Honestly, if you were around in the mid-90s, you remember where you were when the news broke. It was 1994, and the country was transfixed by the image of David and Susan Smith standing side-by-side, pleading for the return of their two boys, Michael and Alex. For nine days, we believed a carjacker had taken them. Then the floor dropped out. Susan confessed to rolling her car into John D. Long Lake with the toddlers still strapped inside.
The tragedy left a hole in David Smith that most people can't even fathom. He went from a young father of two to a man mourning his children while the world watched his wife go to prison for life. People have wondered for decades: what happened next? Did David Smith have more children, or did the grief keep him from ever starting over?
The short answer is yes. He did. But the journey there was anything but simple.
Life After the 1994 Tragedy
For a long time, David was just "the husband." He was the grieving man in the suit, his face etched with a mix of betrayal and pure agony. After the trial in 1995, where Susan was sentenced to life in prison, David largely retreated from the blinding glare of the paparazzi. He had to figure out how to be a person again.
Imagine trying to go to the grocery store or start a new job when everyone knows your deepest trauma. It’s heavy.
Eventually, David found a path forward through his faith. He spoke openly in the early 2000s about how he had to forgive Susan—not for her sake, but so he wouldn't be consumed by bitterness. He told Larry King in a 2003 interview that he no longer felt the need to contact her. He was moving on.
A New Chapter with Tiffany Smith
In the early 2000s, David met a woman named Tiffany. She wasn't part of the "true crime" circus. She was just a person who saw David for who he was, not just for what had happened to him. They married in 2003.
It was a massive step. When you lose children in such a horrific, public way, the idea of having more can be terrifying. There’s the guilt of "replacing" them (which you never actually do) and the raw fear that something could go wrong again.
But David and Tiffany decided to grow their family. They welcomed a daughter named Savannah. Later, they had another child.
The Reality of Being a Father Again
David hasn't kept his new family in the spotlight, and honestly, can you blame him? He’s been protective. But during the recent 2024 parole hearings for Susan Smith, David appeared with Tiffany by his side. It was a stark reminder that while he has a new life, the past is never truly "past."
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Did David Smith have more children? Yes, he has two children with his wife Tiffany.
- Savannah Smith: His daughter, who has grown up largely out of the public eye.
- A second child: David and Tiffany have another child together, though they have kept details like names and ages relatively private to maintain a sense of normalcy.
It’s a complicated dynamic. When David speaks to the media now, he often wears a pin with the photos of Michael and Alex. He has said that he talks to his current children about their brothers. They know the story. They know they have two brothers who aren't here.
The 2024 Parole Hearing: A Father's Stand
In November 2024, Susan Smith became eligible for parole for the first time after serving 30 years. David was there. He wasn't there to reconcile; he was there to make sure the board remembered Michael and Alex.
He looked different—older, of course—but that same sadness was in his eyes when he spoke. He told the board that 30 years wasn't enough. He spoke about the "free choice" Susan made. He also made it clear that while he has a new family, his role as the father of those two boys is a lifelong commitment.
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The board ultimately denied Susan's parole unanimously. For David, it was a moment of justice, though he has admitted that "justice" is a weird word when your kids are still gone.
How David Copes Today
It isn't like he just "got over it." You don't. You just build a bigger life around the grief.
- Advocacy: David has occasionally worked with victims' rights groups.
- Faith: He credits his Christian faith with keeping him grounded.
- Privacy: He rarely does interviews unless it’s specifically about keeping Susan in prison.
- Legacy: He ensures Michael and Alex are remembered as people, not just "the kids from the case."
Final Thoughts on David Smith's Family
When people ask about David Smith's children, they are usually looking for a happy ending to a horrific story. While "happy" might be a stretch, "restored" is a better fit. David Smith did have more children, and by all accounts, he is a dedicated, loving father to them.
He managed to do the impossible: he kept his heart open after it was shattered. He didn't let the actions of his ex-wife dictate whether or not he would ever experience the joy of fatherhood again.
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If you are following this story or looking into the history of the case, the best way to honor the situation is to remember the names of the victims: Michael Daniel Smith and Alexander Tyler Smith. Their father certainly hasn't forgotten them, even as he raises the next generation of his family.
Next Steps for Readers:
If you're interested in the legal aspects of this case, you can look up the South Carolina Department of Corrections records for Susan Smith's future parole eligibility, which occurs every two years now that her initial 30-year term is served. You might also want to read David Smith’s book, Beyond All Reason, which he wrote in the 90s to process the initial trauma. It offers a raw look at his mindset before he found the peace he seems to have today.