Stephen Smith’s mother cited Buster Murdaugh as potential suspect in son’s dying in letter to FBI

Stephen Smith’s mom wrote the FBI a letter in 2016 mentioning Buster Murdaugh as a possible suspect in her son’s suspicious death — and she or he additionally famous the duo’s alleged secret romantic relationship.

In the letter revealed Monday by Match Information, Sandy Smith accused native authorities of “overlaying up crucial proof” with a view to shield Alex Murdaugh’s surviving son.

Stephen, 19, was discovered useless on July 8, 2015 near the 1,700-acre Moselle property, the place Maggie and Paul Murdaugh would be murdered by Alex six years later.

Police initially stated the dying “gave the impression to be a murder,” however in the end dominated he was a sufferer of a hit-and-run.

The grieving mother — who has long disputed the death ruling — said the Murdaugh family involved themselves in Stephen’s death nearly immediately.

“The first call my family received after the murder was from authorities notifying us of Stephen’s death,” Sandy wrote.

“The second came very quickly the same morning from solicitor Randolph Murdaugh. In fact, he called my ex-husband’s cell phone as we waited in the police station for a positive identification. He said he heard of the case and was interested in working pro bono as a liaison between the family and investigators.”

Although confused about how Randolph came upon concerning the dying so shortly, the Smith family accepted the offer from the brother of double killer Alex Murdaugh. However Randolph allegedly ditched the household within the following weeks, nonetheless.

Inside days of Stephen’s dying, a number of youngsters approached his twin sister, Stephanie, to say Buster and Paul had been answerable for the homicide, the letter says.

One other classmate advised Stephen’s older brother, Christopher, that he was current for the assault and watched Buster kill Stephen “with a baseball bat.”

“He claimed it was as a result of Stephen was homosexual,” Sandy wrote.

“The witness stated they had been out smashing mailboxes once they came across Stephen and Buster seized the chance.”

The mom believed Buster, now 26, was carrying on a secret romantic relationship along with her son — a rumor repeated by former classmates and explored on a Netflix documentary.

Stephen had alluded to relationship “somebody from a distinguished household within the county who was hiding his sexuality,” however by no means revealed their title, his mother stated.

Buster –who on Monday “unequivocally” denied “vicious rumors” that he was concerned within the homicide — dumped the automobile he was allegedly driving the night time of the homicide, which police didn’t get well, the letter says.

Sandy identified different inconsistencies within the police investigation and accused officers of “intentionally” derailing the case.

“I used to be approached in September 2015 by a gentleman claiming to find out about a prison case many years in the past that was swept beneath the rug to guard a distinct member of the Murdaugh household,” Sandy stated, with out additional specification.

“This got here as no shock to me. I see historical past repeating itself with my son — nobody right here is making an attempt to unravel our case.”

Officers introduced Tuesday they’re investigating Stephen’s dying as a murder and plan to search for the teenager’s killer after exhuming the physique for extra clues.