Video from the 10 June 2021 interview Mr Murdaughs second interview after the murders was previously played in court, with the sobbing legal scion speaking about the killings. Questions have also been raised about this outfit as multiple law enforcement officials testified that Mr Murdaugh and his clothing were clean despite his claims he touched the bloody bodies of his wife and son to check for signs of life. Cpl. In July 2022, SLED informed Alex's younger brother, John Marvin Murdaugh, that they have decided to charge Alex for the double homicide of his wife and son. Postal Service will buy more than 9,000 Ford electric delivery vehicles, one year after an initial plan to buy predominantly gas-powered vehicles sparked controversy. Later, Connor's father was also contacted by Alex in an act of intimidation. A man was arrested after an explosive was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight at a Pennsylvania airport, authorities said. Stephen Smith died in 2015 and, the docuseries alleges, may have had a relationship with Alex Murdaugh's other son Buster. New details in the Paul and Maggie Murdaugh double-murder has led the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to open the hit-and-run cold case death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. Buster Murdaugh, center, receives a hug in the rain during the funeral service for his brother, Paul, and mother, Maggie, . During calm, controlled testimony, he appeared to water down but not refute some key points in the prosecutions case, including his fathers behaviour on the day of the murders, the clothes he was wearing and the police interview where he appeared to unwittingly confess to killing his wife and son. A cellphone video captured by Paul minutes before the murders also appears to place Mr Murdaugh at the murder scene. Mallory Beach's death brought enough bad PR to the Murdaughs to bring them under scrutiny, but a greater tragedy was waiting to strike them. No one is sure why the brothers were there. At the core of all the events was the name of Alex Murdaugh, who's currently on trial for the murder of his own wife and son, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. However, his law firm has since disputed that, putting out a statement denying it ever happened. The 19-year-old nursing student who had been a classmate of Buster Murdaugh at Wade Hampton High School was found dead with a head wound on Sandy. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. Stephen's body was found in the middle of the road and the . In 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith was found in the middle of a rural road. Maybe it was simply incompetence. Meanwhile, Mr Murdaugh appeared to smile at his son at several points. The nights that followed witnessed the search for Mallory. Sandy Smith, Stephanie Smith and myself, we have said all along, we would like to have justice for Stephen, the law firm said. Daily. His car was three miles away. I know they were all talking to each other too.. The mystery surrounding the fatal shootings at the home of a prominent South Carolina family connects to the deaths of three people and a roadside shooting. In 2015, Smith was mysteriously found dead in the middle of the road, and his death was ruled a hit-and-run, even though other evidence shows that he could have died by gunshot or some other attack. Stephanie Whiteside, Paige Lobdell, Rich McHugh. But inconsistencies in the initial investigation have left many wondering why his death was never investigated as a homicide. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Shreejit has written for various film and TV websites including Film Companion. In court on the week of 6 February, Buster appeared to flip the bird at attorney Mark Tinsley as he took the witness stand about the boat crash lawsuit that he brought against Mr Murdaugh. This marks the first time the 26-year-old has ever spoken publicly about the murders of his mother and brother or about his fathers string of alleged crimes. However, the so-called Murdaugh . Buster Murdaugh Girlfriend Stood by His Side Throughout Murdaugh's Trial. 'Murdaugh Murders': Buster Murdaugh was accused of allegedly killing classmate and rumored boyfriend Stephen Smith in 2015 By Aayush Sharma Published on : 00:17 PST, Feb 22, 2023 Stephen Smith and Alex Murdaugh in stills from 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' (Netflix) Personally, I think there was some type of pressure or just lack of investigation upon other agencies to do anything, he told NewsNation. What started out as an unfortunate accident at the hands of the scion of the powerful Murdaugh family, turned out to be just an isolated dot in a line of deaths and financial frauds. But Murdaugh conspired with two fellow attorneys to have the insurance payout diverted to Murdaughs account. What is known is that Alex Murdaugh and his brother Randy came to the scene of Stephen Smiths death, going through the crime tape. However, this was proved false when a video found on Paul's mobile clearly suggested that Alex was with Maggie and Paul just moments before the time of their deaths. Buster refuted this testimony, saying that his father said they did him so bad after listening to the footage in court. Gloria Satterfield was the Murdaugh familys longtime housekeeper. Alex's trial began on January 23, 2023. Alex Murdaughs only surviving son Buster gave stoic testimony as his father looked on smiling in the South Carolina courtroom where he is on trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul. Murdaugh had hoped his surviving son, Buster, could collect a $ . He was a known associate and occasional friend of Buster and several interviews in Murdaugh Murders mention cite rumors that the pair had a romantic relationship. SLED agents reopened the investigation into Smith following the brutal double homicide of Maggie and Paul at the family's private hunting ranch, Moselle, in June 2021. Alex's voice could be heard in the background of a video with that of Paul and Maggie. They returned hours later and all showered at the Moselle home, he said casting doubts on testimony from the Murdaugh housekeeper Blanca Simpson that she noticed unusual things in the home on 8 June including a light puddle of water, a towel, a pair of khaki pants and a t-shirt on the ground. Never miss a story sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. It turns out that Alex Murdaugh had a nasty habit of winning financial settlements on behalf of his clients and then just keeping the money. In the new Netflix documentary about the Murdaugh murders, locals who knew the family and Smith said there was speculation that Buster and Smith had a secret relationship. July 8, 2015: Stephen Smith, 19, is found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. RADAR and RADARONLINE are registered trademarks. The patriarch is currently on trial for the 2021 murders of his wife Margaret and younger son Paul, but the disgraced attorney has also allegedly engaged in various financial crimes. CELEBRITY NEWS. On Feb. 2, 2018 she supposedly fell down the front steps of the Murdaughs estate, and received traumatic head injuries (including a stroke) that she later succumbed to on Feb. 26, 2018. Possible tornadoes sweep across Oklahoma; one dead, Study: Back-to-back hurricanes likely to happen more often, California recovers after storm brings blizzard, heavy rain, Michigan power crews work, California recovers after storms, Turkey launches investigation into 612 people after quake, Los Angeles area still blanketed by snow in rare heavy storm, Not true: Restaurant denies report connecting Kohberger to victims, Retracing Brian Walshes movements after wife disappeared, Missouri pastor stops gunmen during church service, Norfolk Southern offered sick pay for fewer inspections: Union, This feature may be making your iPhone charge slower. Six years later, state police opened their own investigation because of information they had gathered in the aftermath of the Murdaugh deaths. Satterfields death was accepted as an accidental trip and fall despite several suspicious circumstances. (NewsNation) As Alex Murdaugh heads to trial for the murder of his wife and son, there is another mysterious case that has led investigators back to the Murdaugh family. Duncan said the Murdaugh family name came up in the initial accident investigation but didnt go anywhere. Mike DeWine said he was impressed with the magnitude of the cleanup efforts he witnessed and by the hard work people are doing. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. Michael DeWitt: Stephen Smith was a young man living in Hampton County. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Like several other Alex Murdaugh documentaries before it, Murdaugh Murders brings up the curious case of Stephen Smith. 3-6. The Murdaugh family law firm, The Parker Law Group, previously Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED), specializes in personal injury litigation. Alex Murdaugh reportedly told emergency responders that she had fallen down the stairs. Murdoch testimony could be sharp dagger for Fox News: Expert, East Palestine residents report unusual symptoms, John Oliver on new AI tech: Stupid in ways we cant predict, Why TikTok is being banned on govt phones in US and beyond, COVID-19 origins drawing further scrutiny in Washington, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Copyright 2023 Radar Media Group LLC. On July 8, 2015 the body of 19-year-old Smith was found on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, S.C. Later, coroner Ernie Washington declared Smith had died from "blunt force trauma to the head," likely from the mirror on a passing vehicle, via Live 5 News. While Mallory's friends Miley, Morgan, Anthony, Connor, and Paul all survived, Mallory never made it out of the water. The group was returning from an oyster roast that Paul had planned. They graduated high school together. The other passengers were Murdaughs girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Beachs boyfriend, Anthony Cook; Anthonys cousin, Connor Cook; and Connors girlfriend, Miley Altman. Murdaugh isn't the only one in the family who has been involved in a mysterious death. Currently, Murdaugh is on trial for murder for the deaths of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and their son, Paul Murdaugh. Buster testified that he never saw a gun loaded with both types of ammunition and didnt know anyone who would do that. While SLED (and documentaries the world over) delve into the circumstances of Smiths death, there is currently no public-facing evidence for the Murdaugh familys involvement in his murder. Ten days later, SLED uncovered that Curtis Edward Smith, an associate of Murdaugh and his oxycodone dealer, had been hired by Murdaugh to kill him. by Matt Dillane. Buster Murdaugh and Smith reportedly graduated in 2014 from the same high school. Names and stories of the Murdaugh family surfaced six years ago regarding the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, a young gay man found dead in the middle of a lonely rural road with several deep gashes in his head, but investigators said they were never able to directly connect anyone in the family to the incident. By waiting just a little bit longer than its peers, Netflix hopes that it can present the definitive version of the Murdaugh murders. Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaughs name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. Evidence of his prolific financial misdeeds had now come to light. By October of that year, SLED had indicated that none other than Alex Murdaugh was a person of interest in the case. No autopsy was performed. They had friends in common and they didnt move in the same circles. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A blue tarp and a blue rainjacket was found in a search of the home, with the jacket covered in gunshot residue particles. A member of the Ukrainian Parliament says Russias invasion of Ukraine began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea. Stephen Smith was studying to be a nurse at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, hoping to eventually become a doctor. The Murdaugh family is a prominent dynasty of lawyers from the Low Country in South Carolina, with Low Country referring to the distinct cultural and geographical region on the southeast coast of the state. The True Story Behind Netflix's 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal', 10 Most Disturbing True Crime Documentaries (& Where To Stream Them), Paul's mobile clearly suggested that Alex was with Maggie and Paul, Alex was forced to resign from the law firm, suicide schemed by Alex himself to help his son, Buster, claim $10 million from the insurance company, Days after the death of Paul and Maggie, the investigation into the death of Stephen was reopened, The case was reopened when a coroner found that the medical report stated the reason behind Gloria's death to be a natural one. I have faith in that, Im optimistic in that. Jurors have previously seen a Snapchat video Paul sent to a friend less than one hour before the murders where he is wearing an entirely different outfit to the bodycam footage after the murders. It was clear that this case was not handled correctly. Smith was found laying in the middle of the road by a bystander around 4:20 . The Mallory Beach incident led to Murdaughs legal career coming under scrutiny by SLED, other lawyers representing Murdaughs victims, and Murdaughs own law firm. And as Murdaugh Murders recounts, Alex curiously arrived on the scene before the EMTs did and loudly declared that Satterfield blamed the dogs for her fall (in the seconds between her falling and losing consciousness presumably). Generally speaking, its a good idea to wait until a case is all wrapped up before giving it the true crime docuseries treatment. Thats the question that the prosecution must answer in the State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh trial that is currently underway. His son, wife, and housekeeper were all dead. Paul soon began driving erratically and by 2:20 a.m. the boat crashed into Archers Creek Bridge. Smith was found dead with deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. Smith's injuries suggested a more nefarious cause of death. Such are the circumstances with the story of South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh. He said that he didnt want to hunt there and that neither he nor his father had never stayed a single night at Moselle after the murders. The series was released without a lot of promotion on Sunday even as the double-murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh continues in Walterboro, South Carolina. After regaining their balance and senses the six occupants of the boat regrouped to discover that one of their own, Mallory Beach was missing. Witnesses for the defense and prosecutors are expected to number in the hundreds so this could be a long trial. San Jose: Home raided as part of explosives and narcotics investigation, Man arrested after explosives found in bag at Pa. airport, Antioch police seek help to ID woman who allegedly fired gun inside store, swiped liquor, Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims. In prestige terms, it all translated into unparalleled authority for the Murdaughs, who were sometimes even above the law if the interviewees of the Netflix series are to be believed. Online following of Murdaugh saga:South Carolina murder saga attracts cult-like online following. He died of blunt force trauma to the head, but there were no signs to. When asked about his fathers opioid abuse, Buster says he knew a little bit about the usage of pills and knew that Maggie and Paul had confronted him about finding pills at some time. Meanwhile an attorney named Justin Bamberg began investigating Murdaughs finances on behalf of eight people who claim Murdaugh victimized them. Following Stephen's death, his father made claims that Buster and Stephen had been seeing each other romantically, although Buster . RELATED: 10 Most Disturbing True Crime Documentaries (& Where To Stream Them). Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. In this episode, we take a trip to Hampton South Carolina, home to the Murdaugh family, and explore the mysterious death of a young man named Stephen Smith. Did a powerful South Carolina attorney really murder his wife and son? In early June, a son and mother, both members of a. In July 2015, Stephen Smith's death on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County was ruled a homicide and then a hit-and-run before finally being closed as an "accidental death." There were no tire or skid marks at the scene or blood on Smith's clothes. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. While no suspects have been named in the seven years since Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of the road in Hampton County, South Carolina, the Murdaugh family name was featured over 40 times in the investigative documents, according to local reports. As the night progressed, Paul and his friends decided to head to an oyster roast on nearby Paukie Island via a Murdaugh family boat. Alex Murdaugh was again charged with various crimes for leading the conspiracy. Evidence was not gathered and testimonies were not recorded properly. He had a large gash on his head, a police report read, and a wound over his eyebrow. The teenager was found with blunt force trauma to his head, which appeared to first responders as a possible gunshot wound. The Murdaugh family were undoubtedly the biggest names in small Hampton County where everyone knew everyone a point reiterated quite a few times throughout the Netflix docuseries in a possible attempt to justify the numerous perspectives that were available on the central events being discussed. After news of Stephen Smiths death came out, some speculated that Buster Murdaugh and Stephen Smith had some sort of relationship. On Feb. 23, 2019, a group of South Carolina teenagers decided to spend the Saturday night drinking. As per Alex's testimony, he was not present at the scene when the crime happened. At the time of the murders, Mr Murdaugh claims he was spending up to $60,000 a week to feed a 20-year opioid addiction. He even had his shoes on. Ultimately the wound was just a graze and Murdaugh was released from the hospital that day. There was also a belief among the high school teachers that Buster used to regularly get his schoolwork done by Stephen. 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