Years before a controversial attorney in South Carolina was convicted for the murders of his wife and son, there was another mysterious death in the same area. Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old gay man, was found dead on July 8, 2015, in the middle of a rural road. The initial ruling was a hit and run.
However, Stephen's mother, Sandy Smith, always believed that her son's death was not an accident and sought a second opinion. "There was no vehicle debris, no broken headlight, paint scrapes, or anything," says Hampton County Guardian editor Michael DeWitt Jr.
The case eventually went cold, but it resurfaced following the high-profile murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh. Frustrated by the lack of answers, Sandy Smith is now collaborating with a team of lawyers and experts to uncover the truth behind her son's unsolved death. "48 Hours" has obtained exclusive access to the findings of an independent investigation into Stephen Smith's case.
"The Injuries Speak Volumes"
Dr. Michelle DuPre, a former investigator and forensic pathologist, sheds light on the importance of injuries in determining what happened in a case. DuPre, who oversaw the examination of a body, discusses the significance of both the findings and the absence of certain injuries. Her insights were shared with "48 Hours" contributor and CBS News national correspondent Nikki Battiste.
A Mother's Fighter
Stephen Smith, like his mother Sandy, was born a fighter. He came into the world as a preemie, weighing just two pounds, 12 ounces. Sandy reveals that Stephen was a twin, born at 27 weeks alongside his sister Stephanie. Due to his fragile condition, Stephen struggled to breathe on his own. However, Sandy recalls a miraculous moment when she held her baby for the first time and he started breathing on his own. Stephen became Sandy's heart.
A Quest for Justice
Sandy never imagined that she would one day be fighting for answers in her son's death. Battling day by day, Sandy describes the journey for justice as a difficult one. She remains determined to seek the truth.
On July 8, 2015, a tragic incident occurred in Hampton County. Stephen, a young aspiring doctor, was found dead on a country road. This county had a long history of the Murdaugh family holding the top prosecutor job for almost a century, making them influential figures in the small town.
During his childhood, Stephen had the opportunity to be coached by Alex Murdaugh, who was also involved in his baseball team. They shared a connection as Stephen and his sister Stephanie were classmates of Murdaugh's older son Buster. Stephen had dreams of becoming a doctor and even attended nursing school as a stepping stone towards his goal.
Stephen's passion for medicine was evident to those around him. Sandy Smith, his mother, expressed how proud she was of his dedication. Unfortunately, Stephen's dreams were abruptly cut short, and Sandy had to bury her son.
Reflecting on Stephen's aspirations, Sandy decided to honor him by burying him in his scrubs, symbolizing his commitment to his future career as Dr. Stephen Smith. He had everything he needed in his pockets, including his stethoscope.
At the time of his death, Stephen had just completed a semester of school and was taking summer classes. He was shuttling between his parents, who lived apart, and had visited Sandy a week before the tragic incident.
A Mother's Heartbreak: The Tragic Loss of Stephen Smith
A storm started brewing. Sandy Smith, a devoted mother, urged her son Stephen to hurry back to his dad's house. Worried for his safety, she anxiously awaited his arrival. When he finally made it, he sent her a text message saying, "I made it safe, Mom. Mama, I love you."
Little did Sandy know that those would be Stephen's last words to her. A few days later, her life would be forever changed when she received the devastating news.
On July 8th, Sandy was on her way to work when she heard a local radio station reporting that a body had been found. Panic set in, and she immediately called her daughter Stephanie.
"Mama, did Stephen stay with you last night? Because he didn't come home," Stephanie asked. Sandy's stomach dropped, and she knew in her heart that it was her son.
Seeking confirmation, Stephen's father Joel went to the sheriff's office. It was there that they received a call that would only deepen their grief.
Randy Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh's older brother and the attorney representing Joel in a worker's comp case, was calling about Stephen. The tragic news had reached him as well.
Sandy Smith: Murdaughs.
A few minutes later, Sandy says Randy Murdaugh called again.
Sandy Smith: And asked if that was me that passed by. … He said, "I wish you'da stopped so I coulda' met you."
Randy Murdaugh declined our request for an interview. But through his attorney he provided a written statement to "48 Hours," in which he said:
"I was not aware of Stephen's death until Joel told me…They wanted my involvement, and I contacted law enforcement on their behalf."
Randy Murdaugh said he went to the scene with a private investigator after meeting with Joel and Stephanie, adding:
"Claims that I visited the scene of Stephen's death with my brother, Alex, are false."
Joel Smith passed away three months after Stephen. But Stephanie and Sandy told "48 Hours" they never asked the Murdaughs for help. And there were other things about Stephen's case that didn't sit well with Sandy from the moment the Sheriff confirmed the body was Stephen's. At first he told them Stephen had been shot.
Nikki Battiste: What were you thinking?
Sandy Smith: Who would shoot him? … It made no sense. … I lost it then. … I left my job and just drove back to Hampton … And we just mourned together. We just couldn't understand why or who…. it was just the biggest shock of our life.
Within hours, Stephen's cause of death was suddenly changed to a hit and run.
Thomas Moore: Toward the evenin' time we were contacted by the sheriff's office … after his autopsy there was not any type of bullet or bullet fragment found in his head … because his body was found in the roadway it was bein' ruled a hit and run.
Retired South Carolina Highway Patrol Lieutenant Thomas Moore was the on-scene supervisor.
Thomas Moore: I was told that the medical examiner … made that rulin.' I reached out to her. … It became a little bit heated. … "Give me an answer medically … that would lead you to believe he was hit by a car." … there was no medical reason.
Nikki Battiste: Did you see any signs of a hit-and-run?
Anonymous Writer: No, ma'am … none. … any type of debris — any kinda glass, car parts … piece of plastic, anything that looks like it may be related to a vehicle.
Also unusual for a hit-and-run, Stephen's clothing was intact and his shoes, which were loosely tied, were still on.
Anonymous Writer: Generally clothes are torn … or unraveled and shoes have come off.
And Stephen's car keys and cellphone were in his front pocket, unharmed. And, the writer says, Stephen's body appeared staged.
Anonymous Writer: His body was layin' … like it had been placed in a certain position — not what you would typically see and … it looked like somebody had hit him in the head with some kinda' object.
Meanwhile, Stephen's wallet was still in his car, which investigators found three miles away with the doors locked and the gas cap hanging open.
Anonymous Writer: In all the years I've worked – a car sittin' on the side of the road with the gas cap off … is not normal. … I thought it was staged, like his body was staged in the roadway.
Sandy says she wondered if Stephen might have been the victim of a hate crime.
Anonymous Writer: Did you think it was possibly because of his sexuality?
Sandy Smith: I did think that … I know he was teased a lot at school, but … he still held his head high.
Stephen Smith's concerns for his safety grew in the days leading up to his death. He reached out to his sister Stephanie for assistance, expressing worry about his car's battery cable being loosened. Stephanie met him and tightened the cable, but when she asked him to get out of the car and help her, he refused, indicating his fear.
However, Stephen never disclosed the reason behind his fear.
Despite Lieutenant Moore's suspicions about the circumstances surrounding Stephen's death, once it was classified as a hit and run, the responsibility of solving the case fell on the Highway Patrol instead of the Hampton County Sheriff's Office or SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division).
Lieutenant Thomas Moore felt that the case was being passed onto them, regardless of their objections. As they began their investigation, certain names started emerging, one of them being Murdaugh.
RUMORS SWIRL OF MURDAUGH INVOLVEMENT
Following Stephen Smith's death, Michael DeWitt, the managing editor of the Hampton County Guardian, started hearing persistent rumors circulating throughout the town.
Nikki Battiste asked, "What are the rumors?"
Michael DeWitt: It has been reported that one of the Murdaugh children was in a vehicle with other boys, and allegedly, someone in the vehicle used a baseball bat to strike and kill the young man.
Sandy says she heard the same rumors as soon as Stephen's body was taken for an autopsy.
Sandy Smith: It didn't make any sense to me.
Nikki Battiste: Did you ever think that someone in the Murdaugh family was involved?
Sandy Smith: Well, as time went on, I started asking myself questions. ... But I just couldn't find the connection ... you have a powerful family, and then you have Stephen, who was just Stephen.
Sandy couldn't help but think back to her last conversation with Stephen a week before he was killed.
Sandy Smith: Somebody was messaging him a lot.
Sandy Smith: He told me that he was going deep sea fishing in Key West. And when I asked who he was going with, he said, "Well, I can't tell you."
Nikki Battiste: Did that make you pause?
Sandy Smith: Yeah. ... He said, "You'd be surprised. ... it's kind of a prominent person." And all I could say was, "Well, I hope you have fun."
Sandy says Stephen had become more secretive in the last couple of weeks. But it never crossed her mind that he might be referring to a Murdaugh.
Anonymous Source: The original rumor was that Stephen was planning to go away with Buster Murdaugh and his family ... That they were together romantically.
There's no evidence of that that we know of.
And "48 Hours" found no evidence to support the rumors.
Retired Highway Patrol Lieutenant Thomas Moore says the mere mention of the Murdaughs made it difficult to get help from local agencies.
We ... tried to hand that case file over to the sheriff's office, and they physically would not take it from our hand.
The Murdaugh name was still very powerful, very well-connected in law enforcement. And the rumors suggested, well, the local cops aren't going to dig into it.
Instead, the case was handled solely by the Highway Patrol's Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team — MAIT — which specializes in complex vehicle crashes.
The MAIT team was from out of town. ... And — we wanted outside eyes involved in this.
The Murdaugh name appears dozens of times in MAIT's 2015 case file, which "48 Hours" obtained through a Freedom of Information request. In his audio notes, Corporal Michael Duncan makes it clear he doesn't think Stephen's death is a hit and run.
CPL. MICHAEL DUNCAN: There is no body trauma other than to the head area. … Does not appear to be, in my opinion, struck by vehicle.
Another investigator, Todd Proctor, goes further.
TODD PROCTOR: Typically you don't see the Highway Patrol working a murder, and that's what this is.
He hints at a conflict of interest for the local sheriff's department.
TODD PROCTOR: There's a reason why Hampton County Sheriff's Department is not handling this … And I'll leave it at that.
In this interview with Proctor, local teen Taylor Dobson shares a detailed version of that story about several young men in a truck.
TAYLOR DOBSON: I heard that these two, maybe three young men were in a vehicle. They were riding down 601, saw the car on the side of the road, I guess saw the boy walking. Um, they turned back around. … and stuck something out the window.
He offers a name reluctantly.
TAYLOR DOBSON: He goes by Buster Murdaugh.
Dobson says he grew up with Buster.
TAYLOR DOBSON: Kind of out of character to who I knew. … it's just strictly hearsay from all I know.
Proctor reassures him the Murdaughs are already aware authorities want to speak with Buster.
TODD PROCTOR: They know that he's on our radar.
Police Report: Drunk Driver Hits Object, Throws Up Outside House
In a recent police report, it was revealed that a man named Sean Connelly was involved in a drunk driving incident. According to the report, a concerned individual named Darrell contacted the police and informed them that Connelly had hit something while intoxicated.
Patrick, another witness to the incident, was called to the scene by Darrell. He later recounted the events to an officer, stating that Connelly had been drunk and had hit an object. The next day, Patrick returned to the location to investigate further and found a large police presence.
The officer who interviewed Patrick noted that he was visibly upset during the conversation. After sharing the details of the incident, Patrick walked outside his house and vomited.
When asked for more information about the incident, the officer mentioned that Patrick had mentioned fixing a mirror on his truck prior to the incident.
The side mirror story matched Stephen's original death certificate. For reasons that are unclear, there is no record of Duncan or Proctor ever speaking to Connelly or Wilson.
Wilson had no comment to "48 Hours." Messages to the Hampton County Sheriff's Office, Williams and Connelly have not been answered. Sandy Smith says she asked Shawn Connelly point-blank if he killed Stephen.
Nikki Battiste: And he said?
Sandy Smith: He said, "No, ma'am I did not … I give you my word, I promise you, I never killed your son."
Nikki Battiste: Do you believe him?
Sandy Smith: Yeah.
Nikki Battiste: If he lied to you — if that turns out to be the case –
Sandy Smith: It won't be the first time I'm lied to … but you know. If you did it, you need to pay.
In September 2016, fed up with what she calls the lack of an investigation, Sandy began a letter-writing campaign that included the FBI.
Nikki Battiste: What did your letter say?
Sandy Smith: I was just lettin' 'em know that … my son was murdered and there's no progress bein' done. And I think it had somethin' to do with the Murdaugh family … And please help, just please help me.
Sandy also told the FBI she believed someone was deliberately trying to derail the investigation.
Nikki Battiste: Did you ever get a response from the FBI?
A NEW LOOK A STEPHEN SMITH'S COLD CASE
In a surprising turn of events, the investigation into the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh has taken an unexpected twist. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has announced that they have uncovered a new lead in the death of Stephen Murdaugh and will be taking over the case. However, they have not disclosed any details about the evidence that led them to this breakthrough.
Nikki Battiste: It appears that the Murdaugh family is at the center of attention once again.
Sandy Smith: Yes, it seems that way.
Nikki Battiste: Do you think this is just a coincidence, or is there a specific reason for it?
Sandy Smith: Around here, it's not surprising.
It took another two years for authorities to secure a conviction against Alex Murdaugh. Meanwhile, Sandy Smith now has a formidable legal team on her side.
Ronnie Richter: After waiting eight years for justice... Sandy Smith had finally had enough.
Eric Bland: Ronnie and I are like fire starters. We ignited the flame.
Ronnie Richter and Eric Bland are representing Sandy pro bono.
Eric Bland: Our main objective was to reignite the interest in Stephen's death.
And they turned up the pressure on SLED. In March 2023, SLED publicly acknowledged that they were treating Stephen's case as a homicide.
During the same week, Buster Murdaugh issued a statement through his father's attorney, stating:
"... These baseless rumors of my involvement with Stephen and his death are false. I unequivocally deny any involvement in his death, and my heart goes out to the Smith family ..."
Unnamed Source: Those words are now in cement. ... I take him at his word that he had nothing at all to do with Stephen's death.
Rather than old rumors, the source says they're focusing on a new investigation made possible by a significant amount of donations from Sandy's supporters.
Another Unnamed Source: The resources were made available for us to do some private investigative work that's gonna start with ... hiring ... a pathology team.
They were also able to have Stephen's body exhumed, something Sandy had wanted for years.
Another Unnamed Source: Our primary function right now is to have a true independent set of eyes look at it and tell us, once and for all, what really happened to Stephen Smith.
In April 2023, Dr. Michelle DuPre, a former investigator and forensic pathologist who's performed more than 3,000 autopsies, oversaw the examination of Stephen's body.
Dr. Michelle DuPre: The injuries can tell us so much about what happened.
Nikki Battiste: And in this case they did?
Dr. Michelle DuPre: They did.
DuPre says the autopsy confirmed Stephen died from a single blow to his forehead, severely fracturing his skull.
Nikki Battiste: That's a big gash.
Dr. Michelle Dupre: That's seven-and-a- half inches, almost. ... there would be another gash in this posterior area from hitting the pavement so hard.
Nikki Battiste: It literally split his skull.
Dr. Michelle Dupre: It split his skull.
They were also able to put to rest some rumors, including the one that Stephen had been beaten with a baseball bat.
Nikki Battiste: It wasn't a baseball bat?
Dr. Michelle DuPre: No. … those type of injuries would cause something that we call pattern injuries, and we don't see that here. … This is a linear fracture — as well as this is here (points to a diagram of the head).
Just as important as what they found, DuPre says, is what they didn't find.
Dr. Michelle DuPre: We didn't find fractures of any part of the body, except for the head. … There was a little road rash, which you would expect.
Nikki Batiste: Any signs of a struggle?
Dr. Michelle DuPre: No.
Nikki Battiste: Any signs of a beating?
Dr. Michelle DuPre: No.
Nikki Battiste: Any injuries below his head other than the road rash?
Dr. Michelle DuPre: None whatsoever.
She says that eliminates the possibility Stephen was hit by a car head-on. DuPre says the findings also refute early theories that Stephen's body might have been staged.
Nikki Battiste: Were you able to determine whether Stephen was struck and fell, or he might have been struck, and then placed there?
Expert Analysis: Dr. Michelle DuPre and Dr. Kenny Kinsey
During the ongoing Murdaugh murder trial, Dr. Michelle DuPre and Dr. Kenny Kinsey have provided their expert analysis on the case. They have reached a surprising conclusion regarding the cause of death of Stephen, the victim.
According to Dr. DuPre, they do not believe that Stephen's body was placed at the scene. They believe that whatever happened to him, it happened right there. Dr. Kinsey agrees with this assessment.
Dr. Kinsey, a crime scene expert and star prosecution witness, has worked closely with Dr. DuPre to analyze the evidence. He states that the evidence at the scene is clear and supports their conclusion.
"That's a massive amount of blood," says Dr. Kinsey. "And if he had that kind of injury somewhere else, it wouldn't be that uniform."
Due to the sensitive nature of the crime scene photos, "48 Hours" has created graphic versions in which the blood and body are shown as graphics. Dr. Kinsey further explains, "The quantity of blood, the direction of the flow in the road, and then the direction of all... the blood on his person — led me to... the only conclusion."
Dr. Kinsey is convinced that an object attached to a vehicle traveling at high speed caused the single fatal blow to Stephen's head. "Whatever hit him was fast and it was large," he states.
When asked if this was a hit and run, Dr. Kinsey responds, "Yeah, very atypical."
This conclusion has surprised many, as there was no vehicle debris found at the scene of the incident.
Interviewer: How confident are you that you know what happened to Stephen Smith that night?
Interviewee: I'm as close to a degree of scientific certainty as I've ever felt.
What no one can say with certainty is whether Stephen's death was accidental or not. But, still, someone left him there to die.
Witness: Someone left him in that condition, in the roadway. … And — and that … is a very serious felony.
Stephen's body was found about three miles from his car. The investigator tried to retrace his steps.
Investigator: I wanted to walk every possible path that Mr. Smith may have taken.
Stephen's family has always insisted if Stephen had car trouble, he would have felt safer walking through the woods.
Interviewer(walking along the road with the investigator holding a flashlight): So, where was Stephen's car?
Investigator: Stephen's car was located — if you look at this gate here, it was not grown up then, you could access that gate. But in this area … really close to the woods.
But to cut through the woods, Stephen would've had to scale a fence that was 8 feet tall.
Investigator: And from what I understand from interviewing neighbors, it's been there for well over a decade.
Kinsey has a theory about Stephen's accident. He believes that Stephen was walking along the road, facing traffic, trying to flag someone down for help. According to Kinsey, the vehicle that struck Stephen was coming towards him in the same direction as the vehicle in a photograph. Kinsey suggests that the driver of the vehicle saw something in the road and changed lanes before hitting Stephen. He believes that an object from the passenger side of the vehicle struck Stephen, and it could be anything, such as a ladder or an extended side mirror. This theory aligns with a tip from 2015 involving Patrick Wilson and Shawn Connelly, which Kinsey considers plausible.
Nikki Battiste asks Kinsey if the vehicle was going in the same direction as the one in the photograph, to which Kinsey confirms. He also explains that sometime before the impact, he believes the vehicle changed into the oncoming lane. Battiste then asks Kinsey about the object that struck Stephen, and Kinsey explains that it could be any object, such as a ladder or a metal side mirror.
It is definitely possible... that would be my starting point.
The investigation by SLED has been kept confidential, but Bland and Richter confirm that a grand jury has been convened and subpoenas have been issued.
They are focusing on specific individuals. SLED believes that there are about five or fewer people who have information about Stephen's death.
Their identities remain unknown. In an interview on Fox Nation in August 2023, Buster Murdaugh once again denies any involvement in the rumors surrounding his connection to the case.
BUSTER MURDAUGH (on Fox Nation): I had nothing to do with his murder and I had no physical relationship with him in any way.
He also provided an alibi.
BUSTER MURDAUGH (on Fox Nation): The night Stephen was killed, I was at our Edisto Beach house... with my mother and brother.
INTERVIEWER (on Fox Nation): With your family?
BUSTER MURDAUGH (on Fox Nation): With my mother and brother.
Sandy's team claims to have provided all their findings to SLED. However, Kinsey believes that someone will still need to come forward.
Someone knows?
Dr. Kenny KinseyOh, they know. Yes, ma'am.
ALEX MURDAUGH'S FINANCIAL CRIMES
As a grand jury zeroes in on potential suspects in Stephen Smith's death, the legal wrangling hasn't slowed down for Alex Murdaugh.
Michael DeWitt: You've got local charges. You've got state charges. … the legal civil cases are gonna go on for years.
ALEX MURDAUGH (in court Nov. 17, 2023): I am guilty, yes sir.
On Nov. 17, 2023, Alex Murdaugh agreed to a plea deal that encompasses all of the state financial charges he faced for defrauding and stealing millions from clients and law partners. He had already pleaded guilty to 22 federal conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering charges.
Nikki Battiste: Alex preyed on the vulnerable whom he also thought would never figure out his schemes.
Eric Bland: Correct. … It's people that are at the worst times of their lives. … where you need a lawyer to be the best for you, not the worst for you.
Perhaps none more so than Alania and Hannah Plyler, who are now represented by Bland and Richter.
They were just 12 and 8 when they survived a deadly crash due to a faulty tire that killed their mother and 14-year-old brother in 2005, and became the youngest of the financial victims to whom Murdaugh admitted he lied and stole from when questioned at his murder trial.
CREIGHTON WATERS: Who were the Plylers?
ALEX MURDAUGH: They were two young girls from uh, Columbia.
Conversation Transcript:
Person 1: What loss did they suffer? Who died?
Person 2: Uh, their mother. Their mother did.
Person 3: He only mentioned your mom.
Person 4: Yeah, that bothered me.
Person 5: That hurt.
Person 4: You don't remember that a 14-year-old was killed in that wreck? ... Alex ... got a very good paycheck off of my brother's death.
Both women are now mothers, and Person 4 is a detective with the Lexington County Sheriff's Office.
Person 4: Since all of this has come out ... there's a lotta pain that's still there.
Person 4 was old enough to remember the details of the last road trip she and her sister would ever take with their mom and brother.
Person 4: My brother and I had gotten into an argument ... I wanted to start sitting in the front seat. ... so we fought about it and fought about it. ... And finally, mom was like, "You know what? ... Justin's gonna ride on the way to Columbia. And on the way back home ... Person 4 gets to ride up front." And I was so happy.
Person 4 and Person 5, who were still sitting in the backseat, survived the crash.
Person 3: You must think about that all the time.
Surviving a Tragic Accident: A Sister's Story
By Anonymous
Alania Spohn carries the weight of guilt on her shoulders. For years, she blamed herself for a devastating accident that took the lives of her mother and brother. But now, she is ready to share her story and let go of that guilt.
It was just another day on the road for Alania and her younger sister, Hannah. Alania was listening to her favorite artist, Usher, while Hannah was fast asleep. Suddenly, their world was shattered by a loud pop. Alania looked out the window to see her Usher CD spinning on a tree limb. In that moment, she knew something was terribly wrong.
Trapped and unable to move, Alania made the difficult decision to send her 8-year-old sister for help. With bravery beyond her years, Hannah climbed up to the interstate and flagged down an 18-wheeler. Soon after, an ambulance arrived and Hannah was taken to the hospital.
Looking back on that fateful day, Alania recognizes that things could have been much worse. She is grateful that her sister made it to safety and that they both survived the accident. The guilt she once carried has been replaced with a sense of strength and resilience.
A Sister's Heroic Act: A Tale of Survival
By Anonymous
When tragedy struck, 12-year-old Alania Spohn found herself in a life-or-death situation. With her mother and brother gone, she had to rely on her own courage and quick thinking to save herself and her younger sister, Hannah.
Alania vividly remembers the moment the accident occurred. She was listening to music, lost in her own world, when a loud pop shattered the peace. In an instant, her Usher CD was spinning on a tree limb, and her mother's scream filled the air. Alania's world turned upside down.
Unable to move, Alania made a difficult decision. She instructed Hannah, only 8 years old at the time, to leave the car and go to the top of the hill where the interstate was. It was a risky move, but Alania knew it was their only chance for help.
With incredible bravery, Hannah climbed up to the interstate and managed to flag down an 18-wheeler. Soon after, an ambulance arrived, and Hannah was taken to the hospital. Alania's actions had saved her sister's life.
Reflecting on that traumatic day, Alania acknowledges the guilt she once felt for surviving while her mother and brother did not. But she also recognizes the strength and resilience she displayed in that moment of crisis. She is no longer burdened by guilt, but instead, she embraces her role as a survivor and a protector.
Alania waited alone until the fire rescue team arrived and cut her out of the wreckage. She watched as they removed her mother and brother.
And so I watched them put them in a black body bag.
She was then airlifted to a hospital and would need numerous surgeries.
What was the moment like when you were able to see each other again after that?
I remember it. I remember … hugging her and thanking her for not dying, for not leaving me.
And then from there I was just in the hospital bed with you.
You couldn't keep us apart.
The sisters say they were passed around to live with family members.
We didn't have a bedroom.
You just had each other.
We just had each other. Yeah. … We lived outta little plastic bins.
When a family friend referred the Plylers to Alex Murdaugh, he promised to change all of that.
Do you remember the first time you met Alex Murdaugh?
Yeah … I remember when he walked in. … he seemed really arrogant … like a bulldog.
Tall, almost intimidating in a sense.
He told us … "They took your family from you. And we're gonna make this right. They're gonna pay."
To two young girls who had lost everything, Murdaugh seemed larger than life.
Alania Spohn: I always felt at peace when I got to talk to Alex … people listened to him … You could tell there was a lotta control there.
Nikki Battiste: How did he earn your trust?
Alania Spohn: Really with his words. … he was a smooth talker. And … he made you feel special.
But once the case settled, the special treatment stopped.
Alania Spohn: He pretty much checked out. … he had explained that the case … had settled. … We won — big money.
Ronnie Richter: Alania's case settled for $4.7 million, you know … Hannah's for right at $3 million. That money was then entrusted to Russell Laffitte.
Laffitte was the CEO of Palmetto State Bank in Hampton and close friend of Alex Murdaugh, who'd hand-picked Laffitte to manage the funds as conservator until the girls turned 18.
Michael DeWitt: So these two very wealthy, prominent men … basically help themselves to these kids' piggy bank.
Any money they needed had to be approved by Laffitte and a judge.
Alania Spohn: Even if it was a dollar, we had to have a receipt for it.
Nikki Battiste: When you and Eric took on their case, what did you discover?
Ronnie Richter: Russell was providing loans to Alex … Alex would have negative balances of $50,000, $100,000, $300,000 in his personal account, and he needed funds to cover those deficits.
Richter claims that, on Murdaugh's instruction, Lafitte transferred almost $1.5 million from the Plylers' funds to Alex Murdaugh and himself.
Michael DeWitt: When these young women turned 18, the money was supposed to be available. So Alex had to resort to stealing money from other clients and using it to repay the funds.
Murdaugh was never charged in Hannah and Alania's case. However, Lafitte was found guilty of federal charges related to his involvement.
Eric Bland: Nonetheless, the toll is still present. How can you trust going forward? These people were entrusted with their finances when they were just children. And now, as adults, they discover that they were seen merely as a source of money.
While the Plylers can start to heal, Sandy Smith is still waiting for her day of justice.
Michael DeWitt: Amidst all this sweeping drama, everyone else has found answers and closure, except for Sandy Smith. It's time to focus the spotlight on Stephen Smith.
A MOTHER'S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
Months after his high-profile trial, convicted double murderer Alex Murdaugh and the infamous "crime of the century" continue to be Hampton's main attractions.
Michael DeWitt: The law firm and the Moselle property have become popular attractions for visitors, with people constantly taking pictures and showing a great interest in the Murdaugh case.
Recently, an auction was held for the family's personal items from their Moselle property. One of the notable items sold was the leather couch set where Alex Murdaugh testified he took a nap while his wife and son were murdered. The couch set fetched a staggering $30,000.
In addition, Maggie's dog Bubba, who played a crucial role in proving Alex's presence at the crime scene, has become a local hero.
Michael DeWitt: If it weren't for Bubba, the energetic yellow lab, and his instinct to chase birds, we might not have been able to solve this case and secure a conviction.
Cellphone video footage captured Alex Murdaugh's voice calling Bubba just minutes before the murder took place, providing crucial evidence.
Michael DeWitt: Bubba and the other dogs at the kennels were witnesses to a truly horrific event.
Bubba now lives a quiet life with the Murdaugh family's housekeeper, while Alex Murdaugh is currently serving two life terms in a maximum-security prison.
Nikki Battiste: Do you think Alex Murdaugh still believes he can manipulate the system?
Ronnie Richter: Absolutely.
Murdaugh's attorneys are now attempting to use their latest motion as a means to secure his release from prison.
Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin Seek New Trial in Alex Murdaugh Case
In a surprising turn of events, attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin have filed a motion for a new trial in the high-profile case of Alex Murdaugh. The motion is based on allegations of jury tampering by the Colleton County Clerk of Court, Becky Hill.
According to Griffin, the motion is supported by sworn testimony from jurors, who claim that Hill had improper private communications with them during the trial. "What we have filed today... supported by sworn testimony of jurors, is that the clerk of court had improper private communications with the jurors," Griffin stated.
The defense argues that Hill's alleged actions violated Murdaugh's right to a fair trial. They claim that she told jurors not to be fooled by Murdaugh's testimony and to pay close attention to his body language when he took the stand.
Hill, however, denies all of the defense's allegations in a signed affidavit. In addition, a majority of the jury has provided voluntary statements that support Hill's account.
Despite the motion for a new trial, legal experts believe that even if the murder conviction is overturned, Murdaugh will still face significant legal challenges. "If the murder conviction's overturned, then you have... the financial crimes," attorney Eric Bland explained.
Under a plea deal with prosecutors, Murdaugh could potentially be sentenced to nearly 30 years for the state charges alone. This means that even in the event of a new trial, Murdaugh's chances of seeing the sun again are slim.
Bland further commented on the situation, comparing it to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. "It's like rearranging... the deck chairs on the Titanic," he said. Attorney Ronnie Richter echoed this sentiment, calling it futile.
Legal analyst Michael DeWitt added, "If you were to write a made-for-TV Southern legal drama... you couldn't have done a better job than this."
DeWitt discusses the unsolved murder in his book, "The Fall of the House of Murdaugh," concluding with Stephen Smith.
Michael DeWitt: It's quite fascinating and tragic that the oldest tale remains unresolved. Bringing closure to his murder will mark the end of this sweeping saga.
While SLED continues its investigation into the Smith case behind closed doors, the details of what investigators discovered after the Murdaugh murders are the subject of intense speculation.
Nikki Battiste: Do you have any idea about the new evidence that might be presented to the grand jury?
Eric Bland: No, I don't. However, I am aware that SLED has Stephen's phone and tablet.
Could Stephen's phone potentially reveal the identity of the prominent person he mentioned to Sandy, with whom he planned to go deep-sea fishing?
Eric Bland: It will be intriguing to learn what SLED has uncovered and how the grand jury will determine whether the person Stephen planned to go fishing with had any involvement in his death or knowledge of it.
Nikki Battiste: How has the pursuit of justice been for you?
Sandy Smith: It has been a long journey, but it's been worth it.
Sandy remains hopeful and keeps Stephen's memory alive. She recently established a college scholarship in his honor.
Sandy Smith Announcement: We are initiating this scholarship fund to provide support for other children and ensure they don't face the same hardships Stephen did.
Furthermore, a reward of $30,000 is being offered by Sandy Smith for any information that leads to an arrest.
Sandy Smith Announcement: It is now your turn to speak up if you know something. Your voice can make a difference.
Nikki Battiste: What do you miss most about Stephen?
Sandy Smith: (Sighs) I miss everything about him.
Nikki Battiste: What do you think Stephen would think of your fight and where we are today in his case?
Sandy Smith: He'd say, "Oh Mama, you would do that for me?"
Nikki Battiste: Yep.
Sandy Smith: Yep, I would. Over and over.
If you have information about the Stephen Smith case, please email [email protected]
Produced by Gayane Keshishyan Mendez. Emma Steele and Dena Goldstein are the field producers. Ryan Smith is the development producer. Richard Fetzer is a field producer.Ken Blum, Gregory Kaplan, Michelle Harris and George Baluzy are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.
