Forensic Files

Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake

Dateline NBC

  • Feb 19, 2025
  • 26:52
  • Full Episode
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<p>Josh Mankiewicz and Craig Melvin sit down to talk about Craig’s episode, “Return to the Lake.” In 1994, the disappearance of two young brothers, Michael and Alex Smith, following an alleged carjacking in Union, South Carolina, was all anyone could talk about. The nation felt their mother’s despair as she told the harrowing story of a man who drove off with her two young boys after threatening her at gunpoint. Nine days after Michael and Alex disappeared, Susan Smith confessed to the unimaginable – she had killed her sons. Josh and Craig discuss Craig’s heartbreaking interview with David Smith about the deaths of his sons 30 years ago and his ex-wife’s recent bid for parole. Dateline Producer Carol Gable joins Josh to discuss the letters she and Susan Smith have exchanged for the past 20 years and to answer questions from social media.</p><p>Listen to the full episode of “Return to the Lake” on Apple: https://apple.co/3CM39jz</p><p>Listen to the full episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/13y8ZWq4lKB5kM9ZY7Crli</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Brief Summary

David Smith discusses the lasting impact of Susan Smith's crime on his life and the fight to keep her imprisoned.

Key points

  • Return to the Lake. A deep dive into the Susan Smith case and its lasting impact.
  • A Rare Interview. Craig Melvin interviews David Smith about the impact of losing his children.
  • The Ripple Effect of Murder. Exploring how the crime affected not just the family but the entire community.
  • Divorce After the Court Case. Beverly Russell and Susan Smith divorced shortly after the court case.
  • A Mother's Painful Decision. Susan's thoughts on leaving her boys reflect deep emotional scars from her past.

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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