Impact of Influence: The Murdaugh Family Murders and Other Cases

In February, South Carolina US House of Representative, Nancy Mace gave a "scorched earth" speech on the house floor. In the speech she accused several men of serious crimes, including rape, physical abuse and sex trafficking. In the Impact of Influence previous episode you can hear part of that speech and a discussion of some off the fallout. None of the men Mace accused have been charged with an...

In February, SC US Representative, Nancy Mace gave a 53 minute speech on the House floor that accused four men of terrible crimes against women. All the men of denied the accusations and none have been charged with the crimes. Mace accused SC AG and Gubernatorial candidate, Alan Wilson, of not doing his job to protect women from men like those she accused. The U.S. Constitution has some legal prot...

This episode starts with a few minutes of taking listener comments and questions. Then a replay of an episode from November 2023. A few weeks ago Matt and Seton Interviewed Dick Harpootlian who prosecuted Pee Wee Gaskins. In this episode you will hear from the other side of the courtroom in the Gaskins trial. Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins Jr. is one of South Carolina's most notorious serial kille...

Michael Colucci, a Summerville, South Carolina jeweler, was once again on trial for the death of his wife, seven years after his initial trial ended in a mistrial. Michael Colucci is accused of killing his wife, Sara Lynn Colucci, in May 2015. During his first trial in 2018, prosecutors alleged that Michael strangled Sara. His defense argued that she died by suicide, claiming she hanged herself wi...

Michael Colucci, a Summerville, South Carolina jeweler, is once again on trial for the death of his wife, seven years after his initial trial ended in a mistrial. Michael Colucci is accused of killing his wife, Sara Lynn Colucci, in May 2015. During his first trial in 2018, prosecutors alleged that Michael strangled Sara. His defense argued that she died by suicide, claiming she hanged herself wit...

June 7, 2021 Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were found murdered on their estate in rural Colleton County, SC. Prominent South Carolina attorney, Alex Murdaugh made the 911 call to authorities about the murders. After a nearly six week trial Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of killing his wife and son on July 14, 2022. Murdaugh is appealing the conviction. In this episode Seton and Matt discuss how the pod...

A 2023 road rage incident near Myrtle Beach turned deadly. Weldon Boyd fatally shot and killed 33 year old Scott Spivey. Boyd claimed self defense under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground Law. Questions emerged about the investigation after Boyd's phone calls were released. There are also questions abut Boyd's relationship with law enforcement and how the investigation was handled In this episode...

A 2023 road rage incident near Myrtle Beach turned deadly. Weldon Boyd fatally shot and killed 33 year old Scott Spivey. Boyd claimed self defense under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground Law. Questions emerged about the investigation after Boyd's phone calls were released. There are also questions abut Boyd's relationship with law enforcement and how the investigation was handled. In this episode...

Becky Hill, the former Colleton County clerk of court, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice and misconduct in Colleton County and perjury in Richland County. The perjury charge stems from her testimony in a January 2024 hearing into whether Alex Murdaugh would get a new trial based on Hill's alleged jury tampering. Justice Toal ruled that Murdaugh should not get a new trial. Murdaugh'...

This is part two of an interview with Joe McCulloch and Dick Harpootlian. In this episode, Harpootlian discusses his new book about South Carolina serial killer, Pee Wee Gaskins, talks about the chances of Alex Murdaugh getting a new trial, and how he feels about a new Murdaugh series coming out soon. Seton Tucker and Matt Harris began the Impact of Influence podcast shortly after the murders of M...

A man described as a “budding serial killer” was placed in a state-approved mental health residential care home in Columbia, South Carolina, where he allegedly killed and cannibalized two individuals over a five-month period. The accused consumed the ears of both victims and drank one victim’s blood. Jared Ondrea was the first victim. Attorneys Joe McCulloch, and Dick Harpootlian filed lawsuits on...

 In this new installment of her true crime series, journalist Carol Costello delves into the complex case of the Ohio Craigslist Killings, and in doing so, unearths the untold story of the crimes that preceded the murders – and the victims who’ve never received justice. Richard Beasley was convicted of murdering three men and attempting to kill a fourth in the fall of 2011, but before that heinous...

A 2023 road rage incident near Myrtle Beach turned deadly. Weldon Boyd fatally shot and killed 33 year old Scott Spivey. Boyd claimed self defense under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground Law. Questions emerged about the investigation after Boyd's phone calls were released. There are also questions abut Boyd's relationship with law enforcement and how the investigation was handled. Seton and Matt...

The South Carolina State Supreme Court granted the State and additional 120 days to respond to Alex Murdaugh's appeal of his double murder conviction. Questions are raised about the pace of the Becky Hill investigation. Alex's banker buddy, Russell Lafitte, takes a plea deal. There is some movement on the Beach/Parkers outrage case. Seton Tucker and Matt Harris began the Impact of Influence podcas...

On September 30, 2024, Ty'Ran Tyrell Dixon, a professional football player from Columbia, SC was detained by law enforcement and told there was a warrant for his arrest of murder that occurred in Barnwell, SC on October 15, 2023. Dixon not only did not commit the murder, he was never even charged with the murder and he was never in Barnwell, SC. Dixon spent 66 days imprisoned. That included trips...

Asha Degree was just nine years old when she disappeared from her home in Shelby, North Carolina, more than 25 years ago. Since then, various law enforcement agencies, including local, state, and federal authorities, have been working to solve the case. In the past few months there appears to have been some movement in the case. In this episode we hear from the hosts of the podcast Crackhouse Chro...

Andy Moorman and Mark Moyer are the defense attorneys for Zachary Hughes, who was convicted of murdering Christina Parcell. The case was dubbed the Rose Petal Murder by Fitsnews. Andy and Mark discussed the case on this episode. In the previous episode we heard about the case from the solicitor's perspective. The trial of the murder of Christina Parcell began on February 10, 2025. It concluded 2/2...

Walter Wilkins, The Solicitor for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, joined the podcast to discuss his prosecution of Zachary Hughes. Wilkins discussed his strategy for the trial and the testimony that surprised him from the "Rose Petal Murderer" Here is the background on the case. The trial of the murder of Christina Parcell began on February 10, 2025. It concluded 2/21/2025 with Zachary Hughes bei...

A win for Buster Murdaugh's team. Seton and Matt break it down. Alex Murdaugh's hopes to get a new trial take another step. Russell Lafiite gets news on his new federal trial. Seton Tucker and Matt Harris began the Impact of Influence podcast shortly after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Now they cover true crime past and present fro the southeast region of the U.S. Impact of Influence is...

Lori Murray (Lawyer Lori on TikTok) joined the show to discuss the meeting she attended with Kaden Moses's parents with SLED and the solicitor. Murray doesn't hold back on her thoughts that there should be charges brought against the juvenile that was in the room with Kaden the night Kaden was shot. What did authorities tell Kaden's family and MurrayTo hear more about this tragic case listen to th...

The trial of the murder of Christina Parcell began on February 10, 2025. It concluded 2/21/2025 with Zachary Hughes being sentenced to life for the murder of Parcell. Hughes had a very unusual defense. He admitted to killing Parcell but he claimed it was to protect her daughter. In this episode we discuss with Seton's father and attorney Matt Siembieda, how a Hughes appeal might play out, and what...

The trial of the murder of Christina Parcell began on February 10, 2025. It concluded 2/21/2025 with Zachary Hughes being sentenced to life for the murder of Parcell. Hughes had a very unususal defense. His testimony and the verdict are discussed in this episode. There are five other episodes on this case. Those were released on January 10, 13, 21 February 14th and Feb 17th. This is the background...

The trial of the murder of Christina Parcell began on February 10, 2025. In this epsiode a review of the fourth and fifth days of the trial. The defense rested following day 5. There are four other episodes on this case. Those were released on January 10, 13, and 21amd February 14th This is the background. On Oct 13, 2021, 41 year old Christina Parcell was found brutally murdered in Greer, SC. Par...

The trial of the murder of Christina Parcell began on February 10, 2025. Seton Tucker attended the trial and she discusses the first two days of the trial. There are three other episodes on this case. Those were released on January 10, 13, and 21. This is the background. On Oct 13, 2021, 41 year old Christina Parcell was found brutally murdered in Greer, SC. Parcell had suffered 31 stab wounds and...

In this follow up episode we discuss the release of Kaden's Date Certificate. On the death certificate it reads, "How injury Occurred Shot by another person". Former District Attorney, John Snyder joins us to talk about the case from a D.A.'s perspective. The following is the description from the previous episode on Dec 5, 2024 titled "A Grieving Mother Wants Answers Surrounding Tragic Death of He...