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. Stephens life mattered, too.. Stephen Smith, 19, died on a rural road in Hampton County, S.C., in 2015 in a controversial homicide that was officially ruled a hit-and-run. Feb. 2, 2018: Gloria Satterfield, 57, falls at the Murdaugh family home on Moselle Road in Colleton County. Todd Proctor told Fox News in an exclusivetelevisioninterview. Mother and son were gunned down on their 1,770-acre estate in the small town of Islandton. You go back to the Murdaugh name and their ties in that community, and that dont matter to me What weve done is take that investigation out of that and their reach I dont care what your name is and how much money you got., He then said Im not saying that the Murdaugh boy did it., But if were going to be throwing out names, Im not going to be withholding names, Proctor wrote. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. The vehicle was in park. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! That would be Stephen Smith, a gay teenager who was found dead in the street inHampton County. Allen tells Duncan that the only injuries to the victim were around the head area.. State police reopen hit-and-run death investigation from details gathered in Murdaugh case. At the time, investigators said it appeared he was killed in a hit-and-run collision while walking. Days after the shockingdouble homicideofPaul Murdaughand his motherMaggie Murdaugh, FITSNews published an exclusive report about three other deaths that have connections to the powerful South Carolina family. This is about a child that deserves to be memorialized and commemorated, and a mother to have support that she hadn't had.". According to our sources, all of the boat crash survivors and Beachs family members voluntarily submitted to questioning and volunteered to provide their DNA as a part of the double homicide investigation. There's a bright light being shined on that county. According to the autopsy, Greene was responsible for evidence transfer in the case. 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. No they dont they care about protecting themselves.. Stephen Smith, a teenager from Hampton . Stephen was found dead in the middle of a rural road outside of Hampton. Alex Murdaugh, Paul's father and . Photo: Facebook. After receiving a search warrant, agents searched the area and the vehicle, the SLED report said. is not perfect, but the information is straight from the 100+ page case file. there was no evidence that pointed towards this being a hit and run or a vehicle even being involved in it," he continued. Sandy and Todd Proctor, two former South Carolina Highway Patrol detectives who investigated Stephen's death, could not find proof to back up claims about the Murdaughs' connection to the case. The statements are the latest to be revealed in court filings by Dominion as part of its billion-dollar defamation suit against the . He tells them to meet him at the funeral home. For six years, Smith. (Center) Alex Murdaugh in Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. Moore then Walked the scene and saw no evidence of any car parts or pieces and then had all units clear the scene.. She said Stephen had been recently cutting school, which was unusual for him. State investigators have released scant information on the case including an 18-page redacted report with nearly 8 pages fully redacted. Hours later, a pathologist at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Dr. Erin Presnell ruled that Stephen was killed in a hit-and-run accident, a decision which was met with confusion and skepticism by investigators and those who knew Stephen. Im telling you man to man I didnt kill him.. The coroners report on Smiths death said he was most likely hit in the head by the mirror of a passing tractor trailer truck as he walked along the dark, two-lane road after he ran out of gas. 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. The case is being reexamined, partly because some Murdaugh family members were among those first on the scene. Multi-Action Disciplinary Team case notes obtained by Inside Edition Digital through a Freedom of Information Act request offer insight from the night Stephen Smith was killed. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. Smith's case had gone cold in the months following his July 2015 death, which was officially ruled a vehicular hit-and-run despite strong objections from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. 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. One of the guys that supposedly did this, Stephen told his twin sister that he had a fling with the boy, she said. Tallon notes that an EMS worker stated that a projectile wound was located on the victims head the HCCO moved the victim prior to SLED Crime Scene arrival.. The battery was functional, however the vehicle would not start., 9:40 a.m. SLED: Agents leave the scene of the car after doing a walk-through with Singleton and Jarrell. Moore calls Croft to ask which agents were at the scene that morning. Additionally, the episode will reveal new details in the death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in 2015 after an alleged hit and run. Or "king's ransom" waiting to be found A Slap In the Face: Update In The Stephen Smith Case And Murdaugh Murders, Murdaugh Murders: The Latest On The Boat Crash Lawsuit And Obstruction Of Justice Investigation, Boat Crash Lawsuit: Murdaughs Refuse To Settle, Withhold Financial Records From Victims Family, Apparent Human Trafficking Raid Jolts Coastal South Carolina Neighborhood, Murdaugh Murders: South Carolina Attorney General Must Step In And Remove Rogue Solicitor, Powerful Storms, Tornadoes Sweep Through SC: Photos From The Upstate to Lowcountry, SC State House: Speaker Of The House Livid After Close Friend Loses Primary Fight, Mark Powells Palmetto Past & Present: Lost Confederate Gold, Ron Paul: The Anti-War Movement Roars Back To Life, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Day Twenty-Six. In 2019, a boat operated by Paul Murdaugh crashed against a bridge pylon, killing 19-year-old Mallory Beach and seriously injuring two other passengers. Then, the coroner ruled the death a shooting homicide forcing investigators to search the rural road carved between a tree line and a corn field. It just doesnt make any sense. Everything to Know About the Murdaugh Family Murders and the Ongoing Drama Surrounding Dad Alex Murdaugh, Hampton County Detention Center/AP/Shutterstock, Alex Murdaugh Allegedly Lured Wife to Cabin On Night She Was Killed and She Texted Friend It Seemed 'Fishy', Everything to Know About the Murdaugh Family Murders, Including Details of Allegations Against Alex, Alex Murdaugh's Slain Son Paul Allegedly Strangled Ex-Girlfriend in 2017, She Says in Netflix Documentary, Investigators Will Exhume Body of Murdaugh Family Housekeeper Who Died Under Mysterious Circumstances. Stephen Smith was 19 when he died in what investigators called a hit-and-run in Hampton County in 2015. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth? When asked if theyve had been contacted by a lawyer, the family member tells police that Randy Murdaugh was the second person to call Stephens father after the coroner on the day of Stephens death. Murdaugh Murders: Family Releases Statement On $100,000 Reward, Latest Chapter Of Kathryn Dennis-Thomas Ravenel Custody Battle Features Change In Legal Lineup, #SC2018: Lindsey Graham Endorses Henry McMaster, Mark Powells Palmetto Past & Present: Lost Confederate Gold, Ron Paul: The Anti-War Movement Roars Back To Life, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Day Twenty-Six, Washington points to wound on Smiths head and calls it a gunshot wound, showing Moore the entry point., Moore asked Greene if they were sure it was a homicide and their response was yes., Moore advises MAIT theyre no longer needed. A spokesperson confirmed the investigation into the 2015 hit-and-run case, citing "the information gathered in the Murdaugh homicide investigation." Moore tells him to go to the scene and sit there between 3 and 5 a.m. to document what type of traffic was moving at that time in the morning. 10:30 a.m. SCHP: Moore notes that Washington told him that this is when Joel and Sandy Smith were notified of their sons death. He was taken to a . The official cause of death at the time was that Smith, 19, died from a hit and run. Here's what we know. 4:40 p.m. SCHP: Moore calls Washington and asks him if the hit-and-run was his ruling as well. They were very withdrawn with what they knew or thought.. The late Stephen Smith with his mother . I just dont believe my son would have been walking in the middle of the road like that. At nearly $29 million, Clark is set to have the third-largest cap hit in 2023 of any defensive end. (Is Outer Banks a real place?). M.D. And before too long, some of them including the Murdaugh family stopped cooperating at all, he said. These boys were coming from a baseball game and I think that they were right behind him, so when he had to pull over, they were right there. Proctor also wrote in his report that Greene was fired sometime between July 22 August 18, 2015. Stephens relative tells him that she just officially left the house for the first time since Stephens death the day before and went to the store and a bunch of people kept coming up to her saying Did you know the Murdaugh Boys are behind it, saying Buster Murdaugh the, one we went to school with did it, and some of his friends.. However, his mother, Sandy, told the the Hampton County Guardian, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2015. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. An investigator for the South Carolina Highway Patrol says that he thinks Stephen Smith's body was staged the night of his death in July 2015. Her body was found seven days after the February 2019 boat crash. No one's going to feel like they're being held accountable if we don't bring attention to it.". In the 20/20 documentary, Stephanie claimed shortly after the coroner called regarding her brothers death, her father received another call. 4:30 a.m. Tuesday: Sandy Smith, mother of Stephen Smith, who was found dead on a rural Hampton County road in 2015, is feeling vindicated, finally, for her instincts. 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. Stephens family member didnt seem to believe this at the time. You become invincible in a way and you get a little liquor and you think youre untouchable.. Moore instructs him to immediately stop their preparations on the body and cover him up. Moore tells Rowell to go get the clothing. SLED agents noted minor injuries to victims left arm, left hand and head. Currently, Murdaugh is on trial for murder for the deaths of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and their son, Paul Murdaugh. Stephen Smith's body was found on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County on July 8, 2015. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Todd Proctor, former South Carolina Highway Patrol investigator, told Fox News this week that it looked like Stephens body was placed in the middle of the road. 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. The teens had been "grossly intoxicated," according to police, even though they were all underage and could not legally buy alcohol. July 8, 2015: Stephen Smith, 19, is found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County.No arrest is made in the case. Moore asks about any other injuries on Smith, and Presnell tells him only a partial dislocated right shoulder., He asks Presnell if she found any glass fragments or any other evidence of a motor vehicle and she stated no., I then asked her why she was ruling it as a motor vehicle accident and what she thought caused the head injury, he wrote. Since the murders of Paul Murdaugh, 22, and Maggie Murdaugh 52, the State Law Enforcement Division, the agency that has been investigating the homicides, announced that it will now be investigating the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. She just wants to know who was responsible for murdering her child. 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. Additional counties and states will be added to this database as time and funding permit. 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. The Murdaugh case also prompted police to open an investigation into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old found dead in the same county, less than 10 miles away. Singleton tells Moore he wasnt at his desk and would call him back in 30 minutes. The death was originally thought to be a hit-and-run. The Murdaughs, as big and powerful and rich as everyone thinks they are theyre going to go on living their lives like nothing (happened), Proctor said. Duncan does not include this in his casenotes. 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. Smith died on a rural road in Hampton County in 2015, in what was ruled a hit-and-run. Hes never been around Stephen., When asked who told her that she said Stephens friend, another kid who she named, and a couple other people.. All victims have been submitted by law enforcement or the victims' families. She said shortly after Stephens death that believes her son was beaten to death and the crime covered up. He said Stephen was harassed by Rednecks in a big truck with big mud tires.. Prior to leaving the scene, agents discussed their findings and completed a walkthrough with Inv. She said there appeared to be missing evidence in the case such as the DNA under Stephens fingernails, the clothes he was wearing, and the rape kit. Thank you, God!. Shortly after 1 p.m. SCHP: Duncan calls Stephen Smiths mother Sandy Smith. "He wouldve called somebody.. Im tired of them putting Stephen on the back burner, Sandy Smith told FITSNews. Earlier this week, the agency opened up a tip line exclusively for the high-profile case. At the time of his death, Smith was a 19-year-old Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College student who was studying to become a nurse. The killings also led the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to open a new inquiry into the unsolved death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old whose body was found on a rural road in the area in . Hemlepp tells PEOPLE: "I know there are people who know what happened to Stephen. 9:20 a.m. SLED: Agents then responded approximately 3 miles to the victims vehicle on the side of Bamberg Highway. Smith was found dead just before 4:00 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2015. Keep in mind, this isyearsbefore Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felonies in the boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. In fairness, SLED didnt investigate Stephens case because it was dubiously ruled a hit and run. Austin North height: How tall is the Outer Banks actor? HAMPTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A new headstone for Stephen Smith was unveiled at the Gooding Cemetery in Hampton County Sunday. part of an apparent hit and run. Investigators theorized that the mirror of a semi-truck hit Stephens head. Rumors and speculation have surrounded Stephen Smith's death on July 8, 2015, when the 19-year-old's body was found on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County with deep gashes to the head just. Stephen died on the eighth of July. He was bright and determined to make a better life for himself. After Paul and Maggie Murdaugh's murders, SLED announced that their investigation had led them to look into Stephen's death. The 19-year-old had his skull partially crushed and his shoulder dislocated. The grammar, spelling, etc. Moore, of SCHP, gets a call from Cpl. He often had car troubles, but they had trouble imagining him walkingin the middle of the road, his family told Inside Edition Digital in an interview. Gloria Satterfield, who worked for the Murdaugh family for more than 20 years, died at the Murdaugh home in February 2018. Nothing about this case from the very beginning pointed towards it being a hit and run, Proctor said. SCHP: Moore, Rowell, Booker and Duncan go to Sandy Run Road to document the scene and looked for any evidence at the scene for approximately 100 yards in both directions. It was also clear from the report that there was tension between Presnell and SCHP. The coroner stated that he had made contact with the pathologist, Dr. Presnell and she stated that she would be willing to change her report to read however he wanted it, Proctor wrote. Got a tip for a story? Last Sunday afternoon, family and friends of Stephen Smith, a South Carolina teen who died under mysterious circumstances in 2015, traveled to the Gooding Cemetery in Hampton County, S.C. Hes never said anything bad about Stephen. Investigators with the S.C. Highway Patrol ( SCHP). August 18, 2015, SCHP: The coroner tells Proctor that he did not agree with the final autopsy results in the Stephen Smith case. The case was mysteriously bounced from investigator to investigator without reasons or notification, Sandy Smith wrote in the letter. On Thursday, Sandy Smith said she received a call from an official with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). (Assisted suicide explained). It looked like it was more staged, like possibly the body had been placed in the roadway.. Murdaugh Murders includes interviews with friends of the family, former and current, who shed light on the patriarch, Alex Murdaugh, and all of the trouble hes caused. The victims hands were bagged. 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. Murdaugh will face three charges in the shooting, but with several ongoing investigations and. 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