Official announcement from the South Carolina Department of Corrections or local news outlets

Susan Smith, Who Drowned Sons Michael and Alex, Seeks Parole; Ex-Husband Opposes

Nov 20, 2024, 02:05 PM

Susan Smith, now 53, who was convicted in 1995 of murdering her two young sons—3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex—by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake in 1994, is appearing before a parole board today to request her release after serving 30 years in prison. Initially, Smith claimed that a Black man had carjacked her and abducted her children, leading to a nationwide search, but later confessed to the killings. The boys drowned as the car became submerged in the lake. Her ex-husband, David Smith, who had sought the death penalty during her trial, plans to testify at the hearing to oppose her release. The case has attracted significant attention and public outcry, with many, including law enforcement, expressing anger at the possibility of her parole. Smith's attorney argues that her actions were the result of mental health issues, stating, "This was not about another man." The parole hearing is being held this Wednesday morning, with victims and supporters attending to voice their objections.