COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Wednesday, Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother who was found guilty of killing her two young sons by submerging her car in a lake in 1994, will petition the parole board for her release. At 53 years old, Smith is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted of murder, with the jury opting against the death penalty. According to state law, since she has now served 30 years, she is eligible for parole hearings every two years.

Using a video link from prison, Smith will present her case to a seven-member parole board. Following her statements, the board will hear from her ex-husband and the prosecutor from her trial, both of whom will urge that Smith remain in prison.

The tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of her children, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex, stemmed from Smith’s tumultuous relationship with a man who insinuated that her children were causing problems in their future together. Prosecutors indicated that this suggestion contributed to her decision to commit the heinous crime against her children.

In South Carolina, a decision to grant parole requires a two-thirds majority vote from the board members present. Statistics indicate that only about 8% of parole applications are approved, and success is even less likely during initial appearances, in high-profile cases, or when there is strong opposition from the victims’ families or law enforcement.

Smith initially captivated the nation in October 1994 when she reported a carjacking incident near Union, South Carolina, claiming that a man stole her car with her sons inside. In her description, she mentioned that the carjacker was Black. For nine days, she made desperate pleas for the boys’ safe return, all while their bodies remained submerged in the lake.

Investigators quickly became suspicious of Smith’s narrative, questioning why a carjacker would release her while keeping the children, and why no other vehicles were present when the supposed theft occurred. Eventually, Smith admitted to driving her car into the lake, leading to a police re-enactment that revealed how long it took for the vehicle to sink. Tragically, the bodies of her sons were discovered with one hand pressed against a window.

Prosecutors disclosed that Smith had been involved with the affluent son of her employer, who ended the affair because of her responsibilities as a mother. Smith’s defense argued that she was in a state of mental distress and remorse, claiming that she had intended to perish alongside her children but changed her mind last minute.

Her trial in 1995 attracted widespread media attention, becoming a landmark moment in true crime history, even without the presence of television cameras. Defense lawyers highlighted the turmoil in her life, including the suicide of her father and claims of abuse by her stepfather.

While incarcerated, Smith has maintained communication with outsiders through phone calls and text messages, many from journalists or interested individuals. These communications, made public under the South Carolina open records act, revealed her discomfort with her private life being exposed.

Within these conversations, Smith expressed ongoing grief for her sons, as seen in her message from August 2023 reflecting on what would have been her youngest son’s 30th birthday.

Reports also surfaced about Smith’s inappropriate relationships with prison guards and how she allegedly shared personal contact details with a documentary producer discussing financial compensation for her stories.

Former prosecutor Tommy Pope stated that the jury intended for Smith to serve her life sentence fully, asserting that she should remain incarcerated.