As the nation watches, Susan Smith, infamous for the brutal 1994 murders of her two young sons, is set to appear for a parole hearing in just six weeks. The thought of her being released after nearly three decades behind bars has sparked outrage, especially among those who remember the horrific details of her crime. With family members claiming she has four main arguments to support her bid for freedom, the implications of her potential release raise serious questions about justice, accountability, and the value placed on innocent lives.
Smith, now 52, has reportedly convinced herself that she could soon be a free woman. A relative shared with *The Post*, “She believes she might be a free woman in less than two months… She’s hoping that [the parole hearing] will go her way. She’s put all her hopes in that basket, and she’s manifesting her freedom.” Such audacity is chilling given the heinous act she committed.
One of Smith’s key arguments revolves around her troubled upbringing in a sexually abusive household, which she claims distorted her moral compass. “She has a different moral compass than other people because of her trauma,” said the relative, downplaying the gravity of her actions by painting her as a victim of her past. While many can empathize with the impact of childhood trauma, it raises the question: should this justify the cold-blooded murder of two innocent children?
Additionally, Smith plans to argue that she was not in her right mind as a young mother, claiming potential undiagnosed mental illness contributed to her actions. In a letter from jail in 2015, she asserted, “I am not the monster society thinks I am.” However, this narrative has been consistently debunked by the facts of the case: on that fateful night, she willingly allowed her car to roll into John D. Long Lake, drowning her 3-year-old son, Michael, and 14-month-old Alexander while she stood by and watched.
Compounding her defense, Smith will attempt to explain away her past disciplinary issues in prison, including incidents involving sexual encounters with guards, which she describes as non-consensual. “I was a victim,” she stated in a recent conversation, attempting to shift the focus from her heinous actions to her perceived victimhood. Such rhetoric is troubling, as it diminishes the true victims in this tragic story—her sons.
Despite her checkered past, Smith claims to have turned her life around in prison, maintaining a steady job and avoiding disciplinary actions for nearly a decade. Yet, records reveal multiple infractions for drug possession, including marijuana, undermining her narrative of rehabilitation.
David Smith, the father of her slain children, has vowed to contest her bid for freedom vehemently. He plans to either write to the parole board or address them directly, emphasizing the reality of her actions and reminding the board of the true victims in this heartbreaking case. “I’m going to remind them what she did and who the victims were in this case,” he stated. “Certainly not her.”
Susan Smith has been serving her life sentence at Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood, South Carolina, ever since she confessed to the horrific murders after initially lying to authorities about a fictitious carjacker. The car, submerged in the lake, was pulled from the water with her sons still strapped in their car seats, an image that continues to haunt the community.
Experts are skeptical that her parole bid will be successful, yet Smith remains resolute in her belief that she deserves freedom. “I think it’s time,” she told one of her jailhouse suitors earlier this year. “I’ve paid my debt. I deserve to be released. I’m no longer a danger to anyone. Just let me live my life.” Such statements serve as a stark reminder of the insensitivity often displayed by those who have committed unspeakable acts.
As the hearing date approaches, many are left wondering: will the parole board prioritize the sob stories of a convicted murderer over the memories of two innocent boys who never had a chance to live? The outcome will be a litmus test for our justice system and society’s commitment to upholding accountability for the most grievous offenses.
