Lawsuits Dismissed! And 5 Takeaways from Connor Cook’s Surprising Testimony

This version is updated to correct the timing of Paul's death and Connor's deposition.

Inside the Deposition: Connor Cook’s Testimony and the Complicated Friendship with Paul Murdaugh – Including the Dismissal of Cook’s Lawsuits against Greg Parker and Alex Murdaugh.

The Shifting Bonds of a Tight-Knit Friend Group

Connor Cook’s relationship with Paul Murdaugh was rooted in a shared past of hunting, fishing, and drinking alcohol. They were, by all accounts from Connor, lifelong friends. Yet, Connor’s deposition paints a picture of a friendship that had become strained as Paul’s recklessness and lack of accountability began to take their toll. Complicating the situation further, Miley Altman, Connor’s girlfriend, was not only part of this circle but also cousins with Patrick Wilson—a name that would resurface as a person of interest in the homicide of Stephen Smith, along with Shawn Connelly. Both Wilson and Connelly were also long-time friends of Paul Murdaugh, and their association with him hints at a deeper, more tangled web of connections within this seemingly tight-knit group.

Miley, whose best friend was Mallory Beach, carried her own burden following the boat crash. The loss of Mallory in such a tragic and preventable manner left Miley devastated and fearful. Her proximity to other high-profile cases—both through family ties and friendships—only added to the complicated emotions surrounding her friendship with Paul. Connor’s deposition, taken before Paul’s untimely death, became an unchallenged account of the events. as Paul died before he was in court, Connor’s words stand as the closest version of truth under oath, that we have about that fateful night.

Resentment and Frustration with Paul’s History

Connor’s deposition reveals a frustration toward Paul, who seemed to routinely avoid facing consequences for his actions. Paul’s history of recklessness, particularly when alcohol was involved, was well-known among his friends. Connor recounts various instances where Paul’s irresponsible behavior led to trouble, often without repercussion. This apparent immunity, Connor suggests, was a source of irritation. He recalls how Paul had frequently had run-ins with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and had been involved in other alcohol-related incidents, such as vehicle accidents. Yet, each time, Paul seemed to escape unscathed, thanks to the Murdaugh family’s influence and connections.

Adding to Connor’s frustration, he remembers overhearing Paul telling his grandfather that Connor was driving the boat that night—a claim that angered him deeply. For Connor, it was one more instance of Paul sidestepping responsibility and leaving others to pick up the pieces. The deposition makes clear that, while they were once close friends, Paul’s repeated avoidance of accountability had become a significant point of contention between them.

Connor Cook expresses frustration towards Paul Murdaugh for frequently avoiding consequences. Throughout his deposition, he alludes to Paul’s pattern of reckless behavior, particularly when it comes to alcohol and brushes with the law:

1. Paul’s Pattern of Behavior:
   • Connor mentions that Paul had previous encounters with law enforcement, especially with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He refers to Paul “showing out” and having issues with the DNR, indicating a level of exasperation with Paul’s tendency to attract trouble​.
2. Frustration with Paul’s Ability to Avoid Consequences:
   • Connor admits that he heard rumors of Paul having other alcohol-related incidents, including vehicle accidents. Despite these incidents, Paul seemed to evade significant consequences. Connor’s tone in these statements reflects irritation, as he implies Paul’s repeated missteps were often brushed aside due to his family’s influence​.
3. Perception of Preferential Treatment:
   • Connor also describes overhearing Paul blaming him for the boat accident, which clearly upset him. This, combined with the knowledge of Paul’s history of trouble and lack of accountability, underscores Connor’s resentment toward Paul’s ability to escape repercussions​.

Contradictions in Connor Cook’s Testimony

Here are the inconsistencies and irregularities found in Connor Cook’s statements throughout the deposition:

1. Social Media Posts:
   • Connor initially states he didn’t post anything about the incident on February 23rd-24th, 2019. However, he admits he posted Snapchats that night but only before the accident​.
2. Drinking:
   • He admits to drinking that night, (boat crash) but claims that his drinking is rare and mostly at parties​. He also admits to having started drinking at age 15 or 16, which could be seen as minimizing his drinking frequency or history.
3. Use of Phones:
   • Connor initially claims he didn’t use anyone else’s phone to call 911. Later, he contradicts himself by saying he used the EMT’s phone to call his parents and that Paul used either the same phone or Miley’s phone​.
4. Blame for Driving:
   • Connor recounts overhearing Paul tell his grandfather that Connor (nicknamed “Cotton Top”) was driving the boat, which he acknowledges concerned him. Yet he later gave a statement to authorities saying he didn’t know who was driving​.
5. Knowledge of Plans and Parental Awareness:
   • He claims that all parents, including his and the other passengers’, knew they would be at the Murdaugh river house that night and were aware there would be drinking. This seems inconsistent, given the ongoing denial and finger-pointing among the group about the extent of their awareness and actions that night​.

These irregularities highlight discrepancies in Connor’s testimony regarding his actions, the events leading up to and following the incident, and his interactions with others involved.

Miley Altman’s Discomfort with Paul’s Behavior

Connor also touches on Miley’s feelings toward Paul, especially after the accident. He suggests that Miley was often uncomfortable with Paul’s drinking habits and his pattern of risky behavior. Her unease is evident in how she reacted to the events of that night—scared, upset, and distressed. As her best friend, Mallory Beach, had died as a direct result of Paul’s actions, Miley’s loyalty to Paul and the group was understandably shaken.

Further complicating matters is Miley’s family connection to Patrick Wilson, her cousin, and a person of interest in the Stephen Smith homicide case. Smith’s death, initially ruled a hit-and-run, has been the subject of ongoing speculation, with some pointing to Wilson and Connelly as potential suspects due to their connection to Paul and the broader Murdaugh influence. The ties that bind Miley to these figures illustrate the profound complexity of her position within this group and the emotional toll it likely took on her.

Connor Cook provides some insight into how his girlfriend, Miley Altman, felt about Paul Murdaugh. While he doesn’t go into extensive detail about Miley’s feelings, he mentions certain aspects that reflect her discomfort and frustration with Paul:

1. Fear and Concern:
   • Connor recounts that Miley was upset and scared following the accident. He indicates that she, like others, was affected by Paul’s erratic behavior, especially when it came to drinking and reckless decisions. Her distress suggests a level of apprehension or concern about Paul’s actions​.
2. Discomfort with Paul’s Behavior:
   • He implies that Miley was uneasy with Paul’s frequent drinking and recklessness, particularly on the night of the accident. This discomfort is evident as Connor describes the general unease within the group due to Paul’s behavior and their recognition of the potential consequences​.
3. Witness to Recklessness:
   • Connor describes times when he and Miley were with Paul during his bouts of irresponsible behavior, such as underage drinking and using fake IDs to access bars. Miley’s involvement in these situations indicates she was exposed to Paul’s pattern of risky actions, which may have contributed to her sense of unease​

The Influence of the Murdaugh Family and Unresolved Tensions

One of the most striking elements of Connor’s testimony is his expressed fear of the Murdaugh family following the boat crash. Despite having been close friends with Paul, Connor acknowledges a sense of intimidation, especially concerning the potential influence of the Murdaugh name. This fear, coupled with his resentment over Paul’s habit of skirting consequences, highlights the contradictory nature of his relationship with Paul. Connor’s loyalty to Paul as a friend was weighed down by a growing sense of betrayal and frustration over how Paul’s family’s influence could be wielded to protect him, often at others’ expense.

Fear of the Murdaugh’s in Cook’s Testimony

Connor Cook’s statements reflect a notable inconsistency regarding his fear of the Murdaughs contrasted with his close relationship with Paul Murdaugh. Despite his claim that he was scared of the Murdaugh family following the accident, he describes Paul as a lifelong friend with whom he regularly hunted, fished, and drank:

1. Fear of the Murdaughs:
   • Connor expresses that he felt intimidated by the Murdaugh family after the boat crash, especially with the implications surrounding who was responsible for the accident. He mentions feeling pressured and scared, particularly regarding how they might influence the outcome​.
2. Close Friendship with Paul:
   • Despite these fears, Connor details his long-standing friendship with Paul. He states they grew up together, hunted on the Murdaugh property at Moselle, and frequently drank together, both on hunting trips and at gatherings. This suggests a comfortable, if not close, relationship over the years​.
3. Contradictory Statements:
   • Connor’s testimony alternates between portraying the Murdaughs as intimidating figures and as close friends, particularly with Paul. This duality raises questions about his feelings and perceptions toward the family, especially given his hesitation to confront Paul or speak openly about the events with authorities immediately following the incident​.

These contradictions imply that while Connor felt a certain loyalty or camaraderie with Paul, he was simultaneously fearful of the Murdaugh family’s influence, particularly after the tragic incident.

The Aftermath: Unchallenged Testimony and the Unraveling of a Group

Connor’s deposition remains an unchallenged narrative, given under oath. Paul Murdaugh was killed before he ever had his day in court. Connor’s account of things captures a friend group in turmoil, the death of a best friend just a year later, and the suspicions surrounding other deaths tied to their circle. Connor’s words reveal a group fractured not just by the events of that tragic night but by the shifting loyalties and unspoken fears that had been simmering beneath the surface.

The friend group that once was led by Paul Murdaugh, his girlfriend Morgan Doughty, Connor Cook and his girlfriend Miley Altman, (and Mallory Beach’s bestie), they now have a baby together. To Anthony Cook, to Shawn Connelly and Patrick Wilson. This tightknit group of friends was forever fractured and scared forever after the evening of February 23rd, 2019, the night of the boat crash which claimed Mallory Beach’s life, and wounded the rest of the group on the boat badly with severe injuries.

We’re still unraveling all the details of what happened in Hampton County between 2015 and 2019, and into today. In just arrests, indictments and civil cases from 2015 to today, Shawn Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Paul Murdaugh and Connor Cook have 41 instances of run ins with the law in some form or fashion. Connelly with the most at 20, or almost half.

Connor Cook’s deposition serves as both a window into the unraveling of a once-close group of friends and a stark reminder of the influence and far-reaching impact of the Murdaugh family. As Miley, Connor, and the others continue to navigate the fallout, it’s clear that the bonds they once shared have been permanently altered, leaving a legacy of anger, fear, and unanswered questions in their wake.