Netflix has announced a second season of the true crime docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, with an order for three new episodes. Originally billed as a limited series, season one followed the Murdaugh family and the events surrounding the trial of family patriarch Alex Murdaugh, beginning with the brutal murder of his wife, Margaret, and their son, Alex.
The unsolved demise of Margaret, 52, and the couple’s younger son, Paul, 22, in June 2021 rocked the state of South Carolina. The tragic circumstances became only more perplexing over time, leading to several arrests, unexpected twists — and one of the most closely-watched trials in the country. Murdaugh, who had pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to two life sentences to run consecutively without the possibility of parole. Murdaugh’s attorneys have filed a notice of appeal.
The now second season of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, which premieres Wednesday, Sept. 20, will, according the press release, “feature first-hand accounts from those who were there the days leading up to and following the murders, giving more insight than ever into that deadly night.” That includes former family housekeeper Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson, Libby Murdaugh caregiver Mushelle “Shelly” Smith, Curtis Edward Smith (aka Cousin Eddie) and trial juror Gwen Generette.
Paul’s ex-girlfriend Morgan Doughty, friend Anthony Cook and Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein will also return.
The renewal of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal comes following the news that Murdaugh has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud charges in a separate case that alleged he stole nearly eight million dollars from clients.
Julia Willoughby Nason will return to direct and executive produce season two alongside Michael Gasparro. The first season was directed by Nason and Jenner Furst. Credits for earlier documentaries and docuseries from Nason and Furst include LuLaRich and Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets on Amazon Prime; The Pharmacist on Netflix; Fyre Fraud on Hulu; Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story on the Paramount Network; and TIME: The Kalief Browder Story on the former Spike TV network.
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