Rebecca “Becky” Hill, the former court clerk who read the guilty verdicts in Alex Murdaugh’s high-profile murder trial, was arrested Wednesday in South Carolina on multiple charges related to her conduct during and after the proceedings.
Hill, 57, faces one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of misconduct in office in Colleton County, along with a perjury charge in Richland County, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Authorities allege Hill made sealed photographic evidence available to a third party during Murdaugh’s trial on February 28, 2023, “which prevented, obstructed, impeded, hindered, or potentially impeded or hindered the administration of justice,” according to the arrest warrant.
One misconduct charge stems from a June 7, 2021, incident when Hill allegedly used her position as clerk of court to promote her book, “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders.” The second misconduct charge involves allegations that between September 1, 2021, and March 5, 2024, Hill “willfully, dishonestly and unlawfully” requested and received more than $10,000 in financial bonuses from county government.
In Richland County, Hill faces a perjury charge for allegedly lying under oath during a January 29, 2024, evidentiary hearing to determine whether Murdaugh should receive a new trial. When asked by former state Chief Justice Jean Toal, “Did you allow anyone from the press to view the sealed exhibits,” Hill responded “No Ma’am,” which investigators claim was false.
Hill was booked into the Colleton County Detention Center and released after posting a $30,000 bond — $10,000 for each charge in Colleton County. She was then processed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County.
Murdaugh’s attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, responded to the news of Hill’s arrest with a statement: “We are aware of the charges filed against Becky Hill and while these developments are serious, they are not surprising. We have long raised our concerns about her conduct during and after the trial and this arrest further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the judicial process. Every defendant is entitled to a fair and impartial trial and we look forward to Alex Murdaugh finally getting that fair treatment.”
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has been investigating Hill since early 2024 over allegations of jury tampering in Murdaugh’s murder trial and whether she used her elected position for personal gain.
In late 2023, Murdaugh’s legal team requested a new trial based on allegations that Hill tampered with the jury by making comments implying Murdaugh’s guilt to jurors. Justice Toal ruled that while Hill made “improper comments” and was “attracted by the siren call of celebrity,” those comments did not influence the verdict.
“I simply do not believe that the authority of our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial such as this on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-influenced clerk of courts,” Toal said.
Murdaugh’s team has since appealed that ruling.
Hill resigned her position as clerk of court in March 2024 but maintained her resignation was unrelated to the state investigations. She has previously denied the allegations against her.
Murdaugh, 56, was convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife and youngest son. He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, alongside a separate 27-year sentence for financial crimes.