Susan Smith Denied Parole After Serving 30 Years

Many of us are familiar with Susan Smith and the story of the events that led to her incarceration. For those who don't know, 30 years ago she was convicted and found guilty of drowning her two sons. She came up with this elaborate story that a black carjacker took her car with her sons in it for 9 days before finally admitting to the crime.

The case was a fight between the prosecution saying that she was angry that her affair partner broke things off and blamed the boys while her lawyer's defense was her mental health. She admitted to running her car into a South Carolina lake with her 3-year-old son Michael and 1-year-old son Alex still strapped into their car seats.

Her trial instantly garnished national and international attention in 1994 and 1995 as almost everyone was interested in the facts of this case. She would ultimately be serving a life sentence after the jury spared her from the death penalty and according to the South Carolina law at the time she would be up for parole in 30 years.

Smith who is now 53 just had her first parole hearing and is eligible for them every 2 years according to the South Carolina law she was convicted under. Smith was able to testify on why she should be released and here's what she had to say:

“I'm very sorry, I know what I did was horrible and I would give anything if I could go back and change it. I ask that you show that same kind of mercy, as well,”

She was denied parole at her first hearing as more than a dozen people showed up to argue against her release. Those people include but are not limited to David Smith, the boy's father, and her ex-husband, some of his family and friends, but also law enforcement personnel as well.

Her ex-husband and many others have said that they will be at the parole hearings every two years to not only try to keep Susan Smith in prison where they feel she belongs but to make sure that Michael and Alex are never forgotten.