48 Hours • CBS News

In this episode about the death of Stephen Smith, the initial ruling of his death as a hit-and-run is called into question due to inconsistencies at the crime scene. New forensic evidence suggests he was killed by a blow to the head rather than a vehicular accident.

The investigation faced challenges, including the influence of the powerful Murdaugh family and local authorities' reluctance to fully examine the case. Despite limited resources, Stephen's mother, Sandy Smith, persisted in pushing for justice, leading to the exhumation and new autopsy that refuted the hit-and-run conclusion. With renewed interest and evidence, there is hope that the truth about Stephen's death may finally come to light.

In this episode of 48 Hours, the mysterious death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith in 2015 is revisited. The initial investigation into his death on a rural South Carolina road was criticized for its handling, with rumors swirling about the involvement of the powerful Murdaugh family. Years later, a private team funded by donations exhumed Smith's body, providing new forensic evidence that re-energized the case.

The summary explores the Murdaugh family's alleged influence and potential connections to Smith's death. It also highlights Sandy Smith's unwavering quest for answers about her son's death, shining a light on the challenges she faced, such as a perceived lack of interest from authorities. With an independent investigation making progress, the episode offers a glimpse into the pursuit of truth and justice in this complex case.

The "48 Hours" podcast explores the perplexing murders of Ernest and Charlene Shearer, underscored by a possibly staged crime scene. Their son Ernie, a professional poker player grappling with significant gambling debts and owing his parents money, emerges as the prime suspect due to circumstantial evidence linking him to the scene and a potential financial motive.

The investigation unravels evidence suggesting Ernie's familiarity with his parents' home and an attempted cover-up. Despite a lack of forensic evidence and defense claims of innocence, Ernie Shearer is ultimately convicted by a jury convinced that he murdered his parents to gain access to an inheritance.

In this episode of 48 Hours, the tragic murder of a prominent hairstylist and beauty executive is examined. What was initially believed to be a botched burglary is uncovered as a calculated, intentional killing. Prosecutors allege the man's wife, Monica Sementilli, conspired with her lover, a registered sex offender, to murder her husband for financial gain, including a lucrative life insurance policy.

The episode delves into the prosecution's circumstantial case against Monica, built upon evidence such as surveillance footage, phone records, and claims of the couple maintaining a secret relationship even after arrest. It also explores the traumatic impact on the victim's family, now deeply divided over Monica's alleged involvement in the brutal crime.

In this episode of the 48 Hours podcast, the case of the Sementilli affair is examined. It explores the lives of Fabio and Monica Sementilli, a seemingly happy couple with a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles. After Fabio's murder, the initial investigation suggested a robbery, but clues pointed to another person's involvement.

Enter Robert Baker, a registered sex offender who had extensive contact with Monica. The prosecution alleges an affair between Monica and Baker, and that she conspired with him to kill Fabio for money and lust. However, Monica's defense disputes the evidence, claiming it's merely circumstantial and that an affair alone does not prove murder. As the trial unfolds, the jury must determine if Monica was involved in a calculated conspiracy or if she's an innocent victim in a tragic turn of events.