Stephen smith parents have declared that they will unearth his body following inquiries about his 2015 demise, which came to light during the inquiry into the killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.
Smith was discovered deceased on a rural road not far from the Murdaugh residence, with state police initially suggesting that he had been struck by a vehicle while walking for help after experiencing car issues.
However, fresh evidence found during the dual murder investigation has provoked doubts about the cause of his demise, and his family has collected over $44,000 to finance an independent autopsy.
The determination to unearth Smith’s body comes after his mother, Sandy Smith, initiated a GoFundMe page to raise funds for an independent autopsy.
In South Carolina, the closest relative can request a permit to unearth a body, and the Smith family hopes that this will offer a new, impartial examination of his body and an accurate determination of his cause of death based on evidence.
During the inquiry into the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, state police discovered new evidence about Smith’s death, prompting them to reopen the case in June 2021.
Smith was found deceased on a South Carolina road in the early morning hours, with blunt force trauma to his head. His yellow Chevy was discovered about three miles away, with his wallet inside and the car’s gas cap unscrewed.
However, some officers disagreed with the original conclusion that he had been struck by a car, as there was no debris in the road and Smith was still found with his shoes on, which is an uncommon outcome for victims of vehicular accidents.
Seth Stoughton, a law professor at the University of South Carolina, has also raised doubts about the original conclusion, stating that it certainly raises uncertainties about whether hit and run is the correct conclusion.
Smith’s family believes that he was murdered, and an independent autopsy will offer them an impartial determination of his cause of death based on evidence.
The family has been inundated by the outpouring of love and support they have received from the community, with the fundraising page raising almost three times its original goal of $15,000.
They are grateful for the support of Standing for Stephen and the community as a whole in shining a light on Stephen’s story and the lack of justice.
An independent autopsy costs about $7,000, and private autopsy firms online advertise costs for an exhumation autopsy ranging from $3,000 to $6,500.
The determination to unearth Stephen Smith’s body comes after inquiries were raised about his 2015 demise during the inquiry into the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.
His family hopes that an independent autopsy will accurately determine his cause of death based on evidence, and they are grateful for the support of Standing for Stephen and the community.
The case emphasizes the significance of conducting thorough investigations and seeking independent autopsies when inquiries emerge about the cause of death.
