COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A man charged in a 2019 boating crash that killed a young woman was found shot to death along with his mother at a property in Colleton County.

Deputies with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Moselle Road in the Islandton community after receiving a 911 call Monday around 10:00 p.m. stating two people were dead.

Responding deputies located two people suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh were found dead at the Mosselle Road property.

Sources tell News 2 that this does not appear to be a murder-suicide. Officially, SLED says they are investigating this as a double homicide.

Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, who was killed during a boating crash in Beaufort County back in 2019.

The 19-year-old Murdaugh was allegedly intoxicated and driving erratically with multiple people aboard when the boat slammed into a piling, throwing Beach into the water.

Her body was found a week later. Paul pleaded not guilty in May of 2019 and did not spend any time in jail. 

Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are at the Colleton County property again on Tuesday collecting evidence and investigating the deadly shooting.

A law firm connected to the family, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick (PMPED), released a family statement Tuesday morning about the shooting, saying: “The Murdaugh family and PMPED want to thank everyone for the many calls and condolences in the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. We ask for your continued patience and prayers through this tragic time.”

Attorney’s representing Beach’s family sent a statement saying:

“The Beach family extends its deepest and warmest sympathies to the Murdaugh family during this terrible time. Having suffered the devastating loss of their own daughter, the family prays that the Murdaugh’s can find some level of peace from this tragic loss. They would like the community to know that their thoughts and continued prayers are with the Murdaugh’s. It is their most sincere hope that someone will come forward and cooperate with authorities so that the perpetrator of these senseless crimes can be bought to justice.”

Randolph Murdaugh III, Paul’s grandfather, is a former 14th Circuit Solicitor. The family is prominent in the Lowcountry.

There is no suspect information. This is a developing story. Count on us for updates.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.