Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother serving a life sentence for the 1994 murder of her two sons, is seeking parole. Smith, 53, will make a plea before a parole board on Wednesday, marking her first appearance before the board after spending 30 years behind bars. Her case will be presented via video, while her ex-husband and the original prosecutor will argue for her continued incarceration.
Smith let her car roll into a lake, drowning her sons Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, in a case that shocked the nation. Her actions were allegedly driven by a desire to please a man with whom she was having an affair, who suggested the children hindered their future together. The case became infamous when Smith originally claimed a fictional carjacker (who, she claimed, was Black) kidnapped her sons, before ultimately confessing the truth.
In South Carolina, parole is granted sparingly—only about 8% of the time. The odds are slim for first-time appearances, particularly in high-profile cases where the victims' family and prosecution are opposed. Former prosecutor Tommy Pope reflected public sentiment, stating the jury believed Smith deserved a life sentence. Smith has maintained from prison continuous lines of communication with journalists and admirers alike, some of whom have talked with her about having a life together if she is released. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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