COLUMBIA, S.C. Susan Smith, the woman convicted of drowning her two young sons by driving her car into a South Carolina lake 30 years ago, was denied parole in her first hearing on Wednesday. Despite her emotional plea for mercy and claims of divine forgiveness, the parole board unanimously decided she should remain in prison.
Smith, now 53, has spent three decades behind bars after being convicted of murder but spared the death penalty. Under South Carolina law at the time, she is eligible for parole hearings every two years.
Emotional Testimony
Speaking via video from prison, Smith broke down in tears as she apologized for her actions. “I know what I did was horrible,” she said, her voice shaking. “I would give anything to change it.”
The board questioned her about the extensive law enforcement resources deployed during the search for her sons, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, whom she falsely claimed had been abducted. Smith admitted she had been “scared” and unsure how to explain her actions, adding, “I know that’s not enough; I know it’s not.”
In her closing statement, Smith said faith was central to her life now, claiming, “God has forgiven me,” and asking the board to show her mercy.
Opposition to Parole. The hearing included opposition from around 15 individuals, including David Smith, her ex-husband and the boys’ father, family members, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials.
David Smith, with photos of his sons pinned to his suit, struggled to speak as he recalled the tragedy. He argued that Susan’s actions were deliberate, not a “tragic mistake.” “She changed my life forever that night,” he said, urging the board to deny her parole. He pledged to attend every future hearing to ensure Michael and Alex’s memory is preserved.
Parole in South Carolina is granted in only about 8% of cases, with first-time hearings being particularly challenging, especially for high-profile cases opposed by victims’ families and prosecutors.
Defense Cites Mental Health Issues
Susan Smith’s attorney, Tommy Thomas, highlighted her untreated mental health issues, including trauma from her father’s suicide and sexual abuse by her stepfather, as contributing factors. He described her as a “low risk” to the public and emphasized her lack of a prior criminal record.
However, former prosecutor Tommy Pope expressed skepticism about Smith’s remorse. “It’s always been about Susan,” he said, recalling her inconsistent behavior during the trial 30 years ago.
The Crime That Shook the Nation
In October 1994, Susan Smith initially claimed her sons had been abducted by a Black man in a carjacking, a false story that stoked racial stereotypes and led to the wrongful targeting of Black men in the area. For nine days, she made tearful public pleas for her children’s safe return, while the boys were already submerged in John D. Long Lake.
Investigators grew suspicious as details of her story didn’t add up. Eventually, Smith confessed to letting her car roll into the lake with her children inside. A re-creation of the scene showed it took six minutes for the car to sink, with her sons trapped in their car seats. Their bodies were later found dangling upside down, one with a hand pressed against the window.
Prosecutors argued Smith killed her sons to maintain an affair with a wealthy man who didn’t want children. Smith’s defense claimed she had intended to die with her sons but abandoned the car at the last moment.
Ongoing Impact
The crime left a lasting mark on South Carolina and the nation. Prosecutor Kevin Brackett noted the broader harm caused by her actions, including the targeting of innocent Black men and the trauma felt by people across the country.
Smith’s case remains a grim reminder of the dangers of untreated mental health issues and the devastating impact of her choices. For now, she remains behind bars, with her next parole hearing scheduled in two years.
David Smith expressed relief at the decision, saying, “For now, she’ll still be behind bars,” but acknowledged the emotional toll of the process. “In two more years, we’ll go through this again.”