Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

Susan Smith, the infamous mother who drowned her two young sons in 1994, is nearing her first parole hearing this fall. Experts believe her long-term correspondence with numerous suitors while incarcerated reveals a personality disorder that may have contributed to her crime and raises concerns about her potential release.

Susan Smith's upcoming parole hearing has brought renewed attention to the horrific crime she committed 30 years ago. As she prepares for the November 4th hearing, experts are analyzing her behavior and the implications it may have on her chances of release.

Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

Dr. Katherine Kuhlman, a clinical psychologist, diagnosed Smith with Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) based on her extensive romantic correspondences while incarcerated. DPD, a condition characterized by a need for others to take responsibility for major life decisions, may have influenced Smith's actions in 1994 and continues to manifest in her relationships today.

Smith's relationships with nearly a dozen suitors over the past three years have raised questions about her motives. The conversations, which often turned sensual, suggest she views others as disposable, according to one of her former suitors.

Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

"She always wanted something from me," the man told the New York Post. "She’s always figuring out what she can get."

Dr. Kuhlman believes this mindset extends to her children and relationships, which she discards once they no longer serve her purpose.

Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

"Prisoners are not operating at that intensive level of treatment," Kuhlman said. "They're more focused on making sure that depressed people don't kill themselves and keeping people calm."

Criminal defense attorney Philip Holloway believes Smith's chances of an early release are slim, given the severity of her crime and her lengthy record of prison misconduct. He cites her drug use, self-harm, and rule violations as indicators of her inability to conform to societal norms.

Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

"I see it's unlikely that she would be released into society," Holloway said.

Smith's jail time romances, while concerning, should not play a significant role in the parole board's decision, according to Holloway. Instead, statements from surviving relatives of her slain children could significantly impact the board's ruling.

Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

David Smith, the father of the two murdered boys, has expressed his opposition to her release and intends to attend the hearing along with his family.

"She belongs in jail… she is exactly where she needs to be," a relative of David Smith told The Messenger.

Susan Smith's Upcoming Parole Hearing: Experts Weigh in on Her Behavior and Chances of Release

Despite Smith's intention to show up at the hearing, her request for parole is likely to face strong resistance from victims' families and experts who believe she remains a danger to society.