Share this @internewscast.com
The man whom Alex Murdaugh allegedly paid to shoot him has been arrested again, WCSC-TV reports.
On Friday, police took 61-year-old Curtis “Eddie” Smith into custody. He is being detained at the Colleton County Detention Center on warrants from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, but authorities have not released any details about why.
However, sources told FITSNews that the charges are related to an investigation into alleged financial crimes by Murdaugh, who is accused of stealing more than $8.4 million from former law firm clients.
Jarrett Bouchette, a lawyer for Smith, told FITSNews following the arrest: “I have not seen the indictment, but I understand he has been arrested. I’m highly concerned with what appears to be a strategic timing of the arrest to maximize his time in jail before the bond hearing. And the appearance of maximizing media attention.”
Authorities allege that Smith cashed nearly $2 million in checks from Murdaugh between March 2018 and June 2021, although it is not clear what Smith did with the money.
Over Labor Day weekend last year, Murdaugh was shot along the side of a road in South Carolina. He initially said a passerby fired a gun while he was repairing a flat tire.
Murdaugh later claimed to police that he hired Smith to kill him in a staged killing so his son Buster would benefit from a $10 million life insurance policy.
Murdaugh also told investigators that he had been addicted to opioids and claimed Smith was his drug dealer, a claim that Smith has denied.
Smith was later charged with pointing and presenting a firearm, assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, in addition to unrelated drug charges.
In his own telling, Smith has denied trying to kill Murdaugh and has said that he was attempting to take the gun away when it fired, according to CBS News.
Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and their adult son Paul were found murdered at a family home in June 2021, but so far police have not identified any suspects. Murdaugh has denied being involved in their deaths.
Listen to the latest episode:
Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most — your children.
[Featured image: Curtis Smith & Alex Murdaugh/Police Handout]
