Carol Gable
Appearances
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
It was obvious that once she was arrested, Susan Smith did not have an opportunity to talk about what had happened. As time went on, I really wanted to interview her. I thought that she was the center of one of the biggest stories in America, but we didn't know a lot about her. So when you write her, did you expect to hear back? No. I mean, I didn't have any expectations at all.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
But I wrote her and explained that I had actually been in union the entire week the boys were missing and I had covered the trial. And I was surprised she wrote back.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
Total remorse. Consistent remorse. People ask me this question a lot, and it's almost like... Once you say and you show you're remorseful, what else can you say?
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
I think what we're giving is understanding, context, depth, and a bit more meaning. Not an excuse. It's not an excuse, but it's more information.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
The Carlisle story was a made-up story that Susan told investigators before she confessed, after Sheriff Wells said, you couldn't have been in Monarch, which is a part of Union, because the traffic light situation you report can't happen.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
Yes, it was. Yes, it was. And her son is the one who actually called 911. But everything happened near that lake.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
They did get divorced. I don't know the time frame, but fairly soon after they did get divorced.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
Of course, anyone in that town would have taken those boys. In her mind, and she has said this to me, in her mind, at that moment, she could not leave her boys like her dad left her when he committed suicide.
Dateline NBC
Talking Dateline: Return to the Lake
Well, you can't help but think about that, you know, what might have been. And it's really hard. And that's why this is a very searing, searing story.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
What I was hoping to do is to get some sense of her point of view. We heard lots about her. Many, many people are willing to talk about her.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
I am not a horrible person, Carol. I'm a human being who made a horrible decision. I grieve daily for my boys.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
I cannot remember a time when I did not suffer from depression. Everyone has a breaking point but not everyone reaches theirs. I'm not trying to offer excuses for what happened but neither am I this mean person who harmed her children because she wanted to be with a man who didn't want children.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
When they found me, there was a big puddle of blood and I'd written with my blood, let me die. Carol, I truly did want to die at that moment.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
Right now, I'm working in the school as a tutor. I teach math to students trying to get their GED.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
Oh, sure. I mean, you always have to consider that as a possibility. But over time, she always said the same things. And then change. The facts then change.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
I'd never felt so completely alone as I did that night. I bit all my fingernails off. When I got to the lake, that's when it hit me how I was going to die. Michael and Alex were asleep.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
I never saw the car go into the lake. When I reached the top of the hill, I stopped and looked back, and all I could see was a dark lake. You'd never have thought that two little boys had just drowned at their mother's hand.