Buster Paints a Happy, Close Family
Amy Jacobson 
Buster Murdaugh Testifies
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Surviving Son of Alex Murdaugh Takes the Stand
WALTERBORO, SC – Richard Alexander “Buster” Murdaugh, Jr. took the stand on Tuesday in the case involving the murders of his mother, Maggie, and brother, Paul. Buster is the eldest son of the defendant, Alex Murdaugh.
After a long, holiday weekend court in Colleton County was back in session. Defense started the day with a peak into the Murdaugh family. Buster painted his family as loving and close as defense asked about things like growing up as the son of the defendant, the family – both immediate and extended, family get-togethers, and the phone calls on the day of the murders the state introduced. In all accounts, they were the all-American family, and Buster’s words seem to match those of other witnesses that had taken the stand before him; they were happy.
And when they did have disputes or disagreements, they handled them “like adults” and were “civil”; they talked about it. His father showed patience with him and his brother. They didn’t act with violence in their family.
As children, both Buster and Paul were into sports. Their parents made a point to attend all their games, with Alex coaching little league. Missing an event was a rare occurrence for the Murdaughs. He explained that his parents always made sure to call and explain to if they wouldn’t be able to attend.
The closeness of the family continued into his teen, and adult years, getting together for every holiday, weekends, and trips. This closeness extended to more than just the immediate family. Buster spoke of his grandparents Randolph “Handsome” (a nickname given by the grandkids) and Libby “M” Murdaugh, and Terry “Pappa T” and Kennedy Branstetter. His father, Alex and his father-in-law were close. Buster would spend a lot of time with his father and grandfather, doing things like playing golf. Holidays, trips, and weekends spent with both his paternal and maternal families.
The Days Before That Night
During the months of May and June of 2021, Handsome’s health was “not good”. It was cancer. His grandmother, M, had Alzheimer’s. His father would check on his parents regularly, Buster often coming along. Paul, also, made regular trips to his grandparent’s house. His mother, Maggie, would check on his grandparents but her visits were more sporadic.
There was fun during the weeks leading up to the tragic night, as well. A week prior to the murders, Memorial Day weekend, the family took time together with family and friends. A photo showed Buster with his mother and father on a boat, smiling. Defense then showed a video of a gathering and singing, celebrating Alex’s birthday. Maggie had made a birthday cake for her husband. And the defendant becomes noticeably emotion when younger son, Paul, comes into the frame.
That’s A Lot of Calls
All those phone calls and texts between the Murdaughs introduced by the state? Busters says, it’s “just the way we communicated”. He and his brother, Paul, would speak to their parents “pretty much every day, several times a day”. The frequent phone calls were just another “normal day in the life of Buster Murdaugh”, as the defense put it. Yes, his father called him at 9:10 the night of the murders. There was nothing unusual about either the phone call or his father’s demeanor. It was common for them to call when riding in the car and Alex called to check in and let him know he was going out to Almeda to check on Buster’s grandmother.
That Tragic Night
“He was heartbroken, destroyed.”
Buster on his father’s demeanor
The next phone call he would receives is from his father was after his mother’s and brother’s bodies were found. “He asked me if I was sitting down. I was like, yeah, and then he sounded odd and then he told me that my mom and brother had been shot.” He sat in shock. His girlfriend, Brooklyn, could hear the phone call and immediately started to pack. They then drove to Moselle, arriving sometime around 2 a.m.
“He was heartbroken, destroyed,” Buster responded when asked about his father’s demeanor. “I walked in the door and saw him and game a hug and just broke down.” His father was crying and unable to speak. They stayed there, along with other such as his Uncle Randy and Uncle John, around 3 to 4 hours then left for Almeda.
According to Buster, he and his father were rarely apart, with the exception of the 3-4 days he spent at the home of his maternal grandparent, from the moment he got to Moselle that early morning until after their Lake Kiwi trip on June 17. At which time he returned to his home, and back to work. He has never spent another night at Moselle.
