The “Hidden Killers” podcast, hosted by Tony Brueski, recently invited Eric Bland, the attorney representing the family of Stephen Smith, to shed light on the ongoing investigation into Smith's death. Several years ago, Smith's demise near Alex Murdaugh's estate sparked speculation, rumors, and accusations of a cover-up.

 

During the interview, Bland provided insight into the investigation, which is currently in full swing this summer. Specifically, he addressed the possibility that Smith's death was not a traditional hit-and-run, but rather involved a different attack, like being struck by an object from a moving car.

 

“I’m a straightforward guy. I can admit when I may have been wrong," Bland admitted. Initially, he suspected Smith was killed elsewhere and later deposited on the road to mimic a hit-and-run scenario. However, subsequent findings led him to reconsider.

 

Bland explained that the second autopsy, which he couldn’t delve into due to the ongoing investigation, yielded conclusions despite complications from the cracked vault. A key revelation from this autopsy was the presence of multiple fractures on Smith's head.

 

"These were not the results of somebody standing over him with a baseball bat and hitting him," said Bland. He also noted the absence of defensive wounds, suggesting that the attack might have caught Smith off-guard.

 

Bland further discussed the limitations of the autopsy in ascertaining the cause of Smith's death. "The autopsy isn't going to be able to answer that," he said. Instead, testimony from people and accident reconstruction specialists working with autopsy results can help formulate a theory on how Smith died.

 

Responding to Brueski's question about new findings from the second autopsy, Bland suggested the original pathologist may have been influenced by the facts presented. He did not fault her for concluding that Smith's death resulted from a vehicular accident, stating, "Pathologists are humans...you can't help but be affected by facts."

 

Reflecting on the case's developments since 2015, Bland underscored the significance of context. "In 2015, Steven died later; he's the first and only one. But now, in 2023, you look back and say, man, five dead bodies in front of this family. Should we look at this differently? And that's what's being done."

 

Bland's revelations bring to light the complexities of the Stephen Smith investigation, offering a fresh perspective on the circumstances of his death. The ongoing investigation and the recent autopsy suggest that more answers about Smith's mysterious death might be on the horizon. This development reinforces the importance of thorough and context-sensitive investigations, reminding us that searching for truth often involves revisiting and questioning initial assumptions.

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