Few lines have become as recognizable as Mandy’s simple opening — “I don’t know…” — the phrase that kicked off every episode of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast.

After nearly two years of reporting, writing, and recording, she finally got to change that intro in MMP Episode 83.

Listen to the clip below to hear how she opened that milestone episode.

After Alex was arrested for faking the roadside shooting on September 16, 2021, the indictments for financial crimes started pouring in. When it was all said and done, Alex had dozens of both state and federal financial crimes charges, as well as the charges relating to Paul and Maggie’s murders. He was found guilty of the murders and weapons charges from June 7, 2021 and pleaded guilty to 22 financial crimes in both state and federal court. 

The storm had been building for years — and on June 7, 2021, it finally broke.

Take a look at our Downpour Timeline, which pieces together the events of that night using SLED’s official records. With more than 200 entries, it paints a vivid picture of what really happened.

SLED Special Agent Peter Rodofski created the original timeline by pulling together a mountain of data — phone records from Alex, Maggie, and Paul, plus GPS data from Alex’s Suburban. It became one of the most compelling exhibits in the State’s case against him.

But the night of June 7 was only the beginning. The Aftermath Timeline documents what followed — the investigations, the legal fallout, and the impact on Alex, Buster, the Murdaugh family, and the broader community.

South Carolina Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Creighton Waters was the lead prosecutor for the murder trial and for the financial crimes, and he is who gave the state’s 33-minute opening statement on January 25, 2023. As he was telling the jury that the evidence would show a gathering storm of pressure was looming over Alex the day he murdered Maggie and Paul, a real thunderstorm rolled outside the courthouse. Listen closely; you can hear it in the background.

The State and Alex Murdaugh’s defense team each submitted a list of potential witnesses ahead of jury selection. During voir dire, Judge Clifton Newman read through 255 possible witnesses in total — 222 proposed by the State or both, 33 by the defense only.

But who actually took the stand?

Below, you’ll find a day-by-day breakdown of every witness who testified — along with notes indicating whether their testimony occurred in front of the jury or in camera (outside the jury’s presence). These in-camera hearings were typically held to determine if a witness’s testimony was admissible, often following a motion or objection by counsel.

Alex Murdaugh’s six-week double murder trial was anything but predictable. From explosive testimony to unbelievable moments that left viewers stunned, it had everything — drama, tension, and national attention. Held at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, this small Lowcountry town suddenly became the center of the country’s legal spotlight.

We’ve pulled together the most unforgettable highlights — the bombshells, the breakdowns, and the “did that really just happen?” moments that captivated everyone watching.

Dive in to explore each week’s biggest revelations, the witnesses who shaped the story, and the moments that changed the course of the trial.

After the jury received its instructions and began deliberations, Mandy was joined on LUNASHARK’s live stream by Justin Bamberg, South Carolina state representative and attorney for several of Alex Murdaugh’s financial victims.

Most people expected the jury to take much longer to reach a decision. But after just three hours, the verdict was in.

Watch the video below to see Mandy and Justin’s raw, unfiltered reaction as the news broke live.

The tension in the air was palpable when news broke that the verdict was in on the evening of March 2, 2021, less than three hours after the jury began deliberating. Just after 7 p.m., viewers held their breath as then-Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill read the verdict: Alex was guilty of both murders, and guilty on both counts of possessing a weapon during a crime.

The week after Alex was found guilty, his older brother, Randy Murdaugh IV, was the subject of a lengthy New York Times article where it appeared he tried to distance himself from not only his brother’s crimes, but from his brother himself. As for Randy’s opinion on Alex’s guilt,

“He knows more than what he’s saying,” Randy told the Times. “He’s not telling the truth, in my opinion, about everything there.”

After six weeks inside the Colleton County courthouse — long nights, a packed gallery, and cameras covering every move — we wanted to know what it felt like from the prosecution’s side of the table.

So Mandy and Liz asked lead prosecutor Creighton Waters to look back and share a few personal takeaways from the experience in MMP Episode 83.

Alex Murdaugh currently has two appeals connected to his murder convictions — and the timeline can get a little confusing. The first appeal was filed on March 9, 2023, challenging the outcome of his jury trial and his sentencing. The second was filed on April 11, 2024, seeking to overturn Justice Jean Hoefer Toal’s order that denied him a new trial.

Both appeals were pulled from the South Carolina Court of Appeals docket and taken up directly by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which has since consolidated them into a single case under the original 2023 appeal number.

As it stands now, both sides have submitted their written briefs: the defense (the appellant) and the State (the respondent). The case is currently awaiting the scheduling of oral arguments.

If you’re looking for a deeper look into Mandy Matney’s personal journey investigating the Murdaugh family, her book “Blood on Their Hands”, written with author Carolyn Murnick, is a must-read. The podcast and reporting give you the facts — but the book takes you inside Mandy’s experience, her persistence, and the moments that shaped years of uncovering the truth.

Re-live the vibes with LUNASHARK’s Soundtrack Playlist, available on Spotify.