Rowland faces up to life in prison if convicted. Columbia, South Carolina police said Josephson got into a black Chevrolet Impala she thought was her Uber ride early Friday morning after leaving the Bird Dog bar in the city's Five Points area. One of Rowland's strikes went completely through her right hand, as she likely used it to protect herself. South Carolina representative Seth Rose in a tweet took to heart the message from Samantha's father Seymour that he is making rideshare safety part of his mission inlife. She had planned to go to the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in Philadelphia after her graduation. East in Princeton Junction. Beaver said that Josephson also sustained wounds to her head, and had defensive-type injuries to a palmnamely, two parallel stab wounds that went through her hand. My guess and its only a guess is that Mr. Rowland wanted to humiliate, rape, and kill a white woman. She had stab wounds from head to toe. None," Seymour said in the CBS3 video shown below. They called the police. [2], Josephson, a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, studied abroad in Barcelona and visited Madrid and Paris during her time at USC. Born in Princeton, Samantha was a student. Every speck of evidence led to you. The judge added that this was the most severe murder he had seen, and that leniency was not part of his DNA. 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. "Her dream was my dream and her death was my death," Samantha's mom Marci Josephson told the judge. A man was arrested on murder and kidnapping charges, and an autopsy showed that she died from multiple sharp injuries. She was never able to get back outdue to the child locks already in place, according to prosecutor Bryon Gipson's opening statement . "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.". Maam, Im not going to hear any claims of innocence, he said. They reportedly found Samantha Josephson's cell phone, towels, cleaning products, and "a large amount" of what was later confirmed to be Samantha Josephson's blood. (Source: Handout/WACH via FOX Edge) Gipson said . According to the news release, an. He was not charged with a hate crime, nor was he charged with rape. The bill will be named the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act. ", Marci then implored the court to keep Rowland in jail, and that he "should never be given the right to walk free again.". Josephson's parents also established the What's My Name foundation, which raises awareness about rideshare safety and encourages providers to enact policies that help riders ensure they are getting into the right car. A stab wound that damaged the hyoid bone in her neck. Born in Princeton, Samantha graduated from Robbinsville High School in 2015. USC also asked students to pledge use caution when using ridesharing services by making sure any vehicles picking them up match the descriptions given in the services' app, and by asking for the drivers' names. That probably happened when she was dragged by her feet to where she was dumped. Prosecutors did not choose to seek the death penalty. Inside the vehicle, police found a container of liquid bleach, germicidal wipes, and window cleaner. Asked by news reporters what Rowland's motive might have been, top prosecutor Byron Gipson said: "It was absolutely a random act of violence. On the GoFundMe page, fellow Robbinsville classmates and friends expressed their shock. His Impala jumps a curb to pull into an empty handicapped space next to Josephson. Rowland had one past felony arrest in South Carolina from October 2018 for obtaining a signature or property under false pretenses, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. The South Carolina student mistakenly got into the back seat of Nathaniel Rowland's Black Impala, believing it was her Uber driver. First to testify Wednesday was a turkey . The sentencing hearing was held immediately after the verdict. "His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions created a hole in the universe, a hole in our universe, and we see the unimaginable ripple affect her world," she said in the WIS recording. She attended the University of South Carolina (USC), where she majored in political science.Josephson, who was a senior in college at the time of her death, planned on graduating in 2019, and attending Drexel University School of Law. Instead of the seemingly competent white woman who gave the opening statement, a black woman handled the close. On Monday, the fifth day of testimony in the kidnapping and murder trial of 27-year-old Nathaniel Rowland ended with both the state and defense resting clearing the way for the presentation of closing arguments today. RM T29H53 - Columbia, South Carolina USA - March 31, 2019: University of South Carolina students mourn the death of their slain fellow Gamecock Samantha Josephson during a candlelight vigil held in her honor. Probably, we are not supposed to know. 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. [24], On June 9, 2020, Nathaniel Rowland was denied bond. 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. 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. She asked if he had hit a dog. She asked where her visor was, and he replied, In the country., He told her that it had blood on it. In the dark, she probably couldnt tell them apart. Josephson had spent the night before her death in the Five Points district in downtown Columbia with friends. [emailprotected]. If were not supposed to pay attention to what the scientists tell us, then why are we sending stuff to science? She said that riding in a car with blood in it does not make you a murderer, and that if it did, Mr. Rowlands girlfriend should have been charged. The U.S. Sun reports authorities later found a knife, which possibly belonged to Rowland, covered in Samantha Josephson's blood. After less than two hours of deliberation, the jury found Nathaniel Rowland guilty of all three charges. Markings on her face were consistent with being dragged. NJ judge orders recount in Trenton City Council runoff won by 1 vote, Bed Bath & Beyond close to bankruptcy: Which NJ stores are left, Mercer County, NJ hiking trails closed for hunting on these days, 4th person sentenced to prison for violent Trenton, NJ riot, Robber off the streets forever after shooting NJ woman in neck and head, Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and EEO Report. Police concluded that Mr. Rowland had used this feature to trap his victim, because Josephson would not have been able to open the rear doors or windows. Victim. Many posts include a white bunny, such as this selfie taken in his car. Perhaps most importantly: We don't know what allegedly prompted Rowland to attack Josephson so violently. The judge who sentenced Rowland said: She obviously put up an amazing fight against you and left a sufficient trail for the jury to see what you did.. "What we have learned is that you cannot, men or women, you guys have to travel together," Seymour Josephson said at a vigil at USC for his daughter. Mr. Rowland left home at about midnight. Dr. Thomas Beaver detailed the many injuries the victim sustained, allegedly at the hands of Nathaniel David Rowland, 27. Note the black fist. April 2, 2019 Examined May 03 4:31 13:00 11:16 11:44 13:58 May 25 11:45 7:42 7:31 8:01 7:41 5:33 Oct 30 The video shows Samantha Josephson, 21, on her phone near a crowd gathered outside a bar in Columbia's Five Points entertainment district at around 2 a.m. Friday. Decide for yourself what the target means. Samantha went missing for hours before she was found more than 60 miles away, in Clarendon County, about 40 feet off a dirt road, police said. Uber added new safety features to the rideshare app after the killing. A stab wound that cut her carotid artery and made her bleed out. [41], Josephson's parents have worked with lawmakers in the United States Congress to craft a federal law to enhance ride-share safety. Township officials warn that parking will be limited at the event. The Josephson family hugged each other and cried. The murder weapon being shown to the jury. Over and over and over, fighting for her life, locked in his car." Mr. Rowland was sitting in his car alone when police found his vehicle at about 2:30 a.m. Josephsons bare footprint was on the cars rear window, a sign that she had tried to kick her way out. . University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson's death was caused by "multiple sharp force injuries," law enforcement officials said Monday. He said, Mind your business.. He testified that the average human has over a gallon of blood in his body, but Josephson had only two tablespoons, making it hard to get a large enough sample even for toxicology tests. The Tragic Murder Of Samantha Josephson Explained. Josephsons roommate testified in court that she began to worry about her friend when she learned Josephson had not showed up at work that day. 803-771-8483. She would have graduated in June and planned to attend Drexel University School of Law. Instead, Rowland kidnapped and murdered Josephson, leaving her body in Clarendon County, South Carolina, prosecutors say. She was last seen getting into a car at approximately 2 a.m. on March 29. "We thought we would be here to see his evil face," Marci said in the WIS recording. "I close my eyes and I feel what she endured at [Rowland's} hands 120 times. Mr. Rowland said, I know Im innocent, but I guess what I know, what I think really doesnt matter. 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 . None of Rowlands DNA was found on Josephsons defensive wounds, said attorney Alicia Goode. She earned a full scholarship to Drexel University, as . A noon funeral was set for Wednesday at Congregation Beth Chaim, 329 Village Road East in the Princeton Junction section of West Windsor. 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