48 Hours: Season 36, Episode 9

36 - 9: Stephen Smith - A Death In Murdaugh Country

Years before South Carolina legal scion Alex Murdaugh was convicted for the murders of his wife and son, there was another mystery in Murdaugh country – the death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old gay man. After his body was found on a country road on July 8, 2015, the medical examiner ruled it a hit and run. For years, his mother Sandy Smith wanted a second opinion. Now, 48 HOURS reports on a new investigation into the case. 

Early on, rumors that the Murdaughs were somehow involved in Smith's death spread through town. The Murdaugh name comes up dozens of times in the case file. The investigation seemingly went nowhere, and no suspects were named in Smith's death. In late 2016, the case went cold. It was reignited in June 2021 after the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh. During that investigation, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced it had uncovered a new lead in Smith's death and would be taking over the case. But it has not said what that evidence is.