If you follow true crime or the sprawling legal saga surrounding Alex Murdaugh, you may have noticed the name Mandy Matney trending across Google USA this week. Matney, a prominent investigative journalist and host of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, has just been hit with a massive financial penalty by a South Carolina judge.
On July 13, 2026, Circuit Court Judge R. Keith Kelly issued a sweeping 22-page order finding Matney in civil contempt of court. The ruling stems from her refusal to attend a scheduled deposition related to a civil conspiracy lawsuit tied to the Murdaugh family.
Here is a complete breakdown of the contempt order, the events leading up to it, and what it means for the ongoing litigation.
The Background: The Beach v. Parker Civil Suit
To understand the contempt ruling, you have to understand the underlying lawsuit.
The litigation stems from the tragic February 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Paul Murdaugh, who was allegedly driving the boat under the influence, purchased alcohol from a Parker’s Kitchen convenience store prior to the crash. The Beach family subsequently sued the convenience store magnate, Greg Parker, and several co-defendants, alleging they illegally sold alcohol to the underage Murdaugh.
While Matney is not a party to this civil lawsuit, her extensive reporting on the case made her a target for discovery. Attorneys for Greg Parker subpoenaed Matney as a non-party witness, seeking to depose her.
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The Contempt Ruling Explained
The core of the issue occurred on March 27, 2026. Matney was scheduled to appear for an in-person deposition at a specific law office in Bluffton, South Carolina. She refused to attend the noticed location, instead appearing via Zoom from a different law office in the same town.
1. The Safety Defense Rejected
Matney and her legal team argued that she did not attend the scheduled deposition due to legitimate safety concerns, citing online harassment and fears of a stalker.
Judge Kelly explicitly rejected this defense. In his order, he stated that Matney’s testimony regarding her safety was “not credible” and that there was “no persuasive evidence” to support her claims. The judge pointed out that she had raised no objections to the location during the five months the subpoena was pending, only bringing up security concerns less than a week before the deposition. Furthermore, he noted she could have simply brought the private security guard she had already hired to the noticed location.
2. Social Media Activity Cited
The judge also used Matney’s own social media posts against her. The order referenced photos Matney posted shortly after the aborted deposition, showing her eating lemon pound cake with attorney Mark Tinsley and later dining in Savannah, concluding these posts “evidence her intent to defy her obligation.”
3. The Financial Penalty
Ultimately, Judge Kelly found “clear and convincing evidence” that Matney made a “deliberate decision to disregard the subpoena.”
The financial sanctions are staggering. While the judge reduced the initial $310,000 requested by Parker’s legal team, Matney has been ordered to pay:
- $171,500 in attorney’s fees and costs (split among three defense law firms).
- $5,000 as a separate fine.
- Total Sanction: $176,500
Matney’s Response and Next Steps
The ruling is an unusually large financial sanction for a non-party journalist in a discovery dispute. Matney and her attorney, Eric Bland, have fiercely criticized the order, describing it as an abuse of the legal system and an attempt to bully and harass her for her reporting.
Following the ruling on Monday, Matney took to social media, stating: “I’m not angry that Judge R Keith Kelly found me in contempt of court. I’m angry that he’s ordering me to pay an unprecedented amount of legal fees… The South Carolina Justice system is exactly what I’ve been saying all along — CORRUPT.”
Matney and her legal team have indicated they plan to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, the underlying Beach v. Parker civil trial is currently scheduled to begin in August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why was Mandy Matney held in contempt of court?
A South Carolina judge found Matney in civil contempt because she deliberately refused to appear in person for a scheduled deposition on March 27, 2026, defying a lawful subpoena and prior court orders.
Is Mandy Matney being sued?
No. Matney is a non-party witness in a civil conspiracy lawsuit filed by the family of Mallory Beach against Greg Parker and his convenience store corporation. She was subpoenaed to give a deposition regarding her reporting on the case.
How much does Mandy Matney have to pay?
Matney has been ordered to pay a total of $176,500, which includes $171,500 in attorney’s fees to reimburse the defense lawyers and a separate $5,000 fine.