By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2025 —
Hulu’s new true-crime miniseries, Murdaugh: Death in the Family, opens with a warning instead of a twist: the story is inspired by real events, but many scenes have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Within seconds, viewers are dropped into the eerie stillness of the Murdaugh family’s South Carolina home — a glowing, picture-perfect space that abruptly turns sinister as blood pools beneath the bodies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.
The series wastes no time pulling audiences into the case that captivated the nation: Alex Murdaugh’s 2021 killings of his wife and son, for which he was convicted in March 2023 and sentenced to life in prison. Over eight hours, the show blends documented evidence with dramatized scenes to paint a broader emotional portrait of a once-powerful legal dynasty undone by scandal, violence and deception.
A Dramatized Opening to a Real Tragedy
Actor Jason Clarke recreates Alex Murdaugh’s frantic 911 call, pacing, crying and unraveling in a performance that mirrors the chaos investigators encountered. The idyllic setting quickly gives way to the chilling reality of the double murders that shattered the Murdaugh family’s carefully curated public image.
But from the beginning, the series signals that not all details match real-life events — an approach that has drawn sharp criticism from Murdaugh’s legal team.
Murdaugh Defense Pushes Back
Defense attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin condemned the series as “misleading,” arguing Hulu failed to contact the family or lawyers for fact-checking. They say the show relied heavily on “sensationalized accounts” rather than vetted evidence.
Hulu co-creator Michael D. Fuller acknowledged the creative license, explaining that the goal was to illuminate emotional truth, not just factual chronology. “These are human beings,” he said. “Our version is intended to help viewers understand how they interacted.”
Timeline Changes for Dramatic Impact
One of the biggest deviations involves the timeline of events surrounding Gloria Satterfield, the family’s longtime housekeeper. The show places her alive during 2019 events, although she died in 2018 after a fall at the Murdaugh home. Her expanded role serves to anchor the story emotionally, but certain scenes — including her fall while carrying luggage — are not supported by evidence.
The insurance fraud scheme involving Satterfield’s sons is based in reality. Alex Murdaugh did funnel settlement funds into a fraudulent account, though the show exaggerates some numbers for dramatic effect. In truth, the Satterfield family never received the $2.7 million intended for them.
Financial Crimes and Addiction
The series accurately portrays Alex Murdaugh’s sweeping financial misconduct: stealing from clients, misappropriating funds and orchestrating insurance scams. The fictional “Alvarez” client represents a composite of multiple victims.
The jellyfish-harvesting subplot is based on Murdaugh’s real but short-lived business attempt, though the timeline is shifted by several years. Fuller later described it as a narrative symbol for Murdaugh’s array of secretive ventures.
The series also highlights Murdaugh’s opioid addiction, which he admitted to in real life. While specific scenes may be invented, his struggle with substance abuse is well-documented.
The Boat Crash and Its Fallout
The 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach is dramatized but broadly accurate. Paul Murdaugh faced charges of boating under the influence causing death, and the family became the target of public scrutiny and civil lawsuits. The case is widely seen as the first major crack in the Murdaugh dynasty’s public façade.
Blending Fiction with Emotional Truth
While the show recreates many real investigative milestones, it also imagines intimate family moments — arguments, retreats, confrontations — that no outsider could verify. These scenes are designed to capture emotional truth rather than factual detail, a choice that has frustrated Murdaugh’s legal team.
The series also includes journalist Mandy Matney, whose real-life reporting significantly shaped public understanding of the case.
How the Series Ends
The finale shows Murdaugh alone in his cell, recalling a fictionalized memory of pulling the trigger — a creative leap not supported by evidence. In reality, Murdaugh maintains his innocence, claiming he discovered the bodies after visiting his mother.
He was convicted in 2023, disbarred, and separately pleaded guilty to extensive state and federal financial crimes involving more than $9 million. His appeal for a new murder trial, citing alleged jury tampering, remains pending.