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Stephen Smith Timeline

South Carolina, Stephen Smith, True Sunlight News

Below is the timeline of Stephen Smith’s death and investigation complied by the LUNASHARK Team.

Click on entry to view document related to timeline event.

2015
June 23 2015
Two weeks before Stephen’s death, his family reported he’d been acting more secretive than normal.
July 7 2015
Stephen’s iPad pinged at Orangeburg Tech, where he was going to school, according to the investigation notes.
Stephen’s iPad pinged at Orangeburg Tech, where he was going to school, according to the investigation notes.
July 7 2015
The last time Stephen’s best friend says she spoke to him via text was between 7:00 & 8:00 pm.
The last time Stephen’s best friend says she spoke to him via text was between 7:00 & 8:00 pm.
July 8 2015
The passing tow-truck driver calls 911 at 3:59 am to report that there was a body lying on Sandy Run Road.
The passing tow-truck driver calls 911 at 3:59 am to report that there was a body lying on Sandy Run Road.
July 8 2015
Hampton County Deputy Michael Bridges arrived on scene at 4:40 am.
Hampton County Deputy Michael Bridges arrived on scene at 4:40 am.
July 8 2015
South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) Cpl. Michael Duncan contacted SCHP Sgt. Booker to inform him that SLED would be taking over the case, as the wound appeared to be consistent with a gunshot. Cpl. Duncan chose not to respond to the scene at that moment.
South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) Cpl. Michael Duncan contacted SCHP Sgt. Booker to inform him that SLED would be taking over the case, as the wound appeared to be consistent with a gunshot. Cpl. Duncan chose not to respond to the scene at that moment.
July 8 2015
Pathologist Dr. Erin Presnell begins Stephen’s autopsy.
Pathologist Dr. Erin Presnell begins Stephen’s autopsy.
July 8 2015
SCHP Lt. Brock contacts Sgt. Booker to inform him that Stephen DID NOT have a gunshot wound.
SCHP Lt. Brock contacts Sgt. Booker to inform him that Stephen DID NOT have a gunshot wound.
July 9 2015
Sgt. Booker met with SCHP F/Sgt. Moore, Cpl. Duncan, SCHP Cpl. Rowell and SLED Special Agent Brittany Burke at Peeples Rhoden Funeral Home to examine Stephen’s body.
Sgt. Booker met with SCHP F/Sgt. Moore, Cpl. Duncan, SCHP Cpl. Rowell and SLED Special Agent Brittany Burke at Peeples Rhoden Funeral Home to examine Stephen’s body.
July 9 2015
Sgt. Booker, Cpl. Duncan and Conley (MAIT team member) arrive at the Sandy Run Road.
Sgt. Booker, Cpl. Duncan and Conley (MAIT team member) arrive at the Sandy Run Road.
July 10 2015
Stephen’s clothing and iPhone were sent to SLED for evidence processing.
Stephen’s clothing and iPhone were sent to SLED for evidence processing.
July 12 2015
Stephen’s funeral was held at Sandy Run Baptist Church with burial following at Gooding Cemetery.
Stephen’s funeral was held at Sandy Run Baptist Church with burial following at Gooding Cemetery.
July 13 2015
Cpl. Duncan interviews the 911 caller.
Cpl. Duncan interviews the 911 caller.
July 14 2015
Cpl. Duncan goes to photograph Stephen’s car at the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office Impound Lot.
Cpl. Duncan goes to photograph Stephen’s car at the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office Impound Lot.
July 14 2015
Cpl. Duncan contacts L/Cpl. Rowell asking for Stephen’s iPad and laptop.
Cpl. Duncan contacts L/Cpl. Rowell asking for Stephen’s iPad and laptop.
July 14 2015
Cpl. Duncan talks to Marc Bickhardt by phone, and then travels to his house for interview. Afterwards, Bickhardt calls Duncan afterwards at 2:12 pm saying he’s not sure about timelines and “just rambled in conversation.”
Cpl. Duncan talks to Marc Bickhardt by phone, and then travels to his house for interview. Afterwards, Bickhardt calls Duncan afterwards at 2:12 pm saying he’s not sure about timelines and “just rambled in conversation.”
July 15 2015
Marc Bickhardt calls Cpl. Duncan frequently throughout the day after his in person interview.
Marc Bickhardt calls Cpl. Duncan frequently throughout the day after his in person interview.

12:34 am – Bickhardt called Duncan twice.

12:35 am – Bickhardt called Duncan and leaves a message.

10:49 am – Bickhardt calls Duncan again.

10:51 am – Bickhardt calls Duncan and leaves another message.

July 17 2015
Cpl. Duncan goes to Hampton to interview Stephanie at DMV office. She says she doesn’t know of anybody having problems with Stephen. Also stated Stephen didn’t talk much about his boyfriend.
Cpl. Duncan goes to Hampton to interview Stephanie at DMV office. She says she doesn’t know of anybody having problems with Stephen. Also stated Stephen didn’t talk much about his boyfriend.
July 17 2015
Cpl. Duncan interviewed Sandy. Sandy tells him that Stephen had a falling out with a friend who worked at Bi-Lo, but that they were friends now. Noted Stephen had been playing hookey from school and not studying as much; acting more secretive.
Cpl. Duncan interviewed Sandy. Sandy tells him that Stephen had a falling out with a friend who worked at Bi-Lo, but that they were friends now. Noted Stephen had been playing hookey from school and not studying as much; acting more secretive.
July 21 2015
Cpl. Duncan spoke with L/Cpl. Rowell who talked to Bi-Lo employee. He and Stephen had apparently been a thing for a little while, but they hadn’t been hanging out.
Cpl. Duncan spoke with L/Cpl. Rowell who talked to Bi-Lo employee. He and Stephen had apparently been a thing for a little while, but they hadn’t been hanging out.
July 21 2015
Cpl. Duncan talked to Lt. Johnson at SLED. They still have unable to unlock Stephen’s phone.
Cpl. Duncan talked to Lt. Johnson at SLED. They still have unable to unlock Stephen’s phone.
July 22 2015
SCHP L/Cpl. Proctor meets with Dr. Erin Presnell at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
SCHP L/Cpl. Proctor meets with Dr. Erin Presnell at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
August 3 2015
Cpl. Duncan calls Lt. Johnson at SLED to make arrangements to pick up Stephen’s iPhone.
Cpl. Duncan calls Lt. Johnson at SLED to make arrangements to pick up Stephen’s iPhone.
August 3 2015
Cpl. Duncan talks to Sandy to see if she can help unlock Stephen’s phone. She states she was the secondary finger print and can meet on “Tuesday” (the next day).
Cpl. Duncan talks to Sandy to see if she can help unlock Stephen’s phone. She states she was the secondary finger print and can meet on “Tuesday” (the next day).
August 3 2015
SCHP Investigator JD James got a call from SLED Agent Michael Moscal regarding trace paint evidence on Stephen’s clothes.
SCHP Investigator JD James got a call from SLED Agent Michael Moscal regarding trace paint evidence on Stephen’s clothes.
August 4 2015
Cpl. Duncan picks the phone up from SLED and notes there was no chain of custody with the phone.
Cpl. Duncan picks the phone up from SLED and notes there was no chain of custody with the phone.
August 4 2015
Cpl. Duncan meets with Sandy and Stephanie in Orangeburg, but they are unable get Stephen’s phone unlocked.
Cpl. Duncan meets with Sandy and Stephanie in Orangeburg, but they are unable get Stephen’s phone unlocked.
August 5 2015
Cpl. Duncan gets the iPad from officer Conley at 8:30am. Then, Duncan returns the iPad back to Stephanie.
Cpl. Duncan gets the iPad from officer Conley at 8:30am. Then, Duncan returns the iPad back to Stephanie.
August 6 2015
Stephanie calls Cpl. Duncan to tell him she has some info; Duncan asks her to email it and she does.
Stephanie calls Cpl. Duncan to tell him she has some info; Duncan asks her to email it and she does.
August 6 2015
Sandy called Cpl. Duncan to tell him she found a footprint at the scene about 200 feet from where Stephen was found.
Sandy called Cpl. Duncan to tell him she found a footprint at the scene about 200 feet from where Stephen was found.
August 11 2015
Cpl. Duncan continues to review information from Stephen’s iPad noting it was at Orangeburg Tech the night before his death.
Cpl. Duncan continues to review information from Stephen’s iPad noting it was at Orangeburg Tech the night before his death.
August 14 2015
Dr. Erin Presnell finalizes Stephen’s autopsy report.
Dr. Erin Presnell finalizes Stephen’s autopsy report.
August 17 2015
Cpl. Duncan calls Marc Bickhardt at 10:54 am and again at 1:10pm. He leaves a voicemail both times.
Cpl. Duncan calls Marc Bickhardt at 10:54 am and again at 1:10pm. He leaves a voicemail both times.
August 18 2015
L/Cpl. Proctor speaks to Coroner Washington about Stephen’s autopsy. When the coroner talked to Dr. Presnell, she said she’d amend autopsy “to read however he wanted it.”
L/Cpl. Proctor speaks to Coroner Washington about Stephen’s autopsy. When the coroner talked to Dr. Presnell, she said she’d amend autopsy “to read however he wanted it.”
August 18 2015
Cpl. Duncan attempts to contact Marc Bickhardt again via phone call and again leaves another voicemail.
Cpl. Duncan attempts to contact Marc Bickhardt again via phone call and again leaves another voicemail.
August 26 2015
Cpl. Duncan calls several possible leads provided by Sandy throughout the day on Aug 26 with no luck.
August 26 2015
Again, Cpl. Duncan trys to contact Marc Bickhardt and he leaves a message after his call goes straight to voicemail.
Again, Cpl. Duncan trys to contact Marc Bickhardt and he leaves a message after his call goes straight to voicemail.
November 17 2015
Sandy calls Cpl. Duncan for an update to the case.
Sandy calls Cpl. Duncan for an update to the case.
November 18 2015
Sandy calls Cpl. Duncan to say she heard on the radio that there had been an arrest made or about to be made in Stephen’s death.
Sandy calls Cpl. Duncan to say she heard on the radio that there had been an arrest made or about to be made in Stephen’s death.
November 19 2015
L/Cpl. Proctor calls the radio station at Cpl. Duncan’s request to find out about the reference. Duncan asked him to find out if it was true and who called in the information.
L/Cpl. Proctor calls the radio station at Cpl. Duncan’s request to find out about the reference. Duncan asked him to find out if it was true and who called in the information.
December 7 2015
SCHP Sgt. Curtis Burns emails Sgt. Booker to tell him to forward the following info to Cpl. Duncan: “Anonymous tip says Dontereo Aiken along with another black male and a white male (Murdaugh) are the ones involved in death. Apparently Mr. Aiken may be willing to talk.”
SCHP Sgt. Curtis Burns emails Sgt. Booker to tell him to forward the following info to Cpl. Duncan: “Anonymous tip says Dontereo Aiken along with another black male and a white male (Murdaugh) are the ones involved in death. Apparently Mr. Aiken may be willing to talk.”
December 7 2015
Cpl. Duncan contacts L/Cpl. Rowell and sends follow up emailed to L/Cpl. Rowell, F/Sgt. Moore, Sgt. Burns and Sgt. Booker about what Rowell needed to do. Duncan sends Proctor the Murdaugh tip and advised him about situation.
Cpl. Duncan contacts L/Cpl. Rowell and sends follow up emailed to L/Cpl. Rowell, F/Sgt. Moore, Sgt. Burns and Sgt. Booker about what Rowell needed to do. Duncan sends Proctor the Murdaugh tip and advised him about situation.
December 18 2015
L/Cpl. Proctor got info from Cpl. Duncan regarding Darrell Williams, Patrick Wilson and Shawn Connelly. Williams says Randy Murdaugh told him to call.
L/Cpl. Proctor got info from Cpl. Duncan regarding Darrell Williams, Patrick Wilson and Shawn Connelly. Williams says Randy Murdaugh told him to call.
2016
January 25 2016
A judge signs a search warrant for Stephen’s phone requestd by L/Cpl. Proctor.
A judge signs a search warrant for Stephen’s phone requestd by L/Cpl. Proctor.
June 13 2016
Sgt. James and SCHP L/Cpl. Hoffman go to interview second male listed in Murdaugh tip as a follow-up.
September 28 2016
Sandy writes letter to FBI requesting their assistance in the investigation. She includes case file information such as 911 call log, incident report, SLED’s crime scene notes, and autopsy report.
Sandy writes letter to FBI requesting their assistance in the investigation. She includes case file information such as 911 call log, incident report, SLED’s crime scene notes, and autopsy report.
2021
June 7 2021
Maggie Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh are killed at Moselle.
June 22 2021
SLED recieved a “request from SLED Chief Mark Keel to conduct a death investigation in Hampton County” for Stephen Smith.
SLED recieved a “request from SLED Chief Mark Keel to conduct a death investigation in Hampton County” for Stephen Smith.
2023
March 22 2023
SLED provides an update on their investigation into Stephen’s death stating it remains a homicide investigation. “Progress has been made, and SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing.”
SLED provides an update on their investigation into Stephen’s death stating it remains a homicide investigation. “Progress has been made, and SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing.”
Click here to access full Stephen Smith case files

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