Dateline Friday: “Return to the Lake” February 14 2025

Dateline NBC February 14 2025: “Return to the Lake”

This Friday, February 14, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET/8:00 PM CT, Dateline NBC returns with “Return to the Lake,” an in-depth report on the case of Susan Smith, the South Carolina woman who tragically admitted to drowning her two young sons, Michael and Alexander, 30 years ago. Craig Melvin reports on the emotional parole hearing where Susan Smith was unanimously denied parole for the first time.

Susan Smith, now 53, appeared before the parole board via Zoom in November 2024, expressing deep remorse for her actions and describing how much she still loves her children. In her emotional testimony, she said, “I know that what I did was horrible. And I would give anything if I could go back and change it.”

The case gained national attention in 1994 when Smith falsely claimed that her sons had been kidnapped by a Black man during a carjacking. However, after an intense investigation, Smith confessed to driving her car into John D. Long Lake in South Carolina, intentionally drowning her children. During the parole hearing, she apologized to the responders who searched for her children, acknowledging the impact her actions had on law enforcement resources.

Smith’s ex-husband, David Smith, strongly opposed her parole, emphasizing that the crime wasn’t a mistake but a deliberate act. He described the immense grief he experienced and expressed that 30 years of imprisonment for Susan Smith wasn’t enough for the lives of his children.

Throughout the Dateline episode, viewers will hear from key people involved in the case, including law enforcement, family members, and legal experts. Smith’s parole hearing and the aftermath of the case highlight the ongoing emotional toll on those involved.

Tune in to “Return to the Lake” on Dateline NBC this Friday, February 14, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET/8:00 PM CT. The episode will also be available for streaming on Peacock.

See Also: