Alex Murdaugh’s defense attorney revealed that the media circus surrounding his client’s double murder trial inspired him to write a book about one of South Carolina’s most infamous serial killers.
Dick Harpootlian, 75, represented Murdaugh while he was on trial for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, at their sprawling 1,800-acre hunting estate in June 2021.
While Murdaugh ultimately received two life sentences without parole, Harpootlian made headlines throughout the six-week trial for his gallows humor.
Harpootlian, a former Democrat State Senator, went viral for pointing a rifle at the prosecution bench while providing analysis of gunshots at the crime scene to claim Murdaugh was too short to be the killer.
He grinned as he pointed the gun at the prosecution table and said, ‘Tempting’, prompting a chorus of laughter.
The attorney is no stranger to working on high-profile cases, but Harpootlian told DailyMail.com that Murdaugh’s case inspired him to make a new career move and write a book.
Before he was a defense attorney, Harpootlian prosecuted notorious serial killer and rapist Donald Henry ‘Pee Wee’ Gaskins.
Dick Harpootlian (right), 75, represented Alex Murdaugh (left) while he was on trial for the murder of his wife and son
Alex Murdaugh sits in the Colleton County Courthouse with his legal team, including Dick Harpootlian
Gaskins, who was known to have murdered at least a dozen people and claimed to have killed over 100, was executed by the state in September 1991.
Harpootlian’s new book, ‘Dig Me a Grave,’ takes a look at the prolific murderer and explores the justice system and the death penalty.
‘I prosecuted Gaskins’ six-week trial, the longest criminal trial in the history of the state. Until 40 years later, Murdaugh took the prize,’ Harpootlian told DailyMail.com.
‘After the Murdaugh trial… I mean, I’ve been involved in some high-profile cases.
The attorney told DailyMail.com his client’s double murder trial inspired him to write his new book ‘Dig Me a Grave’ about one of South Carolina’s most infamous serial killers
‘But what’s new in this realm is the social media context of a live television trial. And I’ve never seen anything like that.’
Harpootlian shared that he had the idea to write about Gaskins for years, but he didn’t set out to finish it until after the Murdaugh trial.
‘The public interest, obviously, in the Gaskins case at the time, was huge, but you can’t compare it to the live coverage of the [Murdaugh] trial,’ he said.
‘I think what I came out of Murdaugh with was the understanding that there is this huge interest in true crime, and when I say huge, I never understood how huge.
‘They’re fascinated by it, the mystery of it. They’re fascinated by the twists and turns of it. Gaskins is not your typical mass serial killer, and his story is very unique.’
Before he was a defense attorney, Harpootlian prosecuted notorious serial killer and rapist Donald Henry ‘Pee Wee’ Gaskins (pictured)
Harpootlian went viral for pointing a rifle at the prosecution bench while providing analysis of gunshots at the crime scene during Murdaugh’s trial
The former state senator said he had the idea to write about Gaskins for years, but he didn’t set out to finish it until Murdaugh
Gaskins (left, in handcuffs), who was known to have murdered at least a dozen people and claimed to have killed over 100, was executed by the state in September 1991
Harpootlian explained that he received hundreds of threats and hate mail during the Murdaugh – but doubled down and said he is proud to have represented him.
‘What those people don’t understand is the best system designed by man [the justice system]. I’m proud of that process. I’m proud of representing Alex Murdaugh. I’m proud of prosecuting Pee Wee Gaskins,’ he said.
‘I’m proud of participating in this system, and to those folks that don’t believe that people they think are guilty deserve a lawyer, I would say, grow up. Read the Constitution.’
Harpootlian shared that the infamous serial killer tried to form a personal relationship with him while he was prosecuting him in 1983 for killing a death row inmate while incarcerated in the high-security block at the South Carolina Correctional Institution.
He said Gaskins was the only defendant he called by their first name. One day, the serial killer tried telling him that they were kindred souls.
Harpootlian said, ‘We’re sitting there one day at lunch, and [Gaskins] says, “Dick, Dick.” I said, “What do you want, Pee Wee?” He said, “You know, you’re a lot like me, you like killing.”‘
‘[Gaskin’s] said, “You are killing me.” and I said, “No, no, no, I’m trying to do justice.”
After Gaskin’s conviction, Harpootlian said the killer continually tried to contact him and even plotted to have his young daughter kidnapped before his execution.
Harpootlian explained that he received hundreds of threats and hate mail during the Murdaugh but said he is proud to have represented him
Harpootlian said the Constitution ensures every American deserves an attorney and he is proud of his work as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer
Maggie Murdaugh , 52, and her son Paul Murdaugh, 22, were killed by Alex Murdaugh (right)
‘While I was the solicitor, he attempted to have my daughter kidnapped two weeks before he was to be executed and wanted her held hostage so that I would free him. So Gaskin’s played a dramatic and consequential part of my career.’
His new book also explores the impact Gaskins’ death sentence had on him and his position on the issue.
‘[The Gaskins trial] was an experience that left an indelible impression on me having somebody sentenced to death. [Gaskins] was a homicidal maniac,’ Harpootlian said.
‘I’m for the death penalty in very limited circumstances. It should be as humane as possible. It ought to be an act of self-defense.’
As a state senator, Harpootlian introduced the bill that would later become law legalizing death by firing squad in state executions.
‘If anybody in the world deserved to be executed, it was a guy on his 14th murder when he blows up a guy on death row. Gaskins was, if you’re opposed to the death penalty, might be the exception to that,’ he said.
‘But still, the fact that they strapped him in a chair and burned him to death bothered me then, and it still bothers me.’
Harpootlian co-authored the book with journalist Shaun Assael. ‘Dig Me a Grave’ is scheduled for release on December 16 and is available for pre-order.