Killer mom Susan Smith will ‘die in jail’ after her ‘crocodile tears’ as parole denied for sons’ murder, prosecutor vows

A prosecutor has pledged that Susan Smith, a killer mother who drowned her two infants in the 1990s, will die behind bars for not being granted parole.

The senior prosecutor in Smith’s case, Tommy Pope, told The U.S. that her actions during the parole hearing were indicative of her actual emotions.

Smith rolled her car down a boat ramp into a lake in 1994, drowning her two young sons.

When they were discovered, Alex, age 1, and Michael, age 3, were securely buckled up in their car seats.

The Union City, South Carolina, mother then told police a falsehood, saying that a Black man had carjacked her and taken her kids at gunpoint.

Together with her unaware husband David, she also made a heartfelt plea at the time, pleading for her children’s return even though she knew they were already dead.

However, after a worldwide search, police found Smith’s automobile at the bottom of John D. Long Lake nine days later.

Police discovered her wedding gown and a photo album in her car, along with the bodies of her children.

Smith had expressed her want to leave her spouse for a new man after he informed her that he had no desire to have children.

She was having an affair with her boss’s affluent son at a nearby textile mill at the time.

However, she made the callous choice to kill them after he sent Smith a letter ending their affair because he didn’t want children.

During her 1995 trial, Smith’s lawyers contended that she had been suicidal and despondent and had planned to kill herself and her children by remaining in the automobile.

In a video appearance from jail on Wednesday, Smith, now 53, made a heartfelt plea for her release.

She said she had learnt from her faults in her self-admitted testimony before the South Carolina Board of Paroles and Pardons in Columbia.

Tommy A. Thomas, her lawyer, said the board that his client was “truly remorseful” for her conduct.

Tommy Pope, who was a junior district attorney when the 1995 trial took place, was there in court to observe Smith and gave an explanation of why it was crucial that she never be allowed to go.

Pope declared himself “relieved” by the court’s unanimous ruling.

From his Rock Hill office, he told The U.S. Sun, “David and his family have pledged to be there to advocate for Michael and Alex every 2 years for as long as possible.”

“I am hopeful for the same result [next time].”

Despite calling the parole hearing “an emotionally grueling day,” Pope, who accompanied David the entire time, said the bereaved father had “held up well.”

Pope, a former police officer, claimed that although he had handled many terrible cases, the Smith children’s deaths had remained with him for thirty years.

“The nature of the death of the children, the betrayal by Susan, the nine days of dragging out the media involvement, made it more intense,” he stated.

Union City, which has a population of less than 8,000, is still heavily affected by the horrific events thirty years later.

“Much like the town of Union will always be the place where the woman killed her children, I’ll always be the Susan Smith prosecutor,” stated Pope.

At the time, Pope wanted Smith to be executed, but the jury decided to sentence her to life in prison.

He thinks the jurors decided that life in prison was a more severe punishment that would make her consider her actions.

Pope went on to say that they were unaware that life didn’t imply death and that she would someday be eligible for parole.

CROCODILE TEARS

Pope told the board at her tearful court appearance, “I know that what I did was horrible.”

However, Smith’s ex-husband maintained that 30 years is insufficient time for her to serve for her offenses.

During the hearing, he stated, “This wasn’t a tragic mistake,”

“She intended to kill them on purpose. She has never shown regret to me. She never showed me any of them.

Pope said that Smith only began to cry after the jury was present and that he had the opportunity to monitor her on camera during that time.

“There were times today when her attorney was speaking, and she would be on camera, but almost like she wasn’t aware she was on camera,” he stated.

She wasn’t crying while the lawyer discussed the difficulties she had faced as a child.

“Then, when it got time for her to be on stage, she cries,” he continued.

Pope revealed in a terrifying moment that the prosecution had given the court a film that tested the car’s sinking time.

Smith would have had time to save her kids from the car after it plunged into the lake, according to the video.

According to Pope’s video, the car would have sunk in six minutes.

“We were watching the video, and no jury was in there,” Pope Francis stated.

However, she is inside, laughing and taking notes with her defense attorney.

“Then the jury comes in and they’re watching the video, and she’s crying on cue.”

‘LOVED THE ATTENTION’

Smith’s actions in court disgusted Pope, but he added there was at least “vindication” that the jury had still seen “the real Susan.”

He went on to say that Smith had not expressed regret for killing Alex and Michael and had only cried because she was going to prison.

Smith can reapply for parole in two years, but Pope says he and the family will continue to battle to keep her incarcerated.

“If Susan ever were to get paroled, the greatest service she could do if she was really, truly remorseful is disappear,” he stated.

He also said that she enjoyed the publicity that came with her fame.

He claimed that, “Based on what I saw 30 years ago, and her enjoyment of the media attention,” he could envision her ruining David’s life had she been freed.

“I think she would use her infamy to her benefit, which would be a torture to that family.”

Additionally, he stated that Smith’s claimed actions while incarcerated will be used against her in any subsequent parole board hearings.

“She had sex with guards, she’s had sugar daddies that wanted to fund her getting out,” he stated.

She has been in touch with TV producers.

“If Susan continues on our current behavior, we’ll all know about it, and therefore we’ll make sure that the parole board knows about it.”

Smith’s release was opposed by 14 witnesses including her ex-husband during her parole board hearing.

More than 360 messages regarding Smith’s parole hearing had been sent to the Office of Victim Services as of the first week of November.

According to the department, all but six had resisted her release.

According to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, parole is only given to violent offenders in about 8% of cases.

The judge decided not to broadcast Smith’s trial because of the delicate racial content of her unfounded allegation that she had been carjacked by a Black guy.

Following the OJ Simpson trial, which had become a racial hot spot due to its daily broadcast, there were concerns that the case may exacerbate racial tensions.

Pope expressed his hope that the town will move on as a result of Smith’s release being denied.

“Union City is weary of Susan Smith,” he said.

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