Home / Crime and Justice / Murdaugh Case Investigator Probes 2015 Death
Murdaugh Case Investigator Probes 2015 Death
12 Mar
Summary
- Investigator probes 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a former classmate.
- Smith died in July 2015 from a skull fracture on a South Carolina road.
- Investigation reopened in June 2021 after Murdaugh murders.
Forensic investigator Kenny Kinsey, who testified in the Alex Murdaugh trial, is now independently investigating the 2015 death of Stephen Smith. Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student and former classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was discovered deceased on July 8, 2015, on a Hampton County, South Carolina road. He had sustained a significant skull fracture.
Kinsey has reviewed original case files, autopsy findings, and police interviews, indicating Smith's fatal injuries were likely vehicle-related. He expressed frustration over "missed opportunities" in the initial investigation due to delays and jurisdictional issues. The probe into Smith's death was notably reopened in June 2021, shortly after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced in 2023 that Smith's death was being investigated as a homicide, following a second autopsy. While pathologist Dr. Michelle DuPre stated the injuries are scientifically consistent with being struck by a high-speed vehicle, the perpetrator remains unidentified. Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information, and the investigation is ongoing.
