Cummings’ message was one of salvation. He preached about Jesus and redemption to those who would listen.

“This is just an occasion that brings people together,” he said.

He believes Murdaugh is deserving of forgiveness for his alleged crimes, “but it’s dependent on what he does.”

By noon, Cummings had saddled his cross in the sidecar of his motorcycle. Other than the parking lots full of news vans and a lot full of food trucks, things were almost business as usual in Walterboro by Monday afternoon.

Some think this may be the calm before the storm.

“Trials in themselves are not very entertaining,” Grooms said, while noting that more people may yet show up after jury selection ends. “You know, the spectacle is the entertaining side of it in certain people’s minds. But after the ‘new’ wears off, people are gonna go away.”

Mark Wysong, president of the Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce, said he also thinks things will ramp up after jury selection ends. He’s spoken with some people who are coming from Charleston to observe the trial, but not until the actual trial begins.

It’s going to be a lot for the town, regardless, he said. It’s just not clear yet to what degree.

Attention on the front porch of the Lowcountry

Though not yet as chaotic as some predicted, the trial has still brought the most attention to Walterboro since filming for major movies “Forrest Gump” and “Radio” came to town in the 1990s and early 2000s.

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