In a shocking turn of events, new evidence has emerged connecting Buster Murdaugh, the surviving son of convicted double-murderer lawyer Alex Murdaugh, to the enigmatic 2015 death of his close friend, 19-year-old nursing student Stephen Smith. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SCLE) has reopened the homicide investigation, and plans are underway to exhume Smith's body in an effort to uncover the truth.

Smith's body was initially found on a rural road approximately 15 miles from the 1,700-acre estate where Alex Murdaugh would later murder his wife, Maggie, and son Paul. Although the cause of death was initially determined to be a hit-and-run, new evidence suggests a more sinister scenario.

Recently released crime scene photos reveal Smith's body in the road, surrounded by blood, with a partially crushed skull and a large hole in his forehead. Forensic expert Shannon Beekhuizen, who holds a degree in crime scene technology and has studied the case for almost a year, asserts, "It was murder."

Early in the investigation, suspicion fell on Buster Murdaugh, who attended high school with Smith and may have been romantically involved with him. Now 26, Buster has dismissed claims of his involvement in Smith's death as "baseless rumors."

However, Sandy Smith, Stephen's mother, alleges that a "young man" informed her other son, Chris, that Buster attacked Stephen with a baseball bat because of his sexual orientation. She says, "The witness said they were out smashing mailboxes when they came upon Stephen, and Buster seized the opportunity."

Despite the evidence pointing to murder, the coroner initially concluded that Stephen was struck by the side-view mirror of a passing truck, which was never located. However, some investigators noted the lack of skid marks, broken glass, or vehicular debris near the body, as well as the fact that his shoes and cellphone remained on his person.

Beekhuizen believes Stephen's death was the result of foul play, but she is uncertain of Buster's involvement. She says, "Stephen was hanging around with a lot of people who indulged in very risky behavior including drugs and money laundering. He may have known too much about some bad stuff."

Veteran investigator Paul Huebl agrees that exhuming Stephen's body is warranted. He adds, "He could have been killed because of what he knew about Buster or because of what Buster had told him about his father. His death smells and demands more investigation."