Investigators with the S.C. Highway Patrol ( SCHP) received. Her death, which occurred in 2018, was attributed initially to a trip-and-fall incident while working at the Murdaughs' home. A one-stop-shop for all things video games. He determined the placement of the body in the road and the injuries Smith suffered did not appear to be a hit-and-run. But despite the many attempts, Paul ended up being charged with the death of Mallory Beach. Then people started asking questions about Stephen Smiths case. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of . Buster testified that he never saw a gun loaded with both types of ammunition and didnt know anyone who would do that. In a small town, the went to school together and would have known one another. Copyright 2023 Radar Media Group LLC. He has pleaded not guilty. Long before any of the Murdaugh family's criminal activities came to light, a good friend of Buster's, Stephen Smith, passed away. In one dramatic moment, Buster insisted that his father said they and not I during a police interview video which prompted speculation that the disgraced legal dynasty heir may have unwittingly slipped up and confessed to the murders. Police determined it was a hit and run. He certainly knew the area. After that, Buster Murdaugh's name kept coming up. No tire marks or no debris from a vehicle found on scene after several . Sandy Smith, Stephanie Smith and myself, we have said all along, we would like to have justice for Stephen, the law firm said. Questions have also been raised about this outfit as multiple law enforcement officials testified that Mr Murdaugh and his clothing were clean despite his claims he touched the bloody bodies of his wife and son to check for signs of life. Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaughs name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. Many media entities have already tried their hand at explaining this shifty saga of murder, corruption, and cover-up from HBO Maxs Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty to IDs The Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty. The death was never reported to the coroner, and no autopsy was conducted. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! We hope she gets them. Buster Murdaugh, 26, was a high school classmate of Smith, who was described as a loving jokester by friends and family. 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. The other passengers were Murdaughs girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Beachs boyfriend, Anthony Cook; Anthonys cousin, Connor Cook; and Connors girlfriend, Miley Altman. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? The documentary also includes mention of the hit-and-run death of Stephen Smith, a former friend and classmate of Buster's, which remains unsolved. 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. Busters name has also cropped up in a series of other scandals surrounding the once-powerful family. Later, Gloria's sons also filed a lawsuit against Murdaugh after discovering that Murdaugh had claimed nearly half a million dollars for Gloria's death. Under brief cross-examination, the prosecutor brought up that Mr Murdaugh had suggested his son went hunting at Moselle after his mother and brother were gunned down there. Another ominous death was that of Gloria Satterfield, who worked for more than 20 years for the Murdaughs. Deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, June 7, 2021. The series was released without a lot of promotion on Sunday even as the double-murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh continues in Walterboro, South Carolina. Smith was one of the few openly gay individuals in his school. Growing up, he said that his parents attended every game he and Paul ever played in sports and that his father coached their little league teams. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Shreejit has written for various film and TV websites including Film Companion. The oldest Murdaugh son, Buster, was the same age as Stephen Smith and his twin sister. Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; Science & Tech; toggle. Murdoch testimony could be sharp dagger for Fox News: Expert, East Palestine residents report unusual symptoms, John Oliver on new AI tech: Stupid in ways we cant predict, Why TikTok is being banned on govt phones in US and beyond, COVID-19 origins drawing further scrutiny in Washington, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Here's what we know. Paul Murdaugh could not make it to the first day of trial in relation to Mallory's death as he was brutally murdered, along with his mother Maggie, on June 7, 2021. He said that there were no instances he could think of when his father disappeared for periods of time appearing to cast doubts on the states suggestion that he disposed of evidence in the aftermath of the murders. Shooting of Alex Murdaugh, Sept. 4, 2021. Alex Murdaugh was trying desperately to save his son's name. What started out as an unfortunate accident at the hands of the scion of the powerful Murdaugh family, turned out to be just an isolated dot in a line of deaths and financial frauds. Buster said that there was a negative reaction in the community in the aftermath of the boat crash and it consumed his mother, making her anxious. SLED agents say that family guns were used to kill both victims, with Paul shot twice with a shotgun that was loaded with buckshot and steel birdshot. 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. Busters name has also cropped up in connection with the mysterious death of Stephen Smith a 19-year-old gay teenager who was found dead at the side of a road in Hampton County in 2015. Meanwhile an attorney named Justin Bamberg began investigating Murdaughs finances on behalf of eight people who claim Murdaugh victimized them. Justin Bieber has canceled the remaining dates of his Justice world tour after postponing many shows last year for health reasons. Generally speaking, its a good idea to wait until a case is all wrapped up before giving it the true crime docuseries treatment. On Friday, jurors were shown a bombshell voicemail message revealing that Maggie and Paul found bags of pills in the accused killers bag just one month before their murders. Home > News & Politics > News. Interestingly, Smith has denied his role in the shooting. Never miss a story sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Everyone knew that the Murdaughs were not to be messed with. Based in Cleveland, Ohio. A classmate of Alex's elder son Buster, Stephen was rumored to have been in a gay relationship with Buster, a pill that was, allegedly, too bitter for the Murdaughs to digest. Alex Murdaugh called 911 around 1:30 p.m. to report he had been shot at the side of Salkehatchie Road. On the call, Alex reported that he had arrived at his house and found the bodies of his wife and son. The family also operates the law firm Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick, now known as The Parker Law Group. In an eerie fashion, the docuseries also explores the other deaths scattered over the years that were connected with the Murdaughs. Meanwhile, Mr Murdaugh appeared to smile at his son at several points. Consequentially, Alex was forced to resign from the law firm, which is now known as Parker Law Group. 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. Fury of the Gods Brings Back the "Shazamily": Inside DC's New Superhero Adventure, Scream 6's Brutal NYC Trip: "You Can't Trust Anyone" This Time, Cocaine Bear Is Not Just About a Killer "Coked-Up" Bear, It's Also an "Underdog Story", How Marvel's Wastelanders Podcast Created an Exciting Story with No Visual Safety Net, Murdaugh Murders Explained: The Real Life Story Behind the Netflix Series. Jurors have so heard four weeks of dramatic testimony from 61 prosecution witnesses covering a trove of circumstantial evidence, including cellphone and car data, a damning video allegedly placing Mr Murdaugh at the crime scene and apparent holes in his alibi for the time for the murders. Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; After regaining their balance and senses the six occupants of the boat regrouped to discover that one of their own, Mallory Beach was missing. Following the deaths of Mallory Beach, Paul Murdaugh, and Maggie Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smiths case. 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. 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. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) certainly did. The killer shot Maggie multiple times with a 300 Blackout rifle believed to be a replacement rifle that Mr Murdaugh later bought for Paul to replace the one he lost. As previously mentioned, Alex Murdaughs murder trial is ongoing. Jurors previously heard from Mr Murdaughs mothers carer Muschelle Shelly Smith, who testified that the disgraced attorney showed up at his parents home at around 6.30am one morning days after the murders. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Here is everything you need to know about the true story. Blanca Simpson, who worked as the Murdaugh family housekeeper for several years and did their laundry, testified that she never saw the clothing Mr Murdaugh was wearing on the morning of the murders again after that day. Because of this, his other son Buster Murdaugh is also facing intense scrutiny. When asked about his fathers opioid abuse, Buster says he knew a little bit about the usage of pills and knew that Maggie and Paul had confronted him about finding pills at some time. They graduated high school together. In the bodycam footage, the disgraced attorney is wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts. His testimony marked the first major witness for the defence, which began its case on Friday afternoon. His body was found about 15 miles from the Murdaugh's Moselle estate. His car was three miles away. Buster told the court that he had heard his father repeatedly say those five words on the night of the murders. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, also known as SLED, told NewsNation they have made progress in the death investigation of Stephen Smith, however, the investigation is active and ongoing. 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. Alex Murdaugh with defence attorney Dick Harpootlian during his trial. Following the deaths of Mallory Beach, Paul Murdaugh, and Maggie Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smith's case. Alex Murdaughs only surviving son Buster gave stoic testimony as his father looked on smiling in the South Carolina courtroom where he is on trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul. Like the probe of the 2019 boat crash, the 2015 investigation into Smith's death was chaotic from the beginning clouded by jurisdictional confusion and suspicions of investigative interference. I walked from where his car was, all the way to where his body was and found nothing at all," Sandy shared. But Mallory Beach's death was a tragedy waiting to happen at the hands of Paul, who was known for his violent behavior under the influence of alcohol. The firm built its success in the early 2000s due to a state law that made it easier for plaintiffs to forum shop. I know they were all talking to each other too.. Stephen would not have been in the roadway," said his mother Sandy. However, the so-called Murdaugh . Buster said Mr Murdaugh told him he was going to visit his mother Busters grandmother at his parents home in Almeda, something he said was quite typical for him to do. At 2:20 the next morning, the boat driven by the allegedly intoxicated Murdaugh slammed into a piling in Archers Creek (5). While Mallory's boyfriend Anthony stayed back at the scene of the incident to wait for his girlfriend to be found, the others in the group witnessed Alex's manipulation at work as he tried to pin the blame on Paul's friend, Connor. Life became particularly messy for Alex soon afterward as a row of financial crimes that he committed also came to the forefront. As per Alex's testimony, he was not present at the scene when the crime happened. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. His son, wife, and housekeeper were all dead. He even had his shoes on. Online following of Murdaugh saga:South Carolina murder saga attracts cult-like online following. As the night progressed, Paul and his friends decided to head to an oyster roast on nearby Paukie Island via a Murdaugh family boat. Smith was just 15 when he passed away suddenly in Hampton County. Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. Beach fell overboard and went missing; her body was found on March 3 near the Broad River Boat Landing (6). Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. Crime scene photos show shell casings on the floor of the dog feed house. Or at least no evidence as strong as the evidence in the other murders. The body of Stephen Smith, a friend and classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was found on a road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. No one is sure why the brothers were there. The Murdaugh family has many skeletons in their closet, some of which have emerged during Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. We think he was dumped there on the road. I am still in EB because when you get here we have to talk. The first one was that of Stephen Smith, who was found dead on the side of a road in 2015. Alex Murdaugh, 52, is a lawyer and the great-grandson of Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh, . '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) Alex Murdaugh was again charged with various crimes for leading the conspiracy. In early August 2015, authorities received a tip about Smith and Buster Murdaugh possibly being in a relationship, per Live 5 News. "Where theres smoke, theres fire," Andrews said on Buster and the Murdaugh family name being mentioned more than 40 times in the investigation. Maybe it was simply incompetence. "I hope they enjoy their day because we're going to enjoy ours. 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. The charges against him had varying effects on Paul as per varying accounts of his friends. Buster Murdaugh and Smith reportedly graduated in 2014 from the same high school. Reporter Will Folks with FitsNews told NewsNation Buster Murdaugh's name often came up in connection with the Stephen Smith case. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Although many in Hampton County claim the existence of a deeper connection between Stephen's death and the Murdaughs, there is not much evidence to back it up. 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. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. Among the timeline was newly-obtained car data which placed Mr Murdaughs car at the spot where his wifes phone was later found dumped before he quickly sped away from the scene. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. Bamberg theorizes that Murdaugh may have defrauded 30-50 people to the tune of $20 million. Picking up from the accidental death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal traces the series of events that made the suspicious history of the powerful Murdaugh family of South Carolina national news. All three episodes of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal are available to stream on Netflix now. Later, Connor's father was also contacted by Alex in an act of intimidation. 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