"Updates on Stephen Smith Homicide Investigation in South Carolina"

South Carolina authorities have officially declared the death of Stephen Smith a homicide, upgrading it from an assumed hit-and-run accident. Smith's death has been shrouded in mystery since 2015, with the Murdaugh family's name frequently mentioned in connection to the case. The announcement comes after the conviction of Alex Murdaugh for the murders of his wife and son, and the reopening of the investigation into Smith's death. No charges or indictments have been issued yet, but the investigation is ongoing. Smith's family has raised funds to have his body exhumed and independently autopsied.