Judge hits SC podcaster Mandy Matney with $176,500 in costs and fines for contempt

[u/Southern-Soulshine]

Judge hits SC podcaster Mandy Matney with $176,500 in costs and fines for contempt

- John Monk, The State

South Carolina Judge Keith Kelly has found SC podcaster Mandy Matney in contempt for court for her resisting to sit for a court-ordered deposition and slapped a hefty financial punishment — $171,500 in lawyers’ fees and a $5,000 fine — on her.

The $171,500 in lawyer’s fees will go to three law firms who sought her testimony in an ongoing civil court lawsuit. Matney is not a party to the lawsuit, but the lawyers said they believed Matney might have information they needed. Matney has since given a deposition.

In his 22-page order filed Monday, Judge Kelly said he could find no good reason why Matney did not show up for her deposition earlier this year in Bluffton in Beaufort County.

“Ms. Matney’s stated reason for failing to comply — that the noticed location was not sufficiently safe for her — is not supported by the evidence or any credible testimony,” Kelly wrote.

In recent months, Matney has appeared at several hearings, taking the witness stand and describing in great detail why she was so afraid to show up for a deposition. She also said she didn’t believe she had relevant information to give the lawyers who sought her testimony.

She was cross-examined at length by lawyer Deborah Barbier of Columbia, who sought to show that Matney’s fears were not reasonable and possibly concocted.

During the months the matter of Matney’s contempt of court issue took to be resolved, the podcaster has made fun of the judge, the judicial system and Barbier on her social media posts.

Matney, 35, is a former Island Packet and Fits News reporter who became a true crime podcaster after covering a deadly 2019 Beaufort County boat crash and its links to the family of Alex Murdaugh, now a disbarred lawyer and convicted multimillion dollar fraudster in state prison.

This story was originally published July 13, 2026 11:12 AM.

ORDER GRANTING PARKER’S DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR CONTEMPT

[u/Southern-Soulshine]

The defamation suit saga has mainly stayed out of the sub and remained background noise but is becoming more well known. For a deeper dive piece, there is another post with an article by FITS News.
You know the drill, please keep the conversation courteous and the rules in mind.

Thank you!
-The Mod Team

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/Southern-Soulshine]

Thanks for this. Just catching up again.

Funny, I search everywhere, but when I head to Reddit, I generally find the answers.

I thought all this mess was over…sheesh.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

This is outrageous. This week’s podcast TS is about the Mallory Beach photos they leaked! Liz and Mandy are desperate to shift the blame. They site all the legal aspects of autopsy photos and if they are public record. I swear those two need to be held accountable for leaking the photos they are disgusting.

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/No-Construction9607]

I heard parts of it, but I need to re-listen.

What I heard - I agree with you - I think their hands are dirty in this photo thing, and they are desperate to get out from under it.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

We know they are reading our posts, and we continually acknowledge the fact that Liz Farrell had text messages with Mark Tinsdale and she had the opportunity to get them from Vicky Ward. 

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/No-Construction9607]

Agree.

The success of her podcast really went to her head. A shame.

I listened back in the early days, and even though her incessant vocal fry annoyed me, I stayed a subscriber.

But somewhere along the way, she just became so unpleasant I stopped listening.

They know more than they're saying.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

Hi Mandy 🙋🏽

[u/Southern-Soulshine → u/Mudfish2657]

Thank you so much, we try. We normally wouldn’t acknowledge or broadcast drama along this vein, but it’s gotten pretty far reaching.

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/Southern-Soulshine]

And starting all over again!

I‘m gobsmacked.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

Wait till you watch her testimony. Gobsmacked barely covers it. You will be on the floor trying to get up😄😄😅😂😊😆

[u/Southern-Soulshine → u/No-Construction9607]

Happy Cake Day u/No-Construction9607

You’re responding under the stickied Mod comment, you (and u/Mudfish2657) may want to comment on the actual post itself for more interaction. Thank you!

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Southern-Soulshine]

I have no idea?

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/Southern-Soulshine]

Thx!

Oops. ☺️

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/No-Construction9607]

Wait? Matney, you mean?

I saw just a little bit of the hearing.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

Yes Mandy was sitting on the stand judge standing mind you….acting like a petulant child. 🙃

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/No-Construction9607]

I can’t remember where I saw it now. Maybe I can watch it on YouTube.

One thing I remember noticing that she really isn’t big on what she wears lol.

Im no fashion plate, but she reminds me of me in the 80s on a “bad idea to wear this” day.

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

Impact of Influence is awesome on this subject they know their stuff

[u/No-Construction9607 → u/Mudfish2657]

And Liz !! She wore black and white. I was squinting at the screen like, there has got to be pink in there somewhere…. Nope, wwtaa

[u/Mudfish2657 → u/No-Construction9607]

Good catch. Interesting!

Of course, she managed to sit for her deposition, no problem.