Only a few days before Susan Smith drowned her two young sons, her former boyfriend testified today, he wrote her that the children were one reason their relationship could not continue. She is currently based at the Leath Correctional Institution near Greenwood, South Carolina. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating. THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS +/- 4 PERCENTAGE POINTS. In 1994, Smith strapped her two sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex, into their car seats and pushed the vehicle into a lake. Was she just a victim of the abuse she suffered, or a cold-hearted murderer of her two young children? When Susan Smith's ex-boyfriend Tom Findlay climbed onto the witness stand Wednesday afternoon, he glanced quickly at her and smiled kindly. Chicago Tribune. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Susan seemed to be integrating high society, just like her mother Linda. A letter. However, nine days later, she admitted that she had pushed the car into Lake John D. Long, drowning her sons, Michael, 3, and Alexander, 14 months, who were strapped into the car seats. Crime.About.com Because of her position, she became exposed to affluent people and how the wealthy lived. "We'll never really be the same. ``Well, I hope I said everything right. . They planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue cookoff, a log-rolling contest and live bands. Barring an appeal, she will be in prison for at least 80 years- condemned not to die, but to live with her ghastly memories. . This irritated David. 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 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. She was two months pregnant--the child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991. Susan gave the police the exact distance the car floated before sinking. Susan herself is now in prison after being found guilty of the murders of her children in July 1995. 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 . 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. I know! . Smith claims a black carjacker stole her Mazda with the two children inside and helps police create a sketch of the suspect. Susan Smith called the police saying that she had her car stolen by a black man who kidnapped her two young children. ", To prosecutors, Findlay's emphasis on the children was Smith's motive for murder. Last summer, Tim and Angie Phillips came with their three small children and two family friends, one of them a 3-year-old. ", Findlay went on to write: "Susan, I could really fall for you. I love writing and I also love criminal cases, nothing better than combining business with pleasure. Tom Findlay, 28, is a graphic designer who works in his father's firm. I would hate for people to perceive you as an unreputable [sic] person. In June 1993 he started dating a co-worker. "There is no good outcome in this case," he said. Since she said there were no other cars on the road, there was no reason for her to see the red light. I really wanted to be with you and hated that I wasnt. We have been raised in two totally different environments, and therefore, think totally different. 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. 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. ``Again, you will always have my friendship. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. The report says Linda later asked Beverly about Susan's story "and he didn't deny that it had happened. At this point she seemed to get everything she wanted, especially about relationships with men. Susans ex, Tom Findlay, ironically went on to find happiness with a girlfriend and HER TWO KIDS! "She was crying--she was very upset," Findlay said. While being treated in the hospital, she admitted that she had already attempted suicide when she was thirteen. To help restore its pride, Union leaders last year started a weekend festival. The most startling testimony, however, came from Smith's ex-lover, Thomas Findlay, who said aloud in open court what has been whispered in this small Southern town since Susan Smith confessed to murder last fall -- that she had been having a secret affair with her stepfather, Beverly Russell. The sheriff wanted to find the bodies first, and then call David to tell him the truth. The letter gave reasons justifying the end of the relationship. . In March 1992, the couple separates, and they try to save their marriage between comings and goings during the next seven months. The whole family drowned, and the friends, too. Who knows what the future holds for our relationship. But after that, Susan was severely punished for exposing what was described by her mother as family conflicts. Appearances seemed to matter more than her daughters well-being. He noted that as good as Smiths children may be, the fact was he did not want any children. TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 1994 _ Susan Smith's boyfriend, Tom Findlay, breaks off their relationship saying he doesn't want the responsibility of children. . "She said, 'I'm going to give you this; I may not see you again'," Findlay recalled. In. The outcome flatly contradicts current public opinion. Smith's lawyers said in opening statements there was "no single reason" why Smith killed her children and insisted they would not attempt to portray her as a victim or use the "abuse excuse," a reference to Russell's admitted molestation of Smith when she was 16. The Barnes family of Maple Shade, N.J., sent an arrangement of carnations and daisies. Pastors who together counseled the inconsolable community became close friends. In 2019, 25 years after the incident, PEOPLE obtained records. She wept and rocked in her seat as he described seeing "a small hand" pressed against the glass of the car window. "She was scared of David," Findlay testified. Then Susan told him she and David were going through with the divorce, Findlay said, and he resumed their affair. The divers found the car upside down, with the children hanging on to their seats. Linda Vaughan married stockbroker Beverly Russell, the son of a leading local family, about a year and a half later. 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. Despite its steamy undertones--despite the ripe mixture of family dysfunction and sexual shenanigans-the Smith case is ultimately a story of heartbreaking human loss. The couple asked Linda for another loan to buy a property, but what was supposed to bring happiness only left Susan more and more distant. They still receive gifts. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating Tom Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at. I was a good mother, and I loved my boys. The story gained national attentionwith the images of 3-year-old Michaeland 1-year-old Alex flashed on television screens across the country, including images of Smith and her grieving husband, David. 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. "I'll never forget what Susan has done to me and my family, [and] I even have to say, to her family," Smith said. After the interview, Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another questioning. But like I have told you before, there are some things about you that aren't suited for me, and yes, I am speaking about your children. Findlay, balding early, is nice-looking if not quite a hunk; he allegedly told investigators that he considered himself "a ladies' man" whose mission in life was "servicing these women." The psychiatric view was that Smith is a uniquely fragile person who had concealed her emotional conflicts for years. To be the perfect woman for a rich man. It takes 60 days for Red Rocket tomatoes to reach maturit, Rootstock Selection for Short Season Tomatoes: What to Consider and Recommended Varieties, Rootstock selection is an important part of successful tomato production, especially in short seasons. Findlay ended their relationship one week before Smith reported the. 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They were from Union County, so the community not only grieved again, but wondered what it had done to deserve so much pain. Brazilian, 28 years old, medical professional. The card reads, "Never forgotten.". (The divorce was granted after her arrest. 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. Both Smith and Findlay worked at Conso. In January 1994, Susan started dating a co-worker from her job at Conso Products Tom Findlay. The following year, prison captain. First, it is important to choose the right type of planter and support system for your plants. Sordid and tragic and powerfully real, Susan Smith's story begins with sex and ends with the murder of innocents. Smith's supervisor, Sandra Williams, testified about the day Michael and Alex Smith disappeared. Whether you are using plastic or fabric containers, Earthboxes, or even old buttercream buckets, there are a few important things to consider before planting. 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. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. also pleaded guilty to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to five years probation. The jury found otherwise -- a tacit recognition that the core issue was whether Smith was mentally ill. South Carolina's definition of insanity is one of the most restrictive in the nation: it did not permit Smith to plead not guilty by reason of insanity or, more plausibly, temporary, insanity. But others, when they travel, won't say where they're from because they'd rather not answer questions. Keep scrolling below to find out more about Susan Smiths case, trial and to find out where she is today. "I asked her what's wrong," Williams said. Killing her sons was a horrifying act that bespeaks a personality crisis: at that moment, she must have been emotionally numb. ', Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 1000s of new photos added daily. Susan became pregnant and had an abortion. Smith ended her young boys lives by letting her 1990 Mazda roll into a South Carolina lake with both 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander strapped into their car seats. you are intelligent, beautiful, sensitive, and possess many other wonderful qualities that I and many other men appreciate. , filed for divorce in September 1994 and it was finalized in May 1995. The dramatic high pointcame when he read aloud from a letter he'd sent Susan on Father's Day, 1995, when she was already in prison. 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. 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. Smith's relationship with Findlay, the son of a wealthy mill owner, has provided the prosecution with its motive for the murders of her sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex. ``Thank you for being there for me through all the rough times. Susan Smith's attorney, David Bruck, summed up the case as bad for all, calling it "an awful human tragedy." Join the world's news leader for an in-depth multimedia look at the top news stories of 1995. . They courted Walt Disney, which is building a catalog distribution warehouse in Union County; more than 300 people will get jobs. You will without a doubt make some lucky man a great wife. 90 Day Fiance's Hamza's Green Card Status 'Battle' Amid Memphis Divorce, '90 Day Fiance' Star Memphis Smith Alleges Hamza Moknii Was 'Abusive', 90 Day's Hamza Requested Paternity Test for Daughter Amid Memphis Split. But on Oct. 16, Findlay testified, Smith acknowledged she was not even separated from her husband. The jury took less than 3 hours to return a guilty verdict on two charges of murder. You are a very special person and that is part of why making love to you is so wonderful. However, a letter sent by Tom Findlay took Susan by surprise. How have people written about the torture,, You missed Patricia's "theory" of a lesbian crime of passion involving Gaia, Mirian and the french girl they met in, I totally agree with all of you. "They thought she should get a death sentence." . And I want you to know that I am flattered that you have such a high opinion of me. What was only supposed to last a few months, resulted in a promotion to accountant at the store. 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. "We agreed the intimate part of our relationship should be postponed till she was divorced," Findlay testified. He said her family history was just "the abuse excuse.". Ms. Smiths letter (handwritten, not dated): ``Just a note to say thank you for everything. Whether Smith is granted parole remains to be seen as she has not exactly been a model prisoner afterbeing found guilty of sexual misconduct in 2000with two prison guards. But what can we do to help? She soon became pregnant and they decided to get married. Keep scrolling below to find out more about Susan Smiths case, trial and to find out where she is today. ``I want you to know that I have never felt with anyone, the way I feel when Im with you. On the other hand, he sounds quite narcissistic and preachy in his Dear John letter, and he isnt even attractive. It was such an unbearable thing.". In this same period, Susan began to have a relationship with David, also a co-worker. 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. ``But dont be discouraged. However, the case of Susan Smith highlights two distinct points of view. Susan Smith Trial: 1995 Defendant: Susan SmithCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: David Bruck and Judy ClarkeChief Prosecutor: Tommy PopeJudge: . Findlay, a slight, balding graphic designer, appeared to exchange a quick half-smile with Smith from the stand during a break in his testimony about their brief fling, which he said began around Christmastime of 1993 and ended the following March when David Smith angrily warned him to stay away from his wife. Shortly after joining the company she was promoted to the position of executive secretary to Consos president and CEO, Carey Findlay. Yet, he said Life is much better now, and noted that he is doing well. Findlay received a salary of $214,615 last year, according to company filings with the. ``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. 'Octomom' Nadya Suleman Is a Proud Mom of 14: See Her Kids Today! The steady drip of revelation, each more damning than the last, seemed almost certain to lead to her execution. 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. THE BOYFRIEND'S STORY. At 11 that night, Smith called Williams and said she wouldn't be at work the next day. . In addition to Findlay, several other Conso Products employees testified. Her confession of pushing the car into the lake began to come out. 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