Bombshell report names persons of interest in cold-case murder of Stephen Smith that happened near Murdaugh murders



South Carolina authorities have named two persons of interest in the cold-case murder of Stephen Smith, according to a bombshell report. The 19-year-old was murdered in 2015 near the site of the infamous Murdaugh murders.

On July 8, 2015, Stephen Smith was found dead in the middle of a road in Hampton County, South Carolina. Smith's body was found eight miles from "Moselle," the Murdaughs' 1,770-acre hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina.

Smith died from blunt force trauma to the head. Smith's death was ruled to be caused by a hit-and-run by a car, and no suspects were named or arrested.

However, the officer who wrote the initial report found no evidence that Smith was hit by a car.

"I saw no vehicle debris, skid marks or injuries consistent with someone being struck by a vehicle," the officer noted. "The victim’s shoes were loosely tied and both were still on. … We see no evidence to suggest the victim was struck by a vehicle."

State Highway Patrol trooper Thomas Moore wrote in his report that upon arriving at the scene, the county coroner "immediately advised me it was a homicide." Smith had an injury on his head that the coroner believed was a gunshot wound.

A report from a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division special agent added that an EMS worker found a projectile wound on the victim's head. A report from a Hampton County Sheriff’s Office deputy stated that it appeared that Smith had been shot in the head.

Smith's death was re-examined during the investigation into the murders of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and Paul Murdaugh, 22 – who were murdered by Alex Murdaugh on June 7, 2021. Alex was Maggie's husband and Paul's father.

Earlier this month, Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to two life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole after he was found guilty of murdering his wife and son.

Some loosely connected Smith's death to the South Carolina legal dynasty family featured on the Netflix docuseries "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal." Smith was a classmate of Buster Murdaugh – Alex's other son.

Court TV reported, "The investigative file in Smith’s death mentions several names of people who were listed by various witnesses as having the potential to be involved in the case, among them Buster Murdaugh."

Former South Carolina Highway Patrol detective Todd Proctor and Sandy Smith, the mother of the victim, previously believed the Murdaughs had some kind of involvement in Smith's murder, but did not present any solid evidence.

Smith's attorney Eric Bland told Fox News, "We have no direct knowledge that any Murdaugh was involved in any shape or form in Stephen's murder."

Buster Murdaugh has denied any involvement in the murder of Smith.

"This has gone on far too long. These baseless rumors of my involvement with Stephen and his death are false," Murdaugh said on Monday. "I unequivocally deny any involvement in his death, and my heart goes out to the Smith family."

"I have tried my best to ignore the vicious rumors about my involvement in Stephen Smith’s tragic death that continue to be published in the media as I grieve over the brutal murders of my mother and brother," Murdaugh continued. "I love them so much and miss them terribly."

On March 22, 2023, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced that it had re-classified Smith’s death as a homicide.

FitsNews reported on Thursday that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division identified Patrick Wilson and Shawn Connelly as persons of interest.

The independent news outlet stated, "Both Wilson and Connelly lived in the area near where Stephen Smith’s body was found … and there is information obtained by SLED investigators which has reportedly drawn a sharper focus on them as potential suspects."

FitsNews claimed that Wilson and Connelly were "embroiled in various legal actions tied to the Murdaugh family in the months following the murder."

Sandy Smith raised more than $117,000 on GoFundMe to exhume her son's body so that an independent autopsy could be conducted. She is also hiring a private investigator to help solve the cold case from eight years ago.

The Mysterious Death of Stephen Smith www.youtube.com

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Buster Murdaugh breaks silence over 'vicious rumors' about involvement in cold case that police now rule a homicide



South Carolina authorities are now investigating the death of Stephen Smith, whose body was found near the family estate belonging to the Murdaughs, as a homicide.

The news comes just weeks after disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and one of his sons, Paul.

What are the details?

Smith was found dead in July 2015 not far from the Murdaugh property. His death was ruled a hit-and-run, but his family long believed that Smith was murdered because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

The investigation into his death was reopened in 2021, when investigators discovered new evidence about Smith's death as they were gathering evidence in the double murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

Finally, officials revealed on Tuesday that Smith's death is now officially being investigated as a murder.

According to a statement released by the attorneys retained by Smith's family, state investigators with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division had been waiting until the conclusion of Alex Murdaugh's trial to announce the investigative change. With Murdaugh's conviction in the rearview mirror, SLED Chief Mark Keel informed the attorneys of the development on Tuesday.

The change comes after Smith's mother began raising money earlier this month for an independent autopsy of her son. However, police told her attorneys that they "did not need to exhume Stephen Smith’s body to convince them that his death was a homicide."

"I've been waiting on this news for almost eight years!" said Smith's mother, Sandy Smith. "I'm in shock, I'm elated, I'm waiting for the next chapter!"

What did Murdaugh say?

Buster Murdaugh, whose brother and mother were murdered by his father, released a statement on Monday denying that he was involved in Smith's death. Swirling rumors allege that Smith and Buster had been involved in a relationship.

"This has gone on far too long. These baseless rumors of my involvement with Stephen and his death are false," Murdaugh said. "I unequivocally deny any involvement in his death, and my heart goes out to the Smith family."

Murdaugh said he waited to speak publicly because he wants to maintain his privacy as he copes with his father's incarceration and the deaths of his brother and mother.

"I have tried my best to ignore the vicious rumors about my involvement in Stephen Smith’s tragic death that continue to be published in the media as I grieve over the brutal murders of my mother and brother," Murdaugh said. "I love them so much and miss them terribly."

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'Full of crap': Charles Barkley torches ESPN's Stephen Smith for injecting race into hiring of white coach



NBA legend Charles Barkley unloaded on ESPN analyst Stephen Smith this week for suggesting that "white privilege" was responsible for the Brooklyn Nets hiring a white man as their new head coach.

The Brooklyn Nets announced on Wednesday that Steve Nash — a Hall of Fame player in his own right — would become the newest head coach to lead the Nets.

Smith responded by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, there's no way around this. This is white privilege. This does not happen for a Black man."

What did Barkley say?

"I was very disappointed with some of the guys on television today talking about 'white privilege,' very disappointed," Barkley said Thursday.

"They're like, 'Well, this doesn't happen to black guys.' I'm like, 'It happened to Doc Rivers, it happened to Jason Kidd, it happened to Derek Fisher.' So, I was really disappointed," he continued. "When you have a responsibility, especially when you have to talk about something serious like race, you can't be full of crap. You've got to be honest and fair."

Barkley went on to agree that both professional and college athletics need more black head coaches, but again said that Nash's hiring was not the time to scream "white privilege."

"Steve Nash is a great player and a good dude. But I was so disappointed in some of these guys. I was like, 'Dude, black guys have done this before.' Now, do we need more black coaches in the NBA? Yes. Do we need more black coaches in college football? Yes. Do we need more black coaches in pro football. Yes. But this was the right time to say it today," Barkley said.

Charles Barkley sounds off on @stephenasmith saying Steve Nash got Nets job because of white privilege. #12Sports https://t.co/HlkG3tPfOO
— Cameron Cox (@Cameron Cox)1599193709.0

Smith was even called out by fellow ESPN analyst Jay Williams.

"Come on SA. Steve Nash being chosen over Mark Jackson/Ty Lue is not 'White Privilege'.. 2 superstar black athletes ultimately made the decision & we know who they are and what they are about," Williams said.

How did Smith respond?

The ESPN analyst doubled down.

"I have a message to those who feel that I was wrong, that I need to apologize, that I don't know what I'm talking about, etc., etc. I don't give a d**n what y'all feel. Y'all can all kick rocks. I don't give a d**n. I'm not budging from my position one inch," Smith said.

"Black folks with no resume getting a job like that?" Smith continued. "I have been covering the NBA for 25 years… brothers do not get those opportunities."

Stephen A. Smith isn't budging on his stance about the Nets hiring Steve Nash | First Take www.youtube.com