He might have known that ride-share services are popular with students who get so drunk they cant drive. Nathaniel Rowland used childproof locks to prevent Josephson from leaving the vehicle and kidnapped and murdered her, leaving her body near New Zion, South Carolina 65 miles (105 km) from Columbia, where she had entered Rowland's car. No outright motive for the killing was suggested by prosecutors during the course of Rowland's trial but Judge Newman said the killer was "totally heartless". Judge Newman also said he was convinced of the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Police in Columbia, S.C. released a video of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson getting into a car she mistook for her Uber ride before her 2019 death. 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. Samantha Josephsons blood and DNA were found all over the car: the rear seat, the rear center console, the drivers side headrest, the gearshift, the seat backs, and the roof. Facebook. "He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. The violence happened after she mistakenly entered a black car early Friday that she thought was her Uber ride. [22][26][20], Rowland was charged with kidnapping, murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. He described parallel marks on the side of her face, noting they were post-mortem because they were yellow and waxy looking. [14] Josephson is buried at the Perrineville Jewish Cemetery in Perrineville, New Jersey. 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. Asked by news reporters what Rowland's motive might have been, top prosecutor Byron Gipson said: "It was absolutely a random act of violence. Josephson, who was a senior in college at the time of her death,[11] planned on graduating in 2019, and attending Drexel University School of Law. The trial is being streamed . She opens the rear, drivers-side door, says something, and gets in. Murder victim Samantha Josephson, 21, was stabbed around 120 times in her horrific March 2019 death, according to Monday testimony from a forensic pathologist. In fact, she had little more than a tablespoon of blood left. Mr. Rowland was sitting in his car alone when police found his vehicle at about 2:30 a.m. She was never seen alive again. The state announced Monday afternoon that it . A murder trial is currently underway following the tragic death of Samantha Josephson. Uber added new safety features to the rideshare app after the killing. A jury unanimously found him guilty of Samantha's murder after an hour-long deliberation. The murder of Samantha Josephson, a student at University of South Carolina, in Columbia, South Carolina, occurred on March 29, 2019. 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. The officer asked him to get out and he complied, but kept his hands in his pockets. In April 2019, Senator Anna Kaplan introduced the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act, to the New York Senate. 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. Samantha had been stabbed to death. Josephson's body was found hours after she was last seen, 65 miles away in New Zion, SC off a rural dirt road, an area police said was "known" to the man they say drove the car she entered, Nathaniel David Rowland. 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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. 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 . In May 2019, legislators in South Carolina passed the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act. "Her dream was my dream and her death was my death," Samantha's mom Marci Josephson told the judge. Mr. Rowland again said, Mind your business. She also noticed a spotted sheet, covered with blood, tied to the drivers side headrest. University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was stabbed 120 times, according to chilling testimony provided this week by the pathologist who conducted her autopsy. He took approximately 170 photographs (because of extent of injuries) and 13 x-rays (looking for pieces of knife that may have broken off and lodged in the body). But he also used it as an opportunity to warn students about ride-share services and to use them properly. The sentencing hearing was held immediately after the verdict. Mr. Rowland started running but was caught two blocks away. In the dark, she probably couldnt tell them apart. < 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. Her death has inspired action from state lawmakers, who filed legislation soon after her killing requiring all ride-share vehicles to display an illuminated sign featuring their company's name. Township officials warn that parking will be limited at the event. But the victims DNA was allegedly found under Rowlands fingernails. 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. [18], Josephson's roommates became concerned and reported her missing the day after she accidentally entered the vehicle. 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. I close my eyes, and I feel what she endured at his hands.. 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Man Convicted of Breaking into Home, Murdering 2 Kids and Woman over Facebook Post. [45][46] The federal Sami's Law was referred to several subcommittees[44] and in July 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved it. The final moments, her bare feet kicking and fighting for her life. Josephsons DNA was also collected from Rowlands fingernails. According to the news release, an. . COLUMBIA Samantha Josephson was a fighter, who tore her fingernails as she clawed her attacker before she was killed while locked in the back of a black sedan that she thought was her Uber. Mr. Rowland left home at about midnight. [26][18], On July 27, 2021, Rowland was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Josephson and of possessing a weapon during a violent crime after the jury deliberated for a little over an hour. He testified that the average human has over a gallon of blood in his body, but Josephson had only two tablespoons, making it hard to get a large enough sample even for toxicology tests. Samantha Josephson had just finished a night celebrating her impending college graduation when she made one fatal mistake. In this case, there was none of this, not even a psychiatric evaluation of the killer. Prosecutors allege that Josephson, a University of South Carolina senior from New Jersey, stepped into the defendants black Chevy Impala outside of a bar on March 29, 2019 thinking the vehicle was her Uber. Legislation at the federal level is pending. Mr. Rowlands defense had weak closing arguments. She said that riding in a car with blood in it does not make you a murderer, and that if it did, Mr. Rowlands girlfriend should have been charged. [emailprotected]. Murder victim Samantha Josephson, 21, was stabbed around 120 times in her horrific March 2019 death, according to Monday testimony from a forensic pathologist. [37], Josephsons murder prompted lawmakers in North Carolina to propose the Passenger Protection Act. The murder weapon being shown to the jury. In the year 2015, while studying Political Science, she met her boyfriend . Hours later, hunters found her body", "Family, friends remember Samantha Josephson, murdered after mistaking her killer's car for Uber", "Slain University of South Carolina student died from multiple sharp force injuries, authorities say", "Jury soon will decide whether Nathaniel Rowland kidnapped, killed Samantha Josephson", "Both sides rest in trial of man charged with killing USC student Samantha Josephson", "Expert at SC murder trial: USC student stabbed more than 100 times", "South Carolina man charged with kidnapping, killing N.J. woman bound for Drexel law school", "Suspect in USC student's killing linked to another crime", "New charge filed in kidnapping, killing of USC student Samantha Josephson", "Man convicted of killing woman who mistook his car for Uber", "Fake Uber Driver Accused Of Killing Student Linked To Another Kidnapping", "Suspect in the murder, kidnapping of Samantha Josephson denied bond", "Store owner testifies that Nathaniel Rowland tried to sell him an iPhone after Samantha Josephson's disappearance", "Nathaniel Rowland gets life in prison for murdering USC student Samantha Josephson", "About Foundation | #WHATSMYNAME FOUNDATION | Samantha Josephson", "Three words to help avoid the tragedy of mistaking a killer's car for your Uber", "Slain USC student Samantha Josephson is namesake of ride-share law proposed in US Congress", "2019-2020 Bill 4380: Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act", "Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act", "North Carolina ridesharing bill makes it to governor's desk", "NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES PASSENGER PROTECTION ACT", "After rideshare scares, NC lawmakers sign Passenger Protection Act into law", "Senator Anna M. Kaplan Introduces Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act Following Tragedy in South Carolina", "After homicide, NJ's ride-share safety bill closer to becoming national law", "H.R.3262 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Sami's Law", "House passes 'Sami's Law,' ride-share safety bill named for slain USC student Samantha Josephson", "Killing of South Carolina student who mistook car for Uber prompts rideshare-safety campaign", "University of South Carolina awards posthumous degree to Samantha Josephson, who died after getting into wrong car", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Samantha_Josephson&oldid=1132738963, This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 09:08. The sheet over the front seat was surely there to catch blood. "Last-minute congressional blitz clears bill named for N.J. woman killed by fake Uber driver". 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. During the trial, his girlfriend said he described the area where he picked up Josephson as lit, meaning that it was active and exciting. Police have not said what was used to cause the wounds. 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 asked him where he got it, and he said he had found it. [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. 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