Key Witness Investigates 2015 Death of Stephen Smith
In a significant development, a main witness from the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial is spearheading an independent investigation into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith. This witness, forensic investigator Kenny Kinsey, has expressed the belief that someone knows critical information regarding the circumstances of Smith’s death.
Kinsey testified for the prosecution during Murdaugh’s 2023 trial. In response to an article by investigative reporter Anne Emerson, he mentioned that a crucial opportunity was overlooked in the early investigation of Smith’s case after examining the available evidence.
Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student and former classmate of Buster Murdaugh, was discovered dead on July 8, 2015, in rural Hampton County, South Carolina. His body was found on a road a few miles away from the Murdaugh family’s hunting lodge.
At the time, Smith—who was openly gay—was reported to have died after his vehicle broke down. A passerby called 911 upon seeing him. Authorities initially labeled the incident as a hit-and-run due to a severe skull fracture he sustained.
Kinsey has gone through the original investigative file, assessed a second autopsy, and conducted interviews with law enforcement. Additionally, he revisited the stretch of road where Smith was found.
While he pointed out that forensic analysis indicated Smith’s injuries were vehicle-related, he refrained from detailing how the injuries specifically occurred.
Kinsey emphasized that it’s the responsibility of investigators to pinpoint the culprit. “I don’t know who it is,” he admits, adding that identifying the perpetrator requires further research.
In a podcast, Kinsey discussed what he terms “opportunity costs” present in early legal stages, suggesting that delays and jurisdiction issues can complicate investigations. “Memories fade. People leave this earth,” he remarked, highlighting the urgency in seeking resolution.
The inquiry into Smith’s death was reactivated in June 2021, shortly after the shooting of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh on a hunting property. Investigators from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) indicated they found details related to Smith’s case while looking into the Murdaugh murders but withheld further specifics.
In 2023, SLED classified Smith’s death as a homicide, leading to an exhumation and a subsequent second autopsy. Although the findings have yet to be disclosed, Dr. Michel Dupre, who conducted the autopsy, stated that Smith’s injuries appeared to be consistent with being struck by a vehicle moving at a high speed.
Years of speculation have linked Smith’s death to the Murdaugh family, but Kinsey has seen no evidence supporting these allegations. “I didn’t see anything that would lead me to infer that that was true,” he stated when discussing the rumors.
As the anniversary of Smith’s passing approaches—July 8, 2026, marking 11 years since his death—his mother persists in seeking answers. Meanwhile, authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest and conviction in the ongoing case.
