SC - Stephen Smith, 19, homicide, Hampton Co, 9 Jul 2015 *new death investigation 2023*

[rescuemom]

I borrowed this photo. It is a good representation of how my side view mirror (glass part only), looks on my pickup truck after striking the oncoming mirror of another pickup truck on a narrow bridge. If it had been a human head, they would be dead and no glass or parts of the sideview mirror would have been left at the scene.
View attachment 469574

Totally agree.

 

[rescuemom]

I've tried to keep up with this case, especially with SS and EB appearing on TV periodically, and don't think I have missed much, if any. But I have to think and wonder about where they're at with it and what is the hold up or brick wall? If they're waiting on a confession, the case is back at square 1, IMO. After the "trial" there was a big announcement and lots of coverage about knowing something by Labor Day but crickets. Sigh.

 

[Cindizzi]

FITSNews sued over mistaken 'person of interest' in Stephen Smith case. 'We apologized.'

A lawsuit has been filed in relation to the ongoing Stephen Smith homicide investigation -- but it names a S.C. media outlet.

www.greenvilleonline.com

FITSNews sued over mistaken 'person of interest' in Stephen Smith case. 'We apologized.'​

The Alex Murdaugh crime saga has become a tangled web indeed, weaving and interweaving a tight cast of characters into one new storyline after another, and the latest lawsuit adds another strand to this amazing true crime web.

Mark Tinsley, an Allendale attorney who represented several of Murdaugh's victims and gave key testimony during the disbarred Hampton lawyer's 2023 double murder trial, has now filed a lawsuit against a South Carolina media outlet that has covered the Murdaugh crime saga from the beginning — but this suit relates to the ongoinginvestigation into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith.

The personal injury suit was filed by Tinsley and Columbia, S.C., attorney Brendan J. Green on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Hampton County Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Austin Stanley, a resident of Hampton County, against FITSNews LLC and its founding editor, William "Will" Folks III.

[…]

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Not surprising. Fitsnews does some good reporting but also tends to muckrake. moo

 

[Countem]

A year later and still no answers in reopened Stephen Smith homicide case

Sandy Smith, Stephen Smith's mother, feels as though she was left in the dark.

abcnews4.com

“When they reopened I was super excited," SS said. "Here it is a year later, and I know no more today than I did that day. The only thing SLED has told me is they're dedicated to this case.”

Smith's body was exhumed in March 2023. At that point, a second autopsy was performed. Still, details from that autopsy remain sealed.

 

[Soulmagent]

A year later and still no answers in reopened Stephen Smith homicide case

Sandy Smith, Stephen Smith's mother, feels as though she was left in the dark.

abcnews4.com

I get hopeful that our public is aware sometimes. In this case I think that S. Carolina has been using Steven's case as a propellant politicly . Its an abstract deflective investigation that involves so much money and insurance liabilities .
He has to be a scape goat for all the fraud , lies and behavior . His level of confidence ,matched with his admissions, and forged shame speak so many messages in its raw form that its disgusting , I cannot wait until all his other sleezy peers go down as well.

 

[Countem]

Gloria's Gift, Stephen Smith Fund benefit from Alex Murdaugh murder trial book profits

Becky Hill co-author Neil Gordon donates profits to Gloria's Gift, Stephen Smith fund.

www.greenvilleonline.com

On the heels of Murdaugh’s federal sentencing hearing for bilking millions of dollars from his clients, journalist NG, co-author of "Behind The Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," donated to foundations established through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to honor Stephen Smith and Gloria Satterfield, and he’s pledging to donate even more to charities benefitting crime victims’ families.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Buster Murdaugh, son of Alex Murdaugh, files massive defamation lawsuit

Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr., also known as Buster Murdaugh, and the son of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit.

abcnews4.com

Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr., also known as Buster Murdaugh, and the son of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against several defendants for allegedly linking him to the death of Stephen Smith.

The suit lists Blackfin, Inc., Warner Bros, Discovery, Inc., Warner Media Entertainment Pages, Inc., Campfire Studio, Inc., The Cinemart LLC, Netlfix, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., and Michael M. DeWitt, Jr., as defendants.

The allegations center around a host of documentaries and stories published where Buster Murdaugh alleges each outlet's publication in the Murdaugh saga that attempted to link him to the death of Smith was defamatory and falsely accused him, causing damage to his reputation and mental anguish.

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://abcnews4.com/resources/pdf/990a6b14-d93a-4ca7-97f7-5c4c5e11947c-BusterMurdaughlawsuit1.pdf

 

[girlhasnoname]

Buster Murdaugh, son of Alex Murdaugh, files massive defamation lawsuit

Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr., also known as Buster Murdaugh, and the son of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit.

abcnews4.com

Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr., also known as Buster Murdaugh, and the son of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against several defendants for allegedly linking him to the death of Stephen Smith.

The suit lists Blackfin, Inc., Warner Bros, Discovery, Inc., Warner Media Entertainment Pages, Inc., Campfire Studio, Inc., The Cinemart LLC, Netlfix, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., and Michael M. DeWitt, Jr., as defendants.

The allegations center around a host of documentaries and stories published where Buster Murdaugh alleges each outlet's publication in the Murdaugh saga that attempted to link him to the death of Smith was defamatory and falsely accused him, causing damage to his reputation and mental anguish.

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://abcnews4.com/resources/pdf/990a6b14-d93a-4ca7-97f7-5c4c5e11947c-BusterMurdaughlawsuit1.pdf

Doesn't surprise me at all, and if these production companies have nothing but rumor, not evidence, BM will probably win some type of settlement. Lord knows he'll need the money since big Papa is spending it on his appeals.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1802842432951796127

 

[ch_13]

Doesn't surprise me at all, and if these production companies have nothing but rumor, not evidence, BM will probably win some type of settlement. Lord knows he'll need the money since big Papa is spending it on his appeals.

JMO

I have some sympathy for Buster. Unlike many of his family members, he's done nothing wrong. (OK, he cheated in law school and got kicked out. But he's done nothing criminal.)

I don't think there'll be a quick settlement and I'm sure Eric Bland is correct that the discovery process will be brutal. He and his girlfriend have good jobs and presumably there's some family money left to him. Does he really want to subject himself to this for the next umpteen years?

 

[gremlin444]

I have some sympathy for Buster. Unlike many of his family members, he's done nothing wrong. (OK, he cheated in law school and got kicked out. But he's done nothing criminal.)

I don't think there'll be a quick settlement and I'm sure Eric Bland is correct that the discovery process will be brutal. He and his girlfriend have good jobs and presumably there's some family money left to him. Does he really want to subject himself to this for the next umpteen years?

@ch_13 Out of curiosity, what is Buster doing for work now? I knew the girlfriend passed the bar and worked at a firm.

 

[Seattle1]

@ch_13 Out of curiosity, what is Buster doing for work now? I knew the girlfriend passed the bar and worked at a firm.

At the time his mother and brother murdered, I believe he worked at a NC restaurant and grill franchise. I think by BM initiating this law suit, he can be sleuthed? Nonetheless, it will come out in deposition. JMO

 

[ch_13]

@ch_13 Out of curiosity, what is Buster doing for work now? I knew the girlfriend passed the bar and worked at a firm.

At the time his mother and brother murdered, I believe he worked at a NC restaurant and grill franchise. I think by BM initiating this law suit, he can be sleuthed? Nonetheless, it will come out in deposition. JMO

In AM's trial, it was mentioned that he worked at Buffalo Wild Wings. Based on what Alex said he works at a corporate office, not at a restaurant.

 

[Seattle1]

In AM's trial, it was mentioned that he worked at Buffalo Wild Wings. Based on what Alex said he works at a corporate office, not at a restaurant.

Thanks for this:

Buffalo Wild Wings is an American casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise in the United States, Canada, India, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates which specializes in Buffalo wings and sauces. Wikipedia

 

[Simply Southern]

At the time his mother and brother murdered, I believe he worked at a NC restaurant and grill franchise. I think by BM initiating this law suit, he can be sleuthed? Nonetheless, it will come out in deposition. JMO

I would think he is the victim here.

The news agencies made a profit from false allegations. I truly believe that they should have to pay. I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech, however, defamation and false accusations are illegal under South Carolina law.

Moo... The accusations and false claims, have caused mental anguish, greatly affected his reputation and the ability to pursue a career.

I hope Buster gets millions. Yes, much will come out during the trial, which will focus on media proving the accusations they made. I wonder how many "locals" will will change their story, when under oath.
All my opinion

 

[worm]

Thanks for this:

Buffalo Wild Wings is an American casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise in the United States, Canada, India, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates which specializes in Buffalo wings and sauces. Wikipedia

I think he was in the HR or marketing field there at their Charlotte office. He lived in Rock Hill which is close to Charlotte.

 

[ch_13]

I would think he is the victim here.

The news agencies made a profit from false allegations. I truly believe that they should have to pay. I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech, however, defamation and false accusations are illegal under South Carolina law.

Moo... The accusations and false claims, have caused mental anguish, greatly affected his reputation and the ability to pursue a career.

I hope Buster gets millions. Yes, much will come out during the trial, which will focus on media proving the accusations they made. I wonder how many "locals" will will change their story, when under oath.
All my opinion

My understanding is that defamation is extremely hard to prove. If the media companies can show that they were reporting news from legitimate sources then it's not defamatory. Usually lawyers vet this stuff before it ever makes it into a documentary, so I would think weren't just repeating scuttlebutt.

As I said, I have sympathy for him, but unless the firms decide to settle rather than fight this is going to be a very difficult, time-consuming lawsuit.

(Note that the one Richard Jewell defamation suit that went to trial wasn't decided until after Jewell's death and his estate lost the case.)

 

[Wallendo]

The law firm representing Buster is a 2-lawyer firm in the small town of Manning, SC. I doubt they have the capital to fight the large corporations that are being sued.

 

[Slick762]

My understanding is that defamation is extremely hard to prove. If the media companies can show that they were reporting news from legitimate sources then it's not defamatory. Usually lawyers vet this stuff before it ever makes it into a documentary, so I would think weren't just repeating scuttlebutt.

As I said, I have sympathy for him, but unless the firms decide to settle rather than fight this is going to be a very difficult, time-consuming lawsuit.

(Note that the one Richard Jewell defamation suit that went to trial wasn't decided until after Jewell's death and his estate lost the case.)

IIRC, one of the documentaries mentioned Buster and Smiths death, then showed a video of a redhaired guy with a baseball bat.