Susan Smith Faces Parole Hearing 30 Years After Drowning Her Sons in South Carolina Lake

Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother who garnered international attention for drowning her two young sons in 1994, is set to appear before a parole board on November 20. This hearing comes nearly three decades after she was convicted of murdering her three-year-old son Michael and 14-month-old son Alex by driving her car into John D. Long Lake with the boys secured in their car seats.

Smith’s case was highly publicized due to her initial false claims of being carjacked by a Black man, which she later admitted were fabricated. Her trial revealed that she was involved in an affair with the son of her employer, which ended when he discovered she had two young children. Prosecutors argued that this situation motivated her to commit the crime.

Currently 53 years old, Smith is serving a life sentence after a jury opted against the death penalty during her 1995 trial. According to South Carolina law at the time, she is eligible to request parole after completing 30 years of her sentence. However, the likelihood of her being granted parole is low, especially given the high-profile nature of the case and the opposition from both the prosecution and the victims’ families.

Tommy Pope, the primary prosecutor during Smith’s trial and currently the Republican Speaker Pro Tem of South Carolina, has expressed strong opposition to her parole. Pope stated that Smith’s behavior while incarcerated shows a lack of remorse and that her focus remains on herself rather than reflecting on her children. He also plans to argue to the parole board that the jury intended for Smith to serve a full life sentence when they spared her from the death penalty.

David Smith, Susan’s ex-husband and the father of the deceased children, also intends to oppose her parole. In a recent interview, he expressed difficulty in recalling memories of his sons but emphasized that while he has forgiven Susan, she should serve more than 30 years for her actions. He pledged to do everything in his power to keep her incarcerated.

Smith’s time in prison has been marked by controversies, including inappropriate relationships with guards and a notable social media presence despite prison regulations. These actions have further complicated her chances of being granted parole.