Agents Reveal Inside Look At Investigation & Moment They Knew the Case Had Been Blown Wide Open
NBC News’ Craig Melvin Reports for Two-Hour Special ‘The Murdaugh Murders: Inside the Investigation’ This Friday, November 17 at 9 pm ET/8pm CT
November 15, 2023 – In a Dateline NBC exclusive, lead detectives speak out about the investigation into once-prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, convicted last March of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul. The interviews are part of a new two-hour Dateline special, The Murdaugh Murders: Inside the Investigation, airing this Friday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
For the first time, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators Britt Dove and David Owen speak out about the moment they discovered video evidence proving Alex was at the scene of the murders when they occurred. Dove explained to NBC News’ Craig Melvin that after listening to the video “three to four times,” he was in “disbelief.” Owen added he knew at that moment the case had been blown wide open, saying: “I can prove that Alex was lying to me.” Click here to watch the exchange, the transcript is below.
Owen also revealed that after an interrogation, Alex thanked him for “doing” his job, and then shook his hand. Asked if he was surprised by Alex’s comments, Owen responded, “After I just accused him of killing his wife and son? Hell yeah.” Click here to watch the exchange, the transcript is below.
The Murdaugh Murders: Inside the Investigation also features an interview with the former Murdaugh family housekeeper Blanca Turrubiate Simpson, who opens up about her unique history with the Murdaughs, as well as Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the murder trial.
INTERVIEW EXCERPTS:
AGENT BRITT DOVE: I listened to it three to four times to make sure I was hearing because I was in disbelief at the time. I immediately got on the phone to David Owen.
AGENT DAVID OWEN: I was really excited.
CRAIG MELVIN: Why?
DAVID OWEN: Because I can prove that Alex was lying to me.
CRAIG MELVIN: Did you know in that moment that the case had been blown wide open?
DAVID OWEN: Oh, yes.
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DAVID OWEN: What’s not on video is, I had to escort him out of the building and he turned around and he says, “David, I understand why you have to ask these questions. I want to thank you for doing your job.” And he shook my hand.
CRAIG MELVIN: Were you surprised by that?
DAVID OWEN: After I just accused him of killing his wife and son? Hell yeah.
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For more information contact:
Dominique Donahue
NBC News
Dominique.Donahue@nbcuni.com
Leah Graf
NBC News
leah.graf@nbcuni.com
Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 32nd season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Airing Thursdays at 10/9c, Fridays at 9/8c, Dateline also airs across NBC, cable and in broadcast syndication, with hundreds of hours available to stream on Peacock’s Dateline 24/7 channel. Dateline 24/7 can also be viewed on channels on Roku, TuneIn and Xumo. Additionally, the newsmagazine reaches millions through its #1 podcasts, including Murder in Apartment 12 and its showcast. David Corvo is the senior executive producer and Liz Cole is the executive producer.
