Prosecutors say woman stabbed more than 100 times after she mistook car for Uber

Prosecutors on Tuesday said in court that a man stabbed a college student more than 100 times after she mistook his car for an Uber.

University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was allegedly stabbed by Nathaniel Rowland after the woman got in Rowland’s car thinking it was an Uber after a night out in 2019.

Fifth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson said Josephson was stabbed more than 100 times, was seen on camera getting into Rowland’s car, witnesses saw Rowland cleaning a knife and found bloody clothes in a dumpster, The Associated Press reported.

Josephson’s and Rowland’s cellphones were tracked for 20 minutes together after she entered the car before her phone was turned off. Josephson’s body was found in the woods near Rowland’s home, the prosecutor said.

Gipson presented evidence he says shows Rowland tried to sell Josephson’s cell phone and use her debit card after the murder as well as clean his car with bleach. 

One of Rowland’s public defenders, Alicia Goode, argued there was no DNA evidence found on Josephson’s body from Rowland despite evidence of her “kicking and punching and clawing the person attacking her,” according to the outlet.

“Zero: that’s the amount of DNA on Samantha Josephson’s body that matches Nathaniel’s,” Goode said. “Zero. It’s not on her clothing, not under her ripped and torn fingernails, it’s not on her ankles.”

Rowland is facing murder and kidnapping charges that could carry a life sentence if convicted. 

After Josephson’s killing, Uber added new campus safety measures including reminders for students to check the license plate of the car before entering.