The distinctive Southern drawl trembled with emotion as Alex Murdaugh delivered the devastating news to his longtime housekeeper. "They're gone, B. They're gone!" he said, his voice cracking like a child's during that fateful phone call on June 7, 2021.
Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson, who had served the Murdaugh family for over a decade, dropped the phone in shock. It took several moments for her to comprehend that her employer and friend was telling her that 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh had been shot dead at the dog kennels on their sprawling 17,000-acre Moselle estate in Islandton, South Carolina.
The Insider's Perspective
Turrubiate-Simpson was far more than just staff to the powerful legal dynasty. She had been one of Maggie's closest friends and confidantes, watching sons Buster and Paul grow up and standing by the family when the community turned against them after Paul's involvement in the boat crash that killed Mallory Beach.
This unique position gave her intimate knowledge of family habits and routines - knowledge that would later lead her to question the official narrative of what happened that dark summer night.
More than a year after the murders, in March 2023, Alex Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son in what prosecutors described as a desperate attempt to salvage his crumbling finances and reputation. While Turrubiate-Simpson testified at the high-profile trial about Murdaugh's bizarre behaviour following the murders, she now reveals in her new book, 'Within the House of Murdaugh', that she believes crucial evidence was overlooked.
The Bombshell Theory
Turrubiate-Simpson presents an explosive theory: Alex Murdaugh did not act alone.
She believes Murdaugh summoned people she refers to as 'the cleaners' to the kennels after the murders. These accomplices might not have known about his murderous plot beforehand, she suggests, but she's convinced they helped him clean and stage the crime scene.
Her theory is supported by several puzzling observations from the morning after the murders. Maggie's Mercedes SUV was parked in the wrong position - facing the house on the right side when she always parked on the left. To Turrubiate-Simpson, this small but significant detail indicated someone else had moved the vehicle.
The timeline presented at trial makes this particularly suspicious. Prosecutors claimed Murdaugh used a golf cart to travel to and from the kennels before speeding to his parents' home to establish an alibi. This would have given him just 20 minutes to commit both murders, hose down the scene, drive the golf cart back, move Maggie's car, shower, change clothes and depart - a near-impossible feat without assistance.
Overlooked Clues and Hidden Entrances
Other red flags emerged during Turrubiate-Simpson's examination of the scene. Inside Maggie's car were her suitcase, tote, makeup bags and purse - suggesting she planned to return to the family's Edisto beach house that night rather than stay at Moselle.
In the laundry room, Turrubiate-Simpson found Maggie's pajamas laid out on the floor with a pair of panties - something she insists Maggie would never do.
The housekeeper also recalls seeing a white truck near the kennels and someone driving a tractor on the property the day before the murders. At the time, she assumed it was Paul, but later learned he wasn't at Moselle until that evening. She now wonders if someone was preparing the grounds for the deadly plot, possibly digging holes to bury the two murder weapons that have never been found.
Turrubiate-Simpson told the Daily Mail she knows the identities of the people she suspects were involved but won't reveal them publicly. She did confirm that more than one person was likely involved.
The sprawling Moselle property had four entrances, but most people only knew about the main entrance off Moselle Road and the entrance by the kennels. Turrubiate-Simpson suggests the accomplices likely used one of two hidden back entrances consisting of narrow roads and trails known to few outsiders.
The Canine Witnesses
Perhaps the most compelling evidence for Turrubiate-Simpson's theory comes from an unexpected source: the family dogs.
When she heard the 911 call Murdaugh made that night, she noticed something significant. "You can hear the dogs barking right away," she explained. "There was a hound that was very sensitive to strangers and anytime anybody came on the property she didn't know, she would let you know. Then the other ones would get started too. I believe the dogs told on him. He was not alone when he made that call."
Despite her suspicions about accomplices, Turrubiate-Simpson experienced her own moment of clarity about Murdaugh's guilt during the trial. When police bodycam footage showed a distinctive beach towel from Edisto on the front seat of Murdaugh's car, she instantly recognized it as one she had washed, folded and placed on the laundry room shelf the day of the murders.
This was her "A-ha moment" - she realized Murdaugh must have hosed blood off himself at the kennels then used that towel to dry himself before changing into the fresh t-shirt he wore when officers arrived.
Remembering the Victims
While Alex Murdaugh continues to maintain his innocence and seeks a retrial for the murders (though he has confessed to financial crimes), Turrubiate-Simpson has turned her focus to preserving the memories of Maggie and Paul.
She wants people to see Paul as more than just the teenager involved in the fatal boat crash, and remembers Maggie as a happy woman who loved life, laughter, and prioritised caring for her husband and children.
Following the murders, Maggie's beloved dog Bubba, who was at the kennels that fateful night, went to live with Turrubiate-Simpson. The duo often visit Maggie and Paul's graves together, maintaining a connection to the family she served and loved for over ten years.
No one other than Alex Murdaugh has ever been charged in connection with the murders, but Turrubiate-Simpson's revelations in 'Within the House of Murdaugh' suggest the full story of what happened at Moselle that June night may yet remain untold.
