Thirty years after drowning her two young sons, Susan Smith was denied parole in a unanimous decision that delivered a clear message: justice still matters. Smith’s tearful pleas for mercy at her parole hearing Wednesday failed to convince the seven-member South Carolina Board of Paroles, who refused to release the woman behind one of the most chilling crimes in modern history.
Smith, now 53, broke down as she apologized for the 1994 murders of her sons, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, whom she strapped into their car seats and submerged in a South Carolina lake. While claiming remorse, Smith also attempted to deflect responsibility for her actions, blaming others for her choices—a familiar tactic for the convicted killer.
“I know that what I did was horrible,” Smith said via Zoom, dabbing at tears with a tissue. “I would give anything if I could go back and change it. I love Michael and Alex with all my heart.” Yet her claims rang hollow for many, especially given her long track record of disciplinary issues behind bars, including sexual misconduct with corrections officers, marijuana possession, and even attempting to profit from her crimes by working with a documentary producer.
Smith’s attorney, Tommy Thomas, argued that her case was a “mental health story,” claiming she was not motivated by her obsession with another man, as prosecutors alleged during her trial. “She is making something of herself,” Thomas said, highlighting Smith’s mentorship of other inmates and her pursuit of an associate’s degree in Christian counseling.
However, the families of Michael and Alex vehemently opposed her release, emphasizing the premeditated nature of Smith’s actions and the devastating impact on those left behind.
“She should not be released until every living person who remembers Michael and Alex is dead—and that won’t happen in her lifetime,” said Tommy Pope, the prosecutor who secured Smith’s life sentence.
David Smith, the boys’ father, delivered a powerful plea to the board, reminding them of the innocence of the lives taken and the profound loss he endures daily. “That’s only 15 years per child,” David said of her time served. “Her own children. That’s just not enough.” His wife, Tiffany, added, “Michael and Alex didn’t get a chance at life. They were forced the death penalty.”
Despite Smith’s claims of rehabilitation, her behavior both during and after the hearing painted a different picture. A prison employee exclusively told *The Post* that after her rejection, Smith returned to her cell, angry and ranting about the board’s decision to fellow inmates.
This parole hearing marked Smith’s first opportunity for release since receiving her life sentence. The unanimous rejection means she will remain behind bars, but her eligibility to reapply every two years ensures this painful ordeal isn’t over for the families of her victims.
David Smith vowed to be present at every future hearing to ensure Susan Smith never walks free. “I will be here every two years going forward to ensure that their death doesn’t go in vain,” he said.
Justice, for now, has prevailed—but the fight to keep Susan Smith behind bars is far from over.
