Investigations into the Murdaugh murders led to a breakthrough in Stephen Smith’s murder case years after his death, causing his body to be exhumed for a second autopsy. This comes as Stephen’s mother Sandy Smith names convicted lawyer Alex Murdaugh‘s son Buster as a suspect in her son’s 2015 murder.
Sandy’s attorney Eric Bland revealed the news on Sunday, expressing happiness that the teen can finally rest after bringing his killer to book. He tweeted:
“I cannot thank SLED enough for making Sandy’s dream of exhuming Stephen and having a second autopsy be done become a reality and her pleas regarding Stephen for the last eight years to finally be heard. The state of South Carolina spent a significant amount of money this past weekend, ensuring a smooth and orderly exhumation.”
The lawyer also aired the team’s determination to do everything in their power to unveil just how Stephen died. Notably, since Stephen Smith’s demise, Eric and Sandy Smith have aired their belief that the teenager’s death was a result of murder, contrary to the initial ruling that he fell victim to a hit-and-run. While law enforcement initially treated the case as a homicide, they eventually ruled it as a hit-and-run case, sweeping it under the carpet for years.
My partner, Ronnie Richter, and I, as attorneys for Sandy Smith, and on behalf of Steven Smith, would like to thank everyone who contributed in the Exhumation, Transporting Stephen, protecting and guarding Stephen while he was being re-examined, and the second autopsy being done,…
— Eric Bland (@TheEricBland) April 2, 2023
Authorities Commence Investigation Into Stephen Smith Murder
Following investigations into the Murdaugh murders, Alex Murdaugh’s conviction, and an obvious connection between Alex’s surviving son, Buster, and the late teen, authorities are giving the case a new look. Reports show that officers unveiled new leads during the Murdaugh murders investigation. However, the exact details remain vague.
Notably, reports show that investigators conducted a rape kit on Stephen after finding him unresponsive on a Hampton County road, close to the Murdaugh estate. Per Cpl. Michael Duncan, former South Carolina Highway Patrol superior, he never understood the reasons for doing the test on an alleged hit-and-run victim.
Speaking to People, Eric confirmed they never tested the rape kit after conducting it. He believed reopening the case and conducting further post-mortem investigations would enable officers to realize Stephen’s death was a hate crime.
FITSnews reported that during the investigations into the murder of Stephen Smith, the Murdaugh family name came up severally. Yet, no member of the famous family faced charges or came in for questioning. After the South Carolina authorities trivialized the case, Stephen’s mom eventually sent a letter to the FBI, demanding justice for her son and naming Alex Murdaugh’s son, Buster, who attended the same school with her son, as the primary suspect.
On Monday, the aggrieved mother announced her intention to allocate $35,000 reward to anyone who brought forward useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator of Stephen Smith’s murder.