The father of a N🐷ew Jersey native who was killed when she mistakenly hopped iꦰnto a ride she thought was her Uber in South Carolina is urging both ride-sharing companies and passengers to take safety precautio⭕ns, according to a new report.
Samantha Josephson, 21, of Robbinsville — who was studying political science at the University of South Carolina — left a bar around 2 a.m. Friday in Columbia’s Five Points area and was last seen getting into a late-model Chevrolet Impala, authorities said.
Driver Nathaniel Davi🐭d Rowland trapped Josephson inside his vehicle using the car’s child safety locks and later murdered her, according to police.
“Samantha was by herself,” her distraught dad, Seymour Josephson, said at a Sunday night vigil, . “She had absolutely no chance. None. The door was locked.”
Josephson said he plans to do all he can to make sure other Uber and Lyft riders don’t suffer the same fate — and that the companies prioritize safety.
“That is going to be my mission in life now: educating, getting that [message] out, and hopefully putting pressure on Uber and Lyft,” he said, though he didn’t say what he wants the companies to do differently.
Josephson also urged the other 💮students a🌟t the vigil to be on guard as well — and to never travel alone at night.
“Let’s be honest — you guys are drinking, leaving the bar, or whatever it may be,” he said. “If there’s somebody else in the car, there’s actually a chance.”
Josephson and his wife were planning to visit South Caroli🦂na on Sunday to surprise their daughter — but ended up coming for a far more tragic reason, the outlet reported.
“I don’t want anyone else to ever go through this again,” the distraught dad said. “I can’t tell you how painful this is.”
Samantha’s funeral is set for noon Wednesday, April 3, at Congregation Beth Chaim on Village Road in East Princeton, NJ, according to the report.
Rowland allegedly killed Josephson and dumped her body in a wooded area near his rural home aboꦺut 65 miles from Columbia. Her body was found by two hunters Friday afternoon, authorities said.
Officials have refused to divulge how Josephson died, although police records show she had injuries to her head and neck, according to arrest warrants released🌊 S🌄unday.
Rowland, charged with kidnapping and murder, declined to appear at a court hearing Sunday.