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

[imstilla.grandma]

• Video:
• S.C. teen Stephen Smith was killed in the middle of the night in 2015
• Just how dark was it along the rural road where he died?
• NewsNation shows what it was like for Smith that night
• Stephen Smith death: How dark was road that night?

 

[Twistinginthewind]

Stephen Smith's Boyfriend Received Death Threats Days After Buster Murdaugh's Classmate's Homicide: Police Report​

msn.com/us-news Story by Douglas Montero • 3h ago

"Just days after Stephen Smith was mysteriously found dead on a desolate South Carolina roadway, his boyfriend received a series of terrifying death threats possibly linked to the murder, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Marc Bickhardt was the last person to communicate with Smith on the night of July 2015 when his lifeless body was found near the Hampton County home of Alex Murdaugh – the son of a prominent lawyer who was recently convicted of murdering his wife and son.

Bickhardt told investigators the 19-year-old called to tell him that he ran out of gas and felt he was being followed before hearing “big mud tires” approaching his friend."

Stephen Smith's Boyfriend Received Death Threats Days After Buster Murdaugh's Classmate's Homicide: Police Report

 

[Kittybunny]

Stephen Smith's Boyfriend Received Death Threats Days After Buster Murdaugh's Classmate's Homicide: Police Report​

msn.com/us-news Story by Douglas Montero • 3h ago

"Just days after Stephen Smith was mysteriously found dead on a desolate South Carolina roadway, his boyfriend received a series of terrifying death threats possibly linked to the murder, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Marc Bickhardt was the last person to communicate with Smith on the night of July 2015 when his lifeless body was found near the Hampton County home of Alex Murdaugh – the son of a prominent lawyer who was recently convicted of murdering his wife and son.

Bickhardt told investigators the 19-year-old called to tell him that he ran out of gas and felt he was being followed before hearing “big mud tires” approaching his friend."

Stephen Smith's Boyfriend Received Death Threats Days After Buster Murdaugh's Classmate's Homicide: Police Report

Interesting, if true. Many of us have wondered if Stephen actually ran out of gas that night, or there was some other scenario.

It's probably too late now for phone records to validate if those calls were real, but you never know.

 

[Wallendo]

I've seen many similar reports outside of MSM, so I won't discuss that. Most of what I have seen is probably baseless rumor anyway.

The problem with this case is that MSM doesn't really care about SS, unless the Murdaughs are somehow involved.

Interesting, the radaronline.com article quoted by msn does state that SS says he ran out of gas.

 

[TheLoadedGoat]

But the family has said they never heard about this "boyfriend" and he even made a scene at Stephen's funeral. I do believe they could track whether he even talked to Stephen on the phone that night to give credibility to what he said Stephen's last words to him were.

 

[Twistinginthewind]

But the family has said they never heard about this "boyfriend" and he even made a scene at Stephen's funeral. I do believe they could track whether he even talked to Stephen on the phone that night to give credibility to what he said Stephen's last words to him were.

I haven't seen anything in MSM or a link provided to an approved source on WS regarding statements about Stephen's family not having knowledge of a "boyfriend" or whether or why there may have been a scene at his funeral or if this person was involved.

Everything should be taken with a grain of salt until the reopened investigation is completed and the results have been published, imo, and even what is published in MSM -- I can't vouch for radaronline's reporting standards, but at this point there is very little "out there" published in approved MSM sources on Stephen's case, and I had not heard that before (that he could have actually run out of gas and could have been on the phone when vehicle noises grew loud) so I posted it for what it's worth.

JMO, sorry for any confusion

 

[LetsSolvIt]

I've seen many similar reports outside of MSM, so I won't discuss that. Most of what I have seen is probably baseless rumor anyway.

The problem with this case is that MSM doesn't really care about SS, unless the Murdaughs are somehow involved.

Interesting, the radaronline.com article quoted by msn does state that SS says he ran out of gas.

We are reading SS said he ran out of gas about fourth hand from someone who also reported hearing big mud ties approaching SS.

In my opinion there is a lot that doesn’t hang together here.

Not sure we can count on running out of gas as fact since it’s theoretically hearsay. And is it possible to detect the size and type of tires approaching by hearing them rolling on the pavement through a cell phone? If the approaching vehicle were that close wouldn’t there be other sounds to detect and report? Such as some anxiety SS expressed or a motor hum?

A few posts up there is a News Nation video report showing the road *in the dark of night* where Stephen’s body was found — it was dark as pitch. SS sounded too intelligent to have been walking down that road alone at night. Unless there was some moon light he wouldn’t have been able to even see. I also know how dark and *lonesome* it is in rural Lowcountry because I’ve recently driven those roads — no one would walk them alone — his body was dropped there IMHO.

My THEORY on this case is that there was some drunken joy ride going on as teens often do after baseball games on summer nights in small towns/ rural areas. His disabled car was spotted and he was offered a lift or picked up in an impulsive group-think — either willingly or because he was threatened (more likely latter since he left his wallet). This happened soon after his car stalled because he didn’t have time to call his sister for help or think to grab his wallet.

He was assaulted and killed somewhere else and then dropped in the middle of the rural road with the hopes some 18-wheeler or Macke truck would run over him, complicating his original injuries. IMO he was not walking home or to a service station on that road and it was not a “mirror hit.”

Homes are wide spread — even the modest places — out of earshot apart — and if there were an even larger rural property where kids were always welcomed to hanging out, it might be a natural place for the misdeed. Just say’n.

Moo. Moo.

 

[vls12345]

We are reading SS said he ran out of gas about fourth hand from someone who also reported hearing big mud ties approaching SS.

In my opinion there is a lot that doesn’t hang together here.

Not sure we can count on running out of gas as fact since it’s theoretically hearsay. And is it possible to detect the size and type of tires approaching by hearing them rolling on the pavement through a cell phone? If the approaching vehicle were that close wouldn’t there be other sounds to detect and report? Such as some anxiety SS expressed or a motor hum?

A few posts up there is a News Nation video report showing the road *in the dark of night* where Stephen’s body was found — it was dark as pitch. SS sounded too intelligent to have been walking down that road alone at night. Unless there was some moon light he wouldn’t have been able to even see. I also know how dark and *lonesome* it is in rural Lowcountry because I’ve recently driven those roads — no one would walk them alone — his body was dropped there IMHO.

My THEORY on this case is that there was some drunken joy ride going on as teens often do after baseball games on summer nights in small towns/ rural areas. His disabled car was spotted and he was offered a lift or picked up in an impulsive group-think — either willingly or because he was threatened (more likely latter since he left his wallet). This happened soon after his car stalled because he didn’t have time to call his sister for help or think to grab his wallet.

He was assaulted and killed somewhere else and then dropped in the middle of the rural road with the hopes some 18-wheeler or Macke truck would run over him, complicating his original injuries. IMO he was not walking home or to a service station on that road and it was not a “mirror hit.”

Homes are wide spread — even the modest places — out of earshot apart — and if there were an even larger rural property where kids were always welcomed to hanging out, it might be a natural place for the misdeed. Just say’n.

Moo. Moo.

I agree with your thoughts here. I have been thinking something like this is likely what happened. I just hope they can discover who actually killed Stephen.

Since something was discovered during the Maggie/Paul investigation that caused SLED to reopen Stephen's case & we know that the Murdaughs had quite the stranglehold on the local area & seemingly ran some things in a mob-like manner, could whatever was discovered have been blackmail on someone in relation to Stephen's death? Buster was a classmate & might have known/heard talk of who did it. Could Alex &/or others then used that information (& possible physical evidence) as leverage?

MOO/100% supposition in this post.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

I don’t think this FitsNews very recent interview on You Tube has been posted yet.

It’s a comprehensive discussion with Sandy’s previous PI, who openly reports the details of his investigation, what his theories are, and why he thinks the only way to get people to talk honestly is to call them before a GJ.

IMHO this is worth the time to listen. Folks hardly speaks — he lets PI Petersen tell his full story and he seems like he’s worked really hard on this case. Moo. Moo.

 

[Soulmagent]

We are reading SS said he ran out of gas about fourth hand from someone who also reported hearing big mud ties approaching SS.

In my opinion there is a lot that doesn’t hang together here.

Not sure we can count on running out of gas as fact since it’s theoretically hearsay. And is it possible to detect the size and type of tires approaching by hearing them rolling on the pavement through a cell phone? If the approaching vehicle were that close wouldn’t there be other sounds to detect and report? Such as some anxiety SS expressed or a motor hum?

Super Swampers have a unique sound . If you know what your hearing you know ,they kinda sound like when your driving a 4 door car with the front windows up and the back ones down. But large other brand tires sound a certain way ,as well.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Super Swampers have a unique sound . If you know what your hearing you know ,they kinda sound like when your driving a 4 door car with the front windows up and the back ones down. But large other brand tires sound a certain way ,as well.

Great descriptions! Thank you!

 

[girlhasnoname]

I thought the car started up when LE found it at the scene, so it wasn't broken down. Why would his wallet be left in the car if he was off to look for gas?

This case in so confusing, I just hope Sandy gets the answers and justice she deserves for Stephen.

MOO

 

[rescuemom]

I don’t think this FitsNews very recent interview on You Tube has been posted yet.

It’s a comprehensive discussion with Sandy’s previous PI, who openly reports the details of his investigation, what his theories are, and why he thinks the only way to get people to talk honestly is to call them before a GJ.

IMHO this is worth the time to listen. Folks hardly speaks — he lets PI Petersen tell his full story and he seems like he’s worked really hard on this case. Moo. Moo.

This guy was very interesting and spoke realistically. If I understood him correctly he doesn't think BM is involved OR did I hear it wrong??

 

[gremlin444]

When I go to the GoFundMe right now, it states "Sandy Smith is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Sandy Smith."

On one of the recent Cup of Justice Podcasts, Eric Bland (who is one of Sandy's lawyers and one of the creators of the podcast) states that the GoFundMe monies are being put in a managed trust account (can't remember the exact term, I'm frantically trying to find the episode) with Bland Richter Law Firm. They are in the process of working with a company to provide transparent breakdowns that will be made publicly accessible to show where the money is being spent. The recent $35,000 reward that was just announced comes from the GoFundMe. The GoFundMe so far is paying for the exhumation, Dr. Michelle Dupree (forensic pathologist to oversee the whole process), the forensic pathologist and the forensic anthropologist who conducted the autopsy, and Dr. Kenny Kinsey who we saw as an expert witness in the Murdaugh trial as investigation coordinator.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/BanfieldonNN

https://twitter.com/x/status/1646736916656582656

Carroll is a U.S. Marine, having served four overseas tours of duty. His mother and Sandy Smith, Stephen’s mother, are sisters.

Carroll said he and his aunt Sandy communicate just about every day regarding this investigation, keeping close tabs on it.

‘We got results’ from Stephen Smith’s autopsy, cousin says

The only thing Carroll is looking for is the truth about what happened to his cousin.

“Whoever did what they did, knows what they did. It’s time for, you know, everybody to get that peace,” he said. “We’re at a point now it’s where it’s time for answers.”

He’s confident those answers are coming.

 

[lonetraveler]

When do we get to know what the results are from the autopsy? I keep checking in.

 

[lonetraveler]

This guy was very interesting and spoke realistically. If I understood him correctly he doesn't think BM is involved OR did I hear it wrong??

I watched the entire interview and I still can't figure out who he thinks is involved.

 

[gremlin444]

When do we get to know what the results are from the autopsy? I keep checking in.

Per Sandy Smith's lawyers, we won't. They will have the results, but per SLED's instructions they are not making them public.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A rape kit conducted on the Hampton County teenager in 2015 after he was found in the middle of the road was previously reported as “unaccounted for,” according to various media outlets. But an attorney representing Smith’s family recently told The Sun News that the state’s top law enforcement agency, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, now has it.

Attorney Eric Bland said his understanding is that SLED has had the kit since 2021 when it took over the investigation, but it hasn’t been processed to his knowledge. It had previously been stored at the S.C. Department of Public Safety’s Central Evidence Facility since August 2015, according to an evidence chain of custody form acquired by The State newspaper.

A SLED spokeswoman told The Sun News she couldn’t comment on anything related to the ongoing investigation.

Could rape kit collected after Stephen Smith’s death help solve SC murder investigation?

The rape kit, collected in 2015 after the Hampton County teen was found dead in the middle of the road, is currently in SLED’s possession, according to an attorney representing Smith’s family.

news.yahoo.com

 

[Twistinginthewind]

A rape kit conducted on the Hampton County teenager in 2015 after he was found in the middle of the road was previously reported as “unaccounted for,” according to various media outlets. But an attorney representing Smith’s family recently told The Sun News that the state’s top law enforcement agency, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, now has it.

Attorney Eric Bland said his understanding is that SLED has had the kit since 2021 when it took over the investigation, but it hasn’t been processed to his knowledge. It had previously been stored at the S.C. Department of Public Safety’s Central Evidence Facility since August 2015, according to an evidence chain of custody form acquired by The State newspaper.

A SLED spokeswoman told The Sun News she couldn’t comment on anything related to the ongoing investigation.

Could rape kit collected after Stephen Smith’s death help solve SC murder investigation?

The rape kit, collected in 2015 after the Hampton County teen was found dead in the middle of the road, is currently in SLED’s possession, according to an attorney representing Smith’s family.

news.yahoo.com

Thanks, @imstilla.grandma !

I'm bouncing up and down with excitement that there may be some DNA in the rape kit that LE can test and it will help in determining Stephen's cause of death, especially if there was foul play and he was assaulted.

I thought I had read it was lost or never used, or worse, so this is great news, IMO !