Murder, Money & Mystery: Were the Killings of a Mom and Son Connected to 3 Previous Deaths? The vehicle was in park. Investigators reported he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident, despite police reports . 8:25 a.m. SLED: Tallon and Burke arrive at the scene. And anyone who knows anything needs to come forward. The man says that Stephen was harassed in his town and said people screwed with Stephens car battery. After Paul and Maggie Murdaugh's murders, SLED announced that their investigation had led them to look into Stephen's death. Cr. Allen, of the SCHP, telling him about a possible hit and run on Sandy Run Road. The Murdaughs, as big and powerful and rich as everyone thinks they are theyre going to go on living their lives like nothing (happened), Proctor said. The killings also led the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to open a new inquiry into the unsolved death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old whose body was found on a rural road in the area in . Mother and son were gunned down on their 1,770-acre estate in the small town of Islandton. She said shortly after Stephens death that believes her son was beaten to death and the crime covered up. Stephens murder was ruled a hit-and-run with no one arrested for the crime, but in 2021, the case was reopened. The case of Stephen Smith a 19-year-old man from Hampton, S.C. who was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. Fox News boss Rupert Murdoch said in a deposition under oath that any Fox News executives who knowingly allowed lies to be broadcast on the air "should be reprimanded" or "maybe got rid of," according to a new court filing on Monday by Dominion Voting Systems. The rumor thats going around Hampton that everybody keeps coming up to me and saying it was Murdaugh boys, she says. August 18, 2015, SCHP: The coroner tells Proctor that he did not agree with the final autopsy results in the Stephen Smith case. The timeline (below) shows a sketch of how officials came to the decision to rule the death a hit and run and how that decision appeared to confuse nearly everyone involved. He instead calls Smalls to see if he can get the information. According to NewsNation, Stephens mom Sandy is hoping for answers about her sons death during Alex Murdaughs trial. FITSNews obtained all audio from the investigation file. Prior to leaving the scene, agents discussed their findings and completed a walkthrough with Inv. She just wants to know who was responsible for murdering her child. Singleton tells Moore he wasnt at his desk and would call him back in 30 minutes. She had no evidence other than that for the statement being put in the report., Proctor said that he explained to her that law enforcement officers had no evidence of this individual being struck by a vehicle.. Sandy Smith didnt reveal who she thought killed her son. After interviewing several sources who knew the Murdaugh brothers, SCHP detective Proctormade some significant assessments of the family. Stephen Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of the road outside of Hampton with a gaping head wound, his skull partially crushed and his shoulder dislocated. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? She tells him they located Smiths car on US 601 and that the gas cap was off. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Editors Note: The timeline below is an outline of an investigation shared for the purpose of full disclosure as the case is getting attention from sleuths across the country. He offers to give the officers his phone and take a lie detector test. "Stephen's getting his final resting place honored and recognized," says Andrews. 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. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The victims hands were bagged. "[Stephen's mother] has said it was from a broken heart," Susanne Andrews, the founder of #StandingforStephen, a group that raised funds for the headstone, tells PEOPLE. It said the manner of death (which is either homicide, accident, natural, suicide, or undetermined) was still undetermined, The pathologist also states in the report, that in light of historical information along with the autopsy, these conclusions were made, Proctor wrote. Alex's. CLICK HERE. "As any investigator [does],you go off of the evidence. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Stephen Smith's body was found in the middle of a rural road, Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex, all members of the prominent Murdaugh family, Mallory Beach died after a boating accident in 2019, Murdaugh familys link to Stephen Smiths death probed in explosive 20/20 doc & teens twin speaks out, Murdaugh family latest - Mallory Beach's parents reveal harrowing moment they 'knew she was dead' in 20/20 documentary, I won a $1.6million lottery jackpot after listening to my mom's advice - here's how she helped me win my fortune, Shock discovery of 90 peoples' remains found in abandoned church linked to man charged with abusing rotting corpses, Terrifying moment skier George McQuinn is knocked unconscious in brutal crash and slides face-first across finish line, UKs bird flu 'patient zero' is distraught after being told he cannot keep ducks for a year, Endangered elephants scavenge for food in dump increasing fears for their welfare, Prince Andrew 'fears being left completely BROKE' as he fights sex allegations as 'private citizen', I woke up from a five-week Covid coma and met my baby son for the first time, Tell your stories of meeting The Queen as we prepare to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Stephen Smith, a teenager from Hampton . His body was found in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8 with deep gashes to the head. Stephen Smith was 19 when he died in what investigators called a hit-and-run in Hampton County in 2015 . So why didnt they investigate Stephens death as a homicide? His phone and keys were still in his pocket. His death was investigated by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety Stephen was found dead in the middle of a rural road outside of Hampton. Proctor then spoke withKelly Greene, Hampton County deputy coroner and a SLED agent who both attended the autopsy and said they didnt make any reference to the pathologist about the victim being struck by a vehicle, only that he was found in the road. 7:28 p.m. SCHP: King calls Moore and tells him that Brock with MAIT would be calling and tells Moore to get in touch with someone from SLED to get them to come out the next day. Im tired of them putting Stephen on the back burner, Sandy Smith told FITSNews. Ready to watch a new true crime docuseries thatll make your head spin? Shes an investigative journalist from Kansas who has worked for newspapers in Missouri, Illinois, and South Carolina before making the switch to FITS. These boys were coming from a baseball game and I think that they were right behind him, so when he had to pull over, they were right there. Hes never said anything bad about Stephen. A SCHP flyer is made asking for tips in the case. Its also unclear if the MAIT team ever examined Stephens phone, which was tossed between agencies before it was finally unlocked by the FBI several years after his death. SCHP: A man who describes himself as Stephens boyfriend (the family disputes this) was interviewed by Duncan and Rowell. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) - In 2015, Stephen Smith was found dead with a head injury on a rural Hampton County road. What a slap in the face.. They took him from his car; everybody knew his car because he had the ugliest little banana [car] in town. On July 8, 2015 Stephen Smith was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road with a 7.25-inch gaping hole on the right side of his forehead and no other major injuries. CLICK HERE. The pathologist also states in the report, that in light of historical information along with the autopsy, these conclusions were made, Proctor wrote. One of those deaths? He stated he would have to go with the doctors ruling, Moore wrote. 3:57:43 a.m. Hampton County Communications: A man called 911 to report seeing a white male lying in the middle of Sandy Run Road. In a recording that features in the documentary, a South Carolina State Trooper tells an unidentified phone tipster that he received at least "nine phone calls" about a rumor connecting the Murdaugh family to Stephen's mysterious roadside death. So they can play that card like they care about everyone else. (Assisted suicide explained). Sandy says that Stephen was smart and a study person who was typically serious about school. Moore describes Smith as there were no visible injuries to the deceased, other than his head wound and a small amount of road rash on both arms, Actual or presumed Date of Death: July 8, 2015, Cause of death: Blunt force trauma (probably pedestrian in motor vehicle accident possibly struck by side mirror). Smith's body was found nearly three miles from where his car was left and case notes said that "the gas tank door was open and the gas cap was hanging on the side of the vehicle.". Investigators found Smiths car three miles away on the side of Bamberg Highway. On June 22, 2021, SLED said it was . No one's going to feel like they're being held accountable if we don't bring attention to it.". At the time, investigators said it appeared he was killed in a hit-and-run collision while walking. 5:37 a.m. SCHP: Sgt. A mother knows her child, and my son would not do that," Sandy said. It was also clear from the report that there was tension between Presnell and SCHP. Michael E. Duncan of the incident. SCHP: Moore instructs Rowell to go back to the scene and make sure the body had been marked and to start looking for debris in both directions. Hampton County Coroners Office: The first of 3 death certificates for Stephen Smith was issued by Washington to the family. As I was leaving she stated that the report was preliminary and it was my job to figure out what struck him, not hers, Proctor wrote. It was still unclear at this time if this hole was caused by a projectile. part of an apparent hit and run. In light of historical information and the autopsy findings, it is the opinion of the pathologist that the decedent died as the result of blunt head trauma sustained in a motor vehicle crash in which the decedent was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, the autopsy report says. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Mandy Matneyis the news director at FITSNews. 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