Susan Smith pleads for parole release but denies full responsibility at hearing

Susan Smith, who drowned her two sons in 1994, appeared before the South Carolina parole board on Wednesday, pleading for release. She expressed remorse but did not fully accept responsibility, blaming others for her past actions. The parole board unanimously denied her request. Smith's attorney argued her actions stemmed from mental illness, while a prosecutor described her behavior as calculated. Smith's ex-husband also opposed her release, stating her sentence was insufficient. Smith has been in prison for 30 years and this was her first parole hearing. She can apply for parole again in November 2026.