Alex Murdaugh's motives for killing his wife Maggie and son Paul stem from a complex mixture of financial desperation, drug and alcohol abuse, and a desire to create a diversion from his escalating legal and financial troubles. Prosecutors argue that Murdaugh feared exposure of his long-running fraud and theft schemes and believed that murdering his family would generate sympathy and delay investigations into his crimes. He was reportedly using drugs and alcohol heavily, impairing his rational thinking. Some experts suggest that in Murdaugh's mind, the killings were a way to create a distraction by making himself a victim. Despite these allegations, Murdaugh has denied killing his wife and son. The murder weapons were never found, and questions remain about potential accomplices or tampering with the crime scene, given Murdaugh's influential connections. Ultimately, his actions appear driven by a desire to cover up his financial crimes amid severe personal instability.