Ex-Colleton court clerk Becky Hill pleads guilty; sentenced to probation for leaking sealed Murdaugh exhibits
Former Colleton County court clerk Becky Hill pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury and two counts of misconduct in office in connection with showing sealed exhibits from the Alex Murdaugh case, resigned in March 2024 and apologized in court. Judge Heath Taylor sentenced her to probation (reports conflict on whether it was one or three years) and said a harsher penalty would have followed if jury tampering were proven; prosecutors say a journalist reported Hill showed graphic crime‑scene photos and image metadata tied her key card to the locked evidence room, Hill brought a check to repay nearly $10,000 linked to one misconduct count, and her defense questioned her credibility and the investigation.
📌 Key Facts
- Ex-Colleton court clerk Becky Hill pleaded guilty to four counts: obstruction of justice, perjury (related to showing sealed exhibits and lying), and two felony counts of misconduct in office tied to taking bonuses and promoting her book.
- A separate misdemeanor perjury count in Richland County was previously noted by SLED.
- Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Hill to probation but reports differ on the term length (Fox News reported three years; CBS News reported one year); the judge said a harsher sentence would have followed if evidence of jury tampering had surfaced.
- Prosecutor Rick Hubbard said a journalist told investigators Hill showed graphic crime-scene photos to several media members, and image metadata matched the time Hill’s key card accessed the locked room where the exhibits were kept.
- Hill brought a check to court to repay nearly $10,000 tied to one of the misconduct counts.
- Hill resigned from her clerk position in March 2024.
- Hill apologized in court, saying, “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them,” and defense attorney Dick Harpootlian later questioned her credibility and the impartiality of the investigation.
📊 Relevant Data
In Colleton County, South Carolina, the population is approximately 57% White and 35% Black as of 2022, with the Black population share decreasing from 42% in 2000.
Colleton County, SC population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
The jury in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial consisted of 10 White jurors and 2 Black jurors (16% Black), compared to Colleton County's population which is 35% Black.
Longtime SC defense attorney reviews makeup of Murdaugh jury — The State
In South Carolina, the Black-White imprisonment rate disparity was 4-to-1 in 2019 (Black imprisonment rate approximately 823 per 100,000, White 217 per 100,000), down from 6-to-1 in 2000, with the state's population being approximately 64% White and 25% Black.
South Carolina - Pushing Toward Parity — Council on Criminal Justice
📰 Sources (3)
- CBS reports Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Becky Hill to one year of probation and noted the sentence would have been harsher if jury tampering had been proven.
- Prosecutor Rick Hubbard said a journalist told investigators Hill showed graphic crime scene photos to several media members.
- Hill pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury related to showing sealed exhibits and lying, and two felony counts of misconduct in office tied to taking bonuses and promoting her book; SLED previously noted a separate misdemeanor perjury count in Richland County.
- Hill apologized in court: “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them.”
- Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian questioned Hill’s credibility and the impartiality of the investigation in a statement to CBS News.
- Judge Heath Taylor imposed three years of probation and said a harsher sentence would have followed if evidence of jury tampering had surfaced.
- Solicitor Rick Hubbard said a journalist reported Hill showed graphic crime-scene photos; image metadata matched the time Hill’s key card accessed the locked room.
- Hill brought a check to court to repay nearly $10,000 tied to one of the misconduct counts.
- Hill pleaded guilty to four counts: obstruction of justice, perjury, and two counts of misconduct in office.
- Hill apologized in court, saying she is ashamed and will carry the shame the rest of her life.
- Hill resigned in March 2024.