Shivangi Sinha
Hulu’s ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ is a dramatized retelling inspired by the real-life Murdaugh murders that shook South Carolina. The series revisits the downfall of the influential Murdaugh family, whose legacy of power and privilege unraveled following a string of deaths, lies, and criminal allegations. Among those connected to the case is Morgan Doughty, Paul Murdaugh’s real-life ex-girlfriend. She was with Paul on the night of the fatal 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach and has since spoken out about the abuse and dysfunction she allegedly witnessed in the Murdaugh household.
Morgan Doughty Alleged She Was in an Abusive Relationship With Paul Murdaugh
Morgan Louise Doughty moved from New York to South Carolina with her parents, Bill and Diane Doughty. Her father was a professional landscaper and her mother had a career as a dentist. During her junior year at Wade Hampton High School, she met Paul Murdaugh, a member of the prominent Murdaugh family of lawyers and attorneys from Islandton, South Carolina. The two began dating in 2015 and soon became part of a close-knit circle of friends. However, in later interviews, Morgan revealed that their relationship was allegedly marked by physical and emotional abuse. She alleged that Paul struggled with alcohol issues and claimed his family ignored the problem; allegations that the Murdaugh family has not publicly addressed.
In interviews, Morgan alleged that Paul frequently mistreated her — including one 2017 incident in which she claimed he choked her — though no criminal charges were filed in relation to her allegations. She also described another event where she claimed Paul was driving under the influence and allegedly crashed a car with her inside. Morgan alleged that his family had intervened after the crash to protect him from consequences. However, the claim has not been substantiated in court. On February 23, 2019, Morgan and Paul attended a house party with friends, including her best friend, Mallory Beach, her boyfriend, Anthony Cook, his cousin, Connor Cook, and Connor’s girlfriend, Miley Altman. Later that night, the group took Paul’s family boat out. According to court testimony, Paul reportedly used his brother Buster Murdaugh’s ID to purchase alcohol before they set off.
According to Morgan’s account, Paul became extremely drunk and aggressive with her that night and allegedly spat on and slapped her. At around 2:17 am on February 24, the boat carrying all six friends crashed into the Archer’s Creek Bridge in Beaufort, South Carolina. Morgan suffered injuries to her hand and fingers and was devastated to learn that her best friend, Mallory Beach, was missing. In a later statement, Morgan recalled how everyone had been terrified, and that she and Mallory were holding hands just minutes before the crash. She told detectives that Paul had been driving the boat. Testimonies from other friends supported her claim, and in April 2019, Paul was charged with boating under the influence, causing the death of Mallory and seriously injuring two others.
Morgan Doughty Was Entitled to a Settlement After the Boating Accident of 2019
Morgan Doughty maintained a low profile in the years following the tragic events. By the time Paul Murdaugh was found shot to death in June 2021, she was no longer in a relationship with him. In later interviews, she made several allegations, including that Paul had been allowed to consume alcohol freely at home. She said that they had dated for four years, and after Mallory Beach’s death, she decided to leave the relationship. In January 2022, Morgan filed a creditor’s claim for $10 million against the estates of Paul and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh.
A month later, she also sought punitive damages for “permanent scarring and disfigurement” caused by the boating accident. Court documents revealed that Morgan claimed Paul had spoken to Maggie before setting out on the boat while visibly intoxicated, and that she failed to intervene. In June 2023, Morgan participated in a joint settlement that compensated Mallory’s family and other victims of the crash. She reportedly received $1.1 million as part of the settlement.
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Morgan Doughty is Leading a Happily Married Life Today
Life for Morgan Doughty after the boat crash and the murder of her former boyfriend, Paul Murdaugh, was far from easy. She openly spoke about suffering from PTSD and undergoing therapy to cope with the trauma. Throughout her recovery, she found strength in her close circle of friends, especially those who had survived the accident with her. Along with her friend, Miley Altman, Morgan got a tattoo of the letter “M” in remembrance of Mallory Beach to honor the latter’s life and friendship. In 2019, Morgan met Batten Bostick and found love again. Her parents, Bill and Diane, were supportive and overjoyed to see her happy after the years of emotional turmoil.
With their encouragement and Batten’s companionship, Morgan began to rebuild her life with optimism and peace. In 2023, the couple got engaged, and on October 14, 2024, they tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by friends and family. Now living in Estill, South Carolina, Morgan (who goes by Morgan Louise Bostick today) leads a content and joyful life. She can be seen enjoying her home life with her two beloved dogs, who complete her little family. She is still close to her parents and most of the friends who were in the boating accident with her. After years marked by loss and trauma, she has embraced a future filled with love and hope for brighter days ahead.
