He could not say for certain that she was not strangled, however, he said. The State newspaper reported that Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook told reporters after a Saturday night press conference that a woman was in the car at the time of Rowland's arrest, and she was cooperating with police. Nathaniel Rowland used childproof locks to prevent Josephson from leaving the vehicle and kidnapped and murdered her, leaving her body near New Zion, South Carolina 65 miles (105 km) from Columbia, where she had entered Rowland's car. Nathaniel Rowland, now 27, is accused of kidnapping and killing South Carolina student Samantha Josephson, 21, in March 2019. The Wrong Car: Shocking Details Of Samantha Josephson's Alleged Murder. Her friends, they think she's taken the Uber, so they return home; When they return to the apartment, Samantha is not there. . Instead, she found herself trapped because Rowland had the childproof locks on, investigators said. The Associated Press, WIS-TV, and WLTX were present as Beaver recalled finding 120 separate stab wounds across the body of Josephson, who was from New Jersey. This bone sits at the back of the tongue. [24], On June 9, 2020, Nathaniel Rowland was denied bond. He knew the route from the Bird Dog to her home; he had taken it many times himself. 5th Circuit SolicitorByron Gipson slightlyunderestimated the total count in opening statements last Tuesday. Im almost confused. Possession of a firearm during commission of a violent crime, "ROWLAND, NATHANIEL DAVID (00386010) INMATE", "A college student got into a car she thought was her Uber, police say. The Killer Cases episode will air on Wednesday night at 10pm, the episode is titled Murder in a College Town. Rowland was seen by cops driving a car that matched the description of the one Josephson was seen entering in CCTV footage. There was no sign of a struggle at that location where she was found. Samantha went missing for hours before she was found. Dr. Thomas Beaver detailed the many injuries the victim sustained, allegedly at the hands of Nathaniel David Rowland, 27. I have had to look for motives myself. Rowland maintained his innocence before being sentenced, with his attorneys pointing out that scientists werent certain his DNA was on the knife. Tags: power [15][7][16], Using a two-bladed knife, Rowland proceeded to inflict roughly 120 stab wounds upon Josephson. [38] The act requires ride-share drivers to display a printed license plate number on the front of their vehicles and, as of July 1, 2020, to have illuminated signs on their vehicles. In March 2019, Samantha Josephson, a white 21-year-old from New Jersey, was finishing her senior year at the University of South Carolina. 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Man Convicted of Breaking into Home, Murdering 2 Kids and Woman over Facebook Post. He assumed she had left her phone in the Uber car. [24] Inside the car, police found a container of liquid bleach, germicidal wipes, and window cleaner. "I cannot fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautful girl, and steal her life away. Her killer got to her first. The vigil starts at 7 p.m. at the West Town Center Lake Gazebo off Route 33. Asked by news reporters what Rowland's motive might have been, top prosecutor Byron Gipson said: "It was absolutely a random act of violence. My guess and its only a guess is that Mr. Rowland wanted to humiliate, rape, and kill a white woman. 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. Amid their investigation into Josephson's disappearance, authorities obtained CCTV footage of the USC student waiting for a ride and eventually getting into a black Chevrolet Impala. One person noted she tutored her in Math and Samantha had babysat her twins. . But he will spend the rest of his life behind bars after the jury found him guilty on three counts of murder, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Samantha, 21, got into Rowland's car after a night out in Columbia's Five Points entertainment district thinking it was an Uber ride that would take her back to her apartment, prosecutors said. The presiding judge, Clifton Newman, was black, and several of the jurors were black. Josephson had spent the night before her death in the Five Points district in downtown Columbia with friends. She asked him where he got it, and he said he had found it. The trial is being streamed . Specifically, the law requires companies to issue two "credential placards" to drivers of ride-share vehicles. Rowland, who was 24 at the time of the killing, is a resident of New Zion in Clarendon County, Columbus. One of Rowland's strikes went completely through her right hand, as she likely used it to protect herself. He noticed that she was going in the wrong direction, and that the app stopped tracking her. Indeed, Uber, which has declined to comment, has a list of safety tips that advises people: "Get in the right car. [32] Josephson's parents have worked with lawmakers to advocate for policies that enhance safety for ride-share passengers Several laws have been enacted since Josephson's death. One of Rowlands strikes went completely through her right hand, as she likely used it to protect herself. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/vpa5YKqC1J, Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) July 26, 2021. Former USC student Samantha Josephson thought she was getting into the Uber she booked in March of 2019. University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson's death was caused by "multiple sharp force injuries," law enforcement officials said Monday. Emailus. Her body was then found in a field[17] in the town of New Zion in Clarendon County by turkey hunters[21] fourteen hours after the kidnapping. Instead, police say, it was driven by her killer. During the sentencing, her devastated mom Marci Josephson said: Her dreams were my dreams, and her death was my death. . Mr. Rowlands shirt was also found in the bag. I just wish the state would have done more in finding out who the actual person was, instead of being satisfied with detaining me and proving my guilt., Mr. Rowlands mother tried to tell Judge Newman that her son was innocent, but he cut her off. The temple is where Samantha Josephson became a Bat Mitzvah. 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. 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. The child safety lock was on. 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. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday. 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. States that do not comply would be penalized by losing 1% of federal highway funding. [39] The law was signed by Governor Roy Cooper in August 2019. And it was two days after Samantha got into the wrong car allegedly Rowland's vehicle that she mistakenly thought was her Uber ride. The sentencing hearing was held immediately after the verdict. February 8, 2022 by Juliane Cunha. 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. The alleged victim was carjacked by two men while at a traffic light in October 2018. All roads led to you, he told Mr. Rowland. A forensic scientist testified Friday that DNA found under the fingernails of the South Carolina man accused of killing New Jersey native Samantha Josephson, who mistook his car for her Uber ride . Could UFCs Dana White Face Charges for Slapping Wife in Drunken Argument? According to his Facebook page he attended South Carolina State University in 2017, but the schools chief of staff in 2019 confirmed he was not a student there at the time of Samanthas killing. No one mentioned his motive during the trial. Forensic investigators determined that she was killed in the car. Additionally, it provides $500,000 in grants for colleges to educate students about ride-share safety and creates a study commission to examine ways to improve ride-share safety. [25] In addition to Josephsons murder, Rowland is alleged to have sold items that were stolen from a woman during a kidnapping in Columbia. Surprisingly, Mr. Rowlands Facebook page is still online, and gives us clues about his motive. . If were not supposed to pay attention to what the scientists tell us, then why are we sending stuff to science? [48] [49], Josephson was awarded a posthumous political science degree in May 2019 at what would have been her graduation ceremony. [26][18], On July 27, 2021, Rowland was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Josephson and of possessing a weapon during a violent crime after the jury deliberated for a little over an hour. The burial will follow at Perrineville Cemetery, 755 Perrineville Rd., in Perrineville. At about 2:00 am she decided to leave the Bird Dog bar and ordered an Uber. After all these years, why it is that we even bother with DNA testing? she asked. 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. The $35 a college student has in her bank account? [10] She attended the University of South Carolina (USC), where she majored in political science. Her death has inspired action from state lawmakers, who filed legislation soon after her killing requiring all ride-share vehicles to display an illuminated sign featuring their company's name. Josephsons roommates called him the next morning, saying she had not come home, so he drove two hours to Columbia to look for her. Samantha Josephson's last known image, as she is waiting for her Uber. [4] A trial began on July 20, 2021. [16] An autopsy showed that she died of multiple sharp force injuries. The Clarendon County Coroner on Monday released a cause for Josephson of death as multiple sharp force injuries for Samantha Josephson following an autopsy. During the trial, his girlfriend said he described the area where he picked up Josephson as lit, meaning that it was active and exciting. No outright motive for the killing was suggested by prosecutors during the course of Rowland's trial but Judge Newman said the killer was "totally heartless". Over and over and over, fighting for her life, locked in his car." Rowland was ultimately charged with murder, kidnapping, and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime. Samantha Josephson had just a little more than a tablespoon of blood in her body after the attack, making it difficult for workers at her autopsy to collect enough blood for routine testing.. 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. Many stab wounds to her ear, lower back, side, arms, elbows, and leg, including a 7cm deep wound on her thigh, which was the deepest. As reported by The U.S. Sun, Rowland maintained his innocence and has never accepted any responsibility for Josephson's kidnapping or death. Probably, we are not supposed to know. Samantha Josephson was born in Princeton, but grew up in Robbinsville, New Jersey. New Boutique Fitness Club To Open Soon In Princeton, Princeton Appoints Justin Lesko As Municipal Planning Director, 'Mutts' Creator Will Be At Princeton's Bayard Rustin Center Saturday, Estate Planning - Important Changes in 2023, Berkeley College Be Creative Career Seminar - Graphic Design, Interior Design, 3D Visualization, Berkeley College Master of Business Administration Information Session, Professional Kitchen Cabinet Door & Drawer Replacement. If the races had been reversed, this case would have been a huge media sensation and there would have been immediate accusations of racism. The media would have rooted mercilessly through the killers background, looking for evidence. "Last-minute congressional blitz clears bill named for N.J. woman killed by fake Uber driver". Miss Howard noticed that the car smelled of chlorine, and she saw a bottle of bleach in the car. 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