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Hampton Today
By the People, for the People
Buster Murdaugh Settles Defamation Lawsuit Over Documentaries
The eldest son of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh reached a settlement with media companies that claimed he was linked to the Stephen Smith case.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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Buster Murdaugh, the eldest and only surviving son of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh, has reached a settlement in his 2024 federal lawsuit against several media companies that produced documentaries claiming he was linked to the Stephen Smith case. The South Carolina Supreme Court is also set to hear arguments this week in the appeal of Alex Murdaugh's double murder conviction.
Why it matters
The Murdaugh family has been at the center of a high-profile legal saga in South Carolina, with Alex Murdaugh convicted of murdering his wife and son. This settlement with Buster Murdaugh suggests the media companies may have overstepped in their coverage linking him to the separate Stephen Smith case, which remains unsolved.
The details
Buster Murdaugh sued Blackfin Inc., Warner Bros Discovery Inc., Warner Media Entertainment Pages Inc., and Campfire Film & TV, LLC, claiming they "falsely accused" him of being involved in the 2015 killing of Stephen Smith. An autopsy determined Smith died from injuries after being struck by a vehicle, but the case was reopened in 2021 shortly after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Under the settlement, all parties have agreed to dismiss the entire case with prejudice, meaning Buster Murdaugh is giving up the right to bring the same claims again.
- On July 8, 2015, Stephen Smith's body was found on Sandy Run Road in Hampton County.
- In June 2021, SLED reopened the Stephen Smith case shortly after Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were killed.
- In 2024, Buster Murdaugh filed a federal lawsuit against the media companies.
- On February 12, 2026, the parties reached a settlement in the defamation lawsuit.
The players
Buster Murdaugh
The eldest and only surviving son of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh.
Alex Murdaugh
A convicted murderer and the father of Buster Murdaugh.
Stephen Smith
A man whose 2015 death is the subject of an unsolved case that was recently reopened.
Blackfin Inc.
One of the media companies sued by Buster Murdaugh for defamation over documentaries linking him to the Stephen Smith case.
Warner Bros Discovery Inc.
One of the media companies sued by Buster Murdaugh for defamation over documentaries linking him to the Stephen Smith case.
What’s next
The South Carolina Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Wednesday in the appeal of Alex Murdaugh's double murder conviction.
The takeaway
This settlement suggests the media companies may have overstepped in their coverage linking Buster Murdaugh to the Stephen Smith case, which remains unsolved. It highlights the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Murdaugh family and the need for careful, factual reporting on such high-profile cases.
