SLED Investigates 2015 Death of Stephen Smith as Homicide After Alex Murdaugh Conviction

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has announced that it is investigating the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student, as a homicide. Smith’s body was found in the middle of a rural road in South Carolina.

SLED spokesperson Renée Wunderlich said Tuesday that the agency has been investigating Smith’s death since 2021, after learning new information while probing the murders of Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh and her son Paul Murdaugh earlier that month. The investigation was opened in June 2021.

The spokesperson also confirmed that there were no indications in the investigation that Smith’s death was a hit-and-run, which is what an initial incident report deemed the death to be. This confirmation came almost three weeks after Alex Murdaugh, the husband and father of the victims, was convicted of killing his wife and adult son in a highly publicized case.

The lawyers of the Smith family said that the homicide investigation was a major development. They are hopeful that the investigation will bring closure to the family and help them find justice for Stephen Smith.

SLED has not announced any connection between the Murdaugh case and Smith’s death. The agency is continuing to investigate the case and is asking anyone with information to come forward.