Exhumation Ordered for Teenager's Body in Murdaugh Hit-and-Run Case

The body of Stephen Smith, a teenager found dead in a hit-and-run in 2015 near the Murdaugh estate, will be exhumed for an independent autopsy. The case has gained renewed interest in the wake of Alex Murdaugh's arrest and murder conviction. Smith's mother plans to use the funds raised on a GoFundMe page to pay for the exhumation and autopsy. The investigation into Smith's death was reopened by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in June 2021, and SLED has announced that it remains active and ongoing. Smith's mother believes there is more to her son's death than a hit-and-run and wants an unbiased look at his body to determine the cause of death.