Susan Smith Denied Parole 30 Years After Sons’ Murders

A South Carolina woman is denied parole 30 years after murdering her young sons.

A parole board denied Susan Smith’s release on Wednesday. Smith, now 53, was convicted on July 22, 1995 of killing her two sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander.

On Oct. 25, 1994, Smith, who was 23 at the time, strapped her sons into their car seats and let the car roll into a lake near her home. She had initially told police that a carjacker took off with her children still inside. About a week later, officers confronted Smith about her story to which she ended up admitting to letting the car roll into the lake. For nine days, Smith pleaded with the media and public to help locate her children.

Smith appeared before the board through a video call Wednesday. She asked for mercy and said she would give anything to go back and change what she did.

“I know that what I did was horrible,” she said. "I love Michal and Alex with all my heart.”