Buster Murdaugh has denied “vicious rumors” that he was involved in Stephen Smith’s death after the teen’s family raised $60,000 to exhume his body.
The 26-year-old surviving son of double murderer Alex Murdaugh released a statement on Monday saying the speculation has “been going on for way too long.”
Buster, who supported his doomed father every day during his trial last month, said he wanted privacy to “mourn the brutal murders of my mother and brother.”
He wrote, “I unequivocally deny any involvement in his death, and my heart goes out to the Smith family. I request that the media immediately stop publishing these defamatory comments and rumors about me.”
It comes after Smith’s family announced last week that the body of the 19-year-old nursing student would be exhumed for a private autopsy.
Buster, who supported his doomed father every day during his trial last month, said he wanted privacy to “mourn the brutal murders of my mother and brother.”
Stephen Smith’s family raised $60,000 to exhume his body and announced they would re-investigate the teen’s death
Smith was found dead on July 8, 2015 on a rural road near the Murdaugh estate of blunt force trauma to the head.
His family announced they will exhume his body following the newfound focus on the case after Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murder.
The teen’s death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but highway police officers have since claimed they don’t believe the scene was consistent with a traffic accident.
Patrol officers told state law enforcement they believed the teen had been murdered, but there was no further investigation.
Since then, two documentaries from HBO and Netflix have aired rumors that Buster was in a romantic relationship with Smith.
Lawyers for the Smith family said at a news conference today that they “do not accept” that the cause of his death was vehicular manslaughter.
Ronnie Richter, partner at Bland Richter LLP, said: ‘It will be difficult to open an investigation after eight years, but it must start with an exhumation of his body and an independent determination of the true cause of death, which we do not accept as manslaughter to be with a vehicle.
“Stephen has the right not to have his grave disturbed, just like other people who are buried.
Alex Murdaugh (left) is convicted of the murders of his wife Maggie (second from left) and youngest son Paul (second from right)
In Monday’s statement, shared by Jim Griffin, Alex Murdaugh’s trial attorney, Buster called the allegations “baseless”
“So we’re going to have to petition the court, show facts to suggest that another look — another autopsy — may yield a different conclusion that Stephen was not murdered on Sandy Run Road in Bamberg County. That he might have been killed somewhere else.’
His mother Sandy said she wants to find the “real reason” for her son’s death, and maintains her opinion that he “would have walked through the woods” if his car broke down – not the road.
In the statement Monday, shared by Jim Griffin, Alex Murdaugh’s attorney, Buster wrote: “I have done my best to ignore the vile rumors about my involvement in the tragic death of Stephen Smith that continue to be published in the media, while I mourn the brutal death. murders of my mother and brother.
“I love them so much and miss them terribly. I haven’t said anything yet because I want to live privately while facing their death and my father’s incarceration.
“Before, during and since my father’s trial, I have been targeted and harassed by the media and followers of this story.
“This has gone on for far too long. These unfounded rumors about my involvement with Stephen and his death are false.
Smith was found dead on July 8, 2015 on a rural road near the Murdaugh estate of blunt force trauma to the head
A GoFundMe for Stephen Smith, who passed away in 2015, has surpassed his goal. Buster Murdaugh’s name has long been associated with Smith’s
“I unequivocally deny any involvement in his death and my heart goes out to the Smith family.
“I request that the media immediately stop publishing these defamatory comments and rumors about me.”
Authorities reopened the investigation into Smith’s death in June 2021 following information that came to light during the investigation into the deaths of Maggie and Paul.
However, they have never publicly admitted whether there was any connection between Smith’s death and the Murdaugh family – despite witnesses claiming there was a possibility of foul play with Buster.
A Netflix documentary explored their alleged relationship, though Buster declined to comment at the time.
More than half of the people interviewed during the investigation said they had heard rumors of Buster Murdaugh’s possible involvement in Smith’s death, but were never brought in for questioning.
Maggie Murdaugh is seen with her husband Alex and sons Buster (right) and Paul (left). Paul was shot dead next to her in June 2021
A Netflix documentary explored their alleged relationship, though Buster declined to comment at the time
Eric Bland, a lawyer who now represents Stephen Smith’s mother, Sandy, said, “As we sit here today, Buster is a victim. He lost a mother, brother, now his father is in prison.
“We don’t know at all that Buster or the Murdaughs have anything to do with this at this point.”
Buster is currently believed to be hiding out at his lawyer girlfriend’s property in Hilton Head, and was seen walking dogs on the property several times during the trial.
Smith’s mother, Sandy, shared the news on a GoFundMe page that they would exhume her son’s body and conduct an independent autopsy.
She wrote, “Our family is so grateful to all of you for coming together to help us in our fight for justice for Stephen.
“When we started this fundraiser, I couldn’t have imagined it would take off at such a pace. Thank you for not allowing Stephen’s story to be swept under the rug.”
It comes as Maggie Murdaugh’s friends first broke their silence after her husband was convicted of murder.
The 52-year-old was described as a “fun and witty” woman who was devoted to her sons and husband.
Caroline Price said she was concerned Maggie’s story had been drowned out by the noise surrounding the case
Shellie West lived with Maggie Murdaugh after graduating from the University of South Carolina
Maggie’s friends said they felt like she was lost in the scandalous saga, telling CBS News that she wanted people to know “she was fun.”
Shellie West said: ‘She had a personality, that she was witty. She liked things. She loved her family.’
“She wasn’t the type of person to stand out in a crowd, but she was always there, you know, supporting everyone.”
Caroline Price said she “definitely” felt Maggie’s personality was being drowned out in the coverage.
The three had been friends since they attended the University of South Carolina together.
Price was Murdaugh’s “big sister” in the Kappa Delta sorority; Murdaugh and West lived together after graduation.
Both women were at the Murdaughs’ wedding. Price said Alex was “larger than life” while Maggie Murdaugh “wasn’t flashy at all.”
Price continued, “She loved her family. I mean, her boys. She was also very close to her parents and her sister.
“She was a dutiful woman, you know, she supported Alex.”
West added, “She was a person, she was a mother, she was a sister, she was a friend, she was a daughter.”
‘You know, she’s not ‘the woman who was murdered’. I mean, we don’t want her to be remembered that way.’
Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to two consecutive life terms on March 3. On March 9, his lawyers filed a notice to appeal the conviction.