Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex, all members of the prominent Murdaugh family Credit: Facebook One theory posits that Stephen ran out of gas and decided to walk home when he was clipped by a semi truck, but Stephen's mother Sandy Smith discounted that hypothesis in the 20/20 documentary. While Mallory's friends Miley, Morgan, Anthony, Connor, and Paul all survived, Mallory never made it out of the water. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Home > News & Politics > News. Some cases are so explosive, however, that documentarians just cant wait to get their cameras on it. That's the day that his father, Alex Murdaugh said he came home and found his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22, gunned down on . 7. Then people started asking questions about Stephen Smiths case. Crime scene photos show shell casings on the floor of the dog feed house. No coroner was notified of Satterfields death. Following Stephen's death, his father made claims that Buster and Stephen had been seeing each other romantically, although Buster . No member of the Murdaugh family. A cellphone video captured by Paul minutes before the murders also appears to place Mr Murdaugh at the murder scene. Eight days after the accident, Mallory Beach's body was finally found. One of the challenging things about fully understanding the scope of the Murdaugh story is comprehending its timeline. However, the so-called Murdaugh . "SLED has . RADAR and RADARONLINE are registered trademarks. Prosecutors claim that Mr Murdaugh shot dead Maggie and Paul by the dog kennels of the familys sprawling estate in Islandton, in order to distract from his string of alleged scandals and financial crimes. 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. They have not made any statement about it since. 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. Among the timeline was newly-obtained car data which placed Mr Murdaughs car at the spot where his wifes phone was later found dumped before he quickly sped away from the scene. Beach fell overboard and went missing; her body was found on March 3 near the Broad River Boat Landing (6). Later, Connor's father was also contacted by Alex in an act of intimidation. DAILY. He, Paul, Maggie and his father would call each other and speak on the phone pretty much every day. Map in Murdaugh murder case: 5 deaths and a, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Map in Murdaugh murder case: 5 deaths and a mysterious shooting. Death of Mallory Beach, Feb. 24, 2019. He was also being sued by the family of Mallory Beach, who was killed in a 2019 boat crash. 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. Investigators with the S.C. Highway Patrol ( SCHP) received. Stephen Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of a country road 15 miles from the Murdaugh family's Islandton hunting lodge on July 8, 2015. After HBO Max's Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty and ID's The Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty, Netflix has decided to wet its paws with the twisted story of Alex Murdaugh and his family that has attracted the world's attention to Hampton County in South Carolina. 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. With the increased scrutiny on Alex Murdaugh following the murder of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, Satterfields murder is now the subject of a fresh criminal investigation. 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. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Moselle crime scene: What will Murdaugh jury see? According to Sandy Smith, Randy Murdaugh called the family following Stephen Smiths death, offering to help however he could. Her death, which occurred in 2018, was attributed initially to a trip-and-fall incident while working at the Murdaughs' home. Police believe Smith ran out of gas while on his way home from college, though his family questions this. Rather soon after the double murder, Law Enforcement announced that they were RE-opening the Stephen Smith case. It was last brought back to the KFC menu in April 2014. Mom found several bags of pills in your computer bag, Pauls message to his father on 6 May 2021 read. His car was discovered three miles away with the gas cap off. Alex Murdaugh with defence attorney Dick Harpootlian during his trial. The first one was that of Stephen Smith, . Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. "There has to be something to it, whether indirectly or directly there has to be some kind of tie to that.". The other passengers were Murdaughs girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Beachs boyfriend, Anthony Cook; Anthonys cousin, Connor Cook; and Connors girlfriend, Miley Altman. Very upset about various sporting events. Several people came forward with rumors of a "fling" between Smith and Buster Murdaugh. Sources told FITS News that when Buster was then asked to move to the back of the courtroom, he allegedly kicked over a water bottle in anger. On the call, Alex reported that he had arrived at his house and found the bodies of his wife and son. His mother hired a private investigator to look into the matter. Another ominous death was that of Gloria Satterfield, who worked for more than 20 years for the Murdaughs. In 2015, Stephen Smith was killed in a hit-and-run accident, in which Buster Murdaugh was reportedly involved. 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. 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. 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. But inconsistencies in the initial investigation have left many wondering why his death was never investigated as a homicide. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. But Buster Murdaugh's private life has already been shown to the public. The case was ruled a hit and run and no arrests were ever made. On Sept. 4, 2021, Murdaugh called 911 to report that he had been shot in the head while he was changing a tire on the side of the road. They had friends in common and they didnt move in the same circles. Despite grieving the loss of her son, Sandy had a kind message for his son's killer or killers. Yet, the case was left classified as a hit and run. . A special accident investigation team looked at the case and determined it was a homicide, but a pathologist disagreed, saying he likely died from being hit in the face by the mirror of a passing car. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21 to shed light on his father's loving treatment of his family. The former lawyer Murdaugh currently faces a grand total of 106 grand jury criminal charges! Initially, Smith's death was ruled a hit-and-run by the coroner; however, the Smith family and Highway Patrol Investigators rejected the claim and noted that "no vehicle debris, skid marks, or injuries consistent with someone being struck by a vehicle" were found in the initial investigation. 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. Buster testified that he never saw a gun loaded with both types of ammunition and didnt know anyone who would do that. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Unlike several other witnesses and his father at the defence table Buster did not become emotional at any point during his testimony. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said it was opening an investigation into the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, . Smith was a high school classmate of Murdaughs son Buster (not the currently deceased one) and was found dead from blunt force trauma on the side of the road in 2015. 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. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. I do believe that were going to get answers. He had a large gash on his head, a police report read, and a wound over his eyebrow. However, the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in June 2021 shocked the nation after the mother and son were fatally shot. On the night of 24 February 2019, Paul was allegedly drunk driving the Murdaugh familys boat with several of his friends on board. Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; Science & Tech; toggle. SLED opening Stephen Smith death investigation based on information gathered in Murdaugh double-homicide case The initial South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) reports released on the. No tire marks or no debris from a vehicle found on scene after several . The oldest Murdaugh son, Buster, was the same age as Stephen Smith and his twin sister. Now, the case is being reexamined, including why some Murdaugh family members were among those first on scene. Daily. Satterfields death was accepted as an accidental trip and fall despite several suspicious circumstances. Alex Murdaugh is currently standing trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul, and is pleading not guilty with the support of his surviving son Buster. 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. 8. In the aftermath of Maggie and Pauls murders, Buster said that his father had been destroyed and heartbroken. Life became particularly messy for Alex soon afterward as a row of financial crimes that he committed also came to the forefront. All three episodes of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal are available to stream on Netflix now. Smith's injuries suggested a more nefarious cause of death. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21 to shed light on his father's loving treatment of his family. Later, Gloria's sons also filed a lawsuit against Murdaugh after discovering that Murdaugh had claimed nearly half a million dollars for Gloria's death. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The coroner declared the death a hit-and-run collision. Throughout the trial, Brooklynn White stood by the side of her boyfriend and continues to show her support. While Mallory's boyfriend Anthony stayed back at the scene of the incident to wait for his girlfriend to be found, the others in the group witnessed Alex's manipulation at work as he tried to pin the blame on Paul's friend, Connor. 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. Picking up from the accidental death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal traces the series of events that made the suspicious history of the powerful Murdaugh family of South Carolina national news. Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh left to right. "Another rumor claims Buster Murdaugh and two other boys were responsible for [Smith's death]," said the outlet. According to Live 5 News, the Murdaugh family is mentioned several times in the investigative files of Stephen Smith, who died by hit-and-run in July 2015. Smith was a high school classmate of Murdaugh's son Buster . Ron DeSantis explained his feud with Disney in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, saying the corporation helps advance the lefts woke agenda.. Based in Cleveland, Ohio. Never miss a story sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. 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 first was that of a high school student, Stephen Smith, back in 2015. 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. Evidence was not gathered and testimonies were not recorded properly. His own car was parked several miles away. Two days later, he announced he had quit his law firm and was entering a rehabilitation program for treatment of opioid addiction. Smith was one of the few openly gay individuals in his school. 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. While he said he wasnt often present for the confrontations, he said he believed his fathers response was usually apologetic. The Murdaugh family has many skeletons in their closet, some of which have emerged during Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. 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. 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. Stephen Smith was studying to be a nurse at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, hoping to eventually become a doctor. Busters name has also cropped up in a series of other scandals surrounding the once-powerful family. In 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith was found in the middle of a rural road. 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. 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. On June 25, Alex and his surviving son, "Buster," offered a $100,000 reward for the killer or killers. The oldest Murdaugh son, Buster, was the same age as Stephen Smith and his twin sister. 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. In court, Alex admitted to lying about his alibi on the night of the murder but denied any involvement in the deaths. We would normally make phone calls while we were riding in the car it was very normal for him to call, Buster said. Several claim that he tried to get them all on the same page and assert that Paul wasnt driving the boat. This is in line with Alex Murdaugh's history of financial crimes. He died of blunt force trauma to the head, but there were no signs to. I walked in the door and saw him and gave him a hug just broke down.. A passerby in a car called in a 911 report, and by dawn the local highway patrol was conducting an investigation, collecting evidence, trying to piece together what might have happened. 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. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! A one-stop-shop for all things video games. Additionally, the teenager had injuries to his left hand and arm. Mike DeWine said he was impressed with the magnitude of the cleanup efforts he witnessed and by the hard work people are doing. His father had gone to a detox facility around Christmas 2018 and Buster thought that handled it but they found pills a couple more times after that. On the evening of Feb. 23, the 19-year-old Beach was among six friends who boarded a 17-foot boat at the Murdaugh familys river house on Chechessee Creek (3) for a 25-mile run to an oyster roast on Paukie Island (4). 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. Police found Smith dead on the side of the road in 2015, The New York Times reports. Buster Murdaugh and Smith reportedly graduated in 2014 from the same high school. In the year and a half since, no new details have come to light but SLED reports it has "made progress" and the case remains "active and . In September 2021, the state police opened an investigation into her death. Ultimately the 88 indictments for financial fraud amounted to around $9 million. Curtis "Eddie" Smith, who allegedly received about $2m from Murdaugh in the apparent fake-suicide scheme, was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature for his . Did Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, . The following week, state police said Murdaugh had confessed to hiring someone to kill him so his surviving son could collect life insurance. From 1920 through 2006, three members of the family served uninterrupted terms as the solicitor (which is known in most jurisdictions of the U.S. as a district attorney) of South Carolinas 14th district. You may recognize the name Paul Murdaugh from three second ago when we talked about him accidentally killing Mallory Beach. His car was three miles away. Naturally, many people began to wonder if Paul and Maggies murder was connected to the boating case. 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. 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