How far away was the car from the shore?
Initial water searches did not locate the car because the police believed it would be within 30 feet of the shore, and did not search farther; it turned out to be 122 feet from the shore. After the boys had been missing for two days, Smith and her estranged husband David were subjected to a polygraph test.
What did Clarke say about Smith?
In their opening statement, Clarke argued Smith was deeply troubled and suffered from severe depression. Clarke told the jury: "This is not a case about evil. This is a case about despair and sadness.".
Why did the Smith case gain international attention?
The case gained international attention because of Smith's false claim that a man had kidnapped her sons during a carjacking. Her defense attorneys, David Bruck and Judy Clarke, called expert witnesses to testify that she suffered from mental health issues that impaired her judgment when she committed the crimes.
