Parole Hearing Set for November
Susan Smith, who made national headlines nearly 30 years ago after drowning her two young sons in a South Carolina lake, is scheduled for a parole hearing on November 20. Smith, 53, has served 30 years of a life sentence for the 1994 murders of her 3-year-old son Michael and 14-month-old son Alex.
Smith was convicted in 1995 after admitting to rolling her car, with her children strapped inside, into John D. Long Lake. Though prosecutors sought the death penalty, the jury sentenced her to life in prison, making her eligible for parole after 30 years under the laws in place at the time.
A National Sensation
The case captivated the nation in October 1994 when Smith initially claimed her children had been abducted by a Black man during a carjacking. For nine days, she made tearful public pleas for their safe return, but authorities grew suspicious of her story as inconsistencies emerged. Smith ultimately confessed to killing her sons by letting her car roll into the lake.
Investigators revealed that Smith had been involved in an affair and believed her children were an obstacle to her relationship. A re-enactment of the incident showed it took six minutes for the car to submerge, with her sons found inside, tragically strapped into their car seats.
Legal and Personal Turmoil
In the years since her conviction, Smith’s time in prison has not been without controversy. She has been disciplined for having inappropriate relationships with prison guards and has made headlines for writing letters to true crime followers and potential suitors. Smith also unsuccessfully tried to appeal her conviction, claiming abuse by her then-husband, David Smith, a claim he and authorities have denied.
Opposition to Parole
Tommy Pope, the lead prosecutor during Smith’s trial and now the Republican Speaker Pro Tem of the South Carolina House, plans to oppose her parole. Pope argues that the jury, when they rejected the death penalty, believed that life imprisonment would mean Smith would serve her entire life behind bars. He also points to Smith’s conduct in prison as further evidence that she has not shown true remorse for her actions.
David Smith, Susan’s ex-husband and the father of the two boys, has expressed his continued opposition to her release. In a recent interview, he stated that while he has forgiven her, he does not believe she deserves parole after the devastating loss of their children. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you stay behind bars,” David Smith said.
Parole Unlikely in High-Profile Case
Parole in South Carolina is rarely granted, especially in notorious cases like Smith’s. Statistics show that parole is only granted about 8% of the time in the state, with first-time parole hearings and cases involving victim opposition facing even steeper odds.
Despite these challenges, Pope anticipates that Susan Smith will try to evoke sympathy from the parole board, relying on the disbelief that a mother could commit such an act. “She’s been rehearsing what she’ll say to the parole board for 30 years,” Pope said.
Smith’s parole hearing will be conducted virtually, with the board members, Smith, and any opponents participating via video call. The outcome will determine whether one of the most infamous figures in American true crime will remain in prison or walk free after three decades behind bars.
