How major Netflix and HBO documentaries revived interest in Stephen Smith's ... trends now
Stephen Smith's death has haunted a South Carolina community for years - but it was a Netflix documentary, released around the same time as the double murder trial involving a prominent family, that revived attention to the case.
Smith, the 19-year-old former classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was found dead in July 2015 on rural Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, near the Murdaugh property.
Recent Netflix and HBO documentaries alleged that rumors swirled in the small town that Buster and his younger brother Paul were potentially involved in Smith's death.
There were also rumors, provided as tips to investigators at the time, that Buster and Smith were romantically linked, the documentaries claimed.
On Monday, Buster released a statement denying the 'vicious rumors' that he was involved in Smith's death.
Last week, Smith's family announced that the body of the 19-year-old nursing student would be exhumed for a private autopsy. Now, after eight years, SLED has revealed they are convinced his death was a homicide.
Stephen Smith (right), the 19-year-old former classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was found dead in July 2015 on rural Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, near the Murdaugh property
It was a Netflix documentary, released around the same time as the double murder trial of disgraced legal scion Alex Murdaugh, that revived attention to the 2015 case
Pictured: Stephen Smith's car found along Sandy Run Road in Hampton, South Carolina in 2015. 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
Who is Stephen Smith?
Stephen Smith was found dead on July 8, 2015, on a rural Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, near the Murdaugh property.
The 19-year-old nursing student had a blunt-force trauma injury to the head.
His body was found three miles away from where his car had run out of gas.
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.
His family's attorneys have also pointed out that Smith's wallet was left inside the car – and he never made any phone calls to his family at the time.
Smith's mother Sandy would not have left his wallet behind and said he would have at least called his sister.
'If he did have to walk home, he would have walked through the woods – and there was a corn field right there he would have walked through. He would make sure that he was not seen by anyone,' she said.
She also said that 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.
Recent Netflix and HBO documentaries alleged that rumors swirled in the town that Murdaugh's sons Buster and Paul were potentially involved in Smith's death
Recent Netflix and HBO documentaries revealed rumors that swirled in the small town that Buster and his younger brother Paul were potentially involved in Smith's death
Buster Murdaugh, second from right, son of Alex Murdaugh, looks to his father during his trial
Why is his death now being considered a homicide?
Last week, Smith's family announced that the body of the 19-year-old nursing student would be exhumed for a private autopsy.
But on Tuesday, SLED revealed they did not need to exhume Smith's body to convince them that his death was a homicide.
Bland Richter Law Firm, which is representing Smith's family, made the announcement on Tuesday after a call with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel.
SLED officials said they will 'be present and participate in any exhumation of Stephen's body to gather more evidence.'
Bland Richter co-founder Eric Bland said that SLED is committed to combining efforts and resources as the state moves forward with exhuming Smith's Body.
'We have a chance to right eight years of wrongs, and we intend to do just that,' said Bland.
On Tuesday, Attorney Ronnie Richter told TMZ Live that there are a 'number of facts that clearly point to murder' which include 'Stephen's body from the torso down had no injuries, there were no car parts found at the scene, his shoes were still on, he supposedly walked three miles in the dark without ever using his cell phone.'
SLED reopened the investigation into Smith's death in 2021, citing
