Samantha Josephson: Murdered after getting into the wrong car
Last Night OutSamantha Josephson was a young woman embarking on the next stage of her life when she was brutally murdered by a man named Nathaniel Rowland. Her death was pivotal when it came to the topic of rideshare safety, leading to thorough discussions on the matter and a law passed in her name.
But what exactly happened to Samantha and how did her murder lead to such a significant step in the laws regarding safety while using ridesharing services? Join us here at Crime+Investigation as we dive deeper into the case and the circumstances surrounding her death. The case also features in Last Night Out, a new true crime series available now on Crime+Investigation.
Who was Samantha Josephson?
Samantha Lee Josephson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, on 13th August 1997, to Marci and Seymour Josephson. She was raised alongside her sister, Sydney Josephson, in Robbinsville.
Samantha’s passion for politics led her to pursue a degree in political science at the University of South Carolina. She was also a fan of travel, having visited Paris and Madrid and studied abroad in Barcelona while at USC. Samantha was also thoroughly engaged in the spirit of USC, as she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority house.
There was no doubt that Samantha was a highly intelligent young woman with a promising future. She was a senior at USC and was set to attend Drexel University School of Law after graduation.
She wanted to practice international law, and had earned a complete scholarship to Drexel alongside a partial scholarship to Rutgers University in New Jersey. Her life would be tragically cut short before she had the chance to continue her education.
The murder of Samantha Josephson
On 29th March, Samantha was with her friends in the Five Points district located in downtown Columbia. She had spent the night in the area, and at around 2am, she ordered an Uber. Approximately 10 minutes later, Samantha mistakenly entered a black Chevrolet Impala that had pulled up beside her, assuming it was her Uber. The car was driven by 27-year-old Nathaniel Rowland.
Once inside the car, Rowland activated the child locks so that Samantha was trapped inside. Rowland proceeded to kidnap and kill Samantha. She was stabbed around 120 times with a two bladed knife, including defensive wounds that showed that Samantha had tried to protect herself. Rowland’s attacks were unrelenting. As well as a wound through her right hand, Samantha was also found to have a severed hyoid bone and a wound in her head that penetrated her brain due to the significant force.
Around 65 miles away from where she had mistakenly gotten into Rowland’s car, Samantha’s body was found. She had been dumped in a wooded area in the town of New Zion, Clarendon County.
The conviction of Nathaniel Rowland
When Samantha’s roommates reported her missing, it didn’t take the police long to connect the dots. After watching surveillance footage of Samantha entering Rowland’s car, they later found him in the same car.
On 30th March, Rowland was arrested. Germicidal wipes, liquid bleach, window cleaner and Samantha’s phone were found in the vehicle. The trunk and passenger seat were also found to have a huge amount of blood.
In July 2021, Rowland was found guilty of the murder and kidnap of Samantha Josephson. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Sami’s Law and the What’s My Name Foundation
Despite their grief, Samantha’s family made it their mission to ensure that her death would not be in vain. They set up the What’s My Name Foundation to educate others on the topic of rideshare safety in honour of Samantha.
The Josephson’s were also pivotal in the creation and passing of Sami’s Law. This law was designed to recognise the potential dangers surrounding rideshare services. It was initially passed in Samantha’s home state of New Jersey in 2019. It then became a federal law in 2023 when it was signed by former United States president Joe Biden.
The murder of Samantha Josephson was a tragedy caused by a fatal misunderstanding. However, Samantha would go on to become instrumental in rideshare legislation due to the creation of Sami’s Law.
This law and the What’s My Name Foundation have immortalised Samantha and established more significant safety regulations surrounding rideshare services.
Although there is nothing that can bring Samantha back, her family can be sure that her legacy will be the many lives saved as a result of Sami’s Law.
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