The car had child safety locks on the backdoors of the car, making escape impossible. A child’s baby seat was also in the back of the car.
Posted on 03/30/2019 4:50:55 PM PDT by Gamecock
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.
Read on another board posts by people familiar with the area that there are lots of cameras at the place she disappeared. Some even considered that place as safe.
Just more of the low-profile race war - I don’t care how they explain it.
If a black woman accidentally got into my car, the last thing that would occur to me is to kill her. It would be the last thing to occur to me if ANYONE got in my car unless they seemed to do it deliberately (to steal the car).
Very sad; another extended family now “knows”...
I don’t believe all millenials are totally clueless about the race war; it just seems that those who grow up completely removed from the reality of it (specifically geographically) are more naïve.
Here in NJ, where blacks are roughly proportionate to their population nationwide, these cases are rare because most people (on both sides) “know”. The state is very segregated, and as elsewhere, any attempt to integrate neighborhoods by judicial decree just ends up creating another black/brown area with no white people (as busing did many years ago; while South Boston was in the headlines for it, they tried it here in NJ as well).
The car had child safety locks on the backdoors of the car, making escape impossible. A child’s baby seat was also in the back of the car.
I have a serious problem why a young lady ‘today’ would risk standing by herself on a corner at 2Am ..near a bar no less. Then get into a vehicle with a guy she didn’t know. Talk about a “target”....
Well his car wasn’t exactly difficult to find when your out riding around....and her blood and cell phone is in the back seat.
.....”my guess: after 2am, drunk, careless and and wanting to get home”...
Yes.
Well he won’t be proud of anything for a very long time.....
“Some even considered that place as safe.”
No place on Earth with a road that connects somewhere with the ‘hood, is safe.
****Police also said that if you’ve experienced someone offering you a ride or pretending to be Uber, to report it to them.*****
Or, if you are approached by a white, female teenager with an 8 yr. old sister asking for a ride - don’t be fooled. As a senior single female, this happened to me in SC. After a long harrowing ride, for which she had no address, she borrowed my cell phone (which she disabled). When I stopped the car, she pulled out a knife (wrapped in paper towel and hidden in her sleeve) and attacked me. I fought her off. She and her sister got out and I drove off. Had no idea where I was - but followed the signs and got my phone fixed so I could call the police. Still in shock!!!
I know that area well, there are cameras everywhere. And those cameras provide little safety against stupid criminals.
It is safe enough during the day and early evening, but late into the night it becomes a free fire zone. Why? It borders on less savory neighborhoods.
It never even made the news.
In fact, it's rare this stuff makes the news--the only way to stay up on it is through Facebook groups or neighborhood apps, etc.
Video shows exactly her steps to his car....he didn’t even park before she was at the door and she didn’t even look at who was driving.....lots of people around....lots of lights...... (Scroll down for video)
Photos taken from live video
She must have been impaired. I see the license plate, the make of the car and a photo of the driver when I order an Uber. I also ask the driver to say my name. There’s no way to get into the wrong car unless you aren’t paying attention.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.