TRUE SUNLIGHT TRAILER

Previously known as the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, True Sunlight is the intersection of True Crime, journalism and systematic corruption. Welcome to the new face of Murdaugh Murders Podcast. True Sunlight is the antithesis of True crime. True Sunlight values accuracy over "access journalism". True Sunlight is shed with empathy — not exploitation. True Sunlight was created as a matter of public service — not just entertainment.

While the name of the podcast has changed, our mission, values and team have not. We are simply expanding our horizons while continuing to shine a much needed bright light on crime and corruption wherever it appears. Celebrated journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell are taking their style of reporting beyond Alex Murdaugh and his co-conspirators while pursuing justice for all the victims you've met so far.

Ranked #1 and #2 globally in 2021 and 2023 respectively as the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, True Sunlight provides unmatched insight into the crimes and criminals exposed on MMP and dives deep into new instances of corruption across the US. We empower listeners to understand their legal and judicial systems through investigative journalism while providing tools to hold agencies and public figures accountable in order to change those systems for the better.

CURRENT CASE COVERAGE

In 2015, Stephen Smith was killed in Hampton County, South Carolina and the case remains unsolved. Recently, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) opened a new investigation into Stephen’s death and the family has new hope that justice is around the corner. We are committed to continuing the work started during the Murdaugh Murders Podcast until we get justice for Stephen and his mother, Sandy Smith.

Gloria Satterfield died suspiciously in 2018 following an alleged “trip-and-fall” incident while working at one of the Murdaugh family homes. Only one person alive knows what really happened to Gloria Satterfield the day she was found bleeding from the head at Moselle in February 2018. And we all know who that is…

At her funeral, Alex Murdaugh told her sons he would help them sue him over the accident. Unbeknownst to the family, Cory Fleming and Murdaugh collected more than $4 million in settlement funds over the incident. None of the money made it into the hands of the survivors.

In May 2022, Murdaugh signed a Confession of Judgment admitting wrongdoing and declaring that he owes the Satterfield family $4.3 million. His recent filing seeks to undo that confession with a new claim – that Gloria did not trip and fall because of the dogs despite his prior statements to the contrary.

Hakeem Pinckney was 19, when he was in a horrific crash with three other family members that forever changed his life. For Hakeem, the injuries would leave him a quadriplegic dependent on a ventilator. In 2010, Alex Murdaugh, Corey Fleming and Palmetto State Bank’s CEO Russell Lafitte began representing passengers of the vehicle accident, including Hakeem who was paralyzed but aware.

His mother Pamela told us that he was improving before he died suddenly in 2011.

10 years later, Pamela learns that Murdaugh allegedly stole insurance money from the Pinckney family after the accident, and again from Hakeem’s wrongful death settlement against his care facility after his ventilator was mysteriously “unplugged”.

In February 2019, Mallory Beach was killed in Beaufort County, South Carolina as a result of a horrific boat crash on Archers Creek near Parris Island in which Paul Murdaugh was alleged to be driving the boat. Prior to his murder, Paul was indicted for Boating Under The Influence Resulting In Death among other charges. There are two active suits regarding the boat crash – the Civil Suit and the Wrongful Death Suit.

Richard Alexander Murdaugh was sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of his wife and son in March of 2023. Yet he still faces dozens of state and federal charges for financial crimes, drugs and conspiracies. LunaShark Media’s Murdaugh Murders Podcast traces Murdaugh’s crimes and atrocities over 93 episodes and we’ll continue to shine sunlight on every aspect until each stone is unturned. True Sunlight follows all the twists and victims created in the wake of Alex’s alleged and proven crimes.

After a tense deliberation, a jury found former Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Laffitte guilty of all charges for his role in conspiring to steal money from clients of Alex Murdaugh. He has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison. He is currently rescheduled for a hearing on his pending state charges.

The now disbarred attorney and Alex Murdaugh co-conspirator Cory Fleming was indicted on 18 charges related to the Gloria Satterfield case. On August 15, 2023, he was sentenced for his federal crimes. On August 23, the world saw Cory in jailhouse stripes as he appeared in state court in front of Judge Clifton Newman and pleaded guilty to 23 state charges for his alleged financial crimes, and sentenced to 46 months in jail and ordered to pay $102,221. He is awaiting sentencing to state charges.

19-year-old Bowen Turner is accused of raping three women between 2018-2019. One of those victims, Dallas Stoller, died in November of 2021. Like Paul Murdaugh, Bowen Turner had the privilege of being represented by a state senator. State Senator Brad Hutto negotiated this shocking deal for his client to go free – even after he violated his bond conditions more than 60 times.

Jeroid John Price was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Carl Smalls Jr at a Columbia, SC, nightclub in December 2002. His life sentence was reduced, and he was released from prison in March 2023 without a hearing after a sealed order from a retiring judge. The SC Supreme court recently reversed his release and Jeroid was evading justice. He was apprehended in New York on July 12, 2023.

Justin Jones is from the Columbia area and has a criminal record dating back to his teen years. He is one of several defendants to have their prison sentences reduced by Fifth Circuit Judge Casey Manning in the weeks leading up to Manning’s December 2022 retirement. Jones pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison attempted murder and burglary on Dec 12. Just 16 days later, Manning reduced that sentence to 6 years without a hearing.

Grant Solomon had just turned 18 when he died on July 20, 2020, from what his father—the only witness—described as an accident in which he was dragged down a parking lot and into a rocky ditch by his own pick up truck. Despite being dragged at least 40 feet across asphalt, Grant’s body had no road rash. A private forensic laboratory hired by Grant’s mother examined the truck and concluded it had no mechanical issues.

Rae Andreacchio, a Mississippi mother who has been attacked and defamed as she seeks answers about how her son Christian died in 2014. Andreacchio stood up to the bullying and took her case to federal court, where she ultimately won a $500,000 suit against blogger and podcaster Karen Yax, who creates content under the name The Critical Kay.

According to records, Yax used her platform to accuse Andreacchio of being involved in the death of a young man who was a patient in her mental healthcare practice.

TRUE SUNLIGHT RE-BRAND

Our mission is to shine sunlight on corruption in order to change judicial systems for the better.

True Sunlight is the intersection of True Crime, journalism and systematic corruption.

We aim to protect communities by exposing public officials and agencies actively hiding or participating in criminal activity for personal or political gain.

We’ve been able to empower listeners to understand their legal and judicial systems through an investigative journalism audio format while providing tools within our rights to hold agencies and public figures accountable.

TRUE SUNLIGHT RESEARCH & REPORTING TEAM

Mandy Matney

Mandy has recognized world-wide as breaking the Murdaugh saga wide open. She had been covering the Murdaugh family of South Carolina since the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. With her bold, victim-first style of journalism guiding her hand, Mandy leads a number of media projects with compassion and integrity.

Now after the conviction of Alex Murdaugh for the double homicide of his wife Maggie and son Paul Murdaugh, Matney’s Luna Shark Media presents a number of media products with True Sunlight being the flagship.

Sam Berlin

Sam is an award winning-journalist originally from Raleigh, North Carolina and currently living in Brooklyn, New York.

She graduated from Syracuse University in 2020 where she studied magazine journalism, photography, and sociology.

She joined Luna Shark Media in 2023 where she assists with research, audio recording and editing of the podcasts.

Through her detailed, ethical reporting and multimedia experience, Sam creates enterprising stories and works to unravel the truth around her.

Liz Farrell

Liz is the Chief of Fresh Hell Media, and joined the Murdaugh Murders Podcast as Co-host in November of 2021. She collaborates with Luna Shark Media to write and edit True Sunlight and Cup of Justice podcasts.

She was named 2018’s top columnist in the state by South Carolina Press Association and is back after taking a nearly two-year break from corporate journalism to reclaim her soul. Liz has reported on this case from the beginning – since the night of the boat crash in 2019. She believes that exposing truth is a calling.

Eric Alan Daume

Eric reports from the Blue Ridge mountains of South Carolina and digs into the deaths of April Jones and Kevin Craig, and the disappearance of Faith Roach.

Eric joined Luna Shark Media in 2022 recording footage and manning the camera during the double murder trial.

We use his footage for our YouTube podcast episodes. He’s covered the Murdaugh trial and covers other cases as well on his YouTube channel.

Eric is an incredibly talented documentarian and we are proud to partner with him by sharing his talents with all of you.

Beth Braden

Beth Braden is an award-winning journalist whose mastery of the deep dive is evident whether she is examining the complexities of faith-based snake handling, exploring the dark mountain tunnels of an Appalachian coal mine, or provoking the kind of change that protects the lives of pets who have been lost or surrendered to a shelter.

In addition to Beth’s experience writing about local government, crime and courts, and engaging features from her home state of Tennessee, her byline appears on several internationally-known websites. She is passionate about communicating complex information in an easy-to-understand manner and loves to pore over public records.

Beth joined Luna Shark Media in 2023 armed with a love of truth as she seeks out data from the darkest places, drags it into the light, and provides illuminating analysis. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, strange museums, and good cups of coffee.

Drew Lawrence

Drew spent 13 years at Sports Illustrated covering major championship events and profiling outsize personalities. Football, tennis and motorsports were my beats. Parachuting in and out of those territories, and lesser known parts, was his specialty.

Drew now writes for The Guardian UK and collaborates with Luna Shark to trace the makings of corruption in the new podcast, True Sunlight.

FORMERLY MURDAUGH MURDERS PODCAST

Born from the tireless reporting and wildly successful Murdaugh Murders Podcast, creator and journalist Mandy Matney leads a celebrated team of investigators on their mission to give voice to victims and get the story straight.

Featuring journalists Liz Farrell and others you’ll follow along in real time as their exclusive sources guide listeners on a journey to expose the truth wherever it leads.