Susan Smith Faces Parole Hearing 30 Years After Killing Her Children.

Susan Smith, the South Carolina woman whose shocking crime gripped the nation 30 years ago, is up for parole. Smith, now 52, was convicted of drowning her two young sons, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, by rolling her car into a lake in 1994. She initially claimed an armed Black man had carjacked her, igniting racial tensions during a fraught time in America. After nine days and a national search, she confessed, revealing her motive was to preserve an extramarital affair with a man who didn’t want children. Sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, Smith is now scheduled for her first hearing. Prosecutors, including former lead prosecutor Tommy Pope, and her ex-husband David Smith plan to oppose her release. Smith’s history includes a troubled upbringing marred by her father’s suicide and sexual abuse by her stepfather. Yet, her behavior in prison has been far from exemplary, with infractions including sexual misconduct, drug use, and policy violations. Pope argued that Smith’s actions reflect a lack of true remorse, saying, “She needs to continue to serve her sentence”. Parole remains unlikely, as only 7% of South Carolina applications were granted last year.