Susan Smith, Who Drowned Her Sons, Set for Release After 30 Years

Susan Smith, notorious for drowning her two young sons in South Carolina in 1994, is nearing release after serving 30 years of her sentence. Smith gained national infamy for fabricating a story about a carjacking by a Black man to cover up the murders of her sons, Michael, 3, and Alexander, 14 months old.

Ahead of her potential release, a former prison girlfriend, Tracy Thompson, has broken her silence about their relationship. Thompson, who was serving time for bank robbery, stated that she and Smith were romantically involved for four years while incarcerated at Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood County, South Carolina.

Thompson, now 60, asserts that the relationship was not based on protection or intimidation, but on genuine affection. She described Smith as being deeply attracted to her, despite Smith's history of troubled relationships with men. This prison romance came to light as Smith approached her parole eligibility.

Smith's case shocked the nation with its brutality and the elaborate deception that followed. In November 2024, Smith appeared before a parole board, expressing that she had found religion. However, her request for freedom was denied.

Despite her parole denial, Smith's impending release is a somber milestone. The circumstances of her crime, the subsequent investigation, and her time in prison have made her a figure of significant public attention and revulsion.

Thompson believes Smith should remain incarcerated, stating she should be caged for the rest of her life. She noted that Smith corresponded with dozens of men on the outside while imprisoned.