Investigators found Smiths car three miles away on the side of Bamberg Highway. There's a bright light being shined on that county. This will be a 3-part series revealing the case file. She was hoping to hear that they had opened a case in her sons unsolved death. Smith was found dead with deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. It said the manner of death (which is either homicide, accident, natural, suicide, or undetermined) was still undetermined, The pathologist also states in the report, that in light of historical information along with the autopsy, these conclusions were made, Proctor wrote. They found engine oil in the vehicle but could not get the car to start. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Stephen's death is one of several mysterious or accidental deaths that have swirled around the Murdaugh family in recent years. No one's going to feel like they're being held accountable if we don't bring attention to it.". In the aftermath of her sons death, Sandy said shes learned that there are two different justice systems in the Palmetto State one for people like the Murdaughs and another for everyone else. Crime scene photos obtained by FITSNews are horrific Stephens entire face was covered in blood that cascaded from a 7.25-inch gaping hole on the right side of his forehead. Six years later, Sandy Smith Stephens mother is still grappling with the pain of not knowing what happened to her son. She also said she believed that the Murdaughs influence extended to all realms of the investigation and was initially tainted when it was ruled a hit-and-run incident (see below for part of Sandy Smiths letter). Also buried close by is Stephen's brother, who died as a baby. Stephen was found dead in the middle of a rural road outside of Hampton. 6:00 a.m. SCHP: Duncan, on the way to the scene, calls Booker said he was told it appeared to be a homicide and SLED was taking it over. Booker says he was advised there was a possible gunshot wound to the victims head. SCHP: Moore writes I turned the clothing over to Duncan and after a discussion by all parties as to why this did not appear to be related to a motor vehicle.. Files with the state highway patrol showed that a Murdaugh family member - a. SCHP: A man who describes himself as Stephens boyfriend (the family disputes this) was interviewed by Duncan and Rowell. They just throw their cases on a shelf to collect dust.. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. there was no evidence that pointed towards this being a hit and run or a vehicle even being involved in it," he continued. An official autopsy had ruled the death as a possible hit-and-run, yet some authorities refuted that report after making their own observations at the scene. On Thursday, Sandy Smith said she received a call from an official with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). He stated he would have to go with the doctors ruling, Moore wrote. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In a report (below) by Todd Proctor, a MAIT detective for SCHP, it was clear that investigators didnt agree with the pathologists conclusion to rule the death a hit and run. Sandy Smith didnt reveal who she thought killed her son. Sandy Smith, speaking to the Guardian shortly after her sons July 8, 2015, death, said that she thinks she knows who killed him. In early June, a son and mother, both members of a. The coroner searches through the victims clothing and located a vehicle key in the victims front left pocket. Its also unclear if the MAIT team ever examined Stephens phone, which was tossed between agencies before it was finally unlocked by the FBI several years after his death. SCHP: Moore calls Mitch Altman and tells him to go to the scene and see if he can find any debris. Cuts and bruises dotted his right hand. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. His car was discovered three miles away with the gas cap off. He was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. The timeline (below) shows a sketch of how officials came to the decision to rule the death a hit and run and how that decision appeared to confuse nearly everyone involved. In a recording that features in the documentary, a South Carolina State Trooper tells an unidentified phone tipster that he received at least "nine phone calls" about a rumor connecting the Murdaugh family to Stephen's mysterious roadside death. As I was leaving she stated that the report was preliminary and it was my job to figure out what struck him, not hers, Proctor wrote. Additional counties and states will be added to this database as time and funding permit. 5:37 a.m. SCHP: Sgt. RELATED | Murdaugh Murders: The Latest On The Boat Crash Lawsuit And Obstruction Of Justice Investigation. For more than two decades, she had served as the family housekeeper and nanny. This did, however, cause theSouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division to open up the case in June 2021, but at this time it doesnt look like there have been any new developments since then. CLICK HERE. No additional details were provided. Nothing about this case from the very beginning pointed towards it being a hit and run.. Like the probe of the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, the 2015 investigation into Smiths death was chaotic from the beginning clouded by jurisdictional confusion and suspicions of investigative interference. She just wants to know who was responsible for murdering her child. Or "king's ransom" waiting to be found Stephen Smith Case Files: Why Was Hampton Teens Death Ruled A Hit And Run In 2015? We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! It was still unclear at this time if this hole was caused by a projectile. You become invincible in a way and you get a little liquor and you think youre untouchable.. HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - The mother of a 19-year-old found dead in 2015 said the grand jury indictment of former Lowcountry attorney Alex Murdaugh in the killings of his own wife and son gives her hope for justice for her son's case. . Hampton County Coroners Office: The first of 3 death certificates for Stephen Smith was issued by Washington to the family. On July 22, 2015, Proctor visited Presnell at MUSC to get some sort of clarification on the Smith case. SLED agents noted minor injuries to victims left arm, left hand and head. (latest case updates), Murdaugh Murders: Was Paul Murdaugh charged for Mallory Beachs death? "I just couldn't believe it," she said. According to law enforcement at the time, his death was the consequence of a hit-and-run. "I know that they're working hard and that this is not a cold case," he says. The old way of doing business in Hampton does not exist anymore. Kurt Busch might have received a proper sendoff this weekend in Las Vegas, where his hometown track treated him cruelly over 21 tries until he broke through for a win in 2020. David Rowell, of the SCHP, who tells him that Hampton County Sheriff T.C. Smalls said hell call right back but doesnt. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Keep in mind, this isyearsbefore Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felonies in the boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. His loosely tied shoes were still on and his clothes appeared untouched. 11:29 a.m. SLED: Tallon and Burke attend autopsy at MUSC. Stephen Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of the road outside of Hampton with a gaping head wound, his skull partially crushed and his shoulder dislocated. They took him from his car; everybody knew his car because he had the ugliest little banana [car] in town. Now, Stephen Smiths case is getting national attention and his mother Sandy finally has hope for a fair investigation that will lead to answers in her sons unsolved death. All Rights Reserved. The boating incident also revived questions about the 2015 hit-and-run death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, who was found dead on a rural road about 10 miles from the Murdaugh family's home . And now a retired South Carolina state trooper, who led the investigation into Smiths death, told Fox News he had long suspected the case to have been a murder. Smith's death was attributed to severe head trauma and controversially ruled a hit and run at the time, which the family and some investigators have disputed, and official investigations into his . The Murdaugh family has loomed large in the Lowcountry for nearly a century with three generations of its members serving as solicitor (South Carolinas version of a district attorney) over a five-county region between 1920 and 2007. Source: YouTube/Law&Crime Network (video still) Buster Murdaugh Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother Maggie, 52, were found slain at their family's hunting lodge in Islandton on June 7 just after 10 p.m., according to reports. Washington tells him its been taken to the funeral home per the familys wishes at the time of the death notification.. It was also clear from the report that there was tension between Presnell and SCHP. State police reopen hit-and-run death investigation from details gathered in Murdaugh case. The case was mysteriously bounced from investigator to investigator without reasons or notification, Sandy Smith wrote in the letter. Sunday's vigil was held just days after news broke that disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was indicted by a grand jury on murder charges in connection with the June 2021 deaths of his wife Maggie, 52, and 22-year-old son Paul. To submit your loved one for . Photo: Facebook. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. At the time, her death was classified as an accidental slip and fall, but authorities have reopened the investigation. He would have seen headlights coming and got off the road. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Stephen Smith's body was found in the middle of a rural road, Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex, all members of the prominent Murdaugh family, Mallory Beach died after a boating accident in 2019, Murdaugh familys link to Stephen Smiths death probed in explosive 20/20 doc & teens twin speaks out, Murdaugh family latest - Mallory Beach's parents reveal harrowing moment they 'knew she was dead' in 20/20 documentary, I won a $1.6million lottery jackpot after listening to my mom's advice - here's how she helped me win my fortune, Shock discovery of 90 peoples' remains found in abandoned church linked to man charged with abusing rotting corpses, Terrifying moment skier George McQuinn is knocked unconscious in brutal crash and slides face-first across finish line, UKs bird flu 'patient zero' is distraught after being told he cannot keep ducks for a year, Endangered elephants scavenge for food in dump increasing fears for their welfare, Prince Andrew 'fears being left completely BROKE' as he fights sex allegations as 'private citizen', I woke up from a five-week Covid coma and met my baby son for the first time, Tell your stories of meeting The Queen as we prepare to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Stephen's twin sister, Stephanie Smith, remembered the moment the coroner called her home about Stephen's death. She was devastated to hear the news that she and her family were now being viewed as possible persons of interest in the savage slayings last Monday at Moselle the Murdaugh family hunting lodge in Colleton county. Sandy Smith told FITSNews that SLED is investigating her sons death as a homicide which is something she wishes they did six years ago. Shortly after 1 p.m. SCHP: Duncan calls Stephen Smiths mother Sandy Smith. Moore is called by Cpl. Nothing about this case from the very beginning pointed towards it being a hit and run, Proctor said. Feb. 2, 2018: Gloria Satterfield, 57, falls at the Murdaugh family home on Moselle Road in Colleton County. His phone and keys were still in his pocket. There, they listened to gospel songs, speeches and unveiled a new headstone for the 19-year-old's grave, which is close to the spot where his father, who died three months after his son, is buried. His body was found in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8 with deep gashes to the head. Tallon and Burke take photos and notes and make a sketch with measurements (see below). And when you dont have enough evidence to compel someone legally to speak with you you have to go off their willingness to speak to you.. SLED's reopened investigation was first reported by FITSNews Tuesday evening. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. This decision to rule his death a hit-and-run appeared to skew the investigation by SCHPs Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) who typically investigate accidents, not murders. To what historical information she possessed, I am unaware.. 4:07 a.m. HCSO: Michael Bridges, of the Hampton County Sheriffs Office, responds to scene first (although there are conflicting reports about what time he arrived). Others in the community reached out to Sandy with rumors that a "Murdaugh boy" may be involved with her son's death. SCHP: Moore calls Singleton again when Singleton doesnt call him back. The family has now offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. He asks the funeral home director if he has the clothing Smith was wearing and is told it was in a paper bag with the body. The key located in the victims pocket was used to open the vehicle. The death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith was originally ruled a hit-and-run in 2015 when his body was found in the middle of a road 15 miles from the Murdaugh hunting cabin. Michael E. Duncan of the incident. SLED is continuing to cast a wide net as it looks to exclude individuals in connection with the double homicidethat took place at the Murdaughs 1,700-acre hunting property located near Islandton, S.C. on the evening of June 7, 2021. SLED is simply looking at anyone who may have had a possible motive in the case including the survivors of a high-profile February 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-oldMallory Beach. So Moore calls Smalls again and gets voicemail. M.D. The forensic pathologist who. A man driving on the road that evening called police just before 5 a.m.to report a person lying in the roadside,according to police reports. In the 20/20 documentary, Stephanie claimed shortly after the coroner called regarding her brothers death, her father received another call. 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