Murdaugh Adjacent? | The Death of Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith died mysteriously in 2015 in South Carolina.

Though his death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, it has more recently gained attention following the 2021 murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, which lead to the reopening of his case two years ago. The Murdaugh family was mentioned in the initial investigation, but no charges were filed.

Smith was found dead with a large gash on his forehead, a partially dislocated shoulder, and cuts and bruises on his hand. Authorities initially thought Smith had been shot, but no bullet or fragments were found. In March 2023, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) officially ruled Smith's death as a homicide.

In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and reporter Dave Mack discuss what types of injuries one sustains when hit by a vehicle, why Joe and Dave think the perpetrator was likely a local, exhumation, mirror strikes, and more. 

Show Notes:

0:00 - Intro

1:26 - Encountering unexpected road obstacles

4:30 - Open homicide with lots to still investigate

6:45 - What happens when you call 911?

11:10 - Misidentifying a gunshot wound as a hit and run

13:00 - Joe describes types of injuries and evidence left on a vehicle when it strikes a pedestrian

20:40 -  Why Joe and Dave think the perpetrator was likely a local

22:10 - Besides head trauma, what other physical damage would you expect to see in a hit and run case?

23:40 - What is a mirror strike?

27:25 -  Exhumation and its challenges

34:00 - The importance of thorough examination including high-quality imaging and analysis 

38:25 - Outro

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