Alex Murdaugh defense says murder weapon may be tied to separate killing as judge seeks answers

Alex Murdaugh’s defense attorneys on Friday raised an unverified claim that a recent Allendale County homicide could be connected to the Murdaugh murders, surprising prosecutors and the judge overseeing his retrial.

Murdaugh returned to court after the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned his 2023 convictions and two life sentences earlier this year for the killings of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh.

The court found that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors, depriving Murdaugh of an impartial jury, and ordered a new trial.

Murdaugh remains imprisoned on separate state and federal financial-crime sentences.

ALEX MURDAUGH'S DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY OVERTURNED BY SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT On Friday, defense attorney Jim Griffin told South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin that the defense learned through FITSNews reporting that a recent Allendale County murder may have involved weapons connected to the Murdaugh case.

Griffin said the defense wanted the state to investigate and turn over any related records.

FITSNews told Fox News Digital that Griffin’s reference was to its Aug.

8 "Week in Review" YouTube episode .

According to a transcript reviewed by Fox News Digital, FITS founding editor Will Folks and research director Jenn Wood discussed what they described as an unverified report involving a possible third gun at the Moselle crime scene.

ALEX MURDAUGH DEMANDS NEW EVIDENCE SEARCH IN HUNT FOR CRACKS IN CASE "We’re hearing reports that a Murdaugh gun was used in a subsequent crime," Folks said.

"We’re not going to say where at this point.

We’re not going to get into the details." Folks said the outlet was investigating whether the firearm was tied to the Murdaugh family and perhaps one of the guns that has never been recovered.

Wood cautioned that the information had not been confirmed.

"It’s a pretty consistent rumor and, you know, I’m hearing it from very good sources," Wood said.