Stephen Smith’s demise has haunted a South Carolina neighborhood for yrs – but it was a Netflix documentary, released all around the identical time as the double murder demo involving a effective legal spouse and children, that revived focus to the case.
Smith, the 19-12 months-old former classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was discovered lifeless in July 2015 on a rural Sandy Run Street in Hampton County, around the Murdaugh home.
Modern Netflix and HBO documentaries alleged that rumors swirled in the little city that Buster and his more youthful brother Paul had been probably concerned in Smith’s dying.
There had been also rumors, provided as guidelines to investigators at the time, that Buster and Smith ended up romantically linked, the documentaries claimed.
On Monday, Buster launched a assertion denying the ‘vicious rumors’ that he was involved in Smith’s dying.
Very last 7 days, Smith’s loved ones declared that the system of the 19-yr-old nursing pupil would be exhumed for a private autopsy. Now, after 8 yrs, SLED has revealed they are persuaded his dying was a murder.
Stephen Smith, the 19-yr-previous previous classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was located useless in July 2015 on a rural Sandy Operate Street in Hampton County, in the vicinity of the Murdaugh assets
The dying of Buster Murdaugh’s former classmate Stephen Smith is now currently being thought of a homicide just a day right after Buster denied ‘vicious rumors’ that he was associated Smith’s death
New Netflix and HBO documentaries unveiled rumors that swirled in the compact city that Buster and his more youthful brother Paul have been likely involved in Smith’s death
Who is Stephen Smith?
Stephen Smith was uncovered lifeless on July 8, 2015, on a rural Sandy Operate Road in Hampton County, in close proximity to the Murdaugh home.
The 19-calendar year-aged nursing student had a blunt-pressure trauma harm to the head.
His system was located 3 miles absent from the place his car or truck experienced operate out of gasoline.
The teen’s dying was initially dominated a strike and operate, but highway patrol officers have considering that claimed that they did not believe the scene was steady with a highway traffic accident.
His family’s attorneys have also pointed out that Smith’s wallet was still left within the vehicle – and he by no means built any cellular phone phone calls to his household at the time.
Smith’s mother Sandy would not have remaining his wallet behind and reported he would have at least called his sister.
‘If he did have to walk home, he would have walked through the woods – and there was a corn discipline right there he would have walked by. He would make absolutely sure that he was not observed by everyone,’ she said.
She also said that she would like to discover the ‘real reason’ for her son’s death, and has stood by her impression that he would have ‘walked by the woods’ if his auto broke down – not the street.
Recent Netflix and HBO documentaries uncovered rumors that swirled in the little city that Buster and his more youthful brother Paul have been probably concerned in Smith’s loss of life
Buster Murdaugh, next from appropriate, son of Alex Murdaugh, appears to be to his father through his demo
Why is his demise now currently being viewed as a murder?
Last week, Smith’s family declared that the system of the 19-year-aged nursing university student would be exhumed for a personal autopsy.
But on Tuesday, SLED unveiled they did not need to exhume Smith’s overall body to persuade them that his dying was a murder.
Bland Richter Regulation Organization, which is representing Smith’s relatives, made the announcement on Tuesday soon after a simply call with South Carolina Regulation Enforcement Division (SLED) Main Mark Keel.
SLED officers stated they will ‘be current and participate in any exhumation of Stephen’s overall body to get extra proof.’
Bland Richter co-founder Eric Bland claimed that SLED is dedicated to combining endeavours and sources as the point out moves forward with exhuming Smith’s System.
‘We have a possibility to right eight a long time of wrongs, and we intend to do just that,’ mentioned Bland.
On Tuesday, Attorney Ronnie Richter informed TMZ Stay that there are a ‘number of specifics that plainly position to murder’ which include ‘Stephen’s entire body from the torso down had no accidents, there had been no vehicle elements uncovered at the scene, his footwear were still on, he supposedly walked a few miles in the dark without ever employing his cell cell phone.’
SLED reopened the investigation into Smith’s loss of life in 2021, citing new proof that was uncovered though investigating the murders of Buster’s mother Maggie Murdaugh and his brother Paul.
But according to Bland, SLED officials explained they were being waiting till Murdaugh’s murder trial was to make this announcement for the reason that of their worry above witness testimony.
‘SLED officers have revealed that they did not want to exhume Stephen Smith’s body to convince them that his loss of life was a murder.’ Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter said in a joint assertion.
‘However, they will be current and take part in any exhumation of Stephen’s physique to get far more evidence. We are fully commited to getting out what truly happened, and having the peace and justice the Smith spouse and children warrants.’
SLED reopened the investigation into Smith’s death in 2021, citing new proof that was uncovered whilst investigating murders of Buster’s mom Maggie Murdaugh and brother Paul
Buster Murdaugh, 26, the sole surviving son of disgraced authorized scion and double murderer Alex Murdaugh, on Monday denied ‘vicious rumors’ that he was concerned Smith’s loss of life
A GoFundMe for Stephen Smith, who died in 2015, has surpassed its focus on. Buster Murdaugh’s name has very long been linked to Smith’s
Why was Buster Murdaugh joined to Stephen Smith’s demise?
Buster Murdaugh, 26, the sole surviving son of disgraced authorized scion and double murderer Alex Murdaugh, on Monday denied ‘vicious rumors’ that he was concerned Smith’s demise.
Smith and Buster ended up substantial school classmates.
Pursuing Smith’s loss of life, cops were tipped off about an alleged gay relationship involving the pair which was getting gossiped about at the community superior university.
Smith’s mom Sandra also statements that her son could have been the target of a detest crime carried out by the Murdaugh clan.
Two documentaries by HBO and Netflix recently aired allegations that Buster was included in a intimate romantic relationship with Smith.
A Netflix documentary explored their alleged relationship, although at the time Buster refused to give a remark.
A lot more than 50 % of the individuals interviewed throughout the investigation described listening to about rumors of Buster Murdaugh’s feasible involvement in Smith’s dying – but was never introduced in for questioning.
On Monday, Buster produced a statement and denied ‘vicious rumors’ that he was included in Smith’s loss of life.
He wrote: ‘I unequivocally deny any involvement in his dying, and my heart goes out to the Smith family members. I am requesting that the media quickly halt publishing these defamatory reviews and rumors about me.’
Two docuseries about the Murdaugh murders launched in modern months disclosed new particulars and allegations about 5 fatalities in six fatalities potentially related to the highly effective family
In the assertion Monday, shared by Alex Murdaugh’s trial lawyer Jim Griffin, Buster known as the promises as ‘baseless’
What did the Netflix and HBO documentaries expose about Smith’s dying?
Two docuseries about the Murdaugh murders produced in latest months exposed new details and allegations about 5 deaths in six deaths potentially related to the effective household. Such as the 2015 demise of Stephen Smith.
Netflix’s ‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ was produced for streaming on February 22, 2023. It arrived toward the conclude of Murdaugh’s six-week trial than started on January 23.
The a few-part sequence delves into the family’s doable involvement in the mysterious deaths of Smith, Mallory Beach front, Gloria Satterfield – all of which happened in between 2014-2021.
Journalist Will Folks reported: ‘Victims of vehicular strikes are not normally observed in the middle of the street.’
In the docuseries, it was exposed that Buster Murdaugh’s name arrived up numerous instances as Smith’s demise was investigated, CourtTV noted.
Smith’s mom employed non-public investigator Steve Peterson who stated several of the persons he interviewed claimed they’d heard Buster was concerned with Smith’s dying.
And some close friends instructed investigators that Smith and Buster have been more than mates, Peterson had stated.
He also noted that Buster’s identify was outlined several occasions on the freeway patrol tapes, but that he was under no circumstances interviewed by the authorities.
The docuseries also revealed that some of Smith and Buster’s classmates claimed Smith was obtaining motor vehicle hassle and referred to as Buster for assistance.
Olivia, Smith’s buddy, alleged in the sequence: ‘I feel that he picked Stephen up and was fooling Stephen into wondering they had been using him dwelling but I think they got a tiny ways down the highway and which is when it all started out to unravel. I feel that the Murdaughs did what ever the hell it took to hold everyone’s mouth shut that night time.’
Smith’s sister Stephanie claimed on the docuseries that Alex Murdaugh’s brother Randy Murdaugh known as the household the working day Smith was discovered lifeless informing him that he wished to acquire the circumstance absolutely free of demand.
HBO’s ‘Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty’ is a 3-portion sequence that arrived out in November 2022, months ahead of the demo.
The HBO edition goes into the family’s track record and their affect on the neighborhood.
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