Rowland trial live updates: Judge hands down life sentence, calls Rowland ‘heartless’

Prosecutors finished laying out their case Monday afternoon against Nathaniel Rowland, a man accused of killing University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson.

On Tuesday, the seventh day of his trial, both his defense team and the prosecution will give their closing arguments.

Josephson’s case gained nation attention after it was reported that she was killed after mistakenly getting into a car that was not her Uber while out celebrating in Five Points, the entertainment district in Columbia most frequented by USC students. Her body was found hours later dumped in a wooded area 60 miles from Columbia.

Rowland gets life in prison

3:50 p.m. — Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Rowland to life in prison Tuesday afternoon.

“My heart goes out to the Rowland family as well as the Josephson family,” Newman said.

Before he was sentenced, Rowland was given an opportunity to speak.

“I know I’m innocent, but I guess what I know or I think really doesn’t matter,” Rowland said. “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.”

Judge Clifton Newman calls Nathaniel Rowland “heartless” after Rowland was convicted of murdering Samantha Josephson.
Judge Clifton Newman calls Nathaniel Rowland “heartless” after Rowland was convicted of murdering Samantha Josephson.

Newman rebutted Rowland’s claims.

“The evidence in this case is so overwhelming,” Newman said. “Law enforcement in this case did the best job of investigating the case than I have seen in the past 30 or 40 years.”

“All of the evidence, every speck of the evidence ... all points to your guilt and I am absolutely satisfied.”

Newman called Rowland “heartless” and a person “without any remorse what-so-ever.” Newman said he was not inclined toward leniency.

Rowland’s mother insists on his innocence

3:41 p.m. — “I know my son didn’t do this,” Loretta Rowland told the court Tuesday afternoon.

Despite Judge Clifton Newman’s instance that Rowland was guilty, Loretta Rowland maintained she knew he was not guilty.

“You are not a witness,” Newman said.

Lorretta Rowland insists that her son, Nathaniel, is not guilty of murdering Samantha Josephson, despite conviction.
Lorretta Rowland insists that her son, Nathaniel, is not guilty of murdering Samantha Josephson, despite conviction.

Public defender Tracy Pinnock told the judge that Nathaniel Rowland maintains his innocence as well, despite his conviction. She asked the judge to sentence Rowland to the mandatory minimum for a murder conviction in South Carolina: 30 years.

“He doesn’t have a history of this or anything violent in his past,” Pinnock said.

Henry Rowland, Nathaniel Rowland’s father, spoke on behalf of his son, saying he’d never seen “any bad bone in his body.”

“I know deep down in my heart that this young man here didn’t do that,” Henry Rowland said. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for Ms. Josephson’s family.”

Josephson’s family asks for life sentence

3:15 p.m. — Samantha Josephson’s mother, Marci Josephson, was the first to speak during the sentencing hearing for Rowland.

The elder Josephson read from a paper, held by a victims advocate on one side and with her other daughter on the other.

“Her death was my death,” Marci Josephson said.

Marci Josephson described the things she would never see Samantha do, like graduate from USC or law school, have children or get married.

“I used to have dreams for her,” Marci Josephson said. “Now, all I have are nightmares.”

Marci Josephson called Rowland “evil” and called his crime “heinous and vicious.”

Marci Josephson, the mother of Samantha Josephson, asked the judge to impose the strictest sentence after a jury finds Nathaniel Rowland guilty of Samantha’s murder.
Marci Josephson, the mother of Samantha Josephson, asked the judge to impose the strictest sentence after a jury finds Nathaniel Rowland guilty of Samantha’s murder.

Sydney Josephson, Samantha’s sister, joined her mom in asking Judge Clifton Newman to impose the strictest sentence possible.

“No one should have to go through the stress and sadness that we face on a daily basis, minute by minute,” Sydney Josephson said.

Seymour Josephson, Samantha’s father, gave the judge a book of more than 90 impact statements from friends and family. He said he still feel anger and guilt and has trouble sleeping at night.

“I have such hatred running through me,” Seymour Josephson said. “I still to this day cant believe that shes gone.”

Greg Corbishley, Samantha Josephson’s boyfriend, said he wanted to marry Josephson, adding that he would never find another love like her. He talked about his plans to move to Philadelphia with Josephson while she was in law school.

“I would just ask for the strictest sentence possible,” Corbishley said.

Jury: Rowland is guilty

3:00 p.m. — About two hours and 15 minutes after being dismissed from the court room, a jury found Rowland guilty of murder, kidnapping and the use of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

According to Judge Clifton Newman, the jury spent about 1 hour and seven minutes of that time deliberating.

Josephson’s family celebrated, hugged and cried as the verdict was being read.

Newman announced that he would immediately move into the sentencing phase of the trial.

Jury sent for deliberation

12:45 p.m. — Judge Clifton Newman explained to the jury the task ahead, explaining what evidence they could consider, what the charges mean and defining reasonable doubt.

Newman sent them to deliberate at about 12:45 p.m.

Judge Clifton Newman listens during closing arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.
Judge Clifton Newman listens during closing arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.

Defense takes shots at prosecution

12:00 p.m. — Defense attorney Tracy Pinnock criticized the prosecution during her closing argument for not presenting some of the evidence that didn’t fit their narrative during the trial.

Specifically, Pinnock pointed out that in a DNA report created by the prosecution’s expert, there were 32 instances where Rowland was excluded as a possible donor of found DNA or when DNA belonged to unidentified people. She also pointed out that his DNA was not found on the tan shirt the prosecution said he was wearing during the murder.

“We can’t keep skipping over things that don’t work for us,” Pinnock said. “We have to look at everything.”

Rowland’s DNA was found where it should have been found, including on his sweatshirt that he wears frequently, a hate he wears often, the steering wheel of his car and the gear shift, Pinnock said.

“The issue is everybody else,” Pinnock said.

Pinnock said the prosecution failed to prove it’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The state has not proven that Nathaniel Rowland kidnapped Samantha Josephson. They did not prove he killed her,” Pinnock said. “They did not prove he had a weapon when he did those things.”

“They have failed to prove their burden.”

Pinnock finished her closing remarks at 12:15 p.m.

Defense tries to cast doubt on ex-girlfriend’s testimony

11:45 a.m. — During her closing arguments, defense attorney Tracy Pinnock took on one of the most-compelling witness testimonies during the trial.

Pinnock tried to cast doubt on the testimony from Rowland’s ex-girlfriend Maria Howard, who said she saw Rowland hours after the murder and saw him cleaning blood from his car. Pinnock questioned why, after allegedly seeing Rowland clean out the blood, Howard would continue to ride in his car and not call the police.

Pinnock also pointed out that Howard said she didn’t touch stuff that Rowland used to clean his car, but her DNA and fingerprints were found on items and bags of evidence thrown in the trash.

Prosecuting attorney April Sampson questions Maria Howard during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.
Prosecuting attorney April Sampson questions Maria Howard during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.

Finally, Pinnock questioned Howard’s testimony about seeing Rowland put on gloves to clean the multi-tool prosecutors say is the murder weapon while Howard was driving his car. If Rowland cleaned the tool, why was their blood, DNA and hair on it when investigators found it, Pinnock asked.

“That did not happen,” Pinnock said. “She came in here and told y’all something that did not happen.”

Defense begins closing arguments

11:25 a.m. — Defense attorney Tracy Pinnock began her closing arguments after the court took a brief break late Tuesday morning.

Pinnock kicked off her remarks by reminding the jury that Rowland didn’t have any marks. During a violent crime, the victim could fight back and wound the perpetrator.

“Not a cut, not a bruise,” Pinnock said. “They checked him and nothing.”

Pinnock also pointed out that Rowland’s DNA was not found on Josephson’s body. Other DNA from unidentified donors, however, was also present in places where investigators found Josephson’s DNA.

“The unidentified people that the state wants to brush off like they’re not a big deal, they matter,” Pinnock said. “DNA evidence matters.”

Defense attorney Tracy Pinnock gives closing remarks during the Rowland trial.
Defense attorney Tracy Pinnock gives closing remarks during the Rowland trial.

Pinnock said the issue with the prosecution’s case is that investigators “started jumping to conclusions and making their minds up about something,” in March 2019. Pinnock criticized the prosecution for saying that it was “simple” to see that Rowland committed the crime.

“There is nothing simple and easy about what’s happened in this courtroom this week,” Pinnock said. “Nothing.”

“We all know this: The simple answer, typically, is not the right answer.”

Prosecution rebuts defense’s theory

11:05 a.m. — As prosecutor Dan Goldberg drew his closing arguments to a close, he took a minute to rebut some of the arguments made by the defense throughout the trial.

“The defense has tried to draw your attention to everything except the evidence that points to Mr. Rowland,” Goldberg said.

The defense said Rowland had no marks on him when he was arrested, Goldberg said. If someone attacks another person, and the victim fights back, its possible the perpetrator would be wounded. Goldberg pointed to what the prosecution said was scratch marks on a jacket owned by Rowland.

The defense pointed out that Rowland’s DNA was not found on Josephson’s body, Goldberg said. Rowland decreased his chances of leaving his DNA on her by wearing gloves and long sleeves, Goldberg said.

Josephson’s ATM card, earring and purse were never found, Goldberg said. Those items were not of use to Rowland, Goldberg added. He pointed to Josephson’s phone, which police found in Rowland’s car and which Rowland allegedly tried to sell.

“The phone, her phone, he needed that,” Goldberg said. “He needed the money.”

The prosecution finished giving its closing remarks at about 11:10 p.m. Judge Clifton Newman ordered the court to take a short break

Rowland didn’t expect to get caught, prosecution says

10:44 p.m. — Prosecutor Dan Goldberg said during his closing statement Tuesday morning that Rowland didn’t expect to get caught.

“Some of you might be thinking, how could anyone be calm enough to drive for hours with blood and or a dead girl in the back of your car,” Goldberg said. “How could anyone go back to Five Points, a block away from where it happened, and not be nervous about being caught?”

Goldberg said Rowland was cool under pressure. He read an entry from Rowland’s resume he submitted to FedEx that listed performing under pressure as one of his job skills.

A video clip shows Nathaniel Rowland’s black Impala circling the block as Samantha Josephson waits for an Uber in Five Points presented to the jury during closing arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.
A video clip shows Nathaniel Rowland’s black Impala circling the block as Samantha Josephson waits for an Uber in Five Points presented to the jury during closing arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.

“He thought that he’d gotten rid of all the evidence at this point,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg showed a video from the traffic stop when Rowland was later arrested. At the beginning of the stop, Rowland was cooperative with police, Goldberg said. But when police mentioned his car matched the description of the car Josephson was last seen in, Rowland’s demeanor changed, Goldberg added.

In the video, Rowland leads police on a foot chase. Rowland was later caught and arrested.

“What he failed to consider is that he was driving around in the actual crime scene,” Goldberg said. “He thought he was good to go.”

Prosecutors compare Rowland to shark

10:15 a.m. — During closing statements Tuesday morning, prosecutor Dan Goldberg compared Rowland to a shark.

During the early morning hours when Josephson was abducted, Rowland was “circling, lurking, waiting,” Goldberg said as he played video footage of the black Impala they say belongs to Rowland doing u-turns through Five Points’ streets.

“What happens next?” Rowland said as he played the footage of the Impala approaching Josephson. “What does a shark do when it catches its prey? It takes it below the surface, out of Five Points.”

Goldberg continued to recap the evidence presented by the prosecution during the trial.

He described the wooded area in New Zion where Josephson’s body was found. Goldberg said multiple people testified that only locals would know how to get to that area, and that Rowland would have had to take two dirt roads to get there. The site was nearby Rowland’s parent’s home.

“This was a straight body dump,” Goldberg said. “An attempt to get rid of the most incriminating evidence against him.”

Goldberg held up one of the shoes Josephson was wearing when she was killed.

“Her shoe,” Goldberg said. “Broken, body and torn. Just like her.”

Prosecutor Dan Goldberg shows a shoe worn by Samantha Josephson during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.
Prosecutor Dan Goldberg shows a shoe worn by Samantha Josephson during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.

Prosecution gives closing remarks

9:55 a.m. — When court resumed Tuesday morning, prosecutor Dan Goldberg gave an impassioned closing statement for the prosecution.

Facing the jury, Goldberg started his remarks simply.

“21-year-old Samantha Josephson did not deserve this,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg reminded the jury that Josephson was stabbed more than 100 times “from her face to her feet.”

“She was dragged into the woods and left alone, covered in her own blood to rot like a piece of trash,” Goldberg said. “She didn’t deserve this.”

Prosecutor Dan Goldberg delivers closing arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.
Prosecutor Dan Goldberg delivers closing arguments during the trial of Nathaniel Rowland on Tuesday July 27, 2021 in Richland County Circuit Court. Rowland is accused of killing Samantha Josephson after luring her into his car.

Goldberg criticized the defense’s accusations that someone else could have committed the crime. He pointed to the hundreds of pieces of evidence introduced by the prosecution during the six days of the trial.

“There is no one else responsible for Samantha Josephson’s kidnapping and murder,” Goldberg said. “There are zero legitimate suspects other than Nathaniel Rowland implicated by the evidence in this case.”

What you’ve missed so far

The trial started off with a bang as defendant Nathaniel Rowland tried to fire his attorneys during jury selection Monday. His request was denied by Judge Clifton Newman.

After powering through jury selection on Monday, prosecutors and the defense team delivered their opening statements on Tuesday.

In his statement, prosecutor Byron Gipson told jurors that Samantha Josephson, a USC student killed in 2019 after getting in what she thought was an Uber, was stabbed more than 100 times. The prosecution argued Rowland was guilty because they found Josephson’s blood in his car alongside cleaning supplies, the murder weapon matched a similar tool Rowland had, Rowland tried to sell Josephson’s phone after she went missing, Josephson’s phone and keys were found in his car, and more.

Public defender Alicia Goode, on the defense team for Rowland, told jurors that Rowland was innocent and there was no DNA evidence Josephson’s body or clothes that specifically links Rowland to her killing. The added that, despite the one hundred stab wounds, there were no bruises or marks on Rowland one might expect from such a struggle.

On Tuesday, the former girlfriend of the man accused of murdering Samantha Josephson testified Wednesday afternoon she saw him cleaning a knife and blood out of his car hours after the late student’s death.

The man charged with the murder of Samantha Josephson is scheduled to go on trial this summer.
The man charged with the murder of Samantha Josephson is scheduled to go on trial this summer.

On Wednesday, prosecutors put the man who found Josephson’s body on the stand. And in the afternoon, a woman who said she was a former girlfriend of Rowland told the jury she saw blood in his car the day after Josephson’s death and saw Rowland using surgical gloves and wipes to clean a multi-tool.

That multi-tool was shown to the jury Thursday by State Law Enforcement agent Dalila Cirencione, who announced that it was the suspected murder weapon. Cirencione was one of about 20 witnesses called Thursday, most of which included investigators and law enforcement. The defense was given the opportunity to cross examine them.

On Friday, prosecutors continued to lay out their case, bringing in blood, cell phone tracking and DNA experts. Among the strongest pieces of evidence presented Friday was the fact that Josephson’s DNA was found on both the suspected murder weapon and underneath Rowland’s nails.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case Monday, announcing they would rest after a pathologist testified that Josephson’s unique wounds were caused by the multi-tool. The defense rested without calling any witnesses.