He is also the Editor at House Of Binge. 3-6. I am still in EB because when you get here we have to talk. Moselle crime scene: What will Murdaugh jury see? 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. Copyright 2023 Radar Media Group LLC. A man was arrested after an explosive was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight at a Pennsylvania airport, authorities said. A classmate of Alex's elder son Buster, Stephen was rumored to have been in a gay relationship with Buster, a pill that was, allegedly, too bitter for the Murdaughs to digest. Did Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, . Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. But Buster Murdaugh's private life has already been shown to the public. Murdaugh had hoped his surviving son, Buster, could collect a $ . However, the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in June 2021 shocked the nation after the mother and son were fatally shot. Offers may be subject to change without notice. As part of the reopened investigation, there were plans to exhume Gloria's body to carry out a proper autopsy. . He was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. However, not a penny showed up at the doors of Gloria's family. Sandy Smith said her ex-husband died of a broken heart. Did Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, and his own brother Paul Murdaugh? A family attorney later elaborated that Murdaugh had pulled over with car trouble before he was shot, possibly by someone in a passing pickup truck. Accident investigators agreed. Where Is Buster Murdaugh, Did He Kill Stephen Smith? 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. Another ominous death was that of Gloria Satterfield, who worked for more than 20 years for the Murdaughs. By waiting just a little bit longer than its peers, Netflix hopes that it can present the definitive version of the Murdaugh murders. Paul soon began driving erratically and by 2:20 a.m. the boat crashed into Archers Creek Bridge. Stephen Smith was openly gay. I have faith in that, Im optimistic in that. 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. By July 2022, Alex Murdaugh was indicted with several charged including two counts of murder. He was also being sued by the family of Mallory Beach, who was killed in a 2019 boat crash. While he said he wasnt often present for the confrontations, he said he believed his fathers response was usually apologetic. He even had his shoes on. 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. His twin. With the trial ongoing and many questions needing an answer, it is possible that Netflix may have to come up with a second season of its most recent true crime docuseries to give an updated picture of the vastness of Alex Murdaugh's crimes. He determined the placement of the body in the road and the injuries Smith suffered did not appear to be a hit-and-run. It definitely was not a hit and run. 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. As previously mentioned, Alex Murdaughs murder trial is ongoing. 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. 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. Police found Smith dead on the side of the road in 2015, The New York Times reports. I know they were all talking to each other too.. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. Thanks to what came next, however, the death of Mallory Beach was merely the opening salvo of a larger story. (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. But I do believe that the truth is going to come out. His car was three miles away. 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. He said he was not aware Paul ever got a replacement gun and did not see him using a Blackout that wasnt his. In a small town, the went to school together and would have known one another. Recently, Smith's family friend, Susanne Andrews, revealed "progress" has been made since Paul and Maggie's 2021 murders. Later, Connor's father was also contacted by Alex in an act of intimidation. Buster Murdaugh was allegedly involved in a relationship with Stephen Smith, an openly gay 19-year-old. In May 2022, Murdaugh made a settlement with Gloria's family. Buster told the court that he had heard his father repeatedly say those five words on the night of the murders. 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. Police determined it was a hit and run. 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. Ultimately the 88 indictments for financial fraud amounted to around $9 million. Naturally, many people began to wonder if Paul and Maggies murder was connected to the boating case. Generally speaking, its a good idea to wait until a case is all wrapped up before giving it the true crime docuseries treatment. Smith was a high school classmate of Murdaugh's son Buster . Stephen Smith was studying to be a nurse at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, hoping to eventually become a doctor. 7. Under brief cross-examination, the prosecutor brought up that Mr Murdaugh had suggested his son went hunting at Moselle after his mother and brother were gunned down there. His younger brother, Paul, was killed alongside his mother in 2021. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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. 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. 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. The first one was that of Stephen Smith, . For now at least. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. "Another rumor claims Buster Murdaugh and two other boys were responsible for [Smith's death]," said the outlet. Evidence of his prolific financial misdeeds had now come to light. Alex Murdaugh with defence attorney Dick Harpootlian during his trial. Often, Alex did not pass on the money that he won from financial settlements to the kin of the deceased after suing the insurance companies. Unlike several other witnesses and his father at the defence table Buster did not become emotional at any point during his testimony. He had a cell phone, he could have called somebody for help, Bland said. Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. On June 7, 2021 at 10:06 p.m., Alex Murdaugh called 911 and reported he had discovered the dead bodies of his son Paul and his wife Maggie near the dog kennels at their hunting lodge. Crime scene photos show shell casings on the floor of the dog feed house. The charges against him had varying effects on Paul as per varying accounts of his friends. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a new Netflix three-part documentary series on the titular Murdaugh Murders. Nobody knows. Online following of Murdaugh saga:South Carolina murder saga attracts cult-like online following. Alex Murdaugh was again charged with various crimes for leading the conspiracy. Satterfields next of kin was supposed to receive a substantial insurance settlement due to accidental death. The same month, Alex is disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. On the call, Alex reported that he had arrived at his house and found the bodies of his wife and son. 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. So thats about it! 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 map above shows locations of key events in the saga of the Murdaugh family. 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. The judge has warned that he and other family members could be removed from court altogether if there are any further wrong moves. July 8, 2015: Stephen Smith, 19, is found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County. Alex Murdaugh, 52, is a lawyer and the great-grandson of Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh, . 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. Prosecutors claim that Mr Murdaugh wrapped the murder weapons in the jacket and intially hid them at his parents home. Did a powerful South Carolina attorney really murder his wife and son? Daily. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. His car was discovered three miles away with the gas cap off. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21. "There has to be something to it, whether indirectly or directly there has to be some kind of tie to that.". The recalled Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cups may contain pecans. Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaugh's name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. Occurring roughly one year before the death of Mallory Beach, Gloria Satterfields case presents the perfect example of how the powerful Murdaugh family often received the benefit of the doubt, whether warranted or not. Richard Alex "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., 26, is the oldest son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh. Shooting of Alex Murdaugh, Sept. 4, 2021. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. I walked in the door and saw him and gave him a hug just broke down.. Such are the circumstances with the story of South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh. 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 young teenager was openly gay and was rumored to be involved in a romantic relationship with Paul Murdaugh's elder brother, Buster. His son, wife, and housekeeper were all dead. 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. No tire marks or no debris from a vehicle found on scene after several . Buster has experienced grief unlike anyone else; both his mother and brother were murdered. 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. Now, the case is being reexamined, including why some Murdaugh family members were among those first on scene. 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. 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. DAILY. While police were still searching for Mallory Beach, Alex arrived at the hospital and went room to room to speak with the survivors. Duncan said the Murdaugh family name came up in the initial accident investigation but didnt go anywhere. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The Murdaughs were members of a prominent South Carolina legal family that first made regional headlines in February 2019.. Alex's trial began on January 23, 2023. 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. From left to right, the Murdaugh family: Buster, Maggie, Paul, and Alex Credit: Facebook Maggie Murdaugh Who is the Murdaugh family? I walked from where his car was, all the way to where his body was and found nothing at all," Sandy shared. He was a very sharp kid; As a young gay man, he was cautious and so he wouldnt have been walking down the road. Why? The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. 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. The cause of . Six years later, state police opened their own investigation because of information they had gathered in the aftermath of the Murdaugh deaths. Here is everything you need to know about the true story. . Alex Murdaugh was trying desperately to save his son's name. But Mallory Beach's death was a tragedy waiting to happen at the hands of Paul, who was known for his violent behavior under the influence of alcohol. 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. Really? 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 boat crashed into some rocks and threw the passengers overboard. The Mallory Beach incident led to Murdaughs legal career coming under scrutiny by SLED, other lawyers representing Murdaughs victims, and Murdaughs own law firm. His family claims local law enforcement did little to investigate. As per the testimony and interviews of Paul's friends, who became surviving victims of the accident that took Mallory Beach's life, Paul drove the boat that they were riding on into the Archers Creek bridge. July 8, 2015. Copyright 2023 Distractify. No one is sure why the brothers were there. I cant tell you. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21 to shed light on his father's loving treatment of his family. Buster Murdaugh and Smith reportedly graduated in 2014 from the same high school. Worst of all, with at least one of those deceased clients, its suspected that Murdaugh may have assisted with their death. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Witnesses for the defense and prosecutors are expected to number in the hundreds so this could be a long trial. He asked if I wanted to go hunting out there again after the murders and suggested I could, said Buster. This is in line with Alex Murdaugh's history of financial crimes. While this was a tragic enough story to begin with, what elevated it in the public eye was the influential players involved. Trump was once a supporter of DeSantis, but he has criticized the Florida governor as he has become his chief rival for the nomination. 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. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. A cellphone video captured by Paul minutes before the murders also appears to place Mr Murdaugh at the murder scene. He, Paul, Maggie and his father would call each other and speak on the phone pretty much every day. 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. Amidst this ruckus, on September 4, 2021, Alex called 911, claiming that he was shot in the head while changing a tire on the side of the road. 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. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. Three members of the family had served as district attorneys since 1920. No coroner was notified of Satterfields death. The Murdaugh family has many skeletons in their closet, some of which have emerged during Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. All free. 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. In the aftermath of the murders, Buster said that he was with his father almost all day every day for a good while and kept a close eye on him. Maybe it was purposeful. No autopsy was performed. Meanwhile, Mr Murdaugh appeared to smile at his son at several points. Shreejit is a freelance features writer at Collider. Rather soon after the double murder, Law Enforcement announced that they were RE-opening the Stephen Smith case. Gloria Satterfield was the Murdaugh familys longtime housekeeper. In a small town, the went to school together and would have known one another. Buster Murdaugh Jr. had already made "an almost identical" improper jury argument in a rape case . 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. Alex is currently defending himself in court against charges that he murdered his wife, Maggie, and their youngest son, Paul. 1. Death of Mallory Beach, Feb. 24, 2019. 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. There was been much speculation around whether Mr Murdaugh said they or I in the audio, which is difficult to distinguish. The Murdaugh family law firm, The Parker Law Group, previously Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED), specializes in personal injury litigation. Three miles away, Stephen Smiths body was found, in the middle of the road with no skid marks or other physical evidence that a car had hit him. A wrongful-death suit filed by Beachs mother named Paul Murdaughs father, Alex, and older brother, Buster, alleging they facilitated his underage drinking. The Murdaughs are members of a prominent S.C. legal family that first made regional headlines after Paul Murdaugh was involved in a February 2019 boat crash in Beaufort County that resulted in. Ultimately the wound was just a graze and Murdaugh was released from the hospital that day. 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 . The Murdaughs also ran a big law firm in the area. Based in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. Personally, I think there was some type of pressure or just lack of investigation upon other agencies to do anything, he told NewsNation. Buster Murdaugh, 26, was a high school classmate of Smith, who was described as a loving jokester by friends and family. July 15th 2022, 11:14 AM PDT. Following the deaths of Mallory Beach, Paul Murdaugh, and Maggie Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smiths case. He died of blunt force trauma to the head, but there were no signs to. Buster Murdaugh recalls finding out about the murders of his brother and mother, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Alex Murdaugh trial - live: Surviving son to testify today as defence fights back against crime scene evidence, Alex Murdaugh judge compares defence attorney to Kyrie Irving after he shared sloppy investigation post, Murders, million-dollar fraud and mystery deaths: The story of Alex Murdaughs spectacular fall from grace, Alex Murdaughs surviving son gives stoic testimony in murder trial, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off orders over 15 with this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. 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. He Was Called to Testify in Alex Murdaugh's Trial. 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. Buster Murdaugh Girlfriend Stood by His Side Throughout Murdaugh's Trial. Buster testified that Paul later told him that his gun was apparently lost, stolen, taken and after that his brother would always use his. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? In September of 2021, things werent going well for Alex Murdaugh. The nights that followed witnessed the search for Mallory. 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. 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? Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; Science & Tech; toggle. The case of 19-year-old Stephen Smith is often mentioned in the same sentence on . 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. On the night of 24 February 2019, Paul was allegedly drunk driving the Murdaugh familys boat with several of his friends on board. Smith was found laying in the middle of the road by a bystander around 4:20 . Some cases are so explosive, however, that documentarians just cant wait to get their cameras on it. His mother hired a private investigator to look into the matter. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. Alex Murdaugh reportedly told emergency responders that she had fallen down the stairs. Meanwhile, Pauls equally spoiled rich boy father Alex immediately sprung into action after the accident. Judge Clifton Newman is said to have issued multiple warnings to several members of the Murdaugh family about their behaviour in court and they were told to move to the back of the courtroom. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, During calm testimony, Buster appeared to water down but not refute some key points in the prosecutions case, including the police interview where his father appeared to unwittingly confess to the murders, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. 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. What's more, in 2015, he lost a close friend, Stephen Smith, in a . SLED Special Agent Jeff Croft testified that Mr Murdaugh said: I did him so bad.. His testimony marked the first major witness for the defence, which began its case on Friday afternoon. Stephen's body was found in the middle of the road and the . All three episodes of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal are available to stream on Netflix now. I spoke to my mom every day multiple times everr day and my dad and my brother too, he said. Advertisement. "Another rumor claims Buster Murdaugh and two other boys were responsible for [Smith's death]," said the outlet. 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. The three men would often go hunting together on the 1,700-acre estate, he said. Her death, which occurred in 2018, was attributed initially to a trip-and-fall incident while working at the Murdaughs' home. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of . He suffered what police described as a superficial gunshot wound to the head.. Busters name has also cropped up in connection with the mysterious death of Stephen Smith a 19-year-old gay teenager who was found dead at the side of a road in Hampton County in 2015. Stephanie Whiteside, Paige Lobdell, Rich McHugh. Fury of the Gods Brings Back the "Shazamily": Inside DC's New Superhero Adventure, Scream 6's Brutal NYC Trip: "You Can't Trust Anyone" This Time, Cocaine Bear Is Not Just About a Killer "Coked-Up" Bear, It's Also an "Underdog Story", How Marvel's Wastelanders Podcast Created an Exciting Story with No Visual Safety Net, Murdaugh Murders Explained: The Real Life Story Behind the Netflix Series.

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