Mandy Matney, the South Carolina true-crime podcaster and former journalist best known for her reporting on the Alex Murdaugh case through the Murdaugh Murders podcast, has been found in civil contempt of court after a judge ruled that she deliberately ignored a lawful subpoena and multiple court orders.
The ruling, issued by Circuit Judge R. Keith Kelly in Hampton County on or around July 13, 2026, stems from Matney’s refusal to attend a court-ordered deposition on March 27, 2026, in the civil lawsuit Renee S. Beach et al. v. Gregory M. Parker et al. (Hampton County Case No. 2021-CP-25-00392). The 22-page order concludes that her actions amounted to willful defiance of the court, resulting in significant financial penalties and the possibility of further sanctions.
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Court Orders Mandy Matney to Pay $176,500 After Contempt Finding
Judge Kelly ordered Matney to pay $171,500 in attorney’s fees and costs, reducing the defendants’ original request of more than $310,000. The fees were awarded to three law firms representing the Parker defendants.
| Recipient | Amount Awarded |
| Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC | $39,900 |
| Deborah B. Barbier, LLC | $45,950 |
| Maynard Nexsen, PC | $85,650 |
| Additional Court Fine | $5,000 |
| Total | $176,500 |
The additional $5,000 fine must be paid within 60 days. Judge Kelly also retained jurisdiction to impose further sanctions if necessary. Matney’s legal team, including attorney Becky Lindahl, has stated that they disagree with the ruling and intend to appeal.
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How the Mallory Beach-Related Civil Lawsuit Led to the Deposition Dispute
The deposition arose from a separate civil lawsuit connected to the February 24, 2019, Beaufort County boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.
Renee Beach, Mallory’s mother, and others sued Greg Parker, owner of Parker’s convenience stores, and additional defendants, alleging the improper disclosure of confidential mediation materials, including graphic postmortem photographs of Mallory Beach, in violation of a confidentiality order.
Parker had previously settled the related wrongful death lawsuit with the Beach family for $15 million.
Although Matney is not a party to the case, she was subpoenaed as a non-party witness because Parker’s attorneys believed her extensive reporting on the Murdaugh case and the boat crash could provide relevant information regarding the photographs and related matters.
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Why the Judge Rejected Matney’s Explanation for Missing the Deposition
Court records show that deposition notices were served over several months beginning in late 2025 at the same Bluffton law firm location. Matney challenged the subpoena by arguing reporter’s privilege, undue burden, and lack of relevance, but did not initially raise concerns about the deposition location or personal safety.
Judge Kelly denied her Motion to Quash/Protective Order on February 5, 2026, and later denied her Motion for Reconsideration on March 16, 2026, ordering her to appear for deposition within 14 days.
Instead of attending the noticed location on March 27, 2026, Matney remained at attorney Meredith Bannon’s office in Bluffton with her husband and plaintiffs’ counsel, citing safety concerns. Parker’s legal team waited at the scheduled location and offered alternative venues, including a secured office in Columbia and a Bluffton hotel, but those options were rejected.
The judge noted that Matney first raised safety and location objections less than a week before the deposition despite having nearly five months’ notice. He described the emergency motion as disfavored for dilatory parties. Matney was ultimately deposed on April 8, 2026 after evidentiary hearings held on April 7, May 15 (continued), and June 22, 2026.
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Judge Says Evidence Showed ‘Willful Defiance’ Rather Than Confusion
Judge Kelly concluded that clear and convincing evidence demonstrated Matney’s failure to appear “was not the result of confusion, mistake, or inability, but rather a deliberate decision to disregard the subpoena and the Court’s March 16, 2026 Order.” He found that attending the noticed location “was not impossible” and that she “had a true choice.”
The court also rejected her safety claims, finding no credible evidence of physical threats, restraining orders, or any connection between the alleged online harassment and Parker’s legal team. The judge noted she could have used her hired private security during the deposition.
The ruling further referenced social media posts following the missed deposition—including a lemon pound cake with counsel, a toast, and a celebratory meal in Savannah—as evidence relevant to her credibility and intent to defy the court. Judge Kelly emphasized that these posts did not form the legal basis for the contempt finding and acknowledged her First Amendment right to express opinions about the case.
The order also rejected allegations that the deposition was intended to harass or silence Matney over her Murdaugh reporting, stating that her motions unnecessarily prolonged the litigation.
During testimony, Matney acknowledged that she had made things up on her podcast at times, said she did not manage her business finances because “My husband does the money,” described suffering from night terrors and requiring private security, and broke down crying during cross-examination.
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Judge Kelly also quoted South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge regarding half-truths and false narratives in media and podcasts attacking the justice system, stating that the sanctions were necessary to protect judicial integrity and deter abuse of court process.
Public reaction has been sharply divided. Some legal observers described the financial sanctions as unusually large for a South Carolina contempt case involving a non-party witness. Discussion on X and Reddit has also split opinion, with some viewing the ruling as accountability for defying court orders and “Murdaugh Mafia” tactics, while others argue it represents punitive overreach with a potential chilling effect on journalism and podcasting critical of powerful figures or the justice system. Matney has remained a prominent figure in Murdaugh coverage since the 2019 boat crash helped bring wider attention to the broader case.
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