Susan Smith Denied Parole After 30 Years

Susan Smith, convicted of murdering her two young sons in 1994 by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake, was denied parole unanimously by a six-member parole board. Smith, now 53, attended her first parole hearing via video link, expressing remorse and citing her Christian faith as a source of forgiveness. Despite her claims of rehabilitation, the board cited the nature of her crime and her unfavorable institutional record as reasons for denial. Her ex-husband, David Smith, and other family members opposed her release, arguing she remains unrepentant and incapable of rehabilitation. The case, which initially involved a fabricated story of a carjacking, drew national attention and significantly impacted the local community. Smith will be eligible for another parole hearing in two years under state law.