Susan Smith, a woman serving a life sentence in South Carolina for the drowning deaths of her two young sons, is now eligible for parole after more than two decades in prison. Her former prison guard lover, Alfred Rowe, has spoken out against her potential release, stating that she has not learned anything while incarcerated except how to become a better criminal. Rowe believes that Smith will likely re-offend and violate her parole if released, as she has not made significant progress while behind bars.
Rowe, who lost his job due to an affair he had with Smith while she was an inmate, expressed concerns about her ability to stay clean and abstain from drugs and alcohol, which may be a condition of her parole. He believes that Smith’s behavior will lead her back to prison, especially if she continues to engage in risky behavior such as visiting strip clubs. Rowe admitted to being manipulated by Smith during their relationship and acknowledged his mistakes in allowing the inappropriate relationship to occur.
Susan Smith was sentenced to life in prison in 1994 for the murders of her sons, Michael and Alexander. She had initially claimed that a black man had carjacked her with her sons inside, but later confessed to driving her car into a lake with her children inside. Despite spending more than two decades in prison, Smith has reportedly told relatives that she believes she deserves her freedom. She has reached out to her ex-husband, David, in the hopes that he will support her bid for parole.
Smith’s parole hearing is set for November 4, where David is expected to speak and oppose her release from prison. Relatives have indicated that he is fully against Smith being granted parole and believes that she should remain incarcerated. Given Smith’s history of manipulation and substance abuse, there are concerns that she may struggle to comply with the conditions of her potential release and could end up back behind bars if she is granted parole. Alfred Rowe has expressed doubts about her ability to change her behavior and live a law-abiding life if released.
