Susan Smith
American murderer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Susan Smith?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Susan Leigh Smith (née Vaughan; born September 26, 1971) is an American woman who was convicted of murdering her two sons, three-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander, in 1994 by drowning them in a South Carolina lake.[2]
Susan Smith | |
---|---|
Born | Susan Leigh Vaughan (1971-09-26) September 26, 1971 (age 52) Union, South Carolina, U.S. |
Criminal status | Incarcerated |
Spouse |
David Smith
(m. 1991; div. 1995) |
Children | Michael Daniel (1991–1994) Alexander Tyler (1993–1994) |
Parent(s) | Linda Sue Harrison and Harry Ray Vaughan |
Conviction(s) | Murder (2 counts) |
Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment with possibility of parole after 30 years |
Imprisoned at | Leath Correctional Institution |
The case gained international attention because of Smith's false claim that a black man had kidnapped her sons during a carjacking.[3] Her defense attorneys, David Bruck and Judy Clarke, called expert witnesses to testify that she had mental health issues that impaired her judgment when she committed the crimes.[4][5]
Smith was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.[2] According to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, she will be eligible for parole on November 4, 2024. She is incarcerated at the Leath Correctional Institution near Greenwood, South Carolina.[6]