Murder of Samantha Josephson
| Murder of Samantha Josephson | |
|---|---|
Undated photo of Samantha Josephson | |
| Date | March 29, 2019 |
Attack type | Murder by stabbing, kidnapping |
| Victim | Samantha Lee Josephson |
| Perpetrator | Nathaniel David Rowland |
| Motive | Thrill killing |
| Verdict | Guilty on all counts |
| Convictions | |
| Sentence | Two life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 5 years |
The murder of Samantha Josephson, a student at University of South Carolina, in Columbia, South Carolina, occurred on March 29, 2019. Josephson, 21, had ordered an Uber and mistakenly entered a car that she thought was her ride. A local man, Nathaniel Rowland, the driver of the car, 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.
Rowland was arrested the next day, and charged with kidnapping and murdering Josephson. A trial began on July 20, 2021. On July 27, the jury found Rowland guilty of Josephson's kidnapping and murder and the judge sentenced him to life in prison.
The killing attracted national attention and led to discussion about the dangers of ridesharing and the importance of ensuring that a rideshare car is being driven by a registered driver prior to entering. The murder led to the passage of Sami's Law in New Jersey, which enhances protections for drivers and passengers using ride share services. Legislation of the same name at the federal level was signed into law by President Joe Biden on January 5, 2023.