Murdaugh pleads not guilty to 3 counts in Mallory Beach's death
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTGS) — Paul Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty to one count of boating while under the influence and two counts of boating while under the influence causing great bodily injury Monday morning.
RELATED: Arraignment set for Paul Murdaugh in death of Mallory Beach
Murdaugh is being held on a $50,000 bond. He also had to turn over his passport and is not allowed to leave the 14th Circuit.
Both Murdaugh and Beach's parents were present for the arraignment.
RELATED: Investigators say 2 defendants in Mallory Beach's lawsuit impacted police questioning
According to the police report, Beach and fellow passengers were out boating near Archer's Creek in Beaufort County in the early morning hours of Feb. 24 when they crashed into some bridge pilings near the Malecon Dr. Bridge.
Port Royal officers and Beaufort County Sheriff's deputies responded to the crash just after 2:30 a.m., the report states. One officer said that they noticed blood in the main compartment of the boat.
Mallory Beach's body was discovered early March 3 after being missing for a week following a boat crash.
Three generations of former Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor Randolph Murdaugh, III's family were named in Mallory Beach's wrongful death lawsuit.
The complaint said they each helped provide alcohol to the minors involved before the boat crash.
South Carolina DNR investigators said the family also played a role in the moments after the crash.
