Smith, 19, was found dead in the middle of the road miles from Alex Murdaugh's former hunting estate, leading to speculation that the Murdaugh family was involved in his death. However, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has identified Patrick Wilson and Shawn Connelly as persons of interest, neither of whom are Murdaughs. SLED did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Wilson and Connelly could not be reached.
FitsNews founder Will Folks reported that SLED investigators have obtained information which has "reportedly drawn a sharper focus" on Wilson and Connelly as suspects. About five months after Smith's death, Wilson's stepfather, Darrell Williams, called investigators with a tip. Williams said that his stepson had told him Connelly was driving a vehicle when it "struck and killed Stephen Smith."
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Despite the speculation, Eric Bland, a lawyer for Smith's mother, Sandy Smith, told Fox News Digital that there was no evidence the Murdaughs were connected to the killing. Bland added that Smith was openly gay and that his death had the "earmarking of a hate crime."
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The highway patrol report referenced by FitsNews also includes interviews with Smith's twin sister, Stephanie Joyner; a man with whom Smith had a one-night stand; and Smith's then-boyfriend, Marc Bickhardt. Bickhardt exchanged text messages with Smith as late as 3:37 a.m. – less than a half hour before his body was found.
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Pathologist Erin Presnell ruled that Smith's death was a hit-and-run over the objections of highway patrol officers who responded to the scene. However, there were no tire marks in the road, and abrasions on Smith's body did not indicate he had slid across asphalt or debris from a collision. Bickhardt suggested that an escort agency Smith had allegedly worked for may have been involved.
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In one of their final phone calls, Smith told Bickhardt he was out of gas and that he thought he was being followed before the call dropped. Bickhardt recalled hearing "big mud tires" getting louder, which he believes was the last time he talked to Smith.
Drawing on the evidence, SLED has zeroed in on Wilson and Connelly as persons of interest in the 2015 homicide. Despite the speculation, there is no evidence the Murdaughs were involved. Smith's death may have been the result of a hate crime, and investigators are investigating the possibility that an escort agency may have been involved.
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