After months in the public eye defending Alex Murdaugh, South Carolina attorney Dick Harpootlian has taken his courtroom experience and turned it into something unexpected—a book.
But instead of writing about the Murdaugh trial directly, he found inspiration in a decades-old case involving one of the state’s most terrifying serial killers.
Now 75, Harpootlian is turning the page—literally—by sharing his firsthand account of prosecuting Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins, a man whose crimes were so chilling, they still haunt South Carolina’s legal history.
Murdaugh Trial Gave the Final Push
The media frenzy surrounding the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh lit a fire in Harpootlian.
Representing Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife Maggie and son Paul in 2021, meant six intense weeks of courtroom drama, national attention, and viral moments—one of which included Harpootlian jokingly pointing a rifle during a crime scene demonstration and quipping “tempting” as he aimed it at the prosecution bench.
That moment went viral. But the deeper experience—being at the center of a true crime phenomenon in the age of social media—made Harpootlian realize just how fascinated the public is with the dark corners of criminal justice.
Revisiting a Killer Who Haunted the State
Before he ever defended Murdaugh, Harpootlian was on the other side of the courtroom—prosecuting dangerous criminals.
One of the most notorious was Pee Wee Gaskins, a self-proclaimed killer of more than 100 people (though at least 12 were confirmed).
Gaskins was executed in 1991, but Harpootlian never forgot the trial—or the chilling connection Gaskins tried to build with him.
In their bizarre courtroom lunches, Gaskins once said to Harpootlian, “You’re a lot like me, you like killing,” to which Harpootlian shot back, “No, I’m trying to do justice.”
That eerie exchange left a permanent mark on him.
A Threat That Turned Personal
The relationship didn’t end at sentencing. Gaskins, who was already on death row, went so far as to plot the kidnapping of Harpootlian’s daughter just two weeks before his execution.
The goal? To hold her hostage and leverage her release in exchange for his own.
That harrowing episode made Gaskins more than just a name in a case file—it made him a deeply personal and threatening part of Harpootlian’s life.
From the Bench to the Page
After Murdaugh’s trial, Harpootlian realized the time was right to tell the Gaskins story.
His new book, Dig Me a Grave, co-authored with journalist Shaun Assael, is set for release on December 16 and is now available for pre-order.
It not only dives into the crimes and courtroom drama surrounding Gaskins but also examines the justice system, the ethics of the death penalty, and how Harpootlian’s own views have evolved.
Grappling with the Death Penalty
Even though Harpootlian once helped introduce legislation in South Carolina that legalized executions by firing squad, he says his stance on the death penalty is complicated.
While he believes it should be allowed in rare, extreme circumstances, he still reflects on the cruelty of how Gaskins died—strapped to a chair and electrocuted.
“To this day, the fact that they burned him to death still bothers me,” Harpootlian admitted.
“But if there was ever someone who deserved to be executed, it was him.”
Proud of the Process—Even When It’s Unpopular
Despite receiving hate mail and threats during Murdaugh’s trial, Harpootlian says he stands by his work—both as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney.
“I’m proud of that process. I’m proud of representing Alex Murdaugh.
I’m proud of prosecuting Pee Wee Gaskins,” he said.
“For people who don’t believe someone they think is guilty deserves a lawyer, I’d say—grow up. Read the Constitution.”
The Book That Bridges Two Infamous Cases
Dig Me a Grave doesn’t just revisit a horrifying criminal—it explores how the justice system navigates its darkest moments.
From a small-town serial killer to a globally followed murder trial, Harpootlian’s career has run the full spectrum.
And now, readers will get a front-row seat to both.
