November 26, 2025 • 22 mins
Reid Carter covers Susan Smith's parole hearing from last November that brought the 1994 case back into America's spotlight. Smith, serving life for drowning her sons Michael, three, and Alexander, fourteen months, begged for release after thirty years. Claimed God forgave her. Ex-husband David Smith testified against her, wearing photo of his dead boys on his lapel. Parole board unanimously denied. October 25, 1994, Smith strapped her sons in car seats, rolled car into John D. Long Lake, watched it sink for six minutes. Lied for nine days claiming Black man carjacked them. Confession revealed motive: boyfriend Tom Findlay didn't want kids. Next parole hearing 2026.
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Join the Celebrity Trials community on social media! We're building a passionate group of true crime enthusiasts who love diving deep into the most shocking cases in America.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram by searching "Celebrity Trials Podcast" on either platform.
You'll get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, breaking news updates on cases we're covering, and early alerts when new episodes drop. Our social media is where Reid Carter's hottest takes live, including reactions that don't make it into the show.
But more importantly, it's where YOU come in. Share your theories, debate the verdicts, and connect with fellow listeners who are just as obsessed with justice as you are. Did the jury get it right? What questions do you still have? Your comments and insights often shape future episodes.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Caalaruga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Red Carter. Wednesday, November
twenty sixth, twenty twenty five, just over a year ago.
November twentieth, twenty twenty four, Columbia, South Carolina, Susan Smith
appeared via zoom before the state Parole board first parole
(00:25):
hearing after thirty years in prison. She cried begged for mercy.
I know what I did was horrible. I would give
anything to go back and change it. God has forgiven me.
Across from her on video, David Smith, her ex husband,
father of the two boys she murdered, wearing a photo
(00:45):
of his dead son's pinned to his lapel, three year
old Michael, fourteen month old Alexander. David struggled to speak,
paused multiple times, composed himself. She had free choice that night.
This wasn't a tragic mistake. She purposely meant to end
their life. I've never felt any remorse from her. The
(01:06):
Parole Board voted unanimous denied. Susan Smith will remain in prison.
She's eligible again next year twenty twenty six. David vowed
to return every hearing so their deaths don't go in vain.
Thirty one years ago. October twenty fifth, nineteen ninety four,
(01:26):
Susan Smith strapped her sons in their car seats, rolled
her Mazda into John D. Long Lake in Union, South Carolina,
stood on the shore, watched the car sink. Took six
minutes for the water to fill the car drown her
babies submerge completely. Then she ran to a nearby house,
claimed a black man carjackedor took her boys. For nine days,
(01:50):
she lied to America. I'm reed, Carter. This is celebrity
trials today. Susan Smith, the drowning, the lie, the trial,
and one year ago the parole hearing that denied her freedom.
This is celebrity trials. October twenty fifth, nineteen ninety four,
(02:13):
Tuesday night, Union, South Carolina. Small town population nine thousand, milltown,
tight knit community, everyone knows everyone. Susan Smith, twenty three
years old, was struggling, separated from her husband David, two
young sons, Michael three, Alexander, fourteen months working as secretary
(02:36):
at Conso Products, not making enough money, living with her mother,
temporarily stressed, overwhelmed, but Susan had someone. Tom Finley, twenty seven,
son of her boss, Wealthy, handsome, Susan was obsessed with him.
They'd been seeing each other casually. Susan wanted more, wanted marriage,
(02:57):
wanted a future. Eight eighteenth, One week before the murders,
Tom Findley wrote Susan a letter, handwritten four pages, breaking
up with her. The key passage, I don't want children.
I've told you this. You have two beautiful boys, but
I'm not ready to be a father. We have no
future together. I'm sorry, but this has to end. Susan
(03:23):
read that letter felt her world collapse. Without Tom. She
had nothing, dead end job, two kids she couldn't afford,
failed marriage, no prospects, no hope, no future. She made
a decision the boys were the problem. If the boys
were gone, Tom might want her back. She could start over,
(03:43):
be free, be the person Tom wanted. October twenty fifth,
around nine pm, Susan loaded Michael and Alexander into her
nineteen ninety Burgundy Mazda Protege, strapped them in their car seats.
Michael in front passed your seat, which was illegal but common.
Alexander in the back. Both buckled. She told them they
(04:06):
were going for a drive. Michael was excited, Alexander babbled.
Neither had any idea what was about to happen. Susan
drove to John D. Long Lake, remote area boat ramp,
nobody around, dark, isolated. She'd been there before, knew the layout,
knew the lake was deep. She parked at the top
(04:26):
of the boat ramp, put the car in neutral, got out,
released the parking brake. The car started rolling, slowly at first,
then faster down the ramp toward the water. Susan watched
the car hit the water, floated for a moment, then
started sinking. The headlights stayed on underwater, glowing eerie. Michael
(04:52):
woke up, started screaming, pounding on the window, Mommy, mommy.
Susan could hear him, could see his face pressed against
the glass, terrified, not understanding. Alexander was crying, still strapped
in his car seat, too young to understand, just crying
because his brother was screaming. The water rose covered the windows.
(05:16):
The car tilted backward, nose going down first, kept sinking.
The screaming stopped, the crying stopped. Six minutes from hitting
the water to complete submersion, six minutes for the car
to fill, for her babies to drown. Susan stood there,
watched the entire thing, then she ran. She ran to
(05:38):
a nearby house Monarch Mills area, about a mile and
a half away. Banged on the door. Shirley McLeod answered,
Susan was hysterical, sobbing, screaming, he took my kids, He
took my babies. Shirley let her in, called nine one one.
Susan told her story through tears. She'd been stopped at
(05:58):
a red light at the intersection of Highway forty nine
and Monarch Mills Road around nine pm. A black man
jumped in her car, had a gun, told her to drive.
She drove, He told her to stop, she did. He
made her get out, then he drove away with her
kids still in the car. Michael and Alexander gone. The
(06:20):
description Susan gave blackmail mid twenties to early thirties, wearing
dark clothes, knit cap that was it vague generic, but
enough to trigger a massive search. Union County Sheriff's office responded,
immediately set up roadblocks, issued bolo be on the lookout
(06:41):
for Burgundy Masda protege with two white children inside and
blackmail driver. Every black man in the area became a suspect.
Susan appeared on local news then national news, tearful press conferences,
begging for her son's return. Please bring my babies home.
I love them, I need the whoever has them, please
(07:02):
let them go. America rallied massive search volunteers, FBI, state police, helicopters, bloodhounds,
search parties combing woods fields, abandoned buildings, checking every lead,
every sighting, every tip. National media descended on union, CNN, ABC, NBCCBS.
(07:23):
This was the story, missing children, desperate mother, dangerous black carjacker,
crime narrative America couldn't resist. For nine days, Susan maintained
the lie, gave interviews, cried on camera, pleaded for the
safe return of Michael and Alexander, made missing persons, posters,
organized vigils, played the devastated mother perfectly, but investigators were
(07:45):
suspicious the story didn't add up. The intersection Susan described
Highway forty nine and Monarch Mills Road. The traffic light
didn't stay red that long, not long enough for someone
to carjacker. Her timeline was off. Susan's behavior was off.
She cried for cameras, but when cameras turned away, she
(08:05):
stopped crying. Investigators noticed no tears when she thought nobody
was watching. She wasn't helping the investigation refused polygraph initially
changed details of her story. First she said the carjacker
had a gun, then wasn't sure. First the carjacker said nothing,
then he told her to drive. Inconsistencies piled up. November first,
(08:29):
Sheriff Howard Wells held press conference. Said he believed Michael
and Alexander were still alive, still in the Union area,
but his tone was different. He looked directly at Susan,
whoever has them, we will find you and we will
bring those boys home. That night, Wells and FBI agents
questioned Susan for hours, confronted her with inconsistencies, told her
(08:53):
the polygraph showed deception, told her they knew she was lying.
Susan broke three hours of entericgation, finally admitted there was
no carjacker, no black man, no kidnapping. She killed them,
drove the car into the lake, watched them drown, made
everything up. November third, nineteen ninety four, Sheriff Wells held
(09:16):
another press conference. National media present Susan Smith has been
arrested and charged with two counts of murder. She has
confessed to killing Michael and Alexander America was stunned. The
grieving mother was the killer. The desperate pleas were lies.
For nine days. She'd acted played victim while her son's
(09:38):
bodies were decomposing at the bottom of John D. Long Lake.
Divers recovered the car November third, still upside down, both
boys still strapped in their car seats, drowned. Decomposed. Medical
examiner confirmed they died from drowning. Death would have taken
three to five minutes once water filled the car. Michael
(09:59):
Daniel Smith three years old should be thirty four today.
Should have graduated college, Should have a career, should have
a family, Should be alive. Alexander Tyler Smith fourteen months old,
should be thirty two today. Should have grown up with
his brother. Should have memories of childhood, should have had
(10:20):
a future, Should be alive. Susan Smith murdered them because
her boyfriend didn't want kids, because she wanted to start over,
because her sons were inconvenient. Make it make sense. July tenth,
(10:47):
nineteen ninety five. Trial began Union County Courthouse, moved from
Union to avoid pre trial publicity, but brought back due
to defense motion. Judge William Howard presied. Solicitor Tommy Pope
prosecuting David Bruck defending Susan, the evidence was overwhelming, Susan's confession,
(11:09):
the car at the bottom of the lake with two
dead boys still strapped in their seats, the Tom Findley letter,
the timeline proving Susan lied, the witnesses who saw Susan's
car driving toward the lake that night. Defense didn't dispute
Susan killed her sons. Argued she was mentally ill, suicidal,
intended to die with them, but at the last moment
(11:31):
survival instinct kicked in. She got out of the car.
Didn't mean for them to die alone. It was a
suicide attempt gone wrong. Prosecution argued premeditation. Susan drove to
that lake, deliberately, knew exactly what she was doing, put
the car in neutral, got out, watched it sink, stood
there for six minutes listening to Michael scream that's not
(11:53):
mental illness, that's murder. The trial lasted two weeks. Testimony
from dozens of witnesses. Union Care County Sheriff Howard Wells
described the investigation, the lies, the confession, the recovery of
the bodies. David Smith testified sobbed on the stand. Described
his sons, Michael loved power Rangers, Alexander was just learning
(12:16):
to walk. David had been at work when Susan killed them,
came home to chaos. Believe Susan's carjacking story initially, then
learned the truth. His wife murdered his children. Tom Findley
testified confirmed he'd written the letter, confirmed he didn't want kids,
said he never told Susan to kill her sons, never
(12:36):
suggested it, just wanted to end the relationship. What Susan
did was her choice, her decision, not his fault. Forensic
evidence showed the car took six minutes to sink, six
minutes of Michael's screaming, six minutes of Alexander crying, six
minutes Susan stood on shore listening. That's not a suicide attempt,
that's watching your children die. Defense called mental health experts ERTZ.
(13:00):
Doctor Seymour Halleck testified Susan suffered from dependent personality disorder, depression,
abandonment issues. Her stepfather sexually abused her as a teenager.
Her father committed suicide when she was six. She'd attempted
suicide herself multiple times. She was mentally fragile. That night
(13:21):
she snapped. Prosecution countered with their own experts. Susan was depressed,
but she knew right from wrong, new killing was illegal,
knew what she was doing was murder. She chose to
do it anyway. Mental illness doesn't excuse infanticide. July twenty second,
nineteen ninety five. Jury deliberated two and a half hours,
(13:43):
returned verdict guilty two counts of murder Michael Daniel Smith
Alexander Tyler Smith. Now the penalty phase, life in prison
or death penalty. Prosecution sought death. Two murders children, her
own children, he meditated, aggravated, heinous, She deserves execution. Defense
(14:05):
argued for mercy. She's mentally ill, abused as a child,
attempted suicide, deeply remorseful, Spare her life, let her live
with what she did. David Smith made victim impact statement,
said he didn't want Susan executed, didn't want more death,
wanted her to suffer in prison, wanted her to wake
up every day knowing what she did. Death would be
(14:27):
too easy. Life in prison was the real punishment. July
twenty eighth, nineteen ninety five. Jury returned penalty verdict after
two and a half hours of deliberation, life in prison,
no death penalty. Why jury Foreman later said they believed
Susan was mentally ill, that abuse and depression contributed, that
(14:49):
execution wasn't appropriate, that David Smith's request for life imprisonment
influenced them. Judge Howard sentenced Susan to life in prison
with possibility of parole after thirty years. Under South Carolina
law at the time, murder convictions before nineteen ninety six
allowed parole eligibility after thirty years. If Susan had been
convicted one year later after the law changed, she'd be
(15:12):
ineligible for parole forever. Susan was transferred to Leath Correctional
Institution Women's prison, maximum security, where she'd spend the next
thirty years, and for thirty years, America wondered would they
actually let her out. November twentieth, twenty twenty four, Wednesday Morning, Columbia,
(15:44):
South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services Susan
Smith's first parole hearing. South Carolina grants parole only eight
percent of the time, even less for notorious cases, even
less when prosecutors and victim's families oppose, but Susan qualified
thirty years served technically eligible. The hearing was broadcast via zoom.
(16:08):
Susan appeared on video from prison, fifty three years old,
now gray hair, glasses looked older than her years prison
ages you seven parole board members present. One recused herself.
Geraldine Mero had been interim warden at a prison where
Susan was housed. Potential conflict. Six members would decide. Susan's
(16:29):
attorney spoke first. Tommy Thomas argued, this was a mental
health case. Susan suffered untreated depression, was suicidal, not a
cold blooded killer, just someone who broke who needed help,
not prison. She's rehabilitated now poses no threat, deserves a
second chance. Then Susan spoke, started to say, I'm very sorry,
(16:55):
broke down sobbed head in her hands, took several moments
to compose herself. Elf. I know what I did was horrible.
I would give anything to go back and change it.
I love Michael and Alex with all my heart. God
has forgiven me. I asked that you forgive me too.
The board asked questions, why did you lie about the
black carjacker? I was scared. I didn't know how to
(17:17):
tell the truth. Why did you waste law enforcement resources?
For nine days? I panicked, I was in shock. I
couldn't think straight. Do you accept responsibility? Yes? Completely. I
did this. It's my fault. I live with it every day. Then,
David Smith testified, wore a photo of his son's pinned
(17:39):
to his lapel, Michael's smile, Alexander's baby face, thirty years dead,
forever three and fourteen months. David struggled, voice breaking, paused, repeatedly,
wiped tears, finally spoke, God gives us free choice. She
made a choice that night to end their life. This
(18:00):
wasn't a tragic mistake. She purposely meant to end their life.
I've never felt any remorse from her. She's never expressed
it to me. He described, thirty years of grief. Can't
get out of bed some days. His new wife, Tiffany
testified too, said David carries this pain every moment. Susan
destroyed him, destroyed their family. She served fifteen years per child.
(18:23):
David said that's not enough. I'm asking you to deny
her parole and I'll be back every two years. So
Michael and alex aren't forgotten. Former prosecutor Tommy Pope testified,
said Susan hasn't changed, Still self centered, still manipulative, violated
prison rules, repeatedly, had sex with corrections officers, plural possessed drugs,
(18:47):
gave contact information to documentary filmmaker trying to profit from
the murders. She cried when the jury was present during trial,
Pope said, laughed when they weren't same. Susan today, still performing,
still lying, keeper in prison. Kevin Brackett, deputy prosecutor during trial,
submitted the Tom Findley letter read parts allowed, reminded the
(19:08):
board Susan killed her children to be with a man
who didn't want kids. That's not mental illness, that's evil.
Family members of David Smith testified, his current wife, his
daughter from another relationship, all opposed parole. All said Susan
destroyed their family, still destroying it every day, every moment.
(19:29):
One minister testified in favor of Susan, said he'd written
her weekly for thirty years, said she was truly remorseful,
truly changed, deserved mercy. The board deliberated not long returned
with decision denied unanimous vote of the six members present.
Reason cited serious nature of the crime, Susan's institutional record,
(19:53):
the rule violations, the sex with guards, the drugs, lack
of genuine remorse, Thirty years in s sufficient for two murders.
David Smith spoke to media afterward. At least for two
more years. She's still behind bars. There's still justice for
Michael and Alex. Susan will be eligible again in twenty
twenty six, just weeks away now, then twenty twenty eight,
(20:17):
then twenty thirty, every two years until she dies or
is granted parole. David vowed to attend every hearing every
two years for the rest of his life, fighting to
keep his son's killer in prison. Since the denial, prison
sources told media Susan's behavior changed before the hearing. She
was cooperative, pleasant, model prisoner. After denial, complete nightmare, rude, difficult, angry.
(20:44):
The act dropped once she realized parole was denied. The
real Susan emerged. Make it make sense. A woman who
murdered her children because her boyfriend didn't want them thinks
she deserves freedom after thirty years, cries on camera, claims
God for God gave her, then goes back to her
cell and becomes a nightmare again. Some people just can't
(21:05):
be rehabilitated. Some people are just evil. That's celebrity trials
for Wednesday, November twenty sixth, twenty twenty five. One year ago,
Susan Smith begged for freedom. The parole board said no.
October twenty fifth, nineteen ninety four, Susan strapped her sons
(21:26):
in car seats, rolled her car into John D. Long Lake,
watched it sink for six minutes, listened to them, scream
lied for nine days about a black carjacker. July nineteen
ninety five. Convicted of two counts of murder, sentenced to
life in prison. November twentieth, twenty twenty four, first parole
hearing denied unanimously. She'll try again in just weeks. Twenty
(21:51):
twenty six. Michael Daniel Smith was three years old, loved
power Rangers, loved his little brother. Should be thirty four
to day. Should have had a life. Alexander Tyler Smith
was fourteen months old, just learning to walk, just learning
to talk. Should be thirty two today, should have grown up.
Rest in peace, Michael and Alexander. Your father hasn't forgotten you.
(22:14):
He'll be at every parole hearing fighting for you, making
sure your deaths don't go in vain. Someone has to
say your names. I'm reed, Carter. Tomorrow we continue with
the next notorious American trial. This is celebrity trials.
Caalaruga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Red Carter. Wednesday, November
twenty sixth, twenty twenty five, just over a year ago.
November twentieth, twenty twenty four, Columbia, South Carolina, Susan Smith
appeared via zoom before the state Parole board first parole
(00:25):
hearing after thirty years in prison. She cried begged for mercy.
I know what I did was horrible. I would give
anything to go back and change it. God has forgiven me.
Across from her on video, David Smith, her ex husband,
father of the two boys she murdered, wearing a photo
(00:45):
of his dead son's pinned to his lapel, three year
old Michael, fourteen month old Alexander. David struggled to speak,
paused multiple times, composed himself. She had free choice that night.
This wasn't a tragic mistake. She purposely meant to end
their life. I've never felt any remorse from her. The
(01:06):
Parole Board voted unanimous denied. Susan Smith will remain in prison.
She's eligible again next year twenty twenty six. David vowed
to return every hearing so their deaths don't go in vain.
Thirty one years ago. October twenty fifth, nineteen ninety four,
(01:26):
Susan Smith strapped her sons in their car seats, rolled
her Mazda into John D. Long Lake in Union, South Carolina,
stood on the shore, watched the car sink. Took six
minutes for the water to fill the car drown her
babies submerge completely. Then she ran to a nearby house,
claimed a black man carjackedor took her boys. For nine days,
(01:50):
she lied to America. I'm reed, Carter. This is celebrity
trials today. Susan Smith, the drowning, the lie, the trial,
and one year ago the parole hearing that denied her freedom.
This is celebrity trials. October twenty fifth, nineteen ninety four,
(02:13):
Tuesday night, Union, South Carolina. Small town population nine thousand, milltown,
tight knit community, everyone knows everyone. Susan Smith, twenty three
years old, was struggling, separated from her husband David, two
young sons, Michael three, Alexander, fourteen months working as secretary
(02:36):
at Conso Products, not making enough money, living with her mother,
temporarily stressed, overwhelmed, but Susan had someone. Tom Finley, twenty seven,
son of her boss, Wealthy, handsome, Susan was obsessed with him.
They'd been seeing each other casually. Susan wanted more, wanted marriage,
(02:57):
wanted a future. Eight eighteenth, One week before the murders,
Tom Findley wrote Susan a letter, handwritten four pages, breaking
up with her. The key passage, I don't want children.
I've told you this. You have two beautiful boys, but
I'm not ready to be a father. We have no
future together. I'm sorry, but this has to end. Susan
(03:23):
read that letter felt her world collapse. Without Tom. She
had nothing, dead end job, two kids she couldn't afford,
failed marriage, no prospects, no hope, no future. She made
a decision the boys were the problem. If the boys
were gone, Tom might want her back. She could start over,
(03:43):
be free, be the person Tom wanted. October twenty fifth,
around nine pm, Susan loaded Michael and Alexander into her
nineteen ninety Burgundy Mazda Protege, strapped them in their car seats.
Michael in front passed your seat, which was illegal but common.
Alexander in the back. Both buckled. She told them they
(04:06):
were going for a drive. Michael was excited, Alexander babbled.
Neither had any idea what was about to happen. Susan
drove to John D. Long Lake, remote area boat ramp,
nobody around, dark, isolated. She'd been there before, knew the layout,
knew the lake was deep. She parked at the top
(04:26):
of the boat ramp, put the car in neutral, got out,
released the parking brake. The car started rolling, slowly at first,
then faster down the ramp toward the water. Susan watched
the car hit the water, floated for a moment, then
started sinking. The headlights stayed on underwater, glowing eerie. Michael
(04:52):
woke up, started screaming, pounding on the window, Mommy, mommy.
Susan could hear him, could see his face pressed against
the glass, terrified, not understanding. Alexander was crying, still strapped
in his car seat, too young to understand, just crying
because his brother was screaming. The water rose covered the windows.
(05:16):
The car tilted backward, nose going down first, kept sinking.
The screaming stopped, the crying stopped. Six minutes from hitting
the water to complete submersion, six minutes for the car
to fill, for her babies to drown. Susan stood there,
watched the entire thing, then she ran. She ran to
(05:38):
a nearby house Monarch Mills area, about a mile and
a half away. Banged on the door. Shirley McLeod answered,
Susan was hysterical, sobbing, screaming, he took my kids, He
took my babies. Shirley let her in, called nine one one.
Susan told her story through tears. She'd been stopped at
(05:58):
a red light at the intersection of Highway forty nine
and Monarch Mills Road around nine pm. A black man
jumped in her car, had a gun, told her to drive.
She drove, He told her to stop, she did. He
made her get out, then he drove away with her
kids still in the car. Michael and Alexander gone. The
(06:20):
description Susan gave blackmail mid twenties to early thirties, wearing
dark clothes, knit cap that was it vague generic, but
enough to trigger a massive search. Union County Sheriff's office responded,
immediately set up roadblocks, issued bolo be on the lookout
(06:41):
for Burgundy Masda protege with two white children inside and
blackmail driver. Every black man in the area became a suspect.
Susan appeared on local news then national news, tearful press conferences,
begging for her son's return. Please bring my babies home.
I love them, I need the whoever has them, please
(07:02):
let them go. America rallied massive search volunteers, FBI, state police, helicopters, bloodhounds,
search parties combing woods fields, abandoned buildings, checking every lead,
every sighting, every tip. National media descended on union, CNN, ABC, NBCCBS.
(07:23):
This was the story, missing children, desperate mother, dangerous black carjacker,
crime narrative America couldn't resist. For nine days, Susan maintained
the lie, gave interviews, cried on camera, pleaded for the
safe return of Michael and Alexander, made missing persons, posters,
organized vigils, played the devastated mother perfectly, but investigators were
(07:45):
suspicious the story didn't add up. The intersection Susan described
Highway forty nine and Monarch Mills Road. The traffic light
didn't stay red that long, not long enough for someone
to carjacker. Her timeline was off. Susan's behavior was off.
She cried for cameras, but when cameras turned away, she
(08:05):
stopped crying. Investigators noticed no tears when she thought nobody
was watching. She wasn't helping the investigation refused polygraph initially
changed details of her story. First she said the carjacker
had a gun, then wasn't sure. First the carjacker said nothing,
then he told her to drive. Inconsistencies piled up. November first,
(08:29):
Sheriff Howard Wells held press conference. Said he believed Michael
and Alexander were still alive, still in the Union area,
but his tone was different. He looked directly at Susan,
whoever has them, we will find you and we will
bring those boys home. That night, Wells and FBI agents
questioned Susan for hours, confronted her with inconsistencies, told her
(08:53):
the polygraph showed deception, told her they knew she was lying.
Susan broke three hours of entericgation, finally admitted there was
no carjacker, no black man, no kidnapping. She killed them,
drove the car into the lake, watched them drown, made
everything up. November third, nineteen ninety four, Sheriff Wells held
(09:16):
another press conference. National media present Susan Smith has been
arrested and charged with two counts of murder. She has
confessed to killing Michael and Alexander America was stunned. The
grieving mother was the killer. The desperate pleas were lies.
For nine days. She'd acted played victim while her son's
(09:38):
bodies were decomposing at the bottom of John D. Long Lake.
Divers recovered the car November third, still upside down, both
boys still strapped in their car seats, drowned. Decomposed. Medical
examiner confirmed they died from drowning. Death would have taken
three to five minutes once water filled the car. Michael
(09:59):
Daniel Smith three years old should be thirty four today.
Should have graduated college, Should have a career, should have
a family, Should be alive. Alexander Tyler Smith fourteen months old,
should be thirty two today. Should have grown up with
his brother. Should have memories of childhood, should have had
(10:20):
a future, Should be alive. Susan Smith murdered them because
her boyfriend didn't want kids, because she wanted to start over,
because her sons were inconvenient. Make it make sense. July tenth,
(10:47):
nineteen ninety five. Trial began Union County Courthouse, moved from
Union to avoid pre trial publicity, but brought back due
to defense motion. Judge William Howard presied. Solicitor Tommy Pope
prosecuting David Bruck defending Susan, the evidence was overwhelming, Susan's confession,
(11:09):
the car at the bottom of the lake with two
dead boys still strapped in their seats, the Tom Findley letter,
the timeline proving Susan lied, the witnesses who saw Susan's
car driving toward the lake that night. Defense didn't dispute
Susan killed her sons. Argued she was mentally ill, suicidal,
intended to die with them, but at the last moment
(11:31):
survival instinct kicked in. She got out of the car.
Didn't mean for them to die alone. It was a
suicide attempt gone wrong. Prosecution argued premeditation. Susan drove to
that lake, deliberately, knew exactly what she was doing, put
the car in neutral, got out, watched it sink, stood
there for six minutes listening to Michael scream that's not
(11:53):
mental illness, that's murder. The trial lasted two weeks. Testimony
from dozens of witnesses. Union Care County Sheriff Howard Wells
described the investigation, the lies, the confession, the recovery of
the bodies. David Smith testified sobbed on the stand. Described
his sons, Michael loved power Rangers, Alexander was just learning
(12:16):
to walk. David had been at work when Susan killed them,
came home to chaos. Believe Susan's carjacking story initially, then
learned the truth. His wife murdered his children. Tom Findley
testified confirmed he'd written the letter, confirmed he didn't want kids,
said he never told Susan to kill her sons, never
(12:36):
suggested it, just wanted to end the relationship. What Susan
did was her choice, her decision, not his fault. Forensic
evidence showed the car took six minutes to sink, six
minutes of Michael's screaming, six minutes of Alexander crying, six
minutes Susan stood on shore listening. That's not a suicide attempt,
that's watching your children die. Defense called mental health experts ERTZ.
(13:00):
Doctor Seymour Halleck testified Susan suffered from dependent personality disorder, depression,
abandonment issues. Her stepfather sexually abused her as a teenager.
Her father committed suicide when she was six. She'd attempted
suicide herself multiple times. She was mentally fragile. That night
(13:21):
she snapped. Prosecution countered with their own experts. Susan was depressed,
but she knew right from wrong, new killing was illegal,
knew what she was doing was murder. She chose to
do it anyway. Mental illness doesn't excuse infanticide. July twenty second,
nineteen ninety five. Jury deliberated two and a half hours,
(13:43):
returned verdict guilty two counts of murder Michael Daniel Smith
Alexander Tyler Smith. Now the penalty phase, life in prison
or death penalty. Prosecution sought death. Two murders children, her
own children, he meditated, aggravated, heinous, She deserves execution. Defense
(14:05):
argued for mercy. She's mentally ill, abused as a child,
attempted suicide, deeply remorseful, Spare her life, let her live
with what she did. David Smith made victim impact statement,
said he didn't want Susan executed, didn't want more death,
wanted her to suffer in prison, wanted her to wake
up every day knowing what she did. Death would be
(14:27):
too easy. Life in prison was the real punishment. July
twenty eighth, nineteen ninety five. Jury returned penalty verdict after
two and a half hours of deliberation, life in prison,
no death penalty. Why jury Foreman later said they believed
Susan was mentally ill, that abuse and depression contributed, that
(14:49):
execution wasn't appropriate, that David Smith's request for life imprisonment
influenced them. Judge Howard sentenced Susan to life in prison
with possibility of parole after thirty years. Under South Carolina
law at the time, murder convictions before nineteen ninety six
allowed parole eligibility after thirty years. If Susan had been
convicted one year later after the law changed, she'd be
(15:12):
ineligible for parole forever. Susan was transferred to Leath Correctional
Institution Women's prison, maximum security, where she'd spend the next
thirty years, and for thirty years, America wondered would they
actually let her out. November twentieth, twenty twenty four, Wednesday Morning, Columbia,
(15:44):
South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services Susan
Smith's first parole hearing. South Carolina grants parole only eight
percent of the time, even less for notorious cases, even
less when prosecutors and victim's families oppose, but Susan qualified
thirty years served technically eligible. The hearing was broadcast via zoom.
(16:08):
Susan appeared on video from prison, fifty three years old,
now gray hair, glasses looked older than her years prison
ages you seven parole board members present. One recused herself.
Geraldine Mero had been interim warden at a prison where
Susan was housed. Potential conflict. Six members would decide. Susan's
(16:29):
attorney spoke first. Tommy Thomas argued, this was a mental
health case. Susan suffered untreated depression, was suicidal, not a
cold blooded killer, just someone who broke who needed help,
not prison. She's rehabilitated now poses no threat, deserves a
second chance. Then Susan spoke, started to say, I'm very sorry,
(16:55):
broke down sobbed head in her hands, took several moments
to compose herself. Elf. I know what I did was horrible.
I would give anything to go back and change it.
I love Michael and Alex with all my heart. God
has forgiven me. I asked that you forgive me too.
The board asked questions, why did you lie about the
black carjacker? I was scared. I didn't know how to
(17:17):
tell the truth. Why did you waste law enforcement resources?
For nine days? I panicked, I was in shock. I
couldn't think straight. Do you accept responsibility? Yes? Completely. I
did this. It's my fault. I live with it every day. Then,
David Smith testified, wore a photo of his son's pinned
(17:39):
to his lapel, Michael's smile, Alexander's baby face, thirty years dead,
forever three and fourteen months. David struggled, voice breaking, paused, repeatedly,
wiped tears, finally spoke, God gives us free choice. She
made a choice that night to end their life. This
(18:00):
wasn't a tragic mistake. She purposely meant to end their life.
I've never felt any remorse from her. She's never expressed
it to me. He described, thirty years of grief. Can't
get out of bed some days. His new wife, Tiffany
testified too, said David carries this pain every moment. Susan
destroyed him, destroyed their family. She served fifteen years per child.
(18:23):
David said that's not enough. I'm asking you to deny
her parole and I'll be back every two years. So
Michael and alex aren't forgotten. Former prosecutor Tommy Pope testified,
said Susan hasn't changed, Still self centered, still manipulative, violated
prison rules, repeatedly, had sex with corrections officers, plural possessed drugs,
(18:47):
gave contact information to documentary filmmaker trying to profit from
the murders. She cried when the jury was present during trial,
Pope said, laughed when they weren't same. Susan today, still performing,
still lying, keeper in prison. Kevin Brackett, deputy prosecutor during trial,
submitted the Tom Findley letter read parts allowed, reminded the
(19:08):
board Susan killed her children to be with a man
who didn't want kids. That's not mental illness, that's evil.
Family members of David Smith testified, his current wife, his
daughter from another relationship, all opposed parole. All said Susan
destroyed their family, still destroying it every day, every moment.
(19:29):
One minister testified in favor of Susan, said he'd written
her weekly for thirty years, said she was truly remorseful,
truly changed, deserved mercy. The board deliberated not long returned
with decision denied unanimous vote of the six members present.
Reason cited serious nature of the crime, Susan's institutional record,
(19:53):
the rule violations, the sex with guards, the drugs, lack
of genuine remorse, Thirty years in s sufficient for two murders.
David Smith spoke to media afterward. At least for two
more years. She's still behind bars. There's still justice for
Michael and Alex. Susan will be eligible again in twenty
twenty six, just weeks away now, then twenty twenty eight,
(20:17):
then twenty thirty, every two years until she dies or
is granted parole. David vowed to attend every hearing every
two years for the rest of his life, fighting to
keep his son's killer in prison. Since the denial, prison
sources told media Susan's behavior changed before the hearing. She
was cooperative, pleasant, model prisoner. After denial, complete nightmare, rude, difficult, angry.
(20:44):
The act dropped once she realized parole was denied. The
real Susan emerged. Make it make sense. A woman who
murdered her children because her boyfriend didn't want them thinks
she deserves freedom after thirty years, cries on camera, claims
God for God gave her, then goes back to her
cell and becomes a nightmare again. Some people just can't
(21:05):
be rehabilitated. Some people are just evil. That's celebrity trials
for Wednesday, November twenty sixth, twenty twenty five. One year ago,
Susan Smith begged for freedom. The parole board said no.
October twenty fifth, nineteen ninety four, Susan strapped her sons
(21:26):
in car seats, rolled her car into John D. Long Lake,
watched it sink for six minutes, listened to them, scream
lied for nine days about a black carjacker. July nineteen
ninety five. Convicted of two counts of murder, sentenced to
life in prison. November twentieth, twenty twenty four, first parole
hearing denied unanimously. She'll try again in just weeks. Twenty
(21:51):
twenty six. Michael Daniel Smith was three years old, loved
power Rangers, loved his little brother. Should be thirty four
to day. Should have had a life. Alexander Tyler Smith
was fourteen months old, just learning to walk, just learning
to talk. Should be thirty two today, should have grown up.
Rest in peace, Michael and Alexander. Your father hasn't forgotten you.
(22:14):
He'll be at every parole hearing fighting for you, making
sure your deaths don't go in vain. Someone has to
say your names. I'm reed, Carter. Tomorrow we continue with
the next notorious American trial. This is celebrity trials.
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