A former senior special agent with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Ryan Kelly, was fired from his position as internal affairs chief for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) after an internal investigation into allegations of harassment, unbecoming conduct, improper procedures, and unsatisfactory performance.

Kelly’s Role in the Murdaugh Saga

Kelly played a significant role in the broader Murdaugh inquiries, including serving as lead investigator into the September 4, 2021, roadside shooting involving Murdaugh and his alleged drug supplier and money mule, Curtis “Eddie” Smith.

Kelly’s work on the roadside investigation ultimately became a key part of the state’s murder case against Murdaugh. During the 2023 double homicide trial, prosecutors called Kelly to the witness stand to walk jurors through key aspects of the roadside shooting investigation.

SLED’s Credibility Problem

Kelly’s firing arrives against a backdrop of growing scrutiny involving other SLED investigators connected to high-profile prosecutions. No investigator has faced more criticism than former SLED special agent David Owen — the lead investigator in the Moselle murders.

Owen’s credibility has become a recurring issue in the years following Murdaugh’s original conviction. Defense attorneys exposed several investigative shortcomings during Owen’s testimony, including SLED’s failure to promptly search the Murdaugh family’s Almeda property despite investigators later theorizing that critical evidence may have been taken there.

The retrial of Murdaugh will place every aspect of the state’s original case under renewed scrutiny. Defense attorneys have already signaled they intend to aggressively revisit investigative decisions, evidentiary disputes, and unresolved questions surrounding the original prosecution — scrutiny which will undoubtedly include the work of David Owen and possibly Kelly, as well.

Original reporting: FITSNews — read the source article.