Murdaugh Murders: Why Maggie And Paul's Deaths Aren't The Only Important Ones

Netflix's "Murdaugh Murders" looks into the confounding, long-spanning crime allegations around the titular, prominent South Carolina family. The story has become increasingly bloody in recent years, as evidenced by the ongoing murder trial of family patriarch Alex Murdaugh, who stands accused of the 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul. 

As you can probably guess by the subject matter, this is no "Tiger King." Multiple people have died, and the various allegations and charges regarding the longstanding behavior of the family that presided over the so-called "Murdaugh County" are extremely serious, and often shocking. 

Still, even "Murdaugh Murders'" central narrative might be just scratching the surface of what could lie beyond. It has now transpired that there may very well be even more deaths that have ties to the Murdaugh family. Let's take a look at why Maggie and Paul Murdaughs' deaths aren't the only important ones in the events surrounding "Murdaugh Murders." 

The Murdaugh Murders of Paul and Maggie Murtaugh are well-publicized, but the docuseries also focuses heavily on the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach (via Vanity Fair). However, there are even more strange deaths that have happened in the Murdaugh family's orbit. 

Authorities are looking into the strange death of Stephen Smith (per People), who was 19 years old when he died in a supposed hit-and-run incident in 2015. The family has long suspected far fouler play, and the case has been mentioned in connection with the Murdaughs. As it happens, Smith went to school with one of the Murdaugh children. 

Another death that has been connected to the Murdaugh family hits far closer to home ... literally. The family's housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, died in the Murdaugh household from a fall in 2018. Though originally deemed accidental, the death is now being looked into by the authorities. 

Whether members of the Murdaugh family turn out to have anything to do with these deaths or not, it's clear that there have been oddly many untimely deaths in the family's immediate vicinity, and it seems that the people in charge of the investigations and trials have their work cut out for them for a long time to come.