A pathologist described how slain USC student Samantha Josephson's died during day six of the Rowland murder trial. Miss Howard noticed that Mr. Rowland had a rose-gold iPhone, in perfect condition, which she assumed was a womans phone. . She was never able to get back outdue to the child locks already in place, according to prosecutor Bryon Gipson's opening statement . She continued: Why do we take swabs and submit them to analysts if were going to stand here and try to convince yall that it doesnt matter what they say? (Columbia, South Carolina) The jury deliberated for one hour and seven minutes today before finding Rowland guilty on all charges of kidnapping, first degree murder and a weapons charge in connection to the March 29, 2019 death of Samantha Josephson. [8], After their daughter's death, Josephson's parents established the What's My Name Foundation. In a virtual hearing, family members for both Josephson and Rowland delivered statements in front of Judge DeAndrea Benjamin. The state announced Monday afternoon that it . Following his arrest, authorities reportedly made a number of gruesome discoveries inside the vehicle. According to surveillance footage, at 2:09, a black Chevrolet Impala, driven by Rowland, pulled up beside her. Posted at 09:48h in michael deluise matt leblanc by It's not on her clothing, not under her ripped and torn fingernails, it's not on her ankles.'. That changed on March 29, 2019, when Samantha Josephson mistook Rowland's black 2017 Chevy Impala for her Uber ride. The double-bladed multi-tool had both Mr. Rowlands and Samantha Josephsons DNA on it. Rowland is accused of kidnapping and killing University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson in March of 2019. Did she fight back and send him into an uncontrollable, murderous, How-dare-this-white-bitch-fight-me? frenzy? Wasn't an issue for my friend who I saw get stabbed to death before a punch was thrown either. Additionally, Josephson suffered a severed hyoid bone, as well as stab wounds to her face, neck, shoulder, torso, back, lung, leg, and feet. She asked if he had hit a dog. There was a strong smell of marijuana coming from the car. February 27, 2023 . He also read off a few texts from Howards phone to Rowland. It was largely ignored by national media; the New York Times never mentioned it, though the Washington Post and New York Post wrote about the trials conclusion. Murder victim Samantha Josephson, 21, was stabbed around 120 times in her horrific March 2019 death, according to Monday testimony from a forensic pathologist. But the victims DNA was allegedly found under Rowlands fingernails. When examining the victim's back, she observed six puncture marks and explains why she feels the victim was stabbed at least twice, if not three times. Beaver, who testified to a 29-year career with 10,000 autopsies, said during direct examination that DNA is not always found under fingernails. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. As reported by Insurance Journal, the act requires rideshare service drivers, including Lyft and Uber, to clearly display their license plate numbers on the front of their vehicle so riders can confirm they are getting into the correct vehicle. Fourteen hours later, her body was found by hunters in a wooded area in Clarendon County. Many of the wounds, especially those in her right neck and right shoulder, were close together, most likely resulting from being rapidly inflicted stab wounds. Then Claycomb pulled out a lace bralette Josephson had on over her bra, that was also covered with a large amount of blood. When Miss Howard saw a news report about Samantha Josephsons disappearance, and saw a video of her boyfriends car, she knew what had happened, but she was afraid to call the police. Josephson's death rocked her school and home communities in 2019 as hundreds mourned her loss at a vigil in 2010. Was the Fight for Irish Independence Pointless? Instead of the seemingly competent white woman who gave the opening statement, a black woman handled the close. WLTX 7/26/2021. Tom Davis , Patch Staff Posted Mon, Apr 1, 2019 at 7:05 am ET | Updated Wed, Apr 3, 2019 . It's a developing story, but she apparently got into the wrong car, mistaking it for her Uber and the killer dumped her in a rural field. Cell phone towers tracked both Josephsons and Mr. Rowlands phones, which traveled together for 20 minutes before her phone turned off at 2:33 a.m. Rowlands phone was traced to the Rosewood neighborhood of Columbia, where his sister lives. Anastasia Katz, American Renaissance, August 6, 2021. But the killing of Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old college student in South Carolina who was stabbed to death after getting into a car she mistook for her Uber last weekend, has brought national . [43] The bill, which is also titled "Sami's Law," was introduced on June 13, 2019. There was no sign of a struggle at that location where she was found. Samantha Josephson, the University of South Carolina senior who was allegedly kidnapped and brutally killed after getting into a car that she mistook for her Uber, suffered "heinous, cruel and . Strangulation will break it, but Beaver suggested a stab wound damaged Josephsons hyoid bone. . Not all of the 120 or so wounds would have caused Josephson's death, but . @LawCrimeNetwork #SamanthaJosephson #NathanielRowland pic.twitter.com/vZQ9eXqQuI, Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) July 23, 2021. Dr. Thomas Beaver, a forensic pathologist, did the autopsy and found that Josephson had 120 stab wounds, mostly on the right side of her body. The contents of this website are copyright 1990-2023 New In May 2019, legislators in South Carolina passed the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act. . Additionally, companies must give ride-share drivers two barcodes that passengers can scan to confirm the driver's identity. [10] She attended the University of South Carolina (USC), where she majored in political science. Miss Howard was annoyed that Mr. Rowland was gone that morning, because she had given him her work shirt to launder, and had left her McDonalds visor in the back seat of his car. you want to continue watching? [5] During the trial, prosecutors called 31 witnesses, including the turkey hunter who found Josephsons body, a cell phone store owner who testified that Rowland unsuccessfully attempted to sell him Josephson's phone the day after she went missing,[29] Rowlands former girlfriend, and numerous State Law Enforcement Division investigators and other experts. "Her dream was my dream and her death was my death," Samantha's mom Marci Josephson told the judge . She no longer went partying with him, she said, because she was working double shifts at McDonalds to support the daughter they had together. The sheet over the front seat was surely there to catch blood. During the trial, his girlfriend said he described the area where he picked up Josephson as lit, meaning that it was active and exciting. [25] In addition to Josephsons murder, Rowland is alleged to have sold items that were stolen from a woman during a kidnapping in Columbia. [16], When investigators searched the trash behind Rowlands girlfriends residence, they uncovered cleaning supplies and a two-bladed knife, both of which had Josephsons blood on them. Josephsons blood was also found on a sock and a bandana, both owned by Rowland. After opening statements from the prosecution and defense, witnesses began testimony in front of jurors Tuesday afternoon. When examining the victim's back, she observed six puncture marks and explains why she feels the victim was stabbed at least twice, if not three times. [35][36], Also in June 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Sami's Law, which requires more identification on ride-share vehicles. Samantha L. Josephson, 21, passed away Friday March 29, 2019. [51] Her diploma and college possessions were given to her mother. The victims family in the courtroom froze when one investigator with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) held up clothing worn by Josephson on the night she was brutally murdered. He could not say for certain that she was not strangled, however, he said. Here you see #SamanthaJosephson in orange, waiting for her Uber. Columbia Police Department via AP Josephson's blood and cellphone were found in Rowland's vehicle after her body was discovered in woods off a dirt road in Clarendon County . The defendants black Chevy Impala drives by, makes a U-turn and drives by again. As reported by WYFF4, authorities noted the doors and windows on Rowland's vehicle were outfitted with child safety mechanisms, which likely made it impossible for anyone to exit the vehicle unless they were disengaged by the driver. Josephson, who was a senior at the time of her death, had planned to graduate in 2019 and go on to study law at Drexel University School of Law. Mr. Rowland started running but was caught two blocks away. On July 27, 2021, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. A phone tech from Cellular City testified that a man came to his shop that night, wanting to sell a rose gold iPhone 7 Plus for $300. There was also so little blood left in 21-year-old Samantha Josephson's body 20 milliliters (1.3 tablespoons) when a body typically has at least 4 liters (1 gallon) that workers at her . Cameras also caught a sheet tied to the drivers side headrest. Today is the 2 year anniversary of losing my baby! Josephsons father tearfully said that the loss of his daughter was so terrible he considered suicide several times. A South Carolina man left a 21-year-old college student, 21, with more than 100 stab wounds, cuts and other abrasions after kidnapping her when shemistook his car for herUberride after a night out in 2019, prosecutors said during the first day of his murder trial. Beaver suggested that someone moved the victims body after death. If he liked lit places, he could have found one with young blacks. The defense did not put one up. Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? As the night ended, she ordered an Uber to take her home . [14] Josephson is buried at the Perrineville Jewish Cemetery in Perrineville, New Jersey. The trial of Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, (left) who was charged in the 2019 murder and kidnapping of University of South Carolina senior Samantha Josephson, 21, (right), started on Tuesday, Defense attorney Alicia Goode delivers opening arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on July 20, Fifth Circuit solicitor Byron Gipson delivers an opening statement during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland in Richland County Court on July 20. He noticed that she was going in the wrong direction, and that the app stopped tracking her. Born in Princeton, Samantha was a student at The University of South Carolina majoring in political science. If were not supposed to pay attention to what the scientists tell us, then why are we sending stuff to science? The public defender, Ashley Goode, cross-examined Jazic asking if she documented any scratches on Rowland at the police station. University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson's death was caused by "multiple sharp force injuries," law enforcement officials said Monday. On the evening of March 28, 2019, 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was out with her friends in the Five Points village in Columbia, South Carolina. In the dark, she probably couldnt tell them apart. 'As she stood there waiting for that Uber, he had his eyes firmly transfixed on her,' Gipson said. 2023 Court TV Media LLC, part of The E.W. Nathaniel Rowland (center) leaves a Richland County courtroom during his murder trial in the death of USC senior Samantha Josephson on July 21, 2021. RMT29H4K - Columbia, South Carolina USA - March 31, 2019: A picture of Samantha Josephson sits on display at the community vigil held to mourn her death and rejoice her life. 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