August 7, 2015 11:15 a.m. SCHP: Duncan calls Stephen’s friend — who we will call “Britney.”

Duncan says Stephen’s relative called him to say that she saw Britney at church and Britney had information about Stephen’s death. Duncan asked her to email him this information.

Britney tells him that “another friend of mine” had texted her and asked her “Were Buster and Stephen together?” She told the friend “No. Not that I knew of. Why?” He responded that he had heard it. She asked the friend from whom and he said he didn’t know, just that he’d heard it. Duncan responds, “OK so he didn’t have anything to base that upon except for more or less a rumor, is that correct?” Duncan asks Britney whether she had ever heard of Stephen and Buster being together before this. She says she had not. Duncan asks to make sure that this was the first she had heard the rumor and Britney says yes Duncan asks Britney whether she knew Stephen was gay. She says “I did” Duncan asks her whether she had heard any rumors about Stephen’s death that she “just knew wasn’t true other than what we’ve been talking about.” She says no. “That’s the only thing that I heard” Duncan asks her if anything curious happened at his funeral or afterward that stuck out as unusual to her. She says not that she’s aware of. She says a boy named (we will called him “Jack“) told her about the rumor, and then DUNCAN’S NOTES: “Contacted (“Britney”) in reference to Stephen Smith death…. States a boy named (” Jack”) ask if Stephen and Buster Murdaugh ever had any type of relationship.”

SCHP: Duncan calls Jack and leaves a message