Buster Murdaugh, the last living son of disgraced legal scion and double-murderer Alex Murdaugh, has filed a defamation lawsuit against several entertainment and media companies, including Netflix, Warner Brothers and Gannett.
The lawsuit also takes aim at Blackfin, Inc., Campfire Studio, The Cinemart, and Michael M. DeWitt, Jr., the editor of Hampton County Guardian, which is published by Gannett.
The suit accuses the defendants of releasing a series of documentaries and stories wrongfully linking him to the death of his former classmate, 19-year-old Stephen Smith, according to documents obtained by WCSC.
Smith’s body was found on a South Carolina Road in Hampton County on July 8, 2015. An autopsy determined Smith died from injuries after he was struck by a vehicle, with authorities concluding he was killed in a hit-and-run.
Investigators reopened Smith’s case following the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, who were both found fatally shot on June 7, 2021 near a kennel area on the family’s sweeping “Moselle” hunting estate.
In March 2023, Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of the slayings following a dramatic six-week trial, during which he repeatedly denied killing his loved ones. He was sentenced to two life terms behind bars.
Authorities said they uncovered information related to Smith’s death during the Murdaugh double murder investigation, though they did not provide specific details on the evidence that prompted them to reopen the case. Authorities have however since announced that Smith was the victim of an “intentional killing,” fueling speculation and rumors of Buster’s involvement.
According to his lawsuit, Netflix’s “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” includes a reenactment of Smith’s death, which features “a young man with red hair” carrying a baseball bat.
“The Plaintiff has red hair, and it is readily ascertainable from the content of the series that the creators were depicting the Plaintiff as the murderer of Stephen Smith,” the suit said.
DeWitt was also interviewed for the documentary, during which he made statements akin to accusing Buster of Smith’s murder.
“The statements were made with reckless indifference to the truth,” per court documents.
The lawsuit also takes issues with depictions in “Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty,” produced by Blackfin and streamed by Warner Bros. on Investigation Discovery, as well as “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty,” which was created and produced by Campfire Studios and distributed through Warner Bros. on Max.
According to the court filings, Buster “has not been notified by any law enforcement entities of any allegations against him related to Stephen Smith’s death.”
He has previously denied playing a role in the killing, claiming he was simply the victim of “vicious rumors.”
