Ryan Kelly, a former investigator with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Department (SLED), was let go from his role as chief inspector at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on June 8, as confirmed by the department. His responsibilities included overseeing the Office of Professional Standards, which looks after internal affairs. His dismissal followed allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior.
Kelly was previously the lead SLED agent for the notable investigation into Alex Murdaugh. His firing comes just ahead of Murdaugh’s expected retrial, which might raise questions about prior evidence and investigative actions tied to cases involving Kelly.
When asked if Kelly’s dismissal would have any impact on the upcoming retrial, Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh’s defense attorney, chose not to provide any comments, saying, “At this point, that’s not the case.”
During Murdaugh’s first trial earlier this year, Kelly provided testimony regarding a bizarre roadside shooting incident in September 2021, where Murdaugh initially claimed he was shot by an unknown attacker while changing a tire. As the lead investigator, Kelly’s insights were utilized by prosecutors to illustrate Murdaugh’s pattern of deception following the murders of his wife and son.
The evidence presented indicated that Murdaugh later confessed to having arranged for Curtis “Eddie” Smith to shoot him so that his son, Buster, could collect on a life insurance policy. This shooting, although separate from the June 2021 murders, became a significant element in the prosecution’s overall case against Murdaugh.
In March 2023, Murdaugh received a life sentence for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, shot at their family estate. Even after his conviction was overturned, Murdaugh remains incarcerated due to separate financial crimes, including theft from clients and his previous law firm.
Prosecutors contend that Murdaugh killed his family to divert attention from his failing legal and financial situation, while his defense maintains that he is a devoted husband and father wrongfully accused because of hasty investigations. With a new trial looming, the legal saga continues to unfold.
