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Alex Murdaugh— Case Archive
personpersonTinish Bryson-SmithTinish Bryson-SmithHampton County 911 director who explained the center's call-routing and recording systems and authenticated its portion of Alex Murdaugh's emergency call.← All People
Witness

Tinish Bryson-Smith

Courtroom still of Tinish Bryson-Smith.

Hampton County 911 director who explained the center's call-routing and recording systems and authenticated its portion of Alex Murdaugh's emergency call.

Appeared2023 Murder Trial
32 lines·2 proceedings

About

Tinish Bryson-Smith, Hampton County's 911 director, explained the center's recording and recordkeeping system and how cellular emergency calls may be routed through the nearest tower to the nearest public-safety answering point.

She testified that Alex Murdaugh's June 7, 2021 call initially reached Hampton County and was transferred after the address was identified as being in Colleton County. She authenticated the disc containing the initial call, and the recording was played for the jury.

On cross-examination, Bryson-Smith identified the Walterboro Highway tower while further explaining why a call concerning Moselle could reach Hampton County. She also clarified that she was not the person heard on the call and knew Alex Murdaugh only a little.

Trial Record (2)

20232023 Murder TrialJan 23, 2023 – Mar 3, 2023Called by prosecution

Tinish Bryson-Smith explained how Alex Murdaugh's cellular 911 call reached Hampton County, was transferred to Colleton County, and was preserved in the recording admitted and played at trial.

Day 4

DirectTinish Bryson-Smith - DirectTinish Bryson-SmithSavannah M. Goude1highlight25lines spoken

Summary

Hampton County 911 director Tinish Bryson-Smith explained the transfer of Alex Murdaugh's June 7 emergency call, authenticated State's Exhibit 9, and observed its playback after admission without objection.

Highlights (1)

Quote“Once it was determined that the call was located -- that the location of the emergency was Colleton County, we transferred that call out to Colleton County.”— Tinish Bryson-SmithBryson-Smith explained how Hampton County handled the emergency call after determining that it concerned a location in Colleton County.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossTinish Bryson-Smith - CrossTinish Bryson-SmithDick Harpootlian1highlight7lines spoken

Summary

Tinish Bryson-Smith explained the cell-tower routing that sent the 911 call to Hampton County and described her familiarity with Alex Murdaugh as limited.

Highlights (1)

Quote“When you dial 911, the cell phone company picks up that it's a 911 call being placed. They hit the nearest cell phone tower, and based upon the location of that cell phone tower, it's routed to the nearest PSAP, or Public Safety Answer system.”— Tinish Bryson-SmithThe witness gave a concise explanation of the cellular routing process that sent the call to a public-safety answering point based on tower location.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶