Susan Smith, the South Carolina woman convicted of killing her two young sons in 1994 by rolling her car into a lake, was denied parole Wednesday, 30 years after the crime shocked the nation.
The parole board’s unanimous decision means Smith, 53, will remain behind bars, where she is serving a life sentence.
Tearful Plea for Mercy
Appearing via video from prison, Smith broke down as she apologized for her actions. “I know what I did was horrible,” she said, her voice trembling. “I would give anything to change it.” She cited her Christian faith, claiming that God had forgiven her, and asked the board for similar mercy.
Her plea failed to sway the board, which questioned her about the massive resources law enforcement used to search for her sons after she falsely claimed they had been kidnapped.
A Family’s Painful Reminder
Opponents of Smith’s parole included her ex-husband, David Smith, and members of his family. Holding photos of 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex, David Smith tearfully urged the board to deny her release.
“She had free choice,” he said, dismissing claims that the boys’ deaths were a tragic mistake. “She changed my life for the rest of my life that night.” He vowed to attend every future parole hearing to ensure his children’s memories are honored.
The Crime That Shocked the Nation
Smith made global headlines in 1994 when she told police a Black man had carjacked her vehicle with her sons inside, a claim rooted in a long history of racial stereotypes. For nine days, she appeared on television, tearfully begging for her children’s safe return.
Authorities later discovered that Smith had rolled her car into John D. Long Lake, where it sank with her sons strapped inside their car seats. She eventually confessed, saying she had been struggling emotionally and claimed she intended to die alongside her children but changed her mind at the last moment.
Prosecutors argued that Smith killed her children because a man she was having an affair with did not want a future with her because of her sons.
A Life of Controversy Behind Bars
In prison, Smith has remained a controversial figure. She has engaged in inappropriate relationships with guards, violated prison rules, and maintained contact with several men, some of whom were unaware of her infamy.
Former prosecutor Tommy Pope, who worked on Smith’s trial, expressed satisfaction with the parole board’s decision, noting Smith’s consistent self-centered behavior. “It’s always been about Susan,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Smith will be eligible for another parole hearing in two years, but her ex-husband and others affected by her crime vow to continue opposing her release. “In two more years, we’ll go through this again,” David Smith said, relieved that, for now, his children’s killer remains behind bars.
