Richard Alexander (Buster) Murdaugh, Jr. has filed a defamation lawsuit against several media companies and one individual personally claiming the defendants’ statements were “defamatory and falsely accused the Plaintiff of being involved in the murder of Stephen Smith.” The lawsuit further states Buster Murdaugh’s reputation has been “irreparably damaged and he has suffered mental anguish.” The lawsuit names Blackfin, Inc., Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., Warner Media Entertainment Pages, Inc., Campfire Studios Inc., The Cinemart LLC, Netflix Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., and Michael M. Dewitt, Jr. as defendants. The defamation suit lists several docuseries titled “Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty”, “Lowcountry: The Murdaugh Dynasty”, and “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” that allude to Buster Murdaugh’s involvement in Stephen Smith’s death visually and/or verbally. Murdaugh declares the statements were false and defamatory and is seeking actual and punitive damages due to the defendants’ false accusations of him being involved in the murder of Stephen Smith.
In 2015 Stephen Smith was found deceased on Sandy Run Road. The incident was initially declared a hit and run cause of death undetermined. However, when Alex Murdaugh was investigated, arrested, and tried for the murder of his wife Maggie and son Paul, it brought new attention to Smith’s death. His body was exhumed and a second autopsy was performed and Smith’s death was ultimately ruled as a homicide.
Murdaugh’s suit further states that news sources are now reporting Smith’s demise “is being considered for a statewide grand jury , and the media has reported on individuals unrelated to Plaintiff allegedly being involved in his death.” Though Murdaugh has been falsely accused of harming Smith, he has not been notified by any law enforcement agencies of allegations against him.
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