Susan Smith, the South Carolina woman who infamously drowned her two young sons in 1994, faces a challenging road to parole following recent disciplinary issues in prison. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services had scheduled a parole hearing for Smith on Nov. 20.
Smith, now 52, was convicted of communicating with a victim/witness of a crime, a violation of prison rules, after providing contact information to a documentary filmmaker in exchange for money. This incident, her first disciplinary action in a decade, has significantly jeopardized her chances of parole.
Despite her relative's statement expressing Smith's distress over the situation, it appears unlikely that she will be granted parole. The parole board considers such disciplinary actions seriously, especially so close to a scheduled hearing.
In 1994, Smith, then 22, committed the heinous act of strapping her two sons, Michael and Alexander, into her car and letting it roll into a lake, resulting in their tragic drowning. Former prosecutor Tommy Pope, who sought the death penalty for Smith during her trial, believes she should not be released, citing her lack of remorse and inappropriate behavior in prison.
Pope highlighted Smith's past affair with a local businessman's son and her focus on personal gain rather than reflecting on her crime as reasons for denying her parole. He emphasized that Smith's actions in prison, including engaging in sexual relationships with guards and maintaining inappropriate connections outside, demonstrate her self-centered attitude.
Smith's case continues to evoke strong emotions and debate, with many questioning her eligibility for parole given the severity of her crime and her subsequent behavior. The parole hearing on Nov. 20 will be a critical moment in determining Smith's fate and whether she will be allowed to reenter society after serving time for her horrific actions.
