In the fall of 1994, a nine-day search unfolded in Union County, South Carolina, for two missing boys, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander Smith.(Video above: Susan Smith’s false claims 10/26/1994) Michael and Alex’s mother, Susan Smith, had claimed a Black man kidnapped them during a carjacking. After nine days of a very public search, Susan confessed to driving her children into John D. Long Lake in an attempted suicide.In July 1995, Susan Smith’s trial took place with the prosecution arguing she should be sentenced to death and her defense succeeding in sparing her by a life sentence in prison.So, what was the aftermath while Smith was in prison?Smith’s Life in PrisonAfter receiving her life sentence, Smith was booked into the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution in Columbia on July 28, 1995. In August 2000, Smith told administrators at the prison she had sex four times on prison grounds with 50-year-old prison guard Houston Cagle. Cagle later pleaded guilty for these charges and spent three months in prison.A year later, prison captain, Alfred Rowe, confessed to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to five years probation.Due to the scandal while in the Graham Institute, Smith was moved to Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood County on Sept. 25, 2000.During her time at Leath, Smith has been moved around several times for medical treatment. She was moved back to Graham for treatment once in 2004, 2013, and 2021. Smith has also been sent to Kirkland Correctional Institute, which is a male facility, several times for medical treatment. These treatments occurred once in 2008, three times in 2017, twice in 2018, once in 2019, and 2024. Records did not indicate what these medical treatments were for.Besides receiving disciplinary measures for having sex with guards at Graham, Smith has been disciplined multiple times during her time at Leath starting in 2010.Smith was disciplined three times in 2010; twice for the use of marijuana and unauthorized drug or inhalant in March and April; and also in April of 2010 she was disciplined for mutilation, which is anything that leaves a scar or damage on the body. Coincidentally, the same day as the mutilation, Smith was authorized for outside medical assistance.Since 2010, Smith was only disciplined twice; in February 2012, she was caught using another inmate’s PIN, and in March 2015, for the use of marijuana and unauthorized drug or inhalant.For the drug offenses in prison, Smith lost canteen, phone and visitation privileges for up to a year and was placed into a restrictive housing unit for up to 60 days for disciplinary detention. For mutilation, Smith lost privileges for 90 days and for unauthorized use of another inmate’s PIN she lost privileges for 240 days.While in prison Smith received three certificates; WorkKeys silver, horticulture with on the job training, custodial work with on the job training.Leath operates under the Palmetto Unified School District 1, which, for the 2012-13 school year, presented 107 WorkKeys certificates, including Susan Smith.Leath provides a horticulture program offering up to three levels with classes including gardening, landscaping, plant identification, plant propagation, and greenhouse operation. The facility said each level requires class work and on the job training with a minimum of 200 hours over the course of six months. Smith received the first level certificate in 2014.Smith has had many jobs while in prison, but is most recently working as a ward keeper assistant since April 10 of this year.According to Leath, Smith is eligible for parole as of Nov. 4, 2024.Smith asks for a New TrialMonths before Susan Smith received her first disciplinary measures after being transferred for having sex with two prison guards, she asked for a new trial.The appeal came a month after Smith’s appeal was dismissed in federal court.On Jan. 19, 2010, Smith filed a handwritten request for a new trial, claiming her attorney, David Bruck failed to adequately represent her during her 1995 trial. Smith claimed the trial was “unfair,” alleging prosecutorial misconduct and claimed her Miranda rights were violated.A prosecutor in Union County said at the time that Smith’s request for a new trial is too late.However, Solicitor Kevin Bracket believed the petition would have held up in court as the statute of limitation on such a motion expired one year after her trial.Bracket said, “She has the right to a fair trial and the right to have that trial reviewed. But David Smith and the people of Union have the right to expect to one day put this behind them and forget about Susan Smith. They’re rights are being violated by this petition.” Circuit Judge Lee Alford rejected Susan Smith’s request for a new trial, stating she needed to come up with better arguments as she mentioned “battered woman’s syndrome” in her appeal, which expands the concept of legal self-defense. However, this normally reflects in the form of the woman killing her husband or boyfriend, who physically abuses her, and not killing her children.Smith writes to the State NewspaperIn August 2014, The State Newspaper sent a letter to Susan Smith asking if she would share her experience of her trial and investigation.In January 2015, The State received a handwritten response from Susan Smith. This came months later due to her response not being approved by the Department of Corrections Correspondence Review Committee until Nov. 19, 2014.In the letter Smith stated, “It has been hard to listen to lie after lie and not be able to defend myself.”Smith also stated, “I’m not the monster society thinks I am, I am far from it. I was a good mother and I loved my boys.”To read more of Susan Smith’s letter to The State, click here.Tommy Pope, who was the prosecutor in Smith’s case talked to WYFF News 4’s Mike McCormick in 2015. Pope said, ” has always taken a self-centered focus over the years.””If you look at the letter it’s still more about her, not about Michael and Alex, not about the regrets of the crime. It’s more about the way she’s perceived,” Pope added.What happened to David Smith?Following Susan and David Smith’s divorce in May of 1995, David talked about his fear of starting over in 1998.WYFF News 4’s Michael Cogdill spoke to David in 2001 after he had a daughter with his old friend, Tiffany Moss.”I took her in my arms and I looked at her and she was looking at me and I promised I wouldn’t be afraid to love her and take care of her and always protect her and be there for her,” David said. Since then, David has spoke publicly several times of forgiving his ex-wife, but reportedly has stated he stands against Susan’s release.
In the fall of 1994, a nine-day search unfolded in Union County, South Carolina, for two missing boys, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander Smith.
(Video above: Susan Smith’s false claims 10/26/1994)
Michael and Alex’s mother, Susan Smith, had claimed a Black man kidnapped them during a carjacking. After nine days of a very public search, Susan confessed to driving her children into John D. Long Lake in an attempted suicide.
In July 1995, Susan Smith’s trial took place with the prosecution arguing she should be sentenced to death and her defense succeeding in sparing her by a life sentence in prison.
So, what was the aftermath while Smith was in prison?
Smith’s Life in Prison
After receiving her life sentence, Smith was booked into the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution in Columbia on July 28, 1995.
In August 2000, Smith told administrators at the prison she had sex four times on prison grounds with 50-year-old prison guard Houston Cagle. Cagle later pleaded guilty for these charges and spent three months in prison.
A year later, prison captain, Alfred Rowe, confessed to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to five years probation.
Due to the scandal while in the Graham Institute, Smith was moved to Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood County on Sept. 25, 2000.
During her time at Leath, Smith has been moved around several times for medical treatment. She was moved back to Graham for treatment once in 2004, 2013, and 2021. Smith has also been sent to Kirkland Correctional Institute, which is a male facility, several times for medical treatment. These treatments occurred once in 2008, three times in 2017, twice in 2018, once in 2019, and 2024. Records did not indicate what these medical treatments were for.
Besides receiving disciplinary measures for having sex with guards at Graham, Smith has been disciplined multiple times during her time at Leath starting in 2010.
Smith was disciplined three times in 2010; twice for the use of marijuana and unauthorized drug or inhalant in March and April; and also in April of 2010 she was disciplined for mutilation, which is anything that leaves a scar or damage on the body. Coincidentally, the same day as the mutilation, Smith was authorized for outside medical assistance.
Since 2010, Smith was only disciplined twice; in February 2012, she was caught using another inmate’s PIN, and in March 2015, for the use of marijuana and unauthorized drug or inhalant.
For the drug offenses in prison, Smith lost canteen, phone and visitation privileges for up to a year and was placed into a restrictive housing unit for up to 60 days for disciplinary detention. For mutilation, Smith lost privileges for 90 days and for unauthorized use of another inmate’s PIN she lost privileges for 240 days.
While in prison Smith received three certificates; WorkKeys silver, horticulture with on the job training, custodial work with on the job training.
Leath operates under the Palmetto Unified School District 1, which, for the 2012-13 school year, presented 107 WorkKeys certificates, including Susan Smith.
Leath provides a horticulture program offering up to three levels with classes including gardening, landscaping, plant identification, plant propagation, and greenhouse operation. The facility said each level requires class work and on the job training with a minimum of 200 hours over the course of six months. Smith received the first level certificate in 2014.
Smith has had many jobs while in prison, but is most recently working as a ward keeper assistant since April 10 of this year.
According to Leath, Smith is eligible for parole as of Nov. 4, 2024.
Smith asks for a New Trial
Months before Susan Smith received her first disciplinary measures after being transferred for having sex with two prison guards, she asked for a new trial.
The appeal came a month after Smith’s appeal was dismissed in federal court.
On Jan. 19, 2010, Smith filed a handwritten request for a new trial, claiming her attorney, David Bruck failed to adequately represent her during her 1995 trial. Smith claimed the trial was “unfair,” alleging prosecutorial misconduct and claimed her Miranda rights were violated.
A prosecutor in Union County said at the time that Smith’s request for a new trial is too late.
However, Solicitor Kevin Bracket believed the petition would have held up in court as the statute of limitation on such a motion expired one year after her trial.
Bracket said, “She has the right to a fair trial and the right to have that trial reviewed. But [Susan’s ex-husband] David Smith and the people of Union have the right to expect to one day put this behind them and forget about Susan Smith. They’re rights are being violated by this petition.”
Circuit Judge Lee Alford rejected Susan Smith’s request for a new trial, stating she needed to come up with better arguments as she mentioned “battered woman’s syndrome” in her appeal, which expands the concept of legal self-defense. However, this normally reflects in the form of the woman killing her husband or boyfriend, who physically abuses her, and not killing her children.
Smith writes to the State Newspaper
In August 2014, The State Newspaper sent a letter to Susan Smith asking if she would share her experience of her trial and investigation.
In January 2015, The State received a handwritten response from Susan Smith. This came months later due to her response not being approved by the Department of Corrections Correspondence Review Committee until Nov. 19, 2014.
In the letter Smith stated, “It has been hard to listen to lie after lie and not be able to defend myself.”
Smith also stated, “I’m not the monster society thinks I am, I am far from it. I was a good mother and I loved my boys.”
To read more of Susan Smith’s letter to The State, click here.
Tommy Pope, who was the prosecutor in Smith’s case talked to WYFF News 4’s Mike McCormick in 2015. Pope said, “[Susan Smith] has always taken a self-centered focus over the years.”
“If you look at the letter it’s still more about her, not about Michael and Alex, not about the regrets of the crime. It’s more about the way she’s perceived,” Pope added.
What happened to David Smith?
Following Susan and David Smith’s divorce in May of 1995, David talked about his fear of starting over in 1998.
WYFF News 4’s Michael Cogdill spoke to David in 2001 after he had a daughter with his old friend, Tiffany Moss.
“I took her in my arms and I looked at her and she was looking at me and I promised I wouldn’t be afraid to love her and take care of her and always protect her and be there for her,” David said.
Since then, David has spoke publicly several times of forgiving his ex-wife, but reportedly has stated he stands against Susan’s release.
