Murdaugh property auction was ‘largest auction’ ever seen by auction house

An auction of items from the home of the Murdaugh family in South Carolina has taken place. Previously a hunting property, called Moselle, the Murdaugh home became known during the trial of its owner, Alex Murdaugh, a former lawyer, who was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month for shooting and killing his wife and son there. The auction in Georgia lasted over six hours and was “the largest auction I have seen here for sure”, according to Steven Dugger, the auctioneer handling the sale.

The sale attracted people from across the Southeast of the US. It included beds, chests, tables, chairs, hunting equipment, and smaller items, such as a Yeti cup, which was sold for $400. A beer koozie sold for $500, while mounted antlers went for $10,000 and a furniture set for $30,000. 

Despite some bidding apparently being driven by a sense of historical rarity, Morrie Mattingly of Liberty Auction in Georgia, who organised the sale, reportedly felt many of the lot’s bidders represented “frenzy buying”, adding, “That just proves people have more money than sense”. Visitors to the sale included individuals who had followed the trial closely and expressed both curiosity and sadness over Murdaugh’s crimes. One woman who attended the trial was among the first in line for the auction: “We have been so invested in the family and the trial…having a piece of the memorial would be interesting.”
 
Alex Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, were found fatally shot on his property on 7 June 2021. He has maintained he did not kill them. Prosecutors have argued that Murdaugh committed the murders to distract and delay investigations into his long string of alleged financial crimes and lies. Murdaugh, who was once a prominent South Carolina attorney, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders. He is appealing the conviction and has also been charged for other alleged financial crimes for which he has yet to face trial.



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