The world was captivated by the Alex Murdaugh trial. As more details about the family’s influence in South Carolina emerged, it appeared this might not be the only case they are involved in.
Nineteen-year-old Stephen Smith’s body was found on the side of the road near Alex Murdaugh’s home in 2015. At the time, it was ruled a hit-and-run. Because of new evidence brought to light under Murdaugh’s trial, it has been reclassified as a homicide. In order to solve this murder case, Smith’s body was exhumed, and a second autopsy was performed. His family hopes to find out what really happened once and for all.
Eric Bland, the lawyer representing Smith’s mother, Sandy Smith, confirmed this new development in the investigation in a statement. His body is now back at its final resting place.
"I now believe that Stephen can really rest at ease because SLED [the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division] and our team are going to do everything possible to find out just how he died," he said.
"I cannot thank SLED enough for making Sandy's dream of exhuming Stephen and having a second autopsy be done become a reality and her pleas regarding Stephen for the last eight years to finally be heard. The state of South Carolina spent a significant amount of money this past weekend, ensuring a smooth and orderly exhumation,” he went on to say.
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Sandy Smith never believed her son died because of a hit-and-run. During the initial investigation into his death, the Murdaugh name was brought up countless times, but no one from the Murdaugh family was questioned because of their powerful influence. Many people believe Alex Murdaugh's son Buster Murdaugh was somehow involved, although he vehemently denies this. Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh went to school together.
On March 2, 2023, Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife and younger son, Maggie Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh. He is now serving two life sentences. During the investigations into their murders, information was found that shed new light on Smith’s death. It is unknown at this time exactly what that information is.
Michael Duncan, the former supervisor of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, disclosed that a rape kit was ordered during the initial investigation into Smith’s death. This was unheard of with a traffic case. It was the first time in his career he had ever seen this done.
"I did not have an understanding of why it was being ordered," he explained. "We were not notified until later that it had been ordered. So no, I have no answers for you as to why they would have ordered a rape kit for what would be suspected as a hit-and-run, which it wasn't, but I will never understand that."
Attorney Bland believes Smith’s death was a hate crime. He also confirmed that a rape kit was taken but never processed. "It could be that a bunch of thug kids decide, 'Hey, we're going to beat up the gay kid,' or it was somebody who felt that Stephen was going to out them," he speculated. "Stephen had told his mother that he was dating somebody of prominence. He was very secretive about his lifestyle. He wasn't secretive about the fact that he was gay, but he respected the boundaries of people who he had relationships with."
It was announced on Monday, April 3, 2023, that Sandy Smith is offering a $35,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in her son’s case. The reward money is part of the funds raised via a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraiser was done to ensure there was an independent investigation into his murder, because the family was skeptical of the authorities' handling of the case up to that point.
