In a surprising turn of events, Rebecca "Becky" Hill, the clerk of court accused of jury tampering in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial, announced her resignation on Monday. The resignation comes nearly two months after a judge questioned Hill's credibility but ultimately ruled that the allegations were not sufficient to grant Murdaugh a new trial.

During a news conference, Hill stated that she would not seek reelection and expressed pride in her work over the past four years as the clerk of court, including managing "one of the biggest trials in South Carolina history." She attributed her decision to reflect upon her stay in office to the trial, which resulted in Murdaugh's conviction for the murders of his wife and son, leading to a life sentence.

Hill's resignation comes after South Carolina Judge Jean Toal dismissed Murdaugh's request for a new trial and his accusations against Hill of inappropriate discussion of the case with jurors. Although Hill vehemently denied the allegations, the judge criticized her behavior, describing her as a "publicity-influenced" clerk who was enamored with the allure of fame. Hill's attorney, Justin Bamberg, did not address the judge's ruling during the news conference, emphasizing that her resignation was unrelated to ongoing investigations.

Reports confirm that Hill was the subject of two investigations as recently as January. One investigation examined her alleged interactions with the jury, while the other focused on suspicions of using her elected position for personal gain. However, it is unclear whether these investigations had any influence on her decision to resign.

The Alex Murdaugh case attracted international attention, with books, documentaries, and podcasts dedicated to its exploration. Murdaugh, a former personal injury attorney with a family legacy in South Carolina's legal system, gained notoriety as the trial progressed. Hill, in particular, contributed to the case's visibility by co-authoring a book and participating in a Netflix docuseries.

In seeking a new trial, Murdaugh and his legal team claimed that Hill's alleged tampering included pressuring jurors to reach a swift verdict and providing misleading information to the trial judge regarding a dismissed juror. They argued that Hill's actions were motivated by a desire to secure a lucrative book deal and media appearances, which would have been jeopardized by a mistrial.

During a hearing, Judge Toal questioned each of the 12 jurors, some of whom confirmed hearing comments from Hill. However, only one juror admitted that it influenced her verdict, though she also stated feeling pressured by other jurors. Hill acknowledged having a "fleeting thought" about writing a book prior to the trial but maintained that she had taken no steps towards pursuing it.

In her ruling, Judge Toal concluded that Hill had expressed a desire for a guilty verdict to increase book sales. However, she ultimately determined that the jurors had not been unduly influenced by Hill's comments.

With Hill's resignation, questions remain about the impact of her alleged tampering on the trial's outcome and the legitimacy of the jury's decision. As the legal saga surrounding Alex Murdaugh's case unfolds, the South Carolina Lowcountry and its residents find themselves at the center of an ongoing high-profile controversy.