convicting murdaugh on all counts for the 2021 murders murdaugh led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. our team at the courthouse also tonight, severe weather on the move in the south. the threat of tornadoes and heavy rain a state of emergency in california after record snow. al roker is here two mid-air scares passengers hospitalized after a fire erupts on a spirit airlines plane. and a lufthansa flight hitting severe turbulence it comes as a pennsylvania man appears in court accused of trying to bring an explosive on a plane. the alleged plot to kill jewish officials in michigan. the state's attorney general now saying she was among the targets. the house ethics committee officially launching an investigation into george santos. the surprise meeting at the g20 what secretary of state tony blinken told his russian counterpart face the face and harry smith on the doctor "inspiring america" by caring

for the city's most vulnerable >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >> good evening. there is breaking news from south carolina where the verdict is in in the alex murdaugh double murder trial. the jury finding the once prominent attorney guilty on all counts in the shooting deaths of his wife and 22-year-old son at the family's property in 2021 jurors taking a few hours to reach the verdict after getting the case this afternoon. let's go to catie beck outside the courthouse in south carolina. what can you tell us >> reporter: after three hours of deliberation, alex murdaugh stood stoic as the court heard that guilty verdict and facing 30 years to life for the murder of his wife and 22-year-old son. tonight, the jury has reached a verdict and done so quickly. finding disbarred an disgraced south

carolina attorney alex murdaugh guilty of murdering his wife and son in june of 2021. >> guilty. >> reporter: the defense offering closing arguments thursday hitting hard against the prosecution's theory on motive calling it irrational and insane. >> why why would alex murdaugh on june 7th execute his son paul and his wife maggie who he adored and loved? >> reporter: arguing the risk of financial exposure and for alleged financial crimes wasn't an impending storm as suggested by prosecutors and wasn't reasonable cause for the brutal killings. >> he is about to be exposed. and because of that he does what every rational person would do go kill your wife and son. that is their theory of motive. >> reporter: finally, an emotional plea to the jury to find alex

not guilty. >> on behalf of buster, on behalf of maggie and on behalf of my friend paul, i respectfully request that you do not compound the family tragedy with another. >> reporter: prosecutors pushing back in rebuttal reminding the jury that alex lied to investigators for months claiming the only reason he admitted the biggest lie is because he learned there was a kennel video placing him there. >> the only thing that corroborated throughout the investigation and the trial and cross-examination is that he is a liar. >> reporter: appealing to jurors to use common sense and the evidence. >> i think he loved maggie i think he loved paul. but you know who he loved more than that you know who he loved more than that and he was going to make sure that that life -- wanted to make sure that he loved? alex >> catie, it sounds like the sentencing

phase will begin immediately. >> reporter: yes tomorrow morning, in fact, lester the judge said the sentencing phase will begin. the judge will decide the sentence we expect to hear from several witnesses on both side. some of the financial victims of alex's alleged crimes will testify as well as members of his family in his defense lester >> catie beck tonight, thank you. let's bring in nbc news legal analyst danny cevallos danny, walk us through what we should take away from the jury coming back so qui quickly. >> they came back hours later, not minutes later. suggests possibly going into that jury room and take a poll and there may have been two, three, maybe four in the minority for acquittal or not so sure. so that may have required a couple hours of going over some of the evidence because three hours is a decent amount of time most jurors only deliberate for a matter of hours or a couple days. the high-profile cases often have something

like in the order of a week but generally speaking this jus might be a minority that had to be convinced and they got to unanimity also tonight, the severe weather in parts of the country parts of california still reeling from as much as seven feet o snow some people remain trapped in their homes, food and medicine running low in some areas. and in the south tonight hail in texas as tens of millions face severe weather in that part of the country. al roker is tracking it all al, what are we looking at >> we have a lot going on you can see this volatile line from oklahoma down into texas. we hav tornado watches, tornado warnings until 10:00 p.m. we are talking about severe thunderstorm watches as the line moves to the east. we have a severe risk of weather for 28 million people large and strong tornadoes. we are talking baseball, lester about the size of baseballs. that is what we are worried about. ef-2 tornadoes and as we look tomorrow more enhanced weather. with wind gusts,

tornadoes likely damaging wind and hail flash flood watches stretching from ohio all the way down to oklahoma for 24 million people and snowfall from chicago to boston looking 1 to 3 inches. maybe 2 to 5 a lot of weather. >> hail the size of a baseball my goodness. thank you. a flight hit by turbulence is one of the aviation scares being investigated tonight. the other is an in-flight fire and the possible explosive found in a tsa check point. here's nbc's tom costello >> reporter: it happened on a spirit airlines flight 259, dallas to orlando. an in-flight emergency as smoke suddenly began pouring out of an overhead luggage bin. >> the whole plane was filled with smoke. frightening for it was frightening for a while. >> reporter: a retired firefighter put out the fire caused by a passenger's overheating battery. the flight diverted to jacksonville ten people taken to a local hospital a serious reminder say experts of why

batteries in checked bags could pose an even greater risk. >> don't put lithium batteries in checked bags and the simple reason is because the flight crew can't deal with that battery if it overheats. >> reporter: meanwhile in the skies over tennessee -- >> lufthansa airbus a330 experienced extreme turbulence. >> reporter: a lufthansa jumbo jet flying from austin, texas, to frankfur hit severe turbulence wednesday. rocked back and forth at high altitude seven people injured. >> it got really bumpy, and at one point the plane drops, and all the food and everything just flew everywhere >> reporter: the aisle littered with passengers' belongs, food, bottles and debris, forcing the flight to divert to washington, d.c. and after a close call on the ground this week, a pennsylvania man appeared in court today facing charges of attempting to place an explosive on a plane. charging documents allege 40-year-old mark muffley booked an allegiant flight from lehigh valley to

orlando sanford on monday when his luggage allegedly tripped a tsa alarm, an expert identified fireworks powder, fuses and a lithium battery. muffley fled the airport but was arrested at home. >> tom, do we have any explanation what the suspect's motivation might be >> reporter: we don't. he did not enter a plea his attorney said these were just glorified fireworks. that said, he was remanded into the custody of marshals and has an extensive criminal history, lester. >> tom costello, thank you. tonight, a man accused of threatening jewish public officials in that state as authorities confront a disturbing uptick in crimes motivated by anti-semitism. ken dilanian is here ken, a top official is among those on the target list. >> lester, michigan attorney general dana nessel describing the alarming incident today, saying the fbi just told her she was targeted by a heavily armed man. the fbi began investigating him last month because of

threats he made on twitter. court papers quote one tweet saying he was threatening to carry out the punishment of death to anyone who is jewish in the michigan government the fbi arrested him on a charge of making an interstate threat he has yet to enter a plea this disturbing case comes amid what authorities say is a rising tide of anti-semitic violence. two men were charged last month with shooting at jewish worshipers outside los angeles synagogues and nationwide, the anti-defamation league says anti-semitic incidents have surged in recent years. lester >> all right ken, thank you the house ethics committee said today it is opening an investigation into embattled congressman george santos. among other things, the subcommittee will determine if the new york republica engaged in unlawful activity in his congressional campaign, violated conflict of interest laws, and engaged in sexual misconduct. let's turn now to that surprise encounter between a top u.s. and russian official making headlines. secretary of state antony blinken talking with russia's foreign minister at a g20

meeting. andrea mitchell is with us. andrea, this was their first meeting before the russian invasion of ukraine >> exactly, lester today's brief encounter was the first face-to-face between secretary of state blinken and his russian counterpart in 13 months. blinken said he made three ps russia should end the war and engage in peace talks. russia should resume weapons limits under an arms control treaty with the u.s. and russia should release american bunessman paul whelan this comes as russia is making rare gains on the battlefield as the u.s. worries china is considering sending weapons to russia for the first time today putin said that the u.s. would consider sanctioning china if it does send russia weapons lester >> all right andrea mitchell, thank you. for the first time today, president biden said he'll visit the site of that toxic train derailment in ohio as we learn new details from federal investigators on what may have caused it gabe gutierrez is there.

>> reporter: as crews scramble to clean up this creek in east palestine, ohio, tonight the ntsb says it's concerned aluminum protective covers on the rail cars melted, possibly contributing to the train derailment after facing criticism for not traveling to the site, today president biden said he'd visit at some point. >> i've spoken with every official in ohio, democrat and republican >> reporter: east palestine has now become ground zero for environmental activism nationwide >> they're being misled they're not being told the truth. >> reporter: erin brockovich, of course, became a household name after exposing california groundwater contamination in the '90s which led to an oscar winning movie about her life >> we need to hear from you. >> reporter: she is now focused on what she says is an unfolding disaster here >> in 30 years we have made absolutely no progress we continue to do the same thing over and over and over again, expecting a different result >> reporter: on

capitol hill, bipartisan senators are trying to strengthen safety measures for trains carrying hazardous materials, mandating wheels be scanned for heat every ten miles norfolk southern says it's already committed to pay out millions of dollars to affected residents. >> we understand this has been a huge impact to the community, but we're working with the agencies to make sure we're doing this right. >> reporter: is that enough >> no. i'm really beginning to wonder what they're up to. everything here wreaks >> reporter: ashley mccollum says she's dealt with watery eyes, dizziness and other symptoms for weeks. do you feel safe in east palestine right now? >> i do not. i will not bring my children back in if i can't stand more than half an hour in my own home, i would not feel safe. >> reporter: tonight federal officials are holding a public meeting about the cleanup here norfolk southern is expected to attend lester in 60 seconds, new evidence revealed in >> gabe, thank you

in 60 seconds, new evidence revealed in the killing of those four idaho university students and the top nfl prospect turning himself in to face charges linked to a fatal car crash. o face charges linked to a fatal car crash. migraine hits hard, so u hit back with ubrelvy u level up u won't take a time-out one dose of ubrelvy works fast it can quickly stop migraine in its tracks within 2 hours without worrying if it's too late or where you are unlike older medicines, ubrelvy is a pill that directly blocks a protein believed to be a cause of migraine. do not take with strong cyp3a4 inhibitors. most common side effects were nausea and tiredness. migraine pain relief starts with u

learn how abbvie could help you save. ask about ubrelvy, the anytime, anywhere migraine medicine. back now with new evidence in the idaho college murders. newly unsealed search warrants reveal that police found a knife, a pistol, and black face masks at the pennsylvania home where bryan kohberger's family lives. kohberger was arrested in december for the murders of four university of idaho students more than a month before a top nfl prospect was back at the league scouting combine today hours after he surrendered to police. jalen carter is facing charges in connection with the crash that left a teammate and a team staffer dead. stephanie gosk has late details >> reporter: tonight, top nfl prospect jalen carter is back showing off his skills at the nfl combine after turning himself in to georgia police last night on misdemeanor charges, taking this mugshot. he was released 16 minutes later. the university of

georgia football star is accused of reckless driving and drag racing the night fellow player devin willock and team recruiter chandler lecroy were killed in a crash. >> there was a car that excessively sped away >> reporter: this surveillance video shows lecroy's and carter's suvs driving through an intersection hours after a party celebrating georgia's national championship. lecroy was allegedly driving over 100 miles per hour with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. but there are questions surrounding carter's actions that night. citing unspecified documents, "the atlanta journal- constitution" reports that carter left the the crash, and then returned and gav conflicting statements to p scene after the crash, and then returned and gave conflicting statements to police about what happened nbc news has not reviewed the documents. on twitter, carter writes "numerous media reports also have circulated containing inaccurate information.

when all of the facts are known, he will be fully exonerated." carter has had at least three traffic citations in the last year, including a stop in september captured on this body cam. >> y'all need to slow down, dude >> reporter: police say he was traveling 89 miles per hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone. as for the university of georgia, the athletics department is going to be conducting its own review of that fatal january crash. lester >> stephanie gosk, thank you. up next, what's driving up the cost of car insurance. how you can hold it down, after this never cros sed my mind. what if we live to like 100? that's 35 years of being retired. i don't want to outlive our money. and i have been eating all these stupid chia seeds! i could totally live to be 100! why do i keep taking such good care of my- since we started working with empower, we're able to get all our financial questions answered, so we don't have to worry. so you never- no. never. join 17 million people and take control of your financial future to empower what's next. start today at empower.com the abcs of ckd of your financial future to empower what's next. a is for awareness, because knowing that your chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes could progress to dialysis is important.

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lately has been skyrocketing and it's taking a bigger bite out of family budgets miguel almaguer on why rates are rising and how to find the best one. >> reporter: for americans behind the wheel across the country, all roads lead to the same place, skyrocketing insurance rates. according to bankrate.com, u.s. drivers are now paying more than $2,000 more a year for premiums. a drastic acceleration rates up roughly 14% from last year were you surprised to see your premium increase so much >> i was i was because i'm a safe driver. >> reporter: raul llojas, who drives more than 100 miles every day, says his new bill gave his young family sticker shock. >> every single month, we do our numbers. we budget. and then all of the sudden, i'm out $800, $1,000 a month and we have a son, we have to buy diapers, and that was money that poof, disappeared. >> reporter: with the average household now

paying nearly 3% of their income just on car insurance, premiums in congested cities like orlando and phoenix, are revving up in cities where cars are king, rates are shifting into record territory. why are car insurance rates skyrocketing so quickly? >> it really has to do with the inflation we saw in 2022. these car insurance companies are still reacting to that environment. >> reporter: citing costly repairs, more accidents, and an increase in thefts, insurance companies say the approved rate hikes are here for the foreseeable future to keep your bill in check, experts say shop around. reduce your coverage if your car is old, and raise your deductible to lower your bill. tonight, the cost of insurance in overdrive. miguel almaguer, nbc news up next, he brings health care to some of those who may need it most the doctor "inspiring america. there's a different way to treat hiv.

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finally tonight, the doctor who found his calling and inspiration on the streets. here is harry smith. >> reporter: two nights a week for 30 years, dr. jim o'connell has done exactly this >> remember me from before how you, by the way? what's going on? >> reporter: fulfilling the healer's oath with boston's homeless. his patient tonight michael tells us he spent a good portion of his life in prison.

>> take a look right here >> reporter: as his regrets spill out, o'connell tends to the cut hand >> thank you >> reporter: o'connell urges michael to come to a clinic. no telling if he'll show who's out here who's out on the streets? >> oh, it's a real mix of people. for example, about 25% of the men that we'll see out here cannot read or write. >> reporter: he says most have endured significant trauma. physical, psychological, many self-medicate, are addicted >> and little did i understand how complicated it was and you can do a lot to ease their suffering and help them out, even though you may not end their homelessness sandwiches and i'll get you hot chocolate, too. >> reporter: a classroom whiz at notre dame, he studied philosophy and theology and then medical school people would look at that and say why the hell is that guy out here >> i don't know exactly how to answer that i'm lucky to be thrown

into it and lucky that it hit the right nerves for me. >> reporter: and lucky for the patients of the boston health care for the homeless program he helped build, the envy of many a city. >> i love this place this is really all i have in my life. >> how are you >> reporter: o'connell seems to have a special instinct for people at risk his most important skill, listening, learned in his years as a bartender his life's work featured in a new book should we be more empathetic as a public >> yeah. i think that's a tall order for a public but i would say if the public had a chance to see what we've been watching for years, you couldn't help but be empathetic. >> reporter: harry smith, nbc news, boston and that's "nightly news" for this thursday. thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night

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and find out what your case could be worth. ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪ i'm raj mathai. next on nbc bay area news tonight, first the shock and now the anger in santa rosa. >> i want to make it very clear that the school and the school district failed my son, and they failed jaden. >> tonight the parents want answers after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death at school. plus, black veterans say they're facing discrimination at the v.a. tonight the head of the v.a. answers our questions. >> mr. secretary, you're at the helm of the v.a. isn't that a gross failure of your agency? also the deadline to file your taxes has been pushed way back, but should you really wait to file? we've got the pros and cons. and take a look. a bright streak of light across the bay area sky. we have the