Despite grieving the loss of her son, Sandy had a kind message for his son's killer or killers. But the more devastating reality behind this unfortunate incident is that another rescue attempt was going on at the same time. Two days later, he announced he had quit his law firm and was entering a rehabilitation program for treatment of opioid addiction. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. 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. People said that Smith and Murdaugh were dating, which made the circumstances of his death even more controversial. There was been much speculation around whether Mr Murdaugh said they or I in the audio, which is difficult to distinguish. Alex Murdaugh called 911 around 1:30 p.m. to report he had been shot at the side of Salkehatchie Road. SLED Special Agent Jeff Croft testified that Mr Murdaugh said: I did him so bad.. Buster Murdaugh took the witness stand in his fathers murder trial on Tuesday morning. Additionally, the teenager had injuries to his left hand and arm. Did Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, and his own brother Paul Murdaugh? 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. TV Editor at Den of Geek and Television Critics Association member. What starts as a relatively straightforward case of Boating Under the Influence with a touch of manslaughter, quickly balloons into a sprawling catalogue of crimes including corruption, embezzlement, and outright murder. Alex Murdaugh was trying desperately to save his son's name. His car was discovered three miles away with the gas cap off. Smith's body was found in . Breaking. 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. Worst of all, with at least one of those deceased clients, its suspected that Murdaugh may have assisted with their death. Despite being increasingly intoxicated, Paul Murdaugh insisted on driving the boat. 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 case was ruled a hit and run and no arrests were ever made. 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. Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; 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. The family believes he was murdered. His car was three miles away. Now, police investigating the shooting deaths of. Witnesses for the defense and prosecutors are expected to number in the hundreds so this could be a long trial. 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? Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaugh's name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. One Christmas, he and Buster were given a 300 Blackout rifle each as presents. 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). RadarOnline.com has learned that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has "made progress" in the "active and ongoing" case of Smith, who died in 2015. "He called his sister one night [when] he ran out of gas, and he hid in the woods, and would not come out until he was sure it was her. The guns a shotgun and a rifle have never been found. 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. This is in line with Alex Murdaugh's history of financial crimes. Buster Murdaugh Jr. had already made "an almost identical" improper jury argument in a rape case . Several people came forward with rumors of a "fling" between Smith and Buster Murdaugh. One of the challenging things about fully understanding the scope of the Murdaugh story is comprehending its timeline. In a small town, the went to school together and would have known one another. Eric Bland, an attorney involved in several cases connected to Alex Murdaugh, said the scene didnt fit with what Smiths family knew about him. On Friday, jurors were shown a bombshell voicemail message revealing that Maggie and Paul found bags of pills in the accused killers bag just one month before their murders. DAILY. 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. 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. Trump was once a supporter of DeSantis, but he has criticized the Florida governor as he has become his chief rival for the nomination. 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. Throughout the weeks-long trial, Buster and several other family members have put on a united front, supporting Mr Murdaugh in court every day. I just want to say I forgive you. He had blunt force trauma. The final state witness SLED Agent Peter Rudofski laid out a detailed timeline of both the final movements of the two victims and the movements of their accused killer. As previously mentioned, Alex Murdaughs murder trial is ongoing. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh, Buster's father, is facing charges with the murders of his wife, Maggie, and his . by Matt Dillane. However, the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in June 2021 shocked the nation after the mother and son were fatally shot. Paul is the platonic ideal of the spoiled rich boy archetype and the police arriving on the scene of the accident certainly treated him as such. Everyone knew that the Murdaughs were not to be messed with. Duncan said the Murdaugh family name came up in the initial accident investigation but didnt go anywhere. 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. In April 2019, Paul was charged with three felonies over Beachs death including boating under the influence and was facing up to 25 years in prison. 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. So thats about it! In 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith died after he was hit by his car and the driver didn't stop. In May 2022, Murdaugh made a settlement with Gloria's family. Buster Murdaugh Girlfriend Stood by His Side Throughout Murdaugh's Trial. Generally speaking, its a good idea to wait until a case is all wrapped up before giving it the true crime docuseries treatment. I know they were all talking to each other too.. Deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, June 7, 2021. Here's what we know. OF ALL THINGS, why why why would that be one of the very few scintilla of information to be released, other than the big one: ----> The Public was not in Danger. For now at least. At first, Buster said that he just sat there in shock. Stephen Smiths father died three months after his son. Alex's trial began on January 23, 2023. In court, Alex admitted to lying about his alibi on the night of the murder but denied any involvement in the deaths. 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. 7. Justin Bieber has canceled the remaining dates of his Justice world tour after postponing many shows last year for health reasons. 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. I have faith in that, Im optimistic in that. 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. Murdaugh admitted that the events had been an assisted suicide scheme so that his son Buster would still receive $10 million upon his death. Based in Cleveland, Ohio. Distractify is a registered trademark. Buster said that there was a negative reaction in the community in the aftermath of the boat crash and it consumed his mother, making her anxious. Stephen Smith was openly gay. His death was initially deemed a hit and run but the case remains unsolved. Gunther's Millions: The True Story Behind Netflix's Rich Dog Docuseries, Shazam! 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. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? However, not a penny showed up at the doors of Gloria's family. 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. Smith was found laying in the middle of the road by a bystander around 4:20 . 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. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. Now, the case is being reexamined, including why some Murdaugh family members were among those first on scene. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, also known as SLED, told NewsNation they have made progress in the death investigation of Stephen Smith, however, the investigation is active and ongoing. Smiths mother, Sandy Smith, has been relentless in her quest for answers. We would normally make phone calls while we were riding in the car it was very normal for him to call, Buster said. Busters testimony also called into question the significance of the multiple outfits Mr Murdaugh was seen wearing on the day of the murders with no bloodied clothing ever found. Then he and his girlfriend Brooklynn grabbed some stuff and drove down to Moselle, reaching the property in the early hours of 8 June. Buster refuted this testimony, saying that his father said they did him so bad after listening to the footage in court. The first was that of a high school student, Stephen Smith, back in 2015. The charges were dropped after his murder. It definitely was not a hit and run. 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. 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. 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. Because of this, his other son Buster Murdaugh is also facing intense scrutiny. What's more, in 2015, he lost a close friend, Stephen Smith, in a . While this was a tragic enough story to begin with, what elevated it in the public eye was the influential players involved. 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. No one is sure why the brothers were there. July 8, 2015. Currently, Murdaugh is on trial for murder for the deaths of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and their son, Paul Murdaugh. Smith was one of the few openly gay individuals in his school. Many media entities have already tried their hand at explaining this shifty saga of murder, corruption, and cover-up from HBO Maxs Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty to IDs The Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty. The coroner said each was shot multiple times with a different weapon; time of death is thought to have been between 9 and 9:30 p.m. theyve uncovered new crimes committed by Alex Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smiths case, Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Review The Apostate, Unforgotten Series 5 Review: Bleak, Angry, But the Old Magic is Still There, Recently, Buster Murdaugh took the witness stand, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence Is a Harrowing Watch. The coroner declared the death a hit-and-run collision. Years before Maggie and Paul. The oldest Murdaugh son, Buster, was the same age as Stephen Smith and his twin sister. A coroner ultimately ruled Smith's death as accidental, involving a car that hit him. By July 2022, Alex Murdaugh was indicted with several charged including two counts of murder. Alex Murdaugh is indicted on two counts of murder. Smith was a high school classmate of Murdaugh's son Buster . The case remains unsolved. Simply put: the Alex Murdaugh story is a lot like a lot. Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. What is known is that Alex Murdaugh and his brother Randy came to the scene of Stephen Smiths death, going through the crime tape. He had a sister. Sandy Smith said her ex-husband died of a broken heart. Several friends and partners at Mr Murdaughs law firm PMPED were also there and they stayed for several hours before Buster, his father, girlfriend and uncle John Marvin went to Mr Murdaughs parents home in Almeda. Life became particularly messy for Alex soon afterward as a row of financial crimes that he committed also came to the forefront. 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. But the real break in Smiths case came after the double murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Officials still don't know who or what killed 19-year-old Stephen Smith six years ago but his death has been widely associated with the Murdaugh family. Murdaugh Murders filmmakers Jenner FurstandJulia Willoughby Nason (previously of Hulus Fyre Fraud) report that theyve uncovered new crimes committed by Alex Murdaugh and are hoping Netflix commissions a second season so they can reveal them. But despite the many attempts, Paul ended up being charged with the death of Mallory Beach. The boat was driven by Paul Murdaugh, then 19. relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh, Source: YouTube/Law&Crime Network (video still). He hid a mystery blue item upstairs in the home and then left again, she said. The young teenager was openly gay and was rumored to be involved in a romantic relationship with Paul Murdaugh's elder brother, Buster. Personally, I think there was some type of pressure or just lack of investigation upon other agencies to do anything, he told NewsNation. Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh left to right. Stephen Smith was studying to be a nurse at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, hoping to eventually become a doctor. His mother referenced an earlier instance to Live 5 News where Smith ran out of gas and immediately contacted his sister for help. Meanwhile, the prosecution has assembled its witnesses and pieces of evidence, including bodycam footage from the night of the murders, to prove Alex's alleged crimes. Bank of Dave: What Happened in Real Life? After Smith's body was discovered, authorities fielded tips from the community. It was clear that this case was not handled correctly. 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. But why though? He even had his shoes on. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? By waiting just a little bit longer than its peers, Netflix hopes that it can present the definitive version of the Murdaugh murders. Brothers Paul and Buster Murdaugh the sons of Alex Murdaugh, who is one of the sons of Randolph. Gloria Satterfield was the Murdaugh familys longtime housekeeper. Beach fell overboard and went missing; her body was found on March 3 near the Broad River Boat Landing (6). In fact, it was one of the first files I ever received related to this story, Folks said. A one-stop-shop for all things video games. Murdaugh, 54, is accused of using two different guns to execute his son, Paul, and wife, Maggie, June 7, 2021, on the family's Islandton hunting estate By Rebecca Rosenberg | Fox News Buster. As the night progressed, Paul and his friends decided to head to an oyster roast on nearby Paukie Island via a Murdaugh family boat. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. In 2019, that all finally started to change thanks to the actions of one dipshit Murdaugh: Alex. Mike DeWine said he was impressed with the magnitude of the cleanup efforts he witnessed and by the hard work people are doing.