Ep 5. Susan Smith: The Shocking Truth

Susan Smith: The Shocking Truth is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the popular true crime series How It Really Happened. The episode focuses on one of the most shocking cases of maternal filicide in American history, the case of Susan Smith.

Susan Smith was a 23-year-old mother of two boys, Michael and Alex, who disappeared from her car on the night of October 25th, 1994, in Union, South Carolina. Smith claimed that her car had been carjacked by a black man who had driven away with her children still in the car. Her story gained national attention, and a massive search for the boys was launched, involving hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officers.

However, as the days went by, cracks began to appear in Smith's story. Police began to suspect that she was lying and had in fact murdered her children. Smith was forced to admit the truth when her car was found submerged in a nearby lake with the bodies of her two sons still strapped into their car seats.

The episode delves into the investigation that followed Smith's admission, including interviews with law enforcement officers who worked on the case and with Smith's family members and friends. It explores the possible motives behind Smith's crime, including her tumultuous upbringing and her troubled relationship with the boys' father.

The episode also examines the media coverage of the case, which was highly sensationalized and often focused on Smith's appearance and demeanor. It looks at the impact that this had on the investigation and on public perception of the case.

Susan Smith: The Shocking Truth is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that explores one of the most tragic and disturbing cases of maternal filicide in American history. Through interviews with those closest to the case and expert analysis of the investigation, it sheds light on the complex motives and emotions that led Susan Smith to commit such a horrific crime. It is not an episode to be missed by fans of true crime and those interested in the psychology of criminal behavior.