Her final moments. COLUMBIA The scene was pure college town post-midnight revelry. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The first sign of concern for Samanthas roommates was their inability to contact her the next morning. In addition to murder, Rowland was also convicted of kidnapping, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Within hours of Samantha being reported missing, her remains were found in Clarendon County, South Carolina. A phone was pressed to her ear, and one arm tucked across her chest during the unseasonably chilly evening on March 29, 2019. The South Carolina college student who was allegedly kidnapped and killed by a man she thought to be her Uber driver suffered heinous, cruel and malicious acts, prosecutors said during opening statements in her murder trial Tuesday. Hours later, the young woman was found murdered many miles away from where she was last seen. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Several key investigators took the stand Thursday in day three of the trial of Nathaniel Rowland. Thats the amount of DNA on Samantha Josephsons body that matches Nathaniel Rowland. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. She worked hard, was graduating college in may and starting law school in September.". The former girlfriend of the man accused of killing Samantha Josephson testified she saw blood inside the suspect's car hours after the victim vanished and also saw her boyfriend cleaning a hunting knife. New Jersey native Samantha Josephson, 21, was killed by Nathaniel Rowland after she mistakenly got into his car after a night of drinking in Columbia in 2019, prosecutors told the jury, according to NBC News. He attended to his brother's dog that morning while his brother was out of town and later in the day watched the NCAA basketball tournament games. Each road led to you. Howard watched the news and heard about Josephsons disappearance. At the time of the incident, she was just weeks away from graduation. And hes been indicted for possession of a weapon from the commission of a violent crime. A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for the family, and nearly $50,000 was collected. Testimony, surveillance video and cell phone tower data presented in a week-long trial in Richland County court, which ended July 27, helped complete a picture of the roughly 24 hours from when Josephson disappeared to when Nathaniel Rowland was arrested and charged with her murder. The 21-year-old New Jersey native was about to graduate from the University of South Carolina and was madly in love. When she asked why, Rowland told her to mind her business. Corbishley graduated at the end of 2018 and lived in his hometown of Mount Pleasant while searching for a job. Words cannot express the anguish our family and friends have endured since you kidnapped and brutally murdered Samantha, said Josephsons mother, Marci Josephson. From the friend's house, Josephson's group walked to Five Points after midnight and made their only stop, the Bird Dog, one of the many bars catering to college students. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Zero. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Detectives said she had just ordered a lift on the popular hail-a-ride app - but the real Uber driver later cancelled the journey after she failed to show up. "We thought we would be here to see his evil face," Marci said in the WIS recording. Dalila Jazic holds up the bloodied shirt taken from Samantha Josephson's body after she was stabbed more than 100 times. Howard banged on the door to her apartment "like the police," angry at Rowland for not showing up after she left him her key so he could sleep while she was at work. Nathaniel said in court, For whoever asked me for leniency, thats not part of my DNA. Directed Traffic Enforcement Details For March In Princeton, Unlawful Use of Credit Cards, Theft: Princeton Police Blotter, Princeton Approves Ordinance To Acquire Land For Affordable Housing, Sign Up Now: Portrait Oil Painting Workshop May 19 - 21 with Tina Garrett, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), Now Hiring!! She was never seen alive again. Then, a black car was seen pulling into a parking spot, and Samantha walked toward that vehicle. The young and ambitious woman was a senior at the University of South Carolina pursuing a degree in Political Science. Where is Lloyd Averys Killer Kevin Roby Now? The Impala backed into the street and pulled away. A double-bladed knife was also discovered by the police in the trash outside his girlfriends house, along with cleaning materials in the car. Josephson was weeks away from graduating with a degree in political science when she was killed. A killer who led her young boyfriend to his death in 2009 has been released from prison after 10 years. Corbishley drove to Columbia the morning after Josephson disappeared. , Post and Courier, an Evening Post Publishing Newspaper Group. Samantha Josephson, a college student, boards what she believes to be her rideshare in 2019 after a night out with friends, never to be seen alive again. Did you encounter any technical issues? He planned to move with Josephson to Philadelphia when she began law school at Drexel University, where she had received a full scholarship. A college student got into a car she thought was her Uber, police say. He imagined she had left her phone in the cab at the time. A man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after a jury convicted him of murder in the 2019 killing of a South Carolina college student. Nathaniel was also linked to a different crime throughout the inquiry, trading off stolen goods in October 2018. She was found dead in a field. However, the defense claimed there wasnt any certainty regarding his DNA on the knife. Samanthas blood and her footprint were discovered by the detectives on his cars back window. A jury found the 27-year-old guilty of Samantha Josephson's murder on July 27, 2021 - we take a look at his life and what led to the killing. That meant a late night at the Five Points bars, because as her roommate Teagen Berry testified, nobody takes Friday classes. Stephen Fastenau is a local government reporter covering the City of Columbia, Richland County and general assignments. Josephson had spent the night before her death in the Five Points district in downtown Columbia with friends. Nathaniel then sold some of those items. From that point, he was a fixture at Howard's home in the weeks before Josephson was murdered. Prosecutors also called Dr. Thomas Beaver to the witness stand. But about 14 hours later, turkey hunters in a field off a gravel road about 90 miles from Columbia discovered her dead. 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. However, Samantha got separated from her friends and decided to go home. You can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram. But the judge said there was an avalanche of evidence against Rowland. And for whomever asks me for leniency, thats not part of my DNA.. Rowland is. Of one thing jurors were certain: He was responsible for it all. His Impala was seen on surveillance video passing the Publix grocery store on Rosewood Drive and driving on Live Oak Street and Beltline Boulevard, perhaps looking for a secluded place in a familiar area he could carry out his attack, prosecutors said. Greg Corbishley and Josephson met while out at Five Points when both were USC students and would become inseparable. Surveillance video captured his black Impala passing a Bi-Lo grocery store on Devine at 1:48 a.m. and entering Five Points a few minutes later. The kid lock was also engaged, making it challenging for someone to enter the door from within. Subscribe 182K views 1 year ago Sydney Josephson, the sister of Samantha Josephson, spoke during sentencing of Nathaniel Rowland. Nathaniel Rowland, then 24, was captured and arrested, with the vehicle being examined for evidence. On the GoFundMe page, fellow Robbinsville classmates and friends expressed their shock. Her body was found with multiple sharp force injuries 14 hours later in a field about 90 miles away. Jurors will be shown security video, cellphone data and a murder weapon that connects Rowland, 27, to the death of the University of South Carolina senior, prosecutors said, according to the report. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. entered his car by mistake believing it was her Uber ride. Born in Princeton, Samantha graduated from Robbinsville High School in 2015. Prosecutors also rested their case Monday after calling. A chilling video also shows when Samantha Josephson entered the car: Over the weekend, the family was letting people know that they're not through, that they will work to honor Samantha's memory since the 21-year-old University of South Carolina student, unlike the alleged killer, had "purpose in her life. It could not be worse, Newman said. Investigators also found cleaning supplies and a two-bladed knife with Josephsons blood on them after searching the trash can behind Rowlands girlfriend's residence. A store owner later testified that Nathaniel tried to sell him a phone on March 29, 2019. Rowland faces life in prison without parole if convicted. "On behalf of the Robbinsville Board of Education and entire school community, we want to extend our deepest sympathy and love to the Josephson family," Foster said. Dr. Thomas Beaver detailed the many injuries the victim sustained, allegedly at the hands of Nathaniel David Rowland, 27. Testimony is expected to resume in his trial today. "Samantha was by herself. "Robbinsville is a strong, close-knit community and we will continue to find ways to care for and support our students, families, friends, staff, and community members as we hold the Josephson family in our hearts.". Amanda Douglas and Jennifer Lynn Sudar Murders: Where is Quantell Alverson Today? document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "© " + html; Sandra Cantu Murder: Where Is Melissa Huckaby Now? When Howard asked where the hat was, Rowland told her it was in the country, that it had blood on it. A jury found the 27-year-old guilty of Samantha Josephsons murder on July 27, 2021 - we take a look at his life and what led to the killing. After Kraft yelled for Rowland to take his hand from his pocket, Rowland ran from the officer and was arrested a few blocks away. She borrowed another visor from her boss to wear at work. At some point, Josephson called her father, Seymour, and asked to use his credit card because she claimed hers didn't work on her ride-hiring apps. Moments later, a black Chevrolet Impala slipped out of a nearby parking lot and into the disabled space where Josephson waited. Later, the genuine Uber driver admitted that he had waited for Samantha but she had not arrived. Instead, I went to Columbia to gather her belongings, Josephsons grieving mother, Marci, said during victim-impact statements at the court hearing. But about 14 hours later, turkey hunters found her body off a dirt road in a field about 90 miles from Columbia. The child safety lock was on. However, according to him, Samanthas phone stopped in Rosewood, South Carolina. Woman Killed After Mistaking Car for Uber Awarded Posthumous Degree, Alleged Samantha Josephson Killer Had Faced Charges Arising From Separate Kidnapping: Documents, Samantha Josephson's School Pleads With Students Using Uber to Be Safe, The Simple Safety Question You Should Always Ask Your Uber Driver. She texted him again at 7:01 a.m.: "Bae I'm late (as (expletive)).". But he said Samanthas phone went dead in Rosewood, South Carolina. In Columbia, Josephson and her roommates prepared for a typical Thursday night out during the spring semester at USC. The Christopher Hoefling Murder -The 2017 murder of Christopher Hoefling in Evansville, Indiana is the topic of theInvestigation Discoverydocumentary series"The Murder Tapes" Season 7 Episode Lauren Harpe From Survivor 44 -Since its debut in 2000, 'Survivor' has become one of the most popular television programs ever. Chance of rain 40%.. Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Activated child locks would have kept Josephson from opening the back door or rolling down her window once she discovered what happened. The police then started looking for the vehicle that was seen on the security camera. The young woman's name is Samantha Josephson'was discovered dead many kilometers from where she was last seen hours later. Then, some Nathaniel-owned clothes were discovered to contain Samanthas blood. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Samantha Josephson was born to Seymour and Marci Josephson in August 1997 in Princeton, New Jersey. In the video, she was seen getting into the car she thought was her Uber ride. He was in the vicinity of the body, according to his mobile phone records, and Samanthas cellphone was located in his vehicle. During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Josephsons family asked Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman to sentence Rowland to life in prison and expressed the pain they have had to endure. He had studied at East Clarendon School and played basketball, according to GreenVille Online. East in Princeton Junction. Just days before New Jersey native Marci Josephson will bury her daughter, Samantha, she had just one question for the alleged killer: Marci then let anyone who could hear that she and her family are grieving, they're stunned, they're shocked and they're terribly angry that anyone could kill somebody they affectionately called "sweet pea.". On March 30, 2019, they found a similar vehicle a few blocks from the area where Samantha was last seen. In the 24 hours after Samantha Josephson was abducted from in front of a Five Points bar in Columbia, and later found murdered, friends and investigators pieced together her whereabouts Read moreSC House GOP approves asking voters to remove ban on taxes directly aiding private schools, A group of hard-line conservatives in the South Carolina House is challenging state laws that ban them from raising money to support their candidates and influence elections Read moreGOP infighting escalates as SC Freedom Caucus sues in federal court for fundraising power, The Post and Courier Columbia Rowland eventually pulled up to the apartment in his black Impala. How Did She Die? The day before Josephson disappeared, Howard and Rowland had driven to her mother's house in northeast Columbia to wash clothes. Judith Therianos Murder Case: where is Timothy Frederick Johnson Today? Her death has inspired action from state lawmakers in South Carolina, who passed legislation soon after her killing requiring all ride-share vehicles to display an illuminated sign featuring their company's name. High 74F. The young and ambitious woman was a senior at the University of South Carolina pursuing a degree in Political Science. As parents, Mayor Dave Fried and others said, "This is just beyond my comprehension capabilities.". The brutal murder changed the way people approach safety on ride-share apps, with it now common to check the license plate of your Uber or Lyft, and expect drivers to say the prospective passengers name. Samantha Josephson's death prompted changes aimed at improving safety for those using ride-hailing apps such as Uber. She left a bar at 2am and had ordered an Uber home, and mistakenly got into Rowlands car thinking it was her ride. Nathaniel Rowland has received a life sentence for . New Jersey native Samantha Josephson, 21, was killed by Nathaniel Rowland after she mistakenly got into his car after a night of drinking in Columbia in 2019, prosecutors told the jury, according . 2101 Gervais Street So, lets find out more about what happened then, shall we? View our online Press Pack. The young womans name is Samantha Josephsonwas discovered dead many kilometers from where she was last seen hours later. Additionally, phone data revealed that Samantha and Nathaniel were using their phones simultaneously in the automobile. From the witness stand, Howard later testified that she borrowed Rowland's car to take her daughter to the doctor, and blood ended up on her child's shoes. Samantha also got a scholarship to study law at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. The jury determined the 27-year-old killed Josephson, 21, by stabbing her 120 times. ", Marci then implored the court to keep Rowland in jail, and that he "should never be given the right to walk free again.". Then, Samanthas blood was located on some clothing owned by Nathaniel. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The case made national news two years ago, and led Uber to require drivers to prominently display ID and say the names of passengers before they travel. Rowland was sentenced to life in prison on July 27, 2021. Her hand reached for the door handle before the car stopped and she climbed in. Blood was visible throughout the car, footprints on the window, cleaning supplies in the back seat and Howard's McDonald's visor in Rowland's trunk. What happened to Samantha Josephson? A man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after a jury convicted him of murder in the 2019 killing of a South Carolina college student. He instead watched her phone travel the opposite direction. "Unlike him, Samantha valued human life and could never harm another soul," Marci said in the WIS audio tape. Wreck Season 1 Recap and Ending, Explained, IDs The Murder Tapes Help 712 Ive Been Shot Christopher Hoefling Murder, Lauren Harpe From Survivor 44: Everything We Know, Carolyn Wiger From Survivor 44: Everything We Know, Carson Garrett From Survivor 44: Everything We Know. Kathie Foster, superintendent of the Robbinsville School District, released a statement, saying: "Our hearts are heavy with grief and shock as we process the news of the sudden and tragic death of Samantha Josephson.". I close my eyes and I feel what she endured at his hands. Indeed, Uber, which has declined to comment, has a list of safety tips that advises people: "Get in the right car. Its not on her ankles.. He returned to Columbia after 10 years as a reporter at The Island Packet and is a University of South Carolina graduate. Since you only have one life, that sentence must be served for the remaining days of your natural life, Newman said. Surveillance footage from the area she was last seen showed her waiting for a cab. Her body as later found with 120 stab wounds in remote woods 65 miles from Columbia. She lost so much blood, that there was hardly any left in her body. She was observed waiting for a cab in surveillance footage from the area where she was last seen. Spiky TV's senior news writer is Stephan Gibbs. Rowland was arrested the following day after police spotted him in a car that matched the description seen in surveillance video. The young and aspirational woman was a political science major in her senior year at the University of South Carolina. She was stabbed120 times. At his trial in 2021, the prosections witness said DNA under Nathaniels fingernails matched Samantha. 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