You probably remember the image of David Smith. In 1994, he was the young, devastated father sitting next to his wife, Susan, as they begged a carjacker to return their two little boys. It was a lie. We all found out nine days later that Susan had let her car roll into John D. Long Lake with 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander still strapped inside.
Since then, the world has mostly focused on Susan—her prison letters, her disciplinary records, and her recent, desperate bid for freedom. But what about the man who sat beside her on national television, holding her hand while she hid the truth? Susan Smith husband David Smith didn't just lose his children; he lost his reality.
Thirty years later, David is no longer the silent victim. In 2024 and early 2025, he re-emerged into the public eye with a very specific mission: making sure the woman who murdered his sons never walks free.
The Parole Fight: David Smith Breaks His Silence
For decades, David Smith mostly kept to himself in South Carolina. He tried to build a life out of the wreckage. But when Susan became eligible for parole in November 2024, everything changed. He couldn't stay quiet anymore.
He showed up to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services with his current wife, Tiffany. He didn't look like the broken kid from the 90s. He looked like a father who had spent 30 years waiting for a final reckoning.
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"This wasn't a tragic mistake," David told the parole board. He was emotional. He was blunt. He argued that 30 years in prison—which he calculated as only 15 years per child—was an insult to the memory of Michael and Alex. He told the board that Susan had essentially "ended his life" that night, too, revealing that the grief almost drove him to suicide in those early years.
Where is Susan Smith Husband Today?
People always ask: did he ever find peace? Honestly, peace is a strong word for someone in David's position. But he did move on as much as a person can.
David married Tiffany in 2003. He’s said that her compassion is what kept him tethered to the world when he felt like drifting away. They have children of their own now, including a daughter named Savannah. It’s a bittersweet reality. He has a second chance at fatherhood, yet he still carries the "frozen in time" images of his first two sons.
In a recent Dateline interview that aired in February 2025, David admitted he still pictures Michael and Alex as toddlers. He can't imagine them as 30-something-year-old men. To him, they are still the boys in the car seats.
Life After the Trial
- Remarriage: He married Tiffany Smith in 2003.
- New Family: He has at least one daughter, Savannah, and another child.
- Advocacy: He remains a staunch advocate for his sons, appearing at every legal milestone to oppose Susan's release.
- Faith: He often credits his Christian faith for his ability to forgive Susan personally, even though he still wants her to stay in prison for life.
The Question of Forgiveness
There’s a weird nuance here that a lot of people get wrong. David has said he forgives Susan. He’s told Court TV and other outlets that his faith requires it.
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But don't mistake that for him wanting her to have a "happily ever after." Forgiveness, in David's view, is about his own soul. It doesn't mean the debt to society is paid. He’s been very clear: he wanted the death penalty back in 1995. Since he didn't get that, he views "life in prison" as a literal requirement.
He recalled a chilling conversation with Susan where she "casually" apologized. He told NBC’s Craig Melvin that the lack of real remorse from her is what haunts him. "She said, 'I don't know why, but I'm sorry,'" David recounted. To him, that isn't enough to justify a release.
Why Susan Smith Husband Still Matters to the Case
Susan's defense team has often tried to point to her own childhood trauma and mental health struggles. They talk about her being "scared" and "broken."
David serves as the ultimate counter-narrative. He was there. He knew her. And he points out the manipulation that occurred during those nine days of searching. He reminds the public that while he was out searching woods and ditches, she was focused on a man she was dating who didn't want kids.
As of early 2026, Susan remains behind bars at the Leath Correctional Institution. Her parole was denied in late 2024, and she won't be eligible again until November 2026. You can bet David Smith will be there again. He’s made it his life’s mission to be the voice for Michael and Alex because, as he says, they can't speak for themselves.
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What to Watch for Next
If you are following this case, the next big milestone is the November 2026 parole hearing. David Smith has signaled that he will continue to attend these hearings as long as he is physically able. For those looking for more depth, the 2025 Dateline episode titled "Return to the Lake" provides the most current look at his life and his ongoing trauma.
The story of the Susan Smith husband is a reminder that the "victim" in a crime isn't just the person who died. It's the person left behind to carry the weight of the "what ifs" for the rest of their natural life.
Take Actionable Steps:
- Monitor Parole Dates: Susan Smith is next eligible for parole in November 2026; public comments are often accepted by the South Carolina parole board leading up to these dates.
- Verify Sources: When reading about this case, look for direct court transcripts or reputable interviews from Court TV or NBC News to avoid the tabloid rumors that often swirl around Susan's prison life.
- Support Victim Advocacy: Many organizations, such as the National Center for Victims of Crime, provide resources for families of homicide victims who are navigating the long-term parole process.