In all honesty, the events that unfold tend to prove the point. Breaking. Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old who died in a boating accident involving Paul Murdaugh; Stephen Smith, . In a small town, the went to school together and would have known one another. Very upset about various sporting events. That tip went nowhere. He sounded odd and then he told me that my mom and brother were shot, he recalled. Buster testified that Paul later told him that his gun was apparently lost, stolen, taken and after that his brother would always use his. Alex Murdaugh called 911 around 10 p.m. to say he had arrived at the familys Islandton home and found his wife and 22-year-old son fatally shot in the driveway. He was destroyed, he was heartbroken, Buster said of his father, adding that he could barely speak. Busters name has also cropped up in a series of other scandals surrounding the once-powerful family. I cant tell you. On June 25, Alex and his surviving son, "Buster," offered a $100,000 reward for the killer or killers. What follows is our best attempt at capturing all of it. If Alex Murdaugh did indeed contribute to Gloria Satterfields death, it might not be the first time that a Murdaugh killed someone and got away with it. Perhaps thats why Murdaugh apparently attempted suicide in a roundabout way. Stephen Smith was studying to be a nurse at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, hoping to eventually become a doctor. Sandy Smith holds a photo of her son Stephen Smith. The other passengers were Murdaughs girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Beachs boyfriend, Anthony Cook; Anthonys cousin, Connor Cook; and Connors girlfriend, Miley Altman. Several claim that he tried to get them all on the same page and assert that Paul wasnt driving the boat. Alex Murdaugh is currently standing trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul, and is pleading not guilty with the support of his surviving son Buster. But the more devastating reality behind this unfortunate incident is that another rescue attempt was going on at the same time. And as Murdaugh Murders recounts, Alex curiously arrived on the scene before the EMTs did and loudly declared that Satterfield blamed the dogs for her fall (in the seconds between her falling and losing consciousness presumably). She said since the case has been reopened, there have been offers of a book deal and a Netflix movie but all shes interested in is justice. Like several other Alex Murdaugh documentaries before it, Murdaugh Murders brings up the curious case of Stephen Smith. He was found guilty of duping people of millions of dollars, and was accused of misappropriating funds to the tune of $9 million by his former partners at his law firm. The judge has warned that he and other family members could be removed from court altogether if there are any further wrong moves. On Sept. 4, 2021, Murdaugh called 911 to report that he had been shot in the head while he was changing a tire on the side of the road. He had almost single-handedly brought down his familys shining century-long dynasty. 'Murdaugh Murders': Buster Murdaugh was accused of allegedly killing classmate and rumored boyfriend Stephen Smith in 2015 By Aayush Sharma Published on : 00:17 PST, Feb 22, 2023 Stephen Smith and Alex Murdaugh in stills from 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' (Netflix) Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Alex Murdaugh was again charged with various crimes for leading the conspiracy. He had been struck by a blunt object on his right temple, killing him. 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. The case was ruled a hit and run and no arrests were ever made. It also showed that he stayed just 21 minutes at his parents home that night less than half the 45 minutes to an hour he claimed to police. In 2019, that all finally started to change thanks to the actions of one dipshit Murdaugh: Alex. "No car parts. 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. "I hope they enjoy their day because we're going to enjoy ours. The defense called Buster Murdaugh on February 21. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh is on trial for the double murder of his wife, Margret "Maggie" Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh, who died on June 7, 2021. And thats just me. Occurring roughly one year before the death of Mallory Beach, Gloria Satterfields case presents the perfect example of how the powerful Murdaugh family often received the benefit of the doubt, whether warranted or not. Playing Vandy is always fun because it gives the truest depiction of what it's like to play in the ACC every week His twin. Two days later, he announced he had quit his law firm and was entering a rehabilitation program for treatment of opioid addiction. The Murdaughs 57-year-old housekeeper died in a hospital three weeks after injuries suffered at their home, having never regained consciousness. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. June 22: Authorities reopen probe into 2015 death of Stephen Smith. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. No tire marks or no debris from a vehicle found on scene after several . It is also believed that Buster was a close friend (and rumored boyfriend) of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old who was killed under mysterious circumstances in 2019. Alex's trial began on January 23, 2023. Buster the eldest and now only surviving son of Maggie and Mr Murdaugh has stood by his father throughout the growing number of allegations against him. The Murdaughs are members of a prominent S.C. legal family that first made regional headlines after Paul Murdaugh was involved in a February 2019 boat crash in Beaufort County that resulted in. The damage to his body was limited to Smith's right side, "from his right eye socket to the back of his head and his right shoulder was dislocated," she said. The first was that of a high school student, Stephen Smith, back in 2015. Her death, which occurred in 2018, was attributed initially to a trip-and-fall incident while working at the Murdaughs' home. He certainly knew the area. There are conflicting reports of what . He had a sister. Alex Murdaugh Ordered To Deal With Civil Lawsuit Accusing Him Of Ripping $4 Million Off His Late Housekeeper Gloria's Estate After Murder Trial Wraps Up, Alex Murdaugh Accused Of Cheating On Late Wife Maggie Before Gruesome Murders But Jury Won't Hear About Alleged Affairs, Sources Claim, Alex Murdaugh Murder Trial Update: Jurors Will Visit Moselle Ranch Crime Scene Where His Wife & Son Were Shot To Death. Alex Murdaugh with defence attorney Dick Harpootlian during his trial. As per Alex's testimony, he was not present at the scene when the crime happened. The fall from grace began for the respected and somewhat feared Murdaughs when on a fateful February night in 2019, the actions of Paul Murdaugh, the younger son of Alex Murdaugh, leads to the death of Mallory Beach. Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. Here's what we know. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex, all members of the prominent Murdaugh family Credit: Facebook One theory posits that Stephen ran out of gas and decided to walk home when he was clipped by a semi truck, but Stephen's mother Sandy Smith discounted that hypothesis in the 20/20 documentary. Murdaugh, a well-known lawyer, found. This marks the first time the 26-year-old has ever spoken publicly about the murders of his mother and brother or about his fathers string of alleged crimes. 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. 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. Smith was a high school classmate of Murdaughs son Buster (not the currently deceased one) and was found dead from blunt force trauma on the side of the road in 2015. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said it was opening an investigation into the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, . They have not made any statement about it since. As previously mentioned, Alex Murdaughs murder trial is ongoing. I am still in EB because when you get here we have to talk. Bombshell testimony from his mothers carer Muschelle Shelly Smith previously disputed Mr Murdaughs alibi, saying that he showed up at his sick mothers house for only 20 minutes that night before telling her to tell authorities he was there double the length of time. On April 18, Paul Murdaugh was indicted and charged with three felony counts including boating under the influence, causing the death of Beach, and injuring his friends. Around 1:15 a.m. the group re-boarded the boat with Paul still driving over the objections of his friends. Smith's injuries suggested a more nefarious cause of death. At first, Buster said that he just sat there in shock. The same month, Alex is disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. He was a known associate and occasional friend of Buster and several interviews in Murdaugh Murders mention cite rumors that the pair had a romantic relationship. Stephen Smith's family reacts to Murdaugh indictment in killings of wife, son. During the investigation into their deaths, new information came to light. CELEBRITY NEWS. Initially, Smith's death was ruled a hit-and-run by the coroner; however, the Smith family and Highway Patrol Investigators rejected the claim and noted that "no vehicle debris, skid marks, or injuries consistent with someone being struck by a vehicle" were found in the initial investigation. By July 2022, Alex Murdaugh was indicted with several charged including two counts of murder. Based in Cleveland, Ohio. Then he and his girlfriend Brooklynn grabbed some stuff and drove down to Moselle, reaching the property in the early hours of 8 June. Now, police investigating the shooting deaths of. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. Though Alex Murdaugh and other Murdaugh family members began committing crimes in 2014 or earlier, the inciting incident for their ultimate downfall begins in 2019. If any one genre takes the cake for him, it is none other than good ol' fashioned horror. I spoke to my mom every day multiple times everr day and my dad and my brother too, he said. 1. Gunther's Millions: The True Story Behind Netflix's Rich Dog Docuseries, Shazam! 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. While police were still searching for Mallory Beach, Alex arrived at the hospital and went room to room to speak with the survivors. He determined the placement of the body in the road and the injuries Smith suffered did not appear to be a hit-and-run. 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. As if this immense trail of bodies and financial crimes werent enough to capture the publics attention, this story has one final wait, what moment to really drive things home. But why though? Buster Murdaugh, 26, was a high school classmate of Smith, who was described as a loving jokester by friends and family. As previously stated: though this story begins in 2019, Alex Murdaugh has been breaking the law for far longer. Maybe it was simply incompetence. . The group was returning from an oyster roast that Paul had planned. All free. Police believe Smith ran out of gas while on his way home from college, though his family questions this. There was no blood. In the aftermath of Maggie and Pauls murders, Buster said that his father had been destroyed and heartbroken. 8. The body of Stephen Smith, a friend and classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was found on a road in Hampton County, South Carolina. The five county area that serves as the 14th district was the Murdaughs political dominion for nearly a century. However, the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in June 2021 shocked the nation after the mother and son were fatally shot. A member of the Ukrainian Parliament says Russias invasion of Ukraine began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea. "SLED has . In early June, a son and mother, both members of a. Duncan said the Murdaugh family name came up in the initial accident investigation but didnt go anywhere. After news of Stephen Smiths death came out, some speculated that Buster Murdaugh and Stephen Smith had some sort of relationship. Really? From 1920 through 2006, three members of the family served uninterrupted terms as the solicitor (which is known in most jurisdictions of the U.S. as a district attorney) of South Carolinas 14th district. South Carolina investigators say they are picking up steam in the reopened investigation into the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith who reportedly was close with Alex Murdaugh's oldest son, RadarOnline.com has learned. relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh, Source: YouTube/Law&Crime Network (video still). The boat was driven by Paul Murdaugh, then 19. His own car was parked several miles away. The cause of . Buster has experienced grief unlike anyone else; both his mother and brother were murdered. On July 8, 2015, the body of a 19-year-old named Stephen Smith was found with a fatal head wound on a road in Hampton County, South Carolina, which is part of the jurisdiction that had been run. And it seemed to be an intentional act, which we consider homicide, said Michael Duncan, a retired corporal who was part of the accident investigation team. Satterfields next of kin was supposed to receive a substantial insurance settlement due to accidental death. Why? Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaugh's name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. Days after the death of Paul and Maggie, the investigation into the death of Stephen was reopened. 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. But the real break in Smiths case came after the double murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. No autopsy was performed. Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, Search for Zachary Bernhardt continues after22 years, Explosive found in bag at Pennsylvania airport; man arrested, Chocolate peanut butter cups recalled nationwide, DeSantis ends Disney's self-governing status, World turned 'blind eye' to Crimea: Ukrainian Parliament member, KFC bringing back 'buzzworthy' item after 9 years, Polls show Trump leading DeSantis as 2024 GOP nominee, Justin Bieber cancels remaining dates of Justice world tour, Ohio governor visits derailment site for cleanup update, USPS to buy 9K electric vehicles, 14K charging stations, Lori Vallow knew right from wrong, victims family says, Murdaugh trial: What to expect from jurys crime scene visit. 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. On July 8, 2015 he was on his way home from school when he ran out of gas. He asked if I wanted to go hunting out there again after the murders and suggested I could, said Buster. In 2015, Stephen Smith was killed in a hit-and-run accident, in which Buster Murdaugh was reportedly involved. What's more, in 2015, he lost a close friend, Stephen Smith, in a . We know for a fact it was not a hit-and-run. Bamberg theorizes that Murdaugh may have defrauded 30-50 people to the tune of $20 million. (NewsNation) As Alex Murdaugh heads to trial for the murder of his wife and son, there is another mysterious case that has led investigators back to the Murdaugh family. On June 7, 2021 at 10:06 p.m., Alex Murdaugh called 911 and reported he had discovered the dead bodies of his son Paul and his wife Maggie near the dog kennels at their hunting lodge. One of the cases now being re-examined is the death of Stephen Smith, 19, whose body was found on a rural road in 2015. The following week, state police said Murdaugh had confessed to hiring someone to kill him so his surviving son could collect life insurance. Advertisement. By October of that year, SLED had indicated that none other than Alex Murdaugh was a person of interest in the case. Officials still don't know who or what killed 19-year-old Stephen Smith six years ago but his death has been widely associated with the Murdaugh family. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of . He even had his shoes on. Prosecutors claim that Mr Murdaugh shot dead Maggie and Paul by the dog kennels of the familys sprawling estate in Islandton, in order to distract from his string of alleged scandals and financial crimes. OF ALL THINGS, why why why would that be one of the very few scintilla of information to be released, other than the big one: ----> The Public was not in Danger. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. X27 ; s family reacts to Murdaugh indictment in killings of wife, son was high. Another rescue attempt was going on at the same month, Alex is disbarred by the end it! Brother too, he was on his way home from school when he ran out of gas while on way! I am still in EB because when you get here we have to talk documentary! Including two counts of murder claim that he tried to get them all on same. And family if any one genre takes the cake for him, it is none other than Alex Murdaugh defence. 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