Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh left to right. 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 Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, and his own brother Paul Murdaugh? On July 8, 2015, the body of a 19-year-old named Stephen Smith was found with a fatal head wound on a road in Hampton County, South Carolina, which is part of the jurisdiction that had been run. However, Buster was also notably spotted hugging his aunt Marian Proctor Maggies sister in court after she testified against his father, including detailing his drug use, an alleged affair years before the murders, and his odd behaviour in the wake of the 7 June 2021 murders. 1. However, when authorities reopened the case in June 2021 and looked into Buster's potential involvement, police were "never able to formally tie Buster Murdaugh to the case nor track down the original source of the rumors.". Smith was found dead just before 4:00 a.m. on July 8, 2015 in the middle of Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, South Carolina. On the call, Alex reported that he had arrived at his house and found the bodies of his wife and son. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And thats just me. One of the challenging things about fully understanding the scope of the Murdaugh story is comprehending its timeline. Buster the eldest and now only surviving son of Maggie and Mr Murdaugh has stood by his father throughout the growing number of allegations against him. She asked the FBI, the governor and others to keep investigating but the case went nowhere until Mallory Beach was killed on the Murdaugh boat four years later. But I do believe that the truth is going to come out. Because of this, his other son Buster Murdaugh is also facing intense scrutiny. He had been struck by a blunt object on his right temple, killing him. On July 8, 2015 he was on his way home from school when he ran out of gas. She said since the case has been reopened, there have been offers of a book deal and a Netflix movie but all shes interested in is justice. He had a sister. Copyright 2023 Radar Media Group LLC. People said that Smith and Murdaugh were dating, which made the circumstances of his death even more controversial. RADAR and RADARONLINE are registered trademarks. On the night of 24 February 2019, Paul was allegedly drunk driving the Murdaugh familys boat with several of his friends on board. In 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith was found in the middle of a rural road. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? July 8, 2015. Stephen Smiths father died three months after his son. Buster said that Mr Murdaugh called him that night and asked him if he was sitting down. The three men would often go hunting together on the 1,700-acre estate, he said. Before the beginning of the murder trial on January 23, 2023, a lot more charges were brought against Alex Murdaugh as a result of the financial fraud he had continuously committed over the years. Another ominous death was that of Gloria Satterfield, who worked for more than 20 years for the Murdaughs. South Carolina investigators say they are picking up steam in the reopened investigation into the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith who reportedly was close with Alex Murdaugh's oldest son, RadarOnline.com has learned. The coroner declared the death a hit-and-run collision. Like the probe of the 2019 boat crash, the 2015 investigation into Smith's death was chaotic from the beginning clouded by jurisdictional confusion and suspicions of investigative interference. As the multiple Murdaugh cases have played out in the small community, rumors have spread. 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. Following Stephen's death, his father made claims that Buster and Stephen had been seeing each other romantically, although Buster . 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. 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. Very upset about various sporting events. Buster's name was also linked to one of the other deaths examined in Murdaugh Murders: that of 19-year-old Stephen Smith in 2015. In 2015, Stephen Smith was killed in a hit-and-run accident, in which Buster Murdaugh was reportedly involved. In following with family tradition, Buster. And the streamers patience may have already paid off. In one dramatic moment, Buster insisted that his father said they and not I during a police interview video which prompted speculation that the disgraced legal dynasty heir may have unwittingly slipped up and confessed to the murders. Richard Alex "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., 26, is the oldest son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh. Buster Murdaugh's Girlfriend Could Be the Key to Understanding the Murdaugh Family, Buster Murdaugh Defends His Father Amid High-Profile Double Murder Trial, What Is Buster Murdaugh's Occupation? Beach fell overboard and went missing; her body was found on March 3 near the Broad River Boat Landing (6). Sandy Smith holds a photo of her son Stephen Smith. 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. The former lawyer Murdaugh currently faces a grand total of 106 grand jury criminal charges! In fact, it was one of the first files I ever received related to this story, Folks said. Nobody knows. Addressing the missing clothing, Buster testified that his father had clothes a lot of places including the familys various homes adding that they never stayed at Moselle after that day. One of the cases now being re-examined is the death of Stephen Smith, 19, whose body was found on a rural road in 2015. Doctors prescribe Ozempic 'off label': Is that OK? Years before Maggie and Paul. Three members of the family had served as district attorneys since 1920. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21 to shed light on his father's loving treatment of his family. Such are the circumstances with the story of South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh. Thanks to what came next, however, the death of Mallory Beach was merely the opening salvo of a larger story. He was found guilty of duping people of millions of dollars, and was accused of misappropriating funds to the tune of $9 million by his former partners at his law firm. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? For now at least. Alex's trial began on January 23, 2023. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Did a powerful South Carolina attorney really murder his wife and son? He also insisted on heading to a waterfront bar in downtown Beaufort where he ordered two rounds of shots while his annoyed friends waited outside. Life became particularly messy for Alex soon afterward as a row of financial crimes that he committed also came to the forefront. His death was ruled a. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. A blue tarp and a blue rainjacket was found in a search of the home, with the jacket covered in gunshot residue particles. Buster said Mr Murdaugh told him he was going to visit his mother Busters grandmother at his parents home in Almeda, something he said was quite typical for him to do. He has pleaded not guilty. Deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, June 7, 2021. Buster Murdaugh, center, receives a hug in the rain during the funeral service for his brother, Paul, and mother, Maggie, . He told the court it was normal for his father to shower a lot as it gets very hot at Moselle in the summer and Mr Murdaugh was a lot bigger weighing around 250 or 260 pounds at the time of the murders. After Smith's body was discovered, authorities fielded tips from the community. It is also believed that Buster was a close friend (and rumored boyfriend) of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old who was killed under mysterious circumstances in 2019. Days later on 3 June 2021 four days before he allegedly killed his wife and son Mr Murdaugh sent a voicemail to then-Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Laffitte asking him for $600,000. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The 26-year-old told the court how he lived with his family Maggie, Paul and Mr Murdaugh in Beaufort before they moved to Hampton County in 2000. Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaughs name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. Home > News & Politics > News. Really? Evidence was not gathered and testimonies were not recorded properly. He had blunt force trauma. After regaining their balance and senses the six occupants of the boat regrouped to discover that one of their own, Mallory Beach was missing. It also showed that he stayed just 21 minutes at his parents home that night less than half the 45 minutes to an hour he claimed to police. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The first one was that of Stephen Smith, . 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. Later, Connor's father was also contacted by Alex in an act of intimidation. Alex's voice could be heard in the background of a video with that of Paul and Maggie. The first one was that of Stephen Smith, who was found dead on the side of a road in 2015. Buster Murdaugh Girlfriend Stood by His Side Throughout Murdaugh's Trial. 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. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21. Like several other Alex Murdaugh documentaries before it, Murdaugh Murders brings up the curious case of Stephen Smith. As per Alex's testimony, he was not present at the scene when the crime happened. Mr Murdaugh, 54, is facing life in prison for the murders of his wife and son. 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. I am still in EB because when you get here we have to talk. 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. There are conflicting reports of what . No one is sure why the brothers were there. But the more devastating reality behind this unfortunate incident is that another rescue attempt was going on at the same time. Jurors previously heard from Mr Murdaughs mothers carer Muschelle Shelly Smith, who testified that the disgraced attorney showed up at his parents home at around 6.30am one morning days after the murders. In the video, sent at 7.56pm on 7 June 2021, Mr Murdaugh is seen in trousers, loafers and a blue button-down shirt on the grounds of the estate. In early August 2015, authorities received a tip about Smith and Buster Murdaugh possibly being in a relationship, per Live 5 News. Alex Murdaugh called 911 around 10 p.m. to say he had arrived at the familys Islandton home and found his wife and 22-year-old son fatally shot in the driveway. Stephen's body was found in the middle of the road and the . Over time, the Moselle property became the familys main home though they would spend much of the summer at the beach home in Edisto Beach. The other passengers were Murdaughs girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Beachs boyfriend, Anthony Cook; Anthonys cousin, Connor Cook; and Connors girlfriend, Miley Altman. All rights reserved. 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. His twin. by Matt Dillane. There was clearly a Murdaugh tie into the death of Stephen Smith, because if you read the investigatory reports from his death back in 2015, the Murdaugh name is mentioned dozens of times. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. Alex Murdaugh, the patriarch of a powerful and wealthy South Carolina legal family whose wife and son were mysteriously murdered in June, has now been shot. On April 18, Paul Murdaugh was indicted and charged with three felony counts including boating under the influence, causing the death of Beach, and injuring his friends. According to Sandy Smith, Randy Murdaugh called the family following Stephen Smiths death, offering to help however he could. It was updated with the events of the week of Sept. 12, 2021: Alex Murdaughs alleged confession that he hired someone to shoot him, and the opening of an investigation into Gloria Satterfields death. Due to the familys outsized political influence and power, there is a perception (and a correct one) that its members were able to easily escape any kind of trouble or scrutiny for decades. Smith was just 15 when he passed away suddenly in Hampton County. Celebrity news. 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