"I hope they enjoy their day because we're going to enjoy ours. The young teenager was openly gay and was rumored to be involved in a romantic relationship with Paul Murdaugh's elder brother, Buster. He determined the placement of the body in the road and the injuries Smith suffered did not appear to be a hit-and-run. This is when most folks outside of South Carolina became aware of the Murdaugh name and its wisely where Murdaugh Murders elects to begin its story. His mother hired a private investigator to look into the matter. We would normally make phone calls while we were riding in the car it was very normal for him to call, Buster said. 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. I am still in EB because when you get here we have to talk. Meanwhile an attorney named Justin Bamberg began investigating Murdaughs finances on behalf of eight people who claim Murdaugh victimized them. A coroner ultimately ruled Smith's death as accidental, involving a car that hit him. 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. In the aftermath of Maggie and Pauls murders, Buster said that his father had been destroyed and heartbroken. Death of Gloria Satterfield, Feb. 26, 2018. 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. "No car parts. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. He has pleaded not guilty. While this was a tragic enough story to begin with, what elevated it in the public eye was the influential players involved. Three members of the family had served as district attorneys since 1920. Bamberg theorizes that Murdaugh may have defrauded 30-50 people to the tune of $20 million. Personally, I think there was some type of pressure or just lack of investigation upon other agencies to do anything, he told NewsNation. Yet, the case was left classified as a hit and run. [12] RELATED: 10 Most Disturbing True Crime Documentaries (& Where To Stream Them). Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Copyright 2023 Radar Media Group LLC. He even had his shoes on. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. Recently, Buster Murdaugh took the witness stand for the defense and testified that his father was destroyed by the deaths of Paul and Maggie. Sandy Smith, Stephanie Smith and myself, we have said all along, we would like to have justice for Stephen, the law firm said. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Did a powerful South Carolina attorney really murder his wife and son? Despite being increasingly intoxicated, Paul Murdaugh insisted on driving the boat. His testimony marked the first major witness for the defence, which began its case on Friday afternoon. 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. In September of 2021, things werent going well for Alex Murdaugh. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. He said he was not aware Paul ever got a replacement gun and did not see him using a Blackout that wasnt his. 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. By October of that year, SLED had indicated that none other than Alex Murdaugh was a person of interest in the case. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division re-opened the case in June 2021, shortly after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh based on information discovered during that initial investigation. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. Did Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, and his own brother Paul Murdaugh? Consequentially, Alex was forced to resign from the law firm, which is now known as Parker Law Group. While Mallory's friends Miley, Morgan, Anthony, Connor, and Paul all survived, Mallory never made it out of the water. Jurors have previously seen a Snapchat video Paul sent to a friend less than one hour before the murders where he is wearing an entirely different outfit to the bodycam footage after the murders. by Matt Dillane. The killer shot Maggie multiple times with a 300 Blackout rifle believed to be a replacement rifle that Mr Murdaugh later bought for Paul to replace the one he lost. All rights reserved. Rather soon after the double murder, Law Enforcement announced that they were RE-opening the Stephen Smith case. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! They returned hours later and all showered at the Moselle home, he said casting doubts on testimony from the Murdaugh housekeeper Blanca Simpson that she noticed unusual things in the home on 8 June including a light puddle of water, a towel, a pair of khaki pants and a t-shirt on the ground. Several claim that he tried to get them all on the same page and assert that Paul wasnt driving the boat. Sandy then took it upon herself to look into what happened to her son. Then he and his girlfriend Brooklynn grabbed some stuff and drove down to Moselle, reaching the property in the early hours of 8 June. While he said he wasnt often present for the confrontations, he said he believed his fathers response was usually apologetic. The case of 19-year-old Stephen Smith is often mentioned in the same sentence on . 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 . Days after the death of Paul and Maggie, the investigation into the death of Stephen was reopened. 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. Eight days after the accident, Mallory Beach's body was finally found. The coroner declared the death a hit-and-run collision. Six years later, state police opened their own investigation because of information they had gathered in the aftermath of the Murdaugh deaths. I walked in the door and saw him and gave him a hug just broke down.. 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. Smith was just 15 when he passed away suddenly in Hampton County. Stephen Smith's family reacts to Murdaugh indictment in killings of wife, son. 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. July 8, 2015. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. It definitely was not a hit and run. At 2:20 the next morning, the boat driven by the allegedly intoxicated Murdaugh slammed into a piling in Archers Creek (5). 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. Years before Maggie and Paul. 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. Smith was found dead with deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. Richard Alex "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., 26, is the oldest son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh. He sounded odd and then he told me that my mom and brother were shot, he recalled. 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. Alex Murdaugh was again charged with various crimes for leading the conspiracy. Police believe Smith ran out of gas while on his way home from college, though his family questions this. Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; There was been much speculation around whether Mr Murdaugh said they or I in the audio, which is difficult to distinguish. 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). In a small town, the went to school together and would have known one another. Other than that, police found no other marks on his body. 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. Accident investigators agreed. Following the deaths of Mallory Beach, Paul Murdaugh, and Maggie Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smith's case. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. 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. Thats the question that the prosecution must answer in the State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh trial that is currently underway. The charges were dropped after his murder. They graduated high school together. 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. Ultimately, Mallorys body was discovered on March 3 about five miles down river from the crash scene. 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. Before we continue on to all the death and human suffering, it might be helpful to know that, due to their Low Country origin, both Alex and Murdaugh are not pronounced how you probably think theyre pronounced. We think he was dumped there on the road. 8. The judge has warned that he and other family members could be removed from court altogether if there are any further wrong moves. What Stephens life was like, what I will say, is know of no evidence that would support any kind of relationship between Stephen and Buster, said Michael Hemlepp, attorney for the Smith family. I walked from where his car was, all the way to where his body was and found nothing at all," Sandy shared. He, Paul, Maggie and his father would call each other and speak on the phone pretty much every day. Moreover, the lapses in the immediate investigation by the local investigators, the Department of Natural Resources, exposed the workings of a powerful network that the Murdaughs had woven over years. On July 8, 2015 he was on his way home from school when he ran out of gas. 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. There are conflicting reports of what . . 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. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. Very upset about various sporting events. 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. Now Paul, just 22 years old and facing three felony counts, was dead. He is also the Editor at House Of Binge. Did Buster Murdaugh kill Stephen Smith, . 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. Sandy Smith holds a photo of her son Stephen Smith. Paul was driving the boat under the influence of alcohol and had just slapped his ex-girlfriend Morgan moments before the accident. Beach fell overboard and went missing; her body was found on March 3 near the Broad River Boat Landing (6). Mr Murdaugh, 54, is facing life in prison for the murders of his wife and son. 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. Ultimately the 88 indictments for financial fraud amounted to around $9 million. ALL FREE. We hope she gets them. In early June, a son and mother, both members of a. The recalled Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cups may contain pecans. A blue tarp and a blue rainjacket was found in a search of the home, with the jacket covered in gunshot residue particles. The firm built its success in the early 2000s due to a state law that made it easier for plaintiffs to forum shop. Gov. Stephen's body was found in the middle of the road and the . As bleak as this whole state of affairs was, it still might have faded away into history as an unfortunate case of hyper local corruption. Ultimately the wound was just a graze and Murdaugh was released from the hospital that day. The latest Netflix docuseries focuses on the series of events that led to the fall of the Murdaugh family legacy, starting from the death of Mallory Beach. Mr Murdaugh was also sued by the Beach family, with prosecutors saying that the lawsuit was picking up pace in the days before the murders, and that the disgraced attorneys finances were about to be exposed because of it. 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. On June 22, roughly two weeks after the killings of Margaret and Paul Murdaugh, SLED reopened an investigation into the unsolved death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. By July 2022, Alex Murdaugh was indicted with several charged including two counts of murder. Where Is Buster Murdaugh, Did He Kill Stephen Smith? No tire marks or no debris from a vehicle found on scene after several . Gunther's Millions: The True Story Behind Netflix's Rich Dog Docuseries, Shazam! But Murdaugh conspired with two fellow attorneys to have the insurance payout diverted to Murdaughs account. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21 to shed light on his father's loving treatment of his family. Cpl. They had friends in common and they didnt move in the same circles. Gloria Satterfield was the Murdaugh familys longtime housekeeper. 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. 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. Evidence was not gathered and testimonies were not recorded properly. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. He Was Called to Testify in Alex Murdaugh's Trial. Although many in Hampton County claim the existence of a deeper connection between Stephen's death and the Murdaughs, there is not much evidence to back it up. By waiting just a little bit longer than its peers, Netflix hopes that it can present the definitive version of the Murdaugh murders. His younger brother, Paul, was killed alongside his mother in 2021. Buster Murdaugh, 26, was a high school classmate of Smith, who was described as a loving jokester by friends and family. Following the deaths of Mallory Beach, Paul Murdaugh, and Maggie Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smiths case. Following Stephen's death, his father made claims that Buster and Stephen had been seeing each other romantically, although Buster . 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.

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