Convicted Killer Alex Murdaugh Strikes Plea Deal in Beaufort County Court, Agrees to 27-Year Sentence in Addition to Life Sentence

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — Alex Murdaugh, a 55-year-old convicted killer, struck a plea deal in Beaufort County Court on Friday, just days before his trial was set to begin. Murdaugh agreed to plead guilty to various counts, including money laundering, breach of trust and financial fraud, in exchange for a 27-year sentence.

Murdaugh was already serving life in prison without parole after being convicted in March of two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife and son. He was also accused of siphoning off insurance settlement funds in the death of the Murdaughs’ longtime housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield.

The plea deal comes after a lengthy investigation into Murdaugh’s financial crimes. The case was complicated by the fact that Murdaugh had been a lawyer for more than 30 years and had access to a variety of financial resources.

Murdaugh’s plea deal is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. He will be sentenced to 27 years in prison, in addition to the life sentence he is already serving.

For more on the case, watch “The Murdaugh Murders: Inside the Investigation” on “Dateline” at 9 ET/8 CT Friday.