South Carolina authorities have gained access to the phone and tablet of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student who was killed in 2015. Attorney Eric Bland confirmed this development during an interview with NewsNation host Chris Cuomo. Smith’s death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but his family believes he was murdered and has been pushing for the case to be reinvestigated.
The investigation into Smith’s death was reopened in 2021 and officially ruled a homicide in March 2023. The decision to reopen the case was made public after the conclusion of attorney Alex Murdaugh’s double murder trial. Alex Murdaugh was found guilty in March of murdering his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul.
While rumors have circulated regarding a potential connection between Smith and Buster Murdaugh, there is currently no known evidence linking any Murdaugh family members to Smith’s death. Attorney Eric Bland and Smith’s mother, Sandy, hope that the examination of Smith’s electronic devices will uncover crucial evidence that could potentially establish a link to the Murdaugh family.
Sandy Smith claims to have seen Alex Murdaugh at the accident scene in 2015. Bland expressed confidence in his client’s credibility, stating that she has been truthful throughout the process and has no personal vendetta against anyone involved.
Smith’s body was discovered in July 2015 on a rural road in Hampton County, South Carolina, not far from a Murdaugh family property. Buster Murdaugh has denied any involvement in Smith’s death, referring to the rumors as baseless.
The case has drawn significant attention, particularly due to the high-profile nature of the Murdaugh family and Alex Murdaugh’s recent conviction. The reinvestigation of Smith’s death aims to uncover new evidence and potentially shed light on the circumstances surrounding his killing.
