Susan Smith is incarcerated at Leath Correctional Institution in South Carolina, serving two life sentences for murder, according to a state corrections record dated October 6, 2026. Her first parole request was denied in 2024. A new hearing was reported as scheduled for November 19, 2026; that is a hearing date, not a decision or promise of release.
What happened in the case
On October 25, 1994, Smith let her car roll into John D. Long Lake in Union County while her sons, Michael, 3, and Alexander, 14 months, were strapped into their car seats. She first told authorities that a Black man had carjacked her and taken the boys. That account was fabricated; she confessed to the killings on November 3, 1994.
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In 1995, Smith was convicted of two counts of murder. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, but the jury sentenced her to life in prison. The state says her sentence was imposed under the law then in force, when a life sentence could become parole-eligible after 30 years. Sentencing rules have since changed, so her eligibility should not be taken as a guide to the terms for every person serving a life sentence in South Carolina.
What is known about her life in prison
Public corrections records establish Smith’s facility and list disciplinary sanctions, but they do not provide a reliable account of her ordinary daily routine, current housing conditions, work assignment, or private relationships.
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Disciplinary sanctions in the state record
- 2010: sanctions for unauthorized drug possession and mutilation.
- 2012: a sanction for unauthorized use of another inmate’s PIN.
- 2015: a sanction for unauthorized drug possession.
- 2024: a sanction for communication with a victim or witness. The record lists loss of canteen, tablet entertainment, and telephone privileges for 90 days.
These are entries in the state corrections record; they do not establish her current routine or, by themselves, support conclusions about her character.
Programs described at the 2024 hearing
At her 2024 parole hearing, Smith’s attorney said she had worked as a math tutor, taken an interest in art, participated in a prison fellowship, and worked toward a Christian counseling degree. Those statements were made in support of parole at that hearing. They do not establish which activities, if any, she is pursuing in 2026.
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What happened at her first parole hearing
Smith appeared by video at the November 20, 2024 hearing. She told the board, “I know what I did was horrible,” and added, “And I would give anything if I could go back and change it.” These were remarks at that hearing, not a current statement.
David Smith, the boys’ father, opposed her release. He told the board, “She changed my life for the rest of my life that night.” The Associated Press reported that about 15 people—including family members, prosecutors, and law-enforcement officials—urged the board to deny parole. The board unanimously denied her request in November 2024.
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The State reported in 2026 that six of the 471 letters and emails received by the parole board supported release. That figure describes correspondence received by the board; it is not a vote or a survey of public opinion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about the next parole date
The state corrections record dated October 6, 2026 lists November 20, 2026 as Smith’s projected parole-eligibility date. Separately, the State reported that a parole hearing was scheduled for November 19, 2026. Eligibility and a scheduled hearing are distinct entries, and neither means the board has granted release. The hearing date is the latest reported schedule and may change.
As of the reported schedule, the 2026 hearing had not taken place. Its outcome—and whether Smith would be released if parole were granted—cannot be inferred from the hearing date or the prior eligibility entry.
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