Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother convicted of killing her two sons by rolling her car into a lake in 1994, is set to appear before a parole board on Wednesday to request her release. Smith, now 53, is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty of murder but spared from the death penalty by the jury. According to state law, she is eligible for a parole hearing every two years after completing 30 years in prison.
During the hearing, Smith will present her case for parole via video link from prison. Her ex-husband and the prosecutor from her murder trial will also provide arguments against her release.
Smith's conviction stems from the tragic incident where she killed her 3-year-old and 14-month-old sons by driving her car into a lake. Prosecutors revealed that she committed the act after being influenced by a man she was having an affair with, who suggested that her children were an obstacle to their relationship.
Parole in South Carolina is granted in only about 8% of cases, and it is particularly rare in high-profile cases or when victims' families and prosecutors oppose it. The decision to grant parole requires a two-thirds majority vote from the parole board members present at the hearing.
Smith gained international attention in 1994 when she falsely claimed that her car had been carjacked with her sons inside. After a nine-day search, it was discovered that the boys were drowned in the submerged vehicle at the bottom of a nearby lake.
Despite her initial deception, Smith eventually confessed to the crime. Prosecutors argued that her actions were motivated by her affair with a wealthy individual who ended the relationship due to her children.
Throughout her time in prison, Smith has faced various challenges, including violating prison policies and engaging in inappropriate relationships with guards. Despite expressing remorse and grief for her children in private messages, her parole eligibility remains a contentious issue.
As the parole hearing approaches, the decision on whether Susan Smith will be granted freedom rests in the hands of the parole board members, considering the gravity of her crime and the impact it had on her family and the community.
