Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh have asked a South Carolina judge to require prosecutors to release additional forensic evidence before his scheduled murder retrial. The defense says investigators identified male DNA under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails but did not fully test it. The 93-page motion also seeks raw crime-scene laser-scan data, additional ballistics information and further testing of DNA from Maggie Murdaugh’s phone. The defense says delays could hinder preparation for the April 2027 trial.
| 1) | Defense seeks forensic evidence |
| 2) | Unidentified DNA under the victim’s fingernails |
| 3) | Additional crime-scene and ballistics data |
| 4) | Dispute over testing and weapon evidence |
| 5) | Retrial timeline and legal stakes |
Defense seeks forensic evidence
The defense filing asks the court to order South Carolina prosecutors to turn over physical and digital evidence from the case. The request concerns biological material, firearms evidence and data collected at the Moselle property in Colleton County, where Maggie Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh were killed.
The attorneys say the state has maintained exclusive custody of the evidence for more than five years and has controlled what was tested and when. They argue that the delay is reducing preparation time before the retrial, scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027. The motion states that continued inaction could lead the defense to seek a postponement, although it opposes a continuance and says the court indicated one would not be granted.
Unidentified DNA under the victim’s fingernails
A central request involves DNA collected from beneath Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails. The defense says the state crime lab found a male DNA profile but did not fully pursue testing that might identify or clarify it.
Murdaugh’s lawyers previously asked that the material be released to Othram Inc. for additional analysis. After that testing, the defense said more work was needed to recover a usable male profile. The attorneys also seek testing of a partial DNA profile from swabs taken from Maggie Murdaugh’s phone. The filing does not identify the male contributor, and the significance of the material remains unresolved.
Additional crime-scene and ballistics data
The defense wants a list of shootings in counties surrounding the crime scene in which .300 Blackout cartridge cases or projectiles were recovered. It seeks details to examine whether similar ammunition or weapons appeared elsewhere.
The motion also requests raw data from a three-dimensional laser scan conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at the crime scene. Prosecutors provided a read-only viewer file in 2022, but the defense says it needs the underlying data to reconstruct the scene independently and assess spatial relationships, movement and evidence placement.
Dispute over testing and weapon evidence
Murdaugh’s attorneys accuse prosecutors of changing their position on the .300 Blackout rifle. At the 2023 trial, the state described the cartridge as uncommon and used that point to focus attention on firearms connected to the Murdaugh family. The defense motion says prosecutors now describe it as one of the most popular AR cartridges in the country.
The defense also argues that prosecutors tested evidence without notice or consent and should not prevent an independent examination. Former prosecutor Joshua Ritter called additional DNA testing a potential risk because it could support the defense’s unknown-male argument or produce information prosecutors could use against Murdaugh.
Retrial timeline and legal stakes
Alex Murdaugh was convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, at the family’s Moselle property in Colleton County. The South Carolina Supreme Court later overturned the convictions after finding that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced the jury.
The retrial is set for April 5, 2027. The pending dispute concerns how much time and access the defense will have before proceedings begin. The state’s position was not included in the filing summary, and no response was provided in the reported material after prosecutors and law enforcement officials were contacted.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The defense wants additional forensic evidence before the retrial. |
| 2 | Attorneys say unidentified male DNA was found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails. |
| 3 | The motion seeks raw laser-scan data and information about .300 Blackout evidence. |
| 4 | A former prosecutor called further DNA testing a potential gamble. |
| 5 | Murdaugh’s retrial is scheduled to begin April 5, 2027. |
Summary
The defense is seeking court intervention to obtain DNA, ballistics and crime-scene evidence before Alex Murdaugh faces a retrial. Its main request involves unidentified male DNA under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails, which attorneys say was not fully tested by the state crime lab. Evidence access, raw laser-scan data and the interpretation of .300 Blackout ammunition are central issues in the pretrial dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What evidence is the Murdaugh defense seeking?
The defense seeks additional DNA and ballistics evidence, raw three-dimensional crime-scene laser-scan data, and information about nearby shootings involving .300 Blackout cartridge cases or projectiles.
Where was the unidentified male DNA found?
The defense says a male DNA profile was found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails. It also seeks testing of a partial profile from swabs taken from her phone.
When is the retrial scheduled?
Alex Murdaugh’s retrial is scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027.
