Susan Smith Requests Parole After 30 Years for Infamous Murders of Her Sons
Susan Smith, 53, convicted of killing her two young sons by driving her car into a South Carolina lake, is set to appear before a parole board to seek her release after serving 30 years of a life sentence. In 1994, Smith made headlines when she initially claimed her vehicle was carjacked by a black man with her three-year-old son Michael and 14-month-old Alex inside. Her story generated national media attention, and for nine days, she pleaded for the safe return of her children, who were later found drowned in John D Lake.
Investigators soon uncovered inconsistencies in her claims, leading to her confession that she had intentionally driven the car into the water while her children were strapped in. Smith’s actions were said to have stemmed from a troubled relationship with a man who ended their affair due to her parental responsibilities. Although she avoided the death penalty due to an asserted mental health crisis, her case attracted further scrutiny during her 1995 trial alongside the O.J. Simpson case.
In her prison letters, Smith has maintained her assertion that the tragic event was not premeditated and that she was not in her right mind at the time. Despite her narrative, the parole board faces significant opposition from her ex-husband, David Smith, and the prosecutor who handled her case. Parole is difficult to obtain, particularly for notorious offenders or when victim families oppose it, with South Carolina reporting a mere 8% approval rate.
As she seeks freedom in a video appearance, public sentiment and legal precedent may influence the board’s decision, which requires a two-thirds vote for release.
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