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. He had a large gash on his head, a police report read, and a wound over his eyebrow. I know they were all talking to each other too.. Smith was just 15 when he passed away suddenly in Hampton County. A one-stop-shop for all things video games. After HBO Max's Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty and ID's The Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty, Netflix has decided to wet its paws with the twisted story of Alex Murdaugh and his family that has attracted the world's attention to Hampton County in South Carolina. Worst of all, with at least one of those deceased clients, its suspected that Murdaugh may have assisted with their death. Police found Smith dead on the side of the road in 2015, The New York Times reports. Ron DeSantis explained his feud with Disney in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, saying the corporation helps advance the lefts woke agenda.. 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. His twin. Murdaugh, a well-known lawyer, found. The young teenager was openly gay and was rumored to be involved in a romantic relationship with Paul Murdaugh's elder brother, Buster. He Was Called to Testify in Alex Murdaugh's Trial. 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. His younger brother, Paul, was killed alongside his mother in 2021. 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. It definitely was not a hit and run. New details in the Paul and Maggie Murdaugh double-murder has led the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to open the hit-and-run cold case death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. 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. Deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, June 7, 2021. Due to the familys outsized political influence and power, there is a perception (and a correct one) that its members were able to easily escape any kind of trouble or scrutiny for decades. But inconsistencies in the initial investigation have left many wondering why his death was never investigated as a homicide. 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. A blue tarp and a blue rainjacket was found in a search of the home, with the jacket covered in gunshot residue particles. Murdaugh murders: Cops clueless about motive, refuse to release 911 call details Another deceased person's name has reemerged in the case - Stephen Smith, a gay man from Hampton who died in 2015. [12] His car was discovered three miles away with the gas cap off. Death of Mallory Beach, Feb. 24, 2019. I just want to say I forgive you. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of . Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. This is when most folks outside of South Carolina became aware of the Murdaugh name and its wisely where Murdaugh Murders elects to begin its story. Often, Alex did not pass on the money that he won from financial settlements to the kin of the deceased after suing the insurance companies. At 2:20 the next morning, the boat driven by the allegedly intoxicated Murdaugh slammed into a piling in Archers Creek (5). On the night of 24 February 2019, Paul was allegedly drunk driving the Murdaugh familys boat with several of his friends on board. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. Meanwhile, he said his father did not appear overly anxious about the case and the family was supportive of Paul as they believed he wasnt driving the boat that weekend. BREAKING. The family also operates the law firm Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick, now known as The Parker Law Group. Meanwhile, Pauls equally spoiled rich boy father Alex immediately sprung into action after the accident. Witnesses interviewed as part of the original investigation into Smith's death repeatedly implicated Alex Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster, as having been involved in a relationship with. July 15th 2022, 11:14 AM PDT. The Murdaughs also ran a big law firm in the area. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. 7. Mr Murdaugh, 54, is facing life in prison for the murders of his wife and son. No autopsy was performed. In 2015, teenager Stephen Smith, an openly gay classmate of Buster's, was found dead from blunt force . 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. Buster testified that he helped pack his father a bag of clothes from his closet to take with them. Recently, Smith's family friend, Susanne Andrews, revealed "progress" has been made since Paul and Maggie's 2021 murders. Smith was found dead with deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. Buster Murdaugh recalls finding out about the murders of his brother and mother, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Alex Murdaugh trial - live: Surviving son to testify today as defence fights back against crime scene evidence, Alex Murdaugh judge compares defence attorney to Kyrie Irving after he shared sloppy investigation post, Murders, million-dollar fraud and mystery deaths: The story of Alex Murdaughs spectacular fall from grace, Alex Murdaughs surviving son gives stoic testimony in murder trial, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off orders over 15 with this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. 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. 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. 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. Thats right: Alex Murdaugh (ALLEGEDLY) murdered his estranged wife and youngest son. As previously stated: though this story begins in 2019, Alex Murdaugh has been breaking the law for far longer. On the call, Alex reported that he had arrived at his house and found the bodies of his wife and son. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. Included in this group was Alex Murdaughs youngest son Paul Murdaugh. 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. Revelations that have come out since Murdaughs arrest, however, suggest that Alex may have been attempting to create a distraction to forestall the collapse of the house of cards that was his life. While no suspects have been named in the seven years since Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of the road in Hampton County, South Carolina, the Murdaugh family name was featured over 40 times in the investigative documents, according to local reports. "No car parts. Everyone survived apart from Mallory Beach, 19, whose body washed up on shore around a week later. By July 2022, Alex Murdaugh was indicted with several charged including two counts of murder. They returned hours later and all showered at the Moselle home, he said casting doubts on testimony from the Murdaugh housekeeper Blanca Simpson that she noticed unusual things in the home on 8 June including a light puddle of water, a towel, a pair of khaki pants and a t-shirt on the ground. After Smith's body was discovered, authorities fielded tips from the community. Like several other Alex Murdaugh documentaries before it, Murdaugh Murders brings up the curious case of Stephen Smith. In May 2022, Murdaugh made a settlement with Gloria's family. 8. The case of 19-year-old Stephen Smith is often mentioned in the same sentence on . The body of Stephen Smith, a friend and classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was found on a road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Six years later, state police opened their own investigation because of information they had gathered in the aftermath of the Murdaugh deaths. 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. 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. Yet, the case was left classified as a hit and run. 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. In the video, sent at 7.56pm on 7 June 2021, Mr Murdaugh is seen in trousers, loafers and a blue button-down shirt on the grounds of the estate. Stephen Smith was studying to be a nurse at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, hoping to eventually become a doctor. Paul soon began driving erratically and by 2:20 a.m. the boat crashed into Archers Creek Bridge. Stephen Smith died in 2015 and, the docuseries alleges, may have had a relationship with Alex Murdaugh's other son Buster. In what marks the first time the 26-year-old has ever spoken out publicly about the murders, he recounted the moment that he learned that his mother and brother were dead. 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. 3-6. Accident investigators agreed. Here's what we know. The first was that of a high school student, Stephen Smith, back in 2015. A wrongful-death suit filed by Beachs mother named Paul Murdaughs father, Alex, and older brother, Buster, alleging they facilitated his underage drinking. Ultimately the 88 indictments for financial fraud amounted to around $9 million. On July 8, 2015 he was on his way home from school when he ran out of gas. The families of 19-year-old Stephen Smith who was rumored to be in a secret relationship with Alex's oldest son, Buster, and Murdaugh family housekeeper Gloria Satterfield are still waiting . The mystery surrounding the fatal shootings at the home of a prominent South Carolina family connects to the deaths of three people and a roadside shooting. His father had gone to a detox facility around Christmas 2018 and Buster thought that handled it but they found pills a couple more times after that. The 19-year-old nursing student who had been a classmate of Buster Murdaugh at Wade Hampton High School was found dead with a head wound on Sandy Run Road near Crocketville. Gloria Satterfield was the Murdaugh familys longtime housekeeper. 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. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? I don't hate you. In fact, it was one of the first files I ever received related to this story, Folks said. 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. She also went to the scene of the crime to take a look around. The Murdaugh family were undoubtedly the biggest names in small Hampton County where everyone knew everyone a point reiterated quite a few times throughout the Netflix docuseries in a possible attempt to justify the numerous perspectives that were available on the central events being discussed. Here is everything you need to know about the true story. The group was returning from an oyster roast that Paul had planned. It was updated with the events of the week of Sept. 12, 2021: Alex Murdaughs alleged confession that he hired someone to shoot him, and the opening of an investigation into Gloria Satterfields death. Before the beginning of the murder trial on January 23, 2023, a lot more charges were brought against Alex Murdaugh as a result of the financial fraud he had continuously committed over the years. Judge Clifton Newman is said to have issued multiple warnings to several members of the Murdaugh family about their behaviour in court and they were told to move to the back of the courtroom. Moreover, the lapses in the immediate investigation by the local investigators, the Department of Natural Resources, exposed the workings of a powerful network that the Murdaughs had woven over years. Smith's injuries suggested a more nefarious cause of death. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh, Buster's father, is facing charges with the murders of his wife, Maggie, and his . In September 2021, the state police opened an investigation into her death. Life became particularly messy for Alex soon afterward as a row of financial crimes that he committed also came to the forefront. Mallory Beach's death brought enough bad PR to the Murdaughs to bring them under scrutiny, but a greater tragedy was waiting to strike them. Netflix's Murdaugh Mysteries: A Southern Scandal unpacks the many crimes of Alex Murdaugh. 2. Entertainment; News & Politics; Sports; Health & Lifestyle; Death of Stephen Smith, July 8, 2015. Really? The family believes he was murdered. 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. During the states case, Mr Murdaughs attorneys have hinted at a range of theories they plan to present including that there was two killers and that the murders were tied to a local drugs gang. But the more devastating reality behind this unfortunate incident is that another rescue attempt was going on at the same time. What follows is our best attempt at capturing all of it. 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. 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. No tire marks or no debris from a vehicle found on scene after several . Buster Murdaugh Jr. had already made "an almost identical" improper jury argument in a rape case . The 26-year-old told the court how he lived with his family Maggie, Paul and Mr Murdaugh in Beaufort before they moved to Hampton County in 2000. His son, wife, and housekeeper were all dead. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. Another ominous death was that of Gloria Satterfield, who worked for more than 20 years for the Murdaughs. The coroner declared the death a hit-and-run collision. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. The U.S. I have faith in that, Im optimistic in that.