Hulu’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family, which premiered in October, delves into the notorious scandals, tragic deaths, and high-profile murder trial that thrust the Murdaugh family into the national spotlight. Based on the popular "Murdaugh Murders" podcast, the series attempts to chronicle the powerful family’s rise and dramatic fall through the lens of journalist Mandy Matney, who extensively blogged about their story. However, like many true-crime dramatizations, the series takes certain creative liberties, leading to deviations from the established real-life chronology and events.
The real Murdaugh saga is extensive and convoluted. Matney began investigating the family after Paul Murdaugh faced criminal charges for the wrongful death of Mallory Beach in a 2019 boat accident. The story took a darker turn when Alex Murdaugh murdered Paul and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh, in 2021, for which he was later found guilty on all four related charges and received two consecutive life sentences. Beyond the murders, Alex was also accused of embezzling significant funds from his law firm, clients, and the government through schemes involving embezzlement, wire fraud, and money laundering. He currently faces 102 criminal charges and 19 formal indictments related to fraud and drug crimes; he has been disbarred and his assets seized.
Executive producer Michael D. Fuller addressed the inherent challenges of adapting such a sprawling narrative for television. Speaking about the production, he acknowledged the difficulty in telling the "complete truth" due to constraints in episode count and runtime. Fuller stated that the guiding principle was to always be "mindful of what the truth is" and to justify any creative choices. He emphasized that showing "maximum respect and reverence" toward the victims was a top priority throughout the production, which notably filmed concurrently with Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial.
One notable adjustment in the series involves Alex Murdaugh’s "jellyball operation." The show includes this jellyfish harvesting and processing business to provide contextual insight into Alex’s past. However, the business closed in 2015 due to environmental concerns, years before other pivotal events in the Murdaugh timeline, such as Paul’s 2019 boat accident. Fuller indicated this inclusion aimed to add depth despite its earlier timeline.
More significantly, the show alters the timeline surrounding Gloria Satterfield, the Murdaughs’ housekeeper. Satterfield died in 2018 after a fall at their home, a death later linked to Alex Murdaugh’s financial schemes when it was revealed he stole a large settlement intended for her family. He eventually admitted to lying about the circumstances of her death, which was initially recorded as accidental. In Murdaugh: Death in the Family, Satterfield is depicted consoling Paul and the family after the 2019 boat accident, despite having already passed away in real life.
The series also takes liberties with Alex Murdaugh’s interactions with journalist Mandy Matney. While Matney was indeed present at the courthouse alongside Alex during proceedings, the show portrays Alex at the site of the boat accident, a detail that diverges from actual events.
Furthermore, the Hulu series depicts the Murdaugh family taking a vacation to Kokomo immediately following Paul’s boat accident. However, social media posts from years prior indicate the family had vacationed in the Bahamas two years before the actual boating incident occurred. The show’s timeline for this event is also adjusted for narrative purposes.
These specific alterations underscore the delicate balance true-crime productions face between dramatic storytelling and strict factual adherence. While producers aim to create a compelling narrative, these changes, even if intended to provide context or streamline complex events, can sometimes reshape the audience’s understanding of the real-life timeline and the individuals involved.