Revealed: Fatal injuries of student, 21, who mistook car for Uber
The coroner has revealed what killed a university student who died after getting into the wrong car while waiting for an Uber ride.
Samantha Josephson, 21, went missing on March 29 after getting in a car about 2am (local time) following a night out with friends at the Bird Dog bar in Columbia, in the US state of South Carolina.
Her body was found the following afternoon.
Clarendon County Coroner Bucky Mock said in a statement she suffered “multiple injuries from a sharp object”, but what that object was had not been revealed.
Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, has been charged with kidnapping and murder.
An arrest warrant said Ms Josephson suffered numerous wounds to her head, neck, face, upper body, leg and foot.
‘She had absolutely no chance’
The 21-year-old’s father, Seymour, said he thought his daughter would still be alive if she had not tried to catch a ride alone early on Friday following a night out.
He said he would dedicate his life to increasing safety with ride-sharing services and wanted to discuss making Ubers and other ride shares more recognisable.
Speaking at a candlelit vigil in Columbia on Sunday night, Mr Josephson said his daughter “had absolutely no chance”.
“Samantha was by herself,” he said.
“The door was locked, the child safety locks were on. She had absolutely no chance.”
Mr Josephson told his daughter’s friends they could help by always taking rides or walking around town in groups of two or more because there was safety in numbers.
“If there is somebody else in that car, there is actually a chance,” Mr Josephson said.
‘Samantha valued human life’
Ms Josephson’s blood and phone were found in Rowland’s car when he was arrested.
Her body was found in Clarendon County, about 105 kilometres from Columbia, police said.
Rowland remains in jail. It is not known if he has a lawyer.
The woman’s mother, Marci, appeared at court for a scheduled hearing for Rowland on Monday.
Rowland did not appear but Ms Josephson’s mother was given the opportunity to speak in court by the judge.
She called Rowland evil and remembered her daughter as “bubbly, loving, kind, and full of life”.
“Unlike him, Samantha valued human life and could never harm another soul,” she said.
“Unlike him, Samantha had love within her heart, and a purpose in her life, the life he brutally ended.”
– with Associated Press
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