Alex Murdaugh’s responsible verdict in his double murder trial shed new gentle on the 2015 loss of life of Buster Murdaugh’s classmate, Stephen Smith, just some miles from Murdaugh’s looking property in Islandton, South Carolina.
After a jury on March 3 discovered the disgraced legal professional, 54, responsible of the 2021 murders of his spouse and son, a crowd exterior the Colleton County Courthouse shouted, “Buster it is subsequent!” because the authorities escorted Alex away in a automobile.
Buster, 26, is the eldest son and sole survivor of Alex, who testified in his father’s protection through the double-murder trial that started on January 25.
Since his father’s conviction, Buster has been below public scrutiny Smith’s loss of life.
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The 19-year-old was killed in what police initially described as a hit and runjust a few kilometers from the looking property of the Murdaugh household referred to as Moselle, the place Alex shot useless his spouse Maggie and his son Paul on June 7, 2021.
U South Carolina Division of Regulation Enforcement (SLED) has reopened an investigation into Smith’s loss of life.
Lawyer Eric Bland, who represented the youngsters of the Murdaughs’ late housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield – who died at Murdaugh’s Moselle dwelling in an obvious fall in 2018 – described the “long-rumored involvement of the Murdaugh household” in Smith’s loss of life on “Fox & Associates.” earlier this month.
“He was discovered in the midst of a rustic street in Hampton County, and … the freeway division stated he was hit by a automobile, however there was no damaged glass, no items of automobile,” Bland. he informed co-host Pete Hegseth. “His garments have been intact, his footwear have been on, and he had … a transparent head trauma harm that gave the impression to be brought on by one thing apart from a automobile.”
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Murdaugh “supposedly appeared on the scene of the accident, and in line with [Smith’s mother, Sandy]she bought a telephone name from him the place he supplied to signify her, and she or he was very confused as to why she would wish illustration,” Bland continued.
Sandy Smith shared a press release with reporter Mandy Matney of the “Murdaugh Murders Podcast.”
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“This verdict supplies Maggie and Paul’s family members with the solutions and closure they should heal from this vicious tragedy. We all know firsthand the agony and frustration of being at the hours of darkness about how a member of the family and I’m grateful that the entire story has been put earlier than the jury in a public trial. Sooner or later, I pray that the identical occurs for my Stephen,” Smith stated within the March 2 assertion.
Mike Hemlepp, an legal professional representing the Smith household, stated they’re “assured” that SLED “will proceed to exhibit this degree of dedication to their investigation into Stephen’s homicide, irrespective of the place this investigation could lead.” .
Prosecutors stated Alex murdered his 52-year-old spouse and 22-year-old son to divert consideration from his alleged monetary crimes, which have been starting to come back to gentle in the summertime of 2021.
Alex is accused of embezzling cash from his household regulation agency and its purchasers. He faces 99 monetary crimes fees stemming from 19 separate indictments and totaling practically $9 million.
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The advanced narrative surrounding Alex’s crimes — and the Murdaugh household — is way from over, although the double-murder trial ended on March 3. He’s now going through trial for his alleged monetary crimes.
“I do not suppose he’ll plead responsible as a result of it should put him ready of solely having two extra monetary crimes to be convicted of, the place he finally ends up getting life with out parole, which might be a backstop if the homicide conviction is ever be overturned or remanded for a brand new trial,” Bland beforehand informed Fox Information Digital. “So I assume they’ll tie it up in a pretzel.”
His purchasers, the Satterfields, are recovering a multimillion-dollar settlement from their mom’s loss of life that was rightfully theirs, after Murdaugh stole it when he represented them in a private harm lawsuit after the autumn of the his mom on his property. In addition they obtained an apology from the disgraced legal professional, however nonetheless need to “maintain Alex accountable” for his different crimes, Bland stated.