Susan Smith is getting ready for her first parole hearing this fall, 30 years after she drowned her two young sons. Reports of her romantic relationships while in prison suggest she still views people as disposable, according to an expert. Smith, now 51, confessed to drowning her 3-year-old, Michael Daniel, and 14-month-old, Alexander Tyler, in a South Carolina lake a week after her ex-boyfriend and potential affair partner, Tom Findlay, expressed concerns about her children being an obstacle.
Licensed clinical and police psychologist Dr. Katherine Kuhlman explained that Smith’s behavior is indicative of Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD), which may have played a role in her crime in 1994. DPD is characterized by a need for others to take responsibility for important aspects of their life and difficulty disagreeing with others for fear of losing support or approval. Smith has engaged in romantic correspondences with nearly a dozen suitors over the past three years, with many offering financial security and engaging in intimate conversations.
Despite Smith’s hopeful outlook in a recorded phone call, where she expressed readiness to be released, criminal defense attorney Philip Holloway believes her chances of parole are slim. Her history of prison misconduct, including drug use and self-harm, points to an inability to conform to rules and regulations, which may not change if she is released into society. Holloway mentioned that Smith’s jail time romances should not impact the parole board’s decision, but statements from surviving relatives of her slain children, like David Smith, who opposes her release, could play a role in the hearing.
David Smith, the father of the murdered children, along with his family, intends to oppose Susan Smith’s release. He believes she belongs in jail and will do whatever it takes to keep her there. Smith has confirmed her attendance at the upcoming hearing, while victims’ families have been notified by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. The parole board will have to consider all these factors before making a decision on Smith’s release.
