Shivangi Sinha
The 2019 boating accident involving Paul Murdaugh was one of the most complex and controversial cases linked to the Murdaugh family, and over time, it only grew more complicated. In the immediate aftermath, rumors and confusion surrounded who had actually been driving the boat that night. Initially, many believed it was Connor Cook behind the wheel, but in his deposition a few months later, Connor presented a very different version of events and it ultimately shifted the focus toward Paul Murdaugh and became key in his indictment. Hulu’s ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ dramatizes these incidents to offer a rough depiction of the real case.
Connor Cook Didn’t Name the Driver of the Boat in the Initial Interaction With the Police
Connor Cook had been Paul Murdaugh’s close friend for years. The two attended Wade Hampton High School together and were part of a close-knit group that often spent time enjoying parties and adventures, such as hunting and fishing. On the night of February 23, 2019, Connor and his girlfriend, Miley Altman, joined two other couples, Paul Murdaugh with Morgan Doughty, and Anthony Cook with Mallory Beach, for a gathering at a house party on Paukie Island. The friends frequently socialized together, and shortly after midnight on February 24, all six boarded a boat. They stopped at the Murdaugh family’s river property, known as Murdaugh Island, where Connor later admitted they had been drinking, despite being underage.
The group made a stop at a convenience store to buy alcohol, with Paul Murdaugh using his brother Buster’s ID to complete the purchase. Court records indicate that around 1 am, they also visited a dockside bar in Beaufort, South Carolina, where Paul and Connor had additional drinks before returning to the boat. Connor later stated that Paul was driving when the boat collided with a piling of the Archer’s Creek Bridge. The crash injured everyone on board, and Mallory Beach was thrown into the water. Her remains were recovered a week later. Connor suffered a broken jaw and used an EMT’s phone to call his mother, who quickly arrived at the hospital where he was treated. Initially, Connor told police that he could not recall who was driving the boat at the time of the crash.
However, as speculation around the case intensified, he was called in for a deposition in January 2020. During this deposition, Connor alleged that Alex Murdaugh had instructed him to lie to investigators and feign ignorance. He admitted that he had provided false information out of fear that the Murdaugh family would evade accountability and to avoid being targeted himself. Connor placed the responsibility for driving the boat on Paul. He also described their friendship, noting that although they had been close, Paul’s recklessness and tendency to evade consequences had strained their relationship. Since Paul passed away in June 2021, he was never convicted of charges, but he had been indicted based on evidence, which included Connor’s statements and allegations.
Connor Cook Dismissed the Lawsuits That He Filed in 2021
In September 2021, Connor Cook filed a lawsuit against Alex Murdaugh, his surviving son Buster Murdaugh, Gregory M. Parker, Inc. (also known as Parker’s Corporation or Parker’s 55), the gas station/convenience store that sold alcohol to the individuals on the boat that night, and clerk Tajeeha Cohen, who completed the sale. The lawsuit detailed the boating accident and alleged that the Murdaugh family had orchestrated a “whisper campaign” to falsely accuse Connor of driving the boat and push for his criminal conviction. In July 2023, Connor received $1 million as part of the settlement awarded to survivors of the accident. By October 2024, he dismissed the lawsuit against Gregory Parker and Alex Murdaugh, and there have been no further developments in the case since.
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Connor Cook is Raising a Daughter With Miley Altman Today
For Connor Cook, life has unfolded as he hoped, despite the challenges of his teenage years. He and Miley Altman have remained together through the trials of the past years and have built a strong and resilient partnership. In May 2023, the couple welcomed a baby girl, and following the settlement of the boating accident, they were able to establish a financial foundation for their child’s future. In November 2024, Connor and Miley were married in a ceremony surrounded by friends and family, marking the start of a peaceful family life they had long sought. They have maintained close ties with other survivors of the 2019 boating accident and formed a network akin to an extended family due to their shared experiences.
Connor has also launched his own business, CMCook Construction LLC, in October 2024. The company provides a range of services, including forestry mulching, land clearing, grading, drainage and utilities installation, tree removal, and driveway installation and reclamation. This venture allows him to channel his professional energy into tangible, community-focused work while maintaining flexibility for his family. Living in Estill, South Carolina, Connor and Miley enjoy a life of stability and fulfillment. For Connor, each achievement and milestone reinforces a sense of accomplishment and contentment, and he fully embraces the life he and Miley have built together.
