BECKY HILL CASE FILES
Becky Hill The Clerk of Court accused of jury tampering
Becky Hill describes herself as “a bit of a legal eagle,” claiming that her entire career led up to her election as Colleton County Clerk of Court. Although she had spent over a decade working as a court reporter, Hill was still relatively new to the clerk role when the Murdaugh trial began, having been elected in November 2020.
Before entering the legal field, Hill worked as a middle school teacher, held administrative positions in both state and local disability agencies, and later took on administrative roles in law offices. She eventually became a freelance court reporter, then transitioned into an official role with the state of South Carolina in 2008. In her book, Hill notes that she was assigned to Judge Perry M. Buckner, the administrative judge for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Allendale, Hampton, Colleton, Jasper, and Beaufort counties.
Hill also highlights deep family ties to the Murdaughs, noting that in the close-knit, rural Lowcountry community, such connections are common. She recalls that her grandfather, Felder Hiers—described as a mechanic by trade but a moonshiner at heart—ran an illegal liquor still with Buster Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh’s grandfather and the solicitor at the time.
Murdaugh Case Files: Becky Hill
Timeline: Becky Hill and the Murdaugh Trial
Becky Hill – The Clerk of Court accused of jury tampering in Alex Murdaugh’s trial
March 2, 2023
Alex Murdaugh is convicted of murdering his wife and son. Becky Hill, as Clerk of Court, reads the guilty verdict aloud in court.
August 2023
Hill publishes Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders, a book about the trial.
September 5, 2023
Murdaugh’s defense files a motion for a new trial, alleging that Hill tampered with the jury by making comments suggesting Murdaugh’s guilt and interacting improperly with jurors.
October 17, 2023
The South Carolina Court of Appeals grants Murdaugh’s motion to suspend his conviction appeal and remands the case to the circuit court to consider the jury tampering allegations.
November 21, 2023
Colleton County technology director Jeffrey Hill, son of Becky Hill, was arrested and charged with wiretapping. While the details of the allegations against Jeffrey Hill, 34, are unknown, the case has been taken up by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Following his arrest, Hill was fired from his $90,537-a-year job
December 2023
Hill’s co-author accuses her of plagiarizing parts of their book. Hill admits to the plagiarism, attributing it to deadline pressures, and sales of the book are halted.
January 29, 2024
An evidentiary hearing is held to examine the jury tampering claims. Judge Jean Toal finds Hill’s testimony “not entirely credible” but rules that her actions did not warrant a new trial.
March 25, 2024
Hill resigns from her position as Clerk of Court amid ongoing investigations. She states that her resignation is to allow new leadership and to focus on her family, denying that it is related to the investigations.
May 2024
The South Carolina Ethics Commission charges Hill with 76 ethics violations, including using her position for personal financial gain, misusing public funds, and disclosing confidential information.
- Diverted $9,880 in child support incentive funds to issue herself bonus checks.
- Reimbursed herself for personal expenses such as meals, gifts, and office decor.
- Shared a confidential photo of Alex Murdaugh in a courthouse holding cell to promote her book.
Hill resigned from her position as Clerk of Court, stating her decision was to allow new leadership and focus on her family, denying it was related to the investigations.
August 13, 2024
The South Carolina Supreme Court agrees to hear Murdaugh’s appeal regarding the alleged jury tampering, a decision that could potentially lead to a new trial.
December 10, 2024
Murdaugh’s attorneys file a 132-page appeal with the South Carolina Supreme Court outlining their arguments for a retrial.
April 2025
The state requests an extension to respond to Murdaugh’s appeal, citing the need to review extensive trial transcripts and related documents. The court grants a 120-day extension.
May 2025
Hill’s ethics hearing is postponed due to a pending criminal investigation by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. The ethics case will remain on hold until the criminal investigation concludes.
May 14, 2025
- 7:30 AM – Becky Hill, 57, of Walterboro, South Carolina, voluntarily surrendered to agents of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) at approximately 7:30 a.m. EDT. She was booked into the Colleton County Detention Center—the same facility where Alex Murdaugh was held during his high-profile murder trial in early 2023.
Hill is currently facing the following charges in Colleton County:
- One count of obstruction of justice
- Two counts of misconduct in office
At a bond hearing Wednesday Hill was granted a personal recognizance bond of $10,000 per charge, totaling $30,0000. She only has to pay that sum should she break the conditions of her bond. She was deemed to not be a flight risk by
the judge, having lived in Colleton County for 25 years.
July 18, 2025
- Hill is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on these charges on Friday, July 18, 2025, in Colleton County.
Records