Tommy Pope
Appearances
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
I felt like Susan got treated differently than anyone else would in a similar situation. And I was determined from a justice standpoint not to let that happen. Why do you think she was treated differently? I think the problem was Susan reminded people, and I say people, us jurors, law enforcement, She could have been your sister. She could have been your co-worker.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
What did you have to prove? So in South Carolina, I always tell people a death penalty is like a murder plus, and it's a two-part trial. First part is about guilt. The second part, if you're successful on guilt, is the penalty.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
What made her kill those boys was a selfish desire, a delusional desire, but a selfish desire to be with another man.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
You say, well, why wouldn't she just give away the kids? If you give away the kids, you're a bad mother. But if the carjacker takes your kids, you're a victim. And if you're a victim, you're more likely that Tom Finley's going to come and rescue you.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
I always tell people if she'd shown up at the house wet, injured, you know, from diving out of the car, if she'd gone straight to that house and said, I've done a horrible thing, you and I'd probably never be talking about it today. But she fabricated that story and put that car in the lake...
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
You know, as it goes down, and the water comes through the vents and the floorboard, and it's coming up, and it's coming toward that camera, and ultimately it covers the camera, which, I mean, even describing it makes it hard to, you know, breathe almost.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
The judge decided to give an involuntary manslaughter instruction, too, which suddenly took you from murder to like five year penalty or something. And so that was a little nervous time going to the jury in that first phase. The courtroom was on pins and needles.
Dateline NBC
Return to the Lake
It's stressful waiting. You know, you run through your mind, would I do this different? Would I do that different? But you have to kind of let that go and just accept what comes.