At approximately 3 a.m. on March 30, WYFF4 reported authorities pulled over a man driving a black Impala for a routine traffic stop. [22][26][20], Rowland was charged with kidnapping, murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. There was an envelope in the trash, with Josephsons blood on it, and these words, in Mr. Rowlands handwriting: Duck tape tape whole body/gloves/All black/Flip phone/Gasoline/Matches.. She was never able to get back outdue to the child locks already in place, according to prosecutor Bryon Gipson's opening statement . Emailus. "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. 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. [3], Rowland was arrested the next day, and charged with kidnapping and murdering Josephson. Rowlands defense attorneys called no witnesses and Rowland did not testify. [17][9][18][19][20] Investigators believe Rowland dragged Josephsons body to the New Zion field where she would later be discovered. Murder victim Samantha Josephson, 21, was stabbed around 120 times in her horrific March 2019 death, according to Monday testimony from a forensic pathologist. 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 actions were senseless vile and unacceptalbe," Marci continued. [47] On December 28, 2022, federal legislation authorizing a study of ride-sharing safety practices, with passage by the US House and Senate, was sent to President Biden's desk. [37], Josephsons murder prompted lawmakers in North Carolina to propose the Passenger Protection Act. He sentenced Nathaniel Rowland to life in prison. "For whoever asked me for leniency, that's not part of my DNA," said Judge Newman. After she came home from work, Miss Howard saw Mr. Rowland wearing blue surgical gloves and cleaning his car with wipes. He told the court: "I have dealt with the heartless and you fall into that category, without any remorse whatsoever. Instead, I went to Colombia to gather her belongings. The double-bladed multi-tool had both Mr. Rowlands and Samantha Josephsons DNA on it. It was almost as if the team had decided the case was hopeless, so the black woman might as well get some experience. Mr. Rowlands defense had weak closing arguments. The sheet over the front seat was surely there to catch blood. A stab wound behind her ear, through her skull, and into her brain. But the victims DNA was allegedly found under Rowlands fingernails. [15][7][16], Using a two-bladed knife, Rowland proceeded to inflict roughly 120 stab wounds upon Josephson. Samantha Josephson, from Robinsville, New Jersey, was a student at the University of South Carolina where she majored in political science. He said the woman who vanished from Columbia, S.C., on March 29, 2019, after getting into a car she'd mistaken for her Uber ride lost so much blood in the fatal attack, he had difficulty collecting a blood sample from her body. Mr. Rowlands trial, which brought to light many details of the murder, began on July 19 and ended on July 27. He noticed that she was going in the wrong direction, and that the app stopped tracking her. She suffered more than 120 stab wounds and bled to death. 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 . [17] The car also contained Josephson's phone[25] as well as a large amount[16] of her blood, which was in the passenger seat and in the trunk. A noon funeral was set for Wednesday at Congregation Beth Chaim, 329 Village Road East in the Princeton Junction section of West Windsor. This bone sits at the back of the tongue. [41], Josephson's parents have worked with lawmakers in the United States Congress to craft a federal law to enhance ride-share safety. New Jersey native Samantha Josephson, 21, was killed by Nathaniel Rowland after she mistakenly got into his car after a night of drinking in Columbia in 2019, prosecutors told the jury, according . At about 2:00 am she decided to leave the Bird Dog bar and ordered an Uber. I suspect he was looking for a white woman and that he did plan to rape her. Legislation at the federal level is pending. Note the black fist. 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.. The man was almost immediately captured and identified as 24-year-old Nathaniel David Rowland. How the Samantha Josephson death investigation unfolded April 02, 2019 11:59 AM Lucas Daprile. [50] Her diploma and college possessions were given to her mother. The Tragic Murder Of Samantha Josephson Explained. In her victim impact statement, Marci Josephson, the victims mother said, Her dreams were my dreams, and her death was my death. Seymour Josephson, the father of murder victim Samantha, explained how he is ensuring rideshare safety through a mobile app to prevent the tragic death of his daughter from happening to someone else. 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. She had gotten into a car thinking it was her Uber, police said.. Her father's name is Seymour Josephson and her mother's name is Marci Josephson. He was charged with kidnapping, murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime in April 2019. 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. Markings on her face were consistent with being dragged. Asked by news reporters what Rowland's motive might have been, top prosecutor Byron Gipson said: "It was absolutely a random act of violence. Before you get in the car, check that license plate, driver photo, and driver name all match what's listed in the app.". 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. She left a bar at 2am and had ordered an Uber home, and mistakenly got into Rowlands car thinking it was her ride. The act also introduced criminal charges and penalties for people who pose as rideshare drivers. She attended the University of South Carolina where she majored in political science. Seymour and his family say they're going to work to let people know about ride-share service safety, saying they don't want anything like what happened to Samantha to happen to anyone else. What happened to Samantha Josephson? Dr. Thomas Beaver detailed the many injuries the victim sustained, allegedly at the hands of Nathaniel David Rowland, 27. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Ewing Township, NJ SAMANTHA JOSEPHSON OBITUARY Samantha L. Josephson ROBBINSVILLE Samantha L. Josephson, 21, passed away Friday March 29, 2019. Her shirt, which was orange, was so soaked with blood that it looked red. A stab wound that damaged the hyoid bone in her neck. Rowland is accused of kidnapping and killing University of South Carolina. A jury unanimously found him guilty of Samantha's murder after an hour-long deliberation. He knew the route from the Bird Dog to her home; he had taken it many times himself. Rowland was sentenced to life in prison on July 27, 2021. Thats one of those questions Mr. Rowland would have to answer at some point in time.. Over and over and over, fighting for her life, locked in his car." [6][7][8], The killing attracted national attention and led to discussion about the dangers of ridesharing and the importance of ensuring that a rideshare car is being driven by a registered driver prior to entering. The 21-year-old's body was found with over 100 violent stab wounds in a remote field . We've seen crime scene and autopsy pictures. They haven't saidwhy he allegedlyreturned to the Five Points area? The Wrong Car: Shocking Details Of Samantha Josephson's Alleged Murder. In a virtual hearing, family members for both Josephson and Rowland delivered statements in front of Judge DeAndrea Benjamin. Decide for yourself what the target means. Rowland faces up to life in prison if convicted. . In March 2019, Samantha Josephson, a white 21-year-old from New Jersey, was finishing her senior year at the University of South Carolina. The page had sexual images and references to sex. Instead, Rowland kidnapped and murdered Josephson, leaving her body in Clarendon County, South Carolina, prosecutors say. His Impala jumps a curb to pull into an empty handicapped space next to Josephson. Police have not said what was used to cause the wounds. 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. A comment since removed that was posted to Mr. Rowlands Facebook page after his arrest, says as much. Could UFCs Dana White Face Charges for Slapping Wife in Drunken Argument? 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. [28], On July 20, 2021, Rowland's trial began. Here is the recording of Marci as she spoke at the hearing; the story continues below the video: The Robbinsville family did it as they also planned a funeral that will be held on Wednesday at 12 p.m., with services at Congregation Beth Chaim at 329 Village Rd. "Her dream was my dream and her death was my death," Samantha's mom Marci Josephson told the judge. 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. Are new stores coming to Quaker Bridge Mall in NJ? [51], The Township of Robbinsville built a patio and rock garden, dedicating the landmarks to Josephson.[32]. She bled profusely, ultimately dying within 10-20 minutes, according to the pathologist who conducted an autopsy on her body. 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? The judge said the case was the "most severe" murder he had seen in court before. Samantha Josephson was separated at some point during the night from her friends in a heavily trafficked area of town. 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. University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson's death was caused by "multiple sharp force injuries," law enforcement officials said Monday. East in Princeton Junction. The toe straps were broken off, but her sandals were still attached to her ankles. 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