"It's a day I've been waiting for. The best news I've heard in eight years," Sandy Smith said to News 4 about her son Stephen's case becoming a homicide investigation.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) made the official announcement on March 21, following an announcement from the Smith family's legal team Bland-Richter.
Bland-Richter said after a phone call with SLED chief Mark Keel, "SLED revealed they were waiting until the (Alex) Murdaugh trial was over before making the announcement out of concern that witnesses would not be as forthcoming under the Murdaugh sphere of influence."
SLED also told the law firm more resources are being devoted to Stephen Smith's case now that Murdaugh's trial is over. Murdaugh was found guilty of killing his wife Maggie and son Paul this month. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Sandy said since Stephen was found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County in 2015, she knew her son was not hit by a car. His death was originally classified as a vehicular homicide and Sandy is hopeful this homicide declaration will lead to more answers.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol's (SCHP) records show the Murdaugh name was brought up over a dozen times during the initial investigation.
"Buster's name came up multiple times in interviews and a lot of these people didn't want to be I guess on the record," said Tommy Moore, a former SCHP lieutenant and alleged financial victim of Murdaugh. "What I heard then - all basically (the) same story.
"Another state trooper was out there walking the scene and here come the Murdaughs," Sandy said. "(The SCHP) knew (the Murdaughs) were there to look at stuff, find out what going on. They told them they had to leave."
Sandy said at the time of Stephen's death, there were a lot of rumors from his friends about who killed him.
"I said Stephanie, (we) can't listen to everything we hear," she said. "People will talk, he wouldn't have any reason to hurt Stephen. Then, (the Murdaughs) kept inserting themselves and I thought something's not kosher here. Why do they keep inserting themselves?"
Sandy said Stephen's father, Joel, also heard from another Murdaugh.
"As Joel was waiting at the sheriff's department for TC Smalls to get him to identify Stephen, Randy Murdaugh called him and wanted to help in the investigation," Smith said. "Joel was grieving, said yeah. We talked to him a few times I even talked to him a few times. Now, he's calling us a liar, but (not) the first time I was called a liar."
News 4 reached out to the spokesperson for Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh's defense attorneys, on March 22.
The attorneys released a statement on behalf of Buster Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh's surviving son, earlier this week. It said in part, "These baseless rumors of my involvement with Stephen and his death are false. I unequivocally deny any involvement in his death, and my heart goes out to the Smith family."
Griffin and Harppotlian said no further statement will be issued.