Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
Ryan Kelly Fired by Charleston Sheriff’s Office as Murdaugh, 58, Awaits Retrial
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23

Ryan Kelly Fired by Charleston Sheriff’s Office as Murdaugh, 58, Awaits Retrial

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23

Summary

  • June 8 brought the firing of former SLED investigator Ryan Kelly from his job as chief inspector at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, where he oversaw internal affairs.
  • Charleston County said the termination followed allegations of harassment and improper conduct, removing an investigator who played a visible role in the Alex Murdaugh cases.
  • Kelly testified at Murdaugh’s 2023 murder trial about the September 2021 roadside shooting that prosecutors used to argue Murdaugh showed a pattern of deception after the killings of Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22.
  • The personnel move lands as South Carolina prepares for a new murder trial after the state Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s convictions on May 13 over alleged jury tampering by former clerk Becky Hill.
  • Murdaugh still remains in prison on separate financial-crime convictions, and prosecutors have said they intend to retry the double-murder case.

Insights

With key officials now disgraced, can the state's evidence against Alex Murdaugh be trusted in a retrial?
With financial crime evidence now limited, what motive will prosecutors argue for the murders in Murdaugh's retrial?

Chief Inspector Ryan Kelly Fired Amid Secrecy as Murdaugh Murder Convictions Overturned and Retrial Approaches

Overview

Chief Inspector Ryan Kelly was fired from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office on June 8, 2026, but the specific reasons for his dismissal remain undisclosed. As of June 23, 2026, no official explanation has been released, leaving the public in the dark. Media outlets have submitted formal requests for information, including a FOIA request by The Post and Courier and further inquiries by Live 5 Investigates, but the Sheriff's Office has not provided the requested documents. This lack of transparency has fueled public curiosity and speculation about the circumstances surrounding Kelly's termination.

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