Samantha, 21, got into Rowlands car after a night out in Columbias Five Points entertainment districtthinking it was an Uber ride that would take her back to her apartment, prosecutors said. Former USC student Samantha Josephson thought she was getting into the Uber she booked in March of 2019. [10] She attended the University of South Carolina (USC), where she majored in political science. A stab wound that cut her carotid artery and made her bleed out. 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.. [17], According to police, the area where Josephson's body was located is where Rowland recently resided. Born in Princeton, Samantha was a student at The University of South Carolina majoring in political science. The act creates a new criminal penalty for impersonating a ride-share driver and makes assaulting a ride-share driver a misdemeanor. He was not willing to pay $300, so he gave it back. 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. Surveillance video from a nearby Wendys showed Mr. Rowland in his black Impala that night. 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.. Salant, Jonathan D. (December 23, 2022). The U.S. Sun reports authorities later found a knife, which possibly belonged to Rowland, covered in Samantha Josephson's blood. And hopefully putting pressure on Uber and Lyft." She worked hard, was graduating college in may and starting law school in September.". . "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.". [Image of Samantha Josephson via Columbia Police Department], Have a tip we should know? As reported by WYFF4, Josephson got separated from her friends, and reportedly contacted Uber for a ride back to her apartment. The defendants black Chevy Impala drives by, makes a U-turn and drives by again. [17] Additionally, the child locks were activated, which police believe prevented Josephson from escaping. He has been convicted by the jury.. ", Marci then implored the court to keep Rowland in jail, and that he "should never be given the right to walk free again.". Samantha Josephson had just finished a night celebrating her impending college graduation when she made one fatal mistake. Samantha Josephson, 21, a student at the University of South Carolina, called an Uber around 2 a.m. Friday in Columbia, and was last seen getting into a black Chevy Impala, said Columbia Police . During the attack, Josephson attempted to shield herself. Refresh Your Dated Kitchen Cabinets And Save 75%, 9 NJ Hospitals Among Top 250 In New National Rankings, $3.5M For Small Businesses In Mercer Co. Miss Howard noticed that Mr. Rowland had a rose-gold iPhone, in perfect condition, which she assumed was a womans phone. 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. Pictured, Nathaniel David Rowland and USC student, Samantha Josephson Nathaniel David Rowland arrested in murder & kidnapping of USC student, Samantha Josephson who mistakenly got in car thinking it was her Uber pickup.. A man has been arrested over the murder and kidnap of a University of South Carolina student who mistakenly got into his car thinking it was her Uber after the missing woman . Instead, I went to Colombia to gather her belongings. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW:Several questions remain unanswered -- or their answers remain undisclosed to the public. Rowland was ultimately charged with murder, kidnapping, and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a 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.. His language is often obscure. He described parallel marks on the side of her face, noting they were post-mortem because they were yellow and waxy looking. According to the news release, an. 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. The alleged killer, Nathaniel David Rowland, 25, wasn't there to hear it. She left a bar at 2am and had ordered an Uber home, and mistakenly got into Rowlands car thinking it was her ride. Nothing about her identity, relationship to Rowland or circumstances has been released. . All of the evidence, each speck of the evidence not simply beyond a reasonable doubt, but as the highest standard the law requires all points to your guilt. The trial has begun of a South Carolina man accused of the 2019 killing of USC student Samantha Josephson, who prosecutors say got into his car thinking it was her Uber ride.. Nathaniel Rowland allegedly stabbed and cut the 21-year-old student more than 100 times before dumping her body in a field in Clarendon County, about 65 miles away, with wounds to her head, neck, face, upper body, leg . There was also so little blood left in 21-year-old Samantha Josephson's body 20 milliliters (1.3 tablespoons) when a body typically has at least 4 liters (1 gallon) that workers at her . The murder of Samantha Josephson, a student at University of South Carolina, in Columbia, South Carolina, occurred on March 29, 2019. In April 2019, Senator Anna Kaplan introduced the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act, to the New York Senate. As Samantha Josephson's hometown of Robbinsville prepares to remember the University of South Carolina senior with a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night, many questions surround the circumstances of her death, including the biggest: Why? Officers say Samantha Josephson, a University of South Carolina student, was killed by 24-year-old Nathaniel David Rowland after she mistakenly got into his . "Last-minute congressional blitz clears bill named for N.J. woman killed by fake Uber driver". The sentencing hearing was held immediately after the verdict. [35][36], Also in June 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Sami's Law, which requires more identification on ride-share vehicles. According to authorities, Rowland activated the child locks so that the doors could only be opened from the outside, thereby trapping Josephson inside the vehicle. [37], Josephsons murder prompted lawmakers in North Carolina to propose the Passenger Protection Act. As her boyfriend drove her to work, Miss Howard noticed dried blood on the dashboard and the back seat. Samantha's father appeared at the vigil, too, telling students: "I can't tell you how painful this is.". A man was arrested on murder and kidnapping charges, and an autopsy showed that she died from multiple sharp injuries. She would have graduated in June and planned to attend Drexel University School of Law. Hours later, the young woman was found murdered many miles away from where she was last seen. Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ, NJ WOMAN WAS KILLED: HOW TO BE SAFEST WHEN USING UBER, LYFT, NJ man kept girlfriends corpse in garbage bag for 5 months, report says, French-inspired bakery opens 2nd NJ location, Shots fired inside Wawa store in Ewing, NJ. They also wanted to let people know who Samantha was, a "bubbly, loving, kind" woman who was "full of life, a University of South Carolina senior who "had a plan. Victim. "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. 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. As reported by The U.S. Sun, Rowland maintained his innocence and has never accepted any responsibility for Josephson's kidnapping or death. During the trial, his girlfriend said he described the area where he picked up Josephson as lit, meaning that it was active and exciting. Dr. Thomas Beaverdetailed the many injuries the victim sustained, allegedly at the hands ofNathaniel David Rowland, 27. 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. The $35 a college student has in her bank account? Josephsons hyoid bone was also broken, he said. She had absolutely no chance in this. Here you see #SamanthaJosephson in orange, waiting for her Uber. The South Carolina student mistakenly . Samantha Josephson Death - Samantha Josephson Found Dead. Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina from Robbinsville, New Jersey who was set to graduate and go to law school, was found dead in March of 2019 in South Carolina +10. If were not supposed to pay attention to what the scientists tell us, then why are we sending stuff to science? 5th Circuit SolicitorByron Gipson slightlyunderestimated the total count in opening statements last Tuesday. He might have known that ride-share services are popular with students who get so drunk they cant drive. Samantha Josephson's mother, Marci Josephson, read from a paper, held by a victims advocate on one side and with her other daughter on the other. 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. 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 . Murder victim Samantha Josephson, 21, was stabbed around 120 times in her horrific March 2019 death, according to Monday testimony from a forensic pathologist. Beaver said he did not know how Josephsons knuckles were injured. The images are of black women, but there are suggestions that Mr. Rowland was interested in white women. [8], After their daughter's death, Josephson's parents established the What's My Name Foundation. During the sentencing, her devastated mom Marci Josephson said: Her dreams were my dreams, and her death was my death. 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. This bone sits at the back of the tongue. Did she fight back and send him into an uncontrollable, murderous, How-dare-this-white-bitch-fight-me? frenzy? A stab wound that damaged the hyoid bone in her neck. "Don't ever forget her name.". 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. 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. During re-direct, he said she might have hit items in the car such as the door or window. [16], When investigators searched the trash behind Rowlands girlfriends residence, they uncovered cleaning supplies and a two-bladed knife, both of which had Josephsons blood on them. Under New Grant Program, 5 New Open Houses In And Around The Princeton Area Worth A Look, Happy Summer Trails: Best Places To Hike Or Bike Around Princeton, Great Animal Shelters Around Princeton: Adopt, Volunteer Or Donate. (Source: Handout/WACH via FOX Edge) Gipson said . Beaver, who testified to a 29-year career with 10,000 autopsies, said during direct examination that DNA is not always found under fingernails. Trenton, NJ Samantha L. Josephson ROBBINSVILLE Samantha L. Josephson, 21, passed away Friday March 29, 2019. Seymour Josephson said. A phone tech from Cellular City testified that a man came to his shop that night, wanting to sell a rose gold iPhone 7 Plus for $300. Her friends, they think she's taken the Uber, so they return home; When they return to the apartment, Samantha is not there. Prosecutors also rested their case Monday after calling. One person noted she tutored her in Math and Samantha had babysat her twins. USC student Samantha Josephson (pictured) - who was murdered after getting into a fake Uber - was stabbed around 120 times and had so little blood left in her body that autopsy workers. Miss Howard drove while Mr. Rowland sat in the passenger seat, cleaning a multi-tool that had two knife blades. Are new stores coming to Quaker Bridge Mall in NJ? Instead, Rowland kidnapped and murdered Josephson, leaving her body in Clarendon County, South Carolina, prosecutors say. He faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of kidnapping and murder in the March 2019 killing of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson. . < Grammy Awards Show to Make Diversity Part of the Contract, Being White on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Annual 2023 Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day History Quiz, President Bidens Insulting Prisoner Exchange, How to Stop Blacks from Shooting Each Other. Samantha went missing for hours before she was found. Before you get in the car, check that license plate, driver photo, and driver name all match what's listed in the app.". . During the attack, Josephson attempted to shield herself. Murder victim Samantha Josephson, 21, was stabbed around 120 times in her horrific March 2019 death, according to Monday testimony from a forensic pathologist. The prosecution rested their case on Monday. His face was not clear because he pulled his jacket up to cover his nose and mouth. The case is expected to be turned over to the jury within the next day. Investigators say Samantha got into a vehicle she believed was an Uber she called for a ride home. KTLA 5 reports said the wounds were so serious that only 1.3 tablespoons of blood were left in her body when she was found. Howard also testified that she saw Rowland using bleach to clean the car, and later saw him cleaning a knife. The burial will follow at Perrineville Cemetery, 755 Perrineville Rd., in Perrineville. "I cannot fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautful girl, and steal her life away. He detailed Josephsons horrifying wounds, noting those that those would have been delivered when she was alive. "His actions were senseless vile and unacceptalbe," Marci continued. 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