Buster Murdaugh, a member of the prominent South Carolina legal family, has publicly denied any involvement in the 2015 death of his former classmate, Stephen Smith. In a statement issued to the media, Murdaugh vehemently refuted the "vicious and baseless" rumors that have circulated, linking him to Smith's mysterious death.

The 19-year-old Smith was found dead in 2015 on a rural road in Hampton County, South Carolina, with severe head injuries. Initially, the South Carolina Highway Patrol investigated the case as a possible hit-and-run, but the lack of evidence supporting this theory led to the case being handed over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). However, no arrests were ever made, and Smith's death remains unsolved.

The Murdaugh family, well-known for their legal prowess in South Carolina, has faced significant public scrutiny in recent years, with several members being implicated in multiple high-profile cases. Buster Murdaugh's statement comes after his brother, Paul Murdaugh, was charged with the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, and the subsequent double homicide of Paul and his mother, Maggie, in 2021.

In his statement, as reported by the New York Post, Buster Murdaugh expressed his frustration with the ongoing rumors, saying, "I have remained silent about a number of things related to my family, but I will not remain silent about the vicious and baseless rumors that I had any involvement in the tragic death of my classmate and friend, Stephen Smith." He added, "These hurtful rumors are absolutely false."

Fox News reports that Murdaugh's statement also revealed that he has offered his full cooperation to SLED in their investigation, including providing a DNA sample and answering any questions asked by investigators. Furthermore, Murdaugh emphasized his desire for the truth to come to light, stating, "I hope that one day soon, the person or persons responsible for Stephen's death are brought to justice."

According to WYFF4, SLED reopened Smith's case in June 2021 following the double homicide of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh. Since then, the agency has been actively investigating any potential connections between the cases.

Buster Murdaugh's statement is a rare public declaration from a family that has remained largely silent amid the multiple tragedies and legal cases that have plagued them in recent years. As the search for the truth continues, both the Murdaugh family and the community of Hampton County are left to grapple with the lingering questions and uncertainty surrounding these unsolved cases.