In 1994, Susan Smith, a South Carolina mother, made headlines around the world when she was convicted of killing her two sons by rolling her car into a lake with them strapped inside. Now, after serving 30 years in prison, she will ask a parole board for her freedom on Wednesday. Smith, 53, was given a life sentence after a jury convicted her of murder but chose not to sentence her to death. Under state law, she is eligible for a parole hearing every two years.

Parole Hearing and Arguments

Smith will present her case for freedom to the seven-member parole board via video link from prison. Her ex-husband, the father of the children, and the prosecutor from her murder trial will argue that she should remain incarcerated. A decision to grant parole requires a two-thirds vote of the board members present at the hearing. In South Carolina, parole is granted only about 8% of the time, and it is less likely in notorious cases or when prosecutors and victim families are opposed.

Background of the Crime

Prosecutors said Smith killed 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex because a man she was having an affair with suggested the boys were the reason they didn't have a future together. Investigators found that Smith's story didn't add up. Carjackers usually only want a vehicle, so it didn't make sense that they would let Smith out but keep her kids. The traffic light where Smith said she had stopped when her car was taken would only be red if another car was waiting to cross, and she said there were no other cars around. Other details of the story also didn't make sense. Eventually, Smith confessed to letting her car roll down a boat ramp and into the lake. A re-creation by investigators showed it took six minutes for the Mazda to dip below the surface, and cameras inside the vehicle showed water pouring in through the vents and steadily rising. The boys' bodies were found dangling upside-down in their car seats, with one tiny hand pressed against a window.

Smith's Personal Circumstances

Smith's lawyers argued that she was remorseful and had suffered a mental breakdown and intended to die alongside her children but had left the car at the last moment. From prison, Smith can make phone calls and answer text messages. Some messages and phone calls were released under South Carolina's open records act, and she expressed that the invasion of her privacy upset her. She also had sex with guards and violated prison policies by giving out contact information.

Impact and Public Interest

The 1995 trial of the young mother became a national sensation and a true crime touchstone. Even though it wasn't televised due to concerns about the O.J. Simpson murder trial, it captured the public's attention. Smith's actions in prison have also drawn interest, with some men reaching out to her, some knowing why she is famous and others more curious. In August 2023, Smith wrote that she was still grieving for her children on the anniversary of her youngest son's birthday.