The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) on Tuesday confirmed that the agency is opening the investigation into the 2015 death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith based on information gathered during the investigation into the shooting deaths of Paul and Margaret Murdaugh.
The deaths of a 19-year-old boy and a former housekeeper are all believed to be connected to the Murdaugh family. Pauls father Alex , was said to have settled a wrongful death claim for $500,000.00 in a wrongful death suit , related to the housekeepers slip and fall accident that resulted in her death. The other is where Stephen Smith was found , his skull half smashed in and his shoulder dislocated, dead in the middle of a rural road outside of Hampton. Two former South carolina Highway Patrol detectives who investigated Stephens death believe the well to do family (Murdaugh’s) had some involvement in the murder , but could not back up their claims. No one in the Murdaugh family was ever charged or made a formal suspect.