Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina student was murdered on 29 March 2019, after mistakenly entering a car she believed was her Uber.
Early Life
Samantha Lee Josephson was born on 13 August 1997 in Princeton, New Jersey, to parents Marci and Seymour Josephson. She grew up in Robbinsville, a small township where she shared a close bond with her sister Sydney. Samantha had a happy, fulfilling childhood, surrounded by a loving family.
Marci Josephson, Samantha’s mother: “She was caring, kind. Everyone thought she was their best friend”, per People.
In 2015, Samantha enrolled at University of South Carolina (USC), where she pursued a major in political science. She quickly became an active member of the student community, joining Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and making lasting friendships.
Her academic journey included studying abroad in Barcelona and visiting major European cities such as Madrid and Paris. Samantha had a bright future ahead, with plans to attend Drexel University to study international law, the News 19 reports.
The Night of the Tragedy
On 28 March 2019, Samantha was experiencing a difficult day. She reached out to her boyfriend Greg for comfort, asking him to visit. Since he was unavailable, he suggested she go out with friends to lift her spirits.
That evening, Samantha and her friends visited The Bird Dog, a popular bar in the Five Points district of Columbia. Despite the social setting, she remained somewhat withdrawn, frequently checking her phone and messaging Greg.
According to Boston, shortly after 2 a.m. Samantha decided to head home. She booked an Uber for the short trip to her residence on Main Street. Surveillance footage captured her standing outside the bar waiting for her ride.
At 2:09 a.m., a black Chevrolet Impala pulled up. Believing it was her Uber, Samantha entered the vehicle without hesitation. Within moments, the car drove away.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook: “She simply, mistakenly, got into the car thinking it was an Uber ride”, per 8 WVLT.
The Alarming Disappearance
Greg, using the Find My Friends app noticed something was wrong. Samantha’s location was moving in the opposite direction of her home. He attempted to call and message her, but she didn’t respond. By 2:40 a.m. her phone’s location went offline, heightening concern.
Greg Corbishley: “I was on the phone tracking her to make sure she got home safely and immediately knew there was something that was wrong. Unfortunately, I was two and a half hours away. I would do anything to go back”, per My Fox 8.
By the following morning, Samantha had not shown up for work at Liberty Tap Room. Her friends and family became increasingly alarmed. By 2 p.m. they filed a missing persons report with local authorities. As the search intensified, Greg and friends reviewed surveillance footage from The Bird Dog and confirmed that Samantha had entered a car that was not her assigned Uber.
Later that day, devastating news emerged. Samantha’s body had been discovered in a remote wooded area, 65 miles southeast of Columbia in New Zion. She had been brutally attacked suffering more than 120 stab wounds to her face, neck, shoulders, torso, back, legs, and feet. Authorities determined that she had likely been killed inside the vehicle before being left in the field, per Sky News.
The Investigation and Arrest
Investigators quickly focused on the black Chevrolet Impala captured on surveillance. Police issued an alert to locate the vehicle and its driver. Just 26 hours after Samantha’s disappearance, Officer Jeffrey Kraft spotted a matching car near Five Points. The driver, later identified as Nathaniel Rowland attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended.
Rowland, 24, had a criminal history including a prior involvement in an alleged carjacking and robbery. A search of his vehicle provided overwhelming evidence linking him to Samantha’s murder.
Investigators found her blood in multiple locations inside the car, including the trunk and passenger seat. Her cell phone was discovered in the glove compartment.
Additionally, cleaning supplies, such as bleach and germicidal wipes were found, indicating an attempt to remove evidence, The CNN reports.
A two-bladed knife with Samantha’s blood on it was later recovered from Rowland’s residence.
Evidence and Trial
Further investigation revealed that Rowland had stalked the Five Points area for nearly 30 minutes before spotting Samantha alone outside the bar. He had been circling the area looking for an opportunity.
As soon as he saw her mistakenly approaching another vehicle, he positioned his car nearby. Once she entered, he activated the child safety locks, preventing her escape.
Fifth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson: “Nathaniel David Rowland, had his eyes firmly fixed on Samantha Josephson. He had his eyes on Ms. Josephson as she walked outside the Bird Dog Lounge in Five Points alone, as she walked outside, as she had ordered an Uber ride, alone”, per NBC News.
Security footage and cell tower records confirmed that Samantha’s phone and Rowland’s phone traveled together along the southeastern route.
Hours after the murder, Rowland was caught on an ATM surveillance camera attempting to withdraw money using Samantha’s debit card but he failed in all nine attempts, WIS 10 reports.
During the trial, the prosecution presented substantial evidence against Rowland, including CCTV footage, forensic analysis and testimonies from law enforcement officers, medical examiners and Rowland’s former girlfriend.
On 27 July 2021, after only one hour of jury deliberation, Rowland was found guilty of kidnapping, murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. He was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.
Nathaniel Rowland: “I know I’m innocent, but I guess what I know and what I think doesn’t really matter. I just wish the state would have done more in finding out who the actual person was instead of being satisfied with detaining me and proving my guilt”, the People reported.
Honoring Samantha’s Memory
Following Samantha’s death, her parents established the What’s My Name Foundation, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about rideshare safety. Their mission is to educate individuals about verifying the identity of their drivers before entering a vehicle, per CBS News.
The case also led to the enactment of Sami’s Law which mandates increased safety measures for rideshare companies, including illuminated signs and scannable QR codes for passenger verification.
In her memory, a 5K run is held annually, honoring her legacy and advocating for safer rideshare practices.
