On Friday, jurors were shown a bombshell voicemail message revealing that Maggie and Paul found bags of pills in the accused killers bag just one month before their murders. Another ominous death was that of Gloria Satterfield, who worked for more than 20 years for the Murdaughs. In April 2019, Paul was charged with three felonies over Beachs death including boating under the influence and was facing up to 25 years in prison. Maybe it was purposeful. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. No coroner was notified of Satterfields death. In 2015, Smith was mysteriously found dead in the middle of the road, and his death was ruled a hit-and-run, even though other evidence shows that he could have died by gunshot or some other attack. In court on the week of 6 February, Buster appeared to flip the bird at attorney Mark Tinsley as he took the witness stand about the boat crash lawsuit that he brought against Mr Murdaugh. Daily. Now Paul, just 22 years old and facing three felony counts, was dead. While Mallory's friends Miley, Morgan, Anthony, Connor, and Paul all survived, Mallory never made it out of the water. In this episode, we take a trip to Hampton South Carolina, home to the Murdaugh family, and explore the mysterious death of a young man named Stephen Smith. In the aftermath of Maggie and Pauls murders, Buster said that his father had been destroyed and heartbroken. Moreover, the lapses in the immediate investigation by the local investigators, the Department of Natural Resources, exposed the workings of a powerful network that the Murdaughs had woven over years. Mr Murdaugh, 54, is facing life in prison for the murders of his wife and son. By October of that year, SLED had indicated that none other than Alex Murdaugh was a person of interest in the case. However, the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh in June 2021 shocked the nation after the mother and son were fatally shot. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Years before Maggie and Paul. The Mallory Beach incident led to Murdaughs legal career coming under scrutiny by SLED, other lawyers representing Murdaughs victims, and Murdaughs own law firm. Jurors have so heard four weeks of dramatic testimony from 61 prosecution witnesses covering a trove of circumstantial evidence, including cellphone and car data, a damning video allegedly placing Mr Murdaugh at the crime scene and apparent holes in his alibi for the time for the murders. The death was never reported to the coroner, and no autopsy was conducted. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! . Alex Murdaugh, 52, is a lawyer and the great-grandson of Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh, . The case remains unsolved. [12] In 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith died after he was hit by his car and the driver didn't stop. Following Stephen's death, his father made claims that Buster and Stephen had been seeing each other romantically, although Buster . Smith's injuries suggested a more nefarious cause of death. A man was arrested after an explosive was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight at a Pennsylvania airport, authorities said. And thats just me. Revelations that have come out since Murdaughs arrest, however, suggest that Alex may have been attempting to create a distraction to forestall the collapse of the house of cards that was his life. Buster Murdaugh took the witness stand in his fathers murder trial on Tuesday morning. Under brief cross-examination, the prosecutor brought up that Mr Murdaugh had suggested his son went hunting at Moselle after his mother and brother were gunned down there. On Feb. 2, 2018 she supposedly fell down the front steps of the Murdaughs estate, and received traumatic head injuries (including a stroke) that she later succumbed to on Feb. 26, 2018. He asked if I wanted to go hunting out there again after the murders and suggested I could, said Buster. During the investigation into their deaths, new information came to light. Prosecutors claim that Mr Murdaugh shot dead Maggie and Paul by the dog kennels of the familys sprawling estate in Islandton, in order to distract from his string of alleged scandals and financial crimes. On July 8, 2015 the body of 19-year-old Smith was found on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, S.C. Later, coroner Ernie Washington declared Smith had died from "blunt force trauma to the head," likely from the mirror on a passing vehicle, via Live 5 News. Evidence was not gathered and testimonies were not recorded properly. Such are the circumstances with the story of South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh. She also went to the scene of the crime to take a look around. Possible tornadoes sweep across Oklahoma; one dead, Study: Back-to-back hurricanes likely to happen more often, California recovers after storm brings blizzard, heavy rain, Michigan power crews work, California recovers after storms, Turkey launches investigation into 612 people after quake, Los Angeles area still blanketed by snow in rare heavy storm, Not true: Restaurant denies report connecting Kohberger to victims, Retracing Brian Walshes movements after wife disappeared, Missouri pastor stops gunmen during church service, Norfolk Southern offered sick pay for fewer inspections: Union, This feature may be making your iPhone charge slower. by Matt Dillane. Beach fell overboard and went missing; her body was found on March 3 near the Broad River Boat Landing (6). But from day one, his mother said otherwise, believing her son was murdered. There was also a belief among the high school teachers that Buster used to regularly get his schoolwork done by Stephen. On July 8, 2015 he was on his way home from school when he ran out of gas. His car was three miles away. Throughout the trial, Brooklynn White stood by the side of her boyfriend and continues to show her support. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Playing Vandy is always fun because it gives the truest depiction of what it's like to play in the ACC every week And as Murdaugh Murders recounts, Alex curiously arrived on the scene before the EMTs did and loudly declared that Satterfield blamed the dogs for her fall (in the seconds between her falling and losing consciousness presumably). Postal Service will buy more than 9,000 Ford electric delivery vehicles, one year after an initial plan to buy predominantly gas-powered vehicles sparked controversy. As if this immense trail of bodies and financial crimes werent enough to capture the publics attention, this story has one final wait, what moment to really drive things home. The U.S. Other than that, police found no other marks on his body. Smith was found laying in the middle of the road by a bystander around 4:20 . OF ALL THINGS, why why why would that be one of the very few scintilla of information to be released, other than the big one: ----> The Public was not in Danger. Rumors have swirled about a possible relationship between Stephen Smith and Buster Murdaugh. The Murdaughs are members of a prominent S.C. legal family that first made regional headlines after Paul Murdaugh was involved in a February 2019 boat crash in Beaufort County that resulted in. A wrongful-death suit filed by Beachs mother named Paul Murdaughs father, Alex, and older brother, Buster, alleging they facilitated his underage drinking. He Was Called to Testify in Alex Murdaugh's Trial. For now at least. The charges against him had varying effects on Paul as per varying accounts of his friends. Buster who has attended the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, every day since the start of the high-profile trial in a show of support for his father was the first witness called to the stand by the defence on Tuesday morning. As the night progressed, Paul and his friends decided to head to an oyster roast on nearby Paukie Island via a Murdaugh family boat. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a new Netflix three-part documentary series on the titular Murdaugh Murders. Several sources are airing the trial live including Court TV and some regional news networks. Among the timeline was newly-obtained car data which placed Mr Murdaughs car at the spot where his wifes phone was later found dumped before he quickly sped away from the scene. The young teenager was openly gay and was rumored to be involved in a romantic relationship with Paul Murdaugh's elder brother, Buster. At the time of the murders, Mr Murdaugh claims he was spending up to $60,000 a week to feed a 20-year opioid addiction. But certainly, like Buster and Stephen had played ball together when they were younger, so you cant say theres no connection. His body was found about 15 miles from the Murdaugh's Moselle estate. But inconsistencies in the initial investigation have left many wondering why his death was never investigated as a homicide. Before we continue on to all the death and human suffering, it might be helpful to know that, due to their Low Country origin, both Alex and Murdaugh are not pronounced how you probably think theyre pronounced. Satterfields next of kin was supposed to receive a substantial insurance settlement due to accidental death. Buster said that his father had called him at 9.10pm on 7 June 2021 just 20 minutes after he allegedly shot and killed Maggie and Paul at the dog kennels of the familys estate in Islandton. Later, Gloria's sons also filed a lawsuit against Murdaugh after discovering that Murdaugh had claimed nearly half a million dollars for Gloria's death. Murdaugh sounds like Murr-dock, while Alex sounds like Aleck. I hope we can all agree that this is an egregious case of Alec stolen valor. Perhaps by the end of it, Netflix will feel compelled to order Murdaugh Murders season 2. On June 7, 2021 at 10:06 p.m., Alex Murdaugh called 911 and reported he had discovered the dead bodies of his son Paul and his wife Maggie near the dog kennels at their hunting lodge. Buster Murdaugh and Smith reportedly graduated in 2014 from the same high school. Shreejit has written for various film and TV websites including Film Companion. The nights that followed witnessed the search for Mallory. As viewers of Murdaugh Murders quickly discover, however, uncovering new crimes committed by Alex Murdaugh does not appear to be a difficult task. I have faith in that, Im optimistic in that. Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh left to right. Included in this group was Alex Murdaughs youngest son Paul Murdaugh. Personally, I think there was some type of pressure or just lack of investigation upon other agencies to do anything, he told NewsNation. Meanwhile, he said his father did not appear overly anxious about the case and the family was supportive of Paul as they believed he wasnt driving the boat that weekend. While this was a tragic enough story to begin with, what elevated it in the public eye was the influential players involved. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, also known as SLED, told NewsNation they have made progress in the death investigation of Stephen Smith, however, the investigation is active and ongoing. He certainly knew the area. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! His son, wife, and housekeeper were all dead. However, not a penny showed up at the doors of Gloria's family. Though Alex Murdaugh and other Murdaugh family members began committing crimes in 2014 or earlier, the inciting incident for their ultimate downfall begins in 2019. The Murdaugh family law firm, The Parker Law Group, previously Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED), specializes in personal injury litigation. While he said he wasnt often present for the confrontations, he said he believed his fathers response was usually apologetic. July 8, 2015: Stephen Smith, 19, is found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County. Richard Alex "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., 26, is the oldest son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh. In 2019, that all finally started to change thanks to the actions of one dipshit Murdaugh: Alex. He had a sister. Death of Gloria Satterfield, Feb. 26, 2018. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Never miss a story sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Buster said that Mr Murdaugh called him that night and asked him if he was sitting down. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. Crime scene photos show shell casings on the floor of the dog feed house. theyve uncovered new crimes committed by Alex Murdaugh, SLED elected to re-open Stephen Smiths case, Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Review The Apostate, Unforgotten Series 5 Review: Bleak, Angry, But the Old Magic is Still There, Recently, Buster Murdaugh took the witness stand, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence Is a Harrowing Watch. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh is on trial for the double murder of his wife, Margret "Maggie" Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh, who died on June 7, 2021. ALL FREE. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) certainly did. RadarOnline.com has learned that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has "made progress" in the "active and ongoing" case of Smith, who died in 2015. A passerby in a car called in a 911 report, and by dawn the local highway patrol was conducting an investigation, collecting evidence, trying to piece together what might have happened. Buster's name was also linked to one of the other deaths examined in Murdaugh Murders: that of 19-year-old Stephen Smith in 2015. In early June, a son and mother, both members of a. While Mallory's boyfriend Anthony stayed back at the scene of the incident to wait for his girlfriend to be found, the others in the group witnessed Alex's manipulation at work as he tried to pin the blame on Paul's friend, Connor. The same month, Alex is disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old who died in a boating accident involving Paul Murdaugh; Stephen Smith, . After Smith's body was discovered, authorities fielded tips from the community. His family claims local law enforcement did little to investigate. Bank of Dave: What Happened in Real Life? Ultimately it was discovered that Murdaugh had embezzled funds from the firm, leading to his dismissal in September 2021. Two days later, he announced he had quit his law firm and was entering a rehabilitation program for treatment of opioid addiction. His car was found down a dark rural road in Hampton County, South Carolina with the gas cap off. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. Life became particularly messy for Alex soon afterward as a row of financial crimes that he committed also came to the forefront. In May 2022, Murdaugh made a settlement with Gloria's family. His death was ruled a. The 19-year-old nursing student who had been a classmate of Buster Murdaugh at Wade Hampton High School was found dead with a head wound on Sandy Run Road near Crocketville. The case was ruled a hit and run and no arrests were ever made. His younger brother, Paul, was killed alongside his mother in 2021. In 2015, Smith was mysteriously found dead in the middle of the road, and his death was ruled a hit-and-run, even though other evidence shows that he could have died by gunshot or some other attack. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of . Unlike several other witnesses and his father at the defence table Buster did not become emotional at any point during his testimony. In 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith was found in the middle of a rural road. On the call, Alex reported that he had arrived at his house and found the bodies of his wife and son. Yet, the case was left classified as a hit and run. Sandy Smith, Stephanie Smith and myself, we have said all along, we would like to have justice for Stephen, the law firm said. Around 1:15 a.m. the group re-boarded the boat with Paul still driving over the objections of his friends. He was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the middle of Sandy Run Road on July 8, 2015. He was found guilty of duping people of millions of dollars, and was accused of misappropriating funds to the tune of $9 million by his former partners at his law firm. The Murdaughs also ran a big law firm in the area. Smith was one of the few openly gay individuals in his school. The map above shows locations of key events in the saga of the Murdaugh family. Look around his family claims local law Enforcement did little to investigate graduated in 2014 the. Person of interest in the saga of the few openly gay individuals in his school testimonies were not properly. 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