ST. MATTHEWS, S.C. — Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill, the former clerk of court who was key to the infamous Alex Murdaugh murder trial, pleaded guilty on Monday to multiple criminal charges, including obstruction of justice and perjury. In Colleton County Circuit Court, Hill admitted to showing sealed court exhibits to a photographer and subsequently lying about her actions in court. Alongside these charges, she also faced two counts of misconduct in office, concerning unreported bonuses and promoting her book about the trial through her official position.
During the hearing, Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Hill to a year of probation, indicating that her punishment could have been significantly steeper had prosecutors determined she tampered with jurors. In her statement before sentencing, Hill expressed regret for her mistakes, stating, “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them.”
In her capacity as Clerk of Court, Hill was responsible for managing jury details and exhibits during the six-week trial of Alex Murdaugh, which concluded with his conviction for murdering his wife and son. Murdaugh’s trial was marked by intricacies of power, wealth, and privilege, focusing on a family that has held sway in South Carolina for nearly a century.
Hill’s actions have become increasingly scrutinized as Murdaugh appeals his convictions and life sentence without parole for the murders. His legal team alleged that Hill attempted to sway jurors in her favor, further complicating the ongoing legal situation surrounding the Murdaugh family.
Solicitor Rick Hubbard, representing the state, informed the court that a journalist reported Hill had provided graphic crime scene photographs to several media members, although he did not identify the journalist. Murdaugh is currently serving multiple sentences after pleading guilty to numerous fraud charges, including embezzling millions from clients and misappropriating funds from his family's law firm.
While Hill's initial appeal against her charges was denied, Judge Jean Toal expressed doubts about Hill's truthfulness when discussing her interactions with jurors. Prosecutors have been investigating allegations of ethical violations involving Hill since last May, when it was revealed that she had not only allowed a photograph of Murdaugh to be taken but also misappropriated funds meant for improving child support collection.
Moreover, Hill leveraged her public role to promote her book about the trial, which came under fire for containing plagiarized content. She ultimately resigned from her position in March 2024, citing the adverse effects of the public scrutiny surrounding the case.
During the hearing, Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Hill to a year of probation, indicating that her punishment could have been significantly steeper had prosecutors determined she tampered with jurors. In her statement before sentencing, Hill expressed regret for her mistakes, stating, “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them.”
In her capacity as Clerk of Court, Hill was responsible for managing jury details and exhibits during the six-week trial of Alex Murdaugh, which concluded with his conviction for murdering his wife and son. Murdaugh’s trial was marked by intricacies of power, wealth, and privilege, focusing on a family that has held sway in South Carolina for nearly a century.
Hill’s actions have become increasingly scrutinized as Murdaugh appeals his convictions and life sentence without parole for the murders. His legal team alleged that Hill attempted to sway jurors in her favor, further complicating the ongoing legal situation surrounding the Murdaugh family.
Solicitor Rick Hubbard, representing the state, informed the court that a journalist reported Hill had provided graphic crime scene photographs to several media members, although he did not identify the journalist. Murdaugh is currently serving multiple sentences after pleading guilty to numerous fraud charges, including embezzling millions from clients and misappropriating funds from his family's law firm.
While Hill's initial appeal against her charges was denied, Judge Jean Toal expressed doubts about Hill's truthfulness when discussing her interactions with jurors. Prosecutors have been investigating allegations of ethical violations involving Hill since last May, when it was revealed that she had not only allowed a photograph of Murdaugh to be taken but also misappropriated funds meant for improving child support collection.
Moreover, Hill leveraged her public role to promote her book about the trial, which came under fire for containing plagiarized content. She ultimately resigned from her position in March 2024, citing the adverse effects of the public scrutiny surrounding the case.
