Killer mum who claimed 'black man kidnapped sons' after she killed them up for parole

Susan Smith was caged in 1994.

A mum jailed after killing both of her sons at a lake is "manifesting her freedom" ahead of a crucial parole hearing - which could see her set free.

Susan Smith was caged in 1994 over the murder of her two sons, who died after she left them strapped in a car, and let the vehicle roll into a lake.

Now relatives have revealed the 52-year-old has prepared four key arguments to present at her parole hearing, including highlighting her good behaviour in prison.

It's also understood she will argue she was sexually abused as a child, with the trauma she suffered in her youth changing her moral compass.

The Mirror reports a relative told The New York Post, "It really did a number on her. And she's hoping that [the parole hearing] will go her way.

"She's put all her hopes in that basket and she's manifesting her freedom. She believes she might be a free woman in less than two months."

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Smith will reportedly argue she was not in her right mind as a young mum and is expected to claim that, at the time, she was suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness.

The woman, who was 22 years old at the time, was jailed after she let her car roll into the John D. Long Lake in Union County, South Carolina while her boys - three-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander - were strapped into their car seats.

She then reportedly told police that a black man had stolen her car and kidnapped the boys. The false accusations led to a witch-hunt with authorities knocking on every door of local neighbourhoods that were predominantly black.

Smith and her then-husband appeared on national news pleading for the safe return of their children. However, nine days into the search, Smith confessed to police that there was no carjacking and that she had intentionally murdered her children.

Her reason: She was allegedly having an affair with a wealthy man who didn't want to have children. Smith was subsequently convicted of murder and given life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

The woman allegedly tried to leverage her mental condition as a defence previously, writing to Harrison Cahill, a journalist with The State in 2015. She said: "Mr. Cahill, I am not the monster society thinks I am. I am far from it", detailing the fateful night's events.

"Something went very wrong that night. I was not myself. There was no motive as it was not even a planned event. I was not in my right mind." In her correspondence, Smith disclosed her contemplations of suicide.

She wrote: "I didn't know how to tell the people who loved Michael and Alex that they would never see them again. I had planned to kill myself first and leave a note behind telling what had happened.

"I didn't believe I could face my family when the truth was revealed." Smith also intends to highlight a disciplinary incident from 2000, claiming that any sexual encounters with two prison guards were inherently non-consensual due to prison power imbalances.

Claiming victimhood, she reportedly confided to a visiting friend in 2023, as stated in court files. "I was a victim," she declared. "I had sex with them both because I didn't feel like I had a choice."

Smith is also rumoured to be presenting her reformed prison persona as part of her defence. A relative has described her transformation to The Post positively.

They said: "She's grown into a mature woman," they said, expressing hope for her ability to succeed outside of prison walls. Despite family support, the children's father remains a staunch critic, openly insisting that the parole board should refuse her application.

In an interview with CourtTV, David Smith announced his intention to vehemently oppose her release, stating: "I'm going to remind them what she did and who the victims were in this case," and asserted, "Certainly not her."

Despite expert opinions doubting the effectiveness of Smith's attempt to prevent her release, the inmate appears hopeful about her prospects.

She has reportedly confided in a fellow prisoner that she believes "it's time" and expressed, "I've paid my debt. I deserve to be released. I'm no longer a danger to anyone. Just let me live my life."

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