A MURDER victim's execution-style killing left his "brain completely detached from his head," court records have revealed.
The harrowing images were released as part of the investigation into the deaths of Paul Murdaugh and his mom, Maggie, after they were found dead on the family's sprawling estate.
Alex Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, 52, and his youngest son Paul, 22, in South Carolina in July 2021.
In one image released by cops this week, forensic expert Dr. Kenneth Kinsey wrote in an affidavit: "Brain was completely detached from head."
Paul's mom, Maggie, died just yards from her son after she was shot five times.
According to investigators, Maggie was shot with a rifle, while Paul was killed with a shotgun.
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The images have been released amid a row over the presence of blood stains on a white T-shirt reportedly worn by Murdaugh on the night of the killings.
Murdaugh's lawyers have filed a motion to prohibit blood spatter evidence and testimony from the upcoming trial.
The complex case first drew national attention after it became linked to a February 2019 boat wreck that killed teenager Mallory Beach, per the Daily Mail.
Beach was killed, authorities said, after an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh crashed his father’s boat with Beach and other passengers on board.
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The teen's body was found seven days after the boating accident.
This led to dozens of charges accusing Alex Murdaugh of stealing nearly $5million in settlement money from lawyers who sued him over the death.
Prosecutors alleged that the double murder of Paul and Maggie was part of an effort by Murdaugh to gain sympathy and distract others from his significant financial crimes.
They allege that the disgraced heir to a Lowcountry legal dynasty was terrified that his substantial debts and illicit financial crimes were about to be exposed at the time of the shootings.
They also claimed Murdaugh was a drug addict who helped run a money laundering and painkiller distribution ring.
Prosecutors argued that he reportedly stole millions from settlements he secured for mostly poor clients to fund an increasingly unsustainable lifestyle.
Defense attorney Jim Griffin has said that it is ridiculous to claim that a person seeking to distract from financial crimes would then put themself at the center of a murder investigation.
On July 14, 2022, following a 13-month investigation, Murdaugh was officially charged with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Prosecution detailed cell phone video and data from the night of the murders.
The video showed Murdaugh, his wife, and his son near the property's dog kennels around 8.44pm on the night they were killed.
The data also reportedly indicated that Murdaugh left the property at 9.06pm, about one hour before his 911 call.
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Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty and repeatedly denied any involvement in the brutal killings.
The upcoming trial is set for January 23.
