In an exclusive interview for the Fox Nation documentary “The Fall of the House of Murdoch,” Buster Murdaugh vehemently denied any involvement in the death of his high school classmate, Stephen Smith. This marks the first time Murdaugh has publicly addressed the allegations since his father, Alex Murdaugh’s, double murder trial earlier this year.
Buster Murdaugh during the Fox Nation interview
Buster Murdaugh’s name has been circulating in connection with Smith’s death for years, fueled by small-town rumors and amplified by podcasts and documentaries. Smith, an openly gay teenager, was found dead in the middle of a road in Hampton County in July 2015. While the initial autopsy ruled his death a hit-and-run, the manner of death remained undetermined.
The Murdaugh family name surfaced multiple times during the investigation, with some witnesses claiming to have heard rumors linking Buster to Smith. Despite the lack of charges, the speculation surrounding Buster’s involvement intensified after Smith’s mother raised funds to exhume her son’s body for a second autopsy.
During the Fox Nation interview, conducted by Martha McCallum, Buster addressed the rumors directly. He refuted claims of a romantic relationship with Smith, stating, “I did not have any personal intimate relations with Stephen… I never had anything to do with his murder and I never had anything to do with him on a physical level of any regard.”
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Stephen Smith, whose death remains unsolved
Buster also addressed specific allegations, including one from Smith’s brother, who claimed that someone approached him alleging Buster was involved in a group assault on Smith with a baseball bat. Buster firmly denied these claims, calling them “absolutely baseless rumors.”
When questioned about his whereabouts on the night of Smith’s death, Buster maintained he was at the family’s Edisto Beach house with his mother, Maggie, and younger brother, Paul. Tragically, both Maggie and Paul were murdered on June 7, 2021, a crime for which Alex Murdaugh is currently serving two life sentences.
Alex Murdaugh, Buster's father, was convicted of murdering his wife and son
The impact of these accusations on Buster’s reputation has been significant. “It’s a terrible thing to place on somebody with absolutely no fact,” he shared with McCallum. “I mean, it has harmed my reputation. I mean, people perceive me as a murderer.”
While the results of the second autopsy on Stephen Smith remain undisclosed, his family’s attorney confirmed to Law and Crime that a state grand jury is investigating the case. The premiere of “The Fall of the House of Murdoch” on Fox Nation on August 31st is expected to shed further light on this complex and tragic story.
