Kriti Mehrotra
Netflix’s ‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ as well as ‘Dateline: Murdaugh Saga’ both chronicle a twisted case that includes not only murder and mystery but also addiction, theft, and conspiracy, with Alex Murdaugh being at the front and center of it all. From being a member of one of the most renowned legal families in South Carolina to now finding himself in jail after being accused of financial offenses and murder, Alex has experienced everything. However, the most shocking aspect is the suicide-for-hire scheme he allegedly orchestrated with Curtis Edward Smith. Thus, if you’re curious to know more about the latter, we’ve got you covered.
Who is Curtis Edward Smith?
Curtis Edward “Fast Eddie” or “Cousin Eddie” Smith, who used to be a handyman and serve in the logging industry, is a distant cousin and former client of Alex Murdaugh. As per the statements given by the disgraced attorney himself, he hired his relative and apparent-close friend to shoot him dead on September 4, 2021. Alex hoped that his actions would enable his only surviving son to collect $10 million from his life insurance policy, but it didn’t work. After all, since the bullet only grazed his head, Alex was able to call 911 and was consequently transported to the hospital. He was released within two days, though his lawyers now claim that his skull was fractured.
Alex came forward with these detailed statements sometime around September 13, leading to Curtis’ overnight arrest. As the alleged gunman, the latter was thus charged with assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, assisted suicide, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. Curtis was also indicted on unrelated counts of methamphetamine and marijuana possession. Having said that, he has denied the criminal accusations against him, adding that Alex, who is going through a withdrawal phase after reportedly 20 years of opioid use, is setting him up to take the fall.
Where is Curtis Edward Smith Now?
Curtis Edward Smith was released from jail on a $20,000 bond following a court hearing, where he was called Alex’s long-time drug dealer and shooter. However, the now 62-year-old has deemed these claims to be lies. According to an interview Curtis gave to The New York Post, he got a call from his cousin on that fateful day, asking him to come to the isolated Old Salkehatchie Road. Thinking that Alex might need help with something, he drove over as quickly as possible in his pickup truck, only to see the lawyer allegedly point a gun at himself. Curtis added that he ran and wrestled Alex for the firearm, but it quickly went off and grazed him.
It wasn’t an intentional offense like Alex suggested, Curtis said. “The gun kind of went off above his head and I got scared to death and I ran to my truck and took off,” he added. “I wound up with the gun. It was plain stupid, just plain stupid,” so he threw the weapon away. In another interview with Today, Curtis declared, “I didn’t shoot him. I’m innocent. If I’d have shot him, he’d be dead. He’s alive.” Curtis only feels betrayed owing to Alex’s alleged actions.
However, upon spending close to a year living in his stable home in Walterboro, South Carolina, with his rescue dogs, Curtis’ bond was revoked in August 2022. That’s because he had apparently misrepresented his financial status and violated his house arrest 26 times, including for trips to Walmart as well as private residences. His defense attorney did try to argue that he “is a man of limited means,” which essentially forced him to drive for work and medical purposes, but the judge did not buy it. In the end, Cutis, who’d been indicted on two counts of criminal conspiracy alongside Alex in June 2022, issued an apology in court for the financial lies. It had come to light he had received an alleged 435+ checks totaling $2.4 million from Alex between 2013-2021. Therefore, he’s currently behind bars awaiting trial.
Read More: Where is Alex Murdaugh Now?
