But a former state trooper who worked on Smith's case told Fox News last week that he still believes Smith's death might have been a homicide,and not a vehicle collision like the autopsy report said. 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. Smith's body was found nearly three miles from where his car was left and case notes said that "the gas tank door was open and the gas cap was hanging on the side of the vehicle.". In early June, a son and mother, both members of a. No other evidence was located at the scene, the SLED agent wrote. Mom and Son, Authorities Open Investigation into Teen's 2015 Death, 'Somebody's in Danger': 2 Months After Deaths of Prominent S.C. Stephen Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of a country road 15 miles from the Murdaugh family's Islandton hunting lodge on July 8, 2015. Got a tip for a story? In September 2016, Stephens mother Sandy Smith wrote a letter to lawmakers and police agencies pleading for help and claiming corruption in the investigation. MAIT is a division of the South Carolina HighwayPatrol unit that initially responded to the scene. State police said information they gathered in the Murdaugh investigations also led them to review what was initially reported as the hit-and-run death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith in Hampton . Stephens murder was ruled a hit-and-run with no one arrested for the crime, but in 2021, the case was reopened. Cold Cases Database. It just doesnt make any sense. (WTOC/Provided) Initial reports indicated he died from blunt force trauma to the head. The notes reveal the timeline of investigative measures taken from the momentSmith's body was found July 8, 2015, through December of that year. He was bright and determined to make a better life for himself. Mother and son were gunned down on their 1,770-acre estate in the small town of Islandton. MAIT investigators cited multiple times in case notes and incidentreports obtained by Inside Edition Digital that Smith's death appeared to be a homicide and said the wound on his skull to be consistent with a gunshot wound. Stephens massive head wound along with the lack of other significant injuries on his body stumped investigators on scene. Stephen was not stupid, Stephens friend told FITSNews. Alex's. After interviewing several sources who knew the Murdaugh brothers, SCHP detective Proctormade some significant assessments of the family. So why didnt they investigate Stephens death as a homicide? On July 8, 2015 Stephen Smith was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road with a 7.25-inch gaping hole on the right side of his forehead and no other major injuries. 8:22 p.m. SCHP: Moore calls Burke. 5:37 a.m. SCHP: Sgt. South Carolina state investigators have opened an investigation into a fatal 2015 hit-and-run case based on information gleaned from the investigation into the murders of two members of a prominent South Carolina family. The family member says that Stephen was recently acting secretive and started coming home late. 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. His phone and keys were still in his pocket. His death was investigated by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety On Thursday, Sandy Smith said she received a call from an official with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The late Stephen Smith with his mother . "There was no evidence of this being a hit and run. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Names and stories of the Murdaugh family surfaced six years ago regarding the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, a young gay man found dead in the middle of a lonely rural road with several deep gashes in his head, but investigators said they were never able to directly connect anyone in the family to the incident. Randy Murdaugh was the second person to call my dad after the coroner," Stephanie told ABC. But Smith's family refuses to believe it was an accident. Investigators reported he was the victim. State police reopen hit-and-run death investigation from details gathered in Murdaugh case. He said he would take Stephens case free of charge. Cr. Earlier this week, FITSNews exclusively reported that South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) opened an investigation into the death of Stephen Smith a Hampton County teenager whose death has been unsolved since 2015. And anyone who knows anything needs to come forward. She is working writing an official letter to SLED. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? She tells him they located Smiths car on US 601 and that the gas cap was off. Stephen Smith was 19 when he died in what investigators called a hit-and-run in Hampton County in 2015 . In August 2015, the coroner told Proctor that he did not agree with the final autopsy results in the Stephen Smith case. 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. May be bigger ponds, lakes n oceans with bigger fish, but life sure is good when you're top of the food chain, in these swamps. His body was found in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8 with deep gashes to the head. To what historical information she possessed, I am unaware.. 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 . SLED is investigating every angle in the Murdaugh case something that Sandy wishes they would have done with Stephens death six years ago. The teens had been "grossly intoxicated," according to police, even though they were all underage and could not legally buy alcohol. Paul had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was not incarcerated. Murdaugh's. They called me back and said they were looking into Stephens case because they have to see if my family is involved in the shooting of Paul and Maggie (Murdaugh), Sandy Smith said. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Sandy Smith said she was grateful that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), handing the Murdaugh investigation, and the Attorney General's Office have provided "some closure" in the deaths. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. The Murdaugh family (/ m r d k / MUR-dok) is an American legal family in the Low Country region of South Carolina.From 1920 to 2006, three members of the family consecutively served as solicitor (i.e., district attorney), in charge of prosecuting all criminal cases in the state's 14th circuit district, leading locals to call the five-county district, "Murdaugh Country". Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Duncan didnt ask any follow-up questions and never mentioned this rumor in his notes. The gas tank door was open and the gas cap was hanging on the side of the vehicle. CLICK HERE. (Assisted suicide explained). His loosely tied shoes were still on and his clothes appeared untouched. I guarantee you that Stephen was not in that road, she said. In the documentary, Randy said, I knew who Stephen Smith was and I knew his family.". 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. The final autopsy report said that Stephens cause of death was blunt head trauma, motor vehicle crash, pedestrian vs. vehicle. The pathologist also states in the report, that in light of historical information along with the autopsy, these conclusions were made, Proctor wrote. 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.. Perry Singleton and Chief Billy Jarrell, the SLED report said. She said Stephen had been recently cutting school, which was unusual for him. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. The vehicle was in park. Of course, the fact SLED is interviewing Sandy Smith means it is taking seriously the suggestion that the Murdaugh family may have had something to do with the death of her son. The key located in the victims pocket was used to open the vehicle. One of those deaths? Of course, the rumors began from there, with many speculating the Murdaugh family mightve killed Stephen. "I know that they're working hard and that this is not a cold case," he says. Feb. 2, 2018: Gloria Satterfield, 57, falls at the Murdaugh family home on Moselle Road in Colleton County. 9:18 a.m. SLED: Agents release the scene to HCSO personnel and leave. He also said SLED has not contacted Proctor to assist in their investigationat the time of the interview. 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. The case of Stephen Smith a 19-year-old man from Hampton, S.C. who was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. EXCLUSIVE : A former South Carolina state trooper who led the 2015 cold case involving an alleged fatal hit-and-run is speaking out exclusively to Fox News, describing how the prominent. Stephen was beloved. Sandy has been begging law enforcement officials for years to open an investigation into her sons unsolved death. 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. Following Killings of S.C. Smith was found dead with deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. She currently lives on Hilton Head Island where she enjoys beach life. "And it's amazing to be a part of that and to see it. "Here she is seven years later, still hanging in there, still going strong, still ready to do whatever it takes to find the answers," Smith family attorney Mike Hemlepp tells PEOPLE. 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. Also buried close by is Stephen's brother, who died as a baby. He was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. Andrews, who helped raise more than $40,000 for the headstone and for a scholarship in Stephen's name, says she's thankful for all the worldwide support Sandy has received in her fight for answers. Duncan does not include this in his casenotes. 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. No one's going to feel like they're being held accountable if we don't bring attention to it.". Allen tells Duncan that the only injuries to the victim were around the head area.. Proctor also wrote in his report that Greene was fired sometime between July 22 August 18 2019. New details in the investigation of 19-year-old Stephen Smith's death in 2015 show that while initial reports from S.C. Highway Patrol indicate his death was caused by a hit-and-run car crash . That's not even the end of the story. A SCHP flyer is made asking for tips in the case. Yes. This is about a child that deserves to be memorialized and commemorated, and a mother to have support that she hadn't had.". The case of 19-year-old Stephen Smith is often mentioned in the same sentence on social media. Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, werefound shot to death June 7 at their familys hunting lodge in Colleton County, South Carolina, as CrimeOnline has previously reported. A mother knows her child, and my son would not do that," Sandy said. On June 22, 2021, SLED said it was . July 22, 2015, SCHP: Proctor visits Presnell at MUSC to get some sort of clarification on the Smith case. Proctor wrote that Presnell spoke in a negative tone and basically called (him) a liar when he said that hed already spoken to Hampton County Coroner Ernie Washington. She had no evidence other than that for the statement being put in the report., Proctor said that he explained to her that law enforcement officers had no evidence of this individual being struck by a vehicle.. Asking for tips in the small town of Islandton 601 and that this is not cold. Died as a baby trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases keys were still and. 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