This is destined to become a TV documentary/movie. This is supposedly a prominent powerful family in South Carolina. I had never heard of them, but they are several hours away from my end of the state. There are even more aspects to the story. This has been a big news story in SC since June. Best I remember, here are some of the important issues. Some might just be hearsay, but all sounds bad.
Multiple generations of his family have held for years the position of county solicitor there in the past. Seems like I read it was five counties. Deciding criminal charges (or not) and prosecuting the people charged. His great grandfather founded a large law firm there where he and his brother were currently employed.
One of his sons was facing charges due to the crash of a boat he was operating at night while intoxicated. A 19 year old girl died in that boat crash. Wonder how her family feels?
He discovered the bodies of that son and his wife one June night this year on the large family farm after he returned from visiting his father who was dying of cancer. They had both been shot. One with a shotgun and one with a rifle per police reports. No one has been charged so far.
It comes out that the family housekeeper had died a few years ago due to "natural causes" per the death certificate. No coroner called and no autopsy. Her family sued him due to wrongful death due to injuries from a trip and fall. His insurance company agreed to settle with the family with an agreement for payment of several hundred thousand dollars. The family claims they have not yet received any of the settlement.
It comes out that a young local gay guy was killed in a hit and run situation a few years ago. No one was ever charged. Rumor was that the person killed had a "relationship" with a member of the family.
Three months after his wife and son were murdered, he made a call for medical assistance. He had been shot in the head while changing a tire on a remote highway. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Savannah where it was determined that he had a superficial wound on his head.
Within days of his attempted murder, it is reported that millions are missing from the family law firm and that he is entering rehab. It is reported that he has an opioid addiction. He is disbarred from law practice. His lawyer says the millions were spent for the opioids. Those pills must be expensive.
This week it is announced that he hired a former client to kill him so that his remaining son can collect a $10 million insurance policy. The shooter was charged with multiple charges and arrested. The good lawyer is supposed to be turning himself in today to authorities.
It reads like a poor mystery novel. Wonder how many more chapters there are? How many more characters are involved?