When the evidentiary hearing in Alex Murdaugh’s quest for a new trial is finished, Justice Jean Toal will have heard testimony from all 12 of the deliberating jurors as she tries to suss out whether or not Murdaugh is entitled to a new trial based on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill tampered with the jury during the six-week trial that took place in early 2023. Ahead of the January 29, 2024, evidentiary hearing, we thought it was important to compile what we now know about the jurors and their statements to both the defense team and to officers from SLED investigating the jury tampering allegations.
The Original Jury
When jury selection in Murdaugh’s double homicide trial ended on January 25, 2023, there were 12 jurors and 6 alternates. This is the order in which they were chosen. The following list represents their perceived sex and race. You can hear the final jury selection proceedings here.
While the jury reportedly elected Juror 589 to be the foreperson at the beginning of the trial, judges in South Carolina pick the foreperson. On February 16, Judge Clifton Newman selected juror 826 to be the foreperson.
Original Jurors
785 – (Eggs) Replaced by 254 For Cause
572
578
220 – Replaced by 441 Then 530 (COVID)
528 – Replaced by 326 (COVID)
193
589
630 (Egg Lady’s Tenant)
826
544
729
864
Original Alternates
741
254
326
441 – Replaced by 530 (illness)
530 – Replaced 441 (illness)
548 – Removed (illness)
As the six-week trial played out, there were several jurors who were dismissed…
Jurors 220 and 528 contracted Covid in mid-February and were replaced by Alternates 441 and 326. A week later, Juror 441 fell ill and was replaced by 530. Alternate 548 was dismissed after a trip to the emergency room. Juror 785 — the egg-lady juror — was dismissed on the morning of March 2, 2023 and was replaced by Alternate 254. That left the following jury makeup as deliberations began on the evening of March 2, 2023.
The Deliberating Jury
254
572
578
530 From Alternate Pool
326 From Alternate Pool
193
589 The “elected” foreperson
630 The egg lady’s tenant
826 Appointed foreperson by Newman
544
729
864
The Last Alternate
741
The Juror Statements
Murdaugh’s defense team held a press conference on Sept. 5 alleging that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill had tampered with the jury and included a filing with several juror affidavits. The state replied later, including several statements that the jurors made to SLED (the State Law Enforcement Division) when they were interviewed as part of the investigation into jury tampering allegations. Information about the jurors include denoting the foreperson, other facts discovered via court documents, and a notation of where each juror reportedly spent their breaks when not in the court room. According to Murdaugh’s pre-hearing brief, the jurors were split across two rooms during breaks — the actual jury room and Judge Perry Buckner’s office.
We have included the affidavit made by Alternate 741, but this juror will not testify during the hearing because she was not part of the deliberations as an alternate.
254 | Breaks In Jury Room
572 | Breaks In Jury Room
578 | Breaks In Jury Room
Juror 578 did not provide statements to neither the defense nor to SLED, but he is under subpoena to appear during the hearing.
530 | From Alternate Pool | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
326 | From Alternate Pool | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
193 | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
589 | The Original Foreperson | Breaks In Jury Room
630 | The egg lady’s tenant | Breaks In Jury Room
826 | The Appointed Foreperson | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
544 | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
729 | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
864 | Breaks In Buckner’s Office
The Lone Alternate
741 | Affidavit from Dick’s Paralegal Holli Miller | Breaks In Jury Room
Contact Beth Braden
Beth Braden
Beth Braden is an award-winning journalist with experience covering government, education and crime and courts for more than 10 years. In addition to following breaking news and writing feature stories about life in her home state of Tennessee, her by-line appears on several internationally known websites.
Beth is passionate about communicating complex information in an easy-to-understand manner and she loves to pore over public records and court documents as she seeks out patterns and context to share with her audience. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, strange museums, and good cups of coffee.
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