The release stated that on June 23, 2021, the agency opened an investigation into Smith’s death — which was initially ruled a hit and run — after agents from SLED “received information about his death and subsequently reviewed” the case file from the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
SLED has said the investigationinto Smith’s death was reopened based on information obtained while investigating the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, the wife and son of Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of the murders this month andhanded two life sentences.
“SLED is investigating Stephen Smith’s death as a homicide,” SLED spokesperson Renée Wunderlich tells PEOPLE. “We’ve made progress in the investigation. The investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Stephen Smith.Facebook
Smith wasfound deadwith deep gashes to his head in the middle of a dark Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. His car was discovered three miles away with the gas cap off.
At the time of his death, Smith was a 19-year-old Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College student who was studying to become a nurse.
Stephen Smith’s headstone.Courtesy Suzanne Andrews
Smith’s mom Sandy Smith launched a GoFundMe campaign last week hoping to raise money toexhume his bodyfor an independent autopsyto prove that he did not die of a hit-and-run.
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TheGoFundMehas raised nearly $89,000 as of Tuesday evening.
“SLED officials have revealed that they did not need to exhume Stephen Smith’s body to convince them that his death was a homicide. However, they will be present and participate in any exhumation of Stephen’s body to gather more evidence. We are committed to finding out what really happened, and getting the peace and justice the Smith family deserves” Smith family attorneys Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter said in a joint statement.
The law firm added that during its phone call with SLED, the police agency revealed they wanted to wait until after Murdaugh’s trial to announce that they had ruled Smith’s death a homicide “out of concern that witnesses would not be as forthcoming under the Murdaugh sphere of influence.”
Now that the disgraced lawyer’s trial is over, Bland Richter Law Firm said more “resources have been devoted and will be devoted to Smith’s case.”
Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh.
Richter added that SLED is publicly backing Smith’s mom Sandy in her “efforts to find out what really happened to her son. They have expressed their condolences to the Smith family and will continue to work diligently to bring those responsible for Stephen’s death to justice. We are proud to be their partner in finding justice.”
On Monday,Buster Murdaugh, Alex’s only surviving son,vehemently deniedhe had anything to do with the mysterious death.
“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,” Buster, 27, said in a statement on Monday released through his attorney, Jim Griffin.
“I love them so much and miss them terribly,” he wrote.
source: people.com
