Permanent Memorial to Honor Drowned Boys Could Rise at Union Lake
Plans for a permanent memorial at Union Lake to honor 3 year old Michael and 14 month old Alex Smith move forward after Judge blocked earlier construction over jury prejudice concerns. Local resident Paula Righburg has already built a memorial with a likeness, a poem and a solar angel. state approval from Natural Resources is pending.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
UNION
John D. Long Lake
Michael
Alex Smith
Susan Smith
Ms Smith
William Howard
Ms. Smith
Alex
Brances
Lexington
Paula Richburg
David Smith
State Natural Resources Department
Susan Smith Life Saved Her From Death Sentence
Jurors sentenced Susan Smith to life in prison with a minimum 30 years after finding abuse and life events shaped her actions when she drowned her two sons. Juror Robbie Christian noted life experiences influenced the panel and that initial calls for death faded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Susan Smith
UNION
Robbie Christian
Ms. Smith
Memorial at the lake shore honors two boys
Dozens visit the water edge daily to pay tribute to Michael and Alex. Flowers toys and poems once littering the banks are now in a single area by the boat ramp near a wooden marker with the boys pictured. Preliminary plans for a permanent memorial included a $15000 landscaping project surrounding two monuments a Mrs Richburg memorial and a black granite marker. She raised $4000 for an enclosed playground but said funds will instead be donated to the town YMCA children’s recreation facility after parents raised concerns about bringing children to the site.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Michael
Alex
YMCA
Runaway Uncle Nabbed Over Florida Kidnapping Case
Darling ton grocery workers spotted Martin 57 and his 15 year old niece Amanda Allen in a Sun tabloid story about a Florida boating disappearance. Police say Martin is in custody on a fugitive charge and Amanda Allen was found safe with her father in Effingham after weeks apart. Allen’s mother disputes the romance claim and notes the age gap and manipulation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Darlington
Russell Marlin
Darlington Grocery
Martin
Phyllis Freeman
Sun
Amanda Allen
Florida
Freeman
Florence
Tampa Fla
Allen
Carl
Carolinas
Darlington County Detention Center
Orange County
Fla
Mark Luce
Darlington County
Ms. Allen
Effingham
Luce
Also Mentioned on This Page
Union Lake
Reah Robinson
Raven
Leroy Belue
Christian
Deborah Benvenuti
Ms.Smith
Richburg’s
Lake Shore
Edgefield
Edgefield Woods
Rick Herring
Tip
Sandra
Marley
Etherredge Center
Aimee Bacot Lindler
East Pine Log Road
Han
Lee
Dlor
Hanes
White and Haner
Corres
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