A parole board in South Carolina decided Wednesday to deny Susan Smith’s bid for parole following her emotional plea for release after serving 30 years in prison for the infamous deaths of her two young sons.
Smith, 53, was convicted of murder in 1995 after she rolled her car into a lake, drowning 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex while they were strapped in their car seats.
During the hearing, Smith appeared via video from prison and began by expressing her deep remorse. “I know what I did was horrible,” she said, choking back tears. “And I would give anything if I could go back and change it.” In her final remarks, Smith, who was convicted but spared the death penalty, said that she believed God had forgiven her for her actions. “I ask that you show that same kind of mercy as well,” she added.
The parole board’s decision marked Smith’s first chance for parole after serving three decades of her life sentence. She is now eligible for a parole hearing every two years.
Despite her emotional plea and redemption claim, the board voted unanimously to keep her behind bars. Smith’s attorneys argued that she was a low-risk inmate who had suffered from untreated mental health issues at the time of the crime, with no prior criminal history before the tragic incident.
However, a group of about 15 individuals, including her ex-husband, David Smith, and law enforcement officials, strongly opposed her parole. David Smith, who has carried the pain of losing his sons for three decades, wore a photo of Michael and Alex pinned to his suit during the hearing.
Fighting back tears, he described the life-long impact of her actions on him, saying he had never seen Susan express any genuine remorse toward him. “She changed my life for the rest of my life that night,” he said, urging the board to deny parole now and in the future.
The parole decision required a two-thirds vote, and with the board’s unanimous opposition, it was clear that Smith’s path to release remains blocked. Parole in South Carolina is granted in only about 8% of cases, and the first hearing for notorious criminals like Smith, along with the objections from the victims’ families and prosecutors, typically results in denial.
Smith’s crime captured national attention when, in 1994, she falsely claimed that a Black carjacker had abducted her children. For nine days, Smith’s story, which played into racial fears and stereotypes, was broadcast widely as she tearfully pleaded for her sons’ return.
Eventually, investigators uncovered inconsistencies in her story, leading Smith to confess that she had intentionally let her car roll into the lake. The bodies of her children were found upside down in their car seats, their tiny hands pressed against the window as the water rose.
The case became a landmark in true crime, and Smith’s trial was widely followed. Defence attorneys cited her mental health struggles at the time, suggesting she was in the midst of a breakdown and had intended to die alongside her children. These arguments led the jury to spare her life, though her conviction was upheld.
David Smith and others affected by the tragedy expressed hope that the parole board’s decision would help ensure that the memory of Michael and Alex is not forgotten. “In two more years, we’ll go through this again,” David Smith said after the hearing. “But at least I know, for now, she’ll still be behind bars.”
Susan Smith’s case also raised concerns about her behaviour in prison. Despite her claims of remorse, prison records have shown her engaging in inappropriate conduct, including violating prison policies by communicating with a documentary producer and receiving phone calls from interested men.
These revelations have added to the perception that Smith’s actions and character remain self-centred, further influencing the parole board’s decision.
In a brief statement following the hearing, former prosecutor Tommy Pope said that while there was cautious optimism that the board would reject Smith’s parole, it was also evident that Smith has not entirely changed. “It’s always been about Susan,” he said, adding that the prosecution and the family had hoped for exactly the outcome they received.
