Police said Alex Murdaugh orchestrated his own shooting in a botched assisted suicide scheme, designed so his surviving son can collect a $10 million life insurance payment.Ĭurtis Edward Smith, 61, was arrested on charges of assisted suicide, assault and battery, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. September 14, 2021: Police arrest alleged hitman in Alex's shooting In a statement he says: 'I'm resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated these murders.' September 6, 2021: Alex resigns from law firm He only had 'surface' wounds and was also able to call his brother. September 4, 2021: Alex calls 911 claiming he's been shot in the head in a drive-by The firm has hired a forensic investigator to go through the accounts. September 3, 2021: Alex resigns from his law firm amid claims he misused funds The father died just three days later, following a battle with cancer. June 10, 2021: Alex's 81-year-old father Randolph Murdaugh III dies 'naturally' and 'peacefully' at homeĪlex Murdaugh's alibi for the night of his wife and son's murder was that he was visiting his ailing father in the hospital. The murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh shocked South Carolina, where the family were well known as a political and legal dynasty.Īlex's father Randolph Murdaugh III died 'peacefully' at home three days after Maggie and Paul were found shot dead Murdaugh, 63, has also been charged with 99 counts of financial crimes relating to allegedly defrauding his law firm and its clients of $8.8million. His lawyers have filed an appeal against the conviction. Investigators have never revealed if there was a link between Smith's death and the Murdaugh family, even after witnesses allegedly gave tips linking them together.īuster's father Alex Murdaugh is currently serving two consecutive life sentences after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife and son in March. 'As a family, it was suspicious to us since he had taken such an immediate interest in the case and then became unreachable so quickly,' the mother wrote at the time. 'We also weren't sure how he found out so quickly – even before it was confirmed to be our son,' the mother wrote to the FBI.Īfter Smith's death, his twin sister Stephanie also was allegedly approached 'multiple times by peers' who claimed the Murdaughs were involved. In fact, he called my ex-husband's cell phone as we waited in the police station for a positive identification,' the letter continued. 'The second came very quickly the same morning from solicitor Randolph Murdaugh. 'The first call my family received after the murder was from authorities notifying us of Stephen's death,' she wrote at the time. Smith said the Murdaughs inserted themselves into their lives after Smith's death - even before he was confirmed to have been the 'hit and run' victim. 'This investigation is being deliberately derailed,' the grieving mother wrote. In the statement released in March 2023, Buster called the rumors 'baseless' He claimed it was because Stephen was gay.' 'He said that Solicitor Murdaugh's nephew, Buster Murdaugh (who graduated with Stephen) beat Stephen to death with a baseball bat. This person told Chris he was present when Stephen was murdered and witnessed everything first hand. In the letter Smith wrote: 'Chris was approached at work by a young man he did not know. In a 2016 letter to the FBI that resurfaced earlier this week, Sandy Smith implicated Buster Murdaugh in her son's death and alleged he beat Stephen to death with a baseball bat because he was gay. Smith has accused local authorities of 'covering up critical evidence' in order to protect Alex Murdaugh's surviving son - who was allegedly in a secret romantic relationship with Stephen. In a statement released in March 2023 Buster vehemently denied the 'baseless' and 'vicious rumors' that he was involved in Smith's death. Sandy Smith, has previously said her suspicions about who killed her son lie with Buster Murdaugh.
#BUSTER MILES FORD UPDATE#
The attorney also hinted that a grand jury is empaneled, but no further details have emerged as grand jury proceedings are held in secret.īland added that he expects a public update on the case by the end of the summer: 'I really do feel like by Labor Day, we should see some sign of movement and know some things publicly.' Now Eric Bland, attorney for the Smith family, has told Newsnation that 'substantial' progress is being made in the investigation. Stephen's death was initially ruled a hit-and-run but was later reopened in 2021 and ruled a homicide in March 2023, with Smith's mother Sandy Smith alleging that Buster was involved.
#BUSTER MILES FORD TRIAL#
Murdaugh was with his girlfriend Brooklynn White, who accompanied him every day to his father's trial
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