Over the next several days, Findlay testified, they had a series of highly emotional conversations. We are just two totally different people, and eventually, those differences would cause us to break up. There is someone out there for you. "This case was an awful case of tragedy from the beginning. She seemed very nervous and asked to leave work early. And a nation that has heard the squalid evidence about Smith's liaisons with four different men, including her own stepfather, voted 63 percent to 28 percent in a NEWSWEEK survey that she should have been put to death. When Susan Smith's ex-boyfriend Tom Findlay climbed onto the witness stand Wednesday afternoon, he glanced quickly at her and smiled kindly. Smith's lawyer, David Bruck, answered with Christ's defense of the adulterous wife in the Gospel according to John. In the summer of 1988, Susan got a temporary job as a cashier at a local grocery store. "There will always be something to remind each of us that such a thing happened here," she says. Which is the lie? "I asked her what's wrong," Williams said. Chicago Tribune. You are a very special person and that is part of why making love to you is so wonderful. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. "We agreed the intimate part of our relationship should be postponed till she was divorced," Findlay testified. You are the best friend anyone could ever have. She worried about her hair and makeup in front of the television cameras and sometimes asked about Tom Findlays whereabouts. She gained the . Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for Timothy McVeigh if he is convicted of the bombing in Oklahoma City? The witnesses were pivotal figures in Smith's life-men she had slept with, people who'd loved her and, in the case of her ex-husband, someone whose life she had ruined. The following year, prison captain Alfred Rowe also pleaded guilty to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to five years probation. They still receive gifts. Keep scrolling below to find out more about Susan Smiths case, trial and to find out where she is today. Shell have to keep behaving herself like she has been as of late, an insider told, Smith was also disciplined in 2000 for having sex four times with prison guard, , who later pleaded guilty and spent three months behind bars for the crime. 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. Russell has not attended the trial but may be called as a witness. In 2019, 25 years after the incident, PEOPLE obtained records. If Smith in fact was rational, why risk a police investigation? "And she said, Everything.' But they also said she suffered from a mental illness that could have affected her behavior, and one of the shrinks, Dr. Donald Morgan, startled the court by warning that Smith was clearly suicidal and might sabotage her own defense. ". 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 January 1994, Susan started dating a co-worker from her job at Conso Products Tom Findlay. The Monarch Mills headlight light was always green and only turned red if it was triggered by a car on the cross street. She is currently based at the Leath Correctional Institution near Greenwood, South Carolina. . This year, as the bands and barbecue mavens set up, television trucks arrived on Main Street, but not for anybody's sauce recipe. On top of that, Ms. Smith later said that a cause of her depression was her breakup with Conso employee Tom . They argued there was no evidence, as the defense claimed, that Smith had driven to the lake to commit suicide. She kept those, too. "She proceeded to tell me she had had an affair with her stepfather and she told me she had a sexual relationship with my father . . She was also introduced to her boss's son, Tom Findlay. "I didn't know what to do," he said. So, where are all of the key players now, including the woman at the center of it all? ", This smarmy rejection threw Smith into panic. Maybe he has no responsibility for all of this, but hes still a d-bag. The married man broke off their extramarital relationship and her reaction to the breakup was to attempt suicide by taking painkillers. It was October 25, 1994, Susan was at work. She made a tearful plea on national television for their safe return. Her melodramatic case had placed her squarely in the limelight since Oct. 25, 1994, the day she reported Michael and Alex abducted by a car-jacker. Her ex, Tom Findlay, had broken up with her after having stated that he was not interested in having or raising children. He admits molesting Smith before she turned 16-and then continuing a consensual sexual relationship until just weeks before the murders. Susanslover Tom Findlaydoes not appear to have an online presence now. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating Tom Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at. But like I have told you before, there are some things about you that arent suited for me, and yes, I am speaking about your children. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. She is currently based at the Leath Correctional Institution near Greenwood, South Carolina. . David felt left out. What the jurors heard was the fullest account yet of why she did it--and in the end, confronted with the pathos of it all, they decided both sides were right. Today on #CrimeStories: 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. The letter gave reasons justifying the end of the relationship. ", That was the bitter end of a tumultuous, too-early marriage. It seemed to be the first time she had ever been rejected by a man. The highway sign simply reads John D. Long Lake. In this same period, Susan began to have a relationship with David, also a co-worker. I remember this story well and its interesting to know how things have played out over the years. Smith, now 26, is in prison in Columbia; she was sentenced in 1995 to life in prison and must serve at least 30 years. Im appreciative of your honesty with me. 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. . Susan may say that she wouldnt care (copy unintelligible) husband had an affair, but you and I know, that is not true. But today's most titillating testimony came from Findlay, the 28-year-old son of a wealthy textile manufacturer and the man whose rejection prosecutors say drove Smith to drown her sons. He finally understood that it all resulted from Susans desire to rebuild her relationship with Tom Findlay. ``Thank you for being there for me through all the rough times. THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS +/- 4 PERCENTAGE POINTS. Throughout the nine-day investigation, Susan received several polygraphs and was questioned about the inconsistencies in her carjacking story. Toms reaction was shock and he reiterated that the two would never have a sexual relationship again. "Fussy or singing, fussy or happy, which one is it? I want you to know that I have never felt with anyone, the way I feel when I'm with you. Then she drove out to John D. Long Lake and let her maroon Mazda Protege roll into the reddish-brown water. Actually, it "literally says" after 4 years he allowed her to leave, go shopping AND get a job. Due to a tumultuous marriage between her parents, full of aggression, they divorced when she was seven years old, and soon after, her father Harry, at the age of 37, committed suicide. "We all felt like Susan was a really disturbed person," said juror Deborah Benvenuti. Susans ex, Tom Findlay, ironically went on to find happiness with a girlfriend and HER TWO KIDS! "Susan, I am not mad at you about what happened" at the hot-tub party, Findlay wrote. Barring an appeal, she will be in prison for at least 80 years- condemned not to die, but to live with her ghastly memories. After picking up her children from nursery, she stopped to chat with a friend in a parking lot and expressed her fears about Toms reaction now that he knew she had slept with his father. Her experience as an accountant earned her a position at Conso Products. Smiling nervously and occasionally stumbling over his words, Findlay described an emotionally volatile Smith days before she sent her car rolling into the lake with her children strapped in their car seats. 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. 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. I love writing and I also love criminal cases, nothing better than combining business with pleasure. She keeps business cards of reporters she may never see again. 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. But others, when they travel, won't say where they're from because they'd rather not answer questions. The judge took into consideration the abuse suffered by the defendant. "But seeing you kiss another man put things back into perspective . At 11 that night, Smith called Williams and said she wouldn't be at work the next day. Actually, I am very thankful. Susan had been a sad and introspective child. 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. 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. But the rich, handsome 27-years-old broke things off with her in October writing Smith a letter clarifying he wasn't ready for a relationship involving kids. Smith claims a black carjacker stole her Mazda with the two children inside and helps police create a sketch of the suspect. If you want to catch a nice guy like me one day, you have to act like a nice girl. When a place has been forced to defend itself before the eyes of the world, there is no road map for recovery. ``Well, I hope I said everything right. There was no motive as it was not even a planned event. 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. Williams asked again. At the time, Tom didnt know, but she had sex with David; her stepfather, Bev Russell; and also her boss, who was Toms father. 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. The idea that she would kill her . He is known to some local young women as "The Catch.". "Had I been true to you in my responsibilities, you would have been stronger in yourself, not needing to be constantly supported and reassured emotionally. ", To prosecutors, Findlay's emphasis on the children was Smith's motive for murder. 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. Since she said there were no other cars on the road, there was no reason for her to see the red light. He has turned to his part so often the spine is creased. Concerned for his safety, Findlay avoided Susan from March to September. She seemed very nervous and asked to leave work early. 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." And I dont want to be responsible for anyone elses (sic) children, either. Prosecutor Tommy Pope went into private practice in 2006 and is now a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Susan Smith has been returned to her tiny cell at the Women's Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C. She has no personal possessions, no contact with other inmates and she wears only paper gowns--a precaution against suicide, because real clothes can be turned into nooses. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and its effects can be seen all around us. THE NEWSWEEK POLL (c) 1995 BY NEWSWEEK, INC. The psychiatric view was that Smith is a uniquely fragile person who had concealed her emotional conflicts for years. . They made a point of showing jurors the videotaped interviews in which Smith tearfully maintained the kidnapping hoax. Halleck said that she had sex with Tom Findlay, 28, the textile heir, but that he was not the main focus of her life. At the time David was engaged to another woman and broke it off to be with Susan. And I want you to know that I am flattered that you have such a high opinion of me. David Smith, last anyone heard, had moved to Florida. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Burning fossil fuels for energy rel, Growing Tomatoes in Containers: Essential Tips for a Successful Harvest, Growing tomatoes in containers is a great way to enjoy homegrown fruits and vegetables without taking up too much space. . The ramp led nine people to their deaths. And you know, nice girls dont sleep with married men. And Susan Smith thought she had him hooked. Because of her position, she became exposed to affluent people and how the wealthy lived. Susan was devastated by the end of her relationship with Tom. She was later promoted to the executive secretary position, as she was dating Tom Findlay, the son of her boss. Looking forward to reading more true crime articles by you. Stunned by Susan's confession, mourners line the seven-mile route between the church and cemetery as David Smith buries his sons in a single casket, because 'they were just so close', At a press conference it was announced that Tommy Pope, an aggressive young prosecutor, would seek the death penalty if Smith was found guilty of the boys' murders, Tom Findlay, known as 'The Catch' in Union, testifies that he ended his affair with Susan clays before the murders because they weren't 'suited'--and he wasn't ready to be a father. They planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue cookoff, a log-rolling contest and live bands. Many people believe her motive was because she was dating a man who didnt want children at the time. Susan Smith's nervous paramour cast doubt today on charges that she killed her children to pursue their romance, saying Smith's anguish actually stemmed from a recent affair with her own stepfather. Final testimony for the prosecution includes a tearful David Smith saying, 'All my hopes and dreams, everything that I had planned for the rest of my life-it ended that day. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. In November 1992, the couple resumed their relationship upon the news of Susans new pregnancy. She wept and rocked in her seat as he described seeing "a small hand" pressed against the glass of the car window. For. She was really obsessed. "But forgive--that's something I'm going to have to deal with, I guess, further on down the road. Williams testified about a conversation with Susan Smith on Oct. 17, eight days before the murders: "I have a problem," Smith said. All Rights Reserved. It was as if Bev had acquired the right to do whatever he wanted. "She was crying--she was very upset," Findlay said. Im just going to live one day at a time. 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. Her mother was never good at solving her emotional problems, and her fathers suicide seemed to create a wound that never healed. "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. After the interview, Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another questioning. Smith had stood by his estranged wife during her nine-day charade, and he said he first heard about her confession on television. Send it to us! For court records, I would make a request to Union County if you cant find them online. While being treated in the hospital, she admitted that she had already attempted suicide when she was thirteen. Chicago Tribune The children were hastily put in their car seats, nor were their shoes on. In May 1991, the stress of losing a child was too much for Davids parents. "Giving her the death penalty wouldn't serve justice.". 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. , whose father owned the mill she worked at. 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. The letter about the reasons for the breakup, written by Tom, was also inside the car. "She said, 'I'm going to give you this; I may not see you again'," Findlay recalled. Susan stood by and watched until the car was completely submerged. 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. But unfortunately, it wont be me. This is "a difficult letter to write because I know how much you think of me . Well, people can change. Findlay senior owns a company called Conso Inc., which makes interior-decorating products; he is among the wealthiest Union County residents. I know! Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. David Smith worked in the store as a produce clerk. What more is there to say?". Because I come from a place where everyone had the desire and the money to go to college, having the responsibility of children at such a young age is beyond my comprehension. The boat ramp is gone. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. These feelings may change one day, but I doubt it. The solution for the moment seemed to be to buy a house, where everything would be different. 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. He told her he felt like some kind of pervert when it happened." Jurors in Susan Smith's murder trial heard the words written by an ex-boyfriend that prosecutors say drove the young mother to kill her two sons: ``I just don't want children.'' In a letter to Smith written a week before 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex were drowned in a lake, Tom Findlay described her as ``intelligent, beautiful, "That's one of the things that helped the healing process," says the Rev. . Watched part of youtube video on this horrific death of this young girl. The sheriff wanted to find the bodies first, and then call David to tell him the truth. Brackett, who is still something of a spokesman for Union's black community. 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. (Cary Findlay has denied any involvement with Smith.) Both Smith and Findlay worked at Conso. Even before Susans confession, investigators already suspected her. The contempt for Susan was overwhelming, not only because of the racial tension triggered by the false accusation of a black man, but because her motive was extremely futile and selfish: to get rid of her children in order to maintain a relationship with a rich man. She was in a bit of a hurry, as her goal at the time was a new marriage to Tom. Allen, for one, doesn't need reminders. This development led to Smiths arrest and confession that she was behind her childrens tragic deaths. Maybe he wasnt ready for children at the time at such a young age. Many sent her flowers after the trial. One of the most intriguing parts of this story was Lindas conduct in the face of abuse. Thank you for your article. Susan Smith had fallen in love with her supervisor at work, Tom Findlay, a wealthy businessman, and had an affair with him. He noted that as good as Smiths children may be, the fact was he did not want any children. Smith was also disciplined in 2000 for having sex four times with prison guard Houston Cagle, who later pleaded guilty and spent three months behind bars for the crime. 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." A coincidence, says Vickie Shields, the local "hometown coordinator" under the South Carolina Downtown Development Corp. 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