Susan Smith: The Cold-Blooded Mother Who Drowned Her Two Young Sons

Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother who murdered her two young sons in 1994, is scheduled for a parole hearing next month. Prosecutors, family, and community members speak out against her release, citing her lack of remorse and ongoing misconduct in prison.

In a cruel and heartless act, Susan Smith, then 22, strapped her sons, Michael and Alexander Smith, into the back seat of her car in October 1994, and watched as she let the car roll into John D. Lake in Union County, South Carolina. The brutal act took six minutes for the two boys, one 3 years old and the other just 14 months, to drown.

Former Union County prosecutor Tommy Pope, now a South Carolina state representative, recalls the chilling events that unfolded: "She spent nine days claiming that the carjacker had taken the kids and asking for help, so the search was going on."

Susan Smith: The Cold-Blooded Mother Who Drowned Her Two Young Sons

Smith's deception was relentless. She lied to investigators and the press, falsely claiming a Black man had carjacked her with Michael and Alexander inside the vehicle. "She was on every major station, 'Good Morning America,' you name it, she was doing it, and she was pleading for the kids," Pope said.

Smith's callous behavior raised suspicions. "The one thing I saw from the beginning – I had some video footage from a local TV station that actually went to the house that she went to that night when she claimed she was carjacked. And [Smith's] husband, David, was called to the scene. And of course, he looked like someone who was just told his kids had been kidnaped. And Susan was kind of giddy about being on television. I think she really loved the attention."

Susan Smith: The Cold-Blooded Mother Who Drowned Her Two Young Sons

Investigators uncovered a sinister motive behind Smith's actions. She was having an extramarital affair with Tom Findlay, the son of a wealthy local business owner, who wrote Smith a letter a week before the murders. In the letter, Findlay expressed his desire to end their relationship, citing his unwillingness to be a father.

This letter became damning evidence for the prosecution. "I don't think he meant to tell her to get rid of her children. I just think he was trying to break up with her because he lost interest. And I think she took it to heart because she envisioned a life of luxury with a rich person," said Andrea Peyser, a New York Post columnist who reported on the murders.

Susan Smith: The Cold-Blooded Mother Who Drowned Her Two Young Sons

Smith was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murdering her two sons. However, she has reportedly engaged in inappropriate relationships with prison guards during her 30 years of incarceration. "She's not having a horrible time behind bars," Peyser observed.

Pope maintains that Smith should not be granted parole. "Some of the jurors, after the fact, even said they gave her life under the theory she would be remorseful and spend her time thinking about Michael and Alex. Well, she has proved from her conduct in prison that she's had sexual relations with guards, she's got Facebook friends and sugar daddies waiting for her to get out," Pope said.

Susan Smith: The Cold-Blooded Mother Who Drowned Her Two Young Sons

Peyser echoes Pope's sentiments, expressing that Smith has shown no remorse or accountability for her actions. "She had caused so much damage, she led to the investigation of all kinds of innocent men. It's unfair in every way. She's just a really sad and horrible person," Peyser said.

The town of Union, where the murders occurred, is abuzz with opposition to Smith's potential release. A Facebook page dedicated to Michael and Alexander Smith has been encouraging followers to submit letters to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services opposing Smith's release.

Susan Smith: The Cold-Blooded Mother Who Drowned Her Two Young Sons

The parole hearing for Susan Smith is scheduled for next month. Prosecutors, family members, and community members alike are determined to prevent her from walking free again. Her heinous crime and ongoing lack of remorse have left an enduring scar on the community, and they are united in their belief that she deserves to remain behind bars for the rest of her life.