>>> THIS HAD BEEN A HAMPTON COUNTY STORY.
THIS HAD BEEN A HAMPTON COUNTY SCANDAL.
>> A JURY FOUND THE DISGRACED SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GUILTY
OF MURDERING HIS WIFE AND HIS YOUNGEST SON.
>> THIS HAS BEEN THE DOWNFALL OF A FAMILY DYNASTY.
>> THE DAY IS NOT THE END. IT'S THE NEXT STEP IN A LONG
ROAD OF JUSTICE FOR EVERY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED BY ALEX
MURDAUGH. >> JUSTICE FOR STEPHEN SMITH,
ALEX. >> STEPHEN SMITH WAS ANOTHER
BODY IN THIS ORBIT OF THE MURDAUGH FAMILY.
>> STEPHEN WAS A YOUNG, GAY MAN IN THE LOW COUNTRY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA. THIS IS COURAGEOUS IN AND OF
ITSELF. >> I CAN'T IMAGINE THE TERROR HE
WAS IN THAT NIGHT. >> IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF
JULY 8, 2015, 19-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN SMITH WAS FOUND DEAD IN
THE MIDDLE OF A RURAL ROAD. >> THERE WAS AN AUTOPSY THAT
BASICALLY SAID IT WAS A HIT-AND-RUN.
>> THERE WAS NO VEHICLE DEBRIS, NO BROKEN HEADLIGHT, PAINT
SCRAPES, OR ANYTHING. >> YOU NEVER BELIEVED IT?
>> NO, NOT AT ALL. BECAUSE HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN
WALKING IN THAT ROAD, NOT VOLUNTARILY.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE STEPHEN WAS MURDERED?
>> I DO. >> AN INVESTIGATION OF SOME SORT
TOOK PLACE THAT LED NOWHERE. AND THEN IT WENT COLD.
>> I WANTED A SECOND OPINION. >> SANDY SMITH IS UNIQUE IN THIS
WHOLE STORY. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO KILLED HER
SON. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY.
>> PEOPLE IN TOWN REALLY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS CONNECTED
TO THE MURDAUGHS IN SOME WAY. THE NAME BUSTER MURDAUGH KEPT
COMING UP. >> I NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HIS MURDER. I NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH
HIM ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL OF ANY REGARD.
>> THE RUMORS ALSO SUGGEST A COVER-UP.
>> WE ARE AWARE OF NO EVIDENCE TODAY THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT
ANY MURDAUGH PLAYED ANY ROLE IN STEPHEN SMITH'S DEATH OR PLAYED
ANY ROLE IN TRYING TO COVER UP THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS
DEATH. >> ALL I WANT IS PEACE AND
KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON. HE'S MY WORLD, AND I'M GOING TO
FIGHT TO THE END. >> THIS IS A WOMAN THAT HAS
FOUGHT THIS BATTLE ALONE SINCE 2015, SCREAMING AS LOUD AS SHE
COULD WITH NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTENING.
>> CBS NEWS CONFIRMING THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION IS NOW INVESTIGATING STEPHEN SMITH'S DEATH AS A
HOMICIDE. >> THE MURDAUGH CASE BROUGHT
STEPHEN'S COLD CASE TO LIGHT. SOMEHOW, SOME WAY IN THE
MURDAUGH MURDER INVESTIGATION A NEW THREAD WAS OPENED UP INTO
STEPHEN SMITH. >> OUR FUNCTION WAS RIGHT NOW IS
HAVE THAT BUDDY EXHUMED AND TELL US ONCE AND FOR ALL WHAT REALLY
HAPPENED TO STEPHEN SMITH. >> THE GASH WAS PART OF HIS
EYEBROW ACROSS HERE. THE INJURIES CAN TELL US SO MUCH
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. >> AND IN THIS CASE THEY DID.
>> THEY DID. >> SET THE SCENE FOR ME ON JULY
8, 2015, HERE. >> STEPHEN WAS -- WAS SOMEWHAT
RIGHT HERE IN THE ROAD. >> HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT
YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO STEPHEN SMITH THAT NIGHT?
>> I'M AS CLOSE TO A DEGREE OF SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY AS I'VE
EVER FELT.
♪
>>> LIKE HIS MOTHER SANDY,
STEPHEN SMITH WAS BORN A FIGHTER.
>> HE WAS A PREEMIE. HE WEIGHED 2 POUNDS, 12 OUNCES.
>> A TWIN? >> YEAH, A TWIN.
>> BORN AT 27 WEEKS WITH HIS SISTER STEPHANIE, SANDY SAYS
STEPHEN COULDN'T BREATHE ON HIS OWN.
AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, SHE WAS TOLD HE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT.
AND SHE WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO HOLD HER BABY FOR THE FIRST
TIME. HOW WAS THAT MOMENT?
>> OH, MY GOSH, IT WAS AMAZING. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY
GOOD-BYE. BUT HE STARTED BREATHING ON HIS
OWN. >> BECAUSE HE FELT YOU?
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHY HE WAS MY HEART.
>> SANDY NEVER DREAMED SHE'D ONE DAY BE FIGHTING FOR ANSWERS IN
HER SON'S DEATH. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
JOURNEY THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON FOR JUSTICE?
>> IT'S BEEN A HARD JOURNEY, JUST LIVING DAY BY DAY AND
FIGHTING DAY BY DAY. >> ON JULY 8, 2015, STEPHEN WAS
FOUND DEAD ON A COUNTRY ROAD IN HAMPTON COUNTY, THE SAME COUNTY
WHERE THREE GENERATIONS OF MURDAUGH MEN HAD HELD THE TOP
PROSECUTOR JOB FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.
THE MURDAUGHS STILL LOOMED LARGE OVER SMALL-TOWN LIFE.
>> ALEX MURDAUGH COACHED STEPHEN'S BASEBALL TEAM AT ONE
POINT? >> WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE.
I THINK STEPHEN WAS LIKE 7 OR 8. >> STEPHEN AND STEPHANIE WERE
ALSO CLASSMATES OF MURDAUGH'S OLDER SON, BUSTER, BEFORE
STEPHEN WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL WITH DREAMS OF ONE DAY BECOMING
A DOCTOR. >> HE WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR, BUT
IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE SO HE JUST STARTED WITH NURSING SCHOOL.
HE LOVED DEALING WITH MEDICINE. AND HE JUST LOVED IT.
>> YOU MUST HAVE BEEN SO PROUD. >> OH, I WAS.
>> BUT INSTEAD SANDY SAYS THOSE DREAMS WERE BURIED WITH HER SON.
YOU DECIDED TO BURY HIM IN HIS SCRUBS.
>> SCRUBS, DR. STEPHEN SMITH. HE HAD EVERYTHING HE NEEDED IN
HIS POCKET, HIS STETHOSCOPE AND EVERYTHING HE NEEDED.
>> STEPHEN HAD JUST COMPLETED A SEMESTER OF SCHOOL AND WAS
TAKING SUMMER CLASSES, SHUTTLING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HIS
PARENTS WHO LIVED APART. HE HAD VISITED SANDY A WEEK
BEFORE HE WAS KILLED. >> A STORM STARTED BREWING.
I TOLD HIM HE NEEDED TO HURRY-UP AND GET BACK TO HIS DAD'S HOUSE.
SO WHEN HE MADE IT, HE TEXTED ME AND SAID I MADE IT SAFE, MAMA, I
LOVE YOU. >> SANDY SAYS THOSE WERE
STEPHEN'S LAST WORDS TO HER. SHE HEARD NEWS THAT WOULD ALTER
THE COURSE OF HER LIFE. >> JULY 8th I WAS ON MY WAY TO
WORK AND I WAS LISTENING TO A LOCAL RADIO STATION, AND I HEARD
THEY HAD FOUND A BODY. >> SANDY CALLED HER DAUGHTER
STEPHANIE RIGHT AWAY. >> SHE SAID MAMA, DID STEPHEN
STAY WITH YOU LAST NIGHT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T COME HOME LAST NIGHT.
THEN MY STOMACH DROPPED AND I KNEW IT WAS HIM.
>> SANDY SAYS THEY WENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR
CONFIRMATION IT WAS STEPHEN. THAT'S WHEN THEY RECEIVED A
CALL. >> I WAS ON PHONE WITH JOEL THE
WHOLE TIME WHEN WE WERE WAITING FOR THE SHERIFF TO COME OUT, AND
THAT'S WHEN JOE ASKED ME TO HOLD ON BECAUSE RANDY MURDAUGH WAS
CALLING. >> RANDY MURDAUGH WAS ALEX
MURDAUGH'S OLDER BROTHER AND NOW HE WAS CALLING ABOUT STEPHEN.
>> WHEN JOEL GOT BACK ON THE PHONE, HE SAID RANDY HAD ASKED
IF THAT WAS OUR STEPHEN AND THAT HE WANTED TO HELP PRO BONO.
>> DID YOU THINK THAT IT WAS STRANGE RANDY OFFERED TO HELP
PRO BONO? >> WELL, I DID.
BUT JOEL THOUGHT IT WAS A NICE GESTURE.
>> LATER THAT MORNING SANDY SAYS SHE WAS SURPRISED AGAIN AS SHE
DROVE PAST THE SCENE WHERE STEPHEN'S BODY HAD REPORTEDLY
BEEN FOUND. >> THERE WAS ALEX AND RANDY
STANDING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
>> MURDAUGHS. >> MURDAUGHS.
>> A FEW MINUTES LATER SANDY SAYS RANDY MURDAUGH CALLED
AGAIN. >> AND ASKED IF THAT WAS ME THAT
PASSED BY. HE SAID I WISH YOU'D HAVE STEP
SO I COULD HAVE MET YOU. >> RANDY MURDAUGH DECLINED OUR
REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY HE PROVIDED
A STATEMENT TO 48 HOURS IN WHICH HE SAID, QUOTE, I WAS NOT AWARE
OF STEPHEN'S DEATH UNTIL JOEL TOLD ME.
THEY WANTED MY INVUCHLT AND I CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT ON
THEIR BEHALF. MURDAUGH SAID HE WENT TO THE
SCENE WITH A PRIVATE INVESTIGATE FR AFTER MEETING WITH JOEL AND
STEPHANIE. ADDING, QUOTE, CLAIMS I VISITED
THE SCENE OF MY BROTHER'S ALEX, ARE FALSE.
JOEL PASSED AWAY THREE MONTHS AFTER STEPHEN, BUT STEPHANIE AND
SANDY TELL US 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. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
>> WHO WOULD SHOOT HIM? IT MADE NO SENSE.
I LOST IT THEN. I LEFT MY JOB AND DROVE DOWN 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
TODAY A HIT-AND-RUN. >> TOWARD THE EVENING TIME WE
WERE CONTACTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND AFTER HIS AUTOPSY, THERE WAS NOT ANY TYPE OF BULLET OR BULLET
FRAGMENT FOUND IN HIS HEAD. BECAUSE HIS BODY WAS IN THE
ROADWAY, IT WAS BEING RULED HIT-AND-RUN.
>> RETIRED SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL LIEUTENANT THOMAS
MOORE WAS THE ON SCENE SUPERVISOR.
>> I WAS TOLD THE MEDICAL EXAMINER MADE THAT RULING, AND 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.
>> DID YOU SEE ANY SIGNS OF A HIT-AND-RUN?
>> NO, MA'AM, NONE. ANY TYPE OF DEBRIS, ANY KIND OF
GLASS, CAR PARTS, 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.
>> 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 MOORE SAYS STEPHEN'S BODY APPEARED STAGEDCH.
>> HIS BODY WAS LAYING LIKE IT HAD BEEN PLACED IN A CERTAIN
POSITION, NOT WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY SEE.
IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY HAD HIT HIM IN THE HEAD WITH SOME KIND
OF OBJECT. >> MEANWHILE, STEPHEN'S WALLET
WAS STILL IN HIS CAR, WHICH INVESTIGATORS FOUND 3 MILES
AWAY, WITH THE DOORS LOCK ASKED THE GAS CAP HANGING OPEN.
>> IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE WORKED A CAR SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD WITH A 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. DID YOU THINK THAT IT WAS
POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF HIS SEXUALITY?
>> I DID THINK THAT. I KNOW HE WAS TEASED A LOT
OTSCHOOL, BUT HE STILL HELD HIS HEAD HIGH.
>> BUT SANDY SAYS IN THE DAYS LADING UP TOOP HIS DEATH,
STEPHEN WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIS SAFETY.
HE CALLED HIS SISTER STEPHANIE FOR HELP THE DAY BEFORE HE WAS
KILLED. >> STEPHANIE SAID THE BATTERY
CABLE WAS LOOSENED ON HIS CAR, SO SHE MET HIM AND SHE TIGHTENED
THE BATTERY CABLE. AND SHE ASKED HIM TO GET OUT OF
THE CAR AND HELP HER, AND HE SAID NO I'M NOT GETTING OUT.
>> LIKE HE WAS SCARED. >> RIGHT.
>> BUT HE NEVER SAID WHY. HE SAID ONCE STEPHEN'S DEATH WAS
RULED A HIT-AND-RUN, IT BECAME THE HIGHWAY PATROL'S JOB TO
SOLVE THE CASE INSTEAD OF THE HAMPTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
OR S.L.E.D., THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.
>> I FELT LIKE THE CASE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD WAS BEING
PAWNED OFF ON US. NO MATTER WHAT WE SAID, WE WERE
GOING TO BE THE ONES INVESTIGATING THAT CASE.
AS WE WERE GETTING STARTED, CERTAIN FLAMES STARTED COMING
UP. >> WHICH NAMES?
>>
>>> SOON AFTER STEPHEN SMITH WAS KILLED, HAMPTON COUNTY GUARDIAN
MANAGING EDITOR MICHAEL DeWITT SAYS HE BEGAN HEARING PERSISTENT
RUMORS ALL OVER TOWN. WHAT ARE THE RUMORS?
>> THAT AT LEAST ONE MURDAUGH CHILD WAS IN A VEHICLE WITH
OTHER BOYS AND ALLEGEDLY SOMEBODY IN THE VEHICLE STRUCK
THE YOUNG MAN WITH A BASEBALL BAT AND KILLED HIM.
>> SANDY SAYS THOSE SAME RUMORS HIT HER DOORSTEP AS SOON AS
STEPHEN'S BODY WAS TAKEN FOR AN AUTOPSY.
>> IT MADE NO SENSE FOR ME. >> AT ANY POINT DID YOU THINK
THAT SOMEONE IN THE MURDAUGH FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN.
>> WELL, THE LONGER IT WENT ON, THE MORE I WAS ASKING MYSELF
QUESTIONS. BUT I JUST COULDN'T FIND THE
CONNECTION. A POWERFUL FAMILY, AND THEN YOU
GOT STEPHEN WHO IS JUST STEPHEN. >> SANDY COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK
BACK TO HER LAST CONVERSATION WITH STEPHEN, A WEEK BEFORE HE
WAS KILLED. >> SOMEONE WAS MESSAGING HIM A
LOT. HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING DEEP SEA
FISHING, AND HE SAID KEY WEST. AND I SAID WHO ARE YOU GOING
WITH. HE SAID, WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU.
>> DID THAT MAKE YOU PAUSE? >> YEAH.
HE SAID YOU'D BE SURPRISED. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PROMINENT
PERSON. AND THEN ALL I COULD SAY WAS,
WELL, I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN. >> SANDY SAYS STEPHEN HAD BECOME
M MORE SECRETIVE THE LAST COUPLE
OF WEEKS, BUT IT NEVER CROSSED HER MIND HE MIGHT BE TAKING
ABOUT A MURDAUGH. >> THE ORIGINAL RUMOR IS STEPHEN
WAS PLANNING TO GO AWAY WITH BUSTER MURDAUGH AND HIS FAMILY,
THAT THEY WERE TOGETHER ROMANTICALLY.
>> LIZ FARRELL IS WRITER AND CO-HOST OF THE MURDAUGH MURDER
PODCAST. AND 48 HOURS FOUND NO EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT THE RUMORS. RETIRED HIGHWAY PATROL
LIEUTENANT THOMAS MOORE SAID 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 POWERFU, 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 MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION TEAM CALLED MAIT, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN COMPLEX
VEHICLE CRASHES. >> THE MAIT TEAM WAS 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 WE 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. >> THERE'S NO BODY TRAUMA OTHER
THAN TO THE HEAD AREA. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE IN MY
OPINION STRUCK BY A VEHICLE. >> ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR, TODD
PROCTOR, GOES FURTHER. >> 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. >> 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.
>> I HEARD THESE TWO, MAYBE THREE YOUNG MEN WERE IN A
VEHICLE. THEY ARRIVED NOW 6:01, SAW A CAR
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I GUESS SAW THE BOY WALKING.
THEY TURNED BACK AROUND, THEN STUCK SOMETHING OUT OF THE
WINDOW. >> HE OFFERS A NAME RELUCTANTLY.
>> HE GOES BY BUSTER MURDAUGH. >> DOBSON SAYS HE GREW UP WITH
BUSTER. >> KIND OF OUGHT OF CHARACTER TO
WHO I KNEW. IT WAS JUST STRICTLY HEARSAY FOR
WHOM I KNOW. >> PROCTOR SAYS IT WAS STRICTLY
AWARE AUTHORITIES WANTED TO SPEAK WITH BUSTER.
>> THEY KNOW HE'S ON THEIR RADAR.
I TALKED TODAY ONE OF THE GUYS YESTERDAY AND TOLD HIM I'M GOING
TO TALK TO BUSTER HERE SOON. AND HE SAID, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.
>> BUT ACCORDING TO THE CASE FILE A CALL TO BUSTER MURDAUGH
IN OCTOBER 2015 WAS NEVER RETURNED.
AND IN DECEMBER FOLLOWING A FRONT PAGE STORY IN THE HAMPTON
COUNTY GUARDIAN, MAIT RECEIVED A TIP CALLED IN AT THE DIRECTION
OF RANDY MURDAUGH, BUSTER'S UNCLE.
A MAN NAMED DARRELL WILLIAMS CALLED A HAMPTON POLICE OFFICER
TO REPORT THE TIP, WHICH INVOLVED TWO TEENS.
IN A PHONE CALL THE OFFICER RELAYS TO CORPORAL DUNCAN WHAT
DARRELL TELLS HIM. >> HE SAID PATRICK COME OVER TO
THE HOUSE. HE SAID SHAWN CONNELLY WAS DRUNK
AND HIT SOMETHING. HE WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY TO SEE
WHAT IT WAS HE HAD HIT, AND HE SEEN A LOT OF POLICE OUT THERE.
PATRICK WAS CRYING TELLING HIM, AND AFTER HE GOT FINISHED
TELLING THE STORY, HE WALKED OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE AND THREW UP.
>> DID HE GO INTO ANY DETAIL ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENED?
>> SUPPOSEDLY HE HAD FIXED HIS MIRROR, ONE OF THE MIRRORS UP ON
THE TRUCK. >> 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'S OFFICE, WILLIAMS AND
CONNELLY, HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED.
SANDY SMITH SAYS SHE ASKED SHAWN CONNELLY POINT-BLANK IF HE
KILLED STEPHEN. AND HE SAID --
>> HE SAID, NO, MA'AM, I DID NOT.
I GIVE YOU MY WORD I PROMISE YOU, I NEVER KILLED YOUR SON.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE HIM? >> YEAH.
>> IF HE LIED TO YOU, IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE THE CASE --
>> 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. WHAT DID YOUR LETTER SAY?
>> I WAS JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THAT MY SON WAS MURDERED, AND
THERE'S NO PROGRESS BEING DONE. AND I THINK IT HAD SOMETHING 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. DID YOU EVER GET A RESPONSE FROM
THE FBI? >> I DID.
AND I HAD TWO AGENTS COME TO MY HOUSE.
>> SHE ASKED THEM TO UNLOCK STEPHEN'S PHONE, AND THEY DID.
DO YOU KNOW IF ANYONE ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO READ STEPHEN'S TEXT
MESSAGES OR SEE WHERE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BASED ON CELLPHONE
EVIDENCE? >> WHAT I HEARD FROM THE FBI
AGENT THERE WAS A LOT OF INTERESTING INFORMATION IN THE
PHONE THAT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT.
>> BUT SHE SAYS THAT DIDN'T PROMPT A LOCAL OR STATE
AUTHORITIES TO PURSUE THE CASE FURTHER.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING IN THAT PHONE DIDN'T NOBODY WANT OUT
THERE. >> BY LATE 2016 THE
INVESTIGATION INTO STEPHEN SMITH'S DEATH WENT COLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT TOOK FOR STEPHEN'S CASE TO FINALLY GET
THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES, THAT YOU WANTED?
>> SOMEBODY ELSE HAD TO DIE.
>>> WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU THINK WAS FOUND ON STEPHEN'S
PHONE?
♪ >>> THE MURDERS OF PAUL AND
MAGGIE MURDAUGH IN JUNE OF 2021 CAUSED A SEISMIC SHIFT IN SMALL
TOWN HAMPTON AND GAVE SANDY SMITH A LIFELINE SHE DESPERATELY
NEEDED. >> I TOOK THIS TO GET TO
STEPHEN'S NAME BACK OUT THERE SO SOMEBODY WOULD START PAYING
ATTENTION. >> IN A STRANGE TWIST OF FATE
WHILE INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS OF PAUL AND MAGGIE MURDAUGH,
S.L.E.D. ANNOUNCED IT HAD STUMBLED ON A NEW LEAD IN
STEPHEN'S DEATH AND WOULD BE TAKING OVER THE CASE.
THEY DID NOT SAY WHAT THAT EVIDENCE WAS.
IT SEEMS LIKE ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE MURDAUGH FAMILY AROUND HERE.
>> YES. >> IS THAT COINCIDENCE, OR IS
THERE A REASON FOR THAT? >> AROUND HERE IT'S NATURAL.
>> IT WOULD BE ANOTHER TWO YEARS WHILE AUTHORITIES FOCUSED ON
GETTING A CONVICTION AGAINST ALEX MURDAUGH, BUT SANDY NOW HAS
A HIGH OCTANE LEGAL TEAM IN HER CORNER.
>> AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF WAITING FOR YOUR TURN, SANDY SMITH
FINALLY JUST HAD ENOUGH. >> RONNY AND I ARE LIKE
ARSONISTS. WE STARTED THE FIRE.
>> RONNIE RICHTER AND ERIC BLAND ARE REPRESENTING SANDY PRO BONO.
>> OUR SOLE GOAL WAS TO REKINDLE THE INTEREST IN STEPHEN'S DEATH.
>> AND THEY TURNED UP THE HEAT ON S.L.E.D.
IN MARCH OF 2023 S.L.E.D. PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS
TREATING STEPHEN'S CASE AS A HOMICIDE.
THE SAME WEEK BUSTER MURDAUGH RELEASED A STATEMENT THROUGH HIS
FATHER'S ATTORNEY SAYING, QUOTE, 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.
>> THOSE WORDS ARE NOW IN CEMENT.
I TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD HE HAD NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH
STEPHEN'S DEATH. >> RATHER THAN OLD RUMORS, BLAND
AND RICHTER SAY THEY'RE FOCUSING ON A NEW INVESTIGATION MADE
POSSIBLE BY $130,000 IN GOFUNDME DONATIONS FROM SANDY'S
SUPPORTERS. >> THE RESOURCES WERE MADE
AVAILABLE FOR US TO DO SOME PRIVATE INVESTIGATIVE WORK
THAT'S GOING TO START WITH HIRING A PATHOLOGY TEAM.
>> THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO HAVE STEPHEN'S BODY EXHUMED,
SOMETHING SANDY HAD WANTED FOR YEARS.
>> OUR PRIMARY FUNCTION RIGHT NOW IS 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-WHO PERFORMED OVER 3,000 AUTOPSIES, OVERSAW THE
EXAMINATION OF STEPHEN'S BODY. >> THE INJURIES CAN TELL US SO
MUCH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. >> AND IN THIS CASE THEY DID.
>> THEY DID. >> DUPRE SAID THE AUTOPSY
CONFIRMED STEPHEN DIE TODAY A SINGLE BLOW TO HIS FOREHEAD
SEVERELY FRACTURING HIS SKULL. THAT'S A BIG GASH.
>> THAT'S 7 1/2 INCHES ALMOST. IT WOULD BE ANOTHER GASH IN THIS
POSTERIOR AREA FROM HITTING THE PAVEMENT SO HARD.
>> LITERALLY SPLIT HIS SKULL. >> 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.
IT WASN'T A BASEBALL BAT. >> NO.
THOSE TYPE OF INJURIES WOULD CAUSE SOMETHING THAT WE CALL
PATTERN INJURIES, AND WE DON'T SEE THAT HERE.
THIS IS LINEAR FRACTURE AS WELL AS THIS HERE.
>> JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT THEY FOUND, DUPRE SAID, IS WHAT
THEY DIDN'T FIND. >> WE DIDN'T FIND FRACTURE
TUESDAY ANY PART OF THE BODY EXCEPT THE HEAD.
THERE WAS A LITTLE ROAD RASH, WHICH YOU WOULD EXPECT.
>> ANY SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE? >> NO.
>> ANY SIGNS OF A BEATING? >> NO.
>> ANY INJURIES BELOW HIS HEAD OTHER THAN THE ROAD RASH?
>> 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.
WERE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER STEPHEN STRUCK AND FELL,
OR HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN STRUCK AND THEN PLACED THERE?
>> WE DON'T BELIEVE HE WAS PLACED THERE.
WE BELIEVE WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED RIGHT THERE.
>> DR. KENNY KINSEY AGREES. YOU THINK HE WAS KILLED RIGHT
HERE. >> RIGHT THERE.
>> A CRIME SCENE EXPERT AND STAR PROSECUTION WITNESS IN THE
MURDER MURDAUGH TRIAL, KINSEY WORKED WITH DUPRE TO ANALYZE
STEPHEN'S CASE. HE SAYS THE EVIDENCE AT THE
SCENE IS CLEAR. >> THAT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF
BLOOD. AND IF HE HAD THAT KIND OF
INJURY SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT WOULDN'T BE THAT UNIFORM.
>> DUE TO THEIR SENSITIVE NATURE, WE CREATED VERSIONS OF
THE CRIME SCENE PHOTOS IN WHICH THE BLOOD AND BODY ARE SHOWN AS
GRAPHICS. >> 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.
>> KINSEY'S CONVINCED AN OBJECT ATTACH TODAY A VEHICLE TRAVELING
AT HIGH-SPEED CAUSED THE SINGLE FATAL BLOW TO STEPHEN'S HEAD.
>> WHATEVER HIT HIM WAS FAST AND IT WAS LARGE.
>> SO A HIT-AND-RUN BUT AN A TYPICAL HIT-AND-RUN.
>> YEAH, VERY ATYPICAL. >> A HIT-AND-RUN WITH NO VEHICLE
DEBRIS AT THE SCENE. IT'S A CONCLUSION NO ONE WAS
EXPECTING. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOU
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO STEPHEN SMITH THAT NIGHT?
>> 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, RICHTER POINTS OUT, HE WAS LEFT THERE TO DIE.
>> SOMEONE LEFT HIM IN THAT CONDITION IN THE ROADWAY, AND
THAT IS A VERY SERIOUS FELONY. >> STEPHEN'S BODY WAS FOUND
ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HIS CAR. KINSEY TRIED TO RETRACE HIS
STEPS. >> 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.
SO WHERE WAS STEPHEN'S CAR? >> 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 HAVE HAD TO SCALE A FENCE THAT WAS 8 FEET TALL.
>> AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM INTERVIEWING NEIGHBORS,
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR WELL OVER A DECADE.
>> KINSEY THEORIZES STEPHEN WAS WALKING ALONG THE ROAD TRYING TO
FLAG SOMEONE DOWN FOR HELP. >> HE IS WALKING THIS DIRECTION
IN THE -- IN THE LANE FACING TRAFFIC.
WHATEVER WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE OR HANGING OFF OF THE
VEHICLE, WHENEVER IT STRUCK STEPHEN, HE WENT DOWN IN THIS
AREA SOMEWHAT ON THIS LINE HERE. THE VEHICLE THAT STRUCK STEPHEN
WAS COMING TOWARD HIM JUST LIKE THAT VEHICLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.
>> LIKE THIS? >> YES.
GOING THAT DIRECTION. >> KINSEY SAYS THE EVIDENCE
SUGGESTS THE DRIVER SAW SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND
CHANGED LANES. >> AND SOME TIME BEFORE IT
STRUCK STEPHEN, I BELIEVED IT CHANGED INTO THE ON COMING LANE.
>> THAT'S WHEN HE SAYS AN OBJECT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUCK
STEPHEN. >> WHAT KIND OF OBJECT COULD IT
BE? >> IT COULD BE ANYTHING.
IT COULD BE A LADDER HANGING OFF THE BACK OF A WORK TRUCK.
IT COULD BE AN EXTENDED SIDE MIRROR, THE METAL TYPE THAT YOU
SEE ON SOME FARM VEHICLES OR SOME LARGER VEHICLES.
>> THAT SCENARIO MATCHES UP WITH THE TIP FROM 2015 ININVOLVING
PATRICK WILSON AND SHAWN CONNELLY, WHICH KINSEY CALLS
PLAUSIBLE. >> THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE
POSSIBLE. THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE PLACES
I WOULD START. >> S.L.E.D. HAS KEPT ITS
INVESTIGATION CLOSE TO THE VEST. BUT BLAND AND RICHTER SAY A
GRAND JURY WAS IMPANELLED AND ISSUING SUBPOENAS.
>> THEY'RE HONING IN ON SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL, AND I THINK THERE'S
FIVE OR LESS THAT S.L.E.D. BELIEVES HAS INFORMATION
REGARDING STEPHEN'S DEATH. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS ARE. IN AN INTERVIEW ON FOX NATION IN
AUGUST OF 2023, BUSTER MURDAUGH AGAIN DENIED THE RUMORS OF HIS
INVOLVEMENT. >> I NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HIS MURDER, AND I NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM ON A
PHYSICAL LEVEL OF ANY REGARD. >> HE ALSO PROVIDED AN ALIBI.
>> THE NIGHT STEPHEN WAS KILLED I WAS AT OUR BEACH HOUSE.
>> WITH YOUR FAMILY? >> WITH MY MOM AND MY BROTHER.
>> SANDY'S TEAM SAYS IT'S TURNED OVER ALL OF ITS FINDINGS TO
S.L.E.D., BUT KINSEY SAYS IT'S STILL GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE
COMING FORWARD. SOMEBODY KNOWS.
>> OH, THEY KNOW, YES, MA'AM.
>>> DO YOU THINK STEPHEN'S DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT OR INTENTIONAL?
SEE A TIME LINE >>> AS A GRAND JURY ZEROS IN ON
POTENTIAL SUSPECTS IN STEPHEN SMITH'S DEATH, THE LEGAL
WRANGLING HASN'T SLOWED DOWN FOR ALEX MURDAUGH.
>> YOU'VE GOT LOCAL CHARGES. YOU'VE GOT STATE CHARGES.
THE LEGAL CIVIL CASES ARE GOING TO GO ON FOR YEARS.
>> ON NOVEMBER 17, 2023 -- >> I AM GUILTY, AND YES, SIR --
>> MURDAUGH AGREED TO A PLEA DEAL ENCOMPASSING ALL OF THE
STATE FINANCIAL CHARGES HE FACE UNDER DEFRAUDING AND STEALING
MILLIONS FROM CLIENTS AND LAW PARTNERS.
HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PLEADED GUILTY TO 22 FEDERAL CONSPIRACY, WIRE
FRAUD, AND MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES.
>> ALEX PREYED ON THE VULNERABLE WHOM HE ALSO THOUGHT WOULD NEVER
FIGURE OUT HIS SCHEMES. >> 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 THAT ALAINIA AND HANNAH PLYLER WHO
ARE NOW REPRESENTED BY 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. >> WHAT LOSS DID THEY SUFFER?
WHO DIED IN. >> THEIR MOTHER.
THEIR MOTHER DID. >> HE ONLY MENTIONED YOUR MOM.
>> YEAH, THAT BOTHERED ME. BECAUSE YOU DON'T REMEMBER 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 ALAINIA IS A DE-DIVE WITH
THE LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> SINCE ALL OF THIS HAS COME OUT, THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN
THAT'S STILL THERE. >> ALAINIA IS OLD ENOUGH TO
REMEMBER THE LAST ROAD TRIP SHE AND HER SISTER WOULD EVER TAKE
WITH THEIR MOM AND WRAURT. >> MY BROTHER AND I HAD GOTTEN
INTO AN ARGUMENT. I WANTED TO SIT IN THE FRONT
SEAT, AND WE FOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND MY MOM WAS LIKE YOU KNOW
WHAT JUSTIN IS GOING TO RIDE ON THE WAY TO COLUMBIA, AND ON THE
WAY BACK HOME ELAINIA GETS TO RIDE UP FRONT, AND I WAS SO
HAPPY. >> ELAINE YU AND HANNAH WHO WERE
SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT SURVIVED THE CRASH.
YOU MUST THINK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.
>> I DO. I ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF GUILT
FOR SEVERAL YEARS. >> THAT GUILT IS SOMETHING SHE
SAYS SHE'S LEARNED TO LET GO AS SHE RECOUNTS HER AND HER LITTLE
SISTER'S HARROWING SURVIVAL. >> WEHADN'T BEEN ON THE ROAD TOO
LONG. HANNAH WAS SLEEPING, AND I WAS
LISTENING TO USHER. AND I REMEMBER MOM SAYING
AND I PULL MY HEADPHONES DOWN AND SAY, YEAH MOM.
AND WITHIN A SECOND I HEARD THIS LOUD POP AND HEARD MY MOM
SCREAM. AND I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND
MY USHER CD WAS SPINNING ON A TREE LIMB.
>> THEIR MOTHER ANGELA AND BROTHER JUSTIN DIED INSTANTLY.
ALAINIA REALIZED SHE WAS TRAPPED AND COULDN'T MOVE AND HAD TO
SEND HANNAH FOR HELP. >> I SAID I NEED YOU TO GET OUT
OF THE CAR, AND I NEED YOU TO GO TO THE TOP OF THE HILL TO THE
INTERSTATE. >> YOU'RE ONLY 12.
>> I'M 12. SO MANY THINGS COULD HAVE WENT
WORSE. >> 8-YEAR-OLD HANNAH CLIMBED UP
TO THE INTERSTATE. >> THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER, AND
I WAS ABLE TO FLAG HIM DOWN, AND I THINK BY THAT POINT AN
AMBULANCE CAME, AND THEY HAD TAKEN ME TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> ALANIA WAITED ALONE UNTIL A FIRE RESCUE 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. >> I DIDN'T HAVE A BEDROOM.
>> JUST HAD EACH OTHER. >> JUST HAD EACH OTHER.
WE BOTH HAD 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 BULL DOG, JUST TALL, ALMOST
INTIMIDATING IN A SENSE. HE TOLD US THEY TOOK YOUR FAMILY
FROM YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT, THEY'RE GOING TO
PAY. >> TO TWO YOUNG GIRLS WHO HAD
LOST EVERYTHING MURDAUGH SEEMED LARGER THAN LIFE.
>> I ALWAYS FELT AT PEACE WHEN I GOT TO TALK TO ALEX.
PEOPLE LISTENED TO HIM. YOU COULD TELL THERE WAS A LOT
OF CONTROL THERE. >> HOW DID HE EARN YOUR TRUST?
>> REALLY WITH HIS WORDS. HE WAS A SMOOTH TALKER AND HE
MADE YOU FEEL SPECIAL. >> BUT ONCE THE CASE SETTLED,
THE SPECIAL TREATMENT STOPPED. >> HE PRETTY MUCH CHECKED OUT.
HE HAD EXPLAINED THAT THE CASE HAD SETTLED, WE WON BIG MONEY.
>> ALAINIA'S CASE SETTLED FOR $4.7 MILLION.
HANNAH'S WAS RIGHT AT $3 MILLION.
THAT MONEY WAS THEN ENTRUSTED TO RUSSELL LEFITE.
>> LEFITE WAS THE CEO AND A CLOSE FRIEND OF MURDAUGH WHO
HAND PICKED LEFITE TO MANAGE THE FUNDS AS CONSERVATOR UNTIL THE
GIRLS TURNED 18. >> SO THESE TWO VERY WEALTHY
PROMINENT MEN BASICALLY HELPED THEMSELVES TO THESE KIDS PIGGY
BANK. >> ANY MONEY THEY NEEDED HAD TO
BE APPROVED BY LEFITE AND A JUDGE.
>> EVEN IF IT WAS A DOLLAR, WE HAD TO HAVE A RECEIPT FOR IT.
>> WHEN YOU AND ERIC TOOK ON THEIR CASE WHAT DID YOU
DISCOVER? >> RUSSELL WAS MAKING LOANS TO
ALEX. ALEX MAYBE OVERDRAWN $50,000,
$100,000, $3,000 IN HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND HE NEEDED MONEY TO
COVER THOSE SHORES. >> RICHTER SAID AT MURDAUGH'S
DIRECTION LEFITE TRANSFERRED NEARLY 1$1.5 MILLION FROM THE
PLYLER'S MONEY TO ALEX MURDAUGH AND HIMSELF.
>> WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THESE YOUNG LADIES TO TURN 18 THE
MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, SO ALEX HAD TO GO OUT AND STEAL
NEW MONEY FROM DIFFERENT CLIENTS AND PUT THAT MONEY BACK.
>> MURDAUGH WAS NEVER CHARGED FOR HANNAH AND ALANIA'S CASE,
BUT LEFITE WAS CONVICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES FOR HIS ROLE.
>> BUT STILL THERE'S THAT TOLL OF HOW DO YOU TRUST GOING
FORWARD? PEOPLE WERE PUT IN A POSITION OF
TRUST ON THEIR BEHALVES WHEN THEY WERE JUST CHILDREN.
AND THEN TO LEARN AS AN ADULT THAT THE ENTIRE TIME THEY SAW
YOU AS NOTHING MORE THAN A CHECKBOOK.
>> WHILE THE PLYLERS CAN BEGIN TO HEAL, SANDY SMITH STILL WAITS
FOR HER DAY OF RECKONING. >> ALL THE SWEEPING DRAMA,
THERE'S ANSWERS AND THERE'S CLOSURE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE BUT
NOT FOR SANDY SMITH. TIME TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON
STEPHEN SMITH. >>> MONTHS AFTER HIS BLOCKBUSTER
TRIAL -- >> ALEX MURDAUGH!
>> VERDICT GUILTY. >> -- CONVICTED DOUBLE MURDERER
ALEX MURDAUGH IN THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY ARE STILL HAMPTON'S
BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS. >> ALMOST EVERY DAY SOMEONE IS
COMING BY TAKING A PICTURE OF THE LAW FIRM OR RIDING OUT TO
MOSELLE TAKING PICTURES. THEY JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH.
>> THE MURDAUGH CRAZE WAS ON FULL DISPLAY AT AN AUCTION FOR
THE FAMILY'S PERSONAL ITEMS FROM THEIR MOSELLE PROPERTY.
THE INFAMOUS LEATHER COUCH SET WHERE ALEX TESTIFIED HE TOOK A
CAT NAP WHILE HIS WIFE AND SON WERE MURDERED SOLD FOR $50,000.
AND MAGGIE'S SON BUBBA, WHO HELPED PROSECUTORS PROVE ALEX
WAS ACTUALLY AT THE CRIME SCENE HAS BECOME A LOCAL FOLIC HERO.
>> IF THAT RAM BUNGTUOUS YELLOW LAB HADN'T BEEN DOING WHAT LABS
LIKE TO DO, CHASE BIRDS, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE SOLVED THIS CASE.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN A CONVICTIONS.
>> COME HERE, BUBBA. >> ALEX'S VOICE CALLING BUBBA
WAS CAUGHT IN THE BACKGROUND OF PHONE VIDEO PAUL TOOK MINUTES
BEFORE HE WAS KILLED. >> BUBBA AND OTHER DOGS AT THE
KENNELS, THEY WERE WITNESSES TO A VERY HORRIFIC EVENT.
>> BUBBA NOW LIVES A QUIET LIFE WITH THE MURDAUGH'S HOUSEKEEPER.
MEANWHILE, ALEX MURDAUGH IS SERVING TWO LIFE TERMS IN A
MAIMUM SECURITY PRISON. DO YOU THINK ALEX MURDAUGH STILL
THINKS HE CAN TRY TO PLAY THE SYSTEM IN.
>> 100%. >> NOW MURDAUGH'S ATTORNEYS ARE
HOPING THEIR LATEST MOTION WILL BE A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD.
>> WE'RE FOCUSED ON GETTING HIM A NEW TRIAL.
>> IN SEPTEMBER 2023, DICK HARPOOTLIAN AND JIM GRIFFIN,
ANNOUNCED THEIR MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL BASED ON ALLEGATIONS OF
JURY TAMPERING BY THE COLLETON COUNTY CLERK OF COURT BECKY
HILL. >> WHAT WE HAVE FILED TODAY
SUPPORTED BY A SWORN TESTIMONY OF JURORS IS THAT THE CLERK OF
COURT HAD IMPROPER PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE JURORS.
>> THE STATE vs. RICHARD ALEXANDER MURDAUGH DEFENDANT.
>> THEY ARGUE HILL VIOLATED THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL WHEN SHE
ALLEGEDLY TOLD JURORS NOT TO BE FOOLED BY HIS TESTIMONY AND TO
WATCH BODY LANGUAGE AS ALEX WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAND.
IN A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT HILL DENIES ALL OF THE DEFENSE
ALLEGATIONS, AND VOLUNTARY STATEMENTS FROM A MAJORITY OF
THE JURY SUPPORT HILL'S ACCOUNT. RIC
RICHTER AND BLAND SAY EVEN A NEW TRIAL CAN'T SAVE ALEX MURDAUGH.
>> IF THE MURDER CONVICTION IS OVERTURNED, THEN YOU HAVE THE
FINANCIAL CRIMES. >> ACCORDING TO THE PLEA DEAL
WITH PROSECUTORS ON THE STATE CRIMES, MURDAUGH COULD BE
SENTENCED TO NEARLY 30 YEARS FOR THOSE CHARGES ALONE.
>> SO, YES, THERE'S A THEORETICAL UNIVERSE IN WHICH
ALEX MURDAUGH COULD SEE THE SUN AGAIN.
BUTT IT'S THEORETICAL ONLY. >> IT'S LIKE REARRANGING THE
DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC. >> IT'S FUTILE.
>> IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A MADE FOR TV SOUTHERN LEGAL DRAMA, YOU
COULDN'T HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB THAN THIS.
>> DeWITT WRITES ABOUT IT IN HIS BOOK "THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF
MURDAUGH," WHICH HE ENDS WITH STEPHEN SMITH.
>> IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING AND TRAGIC THAT THE OLDEST STORY,
REMAINS UNSOLVED. >> SOLVING HIS MURDER I THINK
THIS WILL BE THE END OF THIS SWEEPING SAGA.
>> AS S.L.E.D. CONTINUES ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE SMITH CASE
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, WHAT INVESTIGATORS FOUND AFTER THE
MURDAUGH MURDERS REMAINS THE SUBJECT OF INTENSE SPECULATION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE NEW EVIDENCE THAT MAY BE
PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY IS? >> NO.
I DO KNOW THAT S.L.E.D. HAS STEPHEN'S PHONE.
I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE STEPHEN'S TABLET.
>> COULD STEPHEN'S PHONE REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF THE PROMINENT
PERSON WITH WHOM HE TOLD SANDY HE PLANNED TO GO DEEP SEA
FISHING? >> THAT'LL BE INTERESTING WHAT
S.L.E.D. HAS FOUND OUT AND WHAT THE GRAND JURY IS GOING TO
DETERMINE, WHETHER THE PERSON THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO AWAY
WITH DEEP SEA FISHING HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIS DEATH OR
HAS KNOWLEDGE OF HIS DEATH. >> HOW HAS THIS FIGHT FOR
JUSTICE BEEN? >> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD, BUT
IT'S WORTH IT. >> SANDY IS KEEPING THE FAITH
AND KEEPING STEPHEN'S MEMORY ALIVE.
SHE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP IN HIS NAME.
>> WE ARE STARTING THIS SCHOLARSHIP FUND SO OTHER
CHILDREN WON'T HAVE IT AS HARD AS STEPHEN DID.
>> AND SHE'S OFFERING A $30,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING
TO AN ARREST. >> AND NOW A SURE TURN IF YOU
KNOW SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. >> WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT
STEPHEN? >> JUST I MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT
HIM. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK STEPHEN
WOULD THINK OF YOUR FIGHT, WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THIS CASE?
>> HE'D SAY, OH, MAMA, YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR ME?
YEP. >> YEP.
>> I WOULD OVER AND OVER.