Susan Smith Denied Parole, Faces Scrutiny Over Remorse Claims

The South Carolina mother convicted of killing her two sons in 1994 will remain in prison after her emotional plea was rejected by the parole board.

Susan Smith, convicted in 1995 for drowning her two young sons, was denied parole during her first eligibility hearing on November 20, 2024.
Smith apologized to the parole board, claiming she had found faith and was remorseful, but her plea failed to sway the seven-member panel.
Former prison guards and her ex-husband expressed doubts about her remorse, with some citing her history of manipulative behavior and lack of accountability.
After the rejection, Smith reportedly threw an emotional outburst in her cell, which some fellow inmates found unsympathetic and self-centered.
Smith will remain at the Leath Correctional Institution in South Carolina and will be eligible to apply for parole again in two years, in November 2026.