", But the letters, both friendly in tone, did not reveal what witnesses described as Smith's growing anxiety or her ploys for attention from Findlay, who said she gratefully described his "Dear Susan" missive as "the sweetest letter she'd ever gotten.". . But I wanted to write you this letter because you are the one who is always making the effort for me, and I wanted to return the friendship. October 10, 1991 was a happy day. However, when he began to learn more details of the story, he came to his senses. But others, when they travel, won't say where they're from because they'd rather not answer questions. She lied to police, conned her ex-husband and hood-winked the nation. But after that, Susan was severely punished for exposing what was described by her mother as family conflicts. Appearances seemed to matter more than her daughters well-being. night and would take it back in a (heart-shaped design) beat if I could. She made a tearful plea on national television for their safe return. However, RST 106 on large potato leaved types did well when grown in grow bags. ``I do hope that we will be able to date some and be together again someday, but if we never made love again, my feelings for you would not change because having you as my friend is worth more than sex could ever be worth. In late October and early November 1994, the town of Union, S.C., ceased to be just another speck on the map. Maybe he wasnt ready for children at the time at such a young age. They made a point of showing jurors the videotaped interviews in which Smith tearfully maintained the kidnapping hoax. I can see this may be a bit difficult for you because you are a bit boy crazy, but as the proverb states `good things come to those who wait. I am not saying you shouldnt go out and have a good time. Union - isn't that where that woman drowned her babies? Im appreciative of your honesty with me. 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 case of Susan Smith, the woman who killed her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries Cellmate Secrets. The car apparently took almost six minutes to disappear-and Michael and Alex, trusting and helpless, can only have died screaming for their mother. But then Laura came along. Then she drove out to John D. Long Lake and let her maroon Mazda Protege roll into the reddish-brown water. Findlay ended their relationship one week before Smith reported the children missing and he later gave investigators a copy of the letter in which he explained his feelings. , the woman who killed her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries. Tom didnt even let Susan start talking. She will be eligible for parole in 2025 when she is 53 years old. Her sexual activity in prison was discovered after she contracted a sexually transmitted disease. Who knows what the future holds for our relationship. She was two months pregnant--the child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991. "She was crying--she was very upset," Findlay said. This didnt seem to work, so she told him about the supposed affair with her boss, also Toms father, and warned him that the details of the relationship might come to light during the next few days. She claimed that she did not see any other cars on the road, but the light turned red. "What's wrong?" Find the editorial stock photo of Findlay Tom Findlay Center Former Boyfriend, and more photos in the Shutterstock collection of editorial photography. Whether you are using plastic or fabric containers, Earthboxes, or even old buttercream buckets, there are a few important things to consider before planting. Susan asked Sheriff Wells to pray with her, and then she began to cry and say how ashamed she felt for what she had done. You are one of the few people on this earth that I feel I can tell anything. 'Octomom' Nadya Suleman Is a Proud Mom of 14: See Her Kids Today! She was really obsessed. Tom Findlay, 28, is a graphic designer who works in his father's firm. "We agreed the intimate part of our relationship should be postponed till she was divorced," Findlay testified. Shortly after joining the company she was promoted to the position of executive secretary to Consos president and CEO, Carey Findlay. ", The urge to kill in the name of justice poses infernally tricky issues-and the outcome in the Smith case may be the clearest evidence yet of America's persistent ambivalence about capital punishment. Nothing--not Smith's sad history or blighted hopes, nor any kind of victim chic-can explain that act away. Russell and Smith's mother, Linda, are separated. Her mother was never good at solving her emotional problems, and her fathers suicide seemed to create a wound that never healed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Susan, I value our friendship very much. On October 25, 1994, the Union native, who was 23 years old at the time, called the police and claimed an armed black man stole her car and drove off with her two sons inside. But at Patrick's shop, he keeps a pocket paperback of "Sins of the Mother," one of many books published on the Smith case. Chicago Tribune If Smith in fact was rational, why risk a police investigation? Findlay received a salary of $214,615 last year, according to company filings with the. "They thought she should get a death sentence." She flirted with another man, and Tom, to judge by the Dear Jane letter he sent her two days later, was at least somewhat offended. . "That's one of the things that helped the healing process," says the Rev. Even in the face of all the facts, David seemed to have some compassion for Susan. We met at Conso (the company Findlays father operates, where Ms. Smith also worked), and I fell for her like `a ton of bricks. Well, even though I fell enlove (sic) with Laura, I had my doubts about a long and lasting commitment, but I never said anything, and I eventually hurt her very, very deeply. It is the story of a woman who, to judge by the evidence ofher life, succumbed to her own molestation as a teenager and grew up to become a promiscuous, sexually exploitive adult. Susan had asked if Tom had said anything about her, but he didnt say anything. The judge took into consideration the abuse suffered by the defendant. According to previously secret records from a state family court, Russell began molesting Susan when she was 15. I was not myself, she wrote in a letter to, in 2015. Other key figures in the case have gone on to both fame and failure. The children were hastily put in their car seats, nor were their shoes on. Red Rocket is a determinate tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates like those found south of Memphis. Sheriff Howard Wells served time for public corruption in 2010. To help restore its pride, Union leaders last year started a weekend festival. I love writing and I also love criminal cases, nothing better than combining business with pleasure. At this point she seemed to get everything she wanted, especially about relationships with men. 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. . A letter. With the promotion came a new life for Susan. SUSAN SMITH'S LETTER TO TOM FINDLAY Dear Tom, Just a note to say thank you for everything. In. She began sleeping with her boss's son, Tom Findlay, in January 1994. During her adolescence Susan became popular at school, she was a very attractive young woman and seemed to take leading positions in school activities. State police investigator David Caldwell testified that Smith was first accused of killing her sons just a day after they disappeared. Smith's supervisor, Sandra Williams, testified about the day Michael and Alex Smith disappeared. The divorce apparently led her millworker father, Harry Vaughan, to commit suicide one month later, an event that may have helped create the emotional vacuum that has haunted her ever since. She said she wanted to kill herself and her children, but in the end she got out of the car and sent the boys to their deaths. Findlay said he had begun seeing Smith again last September after she assured him that she was in the process of divorcing her husband, a 24-year-old produce worker at the local Winn-Dixie where Susan Smith worked before becoming a secretary at Conso, the local plant owned by Findlay's father. I will always be here for you! . " Over the next several days, Findlay testified, they had a series of highly emotional conversations. After Smith confessed, hundreds came to stand on the ramp, pray over that ground, throw flowers on the quiet surface of the lake and, later, touch the smooth granite monuments erected by the waterside. . Smith's relationship with Findlay, the son of a wealthy mill owner, has provided the prosecution with its motive for the murders of her sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex. Current Mayor Harold Thompson said while it is something the people of Union try to forget, its a part of history now., ABC News My heart breaks for what I've done to you, for your pain and for your loss. What got into Susan Smith's mind that night, only the devil knows. you are intelligent, beautiful, sensitive, and possess many other wonderful qualities that I and many other men appreciate. Nearly 30 years after her conviction, Smith's cellmate is speaking out and . Before she and David began to date, Susan told a psychiatrist, she had an affair with a store manager who was subsequently transferred out of town. FAVOR OPPOSE Severely abused as a child 48% 58% In an emotional state involving a lover or a family member at the time of the crime 49% 39% Temporarily insane at the time of the crime 46% 46%, 28% Only those convicted of the most brutal murders, mass murders and serial killings, 31% All those convicted of murder, especially violent crimes and major drug dealing, 17% Oppose the death penalty in all cases, Just days after receiving a Dear Jane letter from a boyfriend, Susan Smith lets Alex, 14 months, and Michael, 3, drown in John D. Long Lake. There was no motive as it was not even a planned event. This year, I am considering a few varieties for graft, Take Action Now: How You Can Fight Climate Change and Protect Our Environment, The Effects of Climate Change on Our Environment Susan had been a sad and introspective child. Killing her sons was a horrifying act that bespeaks a personality crisis: at that moment, she must have been emotionally numb. HLNTV In addition to Findlay, several other Conso Products employees testified. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for Timothy McVeigh if he is convicted of the bombing in Oklahoma City? Her ex, Tom Findlay, had broken up with her after having stated that he was not interested in having or raising children. He broke it off sometime in March, Findlay said, after David Smith caught them talking on the phone and angrily warned him to stay away from Susan. David Smith, last anyone heard, had moved to Florida. 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. Throughout the nine-day investigation, Susan received several polygraphs and was questioned about the inconsistencies in her carjacking story. According to sources close to the case, Susan has said she became jealous when Tom began necking with another woman. UNION, S.C., July 25 -- A sobbing Susan Smith apologized Tuesday to her ex-husband for killing their children after he twice broke down in tears while testifying in the sentencing phase of her. That poor. They planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue cookoff, a log-rolling contest and live bands. 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. ``Susan, I could really fall for you. The jury found otherwise -- a tacit recognition that the core issue was whether Smith was mentally ill. South Carolina's definition of insanity is one of the most restrictive in the nation: it did not permit Smith to plead not guilty by reason of insanity or, more plausibly, temporary, insanity. Thank you for this well written article. Something went wrong and their Suburban rolled into the lake. CAPTION: Thomas Findlay, right, Susan Smith's former boyfriend, leaves courthouse. The children received love, attention, and were very happy. ``Susan, I am not mad at you about what happened this weekend. And city and county leaders, who had to work together to prepare Union for a trial-time media deluge, allied again this year. The card reads, "Never forgotten.". Because of her position, she became exposed to affluent people and how the wealthy lived. ``Friends Forever, (two heart-shaped designs). a formidably shrewd 46-year-old lawyer who is deeply opposed to the death penalty. Many people believe her motive was because she was dating a man who didnt want children at the time. "I asked her what's wrong," Williams said. He even admitted to having sexual encounters with Susan as recently as August 1994, less than three months before she killed her sons. Ms. Smith's letter (handwritten, not dated): ``Dear Tom, ``Just a note to say thank you for everything. 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. Fox Carolina ", To prosecutors, Findlay's emphasis on the children was Smith's motive for murder. Despite the family turmoil, the child was long-awaited and loved. After the sentence, Bruck refused to gloat. To be the perfect woman for a rich man. . As he told it, he and Susan became lovers in early 1994. TUESDAY, Oct. 25 _ Ms. Smith tells authorities her two sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex, were taken by a gunman who jumped into her car at a traffic light. ". I was not in my right mind.. This is "a difficult letter to write because I know how much you think of me . At the age of 16 her stepfather started to molest her. The jury was 11-1 in favor of life in prison when it began deliberating her sentence, and the lone hard-liner finally joined the majority. A.L. I could never express in words how much you mean to me. Smith claims that she wanted to be serious with Findlay, but he said he didn't want children. ``But dont be discouraged. Susanslover Tom Findlaydoes not appear to have an online presence now. Susan became pregnant and had an abortion. Susan had a troubled childhood, which was plagued with suicide attempts and traumatizing events. The story gained national attentionwith the images of 3-year-old Michaeland 1-year-old Alex flashed on television screens across the country, including images of Smith and her grieving husband, David. The case appeared tailor made for an ambitious young prosecutor like Tommy Pope, who rejected repeated suggestions that he let Smith plead guilty in return for life in prison. The dead boys' father, David Smith, said he and his family were "disappointed" at the verdict. . He is known to some local young women as "The Catch." Tom Findlay testified as a prosecution witness at the trial-for. 90 Day Fiance's Hamza's Green Card Status 'Battle' Amid Memphis Divorce, '90 Day Fiance' Star Memphis Smith Alleges Hamza Moknii Was 'Abusive', 90 Day's Hamza Requested Paternity Test for Daughter Amid Memphis Split. Susan gave the police the exact distance the car floated before sinking. Hours later, a co-worker called to ask if he had heard the news about Susan-- and Findlay's first thought was, "Oh my God, she's killed herself. . ``Again, you will always have my friendship. The bottom line is: Im glad we are friends and if that is all we can be, then we will just have to do a hell of a job of being that. WISTV Pastors who together counseled the inconsolable community became close friends. 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. And I want you to know that I am flattered that you have such a high opinion of me. During his ex-wifes trial, he visited her once in jail to get answers as to why she did what she did but got nothing. She was told to press charges, which she refused to do. Smith's natural father committed suicide when she was 6. With the boys' at her side, Smith issues a national appeal for help. (The divorce was granted after her arrest. ", Smith cried and hugged Bruck when the verdict was announced. [2] ", It was not her loss alone. After the interview, Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another questioning. Then Susan told him she and David were going through with the divorce, Findlay said, and he resumed their affair. That man, Tom Findlay, took the stand and read a letter he had written to Smith breaking off their relationship. I do. A team of state psychiatrists certified that Smith was competent to stand trial. ', Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Later that evening, she called her friend who she knew was having dinner with Tom and friends. Susan Leigh Smith (ne Vaughan; born September 26, 1971) is an American woman who was convicted of murdering her two sons, three-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander, in 1994 by drowning them in a South Carolina lake. I know! Today on #CrimeStories: They contacted two of the nation's largest newspapers, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, to suggest a news item. " Thank you for your article. Since that day twenty years ago, the town of Union, S.C. has also moved on. Williams testified about a conversation with Susan Smith on Oct. 17, eight days before the murders: "I have a problem," Smith said. The Barnes family of Maple Shade, N.J., sent an arrangement of carnations and daisies. ``I want you to know that I have never felt with anyone, the way I feel when Im with you. And sometimes when her 5-year-old grandson says his prayers, he still says God bless Michael and Alex. She asks the sheriff to pray with her, then confesses to the murders and tells police where to find the boys. And Susan Smith thought she had him hooked. Williams said Smith came to her in tears that afternoon and asked to go home early. The ramp led nine people to their deaths. The following year, prison captain. The letter gave reasons justifying the end of the relationship. Prosecutor Tommy Pope went into private practice in 2006 and is now a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Have a tip? I could never express in words how much you mean to me. And special thanks to my fellow true crime buffs in the True Crime Discussions group on FB, especially PAT! Susans ex, Tom Findlay, ironically went on to find happiness with a girlfriend and HER TWO KIDS! 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. How have people written about the torture,, You missed Patricia's "theory" of a lesbian crime of passion involving Gaia, Mirian and the french girl they met in, I totally agree with all of you. Susan Smith called the police saying that she had her car stolen by a black man who kidnapped her two young children. 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