5 Shocking New Twists In The Stephen Smith Homicide Case And Buster Murdaugh's Legal Battle (2025 Update)

The mysterious death of Stephen Smith, a young man found dead on a rural South Carolina road in 2015, has once again become a central focus in the sprawling Murdaugh family saga, with the case now officially classified as a homicide. As of December 2025, the investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is active, fueled by "new evidence" uncovered during the double murder investigation of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. The long-standing, unproven rumors connecting the Murdaugh family, particularly the surviving son, Richard Alexander "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., to Smith’s death have intensified, leading to a dramatic legal counter-move that could inadvertently blow the case wide open.

This article dives into the most current and critical developments, including Buster Murdaugh's aggressive defamation lawsuit against media outlets, the exhumation of Smith’s body, and the growing hope for justice for Stephen Smith's mother, Sandy Smith. The confluence of these events has created a high-stakes legal drama that continues to captivate the nation, revealing the deep-seated influence of the powerful Murdaugh dynasty in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. The reward for information leading to a conviction was recently raised to $50,000, signaling a renewed push to solve the decade-old mystery.

Buster Murdaugh: A Profile Amidst South Carolina's Legal Dynasty

Richard Alexander "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. is the eldest and only surviving son of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh and his late wife, Maggie Murdaugh. His life, once privileged and set to follow a path into the family's powerful legal legacy, has been irrevocably intertwined with a series of tragic and mysterious deaths that have defined the Murdaugh family's downfall.

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• Full Name: Richard Alexander "Buster" Murdaugh Jr.
• Born: April 11, 1996
• Parents: Alex Murdaugh (Father) and Maggie Murdaugh (Mother)
• Sibling: Paul Murdaugh (Younger brother, deceased)
• Education: Graduated from Wade Hampton High School; attended the University of South Carolina Law School, from which he was reportedly kicked out.
• Family Legacy: Grandson of Randolph Murdaugh III, from a family that held the solicitor's office for the 14th Judicial Circuit for over 87 years.
• Current Status: Has largely remained out of the public eye since his father's trial, though he has actively defended his reputation through legal action.

The Mysterious Death of Stephen Smith and the Initial Cover-Up

The initial investigation into Stephen Smith’s death was marred by inconsistencies and controversy, leading many to suspect a cover-up designed to protect a powerful local family. Smith, a 19-year-old openly gay nursing student, was found dead on the morning of July 8, 2015.

The Scene and the Contradictory Findings

Stephen Smith's body was discovered in the middle of Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, South Carolina. He had suffered a massive head wound.

• Initial Ruling: The local authorities and the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) initially classified the death as a vehicular hit-and-run.
• Contradictory Evidence: Investigators at the scene initially suspected a gunshot wound, and a highway patrol officer noted there was no evidence of vehicle debris, skid marks, or injuries consistent with a typical hit-and-run.
• The First Autopsy: The initial autopsy report was highly contested. One pathologist, Dr. Erin Proctor, noted that the coroner agreed the death was likely not a hit-and-run, suggesting a blunt force trauma that was inconsistent with a vehicle impact.

Despite the doubts and the lack of physical evidence supporting the hit-and-run theory, the case went cold. However, the Murdaugh name was mentioned dozens of times by witnesses and in early investigative reports, fueling years of rumors about the family's involvement.

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The 2021 Reopening: SLED Declares Stephen Smith's Death a Homicide

The entire dynamic of the Stephen Smith case shifted dramatically in June 2021. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was already investigating the double murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh at the family's Moselle property. It was during this high-profile investigation that SLED agents stumbled upon new information.

The "New Evidence" and Exhumation

The specific nature of the new evidence remains undisclosed to the public, but SLED's statement was clear: the information gathered during the Murdaugh murder probe was compelling enough to warrant reopening the Smith case.

• Reclassification: SLED officially reclassified Stephen Smith's death as a homicide, directly refuting the initial hit-and-run conclusion.
• Second Autopsy: In 2023, Smith's body was exhumed for a second, independent autopsy, funded by a massive public crowdfunding effort led by his mother, Sandy Smith, and her legal team. This second examination reportedly confirmed the death was a homicide.
• Focus on Cellphone Data: Attorneys for the Smith family have indicated that SLED now possesses all the evidence, including Stephen's phone and tablet, suggesting that digital evidence, perhaps from the Murdaugh murder investigation, could be the key to solving the case.

The connection between the Murdaugh family and Smith has been a subject of intense speculation. Rumors have long circulated that Buster Murdaugh and Stephen Smith were romantically involved, an allegation that Buster has strongly and publicly denied. His attorney, Jim Griffin, released a statement calling the rumors "baseless."

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Buster Murdaugh's Libel Lawsuit: A High-Risk Legal Gambit

In a major development in 2025, Buster Murdaugh took aggressive legal action to combat the media speculation linking him to Stephen Smith's murder. He filed a defamation and libel lawsuit against multiple media groups, seeking to clear his name.

The Legal Strategy and Unexpected Consequence

Buster's lawsuit is a high-stakes gamble. While intended to silence media speculation, it has been welcomed by the legal team representing Stephen Smith's family, led by attorney Eric Bland.

• The Smith Family's View: Eric Bland has publicly stated that he "applauds Buster Murdaugh for bringing the cases," believing the lawsuit could force Buster to testify under oath and reveal more information about the events surrounding Smith's death.
• Discovery Phase: The legal process of a defamation lawsuit involves a discovery phase, where both sides can compel the production of documents and testimony. Bland suggests this process could inadvertently uncover details damaging to Buster or the Murdaugh family's narrative.
• Court Status: The complex legal battle is currently being split between state and federal court jurisdictions, ensuring the case remains in the public eye and under intense scrutiny for the foreseeable future.

The Murdaugh family's long history of influence in the Lowcountry, particularly over the 14th Judicial Circuit, has led to concerns about the integrity of the initial 2015 investigation. The new homicide classification and the involvement of an investigative grand jury offer a glimmer of hope that the powerful influence of the Murdaugh name will no longer shield those responsible for Stephen Smith's death. The reward money increase at the start of 2025 further underscores the commitment of authorities to finally bring a resolution to this tragic and long-unsolved case.