UNION, SC (WLOS) — In the fall of 1994, News 13 in Asheville was one of many stations locally and nationwide focusing on a horrific story in Union, S.C.

News 13 is revisiting the case as Susan Smith, the woman at the center of it all, becomes eligible for parole on Nov. 4, 2024, the 30th anniversary of her arrest for the drowning deaths of her children, Michael and Alexander. .

FIRST REPORT

It all started around 9pm on October 25, 1994, when Susan Smith showed up at Shirley McCloud’s house. The McClouds lived about a quarter mile from John D. Long Lake in Union.

Smith claimed she was driving to a friend’s house when a suspect took her children and car away from a carjacking incident in Union.

According to Smith’s false claim, he was stopped at a red light in Monarch Mills when a black man with a gun walked in, held a gun to his side and told him to “shut up and drive.”

Susan would tell authorities that after driving five miles on 49, he told her to stop the car and get out. She claimed that when she wanted to pick up her sons, the man said he did not have time and promised not to harm them. She claims he then pushed her out of the car and drove off with 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander.

30 years later: The unforgettable turning point in SUSAN SMITH’S chilling past

On October 26, 1994, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division flew helicopters over John D. Long Lake and searched the nearby Sumter National Forest with heat sensors for the car and the children. Police dogs were also part of the Union-wide effort.

Sheriff Howard Well said at the time: “The longer this situation goes on the more concerned we become, but we have no reason to believe he harmed them.”

Local, state and federal agents set up a command center at the Union County Courthouse. Divers also searched the lake, but no results were found.

She met a sketch artist, Susan Smith, and created a sketch of the man, whom Susan described as approximately 40 years old, wearing a black, plaid jacket, dark shirt, jeans and a dark sled. It wasn’t long before the picture appeared in the windows of many Union stores.

Smith and her estranged husband, David, held a press conference on the steps of the Union County Sheriff’s Office and were later interrogated for six hours by SLED about the details of the carjacking.

The next day, October 27, Susan and David Smith agreed to take polygraph tests administered by the FBI. While David’s results revealed that he knew nothing about the children’s disappearance, Susan’s results were inconclusive.

Sheriff Howard Wells told reporters the agency is currently receiving tips from across the country.

“If it says there were two children in it, if it says there was a black man in a burgundy car, if it says there was a Mazda involved, we take all that information and just rule on that,” Wells said. “When we talk to investigators in this jurisdiction, we will find out whether it would benefit us to be involved in this case.”

The Adam Walsh Foundation, an organization that helps find missing children, also got involved. Yellow ribbons were tied to trees on Main Street in Union.

David Smith made a desperate plea: “Please man, man, me and my wife beg him to please return our children to us safely.”

On October 28, 1994, Sheriff Wells held another press conference, telling reporters and the community that there were no solid leads regarding the kidnapping of Michael and Alex, but that no suspects had been ruled out. Wells suspended the search on the ground until he and state and federal agents could regroup.

In the following days, authorities began to question Susan Smith’s story. More than 100 officers and volunteers were called to search the area along 49 where Susan claimed her car had been hijacked but found no sign of the children or the vehicle. Investigators went door to door in Smith’s neighborhood and talked to neighbors.

DIVERS TOOK SUSAN SMITH’S CAR DURING OPERATION SOMBER, REMEMBERED LAWYER BRACKETT

Authorities also searched Smith’s home, including the crawl space underneath. The Smiths had lived in the house for more than a year. In September, Smith filed for divorce from David. He wanted custody of the boys. David told investigators he was seeing another man named Tom Findlay.

Investigators would eventually find a letter Findlay wrote to Susan, dated October 17, 1994, just eight days before the boys disappeared, breaking off their relationship over their children.

On November 2, 1994, Susan and David Smith appeared on several national television programs pleading for the safe return of their children.

Arrest

Upon her return to Union on November 3, 1994, Susan Smith admitted at a local church to drowning Michael and Alex after pushing the vehicle into John D. Long Lake. Confession letter signed at 5:05 p.m. Later that evening, Department of Natural Resources divers found Smith’s Mazda with the bodies of Michael and Alex in the backseat.

Union County Sheriff Howard Wells held a press conference to tell the nation that Susan Smith had been charged with two counts of murder for the drowning deaths of her children.

On November 6, 1994, hundreds of people sent flowers and attended the wake and burial service for Michael and Alex, who were brought together in a single casket.

ATTEMPT

Smith was indicted by a state grand jury on two counts of murder in the December 12, 1994 deaths of Michael and Alex.

In January 1995, 16th District Attorney Tommy Pope announced that he would seek the death penalty in the Susan Smith case.

On July 10, 1995, jury selection began in the murder trial of Susan Smith. The jury seated nine men and three women, all from Union County.

ATTENTION MEDIA REQUESTS GUIDANCE ON SUSAN SMITH’S PAROLE RELEASE PROCEDURES

On July 22, 1995, the jury found Smith guilty of two counts of murder.

The penalty phase of the trial began on July 24, 1995. David Smith testified.

On July 28, 1995, Smith was sentenced to life in prison.