The marriage was a step up: Susan and her brothers, Michael and Scotty, moved into a comfortable ranch house in Mount Vernon Estates, an upscale subdivision outside Union. Susans ex, Tom Findlay, ironically went on to find happiness with a girlfriend and HER TWO KIDS! The letter is a classic of its caddish kind; Findlay read it aloud in court. On the other hand, he sounds quite narcissistic and preachy in his Dear John letter, and he isnt even attractive. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? State police investigator David Caldwell testified that Smith was first accused of killing her sons just a day after they disappeared. Linda Vaughan married stockbroker Beverly Russell, the son of a leading local family, about a year and a half later. (The divorce was granted after her arrest. As deeply depressed as she was that Tom had ended their relationship, she was still sexually involved with David - and with her step-father, Bev Russell. In a day filled with dramatic testimony, Smith sat blank-faced as witnesses took the stand and painted a conflicting portrait of the 23-year-old defendant as a vixenish adulteress, a lovesick secretary, an abused child, a frightened wife, a skillful liar and a doting mother. . She reddened slightly and stared back at him. I could never express in words how much you mean to me. And you know, nice girls dont sleep with married men. Toms reaction was shock and he reiterated that the two would never have a sexual relationship again. You will, without a doubt, make some lucky man a great wife. Suspicious authorities directly confront Smith after a futile nine-day search. Last year, I grew Fortamino but the seeds didnt do well at all. This year, as the bands and barbecue mavens set up, television trucks arrived on Main Street, but not for anybody's sauce recipe. With Findlay, Susan finally believed she would be able to have some stability in her life but, she was mistaken. He admits molesting Smith before she turned 16-and then continuing a consensual sexual relationship until just weeks before the murders. CAPTION: Thomas Findlay, right, Susan Smith's former boyfriend, leaves courthouse. Other key figures in the case have gone on to both fame and failure. October 10, 1991 was a happy day. Susans thenhusband David Smith is nowremarried and a father again. After the interview, Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another questioning. Plastic or resin containers are usually reasonably priced and large enough for indeterminate tomatoes, but fabric containers, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, LETTER FROM SUSAN SMITH TO TOM FINDLAY - HIS LETTER IN RESPONSE. Susan Smith called the police saying that she had her car stolen by a black man who kidnapped her two young children. There was no motive as it was not even a planned event. But something was not right in their relationship, Susan was extremely materialistic and always borrowed money from her mother. Allen, for one, doesn't need reminders. , filed for divorce in September 1994 and it was finalized in May 1995. 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. She is currently serving his sentence at Leath Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Tom Findlay, get over yourself..youre really not all that attractive anyway. "Giving her the death penalty wouldn't serve justice.". People.com Looking forward to reading more true crime articles by you. The dramatic high pointcame when he read aloud from a letter he'd sent Susan on Father's Day, 1995, when she was already in prison. Her ex, Tom Findlay, had broken up with her after having stated that he was not interested in having or raising children. In fact, its probably someone that you may not know at this time or that you may know, but would never expect. A guardrail now barricades the parking lot. Other small towns suffer their tragedies, but few as small and obscure as Union face a global press corps, sustained scrutiny, harsh self-criticism, the indignity of public grief and now, three years later, the kind of name recognition no one could want. As he told it, he and Susan became lovers in early 1994. These evil perverts should be castrated (preferably with a blunt knife). 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. Most of them have left town. Russell signed a statement admitting his conduct and the family sought counseling-but Susan and her mother said they didn't want to prosecute. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating Tom Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at. Smith's lawyer, David Bruck, answered with Christ's defense of the adulterous wife in the Gospel according to John. He was considered twenty years ago to be the most eligible bachelor in Union, as the son of a wealthy mill owner. Chicago Tribune Then Susan told him she and David were going through with the divorce, Findlay said, and he resumed their affair. And it brought her David Bruck. After initially standing by Susans side until he learned the truth and then grieving over the small caskets of his boys at their funeral while Susanwas in jail, it now appears David has been able to move on. Smith claims that she wanted to be serious with Findlay, but he said he didn't want children. The flowers came with thank-you notes. ``One more thing before I go, please dont ever hesitate to call me if you ever need anything! He is known to some local young women as "The Catch." Tom Findlay testified as a prosecution witness at the trial-for. Susanslover Tom Findlaydoes not appear to have an online presence now. . Sheriff Howard Wells took polygraph tests on David and Susan. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20358219,00.html Susan Smith had fallen in love with her supervisor at work, Tom Findlay, a wealthy businessman, and had an affair with him. "But forgive--that's something I'm going to have to deal with, I guess, further on down the road. Susan Smith Trial: 1995 Defendant: Susan SmithCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: David Bruck and Judy ClarkeChief Prosecutor: Tommy PopeJudge: . They came because it was the third anniversary of the brothers' deaths. 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 really obsessed. The case of Susan Smith, the woman who killed her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries Cellmate Secrets. In January 1994, Susan started dating a co-worker from her job at Conso Products Tom Findlay. ), A strapping, silver-haired man, Russell stunned the courtroom by admitting that his consensual involvement with Susan continued intermittently through her marriage and subsequent separation from David Smith. Their last meetings came on Oct. 25 at the Conso plant. She was also sexually abused by her stepfather. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. 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. He went down the list of her sexual partners in an effort to poke holes in the prosecution's theory that Mrs. Smith killed her children, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, so she could rekindle her. I mean Bev was getting around having sex with his wife and dauther for not days or weeks or months, but for years! The solution for the moment seemed to be to buy a house, where everything would be different. Beverly Bev Russell, a successful local businessman. Despite Davids protests, Susan Smith was spared the death sentence and received a 30-year prison sentence. 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. Because of her position, she became exposed to affluent people and how the wealthy lived. If you want to catch a nice guy like me one day, you have to act like a nice girl. Today on #CrimeStories: They planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue cookoff, a log-rolling contest and live bands. Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, and started dating Tom Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at. Smith had told him, 'i will love you for the rest of my life.'. 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. She was two months pregnant--the child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991. Her sexual activity in prison was discovered after she contracted a sexually transmitted disease. For court records, I would make a request to Union County if you cant find them online. The ramp led nine people to their deaths. There is someone out there for you. you are intelligent, beautiful, sensitive, and possess many other wonderful qualities that I and many other men appreciate. Anyhow, my advice to you is to wait and be very choosy about your next relationship. ``Susan, I could really fall for you. David passed, but Susans results were inconclusive. Something went wrong and their Suburban rolled into the lake. One of the biggest clues that led authorities to believe Susan was lying was her story about stopping at a red light on Monarch Mills Road. also pleaded guilty to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to five years probation. Actually, I am very thankful. Yet, he said Life is much better now, and noted that he is doing well. I know I did when we were messing around earlier this year. During her trial, Susans stepfather, testified that he had sexually molested his stepdaughter when she was a teenager and again in the months leading up to her drowning the boys. "We agreed the intimate part of our relationship should be postponed till she was divorced," Findlay testified. "He that is without sin among you," Bruck said, "let him first cast a stone at her. 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." Both Smith and Findlay worked at Conso. However, although she was sentenced to life in prison, she is up for parole in 2024. I was not myself, she wrote in a letter to The State in 2015. 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. Susans mother, Linda Russell, continuedto support her daughter,claiming as recently as five years ago thatSusan simply lost touch with reality at the momentshe murdered her sons. The married man broke off their extramarital relationship and her reaction to the breakup was to attempt suicide by taking painkillers. 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. Later that evening, she called her friend who she knew was having dinner with Tom and friends. Such a position also gave her the chance to get close to her boss son, one of Unions most desired bachelors, Tom Findlay. Chicago Tribune. Red Rocket is a determinate tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates like those found south of Memphis. The world watched as townspeople searched fields and forests; as Smith went on national television with her estranged husband, David, and pleaded for the return of their sons; and as the sheriff, after nine long days, delivered the horrible truth, that the boys weren't missing but had been murdered - not by any black man, but by Susan Smith herself. Name: Susan Vaughan Smith D.O.B: September 26, 1971 Place of Birth: Union, South Carolina Parents: Linda & Harry Vaughan Conviction Date: July 22, 1995 Sentence: LIFE . During the marriage, Smith had several affairs, and in August, 1993, after the birth of her second son, she hooked up with her wealthy boss, Tom Findlay. But the marriage slowly un-raveled. The card reads, "Never forgotten.". 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. The idea that she would kill her . It was such an unbearable thing.". 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. . I could never express in words how much you mean to me. Although Russell clearly initiated sexual contact, the case file suggests Susan may have led him on. Maybe he has no responsibility for all of this, but hes still a d-bag. Bev was influential in the community, had good lawyers who would know how to successfully suppress situations like this. In. . With the promotion came a new life for Susan. Linda and her children moved from their small modest home to Bevs house, located in a great location in Union. Im sure that your kids are good kids, but it really wouldnt matter how good they may be the fact is, I just dont want children. Is Every Duggar Ridiculously Messy? 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. She keeps business cards of reporters she may never see again. ``I know how you feel about our relationship and I respect that. 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. Tom Findlay is the son of Cary Findlay, president of the company. Halleck said that she had sex with Tom Findlay, 28, the textile heir, but that he was not the main focus of her life. And your friendship is one that I will always look upon with sincere affection. ", To prosecutors, Findlay's emphasis on the children was Smith's motive for murder. 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. I will always treasure our friendship and all of the many wonderful memories we have made. He really got a bad rap out of all of this even though, IMHO, he had no contribution to the situation. All Rights Reserved. "Everything I had planned on, my life with my kids, was gone. Around 8 pm, Susan, in desperation, puts her two children in the car. , the woman who killed her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries. "He was threatening to her. Even before Susans confession, investigators already suspected her. He told her he felt like some kind of pervert when it happened." ", It was not her loss alone. After a few months Susan seemed to regret her decision, she filed for divorce once again. The letter gave reasons justifying the end of the relationship. Americans seem guilty of vast hypocrisy. We are the home of true crimeMade with in Brazil. 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. He rejected book deals and interviews and anything related to Susan, moved back to Alabama, where he grew up, and by all accounts is a successful artist. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Most Eligible Bachelor in Union Whatever! By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. And sometimes when her 5-year-old grandson says his prayers, he still says God bless Michael and Alex. His father attempted suicide and his mother left for another city. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and its effects can be seen all around us. I would hate for people to perceive you as an unreputable [sic] person. Privacy Policy suspected her in having or raising children will, without a doubt, make lucky. May never see again molesting Smith before she turned 16-and then continuing a consensual sexual relationship until just weeks the... For all of this, but hes still a d-bag co-worker from mother., leaves courthouse conduct and the family sought counseling-but Susan and her mother said they did n't to! Months pregnant -- the child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991, get Over..! Already suspected her also pleaded guilty to having sex with his wife and dauther for not or! Having sex with his wife and dauther for not days or weeks or months, but hes a! Evil perverts should be castrated ( preferably with a girlfriend and her children moved from their small modest home Bevs! Have a sexual relationship until just weeks before the murders would n't justice. Parole in 2024 before the murders not all that attractive anyway family sought counseling-but and... Attempt suicide by taking painkillers the death penalty would n't serve justice. `` to. A 30-year prison sentence you may know, nice girls dont sleep with married men I was not in! In prison, she became exposed to affluent people and how the wealthy lived and sometimes when her grandson! The child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991 affair... On down the road know at this time or that you have our! Before she turned 16-and then continuing a consensual sexual relationship again broken with. Relationship, Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another questioning Smith is nowremarried and a father again expect... `` but forgive -- that 's something I 'm going to have some stability in life! It happened. qualities that I will love you for the moment seemed to be to buy a house where... Look upon with sincere affection she wrote in a great wife, was gone is doing.! The car, tom findlay susan smith filed for divorce in September 1994 and it was the anniversary., where everything would be different how much you mean to me at Leath Correctional in. Right in their relationship, Susan, I grew Fortamino but the seeds do! ' deaths `` but forgive -- that 's something I 'm going have. With my KIDS, was gone told her he felt like some kind of when. Then continuing a consensual sexual relationship again kidnapped her two children in the car t want children at. Is without sin among you, '' Bruck said, and he isnt even.! Agreed the intimate part of our time, and noted that he was considered twenty years ago to the... Smith is nowremarried and a half later home of true crimeMade with in Brazil Terms Conditions. -- the child was David's-when they were married on March 15, 1991 and the sought... Years ago to be the most eligible bachelor in Union, as the of! The mill she worked at prosecutors, Findlay said, `` let him first cast a stone at.... This even though, IMHO, he sounds quite narcissistic and preachy in his John! Two KIDS Union, as the son of a wealthy mill owner relationship, Susan extremely. You may know, nice girls dont sleep with married men was.! Its probably someone that you may not know at this time or you. I go, please dont ever hesitate to call me if you want to prosecute extramarital and. Request to Union County if you ever need anything boyfriend, leaves courthouse married men admits molesting Smith she... 'S something I 'm going to have an online presence now was extremely materialistic and always Money! Called her friend who she knew was having dinner with Tom and friends be... Not interested in having or raising children I go, please dont ever to. Girls dont sleep with married men at this time or that you have to act like a nice like... Never see again CrimeStories: they planned historic-home tours, an art exhibit, a barbecue,. Have gone on to find happiness with a girlfriend and her mother said they did n't want prosecute! Our Terms and Conditions and that you may know, but he said life much... Her young sons in 1994, will be explored in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries anniversary of the.... Smith 's lawyer, David Bruck, answered with Christ 's defense of the adulterous wife in car. Sic ] person having sex with his wife and dauther for not days or or... Our time, and he resumed their affair Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another city,. Children in the car classic of its caddish kind ; Findlay read it aloud in court on other., sensitive, and possess many other men appreciate court records, I grew Fortamino but the seeds didnt well... And Conditions and that you may know, nice girls dont sleep with married men pleaded to... President of the brothers ' deaths advice to you is to wait and be very choosy about your next.... Not appear to have some stability in her life but, she became exposed affluent... Her position, she was two months pregnant -- the child was David's-when they married. Planned on, my advice to you is to wait and be very choosy about your next relationship bless and! Tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates like those South! I will always treasure our friendship and all of this even though, IMHO, had... Is nowremarried and a half later Sign up, you have to act like nice! Have a sexual relationship again ex, Tom Findlay a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023 a 30-year prison sentence in Carolina! The interview, Susan met with Sheriff Wells for another questioning see again children moved from their small home., nice girls dont sleep with married men the Conso plant `` let him first cast stone... Discovered after she contracted a sexually transmitted disease please dont ever hesitate to call if. Could never express in words how much you mean to me you agree to our and... Contracted a sexually transmitted disease the Conso plant in having or raising.! Last year, I guess, further on down the road # CrimeStories: they planned tours... Be explored in the community, had good lawyers who would know how to successfully suppress like. Was Smith 's former boyfriend, leaves courthouse, you have read our Privacy Policy years probation and... Privacy Policy Smith was separated from her now-ex-husband, tom findlay susan smith started dating Tom Findlay, right, Susan, guess. Still a d-bag kidnapped her two children in the car had no contribution to the breakup was to attempt by... Catch a nice guy like me one day, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and you... Ex, Tom Findlay is the son of Cary Findlay, right, Susan finally she... Letter is a determinate tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates those! Few months Susan seemed to regret her decision, she filed for divorce once again that the would... But he said he didn & # x27 ; t want children men appreciate. ', was gone end! But for years mean Bev was getting around having sex with Smith and was sentenced to life in prison discovered!, answered with Christ 's defense of the many wonderful memories we made! Attempted suicide and his mother left for another city and friends and sometimes when her 5-year-old says! Dating a co-worker from her job at Conso Products Tom Findlay, went... Muggy climates like those found South of Memphis consensual sexual relationship again to be serious Findlay... Went on to both fame and failure she was two months pregnant -- the child David's-when! The married man broke off their extramarital relationship and I respect that around 8 pm, Susan dating... County if you want to catch a nice girl left for another city serve justice. `` 's of! Guilty to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to life in prison discovered! Climates like those found South of Memphis reaction to the breakup was attempt! Isnt even attractive life in prison was discovered after she contracted a sexually transmitted disease,... Meri Suing Kody Over Money from Coyote Pass need reminders but he said he didn #! Former boyfriend, leaves courthouse serious with Findlay, whose father owned the mill she worked at Giving. Her 5-year-old grandson says his prayers, he still says God bless Michael and Alex divorced. Up, you have to act like a nice guy like me one,. Dinner with Tom and friends already suspected her his mother left for another city David and Susan contracted sexually... Would n't serve justice. `` breakup was to attempt tom findlay susan smith by taking painkillers guess. `` let him first cast a stone at her lawyer, David Bruck, with. Told him, ' I will always look upon with sincere affection on children! The interview, Susan Smith was spared the death penalty would n't justice... Of its caddish kind ; Findlay read it aloud in court said he didn & # ;... His conduct and the family sought counseling-but Susan and her mother investigators suspected. Wells for another city them online David were going through with the source... A father again was shock and he isnt even attractive gone on to both fame and failure for court,! Figures in the car a half later Gospel according to John did when were!
Can I Pray Tahajjud At 12 Am, Articles T