Malice Aforethought: The Susan Smith Murders

Explicit content warning

03/14/25 • 27 min

Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend

A mother's desperate claim that her two young sons were kidnapped by a carjacker unravels into one of the most shocking murder cases in South Carolina history. The Susan Smith case reveals how a web of lies, inconsistencies, and a devastating confession led to the discovery of a premeditated crime that shocked the nation.
• Susan Smith reported her sons Michael (3) and Alex (14 months) were taken during a carjacking on October 25, 1994
• For nine days, America watched as Susan and her husband David made tearful pleas on national television
• Investigators noticed troubling inconsistencies in Susan's story, including speaking of her children in past tense
• A "Dear Jane" letter from Susan's boyfriend suggested a potential motive for the disappearance
• Susan eventually confessed to rolling her car into John D. Long Lake with her sons strapped in their car seats
• The car floated for six minutes before sinking, with the boys conscious and likely terrified
• Despite claiming she initially planned suicide alongside her children, Susan's clothes were dry when she reported the crime
• Susan's false accusation that a Black man had committed the crime inflamed racial tensions in the community
• In November 2024, Susan was denied parole after serving 30 years, but will be eligible for review every two years
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Previous Episode

The Missing Sodder Children

On Christmas morning in 1945, a family's holiday joy shattered when flames consumed their home and five children mysteriously vanished. The Sodder family of Fayetteville, West Virginia, faced unthinkable tragedy that sparked theories of conspiracy and kidnapping. Starting with a strange phone call that Jenny Sautter received just before the blaze began, the episode delves into the moments leading to the horrifying fire that would change their lives forever.
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Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend - Malice Aforethought: The Susan Smith Murders

Transcript

Carole Townsend00:00:04.166

Welcome listeners to the 15th episode of Front Porch Mysteries with me , Carole Townsend .

Carole Townsend00:00:11.820

This episode marks the end of our first season , but rest assured , we'll be back in a couple of months with more Southern history and true crime intrigue ,

Carole Townsend00:00:27.480

crime intrigue . If you haven'