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

[Simply Southern]

"The injuries can tell us so much about what happened," says Dr. Michelle DuPre, a former investigator and forensic pathologist who oversaw the examination of Smith's body. DuPre spoke to "48 Hours" contributor and CBS News national correspondent Nikki Battiste. Just as important as what they found, DuPre says, is what they didn't find.

What do Stephen Smith's injuries tell about the SC teen's death? New findings revealed.

"48 Hours" obtained exclusive access to the findings of an independent investigation into the unsolved death of the South Carolina teen, whose case was linked to the Murdaughs.

www.cbsnews.com

Still blaming the Murdaughs. She needs a cease and desist letter, moo.

Numerous crowd funding, lawyers, second autopsy and NO connection to the Murdaughs. I don't blame her for trying to find her son's killer, but it's getting a little old continuing to blaming an innocent person. Is she using the Murdaughs name to try to gain attention for SS murder? Seems the investigation named others that were involved.

Moo

 

[gremlin444]

Still blaming the Murdaughs. She needs a cease and desist letter, moo.

Numerous crowd funding, lawyers, second autopsy and NO connection to the Murdaughs. I don't blame her for trying to find her son's killer, but it's getting a little old continuing to blaming an innocent person. Is she using the Murdaughs name to try to gain attention for SS murder? Seems the investigation named others that were involved.

Moo

Those are older articles from when the 48 Hours episode came out 8 months ago--they have an updated date because they edited them to include the latest in Alex's trials.

I have listened to several interviews with Sandy Smith in the last 6 months (Mandy Matney's podcasts Cup of Justice and True Sunlight among them). Sandy does not think that Buster has anything to do with it. It is 48 Hours who are using the draw of the Murdaugh name at this point to drum up interest.

However, even without any involvement from Buster, it is impossible to report on Stephen's death and the investigation without mentioning the Murdaugh name. The Murdaugh name comes up over and over in the case file as people were interviewed and volunteered tips. Randy Murdaugh was representing Stephen's dad and called offered to help with Stephen's case before his death had hit the news (probably heard about it through the LE grapevine). The investigation into Stephen's death was only reopened by SLED after they had searched the Murdaugh house after Paul and Maggie's murders and said it stemmed from information obtained while searching.

At this point, to not mention the Murdaugh name when discussing the history of Stephen's case would be leaving a big part of the history. But it sure doesn't mean that anyone is pointing fingers at Buster at this point, especially after other suspect's names have been publicly discussed.

 

[lonetraveler]

Has it ever been revealed what the investigation of the Murdaugh's murders discovered that caused them to open up the investigation of Stephen Smith's death?

 

[Seattle1]

Has it ever been revealed what the investigation of the Murdaugh's murders discovered that caused them to open up the investigation of Stephen Smith's death?

Sled would not say:

https://www.counton2.com/the-murdaugh-investigation/sled-reopening-stephen-smith-death-investigation-based-on-information-gathered-in-murdaugh-double-homicide-case/

 

[vls12345]

Has it ever been revealed what the investigation of the Murdaugh's murders discovered that caused them to open up the investigation of Stephen Smith's death?

Sled would not say:

https://www.counton2.com/the-murdaugh-investigation/sled-reopening-stephen-smith-death-investigation-based-on-information-gathered-in-murdaugh-double-homicide-case/

I have been very curious about this too.

Iirc, they announced the reopening of Stephen's case fairly early during the investigation into Paul's and Maggie's murders.

MOO.

 

[ch_13]

I have been very curious about this too.

Iirc, they announced the reopening of Stephen's case fairly early during the investigation into Paul's and Maggie's murders.

MOO.

I wonder if it wasn't reopened because of any newly found evidence, but just because of all the publicity.

Back in 2015, it does seem like there was only a perfunctory inquiry done into Stephen's death. Perhaps because SLED didn't want to spend the resources that a thorough investigation would require, or maybe even because of anti-gay bias during that time period. But then in 2021, you suddenly had every news outlet in the country sending reporters to Hampton County, looking for new angles on the Murdaugh case. And a lot of stories were being written about this unsolved, mysterious death that was rumored to be tied to the family.

I don't believe anyone would dispute that highly publicized cases get more attention from law enforcement even as other equally worthy cases languish. And with everyone asking what happened to Stephen Smith, I don't think it's at all surprising that LE felt that they had to go back and reopen the case.

 

[vls12345]

I wonder if it wasn't reopened because of any newly found evidence, but just because of all the publicity.

Back in 2015, it does seem like there was only a perfunctory inquiry done into Stephen's death. Perhaps because SLED didn't want to spend the resources that a thorough investigation would require, or maybe even because of anti-gay bias during that time period. But then in 2021, you suddenly had every news outlet in the country sending reporters to Hampton County, looking for new angles on the Murdaugh case. And a lot of stories were being written about this unsolved, mysterious death that was rumored to be tied to the family.

I don't believe anyone would dispute that highly publicized cases get more attention from law enforcement even as other equally worthy cases languish. And with everyone asking what happened to Stephen Smith, I don't think it's at all surprising that LE felt that they had to go back and reopen the case.

I just searched because I was under the impression that there was evidence that made them reopen Stephen's case.

SLED declares Stephen Smith's 2015 death a murder. Mother Sandy Smith 'in shock, elated'

After 8 years, Stephen Smith's death will no longer be labeled a hit and run. Now ruled a homicide, here's what to know about SLED's investigation.

www.greenvilleonline.com

"SLED reopened Smith’s case in June 2021 "based upon information gathered during the course of the double murder investigation of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh," stated a SLED spokesperson at the time."

 

[Megnut]

It waa a peer group, yes? Mutual friends? I wondered if, in accessing PM phone, LE incovered messages or images relating to what happpened before, during or after that night. Not causation just linkage. In other words, whatever was found didn't implicate either Murdaugh brother but did record a flurry of communication around that time.

Totally MOO

 

[LetsSolvIt]

It waa a peer group, yes? Mutual friends? I wondered if, in accessing PM phone, LE incovered messages or images relating to what happpened before, during or after that night. Not causation just linkage. In other words, whatever was found didn't implicate either Murdaugh brother but did record a flurry of communication around that time.

Totally MOO

SLED announced rather early on that they were reopening the investigation into Stephen’s death. If I recall correctly from the trial, it took a long time to unlock Paul’s phone — remember they discovered the Buba video months after the murders. But this is all from my memory.

At the time my impression was they maybe found something in his Columbia apt, or on his computer, or maybe even at Moselle. OMO.

 

[ch_13]

I just searched because I was under the impression that there was evidence that made them reopen Stephen's case.

SLED declares Stephen Smith's 2015 death a murder. Mother Sandy Smith 'in shock, elated'

After 8 years, Stephen Smith's death will no longer be labeled a hit and run. Now ruled a homicide, here's what to know about SLED's investigation.

www.greenvilleonline.com

"SLED reopened Smith’s case in June 2021 "based upon information gathered during the course of the double murder investigation of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh," stated a SLED spokesperson at the time."

I know that's what they said, but what else could they say: "We're reopening the case because we didn't do a great job investigating it the first time and now that there's been a lot of media attention devoted to Stephen's death, it makes us look bad."

Maybe I'm too cynical.

 

[imstilla.grandma]