
49:11Uh some of our investigators show you
49:12showed you a picture of a blue rain
49:14jacket, right?
49:14Yes, a picture of a blue one. Yes. But
49:16has anyone at SLED or the Attorney
49:18General's office ever shown you a blue
49:20rain jacket? No.
49:25Now, you saw Mr.
49:27Alec
49:28Murdaugh
49:29bring a tarp in, you said, right?
49:31Yes.
49:32And I'm going to show you a tarp.
49:39Which we marked for
50:01Now, you mentioned that that this day
50:02that he came over was about
50:053 days after
50:07Mr.
50:08um Randolph Murdaugh's funeral, is that
50:10right? Yes. Okay.
50:14And it was early in the morning?
50:16Yes.
50:18So, and and do you remember that Mr.
50:22Randolph's funeral being on a Sunday?
50:26Yes.
50:28So, then it would be Monday, Tuesday,
50:30Wednesday of that week, is that right?
50:32Yes. Okay. That's correct.
50:35And And is that the morning that you you
50:38said that you thought you saw a bruise
50:40on his forehead?
50:43Yes.
50:45So, it was
50:47Wednesday after
50:49Mr. Randolph's funeral.
50:52I'm thinking I can't I can't remember.
50:54It's so long. I can't remember. Yes,
50:55ma'am.
50:56And the um
50:58And you mentioned that
51:00it was
51:01that he came in a truck. I think you
51:03said he he drove up in a white truck.
51:05Mhm.
51:06Is that correct?
51:07Yes.
51:08And And he does have a white truck as
51:10far as you know, right?
51:11Yeah. Yes.
51:12And then you said he left in a white
51:14truck.
51:15And are you sure that it was Mr.
51:16Randolph's truck or Mr. Alex's truck
51:19that he left in? Cuz it was Mr. Randolph
51:20had always keep his truck in a certain
51:22position, certain spot.
51:24So, you think he left in Mr. Randolph's
51:26truck and moved?
51:28Yes. Okay.
51:30And And when you came back, I'm excuse
51:33me, when you left that
51:35that morning,
51:37I guess Wednesday we're talking about,
51:38the um
51:41was Mr. Randolph's truck back in the
51:43driveway? Yes. Parked in its normal
51:45place? Yes. Anything out of sort?
51:49No. Was it all covered up with mud like
51:51someone's been mudding in it?
51:52No.
51:53Um
51:57Anything unusual about the truck? No.
51:59Okay.
52:02Now, you mentioned there was a
52:03four-wheeler that had been moved at some
52:05point in time.
52:07Um
52:09That four-wheeler had a flat tire,
52:10didn't it?
52:10Yes, it did.
52:12And was it a front tire, back tire?
52:14I think it was a back tire.
52:17And it was moved up close to the house?
52:19Yes. Far as you know, so the tire could
52:21be repaired. Yes, it was moved from the
52:23smokehouse to the wrecking house. Yes.
52:25With a flat tire? Yes, with a flat tire.
52:39Now, you asked questions um
52:45about the
52:46the day of
52:49uh Mr. Randolph's funeral.
52:52And you had a conversation with Alec and
52:55he's talking to you about
52:58how long you was
53:00over at the house
53:02um on the night of June the 7th, right?
53:05Yes. And he said
53:09he was there 30 to 40 minutes.
53:11Yes.
53:12And you said, "No, I don't think it was
53:14that long." Yes.
53:20And then the the next day, I think you
53:22said or day after, well, the following
53:24day or
53:27um
53:28that I guess it would have been a
53:29Monday, you had another conversation
53:31with him where he just brought up
53:33the fact that you were going to get
53:34married. I think you said that was a
53:35different day, right?
53:36Yes. And
53:39And he was just being nice, wasn't he?
53:42Yes.
53:43And I think you used the word good
53:44person.
53:44person, yes.
53:46Who were you referring to when you
53:47testified in response to the question by
53:50Mr. Meadows
53:51that someone's a good person? Mr. Alex
53:54Murdaugh. Okay.
54:08Now,
54:09he um
54:11He came over on the night
54:14of June the 7th.
54:16Uh
54:18And you said it was somewhere between
54:208:30 and and 9:30 in the evening. Yes.
54:23And uh
54:26That's That's just your best estimate of
54:28when he got there, is that right?
54:29Yes.
54:30And I think you testified that he was
54:33there in your estimation 15 to 20
54:35minutes.
54:35Yes. Now, when you said 15 to 20
54:37minutes, you're talking about 15 to 20
54:40minutes in the room with Miss Libby or
54:43on the property the whole time? On the
54:45property the whole time, I think. Okay.
54:46Well, now you've said it took you about
54:485 minutes to um
54:51to let him in, is that right?
54:52Yes.
54:56So, um are you including the 5 minutes
54:59it took you to let him in in your 15 to
55:0120 or could he have been on the property
55:0325 minutes?
55:0420 minutes. The only thing I know is no,
55:06cuz the whole time, so.
55:11And And you would agree that
55:14Alec Murdaugh would visit his parents
55:18frequently, right?
55:19Yes.
55:20And he would always come over more so
55:22than any other
55:24sibling, is that right?
55:25Yes.
55:26And
55:32And would you would agree that it was
55:33not out of the ordinary
55:35for Alec to come at night, correct? Yes.
55:39You would agree with that, right? No.
55:42So, you don't agree that that it's
55:44So,
55:46is it
55:47Was it out of out of the ordinary for
55:49him to come at night? Yes, on my shift,
55:51yes.
55:52What do you recall being interviewed um
55:55about telephone interview on June 17th,
55:572021
55:58with um
56:00Agent
56:01Joe
56:03Albiata?
56:05Do you remember that? Yes. And do you
56:07remember telling him that it was not out
56:09out of the ordinary for Alec to come at
56:10night? Yes, it's been a long night. I
56:12couldn't remember. It's so It's been a
56:14year now, so I can't really remember.
56:17I mean, is it possible that you told him
56:18that? Yes.
56:29And
56:32And And here today you you said
56:34as I have in my notes that when he came
56:36over that that he was
56:38acting kind of fidgety
56:40yet normal.
56:41I believe that's what you said. Is his
56:43normal
56:44behavior kind of fidgety?
56:46Yes.
56:48He's just kind of a fidgety person,
56:49right?
56:49Yes. So, it wasn't the first time you'd
56:51seen him being kind of fidgety, right?
56:54And he always come different times, so I
56:55can't you know.
56:58But
56:59But you his demeanor was normal for Alec
57:02the night that he came over on June the
57:037th, wasn't it?
57:05I'll say yes.
57:07Okay.
57:08Now,
57:10you mentioned the clothes that he was
57:11wearing.
57:14And And he came in and he
57:17sat on his mom's bed. Yes. Lay down next
57:20to her.
57:20Lay down, mhm. And held her hand.
57:23Is that right?
57:24in and walked in and held her hand and
57:25spoke to her. Then went on the bed and
57:27lay down. And lay down.
57:28Mhm.
57:29Not lay down, but sit up.
57:32And And when he got up off
57:35off the bed,
57:36was the bed soiled in any way? Was it
57:38wet?
57:41I can't recall that. I didn't touch it.
57:42Okay.
57:43What Did Alec have Alec Murdaugh have
57:46blood on his clothes?
57:48No.
57:50Did he have blood on his shoes? No. Did
57:52he have blood on his hair? No.
57:55Did he leave blood on in his mom's
57:57bedroom? No.
58:13Now,
58:14according to the records that that we've
58:16been provided in this case, you you were
58:17interviewed um
58:20by SLED on June 16th. Do you remember
58:24that interview? Yes.
58:27And And I think in that interview you
58:28told SLED that that he had he would had
58:30been there 30 to 35 minutes. Do you
58:32remember telling him that? I think it's
58:34yes. Okay.
58:36And then um
58:40You were interviewed again uh by
58:41telephone
58:43on June 17th. Do you remember that
58:45follow-up call?
58:52Do you remember having a short phone
58:53call on the 17th?
58:55Mhm. That phone call. Okay.
58:57Mhm.
59:00Well,
59:01whether it's one interview or two
59:03interviews, you never told anybody at
59:05SLED
59:09in June in these interviews, one or two,
59:13anything about Alec coming in with a
59:14blue tarp, is that right? Right.
59:17Um
59:19You didn't say anything about a blue
59:21tarp until sometime in September, is
59:23that right? Yes.
59:28And you initially
59:35mention
59:37something about
59:40Alec coming over
59:43with a tarp.
59:46The first time you mentioned it was to
59:47Officer Joseph Dingle
59:49of the Allendale Police Department when
59:52he was working a wreck. Do you remember
59:53that? Mhm. Is that a yes? Yes. Okay.
59:58And and you had been in the automobile
1:00:00accident
1:00:02and Officer Dingle was working the wreck
1:00:05and
1:00:06I guess filling out an instant report
1:00:08and you were having a conversation with
1:00:10him. Yes.
1:00:11And
1:00:12in that conversation with Officer Dingle
1:00:18didn't you tell him that
1:00:20that
1:00:21didn't you tell Officer Dingle that on
1:00:22the night of the murders that Alec came
1:00:24over with a blue tarp that looked like
1:00:27it had a gun in it? No, I said it looked
1:00:29like he was he was holding he was
1:00:30holding something.
1:00:31So you you didn't say I didn't say
1:00:33specifically it was a gun. I said he was
1:00:34holding something.
1:00:42So you didn't tell Officer Dingle that
1:00:44that he came over and you couldn't tell
1:00:46but stated
1:00:48it looked like a rifle. No, I said it
1:00:50looked like he was holding something. I
1:00:51did not say it was a rifle. Okay.
1:00:56And if Officer Dingle wrote a report up
1:00:59saying that he was just incorrect. Yes.
1:01:01Okay.
1:01:04And then after you had this conversation
1:01:06with Officer Dingle
1:01:08um
1:01:10then you were contacted by SLED agents,
1:01:12right? Mhm.
1:01:15And they asked you to go down to um
1:01:19their offices and that's where you were
1:01:20interviewed
1:01:22uh in September, right?
1:01:23Yes.
1:01:24And in that interview you told them
1:01:27about a blue tarp that you put up in
1:01:29your car just like Mhm.
1:01:31Is that correct? Yes. Okay.
1:01:33And you didn't
1:01:34tell them because it's not true that
1:01:37that there was anything wrapped up in in
1:01:39here to look like a rifle. Right. Okay.
1:01:42Um
1:01:50And since that day of the interview at
1:01:53the
1:01:54Low Country SLED office, have you had
1:01:56any
1:01:58additional interviews with SLED agents
1:01:59other than getting ready for trial this
1:02:01week last week? Yes.
1:02:04How many additional interviews? Two. Two
1:02:07or three.
1:02:08And
1:02:11and in each of those interviews did you
1:02:12reiterate to SLED that it was a blue
1:02:14tarp and not a rain jacket that you saw
1:02:17Alec Murdaugh walking into the house
1:02:19with?
1:02:20Yes.
1:02:26Is there any doubt in your mind it was a
1:02:28blue tarp like this and not a rain
1:02:30jacket? It was folded up. It was a blue
1:02:31tarp.
1:02:33So you saw it laying on Miss Libby's
1:02:34retirement rocking chair, right?
1:02:35Yes. Yes.
1:02:44One second, your honor.
1:03:14Just just just one more point. When
1:03:17when Alec Murdaugh came over on that
1:03:20early morning, I guess it was Wednesday
1:03:22where
1:03:23you you testified
1:03:25um were you in Miss Libby's room?
1:03:28Yes.
1:03:29And can you you can't see the comings
1:03:32and goings out of
1:03:34the driveway from Miss Libby's bedroom,
1:03:35can you?
1:03:36Mhm.
1:03:37You can't? No. Okay.
1:03:41Thank you, your honor. That's all the
1:03:42questions I have.
1:03:44Leave the record.
1:03:50Do you remember
1:03:52testifying in front of the grand jury on
1:03:54January 20th of 2022?
1:03:57On page 25, line
1:03:5917, when you were asked about how long
1:04:01do you think he stayed in total? Do you
1:04:03remember that? Yes.
1:04:07Do you remember your answer being 20,
1:04:0810, 15, 20 minutes?
1:04:10Yes.
1:04:15Mr.
1:04:16Griffin asked you about the 30 to 40
1:04:18minutes.
1:04:20Why'd you call your brother after that?
1:04:23Because he's a he's a chief assistant
1:04:25chief police at Varnville. So I called
1:04:27him. Did that statement by Alec Murdaugh
1:04:30affect you? Yes.
1:04:32How?
1:04:33I was nervous.
1:04:40And he Mr. Griffin asked you about the
1:04:42evenings visits and the morning visit.
1:04:45Had he ever been there at 6:30 in the
1:04:46morning like he was that morning? Ever?
1:04:49No.
1:04:51And his 9:00, 9:30 visit the night of
1:04:54the murders
1:04:56that was very unusual for him to be at
1:04:58night, wasn't it? Objection, leading.
1:05:00I'll rephrase the question.
1:05:05Yes.
1:05:07Was that unusual? Yes.
1:05:17Now so so you you told an officer Did
1:05:20you tell an officer about this you saw
1:05:21something that you thought he was
1:05:23carrying? Yes.
1:05:24Before you told anybody else? Yes. And
1:05:27and what was that about a traffic
1:05:28accident?
1:05:29a someone hit my car and he was on on
1:05:31duty.
1:05:32And when was that?
1:05:34September 11th.
1:05:36That's my birthday.
1:05:38You had an accident. Mhm. And you told
1:05:40the officer that you had seen him Alec
1:05:42Murdaugh come in holding something.
1:05:43We was talking. We was having a
1:05:44conversation and that came up.
1:05:47And you just told him that. We was
1:05:49talking.
1:05:50Had anybody asked you that before?
1:05:52Mhm.
1:05:53Did you just say yes or no? Yes.
1:05:55Had anybody asked you that before?
1:05:57Okay. So why did you tell the officer
1:05:58that on September 11th? Cuz he was we
1:06:00were having a conversation
1:06:02and we was talking in general
1:06:04and he asked me a question and I said
1:06:06yes, I've been there. I said I worked
1:06:07with the Murdaughs.
1:06:09To keep you know, their
1:06:10his mother.
1:06:12In response to him, you told him you saw
1:06:14Alec Murdaugh with what? A white a
1:06:16a lining a blue tarp.
1:06:19And you saying tarp or taught? Tarp.
1:06:22Like you cover a car with a tarp. And
1:06:24you said you saw him with that and did
1:06:25it appear he was carrying something?
1:06:27Like he was holding something. It was it
1:06:28was bundled up. I can't It was bundled
1:06:30up. Bundled up? Yes. Like this?
1:06:32Yes. So you never saw this unfolded? No,
1:06:35I never saw it never.
1:06:36Saw the next morning folded on the chair
1:06:38in Miss Libby's room. And you don't know
1:06:39where this tarp came from, do you? No, I
1:06:41don't know where it came from.
1:06:46And it didn't have silver on one side,
1:06:47did it?
1:06:48No. It was all blue.
1:06:49All blue.
1:06:52And you said that the defense took a
1:06:54statement from you?
1:06:56Yes. Did they record it?
1:06:58Yes. Your honor, under Rule 613, I'd
1:07:00like a copy of that statement or the
1:07:01recording at this time if they have it.
1:07:03She's now taking the stand.
1:07:10Your honor, under Rule 5, it is not
1:07:12subject to being produced.
1:07:14And we didn't question her about the
1:07:16statement, so
1:07:18Rule 5 is pre-trial.
1:07:20Your honor, under 613, I think once the
1:07:22witness has taken the stand and she said
1:07:24that they took the statement from her
1:07:25either recorded or written, we don't
1:07:27have it. It hadn't been provided. He
1:07:28asked her about that specifically
1:07:31dealing with the uh
1:07:32blue tarp and when they discussed it
1:07:34with him, I'd like a copy of it.
1:07:38I actually don't mind him having it,
1:07:40your honor. We don't have a copy with
1:07:41us.
1:07:43Rule 613 says
1:07:46same shall be shown or disclosed to
1:07:48opposing counsel pursuant to Rule 611A.
1:07:51So defense must provide it to counsel.
1:08:05Your honor, we we do have a copy here. I
1:08:07don't know if we can download it to You
1:08:09got it? Yes. Is it okay if I produce it
1:08:11on a flash drive now, sir?
1:08:14Judge, I don't know if I can look at the
1:08:15flash drive, but yeah, I guess. Is it a
1:08:17hard copy?
1:08:21No, it's a real statement. It's audio.
1:08:23Recording.
1:08:27Do you want to listen to that without
1:08:28the presence here? I would assume it'd
1:08:29be a hard copy. I have a copy, but I
1:08:30don't want to mess the court schedule up
1:08:32either.
1:08:33All right, ladies and gentlemen, I'll
1:08:34have you go to the jury room. Please not
1:08:36discuss the case. All right, thank you.
1:08:39You may proceed, Mr. Medders.
1:08:48Mr. Smith, do you do you remember being
1:08:50interviewed by Patrick
1:08:54McDavid and Robert Purcell Purcell that
1:08:57worked with Mr. Harpootlian and Mr.
1:09:00Griffin
1:09:01in October
1:09:05on October 20th of 2022?
1:09:07Yes. Okay.
1:09:11And I believe Mr. Gris- Griffin had
1:09:13asked you about some shoes
1:09:15in response to our questions.
1:09:17Do you remember telling them that he had
1:09:19these investigators they had on some
1:09:20cloth-like shoes? Yes.
1:09:33And I believe Mr. um
1:09:34Griffin asked you about the length of
1:09:35time you were there. Um
1:09:38Do you remember
1:09:39these investigators asking you about the
1:09:40length of time that Mr. Murdaugh was at
1:09:43Elmeda the night of June 7th? Yes.
1:09:45Your Honor, Your Honor. Yes, sir.
1:09:47It's He's offering a prior consistent
1:09:50statement and the one's in
1:09:53I don't know why.
1:09:54You can't impeach her with it. You can't
1:09:58bolster her testimony with prior
1:09:59consistent statement.
1:10:01Mr. Medders.
1:10:03I believe he had questioned the 30 or 40
1:10:05minutes and was questioning whether or
1:10:07not Alex asked her to say that. Through
1:10:10their investigators, it's clarified for
1:10:12me their conversations
1:10:14it directly contradict what she said
1:10:16earlier on direct.
1:10:18And I have through their questioning and
1:10:19interviews, which I just got a little
1:10:20while ago.
1:10:24Yes, Mr. Griffin.
1:10:27Again, he
1:10:29offering a prior consistent statement
1:10:31and it's not admissible unless it's
1:10:33being offered to rebut a claim of recent
1:10:36fabrication and that's not the situation
1:10:37we have here. Your Honor, we'll offer
1:10:39the entire statement right now.
1:10:43I have an objection to this statement
1:10:44being entered into evidence.
1:10:46Yes, Your Honor. It's not a statement,
1:10:48there's a whole 30-minute
1:10:50audio recording. Yes.
1:10:53All right.
1:10:54Uh rule 60 613B addresses this issue
1:10:59and you may proceed. The objection's
1:11:00overruled.
1:11:06Mr. Griffin asked you the length of time
1:11:07that Mr. Murdaugh was there when these
1:11:10investigators questioned you in October
1:11:11of 2022.
1:11:13Uh do you remember them asking you about
1:11:15how long he was in the kitchen and in
1:11:16the room with Miss Murdaugh? Yes.
1:11:28And do you remember them asking you
1:11:29about
1:11:30and he asked you on
1:11:32on cross whether it was unusual
1:11:35Mr. Whether Mr. Murdaugh had visited
1:11:37that time of night. Do you remember
1:11:38that? Yes. Okay.
1:11:46And do you remember telling the
1:11:47investigators that
1:11:49he would not come on your shift after
1:11:518:00? Do you remember that? Yes. And
1:11:54that that was unusual? Yes.
1:12:06And do you remember when they questioned
1:12:08you, you actually
1:12:09registered it in your mind that
1:12:10something that this is unusual for him
1:12:12to be here that time of night. Do you
1:12:13remember that? Yes.
1:12:16Would your answer yeah because I was
1:12:17like yeah, to be honest, I was like oh,
1:12:19why why are you here this time of night?
1:12:21Why are you here this time of night, you
1:12:22know, cuz we're all going to bed? Mhm.
1:12:25That's in my head.
1:12:29That is. Yes.
1:13:15And as far as the length of time
1:13:18do you remember them asking you how long
1:13:19and you said
1:13:22it was about
1:13:2320 minutes? Yes.
1:13:37Your Honor, I'm trying to speed this up.
1:13:38Ed course and don't
1:14:05Do you remember um
1:14:07Mr.
1:14:09When Mr. Griffin asked you about um your
1:14:11recollection as to
1:14:13what Mr. Murdaugh said you up
1:14:15asked you about the 30 to 40-minute
1:14:17period. Do you remember that?
1:14:19Remember just a little while ago when he
1:14:21was asking you about that? I'm not
1:14:22trying to be
1:14:23just a little while ago. Yes. Okay. Um
1:14:26about
1:14:28whether if anybody ever asked you if I
1:14:29was here or not.
1:14:32Yes.
1:14:40And do you remember that they
1:14:42these investigators asked you if SLED
1:14:44had put that in your mind?
1:14:46No.
1:14:55Is that the recollection or something
1:14:56they put in your mind?
1:14:59Yes, sir.
1:15:01He's leading the witness. He's
1:15:02publishing a document that is not a
1:15:05certified transcript of anything.
1:15:08Object.
1:15:10Mr. It's their statement that they took.
1:15:14I sustain the objection.
1:15:19Did Alex Murdaugh ask you to tell
1:15:21somebody how long he'd been there?
1:15:23He said someone asked you how many 30 to
1:15:2540 minutes. That's what he said.
1:15:28He said if somebody asked you Mhm. Yes.
1:15:30Yes, Your Honor.
1:15:31Just repeating her answer.
1:15:36Mr. Medders.
1:15:37Is that the answer you gave his
1:15:39investigators? Yes. Back in October of
1:15:412022. Yes.
1:16:17Now, um Mr. um
1:16:19Griffin asked you about this
1:16:22blue
1:16:25tarp.
1:16:31Did his or Mr. Harpoon means
1:16:33investigators ask you about that when
1:16:35they met with you?
1:16:36Yes.
1:16:38Did they bring something with them?
1:16:44Do you remember them showing you
1:16:45something?
1:16:47No, a picture. Okay.
1:16:49Did they also show you a tarp?
1:16:52Yes. Okay.
1:16:54Did they tell you that they just got it
1:16:55from Kmart? Yes. Okay. Just bought it
1:16:58from Kmart. Did not Kmart.
1:17:05So they they're
1:17:06their investigators brought this with
1:17:08you to the interview. Yes.
1:17:10And and
1:17:12showed you this, right? Yes. All right.
1:17:14And had you already described a um
1:17:19Well, where did you first Who did you
1:17:21first tell that there was a something
1:17:23that the defendant may have been holding
1:17:24in his hand? Who did you tell first?
1:17:26When he when he came in that morning
1:17:28after the funeral, who did you tell that
1:17:30first to in law enforcement? The
1:17:31defendant may have been holding
1:17:33something or was holding something when
1:17:34he came in. It's King Dingle, Officer
1:17:36Dingle. Dingle. Dingle. Okay.
1:17:39And as a result of that, SLED SLED came
1:17:41and interviewed you. Yes. Okay.
1:17:43And then you then told them what your
1:17:45testimony's been. Yes.
1:17:47So in October 22nd when their
1:17:49investigators came, they were asking you
1:17:51about
1:17:53what you talked about to Dingle, right?
1:17:54Yes. Okay.
1:17:56And they showed you this, right? Yes.
1:17:59And did they also ask you about if you'd
1:18:01seen a shirt? Do you remember when they
1:18:02asked you if you'd seen a blue shirt?
1:18:04Yes.
1:18:06What was a blue shirt?
1:18:09It was a blue Like a like a I don't I
1:18:10don't know. What was it? A just like a
1:18:12dress shirt or a shirt? What was it?
1:18:14Like a um like a rain jacket or
1:18:16something. Like a pull over. Okay. But
1:18:18they described it as a shirt?
1:18:20No.
1:18:22Not that I can recall.
1:18:37Do you remember them asking you you po-
1:18:39you're positive it wasn't a shirt?
1:18:42Yes. They asked you that. Yes.
1:18:46And your answer was it's vinyl. It was a
1:18:48vinyl, right?
1:18:49Yes. Yes.
1:18:51And don't lead the witness.
1:19:10And Mr.
1:19:11Griffin was asking you about the
1:19:13vinyl or whatever.
1:19:15Do you remember them asking you if there
1:19:16could have been a gun in it, his
1:19:17investigators?
1:19:20I can't recall. I can't remember.
1:19:41Last question to have that picture.
1:19:49States 411 Michelle.
1:19:54You've identified this previously. Does
1:19:56that look like the blue vinyl garment he
1:19:58was carrying in? Yes.
1:20:01Say that again. Yes.
1:20:08Was it all crumpled up in his arms? He
1:20:10was bald up. Yes. Was it folded out? No,
1:20:13it wasn't. Was he wearing it? No, he
1:20:15wasn't.
1:20:16That's all. Thank you.
1:20:18I did the sense.
1:20:27Miss Miss Smith, it's
1:20:29clear when you left the next morning,
1:20:32you saw
1:20:34the blue tarp laid out
1:20:37on Miss Libby's retirement rocking
1:20:39chair, correct? Yes. And it was not a
1:20:42rain jacket, was it? No, it wasn't. It
1:20:43was a blue tarp like what's
1:20:46in here is as in evidence 86, right?
1:20:49Yes.
1:20:50No doubt in your mind. No doubt. Now,
1:20:52our investigators,
1:20:54let me ask you
1:20:55Mark for identification exhibit 87. Did
1:20:58they show you a picture of
1:21:02this rain jacket? Yes.
1:21:05Had you ever and do
1:21:06and you told them you never seen that
1:21:08rain jacket, right? Correct.
1:21:14Now, I would introduce exhibit 87 in
1:21:16evidence. No objection.
1:21:18Can I put it up here?
1:21:46While while they're working on that,
1:21:48Miss Smith, did anyone speak to you ever
1:21:49once about your testimony? No. Did you
1:21:52talk to any of SLED agents or anybody in
1:21:53the AG's office? No.
1:22:17Trying to get that going.
1:22:40Is that in full size?
1:22:55Yeah, let's see if we get the whole
1:22:57picture in there. Okay. Thank you.
1:23:00Thank you, Doug.
1:23:02Have you ever seen this
1:23:04rain jacket before?
1:23:07No.
1:23:09Did Alec Murdoch have that rain jacket
1:23:11with him when he came in to the
1:23:15Miss Libby's home on the morning, I
1:23:17believe, few days after the funeral? No.
1:23:24And
1:23:27if this photo exhibit 41
1:23:33states exhibit 41,
1:23:44can you see this blue thing wadded up?
1:23:46Yes. If that is in fact
1:23:50the photo of the rain jacket that we
1:23:51just looked at,
1:23:53would your testimony be you've never
1:23:55seen that garment folded up in that
1:23:57closet before? No, I wouldn't have seen
1:23:59what's blue but I would have
1:24:01and if no it was a rain coat or not. It
1:24:03was balled up.
1:24:05So, you
1:24:06Well, well, had you ever been in this
1:24:07closet before? No, I haven't. So, you
1:24:10don't know what that is folded up there,
1:24:12do you?
1:24:13Correct.
1:24:14And so,
1:24:16if it's
1:24:20If it's this rain jacket,
1:24:22if that's what's in that closet,
1:24:24you've never seen Alec Murdoch with
1:24:27with what with with this garment before,
1:24:30have you? No, I haven't. All right.
1:24:39Now,
1:24:40just very briefly,
1:24:42I know you've been you've been really
1:24:43good here and I know it's been a hard
1:24:44day and we appreciate you being here.
1:24:46And the
1:24:50That That day when you came to work, Mr.
1:24:52Randolph Murdoch had been put back in
1:24:55the hospital. Is that correct?
1:24:57Yes. And that was an unusual cuz he just
1:24:59gotten out of the hospital like a day
1:25:01before, right? Yes.
1:25:03And so, it was
1:25:07Although it wasn't usual for Alec
1:25:09Murdoch to come over that night, but
1:25:11this was an unusual day because Mr.
1:25:13Randolph had been put back in the
1:25:14hospital. Would you agree with that?
1:25:16Yes. All right.
1:25:18Thank you. That's all the questions I
1:25:19have for you.
1:25:20Thank you, ma'am.
1:25:21You may step down.

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This page contains the full transcript of Caregiver says Alex Murdaugh made unusual visit on night of murders: full video by News 19 WLTX, generated from the public captions YouTube serves with the video. The transcript has 10,393 words across 1,917 segments, with the original timestamps preserved so you can click any line to jump to that moment in the embedded player.

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