South-Carolina
Stephen Smith pathologist has determined cause, manner of death after autopsy: report
Hear 911 name reporting Stephen Smith’s demise
On July 8, 2015, a person driving in Hampton County, South Carolina, known as 911 to report a physique mendacity on the facet of a rural highway simply miles from the Murdaugh household’s looking property the place Alex Murdaugh shot his spouse and son six years later.
The pathologist who oversaw 19-year-old Stephen Smith’s exhumation and post-mortem over the weekend says the staff now is aware of his trigger and method of demise, based on a brand new report.
Dr. Michelle DuPre, a forensic pathologist and former legislation enforcement officer, informed Legislation&Crime that Smith’s casket was faraway from a vault on the Gooding Cemetery in South Carolina and pushed to a personal lab in Tampa, Florida.
Forensic pathologist Dan Schultz and anthropologist Heather Walsh-Haney carried out the second post-mortem.
They’re a part of a staff employed by Smith’s mom, Sandy Smith, to probe the July 8, 2015, demise that South Carolina authorities have known as a murder.
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Stephen Smith’s physique was exhumed over the weekend and a second post-mortem was carried out as a part of the investigation into his murder. (Findagrave.com/Courtesy of FitsNews)
Smith was discovered in the course of Sandy Run Highway in Hampton County with half his head caved in.
Pathologist Erin Presnell performed the unique post-mortem and concluded that Smith died of a hit-and-run. However some investigators known as the scene and his accidents inconsistent along with her conclusion.
They famous the absence of skid marks on the highway, abrasions on Smith’s physique or particles from a collision.
Sandy Smith has tirelessly fought for justice for her son, who she suspected from the outset was the sufferer of foul play.
DuPre informed Angenette Levy of Legislation&Crime that the staff has decided the trigger and method of demise however wouldn’t disclose the knowledge till the ultimate experiences are full.
READ THE FULL STEPHEN SMITH HIGHWAY PATROL REPORT HERE
She added that Presnell’s post-mortem of Smith was “very skilled” and “properly completed,” and that the efficiency of a rape equipment on the deceased was commonplace process given the circumstances through which his physique was discovered.
The unique freeway patrol report references the Murdaugh title dozens of instances, and rumors swirled for years that the household was in some way concerned.
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The South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division (SLED) opened a murder investigation into Smith’s demise on June 23, 2021 — about two weeks after Alex Murdaugh fatally shot his spouse, Maggie, 52, and his son, Paul, 22.
The hypothesis intensified within the wake of Alex’s conviction for the double homicide, partly fueled by a Netflix documentary that implied Smith, who was overtly homosexual, had an affair with Alex’s eldest son, Buster.
From left: Paul, Alex, Maggie and Buster Murdaugh at a sporting occasion. Alex, 54, is serving two life phrases for fatally capturing Paul and Maggie on June 9, 2021. (Fb)
After Alex was sentenced to life in jail, Buster issued a press release denying any involvement in his former classmate’s demise.
The investigation into Smith’s murder obtained a second wind when legal professional Eric Bland took on Sandy Smith’s case and assembled a staff of consultants to probe the killing in collaboration with SLED.
The personal investigation is being bankrolled by a GoFundMe drive that raised greater than $120,000.
STEPHEN SMITH PROBE: HEAR THE 911 CALL REPORTING DEAD BODY JUST MILES FROM MURDAUGHS’ SOUTH CAROLINA ESTATE
The staff contains Dr. Kenny Kinsey, a criminal offense scene skilled who testified for the prosecution at Alex’s homicide trial.
He spent a number of hours final weekend surveying the crime scene on Sandy Run Highway.
There are not less than 5 doable situations that will clarify Smith’s killing — together with a hit-and-run, he informed Legislation&Crime.
FitsNews completely reported final week that SLED has zeroed in on Patrick Wilson and Shawn Connelly as individuals of curiosity within the murder.
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Anybody with info is urged to contact SLED at 803-737-9000 or suggestions@sled.sc.gov.
Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.