Double murderer Alex Murdaugh would rather 'take his chances on the yard than rot away in a cell'

Alex Murdaugh wants to leave protective custody and move back into the general population of the prison where he is being held, according to his attorney. 

Murdaugh, who is serving two life sentences at McCormick Correctional Institution in South Carolina after brutally killing his wife and son, reportedly would rather chance being harmed by other inmates than remain isolated. 

His lawyer Jim Griffin told NewsNation: 'He thinks he can be productive in the general population. He would rather take his chances on the yard than rot away in a cell, to be honest with you.'

Murdaugh, 54, executed his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their home in June 2021 - shooting them with two different weapons before calling 911 and claiming he discovered the bodies. 

He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in March following a six-week blockbuster trial - but 'has hope he will get out one day', his lawyer said. 

Murdaugh's lawyer Jim Griffin, said Murdaugh 'does not have a death wish' and 'looks forward to the day of getting out of prison

Murdaugh was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in March following a six-week blockbuster trial

Murdaugh is incarcerated at the maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution which houses some of South Carolina’s most violent prisoners.

The disgraced lawyer was moved into the statewide protective custody unit of the prison following a 45-day evaluation at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia. 

Griffin said that Murdaugh would like to move out of protective custody at the South Carolina jail and into the general population wing - despite threats being made against him to prison officials.

He said: 'Alex wants to contribute. There's a lot of things he could do in the general population. He's a lawyer, he's a college-educated person and there are programs he can assist with. 

'He's heard from prison officials there have been threats against him - he hasn't received those directly. He had some threats when he was in the county jail but he was able to navigate through that. 

'Anytime you’re in prison and you’re a name like he is, you’re going to be challenged but he was able to overcome and develop relationships, and he was productive in the county jail and he thinks he could be productive in the general population.'

McCormick Correctional Institution, which has a maximum capacity of 1,128 adult male inmates, has a violent and chaotic history which includes prisoners rioting, inmates murdered in their cells and drugs being smuggled in via drone. 

Despite his crimes, Murdaugh has allegedly been bombarded with love letters and approached by Netflix for further episodes of its docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. 

His lawyer, who is appealing his conviction, added that Murdaugh 'does not have a death wish' and 'looks forward to the day of getting out of prison.' 

'He is not someone who has given up hope. He has hope for the future, he has hope he will get out one day,' added Griffin.  

Murdaugh is being held at the maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution which houses some of South Carolina’s most violent prisoners

Murdaugh was described by the judge who sentenced him as a 'monster'

'He thinks he can be productive in the general population,' Murdaugh's lawyer has said

Only Buster (right) remains alive and free while his mother and brother are dead, and father is in prison 

Murdaugh is led out of the court  by sheriff's deputies after being found guilty of murdering his wife and son 

Murdaugh, whose family dominated the legal landscape in the southern part of South Carolina for 100 years, was branded a 'monster' by a judge after a six-week trial.

Prosecutors said he executed his family - making it look like outside murder - to cause a distraction and generate sympathy as investigators closed in on his own murky finances.

At the time of the killings he faced a hearing that could have revealed what he later admitted to be an $8.5million theft from his South Carolina law firm.

His lawyer added that Murdaugh has avoided making contact with his surviving son Buster while he has been incarcerated, for fear the calls would be subject to public records requests. Instead, the two communicate through writing letters.

Griffin said: 'He’s trying to protect Buster; he’s trying to protect his family from further exposure and attention. Pretty soon Buster will be able to visit him but that hasn’t been arranged yet.'

In March, the prosecutors who put Murdaugh behind bars revealed that they are pursuing a third life sentence for alleged financial crimes.

A third conviction would ensure the legal scion dies in prison, and authorities insist they will not stop chasing charges against Murdaugh until each of his victims see justice.

Murdaugh is facing 99 pending charges for alleged financial crimes, and the convicted murderer could be back in court in each of the five South Carolina counties where the offences took place.