In the early hours of March 2019, 21-year-old Samantha Josephson left a night out with friends in Columbia. Like so many students, she ordered a rideshare to get home safely.

She never made it.

Samantha mistakenly entered a car she believed was her Uber. It wasn’t. Behind the wheel was Nathaniel David Rowland, a man who had no legitimate reason to be there — only intent.

What followed was violent and devastating. Surveillance footage later showed Samantha fighting back inside the vehicle. Her phone records and forensic evidence told the story of a young woman who resisted with everything she had.

Her body was found hours later in a wooded area. The discovery shattered her family and sent shockwaves across the country.

But Samantha is not remembered only for the horror of that night.

In the face of unimaginable grief, her family chose action. They advocated for stronger rideshare safety protections, pushing for laws requiring clearer identification of vehicles and stricter penalties for impersonating rideshare drivers. “Sami’s Law” was introduced in multiple states, aiming to ensure that what happened to her would not happen to someone else.

Her story became both a warning and a catalyst:

• Always verify the license plate.

• Confirm the driver’s name.

• Ask, “Who are you here to pick up?”

• Never rely solely on a car’s appearance.

Samantha’s life was vibrant, ambitious, full of promise. She was a senior at the University of South Carolina, preparing for law school. She was loved deeply.

Her legacy now lives in awareness, policy change, and countless safer rides home.

One moment of trust should never be a death sentence.
Because of Samantha, more people double-check before getting in — and that vigilance is part of her lasting impact.