Everything We Know About Moselle, the Murdaugh Family Murder Farm

Table Of Content

• Life
• Russell Laffitte to start prison sentence after court denies bid to stay out on bond
• Los Angeles 'Domestead' listed for $2.3M with 'whimsical' gardens: Take a look inside
• South Carolina hunting lodge owned by Alex Murdaugh sold to new owner at steep discount — for $1M
• Former home of Alex Murdaugh listed for sale in…
• Longtime volunteer, business owner opens thrift store to support Virginia Beach schools
• Ex-attorney Cory Fleming appeals 10-year sentence for helping Alex Murdaugh steal

Crosby describes the listing as a "unique property" that could serve as a "a family residence or compound" or allow new buyers to engage in "equestrian pursuits, [a] hobby farm, or just a weekend retreat destination." Paul, 22, and his mother, 52, were found gunned down on their hunting estate in the unincorporated community of Islandton last June in a murder that remains unsolved. The home at 2538 Sundown Drive is for sale at $2.3 million, listed by Compass agents Carl Gambino and Ariel Putman, and was recently shared on real estate fan account Zillow Gone Wild. The longtime South Carolina beach getaway of Alex Murdaugh and his late wife, Maggie, is in contract to sell again only months after it was quietly sold last summer, The Post can report. The sale of Moselle Farm went to contract fairly quickly, a fact that Crosby attributed to his experience selling large parcels of land.

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The proceeds of the sale largely benefited the victims of the 2019 boat crash in which Paul allegedly slammed into a bridge piling in Beaufort County while drunk and behind the wheel. Under a settlement approved in January, those funds also covered Maggie’s debts, a $530,000 inheritance for son Buster Murdaugh and a $275,000 payment into a settlement fund for victims of Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes. The proceeds from selling Moselle, which was held in Maggie’s name, will largely benefit the boat crash victims. That group includes the family of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, who was killed by the crash. Under a settlement approved in January, funds will also cover Maggie’s debts, a $530,000 inheritance for Buster and a $275,000 payment into a settlement fund for victims of Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes.

Russell Laffitte to start prison sentence after court denies bid to stay out on bond

“The Moselle Estate House is a unique property that has the capacity to offer a buyer many potential uses such as a family residence or compound, equestrian pursuits, hobby farm, or just a weekend retreat destination. For those interested in buying the house on the property, they will get a landscape that “consists of upland open fields and a mature old growth hardwood forest as a backdrop,” according to the listing. Many items were put up for sale on eBay for much more than they originally sold for, including a crossbow “taken from Moselle property gunroom” with a starting bid of $14,000, ABC4 reports. Buyers likely won’t find any of the Murdaugh family’s belongings in the house since the contents of the home were sold at auction in Georgia in March. All showings require and appointment and potential buyers must be pre-approved for purchase prior to visiting it, the Crosby website says.

Los Angeles 'Domestead' listed for $2.3M with 'whimsical' gardens: Take a look inside

Now comes word that Godley and Ayer have put the 4-bedroom, 4.5 bath, 5,275-square-foot house and 21 acres of the sprawling property on the market for $1.95 million. The proceeds from the auction will go into the Moselle estate and will be paid out according to the settlement agreement, the Greenville News said. Other bidders bought a sofa set for $30,000, while a pair of longhorns that had hung on a wall sold for $10,000, she said.

Portion of Alex Murdaugh's tragic family hunting farm lists for $1.95M - New York Post

Portion of Alex Murdaugh's tragic family hunting farm lists for $1.95M.

Posted: Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Murdaugh was convicted in March of killing his wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul at the rural estate, which was purchased earlier this year by James A. Ayer and Jeffrey L. Godley, according to a land deed. The proceeds of that initial sale went to the Murdaugh family's surviving son, Buster, and victims of a 2019 boat crash involving Paul, reported the Greenville News, citing a settlement approved in January by a South Carolina judge. Before the Moselle estate sale was finalized, assets from the property—including furniture, home decor (including monogrammed pillows and hunting lodge-themed trinkets), and cars—were auctioned off in Pembroke, Georgia. An employee of the auction house told CBS News that a Yeti cup (which typically costs $35) sold for $400. Another sale included the sofa set on which Alex claimed he napped on the night of the murders, for $36,000, Court TV reported.

Alex Murdaugh has since been jailed without bond on dozens of fraud-related charges, many involving the wrongful death settlement of longtime Murdaugh housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. According to the listing, the property includes 12 run dog kennels, a fully-stocked fishpond, irrigation and a rifle shooting range, among other features. The price includes the 5,200 square foot home, featuring four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, as well as nearly 1,800 acres of land.

Former home of Alex Murdaugh listed for sale in…

The sale closed in March in a deal that was complicated by the web of competing claims for the Murdaugh family’s assets. Redubbed "Cross Swamp Farm" by realtor Todd Crosby, the Moselle property was listed for sale in February 2022, and has been under contract to be bought since June 6, 2022. The buyers are a Colleton County farmer whose family owns significant acreage adjacent to the Murdaughs near the town of Islandton, along with a partner from Bamberg County. In July 2022 — more than a year after the double homicide — Alex Murdaugh was charged with the murders of his wife and son. He remains in jail without bond awaiting trial for their killings, along with a litany of other criminal charges.

Longtime volunteer, business owner opens thrift store to support Virginia Beach schools

The proceeds of the sale were divided between several parties including the Murdaugh family's surviving son, Buster, Murdaugh's younger brother John Marvin Murdaugh, and victims of a 2019 boat crash involving Paul, among others. This has happened in other high-profile cases, including the one in which Michael Peterson allegedly murdered his wife Kathleen Peterson at their North Carolina home. The sale contract was inked in June 2022, one year and one day after Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and son Paul were shot dead near the property’s dog kennels. But finalizing the deal was complicated by the web of competing claims for the Murdaugh family’s assets.

Ex-attorney Cory Fleming appeals 10-year sentence for helping Alex Murdaugh steal

The land, as is also seen in the marketing images, consists of open fields and mature woodlands, and is overall secluded. The listing notes this offering can be used as a family residence or a weekend residence, among other pursuits. A chef’s kitchen with a breakfast nook and industry-grade appliances opens to a family room with custom built-ins, crown molding and mahogany French doors that lead to the back porch.

Designed by LA architect William King and built in 1982, the listing comes with several gathering spaces in and around the home, with charming gardens, a wraparound deck and a garage that could be used as studio space. The sunroom features floor-to-ceiling windows and can be accessed from the living room — as well as the primary bedroom and one of the guest bedrooms, the listing notes. Occupying more than 2,300 square feet, the property comes completely renovated — with features including a sun deck, vaulted ceilings, wood flooring, a gourmet kitchen and a woodburning fireplace. Whether the sale of the Moselle Estate House will go as quickly remains to be seen. The buyers of Moselle Farm were Murdaugh’s former neighbor, Jeffrey Godley of Islandton and James Ayer of Ehrhardt.

The former home of Alex Murdaugh and his family is back on the market at $1.95 million, according to Monday real estate listing from Crosby Land Company. John Marvin Murdaugh and his attorney, William Newsome, have challenged both the fraudulent conveyance claim and the petition for removal to circuit court, citing several legal procedural oversteps by Lay and McCoy. After their initial moves to block the sale in June, the attorneys have since filed a motion to have their fraudulent conveyance claim removed to circuit court and Judge Hall's courtroom. By that standard, Lay and McCoy argue Moselle belongs to Alex regardless, despite Murdaugh's attempts to distance himself from the place.

Many people who fit the bill have come to see the house, but it has also attracted a wider range of potential buyers like a chef who would use it entertain, and other business people who are interested in the home as a piece of art. The disgraced ex-attorney was then sentenced to two consecutive life terms with no possibility of parole. Pegged as a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” according to the listing, the next owner will get the property fully furnished with designer brands. So far, the new listing is generating a lot of interest, Crosby said, noting that within three hours of the listing the video of the property had already been viewed over 1,000 times. After Paul and Maggie Murdaugh’s brutal deaths, which Alex Murdaugh was convicted of on March 3, family members testified the property fell out of use.

Real estate broker Todd Crosby, who is representing the sellers, told The Post and Courier that Godley and Ayer bought the property solely for its recreational value. They never intended to keep the four bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home, which he described as well built and well designed. South Carolina's Supreme Court appointed Judge Boan as special probate administrator of Maggie Murdaugh's estate proceedings in late June. The appointment came after Colleton County Probate Judge Arthur Utsey recused himself from all Murdaugh-related matters to avoid any appearance of impartiality. Georgetown County Probate Judge Leigh Powers Boan is set to rule on the various motions and proposals in a September 30 hearing, including the receivers' request to remove the issue to circuit court. Newsome also rejects Lay and McCoy's claims that Murdaugh — who Newsome claims had a net worth north of $5 million at the time — couldn't have paid back all his debts to those he reportedly stole from before he sold Moselle to Maggie.

Lay and McCoy argue the sale of Moselle was fraudulent because Murdaugh had no legitimate ability in the law's eye to sell it at the time. He was already deep into his criminal exploits and deeply in debt to people he stole millions of dollars from. In November 2021, Judge Daniel Hall issued an injunction essentially freezing the assets of Alex Murdaugh and his surviving son, Buster, to a great extent. Hall then gave attorneys John T. Lay and Peter McCoy broad authority to restrict what happens with the Murdaughs' money and property in what's known as a receivership. It was June 7, 2021 when prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, on the property. The house also features a sizable recreational room on the main level, “perfect for billiards,” which contains custom gun cabinets.

Alex Murdaugh (sometimes referred to as "Alec") is a former lawyer whose family built a legal dynasty in South Carolina. To give you a sense of just how far back their power goes, Alex's great-great-grandfather Randolph Murdaugh Sr. founded a law firm and was elected solicitor for the 14th Judicial Circuit (which includes a staggering five counties) in 1920. Subsequent generations have served as solicitors and joined the family firm ever since. Utsey was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster in June to fill the unexpired term of Ashley Amundson. Prior to becoming probate judge, Utsey worked seven years as a state prosecutor for the 14th Judicial Circuit in Colleton County.

The hunting estate became a central part of the murder trial when the bodies of Maggie and Paul were found on a part of the property near the dog kennels on the night of June 7, 2021. The bulk of the proceeds, about $2.7 million, will go to Beach's family, as well as two survivors of the crash, the newspaper said. Another boat crash survivor will receive $100,000, while Buster Murdaugh will receive $530,000. Almost $300,000 in additional funds will go to a settlement fund for creditors and financial victims of Alex Murdaugh, among other payments to creditors and to cover legal fees. The proceeds of the sale will go to the Murdaugh family's surviving son, Buster, and victims of a 2019 boat crash involving Paul, the Greenville News reported, citing a settlement approved in January by a South Carolina judge.