Convicted killer Susan Smith denied parole 30 years after drowning young kids

Susan Smith, the South Carolina ma who killed her young children by driving her car into a lake 30 years ago, was denied parole connected Wednesday.

A South Carolina parole committee voted to support the 53-year-old slayer down bars contempt her claims of being a Christian who’s been forgiven by God.

“I conscionable inquire that you amusement that aforesaid benignant of mercy arsenic well,” Smith pleaded to committee members via video.

In an representation taken from Court TV excavation video, Susan Smith is seen testifying via video connected Wednesday Nov. 20, 2024, astatine a South Carolina parole proceeding connected her beingness condemnation for execution successful the deaths of her 2 young sons 30 years ago. (Walter Ratliff/AP)

Smith was convicted of sidesplitting her 3-year-old and 14-month-old sons successful October 1994, past telling investigators she’d been carjacked by a Black man who took the automobile and the children successful it.

For 9 days Smith begged the nationalist to assistance find her allegedly kidnapped boys, contempt knowing they were astatine the bottommost of John D. Long Lake, authorities said.

Smith yet admitted to rolling her Mazda down a vessel ramp and into the h2o with her sons strapped into their car seats.

More than a twelve people, including the boys’ father, opposed Smith’s petition for release.

“I’m asking that you please, contradict her parole contiguous and hopefully successful the future, but specifically today,” David Smith said.

A assemblage opted to springiness Smith beingness successful situation alternatively than the decease punishment pursuing her 1995 conviction. Her condemnation is up for reappraisal each 2 years.

During her execution trial, Smith’s defence squad contended her begetter had killed himself and that her stepfather and different antheral were having enactment with her. Her lawyer argued Wednesday that “untreated intelligence health” issues led to Smith sidesplitting her sons and that she nary longer poses a menace to the community.

“I cognize what I did was horrible,” an affectional Smith told her parole board. “I would springiness thing truthful I could alteration it.”

Susan Smith is escorted from the Union County Courthouse Friday, July 28, 1995 aft the assemblage delivered a verdict of beingness successful prison. (Dave Martin/AP)

Prosecutors meantime argued during proceedings that Smith was having an matter and saw her children arsenic an obstacle successful that struggling relationship.

Records during her incarceration person shown she’s discussed having a aboriginal with men who’ve contacted her by phone, according to The Associated Press. One situation defender admitted to having enactment with Smith successful 2000.

With News Wire Services