Why not simply give custody of the boys to their father? "They thought she should get a death sentence." An autopsy of the children proved that the two boys were still alive when they were submerged in the water. One of the most intriguing parts of this story was Lindas conduct in the face of abuse. In the summer of 1988, Susan got a temporary job as a cashier at a local grocery store. The outcome flatly contradicts current public opinion. Sheriff Howard Wells took polygraph tests on David and Susan. That man, Tom Findlay, took the stand and read a letter he had written to Smith breaking off their relationship. Now more than ever, Americans support the death penalty by striking majorities. Buildings don't tell the whole story, that Susan Smith did not simply wake up one day and decide to kill her children, that it was a lot more complicated than that. They argued there was no evidence, as the defense claimed, that Smith had driven to the lake to commit suicide. It was October 25, 1994, Susan was at work. The fact is, I just don't want children. Tom Findlay, get over yourself..youre really not all that attractive anyway. TRUE CRIME - CURRENT TRIALS, OLD or COLD CASES, Harvest Delicious Red Tomatoes with Red Rocket in Hot Climates South of Memphis, Tomatoes are a popular and versatile crop that can be grown in many climates, but it is important to choose the right variety for your climate. Maybe he wasnt ready for children at the time at such a young age. . And you know, nice girls dont sleep with married men. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Susan Smiths childhood was disturbing. ``But dont be discouraged. She keeps business cards of reporters she may never see again. Davids parents were grieving the recent loss of another son who died of Crohns disease just 11 days before Susan and Davids wedding. And you know, nice girls dont sleep with married men. After initially standing by Susans side until he learned the truth and then grieving over the small caskets of his boys at their funeral while Susanwas in jail, it now appears David has been able to move on. Susan decides to use emotional appeals. Michael and Alex Smith were buried together in the same casket in the Bogansville United Methodist Church cemetery on November 6, 1994, next to the grave of Davids brother and the childrens uncle, Danny Smith. " Cladwell said Smith then began crying, said she wanted to go home, and stalked out, hollering in the hallway of the sheriff's office: "I just can't believe they think I did it.". They still receive gifts. Her saga of suicide attempts and molestation and depression and marital deception is embodied in those closest to the case. UNION, S.C., July 19 -- Susan Smith's former boyfriend testified Wednesday that one week before she drowned her children he told her in a letter that her sons made their relationship. 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. ``It is 11:50 p.m. and I am getting very sleepy. Despite the family turmoil, the child was long-awaited and loved. Most Eligible Bachelor in Union Whatever! Watched part of youtube video on this horrific death of this young girl. I was not in my right mind.. ", This smarmy rejection threw Smith into panic. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. In the past nine years, Smith has been disciplined at least five times, including self-mutilation and the use and possession of narcotics or marijuana. "There is no good outcome in this case," he said. 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. . "She was scared of David," Findlay testified. , filed for divorce in September 1994 and it was finalized in May 1995. ``Anyhow, as I have already told you, you are a very special person. Susan became pregnant and had an abortion. This irritated David. Susan told her mother and Social Services what had happened. He is known to some local young women as "The Catch.". Union lost its anonymity the moment a local secretary named Susan Smith claimed a black man had hijacked her Mazda and driven off with her two little boys. With Findlay, Susan finally believed she would be able to have some stability in her life but, she was mistaken. They were buckled into their car seats when their mother stepped out, lowered the emergency brake and let the car roll down the steep ramp, into the deep water. What got into Susan Smith's mind that night, only the devil knows. With the promotion came a new life for Susan. 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. Despite the comings and goings of their marriage, they were always present in the upbringing and education of their children. Russell, 48, was then active in South Carolina Republican politics and in Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition--but he is no longer, and the shattering disclosures triggered by his stepdaughter's prosecution are the reason. Bev was influential in the community, had good lawyers who would know how to successfully suppress situations like this. You are a true friend. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and its effects can be seen all around us. Linda Russell told a social worker that Susan told her "Bev was sitting in the chair watching TV and Susan got in his lap and went to sleep." Pastors who together counseled the inconsolable community became close friends. ", To prosecutors, Findlay's emphasis on the children was Smith's motive for murder. Tom Findlay, 28, is a graphic designer who works in his father's firm. I can see this may be a bit difficult for you because you are a bit boy crazy, but as the proverb states `good things come to those who wait. I am not saying you shouldnt go out and have a good time. During one of their separations, Susan began having a relationship with Tom Findlay, who was known as one of the most eligible bachelors in Union. Many people believe her motive was because she was dating a man who didnt want children at the time. Beverly Russell, a leader of the Christian Coalition at one time, and Linda Russell split up before the trial. . The familiar landmarks remain: the courthouse on Main Street, where Smith stood trial for her life; her small brick house on Toney Road (a nurse's aide now rents it from Smith's mother); Conso Products, the decorative-trim factory where Smith worked as a secretary. They were from Union County, so the community not only grieved again, but wondered what it had done to deserve so much pain. Susanslover Tom Findlaydoes not appear to have an online presence now. Susan may say that she wouldnt care (copy unintelligible) husband had an affair, but you and I know, that is not true. 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. The letter gave reasons justifying the end of the relationship. 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. So, where are all of the key players now, including the woman at the center of it all? After the birth of their second son, Alexander Tyler, on August 5, 1993, David and Susan resumed their relationship, but within three weeks David once again moved out and they decided that the relationship was over. FOR THIS NEWSWEEK POLL, PRINCETON SURVEY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES TELEPHONED 752 ADULTS JULY 27-28. The two had always proved to be good parents. THE NEWSWEEK POLL (c) 1995 BY NEWSWEEK, INC. 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. Amazon ), 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. ``Thank you for being there for me through all the rough times. First were Michael, who was 3, and Alex, 14 months. Some are proud to belong to a community that refused to wither in the spotlight. On one hand, I feel sorry for the guy because he got wrapped in this mess when he clearly stated he wanted nothing to do with the girl. "But like I have told you before,there are some things about you that aren't suited to me, and yes, I am speaking about your children. In this same period, Susan began to have a relationship with David, also a co-worker. They planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue cookoff, a log-rolling contest and live bands. The ramp led nine people to their deaths. This year, I am considering a few varieties for graft, Take Action Now: How You Can Fight Climate Change and Protect Our Environment, The Effects of Climate Change on Our Environment Susan graduated from Union High School in 1989 and went to work in the local Winn-Dixie supermarket as a checkout girl. For court records, I would make a request to Union County if you cant find them online. 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. Bev stayed away from the family for a few weeks, but after a few sessions of family counseling he returned to normal family life. This resulted in one of the most barbaric crimes that a human being can commit: killing her own children. They still credit him for containing a potentially volatile racial divide by refusing to detain the many black men who might have fit Smith's description of her hijacker. Williams asked again. 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. Employees of Winn-Dixie, the grocery store where David Smith worked, paid for it as a lasting tribute. . Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Around 8 pm, Susan, in desperation, puts her two children in the car. Keep scrolling below to find out more about Susan Smiths case, trial and to find out where she is today. SC State House . Many sent her flowers after the trial. What was only supposed to last a few months, resulted in a promotion to accountant at the store. And Susan Smith thought she had him hooked. She was in a bit of a hurry, as her goal at the time was a new marriage to Tom. And city and county leaders, who had to work together to prepare Union for a trial-time media deluge, allied again this year. Who is he to be dishing out advice? And special thanks to my fellow true crime buffs in the True Crime Discussions group on FB, especially PAT! Bruck had it exactly right. But on Oct. 16, Findlay testified, Smith acknowledged she was not even separated from her husband. At this point she seemed to get everything she wanted, especially about relationships with men. ``I want you to know that I have never felt with anyone, the way I feel when Im with you. The letter is dated Oct. 17, 1994. She soon became pregnant and they decided to get married. Brackett, who is still something of a spokesman for Union's black community. The car apparently took almost six minutes to disappear-and Michael and Alex, trusting and helpless, can only have died screaming for their mother. The jury was 11-1 in favor of life in prison when it began deliberating her sentence, and the lone hard-liner finally joined the majority. It seemed to be the first time she had ever been rejected by a man. When she went on to say she had been riding around in the car singing with her sons, Caldwell said he interrupted and reminded her she earlier had described the boys as fussy that day. She was also sexually abused by her stepfather. Shortly after joining the company she was promoted to the position of executive secretary to Consos president and CEO, Carey Findlay. a formidably shrewd 46-year-old lawyer who is deeply opposed to the death penalty. During the 1995 trial, Lindasthen husband Beverly Russell, Susans stepfather, admitted to molesting Susan when she was 15 and continuing to have sex with her after she was married with the last time being in August of 1994, two months before the murders. Looking forward to reading more true crime articles by you. 'You don't have all the guilt,' Beverly Russell, Smith's stepfather, says at her trial. "Dear Susan," Findlay said. So is Sheriff Howard Wells, whose office wall is crowded with photographs and certificates of gratitude, not only for his integrity, but for coming across on camera as a noble representative of Union and South Carolina. "Every time we think it's all behind us, it comes up again," says June Miller, Union County's longtime clerk of court. According to sources close to the case, Susan has said she became jealous when Tom began necking with another woman. "We all felt like Susan was a really disturbed person," said juror Deborah Benvenuti. Russell published a book in 2000 titled My Daughter Susan Smith where she detailed her daughters rocky childhood and background in an attempt to understand and explain why she did what she did. As he told it, he and Susan became lovers in early 1994. The children received love, attention, and were very happy. TIME On the weekend of Oct. 15, Tom invited Susan to his father's estate for a hot-tub party. However, some feel it will never be forgotten. Back in the 1990s, Susan Smith claimed a Black man kidnapped her sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander. Smith ended her marriage to the poor boy who loved her and gambled on a rich boy who didn't. But seeing you kiss another man put things back into perspective. As I told you, I was starting to let my heart warm up to the idea of us going out as more than just friends. This didnt seem to work, so she told him about the supposed affair with her boss, also Toms father, and warned him that the details of the relationship might come to light during the next few days. Williams testified about a conversation with Susan Smith on Oct. 17, eight days before the murders: "I have a problem," Smith said. Allen, for one, doesn't need reminders. Since she said there were no other cars on the road, there was no reason for her to see the red light. 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. I could never express in words how much you mean to me. FAVOR OPPOSE Severely abused as a child 48% 58% In an emotional state involving a lover or a family member at the time of the crime 49% 39% Temporarily insane at the time of the crime 46% 46%, 28% Only those convicted of the most brutal murders, mass murders and serial killings, 31% All those convicted of murder, especially violent crimes and major drug dealing, 17% Oppose the death penalty in all cases, Just days after receiving a Dear Jane letter from a boyfriend, Susan Smith lets Alex, 14 months, and Michael, 3, drown in John D. Long Lake. I do want us to be friends forever and Ill never let anything happen that would change that. The married man broke off their extramarital relationship and her reaction to the breakup was to attempt suicide by taking painkillers. Her sexual activity in prison was discovered after she contracted a sexually transmitted disease. You are intelligent, beautiful, sensitive, understanding, and possess many other wonderful qualities that I and many other men appreciate. Since her arrest at South Carolinas Leath Correctional Institution, two guards have been punished for having sex with Smith. For. Excerpts from a letter Susan Smith wrote to Tom Findlay on Oct. 17, and his reply, written the same day and given to her Oct. 18. Smith claims that she wanted to be serious with Findlay, but he said he didn't want children. Susan Smith is an American criminal who was found guilty of killing her two young sons in order to continue a relationship with a man. . As you can imagine, the sexual abuse continued and this time with more frequency. In a last effort to control Toms feelings, she asked her friend to watch the children while she went to Toms office to tell him that everything she had said was nothing but a big lie. After the sentence, Bruck refused to gloat. They came because it was the third anniversary of the brothers' deaths. Even before Susans confession, investigators already suspected her. In July 1995, Smith was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, which is around the corner in November 2024. Toms reaction was shock and he reiterated that the two would never have a sexual relationship again. 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. Recently, someone gave them a toy truck, a tiny plastic horse, two pinwheels (one for each brother), a plaster angel kneeling in prayer, a $2 bouquet of supermarket flowers and miniature wind chimes, left to tinkle softly in the country graveyard. In March 1992, the couple separates, and they try to save their marriage between comings and goings during the next seven months. According to previously secret records from a state family court, Russell began molesting Susan when she was 15. Red Rocket is a determinate tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates like those found south of Memphis. He encouraged Susan to act with more self-respect and referred to an episode where Susan and a friends husband were kissing in a hot tub during a party at Toms fathers house. The Monarch Mills headlight light was always green and only turned red if it was triggered by a car on the cross street. In late October and early November 1994, the town of Union, S.C., ceased to be just another speck on the map. And your friendship is one that I will always look upon with sincere affection. Tom didnt even let Susan start talking. She was two months pregnant--the child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating Tom Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at. . He has turned to his part so often the spine is creased. I remembered how I hurt Laura, and I wont let that happen again; and therefore, I cant let myself get close to you. Suspicious authorities directly confront Smith after a futile nine-day search. Excerpts from a letter Susan Smith wrote to Tom Findlay on Oct. 17, and his reply, written the same day and given to her Oct. 18. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. In addition to Findlay, several other Conso Products employees testified. The prosecution's main weapon was tear-drenched testimony from a vengeful David Smith, who accepted a box of tissues from Judge William Howard. The first step is to understand the causes of climate change and how we can reduce our impact on the environment. Michael was born in 1991, Alex followed in 1993 and Susan gave every appearance of being a doting mother. ``But our differences go far beyond the children issue. During this period, Susan had a relationship with a former co-worker, which only made the situation worse. While being treated in the hospital, she admitted that she had already attempted suicide when she was thirteen. Killing her sons was a horrifying act that bespeaks a personality crisis: at that moment, she must have been emotionally numb. Nov 01, 2008 #1 28 year old Tom Findlay had no idea when he began a relationship with Susan Smith, who worked within his father's company, that his name would be irrevocably linked with a tragedy that horrified the state, the nation, and many around the world. Before she and David began to date, Susan told a psychiatrist, she had an affair with a store manager who was subsequently transferred out of town. 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