Earlier this week, FITSNews exclusively reported that South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) opened an investigation into the death of Stephen Smith a Hampton County teenager whose death has been unsolved since 2015. The Murdaugh family (/ m r d k / MUR-dok) is an American legal family in the Low Country region of South Carolina.From 1920 to 2006, three members of the family consecutively served as solicitor (i.e., district attorney), in charge of prosecuting all criminal cases in the state's 14th circuit district, leading locals to call the five-county district, "Murdaugh Country". According to the investigation file, Buster was rumored to have been linked to Stephen intimately but detectives never proved this connection. Moore instructs him to immediately stop their preparations on the body and cover him up. Moore tells Rowell to go get the clothing. 2. She said that it was not a gunshot wound and no bullet or fragments were found during the X-ray and that it didnt look like a bullet wound in her opinion and that since the body was found in the roadway, she could only theorize that it had to be a motor vehicle that caused the death, Moores note said. Hours later, a pathologist at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Dr. Erin Presnell ruled that Stephen was killed in a hit-and-run accident, a decision which was met with confusion and skepticism by investigators and those who knew Stephen. "Sandy and I both believe that this was a murder. At the time, her death was classified as an accidental slip and fall, but authorities have reopened the investigation. Stephens family member didnt seem to believe this at the time. Even Dr. Erin Presnell, a pathologist at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), didnt give much information to police about what led her to decide a motor vehicle killed Stephen. According to the autopsy, Greene was responsible for evidence transfer in the case. May be bigger ponds, lakes n oceans with bigger fish, but life sure is good when you're top of the food chain, in these swamps. In fairness, SLED didnt investigate Stephens case because it was dubiously ruled a hit and run. State police reopen hit-and-run death investigation from details gathered in Murdaugh case. Netflix 2023. This database currently consists of unsolved homicides from 50 Florida counties, 46 U.S. states, and 3 international countries. The South Carolina Highway Patrol received an anonymous tip connecting the Murdaugh family to the hit-and-run death of Stephen Smith back in 2015, the New York Post reports. Smiths mother, Sandy Smith, agrees. Sandy Smith was told that if she wanted her sons case to be looked at by SLED, she would have to write a letter. He said another investigator had already had, from (his) understanding a heated conversation with her about this issue.. Proctor also wrote in his report that Greene was fired sometime between July 22 August 18, 2015. The three-part series chronicles the string of deaths that the family is connected to, including a teenager named Mallory Beach who tragically died in a boating accident. This is about a child that deserves to be memorialized and commemorated, and a mother to have support that she hadn't had.". Smith was found dead with deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. Murdaugh is on trial for murder for the deaths, Murdaugh Murders: Did Alex Murdaugh hire someone to kill him? Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother Maggie, 52, were found slain at their family's hunting lodge in Islandton on June 7 just after 10 p.m., according to reports. She had no evidence other than that for the statement being put in the report., Proctor said that he explained to her that law enforcement officers had no evidence of this individual being struck by a vehicle.. Proctor told Fox News that was she said was true. Now, Stephen Smiths case is getting national attention and his mother Sandy finally has hope for a fair investigation that will lead to answers in her sons unsolved death. Proctor then spoke withKelly Greene, Hampton County deputy coroner and a SLED agent who both attended the autopsy and said they didnt make any reference to the pathologist about the victim being struck by a vehicle, only that he was found in the road. Randy declined to comment on the statement Stephanie made to investigators regarding his alleged phone call. He was taken to a . Or "king's ransom" waiting to be found Stephen Smith Case Files: Why Was Hampton Teens Death Ruled A Hit And Run In 2015? Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Like the probe of the2019 boat crashthat killedMallory Beach, the 2015 investigation into Smiths death was chaotic from the beginning clouded by jurisdictional confusion and suspicions of investigative interference. The key located in the victims pocket was used to open the vehicle. The final autopsy report said that Stephens cause of death was blunt head trauma, motor vehicle crash, pedestrian vs. vehicle. An investigator for the South Carolina Highway Patrol says that he thinks Stephen Smith's body was staged the night of his death in July 2015. Prior to leaving the scene, agents discussed their findings and completed a walkthrough with Inv. The final autopsy report said that Stephens cause of death was blunt head trauma, motor vehicle crash, pedestrian vs. vehicle. Keep in mind, this isyearsbefore Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felonies in the boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. Is Mother and Son Murder Connected to Death of Woman in Drunken Boat Crash. Then, the coroner ruled the death a shooting homicide forcing investigators to search the rural road carved between a tree line and a corn field. Mother and son were gunned down on their 1,770-acre estate in the small town of Islandton. SLED opened the investigation based on information gathered during the course of the double murder investigation of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, SLED spokesperson Tommy Crosby told FITSNews. RELATED | Murdaugh Murders: The Latest On The Boat Crash Lawsuit And Obstruction Of Justice Investigation. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? After interviewing several sources who knew the Murdaugh brothers, SCHP detective Proctormade some significant assessments of the family. He would have seen headlights coming and got off the road. The coroners report on Smiths death said he was most likely hit in the head by the mirror of a passing tractor trailer truck as he walked along the dark, two-lane road after he ran out of gas. The death was originally thought to be a hit-and-run. Ive been waiting on this day for 2,174 days, she said. It has been apparent from the first week of the investigation that authorities are covering up critical evidence and we no longer know who to trust, Smith wrote. Then he was beat up, so the story just kept changing over and over," said Sandra Smith, Stephen's mother, this week. According to NewsNation, Stephens mom Sandy is hoping for answers about her sons death during Alex Murdaughs trial. Alex Murdaugh called 911 Saturday and said he had been shot as he stood at the side of a road in Hampton County, South Carolina, according to a statement from the state police. The case of Stephen Smith a 19-year-old man from Hampton, S.C. who was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. The family of Stephen Smith wants more investigation into his death, which was declared a hit-and-run. Mom and Son, Authorities Open Investigation into Teen's 2015 Death, 'Somebody's in Danger': 2 Months After Deaths of Prominent S.C. Murdaugh murders: Cops clueless about motive, refuse to release 911 call details Another deceased person's name has reemerged in the case - Stephen Smith, a gay man from Hampton who died in 2015. She said there appeared to be missing evidence in the case such as the DNA under Stephens fingernails, the clothes he was wearing, and the rape kit. Stephen's murder was ruled a hit-and-run with no one arrested for the crime, but in 2021, the case was reopened. 9:18 a.m. SLED: Agents release the scene to HCSO personnel and leave. We have got to keep the light on his story and to keep the fire underneath other people's behinds to get it solved. Evidence in. On July 8, 2015 Stephen Smith was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road with a 7.25-inch gaping hole on the right side of his forehead and no other major injuries. The teens had been "grossly intoxicated," according to police, even though they were all underage and could not legally buy alcohol. 4:30 a.m. Tuesday: Sandy Smith, mother of Stephen Smith, who was found dead on a rural Hampton County road in 2015, is feeling vindicated, finally, for her instincts. The two were shot and killed in June 2021. Ready to watch a new true crime docuseries thatll make your head spin? Others in the community reached out to Sandy with rumors that a "Murdaugh boy" may be involved with her son's death. Investigators bid to solve last weeks double homicide draws fresh scrutiny on 2015 cold case . And before too long, some of them including the Murdaugh family stopped cooperating at all, he said. Hampton County Coroners Office: The first of 3 death certificates for Stephen Smith was issued by Washington to the family. Perry Singleton and Chief Billy Jarrell, the SLED report said. Sandy says shes skeptical of the man claiming to be Stephens boyfriend. Sandy has been begging law enforcement officials for years to open an investigation into her sons unsolved death. Proctor made it clear in his reports that he didnt believe Stephens death was a hit-and-run. Stephens relative tells him that she just officially left the house for the first time since Stephens death the day before and went to the store and a bunch of people kept coming up to her saying Did you know the Murdaugh Boys are behind it, saying Buster Murdaugh the, one we went to school with did it, and some of his friends.. "I know that they're working hard and that this is not a cold case," he says. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. June 7, 2021: Alex Murdaugh, 53, calls 911 and reports he found his wife Margaret, 52, and son Paul, then 22, shot dead outside of their home in Islandton, a small community about an hour north of . July 8, 2015: Stephen Smith, 19, is found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County.No arrest is made in the case. This will be a 3-part series revealing the case file. Cr. SCHP: Duncan talks to Stephens family and they reject the ruling that Stephen would have been hit by a car. That did not happen to my friend. And when you dont have enough evidence to compel someone legally to speak with you you have to go off their willingness to speak to you.. His name is going to be right there with everyone elses name and I dont care who knows it.. 3 international countries several sources who knew the Murdaugh brothers, SCHP detective Proctormade some significant assessments of man... 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