Following a denied parole bid, convicted child killer Susan Smith has reportedly transformed from a cooperative inmate into a "complete nightmare" at Leath Correctional Institution. The 53-year-old, notorious for drowning her two young sons in 1994, was denied parole in November 2024 after serving 30 years of a life sentence.

Sources within the prison told The New York Post that Smith's demeanor shifted dramatically after the parole board's decision. Previously perceived as helpful and pleasant, particularly in the months leading up to her parole hearing, she is now described as consistently rude and difficult. Prison staff speculate that her prior agreeable behavior was a calculated attempt to improve her chances of release.

Susan Smith in a recent mugshot (left) and in 1994 at age 22.

Susan Smith's sons, 3-year-old Michael Daniel Smith and 14-month-old Alexander Tyler Smith.

Smith's horrific crime involved strapping her sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander, into her car and rolling it into John D. Long Lake in Union, South Carolina, on October 25, 1994. She then watched as the car sank, drowning her children. Despite prosecutors seeking the death penalty, she was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1995.

Susan Smith with her attorneys in 1995. She initially claimed a carjacking, but evidence proved she murdered her sons.

In August 2024, Smith faced disciplinary action for communicating with a documentary filmmaker, violating prison regulations. This occurred shortly after a recorded phone call where she insisted she wouldn't speak to the media. This marked her first disciplinary infraction in nearly a decade. She was found guilty of the charge in October.

Susan Smith during her November 2024 parole hearing.

During her emotional November parole hearing, Smith expressed remorse for her actions, but the parole board denied her request, citing the severity of her crime and her prison disciplinary record. Her ex-husband, David Smith, attended the hearing and advocated against her release, emphasizing the intentional nature of her crime.

David Smith and his wife, Tiffany, after Susan Smith's parole denial.