By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-24 13:30:12 | Updated at 2024-11-29 18:26:32
5 days ago
Eerie never-before-seen yearbook photos have emerged of killer mom Susan Smith - as it's revealed the honor student was nominated as the 'friendliest' in the class.
The infamous 53-year-old double murderer was known by her peers and teachers as Susan Leigh Vaughan at school before she married her now ex-husband David.
The couple went on to have two children, Michael, three, and Alex, 14 months, who she brutally killed in cold blood in 1994 by strapping them into a car and letting it roll into a lake.
But just five years earlier, she could be seen smiling sweetly in her 1989 yearbook from Union High School in South Carolina where she was dressed in a smart black off-the-shoulder top and gold jewelry.
An active student, Smith appeared to be a diligent student and role model, during her years at USH.
She participated in a variety of clubs including Beta Club. Jr., Math Club, Spanish Club and Red Cross Club.
She also held the role of 'president' of the Civitan Club - which was ironically a community service club dedicated to helping others.
Eighteen-year-old Susan Smith, known as Susan Leigh Vaughan, is pictured smiling in her high school yearbook. She graduated from Union High School in South Carolina in 1989
Smith, president of the Civitan Club is seen pictured dressed in a Mickey and Minnie Mouse sweatshirt alongside 24 other members of the Civitan Club
The callous killer was pictured several times through the yearbook.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Smith was shown with her classmate who were both nominated as the 'friendliest' out of all the students in the graduating class.
In her leadership role, she could be seen in one photo standing in front of a podium reviewing the events the club would be participating in.
A brief description in the yearbook explains that part of the group's mission was to sponsor dances at the high school to raise funds.
The year Smith graduated the club sponsored the Special Olympics and reportedly played a 'very important' role at the school.
In a group photo, Smith appeared wearing a sweatshirt with Mickey and Minnie Mouse on it, standing alongside 24 of her peers and other club members.
Another photo showed the killer mom dressed in a denim mini skirt and pink collared top with white lace embellishments in her calculus class, as she receives help from her teacher.
Other images show a joyful Smith dressed in a black robe with others member of the Beta Club, an academic honor society where students are required to maintain an 88 overall average or above.
The club was also active in the community and sponsored events at nursing homes as well as arranging fundraising events.
Smith was president of the Civitan Club at her high school, the year the group sponsored the Special Olympics and dances to raise funds
Smith pictured next to her classmate as they work the Civitan booth together
Smith pictured with another member working the fair at the school
Smith was pictured with her classmate who were both nominated as the 'friendliest' students
Smith pictured with members from the academic honor society, the Beta Club
Smith smiling with some of the members of the Civitan Club
A smiling Smith is seen getting help from one of her teachers in calculus class. In the yearbook the caption reads: Susan Vaughan receives help with her calculus work'
The cover of the 1989 Union High School yearbook titled 'First Class Gleam '89'
On Wednesday Smith appeared virtually from the Leah Correctional Institute in Greenwood, SC, at her first parole board hearing since being incarcerated.
She spoke apologetically to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services.
'First of all I want to say how very sorry I am,' Smith began, according to NewsNation's Brian Entin.
She told the board she is a Christian and knows God has forgiven her - and asked they 'show the same kind of mercy.'
Smith at times lowered her head, and at one point was seen placing her hand over her face as she explained she lost touch with reality when she killed her children and did not fully comprehend her actions.
At times, she pretended to cry but there were no tears, Entin observed.
She told the court: ‘I want you to know how very sorry I am. I know what I did was horrible and would do anything to go back and change it'.
Smith's lawyer argued that the murders were a 'mental health story' and nothing to do with another man she was reportedly having an affair with as previously claimed.
The two sons she murdered would have been in their 30s if they were alive today.
The boys' father David Smith told the hearing that his sons' murders were 'not a tragic mistake' as he urged them to keep their killer behind bars.
'That's only 15 years per child,' he said of Smith's sentence.
'Her own children. That is just not enough. I am asking that you deny her parole today and hopefully in the future.'
The seven- member panel denied her request for parole in a unanimous vote.
Smith killed her two young sons Michael, age 3 and Alex, 14- months. They would have been in their 30s if they were alive today
Smith and her husband David Smith addressed reporters pleading for the safe return of their sons, who she claimed went missing during an alleged car-jack-kidnapping
The married mother-of-two was reportedly having an affair with a man who did not want children. Smith is pictured cuffed and being led from the Union County Courthouse before she was convicted in October 1994
Smith clutched a tissue and repeatedly dabbed at her eyes, despite no sign of any tears
Prosecutors claimed Smith killed the boys after the man she was having an affair with, Thomas Findlay, broke up with her because he didn't want children.
She initially reported her two sons missing and told deputies the boys had been taken by an unidentified black man during a carjacking.
The killer wept on national television with her husband at her side - who was unaware of the crime she had committed - and pleaded for their safe return.
Her story was quickly picked apart and Smith eventually confessed to strapping the two boys into their car seat and watching the car roll into the lake.
She was sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole after 30 years.
Just weeks before she became eligible for parole, Smith was convicted of a prison disciplinary charge and also had a litany of prison violations.
The children's father said he felt 'much relief' after learning her request for parole had been denied and would continue to campaign to keep her behind bars.
Her next parole hearing is due to be in two years.
