GUILTY SC - Samantha Josephson, 21, Columbia, thought she was getting into Uber, 29 Mar 2019 *Arrest* #2

[girlhasnoname]

Bumping for Sami

 

[ilovechili]

Another bump for Sami.

So quiet, it amazes me how long things take sometimes and I don't always understand why.

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 15, 2019
After rideshare scares, NC lawmakers sign Passenger Protection Act into law
Police and Uber are investigating after a college student in Atlanta says her Uber driver tried to abduct her.

It's the latest case in a string of reported rideshare nightmares.

The 19-year-old, who asked not to be identified for continued fear of her life, says she's glad she was paying attention when her Uber driver picked her up Monday morning.

[...]

Police and Uber confirm they are now investigating.

[...]

The new law just signed by Governor Cooper on Friday now requires rideshare drivers to display their license plate number in the front of the car.

It also requires drivers to have an illuminated sign displaying the rideshare logo and makes it illegal -- a misdemeanor -- to impersonate a rideshare driver.

Starting December 1, if drivers don’t have their license plate number visible in the front of the car they could be fined $250.

 

[ilovechili]

When is this case ever going to see some movement? I just realized it happened in March and we are basically into September.

Bumping.

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 26, 2019
15-year-old girl escapes Uber driver who tried to kidnap her, police say
[...]

Williams picked up the girl at 11:15 p.m. on July 12 from a Sweet 16 party in Long Island. He then canceled the route to her home in Merrick and attempted to convince her to go drinking with him, prosecutors said.

[...]

Uber unveiled new safety measures in April, just over two weeks after the death of University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson, 21, who was last seen on March 29 getting into a car she thought was her Uber ride.

AUG 27, 2019
4 under-the-radar apps that can help keep you safer in Uber and Lyft rides
[...]

This year, Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina college student, was kidnapped and murdered after mistakenly getting into a car she believed to be her Uber ride.

[...]

In response, Uber launched the Campus Safety Initiative, which includes designated pickup zones on college campuses and a "Check Your Ride" push notification.

Uber competitor Lyft has also expanded safety measures this year, including in-app emergency assistance and increased license plate visibility on the app's interface.

[...]

AUG 28, 2019
Law Enforcement Officials Spread Ridesharing Safety Message To College Students
[...]

In late March of this year, Samantha Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, got into a car she thought belonged to her Uber driver. It wasn't. A man kidnapped her and killed her that night.

[...]

AL, a sophomore studying political science at NC State, says after she heard about Josephson's death, she started approaching the rideshare scene with more caution.

[...]

AL says now, whenever she gets into a car, she always checks to make sure the child locks on the doors aren't on, so she'll be able to enter and exit the car on her terms.

Jack Moorman, chief of police at NC State, says the beginning of the school year is one of the best times to share safety tips with students.

"Verify the description of the vehicle, verify the driver's identity," Moorman recommends. "That they ask the driver to recite their name before they get in the vehicle. We ask that when they're waiting for the vehicle, make sure they wait in a safe location inside a building."

[...]

 

[ilovechili]

Another 3 weeks have elapsed. Just bumping in case I miss when yet another month has gone by at which point it will have been six months...

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 1, 2019
Changes to Five Points, Uber six months after USC student's death
Monday marks six months since a USC student died after police said she got into a car she thought was her Uber ride.

Samantha Josephson was last seen alive leaving Columbia’s Five Points and her death has led to changes.

Her death led state lawmakers, ride-sharing companies and even college campuses to re-focus on safety.

Students said they now feel more secure about taking Uber and Lyft, but the memory of Josephson's death still lingers.

[...]

After tragic death of student, UofSC continues to teach rideshare safety
“I think it made us all a lot more conscious of what we are doing and how one decision can change our lives,” MB, a UofSC freshman said.

MB said UofSC Police talked about ride-share safety at orientation and in the University 101 class.

[...]

UofSC Police said they’ve taken a number of measures to make students feel safer including a designated ride-share drop-off and pickup area in the Five Points area on Santee Avenue.

[...]

 

[ilovechili]

It is awesome the safety measures and changes that have been made and the continual news of same.

However, what is with this criminal/court process? This occurred in MARCH.

Quick arrest, I think one hearing and then nothing.

Smh.

 

[PommyMommy]

SEPT 30, 2019
Six months after Samantha Josephson's death, no trial set for the man charged
[…]

I talked with Rowland's parents on Monday. They didn't want to appear on camera, but maintain their son is innocent and say he's told them the same thing.

WACH FOX News talked with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office Monday to find out when a trial date will be set. We were told the case is still pending and they can’t comment any further.

NOV 16, 2019
Grieving father of slain USC student works for laws to improve ride-hiring safety
[…]

“People do move on. I will never move on,” said the father of the University of South Carolina senior Samantha Josephson, who was kidnapped and slain in March after getting into a car she thought was her Uber ride in Columbia’s busy Five Points district.

“I will move forward.”

[…]

He is pleased three states, including South Carolina, have passed laws in the wake of his daughter’s horrifying death that require services like Uber and Lyft to help riders identify their assigned drivers.

[…]

“We do appreciate what they did. It’s great, it’s nice, and it’s not enough.”

[…]

In trying to earn bipartisan support, Josephson said he met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The Senate bill is sponsored by a Democrat, but he met with Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas.

[…]

This month he sent eight SAMI signs to USC. The school plans to roll them out next semester and will move them to different campus events where students are likely to use ride-hiring services, university spokesman Jeff Stensland said.

Josephson blames himself for not getting signs to USC sooner.

“I have avoided it because it’s so hard,” Josephson said, weeping. “We are devastated. We cry every day, multiple times. We just forge ahead.”

[…]

“People tend to move on to the next big thing,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to forget her.”

 

[borndem]

As we all know and have seen many times, it's not unusual for a trial to start 2 years or so after the incident. Court dockets are full of cases, months into the future. Court rooms are full, ADAs are busy with other cases, court appointed attorneys (if needed for the defendant) are busy and the way they are assigned and from where they practice (private, paid by the county/state) or staff employees of the county/state have future cases scheduled, same with judges, etc., etc. And delays requested by ADA or defense attys are not unusual at all. There is a lot to coordinate, and postponements aren't that rare. SMH.

 

[Herat]

I think of Samantha Josephson often.

It seems like justice denied and denied. We need a trial

And I don't think Uber or Lyft have improved security to any real degree. We still read about sexual assaults and attempted kidnappings by Uber and Lyft drivers

 

[dotr]

A rant, sorry.
So we have every form of known to man available 24/7, hookers, escorts, strippers, topless servers, telephone sex workers, not to mention lots of regular gals and guys available and looking for love and/or loving, for heaven's sake there are even doll "brothels".

So why are there so many dang sex assaults and murdered women?!
Sure rape is considered not so much an act of passion, but rather all about exerting control and dominance, but again, there are S&M groups available if they want to engage in that sort of thing.

Surely the kind of guy who would sexually assault and then murder a stranger, is the kind of guy who should be "fixed" to stop it happening again.
speculation, imo.

 

[BeckyF]

The accused has been denied bond. Heartbreaking statements from her family as they spoke of their murdered daughter and sister.
Man charged with killing USC student denied bond

 

[Seattle1]

[URL='https://twitter.com/ColumbiaPDSC']Columbia Police Dept@ColumbiaPDSC[/URL]

#ColumbiaPDSC Update: Bond denied for the murder & kidnapping suspect of USC student Samantha Josephson who was killed in 2019. A judge addressed Nathaniel Rowland via video conference today at the Detention Center. Josephson's family gave a heartfelt statement at the hearing.



11:54 AM · Jun 9, 2020·Twitter Web App

 

[cass523]

A bill named after Samantha Josephson, a college student from Robbinsville who was murdered by someone pretending to be her Uber driver, is a step closer to law.

The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that in part would force ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft to deploy technology that would match passengers with drivers before the ride begins.

"It’s bittersweet," Seymour Josephson, Samantha's father, said. "We’d much rather have Samantha sitting with us here on the couch, but to create a law so nobody else gets hurt is a good thing."

The bill was authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. and was met with praise for both sides of the aisle during a deeply polarized time.

The bill awaits approval in the U.S. Senate.

Among the provisions:

• Ride-sharing companies would need to roll out technology that would match passengers with their drivers' vehicles. A driver couldn't begin the trip until the passenger and driver verify each others identities.
• It sets up a 15-member advisory council that reports to the Secretary of Transportation with safety guidance.
• It makes it illegal to sell ride-share signage.
• It requires the government to study the prevalence of assault and abuse of passengers and drivers.
• It requires the government to examine ride-sharing companies background checks.

"For over a year — especially given the pain due to the unimaginable loss of their daughter — Seymour and Marci have been heroic, tenacious and extraordinarily persuasive," Smith said. "They have been a critically important part of the often-intense negotiations with multiple stakeholders including Uber and Lyft."

Both Uber and Lyft officials said they supported the legislation.

"The tragic death of Samantha Josephson left the rideshare community heartbroken and devastated," Danielle Burr, head of Uber federal affairs, said in a statement. "Today’s passage of ‘Sami’s Law’ is another step in the ongoing work to help improve safety on ride-share by leveraging education and technology."

House passes ride-share safety bill named for Samantha Josephson

Interview with Seymour Josephson

‘SAMI’s Law’ passes U.S. House, her father calls it ‘bittersweet’

 

[dotr]

.

 

[borndem]

Thanks for the post, @cass523.
It's good to see that something good will come out of this tragedy.

What a rotten, cowardly, and sick thing was done to this trusting, young college student. Who of us might have easily done what she did? Many of us were happy to be in college -- to be away from home, on our own (regardless of who was paying tuition, room & board...), new friends, freedom like we never had before, studying was a complication, but hey, we got it done. How many of us would have happily jumped into that car, trusting that the driver was a good honest guy who was just trying to make a little money?
Oh, her poor family.
Just is coming, but she will still be gone...

 

[Seattle1]

Thanks for the post, @cass523.
It's good to see that something good will come out of this tragedy.

What a rotten, cowardly, and sick thing was done to this trusting, young college student. Who of us might have easily done what she did? Many of us were happy to be in college -- to be away from home, on our own (regardless of who was paying tuition, room & board...), new friends, freedom like we never had before, studying was a complication, but hey, we got it done. How many of us would have happily jumped into that car, trusting that the driver was a good honest guy who was just trying to make a little money?
Oh, her poor family.
Just is coming, but she will still be gone...

I think about this often.

If you watch the surveillance, SJ is standing on the sidewalk waiting for her ride when the defendant pulls right up in front of her just as you'd expect the rideshare to do!

In fact, SJ steps off the curb to his car and opens the rear door before the car comes to a complete stop.

Was the defendant just driving around at that hour looking for a victim?

Had he been reported by others before for impersonating a driver prior to this incident?

Or was this just a crime of opportunity when she immediately got inside his car?

If she didn't get in the car, what was he going to do? Talk to passerby's and offer another girl a ride?

I agree -- SJ could be any one of us. This hurts. Always wishing her family and friends comfort.

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

As stated before, I’m the mom of 5 and wife on an Uber/Lyft driver. This opinion I’m about to give was very unpopular on a friends facebook post and I was called mean, insensitive and a poor excuse for a mother, but here goes. The whole idea that an Uber driver has to say your name is false. Uber discourages it, at least in my area which is Miami/Ft Lauderdale because of fraud. The scam is the driver says, “Are you Carol?” the rider says “yes” gets in. Before the ride is over, the passenger says drop me off here. The driver pulls over because if you don’t..it’s kidnapping..and lets them out. Then the driver ends the ride on the app. The next day, you get a message that the wrong passenger was picked up and you get paid nothing for your time, gas, anything. It’s a free ride to the scammer that gets them close to their destination if they are lucky, the person who ordered the Uber gets a refund because the driver picked up someone who claimed to be them and not the correct person, and the driver is out money. Uber says the passenger should tell the driver what their driver’s name is for verification if you want to ensure you will be paid. So this whole movement that the college announced saying everyone should say, “Hi are you so and so?” will never work in reality. Uber drivers will just start refusing all those passengers. Please don’t forget that Uber drivers have families and bills too. Not to mention that our car has major wear and tear from passengers. Not just mileage and tires, but people will literally wipe dog poop they stepped in all over your carpets. They will take their gum out and stick it on your seats. Now not all passengers are like this, but enough that I can tell you that it’s not a public transport service where a driver can give away free rides all the time! Also, the idea that Uber drivers are all seedy characters that give you the creeps is just plain ignorance. I know many many drivers who are working for families and trust me, it doesn't pay well. I have a very good job that pays most of the bills and my husband makes the same as he did at his regular job but he also works 7 days a week, gets up at 4am and ends every day at 7 pm. That's alot of hours for not alot of money, but he enjoys the freedom of being his own boss and he's happy. There are many honest drivers out there just working for their families. Not everyone is a killer or a rapist. With that said, the best thing that passengers can do at present time is check the license plate, type of car and the driver info. That is what the info is there for. No one should feel uncomfortable or rude doing so. My husband thinks its great in the rare circumstance someone does and is not offended in the least bit. The QR thing I read earlier sounds like an idea that can work, but putting 100% of your safety onto a driver is not only not taking any responsibility for your own safety, it’s just not right to do to a driver. Now, if my opinion sounds like I’m victim blaming that isn’t my intention. I think it is a horrible thing that happened, but it was a preventable tragedy. I know that probably tears her parents up inside but that is the fact. This young girl made a deadly mistake and jumped in a car with a crazed killer. Even typing it makes me cringe. So sad.

I'm sorry your spouse has been taken by scammers -- perhaps driving in Florida adds to his misery. Nonetheless, I think your example demonstrates why the solution should be a dual party approach. Both drivers and riders must share the responsiblity for their own safety.

Using your husband as an example, why can't he approach the rider and ask if she's Carol and when she gets in his vehicle-- where they can now both hear each other better, ask Carol to confirm her destination. If it's not the same as requested in the system, he's immediately caught the scammer before it costs him any more time than a driver usually takes to enter the rider's destination in his GPS. I'm no professional driver but I learned to confirm my destination just doing carpool with kids the first time I drove to one parent's residence only to learn that this was the week he was living with his other parent.

Just as the rider has a responsibility for their own safety, so does your husband as a self-employed party in the transportation industry. As for major wear and tear on your vehicle, that should be expected for this occupation!

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

I'd been confused by why the defendant was having a bond hearing more than one year since his arrest. I see now that he's twice waived his right to the hearing.

Suspect in the murder, kidnapping of Samantha Josephson denied bond - ABC Columbia

June 9, 2020

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– The man charged with the murder and kidnapping of University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson back in March 2019 was denied bond this morning.

Richland County Judge DeAndrea G. Benjamin said she denied Nathaniel Rowland’s request for bond because he could be considered a danger to society.

Rowland was charged with murdering and kidnapping of Josephson after authorities say she got into his car thinking it was her Uber outside a bar in Five Points on March 29, 2019.

Her body was later found in a wooded area outside the community of New Zion in Clarendon County. Authorities say she was stabbed 30 times, and her blood and DNA were found in Rowland’s car.

[..]

Rowland was arrested later that night when he returned to Five Points that Friday night. Authorities say he led officers on a brief foot chase before being arrested. His right to a bond hearing was initially waived upon his arrest and once again after a Richland County grand jury indicted him on several charges, including murder and kidnapping.

[..]

Speaking on behalf of Samantha were her mother, sister, boyfriend, and father, while Rowland’s oldest brother and mother, along with his high school basketball coach, spoke on his behalf.

[..]

Tracy Pinnock, the public defender representing Rowland, said that he is innocent until proven guilty, and that this was merely a bond hearing and not a trial. Rowland’s basketball coach and oldest brother stood by Rowland, saying the Nathaniel Rowland they knew was incapable of doing a violent crime like the one that took place that March morning.