Independent Investigation For Stephen Smith

The family of Stephen N. Smith is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received from the community as a whole. You have been monumental in shining light on Stephen's story and the lack of justice.

We feel it's critical to seek a new goal - an independent exhumation, autopsy and investigation - and we're launching #JusticeForStephen with that immediate goal in mind. While the state can elect and fund an exhumation and new autopsy, it is our understanding that it would be carried out at MUSC, where his death was initially classified as hit-and-run despite no evidence to support it.

We need a new, unbiased look at his body and an accurate determination of his cause of death based on facts. There was no debris in the road, and his injuries were not consistent with a hit-and-run.

We learned that an independent exhumation autopsy will be approximately $20,000. In addition, a private medical examiner must be present from the start of the exhumation through the examination period at a cost of approximately $750 per hour. Plus we expect expenses related to the independent investigation, reward, and other unknowns at this time.

With overwhelming financial support, we are now equipped to fund the exhumation, autopsy, and private investigation in cooperation with state law enforcement.

Please know that we expect other ordinary expenses as we pursue Justice for Stephen up to and including a reward, investigators, travel, family expenses related to the investigation etc... No funds from this GoFundMe will be used as fees for her AMAZING attorneys Eric Bland & Ronnie Richter who are donating their time to the exhumation effort.

*Renee Bland is listed as the beneficiary of this fundraiser as she manages the Trust Account in which funds are deposited and from which expenses will be paid.

*** ALL INVESTIGATION EXPENSES WILL BE POSTED TO THIS PAGE ***

This is a huge expense and undertaking, but we are hoping that with your support we can make this happen and finally get the answers we need. If you can give, we thank you for your generosity. If you cannot give, we would appreciate you sharing and praying for justice for Stephen.

We believe 2023 is Stephen's year. Thank you all again for the love and support.

Cash-Basis Expenses will be entered below as they occur.