kidnapping, murder of UofSC student Samantha Josephson

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Columbia Police Departments says their investigation in the disappearance of 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson has now become a death investigation.

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said that the State Law Enforcement Division is charging Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, with kidnapping and murder in Josephson's death.

According to police, Josephson was last seen on surveillance video after 2 a.m. on Friday entering a dark vehicle, possibly a newer model Chevrolet Impala.

Police say Josephson’s body was found by two turkey hunters in a wooded area in Clarendon County on Friday afternoon near Black Bottom Road in New Zion. The suspect was previously lived in that area and hunters say the secluded spot where she was found is only known to those who are familiar in that area.

Rowland was stopped by Columbia police at 3 a.m. Saturday with an “alert” K-9 officer in a traffic stop in the black Chevy Impala two blocks from the Five Points area. When he’s asked to step out of the car, police say Rowland fled on foot and later arrested.

Police then observed the appearance of blood in the car. The State Law Enforcement Division was called to process the scene. A search warrant later uncovered blood, Josephson’s cellphone, bleach, wipes, and window cleaner, Holbrook said.

Police also said that there was a child safety seat in the back of the car and the child safety locks were enabled, so no one could be able to escape.

Josephson was first reported missing by friends who called CPD to their apartment in downtown Columbia when she did not return home after a night out. She was last seen outside of the Bird Dog Bar on Harden Street in Columbia when police said she was waiting for an Uber she ordered, but got in the wrong car.

Earlier in the day, her father, Seymour Josephson, wrote a heartbreaking Facebook post confirming his daughter's death.

"It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten," Seymour Josephson wrote. "It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this."

Samantha was a senior political science major from Robbinsville, NJ. Holbrook said Josephson's family is in South Carolina from New Jersey and have a lot of support.

“I met with the family... their hearts are broken,” Holbrook said. “There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered they have a lot of support here, but it was gut-wrenching words can’t describe what they are going through.”

Holbrook said that there is still more to the investigation that they have to uncover. Holbrook also said that there was a second person, an acquaintance, in the car during the traffic stop who is cooperating with police.

"We are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters and it's just as personal to us and will be a priority and we will be with them every step of the way until this is done," Holbrook said.

UofSC President Harris Pastides also confirmed Josepherson's death and asked for students to be more vigilant while out and about:

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write these words this morning. Our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating news of her death. Times like these leave me searching for words of wisdom and comfort. However, I take solace that the Carolina Family is here to embrace those who are hurting. As you make plans for the weekend, remember the tenets of Stand Up Carolina: look out for one another, be active bystanders,” the president’s statement continues. “Travel in groups and stay together. If you have not already done so, download the RAVE Guardian safety app, set up your profile and learn how to use it. It has been a difficult week for our extended Carolina family. The loss of a student is never easy but this has been a particularly painful few days as we have experienced loss on several of our campuses. As a family, let’s continue to pray for all the families experiencing heartache and grief this week.”

Additionally, the USC Student Health Services are holding counseling services on Sunday, March 31 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“It has been a difficult week. Please know that your safety and well-being is our number one concern,” the university and its student body president said in a statement. "Our counseling center has regular Sunday hours from 2-8 p.m. for drop-in sessions and throughout the week 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also reach 24/7 counseling services by calling 803-777-5223. If you feel in danger call 911 or the USC Police Department at 803-777-4215.

As it concluded their message on safety, the university president and the student body president said: "We care about you and are here for you. Look out for one another Gamecocks."

Police also said that if you’ve experienced someone offering you a ride or pretending to be Uber, to report it to them.

I don’t know how to paste pictures but it is the usual Nordic suspect.

Nathaniel Rowland: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

By Paul Farrell
Updated Mar 30, 2019 at 7:49pm

Nathaniel David Rowland has been arrested in relation to the murder of Samantha Josephson in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 29. Rowland was driving the black Chevy Impala that police had said Josephson was believed to have entered around the time she was last seen. Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said that Josephson’s blood was found in the Impala’s backseat as well as her cell phone in addition to a bottle of bleach.

Josephson was last seen in the Five Points neighborhood at around 2 a.m. on March 29. Surveillance footage showed that she appeared to be waiting for an Uber car ride home. The University of South Carolina student had been out with friends but had gotten separated. It was not until the following afternoon when Josephson’s friends raised the alarm that she was missing.

Josephson’s father, Seymour, confirmed his daughter’s tragic death in a Facebook post on the morning of March 30 that read, “It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten. It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this.” Her body was found around 65 miles southeast of where she was last seen.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. A Woman Was in Rowland’s Car With Him When He Was Arrested at 3 a.m. on March 30

Chief Holbrook said that Rowland was arrested in the Five Points neighborhood at around 3 a.m. on March 30. A K-9 officer had been alerted to the car. When the officer approached the car, authorities say that Rowland fled the scene on foot. He was eventually apprehended. The Post and Courier’s Andy Shain reports that there was a woman in the car with Rowland at the time of his arrest, she has been described as a friend of the suspect and she is co-operating with the investigation.

2. Chief Holbrook Said That Josephson’s Body Was Discovered in a ‘Very Rural’ Part of South Carolina

Mug shot released from @ColumbiaPDSC in now “homicide” investigation in the death of @UofSC student Samantha Josephson who went missing from Five Points. #News @WLTX pic.twitter.com/z3vpOaB7ys

— Kayland Hagwood (@KaylandWLTX) March 30, 2019

Chief Skip Holbrook told the media on March 30 Josephson’s body was found at 3:45 a.m. in a wooded area in Clarendon County, South Carolina. The chief said that Josephson’s body was discovered in a “very rural” part of Clarendon County along Black Bottom Road close to the town of New Zion. Josephson’s body was found by hunters. Authorities say that Rowland formerly lived in the area.

Rowland had the child safety locks on the back of the car, making escape from the car impossible. A child’s baby seat was also in the back of the car. Chief Holbrook said that Rowland is expected to be charged with murder and kidnapping. Online records show that Rowland was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention center on March 30. He is listed as being 24 years old and weighing 160 pounds.

3. Despite the Arrest, Authorities Are Still Urging Anybody With Any Information in the Case to Come Forward

The victim, Samantha Josephson, was 21 years old.

Samantha Josephson, a native of the Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, was 21 years old. Anybody with any information regarding the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. When Samantha was last seen, she was wearing a bright orange blouse and black jeans. Chief Holbrook said that Josephson “mistakenly got into this car thinking it was an Uber ride.”

4. Samantha Josephson Aspired to Go on to Work for the United Nations

Samantha was a senior at the University of South Carolina where she was studying political science and would have graduated in May. Next year, Samantha was due to go to law school at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Samantha’s sister, Sydney, is a student at Drexel. Samantha’s mother said in a December 2018 Facebook post that her daughter had been accepted into Rutgers Law School. In early 2018, Samantha spent a semester studying in Barcelona.

Samantha was a graduate of Robbinsville High School’s class of 2015.

On Twitter, one of Samantha’s lecturers at USC, @DanielaJlop, said that she taught the victim for two semesters and added that Samantha had wanted to become a lawyer and then go on to work for the United Nations.

5. A GoFundMe Page Has Been Set Up to Help Samantha’s Family Deal With Funeral Expenses

A police handout of a photo of Josephson on the night she disappeared.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Samantha’s family to deal with funeral expenses. That page referred to Samantha as “a beloved daughter, sister and friend that will forever be remembered in our hearts.” The page also says, “Let’s quickly come together as a community and try to help the Josephson family. Rest In Peace, Sami.” At the time of writing, the page has surpassed its goal of $5,000.

In his press conference, Chief Holbrook told the media that he had met with Josephson’s family on March 30. The chief said, “I met with the family… their hearts are broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered they have a lot of support here, but it was gut-wrenching words can’t describe what they are going through.”

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