``I do hope that we will be able to date some and be together again someday, but if we never made love again, my feelings for you would not change because having you as my friend is worth more than sex could ever be worth. Other testimony pointed to the deep shame that stemmed from her incestuous relationship with Russell. Keep scrolling below to find out more about Susan Smiths case, trial and to find out where she is today. The solution for the moment seemed to be to buy a house, where everything would be different. Susan became pregnant and had an abortion. After the first sentence, insert eyes rolling in parentheses. Nearly 30 years after her conviction, Smith's cellmate is speaking out and . This year, as the bands and barbecue mavens set up, television trucks arrived on Main Street, but not for anybody's sauce recipe. A married man older than her who was an employee at the same store; another younger co-worker; and Bev, her stepfather. ), A strapping, silver-haired man, Russell stunned the courtroom by admitting that his consensual involvement with Susan continued intermittently through her marriage and subsequent separation from David Smith. Amazon , whose father owned the mill she worked at. That man, Tom Findlay, took the stand and read a letter he had written to Smith breaking off their relationship. 'You don't have all the guilt,' Beverly Russell, Smith's stepfather, says at her trial. ``Susan, I am not mad at you about what happened this weekend. I want you to know that I have never felt with anyone, the way I feel when I'm with you. http://www.abcnews4.com/story/26887424/a-look-back-the-susan-smith-case. The contempt for Susan was overwhelming, not only because of the racial tension triggered by the false accusation of a black man, but because her motive was extremely futile and selfish: to get rid of her children in order to maintain a relationship with a rich man. If you want to catch a nice guy like me one day, you have to act like a nice girl. Thank you for this well written article. Her confession of pushing the car into the lake began to come out. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Susan Smiths childhood was disturbing. One diver described seeing the little hand of one of the children pressed against a window. Which is the lie? Was she just a victim of the abuse she suffered, or a cold-hearted murderer of her two young children? Killing her sons was a horrifying act that bespeaks a personality crisis: at that moment, she must have been emotionally numb. Pastors who together counseled the inconsolable community became close friends. On October 25, 1994, a then 23-year-old married mother of two sons, Susan Smith of Union, South Carolina, rolledher car into John D. Long Lake with herboys strapped inside, drowningthem both. Over the next several days, Findlay testified, they had a series of highly emotional conversations. Shell have to keep behaving herself like she has been as of late, an insider told, Smith was also disciplined in 2000 for having sex four times with prison guard, , who later pleaded guilty and spent three months behind bars for the crime. Susan, because you got pregnant and married at such an early age, you missed out on much of your youth. I was not ready to assume the important responsibilities of being a father, Findlay wrote in a statement issued through his lawyers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I was a good mother, and I loved my boys. , filed for divorce in September 1994 and it was finalized in May 1995. The idea that she would kill her . Chicago Tribune. Who is he to be dishing out advice? ", That was the bitter end of a tumultuous, too-early marriage. FOR THIS NEWSWEEK POLL, PRINCETON SURVEY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES TELEPHONED 752 ADULTS JULY 27-28. The letter is dated Oct. 17, 1994. On the other hand, he sounds quite narcissistic and preachy in his Dear John letter, and he isnt even attractive. ``Even though you think we have much in common, we are vastly different. ", She went to his office later the same day to return an Auburn University sweat shirt that belonged to Findlay. He was considered twenty years ago to be the most eligible bachelor in Union, as the son of a wealthy mill owner. . . But they also said she suffered from a mental illness that could have affected her behavior, and one of the shrinks, Dr. Donald Morgan, startled the court by warning that Smith was clearly suicidal and might sabotage her own defense. The world watched as townspeople searched fields and forests; as Smith went on national television with her estranged husband, David, and pleaded for the return of their sons; and as the sheriff, after nine long days, delivered the horrible truth, that the boys weren't missing but had been murdered - not by any black man, but by Susan Smith herself. Other small towns suffer their tragedies, but few as small and obscure as Union face a global press corps, sustained scrutiny, harsh self-criticism, the indignity of public grief and now, three years later, the kind of name recognition no one could want. For nine days, she pleaded for the safe return of her babies while making appearances on television, only to have the, Many people believe her motive was because she was dating a man who didnt want children at the time. It was October 25, 1994, Susan was at work. The fact is, I just don't want children. Susan had a troubled childhood, which was plagued with suicide attempts and traumatizing events. I remember this story well and its interesting to know how things have played out over the years. "They thought she should get a death sentence." Either way, before you settle down with anyone again, there is something you need to do. She then became a little to obsessed when Tom Findlay sent her a Dear John letter . Despite the comings and goings of their marriage, they were always present in the upbringing and education of their children. David passed, but Susans results were inconclusive. She keeps business cards of reporters she may never see again. And city and county leaders, who had to work together to prepare Union for a trial-time media deluge, allied again this year. Now more than ever, Americans support the death penalty by striking majorities. By the late summer of 1994, Susan told the defense's psychiatrists, she was sexually involved with four different men--Bey Russell, David Smith, Tom Findlay and Tom's father, Cary. . I know I did when we were messing around earlier this year. Nine days later, she confessed and, eventually, it was revealed her motive was to pursue a relationship with a wealthy local man who did not want children. Tom Findlay, Susan Smith's ex-lover, started a new life in Birmingham, Ala. Cary Findlay, who is Tom Findlay's father and Susan Smith's former employer, let his mansion become a bed-and-breakfast; he now divides his time between England and Union. The judge took into consideration the abuse suffered by the defendant. David has stated that he will attend all parole hearings to try to keep Susan Smith in prison for the rest of her life. ``I know how you feel about our relationship and I respect that. They also heard from state and federal investigators who told of Smith's fake tears, curious smiles and furious outbursts as they confronted her with the mounting evidence that she was involved in the disappearance of 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex Smith. Findlay ended their relationship one week before Smith reported the children missing and he later gave investigators a copy of the letter in which he explained his feelings. Brackett, who is still something of a spokesman for Union's black community. Tom Findlay's letter, as gentle as it tried to be, had brought Susan Smith in direct and brutal contact with her own lies, deceit, narcissism, and lust. However, although she was sentenced to life in prison, she is up for parole in 2024. Susan Smith's crimes landed her a life sentence WYFF News 4/YouTube After Susan Smith and her ex-husband David separated for the final time around 1994, the young woman soon entered what in. Patrick is in there. Susan herself is now in prison after being found guilty of the murders of her children in July 1995. People.com First were Michael, who was 3, and Alex, 14 months. On Oct. 17, according to Findlay, Smith gave him a greeting card and a handwritten letter accepting their breakup with equanimity and pledging her eternal friendship, saying, "I will always love and care for you the rest of my life. SUSAN SMITH'S LETTER TO TOM FINDLAY Dear Tom, Just a note to say thank you for everything. In January 1994, Susan started dating a co-worker from her job at Conso Products Tom Findlay. Name: Susan Vaughan Smith D.O.B: September 26, 1971 Place of Birth: Union, South Carolina Parents: Linda & Harry Vaughan Conviction Date: July 22, 1995 Sentence: LIFE . However, he said in an interview last year that there are still hard days, particularly on his boys birthdays and around the anniversary of their death. He broke it off sometime in March, Findlay said, after David Smith caught them talking on the phone and angrily warned him to stay away from Susan. But today's most titillating testimony came from Findlay, the 28-year-old son of a wealthy textile manufacturer and the man whose rejection prosecutors say drove Smith to drown her sons. In November 1992, the couple resumed their relationship upon the news of Susans new pregnancy. On November 3, 1994, David and Susan appeared on the CBS This Morning program and David expressed his full support for Susan and her story about the kidnapping. "We'll never really be the same. I could never express in words how much you mean to me. First, it is important to choose the right type of planter and support system for your plants. Im sure that your kids are good kids, but it really wouldnt matter how good they may be the fact is, I just dont want children. ", Paul Patrick, a florist, says, "It was a real tragedy but I don't think anybody's still dwelling on it three years later. However, when he began to learn more details of the story, he came to his senses. Their last meetings came on Oct. 25 at the Conso plant. He even admitted to having sexual encounters with Susan as recently as August 1994, less than three months before she killed her sons. At the age of 16 her stepfather started to molest her. At the time of the murders, Susan and David were separated and David was working at the Winn-Dixie in Union where he met his now wife, Tiffany. One of the biggest clues that led authorities to believe Susan was lying was her story about stopping at a red light on Monarch Mills Road. All Rights Reserved. A woman named Shirley Crask left a pot of mums. They planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue cookoff, a log-rolling contest and live bands. He noted that as good as Smiths children may be, the fact was he did not want any children. But the rich, handsome 27-years-old broke things off with her in October writing Smith a letter clarifying he wasn't ready for a relationship involving kids. The two had always proved to be good parents. From an early age Susan Smith lived in a troubled environment, in a wealthy family that was overly concerned with appearances. It is the story of a woman who, to judge by the evidence ofher life, succumbed to her own molestation as a teenager and grew up to become a promiscuous, sexually exploitive adult. Russell signed a statement admitting his conduct and the family sought counseling-but Susan and her mother said they didn't want to prosecute. Red Rocket is a determinate tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates like those found south of Memphis. The divorce apparently led her millworker father, Harry Vaughan, to commit suicide one month later, an event that may have helped create the emotional vacuum that has haunted her ever since. In May 1991, the stress of losing a child was too much for Davids parents. Even before Susans confession, investigators already suspected her. Caso Criminal 2023 - All rights reserved. "That's one of the things that helped the healing process," says the Rev. Smith's lawyer, David Bruck, answered with Christ's defense of the adulterous wife in the Gospel according to John. Williams testified about a conversation with Susan Smith on Oct. 17, eight days before the murders: "I have a problem," Smith said. And it brought her David Bruck. Caldwell said. You are intelligent, beautiful, sensitive, understanding, and possess many other wonderful qualities that I and many other men appreciate. David felt left out. "But forgive--that's something I'm going to have to deal with, I guess, further on down the road. I was not myself, she wrote in a letter to The State in 2015. . She served a pizza dinner to Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, and tenderly strapped them into their car seats. For court records, I would make a request to Union County if you cant find them online. The ramp led nine people to their deaths. "Really, I think this is an example of how little this situation is on the minds of people who live here. "But seeing you kiss another man put things back into perspective . But unfortunately, it won't be me. "Every time we think it's all behind us, it comes up again," says June Miller, Union County's longtime clerk of court. She was later promoted to the executive secretary position, as she was dating Tom Findlay, the son of her boss. Smith's mother and stepfather are still around. It was as if Bev had acquired the right to do whatever he wanted. Even in the face of all the facts, David seemed to have some compassion for Susan. a formidably shrewd 46-year-old lawyer who is deeply opposed to the death penalty. "We all felt like Susan was a really disturbed person," said juror Deborah Benvenuti. "She said, 'I'm going to give you this; I may not see you again'," Findlay recalled. Jurors heard Smith's love letters read aloud and watched a videotaped television interview Smith gave shortly after reporting that her two toddlers had been kidnapped by a black carjacker last Oct. 25. An autopsy of the children proved that the two boys were still alive when they were submerged in the water. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating Tom Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at. Where is Bev Berverly Russell? In a day filled with dramatic testimony, Smith sat blank-faced as witnesses took the stand and painted a conflicting portrait of the 23-year-old defendant as a vixenish adulteress, a lovesick secretary, an abused child, a frightened wife, a skillful liar and a doting mother. One of the most intriguing parts of this story was Lindas conduct in the face of abuse. During the marriage, Smith had several affairs, and in August, 1993, after the birth of her second son, she hooked up with her wealthy boss, Tom Findlay. During her trial, Susans stepfather, testified that he had sexually molested his stepdaughter when she was a teenager and again in the months leading up to her drowning the boys. , the woman who killed her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries. ``But dont be discouraged. Carbon on Estamino was late to mature. In. Susan seemed to be integrating high society, just like her mother Linda. They still receive gifts. Her experience as an accountant earned her a position at Conso Products. But unfortunately, it wont be me. The following year, prison captain. Actually, it "literally says" after 4 years he allowed her to leave, go shopping AND get a job. He went down the list of her sexual partners in an effort to poke holes in the prosecution's theory that Mrs. Smith killed her children, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, so she could rekindle her. ``Thank you for being there for me through all the rough times. I mean, one minute you were a kid, and the next minute you were having kids. The steady drip of revelation, each more damning than the last, seemed almost certain to lead to her execution. Her father committed suicide when she was 7 years old. They argued there was no evidence, as the defense claimed, that Smith had driven to the lake to commit suicide. The previous year, Union had the festival two years to the weekend after Smith confessed to the sheriff where he could find her boys. ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT He told her he felt like some kind of pervert when it happened." A.L. She flirted with another man, and Tom, to judge by the Dear Jane letter he sent her two days later, was at least somewhat offended. She said she wanted to kill herself and her children, but in the end she got out of the car and sent the boys to their deaths. Copyright 2023 | We Support Phalanx Family Services & St Agatha Catholic Church, Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Powered by Frackle Media, Taylor Swift Reveals Lyrics and Their Meanings to Jimmy Kimmel [Video], Horror Movie Villains That Became Halloween Traditions, An Important Message, and a Warning to My Christian Friends, http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0, http://www.abcnews4.com/story/26887424/a-look-back-the-susan-smith-case, http://www.thomasandrewart.com/KathyKemparticle.html, It Is Unfair to Blame the Right Wing for All the Violence in America, Abortions Will Not Cease Women Will Continue to Fight for Equality, Why Republicans Cant Be Trusted to Do the Right Thing: Undeniable Fascism. They contacted two of the nation's largest newspapers, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, to suggest a news item. " And I want you to know that I am flattered that you have such a high opinion of me. ", Findlay went on to write: "Susan, I could really fall for you. Thank you for your article. During her adolescence Susan became popular at school, she was a very attractive young woman and seemed to take leading positions in school activities. What was only supposed to last a few months, resulted in a promotion to accountant at the store. Many sent her flowers after the trial. Smith ended her marriage to the poor boy who loved her and gambled on a rich boy who didn't. She seemed exhausted by the situation and desperate for help. Susan Smith chose to do the worst thing a mother can do and covered it up, Pope argued, pushing for the death penalty. However, some feel it will never be forgotten. But something was not right in their relationship, Susan was extremely materialistic and always borrowed money from her mother. The man she wrote about was a graphic artist named Tom Findlay, who enthralled the court with details of a stormy relationship that came to a head on October 25, 1994. At the time, Tom didnt know, but she had sex with David; her stepfather, Bev Russell; and also her boss, who was Toms father. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Citizens support the death penalty in general, but frequently refuse to apply it when, as in the Smith case, they are confronted with a face, a name and human frailties that, however lurid, bear at least some resemblance to their own. On October 25, 1994, the Union native, who was 23 years old at the time, called the police and claimed an armed black man stole her car and drove off with her two sons inside. . The letter about the reasons for the breakup, written by Tom, was also inside the car. "She was scared of David," Findlay testified. ``Once again, Im sorry for Sat. ", But the letters, both friendly in tone, did not reveal what witnesses described as Smith's growing anxiety or her ploys for attention from Findlay, who said she gratefully described his "Dear Susan" missive as "the sweetest letter she'd ever gotten.". The reason? The town of 10,000 started the event following the Susan Smith murder trial to showcase its softer side," the Journal wrote. The first step is to understand the causes of climate change and how we can reduce our impact on the environment. The mom of two made headlines at the time of the news due to her shocking motive and she has since been behaving herself behind bars, which means she could soon be a free woman. [2] The highway sign simply reads John D. Long Lake. . Both Smith and Findlay worked at Conso. The case of Susan Smith, the woman who killed her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries Cellmate Secrets. "I think you're involved in this thing," Caldwell told Smith in an interview that day. Despite Davids protests, Susan Smith was spared the death sentence and received a 30-year prison sentence. Since that day twenty years ago, the town of Union, S.C. has also moved on. Since her arrest at South Carolinas Leath Correctional Institution, two guards have been punished for having sex with Smith. But it seems Susan just couldn't keep her lips dry, and one night Findlay found her in his own hot tub kissing another man. She kept those, too. The Barnes family of Maple Shade, N.J., sent an arrangement of carnations and daisies. Susan Smith was having an affair with her boyfriend, Tom Findlay when such a heinous incident took place. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Bev was influential in the community, had good lawyers who would know how to successfully suppress situations like this. I mean Bev was getting around having sex with his wife and dauther for not days or weeks or months, but for years! David never questioned the paternity of the child despite their separation. ", To prosecutors, Findlay's emphasis on the children was Smith's motive for murder. Before the murders, he wrote her a Dear John letter to Susan explaining why they could neverbe together, stating that he did not want children. Susan Smith had fallen in love with her supervisor at work, Tom Findlay, a wealthy businessman, and had an affair with him. Union - isn't that where that woman drowned her babies? The defense claimed, that was the bitter end of a wealthy mill owner you want prosecute! Whatever he wanted University sweat shirt that belonged to Findlay you feel our! At that moment, she is up for parole in 2024 process, '' said juror Deborah Benvenuti Findlay.. 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Reset your Google or Facebook password then became a little to obsessed when Tom Findlay, the woman who her... We all felt like Susan was at work age of 16 her stepfather city and county leaders, had. Next minute you were having kids hand, he came to his office later the same day to return Auburn... Of revelation, each more damning than the last, seemed almost certain lead.

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