Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney convicted of murdering his wife and son, seems to be making the most of his time in prison, according to recent reports.

Despite his life sentence and the severity of his crimes, Murdaugh appears to have adapted well to his new environment, engaging in activities such as playing chess and working as a ward keeper’s assistant, which helps him earn credits that may reduce his sentence.

Murdaugh’s attorney, Jim Griffin, revealed in an NBC report that his client is frequently involved in chess games.

“Alex is at the chessboard all the time,” Griffin said. “He mentioned that there are really good chess players in there.”

This revelation suggests that Murdaugh has found a way to occupy his time and potentially build relationships with fellow inmates through the intellectual challenge of chess.

In addition to his chess activities, Murdaugh is working as an assistant to the ward keeper. This job not only keeps him occupied but also contributes to reducing his prison sentence through earned work credits.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections has confirmed that inmates can earn credits for good behavior and work, which can lead to sentence reductions. Murdaugh’s role as a ward keeper’s assistant is thus a strategic move on his part to mitigate the length of his incarceration.

Griffin described Murdaugh as an “affable guy,” suggesting that he has managed to make friends in prison despite the gravity of his offenses. However, Griffin also noted that Murdaugh is confined to his cell from Friday to Monday, indicating that while he is integrated into some prison activities, his freedom of movement is still severely restricted.

In contrast, Aimee Zmroczek, an attorney representing Curtis Eddie Smith—who is alleged to have been paid by Murdaugh to attempt to kill him—painted a different picture of Murdaugh’s prison life. On the Surviving the Survivor podcast, Zmroczek claimed that Murdaugh is “living it up” in prison and is effectively running the place. She even suggested that Murdaugh is involved in a “side gambling system,” which would be a significant breach of prison regulations if true.

Griffin dismissed Zmroczek’s comments as unfounded, saying, “She doesn’t know what the hell she is talking about.” He characterized the reports about Murdaugh’s purported activities as mere “noise” and insisted that they do not affect the broader reality of his imprisonment. According to Griffin, the situation described by Zmroczek is not reflective of Murdaugh’s actual circumstances.

These contrasting accounts of Murdaugh’s prison life highlight the complex and often speculative nature of such reports. Last year, a former inmate who had shared a dormitory with Murdaugh spoke to 11Alive News, providing further insights into how Murdaugh was treated behind bars. The former dorm-mate reported that Murdaugh was given a tablet on his first day in the recreational yard, a privilege not usually extended to other inmates who had to wait up to 60 days to receive such items. The tablet reportedly was new, unlike those typically given to other prisoners.

Additionally, the former dorm-mate claimed that Murdaugh had his laundry done by someone else and was known to spend large amounts of money in the commissary, often maxing out the $150 weekly limit. This spending, according to the dorm-mate, allowed Murdaugh to buy items for other inmates, further contributing to his perceived privileged status within the prison.

Despite these reports of preferential treatment, Murdaugh’s legal battles are far from over. Last week, the South Carolina Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal concerning Murdaugh’s conviction. His attorneys argue that there was judicial misconduct during his trial, specifically that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill tampered with the jury by instructing them not to trust Murdaugh’s testimony. This allegation of jury tampering is a serious claim that, if proven, could potentially lead to a re-evaluation of Murdaugh’s conviction or even a new trial.

As Murdaugh continues to navigate his life in prison, his case remains a subject of intense public and media scrutiny. The differing accounts of his prison life, along with ongoing legal challenges, reflect the complexity of his situation and the broader issues related to the treatment of high-profile inmates within the justice system.