By Katie McLaughlin, Court TV
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina jury has found Nathaniel Rowland guilty of all charges related to the death of 21-year-old college senior Samantha Josephson.
Immediately after the verdict was read, the judge began sentencing proceedings. Family members were given the opportunity to make impact statements prior to the judge imposing his sentence. Josephson’s mother spoke first.
ORIGINAL STORY:
COLUMBIA, S.C. — On March 29, 2019, 21-year-old Samantha Josephson spent time with friends in the Five Points area of downtown Columbia, S.C. When the evening wound down, Josephson got into a vehicle she believed was her Uber. The University of South Carolina senior disappeared that night.
Josephson’s body was discovered the following afternoon, and her alleged killer now faces trial. 27-year-old Nathaniel Rowland is charged with murder and kidnapping. He denies the charges.
Surveillance footage from a local business shows Josephson getting into a black sedan around 2:00 a.m. When her roommates began to panic because she hadn’t come home, Josephson’s boyfriend tracked her phone as it traveled away from Columbia.
About 14 hours later, turkey hunters found Josephson’s body in a wooded area 65 miles east of Columbia. She had been stabbed over 30 times, and her remains had to be positively identified by DNA analysis.
Nathaniel Rowlands, Columbia Police Department
Rowland was arrested on March 30, 2019. He had reportedly returned to Five Points in the same vehicle — a black Chevrolet Impala that matched the description of the car Josephson had gotten into. He was apprehended after a brief foot chase.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE INDICTMENT
A motive is unclear, although it was revealed during Rowland’s June 2020 bond hearing that Josephson’s debit card was used twice following her disappearance, and someone attempted to sell her cell phone to a store for $300.
It was revealed at that same bond hearing that blood matching Josephson’s DNA was found in Rowland’s Impala, according to the Associated Press. Law enforcement also found cleaning products and hair in the vehicle. Upon inspection, authorities discovered the vehicle’s child locks were activated, and Josephson likely was trapped in the car.
Richland County, S.C. Judge DeAndrea G. Benjamin denied Rowland’s request for bond on the grounds that he could be considered a danger to society, the Associated Press reported.
Rowland, who is from New Zion in Clarendon County, S.C., has been held in the Richland County jail since his 2019 arrest. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison without parole.
Josephson’s parents, Seymour and Marci Josephson, have spearheaded efforts to ensure ride-sharing companies work to help passengers confirm exactly who is picking them up. Since Josephson’s murder, identification numbers have been added to rideshare apps that match riders to the correct drivers.
In South Carolina, as well as many other states, it is now a legal requirement that license plate numbers be displayed on the windshields of rideshare vehicles, such as Uber and Lyft. Josephson’s parents also started the #WhatsMyName movement, which encourages passengers to ask their drivers what their names are so that they are correctly matched.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 6 – 7/27/21
- Both sides deliver closing arguments:
- Verdict – Jury finds Nathaniel Rowland guilty as charged
- Impact statements from victim’s family members & boyfriend
- Statements from Nathaniel Rowland’s parents
- Rowland maintains his innocence critical of prosecutors for focusing on him
- Judge sentences Rowland to life in prison
- WATCH: 7/27/21 Mistaken Rideshare Murder Trial: Day 6
DAY 5 – 7/26/21
- State of South Carolina rests after showing jurors a mash of the defendant’s car circling the five points area repeatedly before stopping to let Samantha Josephson into his car.
- Medical Examiner testifies that Josephson was alive for most of the more than 100 stab wounds she suffered before finally succumbing to blood loss.
- Defendant declines to testify – both Defense and State rest
- WATCH: 7/26/21 Mistaken Rideshare Murder Trial: Day 5
DAY 4 – 7/23/21
- Defendant’s ex-girlfriend testified that the defendant used the multi-purpose tool often.
- State DNA expert says victim’s blood on blade of suspected murder weapon (multi-purpose tool) Defendants DNA on handle. Defense on cross suggests tool was in his car not unusual to find his DNA.
- Circumstantial evidence under the victim’s fingernails does not include the defendant’s DNA.
- Defense = No defendant DNA on victim’s body.
- Prosecutors = No defendant DNA because of what he was wearing – gloves/heavy jacket.
- Surveillance video capturing alleged defendant at ATM – where victim’s card was attempted multiple times.
- Victims and defendants’ phones were tracked to the same areas March 28-29.
- WATCH: 7/23/21 Mistaken Rideshare Murder Trial: Day 4
DAY 3 – 7/22/21
- Video of the defendant at a cell phone store trying to sell Samantha Josephson’s phone
- Video of blood stained items, including suspected murder weapon, and a child’s shoes
- Video of Samantha Josephson’s mangled clothes and blood stained clothes
- WATCH: 7/22/21 Mistaken Rideshare Murder Trial: Day 3
DAY 2 – 7/21/21
- Testimony from Special Agent Todd Schenk on both crime scenes
- Testimony from ex-girlfriend Maria Howard on seeing defendant clean blood AND apparent hunting knife
- Dash Cam video and body cam video showing the defendant running from a traffic stop, as well as officers properly mirandizing him, calling EMS for medical check and taking him into custody
- WATCH: 7/21/21 Mistaken Rideshare Murder Trial: Day 2
DAY 1 – 7/20/21
- Opening Statements – the alleged mountain of circumstantial evidence against the defendant does not include his DNA
- Testimony from victim’s boyfriend and roommate
- Surveillance video capturing victim getting into suspect’s car
- WATCH: 7/20/21 Mistaken Rideshare Murder Trial: Day 1
Court TV Senior Director Grace Wong contributed to this report, originally published July 19, 2021.
