Stephen Smith's death ruled a homicide - eight years after he was found dead ... trends now Stephen Smith's death is officially ruled a HOMICIDE - eight years after the teen was found dead on rural road near Murdaugh family property: Cops will gather more evidence as family raise $60k to exhume his body By Andrea Cavallier For Dailymail.Com Published: 01:08 GMT, 22 March 2023 | Updated: 01:13 GMT, 22 March 2023 Viewcomments Stephen Smith's death is now being considered a homicide by South Carolina law enforcement eight years after the friend of Buster Murdaugh was found dead on a rural road near Murdaugh family property. The announcement was made by the family's lawyers, Bland Richter, on Twitter Tuesday night following a phone call with SLED Chief Mark Keel. SLED officials revealed in the call that they did not need to exhume Smith's body to convince them that his death was a homicide, the post read. But officials will 'be present and participate in any exhumation of Stephen's body to gather more evidence.' Stephen Smith's death is now being considered a homicide eight years after the friend of Buster Murdaugh was found dead on a rural road near Murdaugh family property The announcement was made by the family's lawyers, Bland Richter, on Twitter Tuesday night following a phone call with SLED Chief Mark Keel Smith's family announced that they will exhume his body following the renewed attention on the case after Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murder. There have been rumors that Murduagh's son Buster (pictured) was involved in a romantic relationship with Smith Smith was found dead on July 8, 2015, on a rural road near the Murdaugh property with a blunt-force trauma injury to the head. His family announced that they will exhume his body following the renewed attention on the case after Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murder. The teen's death was initially ruled a hit and run, but highway patrol officers have since claimed that they did not believe the scene was consistent with a road traffic accident. Patrol officers told state law enforcement that they believed the teen was murdered, but there was no further investigation. Since then, two documentaries by HBO and Netflix have aired rumors that Buster was involved in a romantic relationship with Smith. Stephen Smith's family raised $60,000 to exhume his body, and announced that they would be looking into the death of the teenager again mother Sandy said she wants to find the 'real reason' for her son's death, and has stood by her opinion that he would have 'walked through the woods' if his car broke down - not the road. In the statement Monday, shared by Alex Murdaugh's trial lawyer Jim Griffin, Buster wrote: '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. 'I love them so much and miss them terribly. I haven't spoken up until now because I want to live in private while I cope with their deaths and my father's incarceration. 'Before, during and since my father's trial, I have been targeted and harassed by the media and followers of this story. 'This has gone on far too long. These baseless rumors of my involvement with Stephen and his death are false. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility