SLED declares Stephen Smith’s 2015 loss of life a murder. Mother Sandy Smith ‘in shock, elated’

Sandy Smith, the mother of Stephen Smith, whose unsolved demise has haunted her for 8 many years, experienced a small but energized message when she figured out that condition police are now going forward with his scenario as an official murder investigation.

“I have been waiting around on this information for virtually 8 yrs!” Smith emailed to The Hampton County Guardian Tuesday evening. “I’m in shock, I am elated, I am waiting for the following chapter!”

Smith’s reaction arrived minutes just after her new lawful associates in the circumstance involving her deceased son, Bland Richter LLP, disclosed the results of a cell phone connect with with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Main Mark Keel.

Keel instructed the family’s attorneys that the dying of Stephen Smith is now formally becoming regarded as a homicide, “a stunning announcement following 8 a long time of becoming proclaimed a highway vehicular manslaughter,” stated Bland Richter in a assertion Tuesday night time.

Buster Murdaugh speaks:Claims ‘vicious rumors’ about involvement in Stephen Smith’s demise

‘Our bar is bruised’: SC legal professionals see Alex Murdaugh crime saga a stain on legal occupation

Agony, lessons linger:The place does Hampton County, SC go after Alex Murdaugh verdict?

According to the assertion, Bland Richter co-founder Eric Bland and Chief Keel, “have the two dedicated to combining endeavours, sharing data and resources as the condition moves forward with exhuming Stephen Smith’s physique and its subsequent investigations.”

“We have a possibility to right eight a long time of wrongs, and we intend to do just that,” mentioned Bland.

Smith was found lifeless on rural Sandy Operate Street in the early morning several hours of July 8, 2015, in a case that was controversially dominated a hit-and-operate right after a bewildered − and the family members states shoddy − preliminary investigation.

The scenario went cold right up until a 2019 boat crash involving the controversial Murdaugh relatives of Hampton County all over again introduced it into the community highlight. Even extra inquiries ended up elevated about his death two yeas later. SLED reopened Smith’s circumstance in June 2021 “based mostly upon details gathered for the duration of the course of the double murder investigation of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh,” mentioned a SLED spokesperson at the time.

Story proceeds

SLED, Bland Richter doing the job alongside one another on prospects

SLED officials have also welcomed a partnership with Bland Richter in this investigation, say the Smith attorneys: “They believe that doing work with each other will enable to deliver new prospects and details to light-weight and will finally guide to a resolution in this scenario.”

Convinced that her son’s death was plainly a murder, as soon as the Alex Murdaugh murder circumstance finished, Smith’s mom opened a GoFundMe page in March to elevate revenue for an exhumation and impartial autopsy of her son’s remains.

“Smith’s family believes he was murdered, and desires an unbiased look at his entire body and an correct perseverance of his bring about of demise based mostly on details,” stated Bland Richter. As of Tuesday afternoon the GoFundMe has raised about $80,000.

“SLED officers have unveiled that they did not require to exhume Stephen Smith’s system to influence them that his death was a murder,” claimed Bland and his spouse Ronnie Richter in a joint statement. “On the other hand, they will be existing and participate in any exhumation of Stephen’s physique to collect additional proof. We are fully commited to locating out what really occurred, and finding the peace and justice the Smith loved ones deserves.”

SLED has also exposed on the telephone simply call that “they were being waiting right until the Murdaugh trial was in excess of prior to building this announcement out of issue that witnesses would not be as forthcoming underneath the Murdaugh sphere of impact,” added Bland.

Given that the summary of the Murdaugh trial, extra resources have been devoted and will be devoted to Stephen Smith’s situation, SLED reportedly stated, and investigators now believe that the men and women in Hampton County who know what transpired to Smith may perhaps come ahead.

“SLED is publicly supporting us, Sandy Smith, and her initiatives to uncover out what genuinely occurred to her son,” said Richter. “They have expressed their condolences to the Smith spouse and children and will keep on to get the job done diligently to carry individuals responsible for Stephen’s dying to justice.  We are very pleased to be their partner in finding justice.”

The Bland Richter regulation business has a extensive record of correctly symbolizing purchasers in large-profile scenarios, like a number of victims in the Alex Murdaugh saga, which has captured the country.

The investigation into the loss of life of Stephen Smith is ongoing, and SLED officers are urging any individual with info about the situation to arrive ahead. Everyone with facts is encouraged to get hold of SLED’s idea line at 1-800-Connect with-SLED.

With recommendations about the Stephen Smith scenario be sure to call:

Renée WunderlichDirector of Community InformationSouth Carolina Regulation Enforcement Division (SLED)Rwunderlich@sled.sc.gov

To achieve Bland Richter make contact with:

Whitney McDuffPublic Relations Director, Bland RichterWhitney@WhitneyMcDuff.com803-608-2386

Michael DeWitt is the editor of the Hampton County Guardian and has been masking the Murdaugh crime saga from its starting for the Greenville Information and the United states of america These days Community.

Assistance Michael’s get the job done with a digital membership to the Hampton County Guardian, Greenville Information, Spartanburg Herald-Journal or Anderson Impartial Mail.

This report at first appeared on Greenville Information: SLED formally declares Stephen Smith’s demise a murder mom