Stephen Smith’s family has been searching for answers for more than ten years. His mother, Sandy, has written and called local, state, and federal politicians. She has appealed to the FBI. She has appeared on local, national, and international news stories, documentaries, and television shows and her message has been constant: she just wants the truth about what happened to her son on July 8, 2015.

Stephen is pictured above with his twin sister, Stephanie. They shared the same hair color, eye shape, and their secrets. Stephen told Stephanie he was dating someone in the summer of 2015, but wouldn’t say who, only that he was from “high-society people,” which struck Stephanie as strange. After Stephen’s death, she heard rumor after rumor that it was one of “the Murdaugh boys.”

Stephen’s mother, Sandy, has been spearheading the movement to find out who killed her son. She reached out to Mandy after the boat crash. She had a binder full of information highlighted with her concerns. She’s made herself available for countless interviews — something not every family is willing or able to do.

Erin Lee Car is a force of nature.

Her drive and talent are nearly impossible to describe, but are encapsulated by her work. By the age of 37 (which, by the way, is young to be this accomplished) she’s been nominated for two Emmys, has created documentaries for HBO like “The Ringleader: the Case of the Bling Ring,” “Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall,” and “At the Heart of Gold:Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal,” for Netflix like “Britney Vs Spears,” and, obviously, “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” for Hulu.

She grew up in Minnesota, then moved to D.C, then New Jersey for her dad’s job. Erin is the daughter of David Carr — the New York Times columnist. Erin has been transparent about her relationship with her dad, both in her book and in interviews. Both Carrs struggled with substance abuse and fought hard to get clean. She traces both her substance abuse and her gift of storytelling back to her dad.

Erin has navigated moral complexity since childhood — which is one reason why she was able to portray the complex Murdaugh dynamic so beautifully.

Before Hampton County was known for the Murdaughs, it was known for the Watermelon festival. Hampton County is one of the state’s top watermelon producers, and the once three-day long festival — which first happened in 1939 — has grown to eight days, complete with a beauty contest and a Grand Marshall.

The Grand Marshall is Hampton County’s symbolic king. And guess who was the Grand Marshall just a few months after Mallory Beach’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him? No, not Alex, but close. Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh III, Alex’s dad, Paul’s grandfather, Handsome, the former solicitor, the guy who prevented Paul from taking a sobriety test the night of the crash… whatever you want to call him. 

More than 100 people signed a petition to prevent Randolph from being the Grand Marshall. 

“Given the well-publicized and very current controversy surrounding Randolph Murdaugh III and his family, it is inappropriate to have him serve as Grand Marshal of this year’s Hampton County Watermelon Festival,” wrote petitioner Connie Whitehead.

The 172 signatures were to no avail — Randolph still got the title.

In July 2023, Liz Farrell interviewed attorney Mark Tinsley in True Sunlight Podcast Episode 8 in connection to the $15 million settlement the Beach family reached with Parker’s Kitchen in the wrongful death lawsuit.

Mark provided listeners a detailed explanation to the complex civil case filed shortly after Mallory’s death, emphasizing that the settlement was ultimately about Greg Parker and Parker’s Kitchen accepting responsibility for selling alcohol to Paul Murdaugh.

Mark also delves into the second civil lawsuit that emerged from the original wrongful death lawsuit. While the wrongful death suit has been officially resolved, the civil conspiracy & outrage lawsuit, filed in December 2021, remains pending against Greg Parker and others.

Sandy Smith’s story of loss and frustration with the legal system is both heartbreaking and powerful — a reminder of why victims and their families deserve to be heard. In recognition of her courage and advocacy, the 2024 Kansas Crime Victims’ Rights Conference invited both Mandy Matney and Sandy Smith to speak about victims’ rights and the impact of the media on the pursuit of justice.

In addition to the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, Mandy’s book Blood on Their Hands became a key resource for producers, writers, and cast on Hulu’s “Murdaugh: Death in the Family.” The book not only chronicled the events but also provided crucial context that helped bring the story to life on screen.

Below is an excerpt from Mandy’s book connecting the loss of her brother, Michael, to Olivia’s pain around Mallory’s death.

You’ve probably already noticed, or heard, that Mandy, David, and Liz cameo in the Watermelon Festival scene — but did you know that Mark Tinsley did, too? 

Mark talks about his time with Jason Clarke, who plays Alex, on set in COJ 150. Jason, as the incredible actor he is, asked Mark questions to learn more about Alex Murdaugh.

This behind-the-scenes photo album also offers a glimpse into Stephen Smith’s storyline — and even features the car Mandy was driving at the time she was first investigating Stephen’s story. 

After Brittany Snow drove Mandy’s Chevy Equinox on the scene of Murdaugh: Death in the Family, Mandy donated it to Liza’s Lifeline, a South Carolina nonprofit that helps women escape abuse.

“I was angry to hear how many women were stuck in abusive relationships (because) they didn’t have access to important resources like a car,” Mandy wrote in an Instagram post. “I really wanted my car to help a woman during that terrifying time of leaving an abuser.”

Alex and Maggie purchased a home in Edisto in December 2002 for $415,000 according to property records. After the boat crash, Maggie reportedly spent more and more time at the house on Edisto Beach to escape the scrutiny she was facing around town because of Paul’s actions. During Alex’s murder trial,  Maggie’s sister, Marion Proctor, testified that she had encouraged Maggie to leave the beach house and go to Moselle the day of the homicides so that she could go with Alex to see Randolph III, who was dying of lung cancer.

The Edisto home was sold for $920,000 after Maggie’s death with proceeds going to Buster Murdaugh and the boat crash victims.

Photo from previous real estate listing on Homes.com

The case remains unsolved, but thanks to Stephen’s family’s dedication, it has stayed in the sunlight. There’s a Stephen Smith memorial scholarship. In July 2025, the Luna Shark team helped organize a 3.2-mile walk from the crime scene to Stephen’s grave.

Stephen’s body was exhumed for an independent autopsy in 2023, and the case was reopened in 2021 after being closed in 2016. There has been some movement towards justice for Stephen, but the road ahead is still long. 

There’s a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest — email tips@sled.sc.gov if you have any information.

Re-live the vibes with LUNASHARK’s Soundtrack Playlist, available on Spotify.