His public water was cut off April 28. I mean-- just, you know, us. And he went about a mile from where they saw him and he wrecked his truck. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. When Sean tore out of the campsite, he says he realized Scott was still back in the woods somewhere, wounded and bLeedingbut Scott saw Sean escape, and was already on the move. Another lie. My first thing that I thought about was, you know, how far we are away. They knew his history and sometimes worried about what he might do to them, their children and grandchildren. Randall Lee Smith, The Appalachian Trail's Very Own Serial Killer Randall Lee Smith remains a mystery Blood on the Mountain Trail of a Killer Murderpedia: Randall Lee Smith Wikipedia: Randall Lee Smith Books Murder on the Appalachian Trail The Whole Truth: A Case of Murder on the Appalachian Trail So I start the car. He would use several pseudonyms, posing as a professional photographer to lure his victims with the promise of a modeling career. But as he crossed a narrow bridge, Farmer began to drift in and out of consciousness behind the steering wheel. Tom Lawson: I don't know. May 6, 2008 dawned a sunshine perfect spring morning, and Scott, a cook, and Sean, a truck driver, grabbed their gear and headed up the Appalachian Trail for a few days of fishing and camping in the lush and tranquil woods of southwestern Virginia. 1982. He pleaded guilty shortly before trial commenced to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of hikers Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both 27-year-old social workers from Maine who were murdered by Smith while hiking the . I mean, I had powder burns all like in-- in a circular fashion around the wound. And I took off. A motive for the slayings was never established. Besides, the duo even shared their gratitude for Melissa Miller and claimed they would not be alive if not for the help and shelter she provided on that fateful day. Brenner now crusades against violence aimed at gay people. Lawson had his suspect. He was arrested, and taken to same hospital where Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer were being treated. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Randall Lee Smith: Yeah. Based on the forensic evidence, Lawson and his colleagues believe the killer attacked after the two hikers went to sLeep. He basically had no friends to amount to anything. It's dark. [2] He pleaded guilty shortly before trial commenced to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of hikers Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both 27-year-old social workers from Maine who were murdered by Smith while hiking the Appalachian Trail in May 1981. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. As he attempted to escape, he crashed his getaway. Scott Johnston: By the time I was loaded in the helicopter, I was starting to, like, spit up blood. Eventually, ambulances would carry them to the local community center, where a helicopter picked them up to take them to a Roanoke hospital. I met several people on the trail who clearly were not hikers, and each one of them was quite strange.. Scott Johnston: Oh, I mean, the blood was just squirting out of my neck. Smith, a convicted felon, was also known locally. Scott Johnston: It was really creepy. We can only guess what the reason for this would be. There in his cell the next day, officers found him unresponsive. Tom Lawson: It was the most brutal thing I'd ever seen. The third result is Randall Lee Smith age 60s in Moorhead, MN. He was worried about Scott, he says, and wondering who just shot them, and why? He described having been in the bathtub, placing a rope around his neck, running it through the tub drain, and pulling it tight against his neck," achieving some kind of sexual pleasure from this act." "Double-shooting suspect dies in custody", "Community reacts to Randall Lee Smith's death", "Pearisburg man never shook reputation as AT killer", "Randall Lee Smith's death ruled accidental", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Randall_Lee_Smith&oldid=1148589098, American people who died in prison custody, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 April 2023, at 03:04. I used to be a Web Developer in the Newsroom, now I spend my time in coffee shops researching murder. In May 1981, he brutally murdered two Appalachian Trail hikers, both 27, and buried their bodies near an AT shelter close to the boundary of Giles and Bland counties. In 2011 an Indiana man who was hiking the trail was found strangled to death. So--. ROCKINGHAM Randall Scotte Thompson, 55, of Rockingham, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at his residence. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We're both bLeeding. Chilling details emerge in fatal machete attack on - ABC News Tom Lawson: I think his motive with Susan was sexual. . When browsing or using our services, the user accepts the use of "cookies". Scott Johnston: Actually awesome. And Sean Farmer's doctors told him the same thing about the bullets he took in the head and chest. Tom Lawson: Basically that Randall was gonna serve 15 years. Once more it has brought the2,160 mile path that stretches from Georgia to Maine, USA to the publics attention. No one has been arrested in the homicide. The home of serial killer Randall Lee Smith in Pearisburg, Va., near She brought him meals and stayed to chat. The enormous vat of nacho cheese that you brought to my birthday party last weekend. Carlie Roberts (left) of Bethany Beach, Del., and Jordan Price of Atlanta hike toward Pearisburg on Sunday. Tom Lawson: He walks out. After, you know, a couple hours of conversation, some dinner, this is where we found ourselves, right here. Chris Hansen: What did you think you had on your hands in terms of a-- a profile of a killer? Plant Trees. This page uses cookies and other similar technologies to improve your experience on our services. The woman was stabbed to death near the Glen Boulder Trailhead just south of Pinkham Notch. Both survived. James L. Jordan in a police booking photo. And, I mean, I was-- I was scared, ya know, that- that he was gonna die or something. It's getting dark, we got to go.' Scott and Sean say they had the uneasy feeling of being watched that day, and, though they didn't know it, some hikers had told the local sheriff they had seen something very odd on the nearby Appalachian Trail: strange symbols and threatening signs painted on rocks and trees. Appalachian Trail Murders - Should You Hike With A gun? - Wild West Trail Susan Ramsay was dead. Ya know, I-- I made it. Something evil happened at this lonely campground years ago, a crime so gruesome that its memory seemed to linger in the damp, forest air. That's what I told 'em. I woulda died right there. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He said he had a master's degree in engineering from Virginia Tech, another lie. Randall Lee Smith was convicted of the death of two hikers in 1981, crimes for which he served 15 years in prison from 1981 to 1996. Scott Johnston: But then I remembered the helicopter landing. I couldn't say anything. Tom Lawson: Go on record, give it to the media. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Susan Ramsay had been stabbed repeatedly in the chest, and hit in the back of the head with a blunt instrument. Luckily, the pair survived. Tom Lawson: It does not penetrate the skull. At that point, she's at his mercy because she's out of it. Randall Lee Smith - Wikipedia Ron Hamlin: You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court a law, okay? Randall Smith Obituary (1960 - 2021) - Marion, NC - Legacy.com His parents were unable to bail him out and he was incarcerated. Though Tom Lawson may have done everything he could to keep Randall Lee Smith from roaming free, he says he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself if Smith had killed again. And be thankful for all the things you have, because it could be taken from you in a split-second. Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive. Scott Johnston: --with the pedals, gas, brake --down the mountain. He looked just like a normal camper. He compared Smith's prints to that print left in the book. Totally sideways in the road. Tom Lawson: I was just thinking how useless this murder was, how uncalled for. Later, the police determined that Ricky was none other than Randall Lee Smith, who had already returned to his murderous ways after being paroled from prison. Randy is survived by his parents John and Norma Smith, his sister Debra (Brian) Doggett, his brother Timothy (Sandy) Smith, nieces Shelley White, Amy and Kasey Smith . Scott Johnston: I had fished all morning. Smith served a 10-year prison term for those killings, was released in 1996 and returned home to live with his mother in Pearisburg, Va. His mother died in 2000. Naves in Doing Crime Iowa. Randall Lee Smith was suspected of shooting two fishermen near Dismal Creek. Farmer recalled saying. He had blood on his clothing when he was taken into custody, according to the complaint. And I said, "Here, you can have these.". Although Sean and Scott managed to escape with their lives, they were shot multiple times and had to go through several complex and costly medical procedures that included numerous operations. He charged the shooter, and then. Sean Farmer: He turned back towards me. If you are intrigued to know more about the details surrounding the crime and want to find out where Sean and Scott are at present, we have you covered. So it was just, you know, staring each other down, briefly. And my mouth swollen immediately. He specifically asked the warden to do nothing to save his life. Scott Johnston: They weren't sure if I would ever talk or swallow again. And meet Sean down at the road, and I saw his headlights coming and he stops and I jump in. His two known model victims were Judith Dull and Ruth Mercado. Nevertheless, from the looks of it, both friends still seem to reside in the state of Virginia and often go fishing together, despite their past experiences. He said he had been in the woods for two weeks, hunting turkey with an uncle. "My first impression was that maybe his wife had kicked him out of the house and he was living in the woods," Johnston said. [9] Smith was arrested that day after attempting to escape in Johnstons truck and subsequently crashing. And do some more fishing. In addition to the gun, police found a treasure trove of evidence Randall Lee Smith had hidden deep in the woods: Scott Johnston's sunglasses, more than 20 knives, meat cleavers and other items. (Michael Williamson / The Washington Post / Getty Images). 981-3324. This wasn't gonna make you popular. The Pearisburg couple heard about his death during church Sunday. Skydiving, Wingsuit Flying & BASE Jumping, Dangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us. I said, "I know you did." Tom Lawson tracked Smith down, brought him back here to his home in Pearisburg, and noticed something -- you could walk out Smith's back door and be up on the Appalachian Trail in minutes, and it was just a short hike from the murder scene. ", Scott Johnston: Yeah. Ya know, and-- and I told myself, I'm, like, hang on, hang on. Farmer said he then stood up, unable to figure out what had happened, and felt his face, hot and swelling. One burglary got him arrested. Scott Johnston: It was -- felt good. Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, 27 year old social workers from Maine, were both also victims of theAppalachian trail murdersby Randall Lee Smith. Tom Lawson: She runs, he chases, grabs the-- the wrought iron poker as she's running. Chris Hansen: 15 years? [10] He died in jail four days later as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Born in the Bronx to a Jewish family and raised in Colorado, Glatman exhibited antisocial behavior and sadomasochistic sexual tendencies from an early age. Once Jordan was gone, the victim ran down the trail and ran into two hikers, who assisted her for the next six miles into Smyth County, Virginia, where they called 911, according to the court documents. Her identity remained a mystery for 55 years. On Friday, Jordan allegedly approached four hikers near the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday at the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. Scott Johnston: The-- the doctor told that the bullet that went in my neck missed my carotid artery by one millimeter. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Youre more likely to encounter troublesome people within a mile of Appalachian Trail crossroads, rather than in the deep, dark forest. Julie Williams andLollie Winans were found both with their throats cut in the Shenandoah National Park in the Virginia, just a month after Bryson hiked through the area himself. But the police were able to confirm that the gun was his. "He loved that dog and that dog loved him," said Sherman Smith, who is not related to Randall Smith. Sean Farmer: At that time, I just put my hand up. We'll hear some-- some more music. And survived it. And for him, it was spine tingling, dj vu moment: He realized the attack on Scott and Sean was eerily similar to a bloody, double murder he had investigated years earlier. I just screamed I said, "Go. But as Farmer put his Jeep in gear, the shot he was expecting didn't come. Scott and Sean somehow managed to escape the area even while being shot and took refuge in the latters vehicle. Then, seemingly out of the blue, the police got a break. Two fisherman were shot on the Appalachian Trail by Randall Lee Smith. The Gruesome Truth About The Climbers Who Die on Mount Everest, The Darwin Awards: 10 Of The Worst Stupid Death Stories Ever. Scott Johnston: And I guess, he turned and shot me in the back, at that time. When he was twelve years old, his parents noticed that he had a red, swollen neck. 17 Grisly & Outdoorsy Murder Cases - Investigation Discovery As 8:30 p.m. approached, darkness began to creep over the campground. Scott Johnston: --and one on the steering wheel. Just to get him. Scott says he developed a special bond with nurse and patient advocate Judy Snipes. Farmer arrived at the campground at 4 p.m. and was setting up his tent an hour later when the bony dog ambled into camp, followed by Smith. She died in 2000. As he gets in, the gunman runs alongside, and lines him up for the finishing shot. The isolated shelter sits well off the trail in a dark, remote tract of woodland. Space Rabbit Coffee among the latest to hop into changing part of Christiansburg, Pearisburg man never shook reputation as AT killer, Analysis: Mom and pop safe as First Republic Bank fails. The slayings became the subject of the 1984 book "Murder on the Appalachian Trail" by author Jess Carr. Chris Hansen: So, you got one-- one hand on your neck--, Scott Johnston: Yeah, one hand on my neck--. Many people in Giles County believe Smith got off easy for the murders of the two promising young people from Maine. Smith was pronounced dead at a Pulaski County hospital about 6 p.m. Hamlin said officers found no external evidence of suicide. Lawson and his team went to check the Wapiti shelter -- near where Scott and Sean would camp years later --- because it was the closest campsite to Pearisburg. He was found unresponsive about 5 p.m. in his cell at the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Mountford was shot in the head and Ramsay had been beaten and stabbed. But it was too early to celebrate. You have permission to edit this article. Out of nowhere, Ricky brandished a gun and began shooting incessantly at the two men in front of him. I--I'm holding my finger in the bullet hole right here to keep myself from bLeeding to death. Please subscribe to keep reading. Joel Polson, 26 year old from South Carolina, was killed at a shelter in Georgia by Michigan fugitive Ralph Fox, who continued to walk south and then caught a bus to Atlanta, where he was arrested. I mean, it was just pulsing out of me. 3. Scott Johnston: Basically, it was, you know, after a day or so of everything bein' in the newspapers. Sheriff Morgan Millirons: There were skulls and cross bones painted on rocks, you know, enter at your own risk. Astonishingly, he would later shoot two more individuals on the trail, although they survived his attack. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. [6] His probation ended in 2006. The murder today still seems to be unsolved. However, Sean did appear in the Investigation Discovery episode, where he provided a first-hand account of the terrifying attack. Hikers frequently stop in Pearisburg for resupply or rest, as did Carlie Roberts and Jordan Price on a rainy, miserable Sunday. You know, I mean 'cause every day I think about the story and I mean it's always on my mind. She and her husband, Sherman, live a stone's throw from Smith's small, ramshackle house in an older subdivision near Pearisburg. The 1981 murders and 2008 attacks were depicted in the Investigation Discovery series Dead Silent: The Curse of Dismal Creek, season 1, episode 1, broadcast on October 25, 2016. The two men demonstrated what happened next. the Murderpedia project stay alive. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. And so I opened up the cooler and I pulled out a bag of trout. Scott Johnston: Yeah. "He was a good friend and a good neighbor.". Gary Stafford's reaction to the killer's death was typical. And a study from the journal Nature published last. Luckily the pair survived, but Smith was charged for attempted murder and murder of two hikers back in 1981 (mpora.com). "Lyin' Randall.". "You can't feel bad for somebody like that.". He left prison in 1996 and was released from probation in 2006. Randall Lee Smith <p> Randall Lee Smith, 43, of Mocksville, NC passed away on March 29, 2021 at his home . Just us bein', you know, young, healthy guys. Police could not determine if she had been sexually assaulted, because of the condition of the body. The two friends are also carrying around some new debt because of the shooting. Lawson was immediately suspicious of Randall Lee Smith. I used to be a Web Developer in the Newsroom, now I spend my time in coffee shops researching murder. And all I could see were, you know, shots of what's looked like fire, which were bullets discharging towards Scott. top story Bland County Youtuber believes he's found Appalachian Trail killer's campsite By JEFFREY SIMMONS | Staff Aug 19, 2021 Updated Jan 12, 2022 0 Mike Reed suspects these camping items belonged to convicted killer Randall Lee Smith. Then the pieces started to fall into place: Lawson found some hikers who saw Randall Lee Smith with Susan Ramsay the day of the murders. That was - I was just going through pain -. Randall Lee Smith was arrested in the double homicide. Layers of blue mountains on the Appalachian Trail. Header Image Source: Photo byKelly SikkemaonUnsplash, Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer at the campground where they were shot by killer Randall Lee Smith (via scnow.com), Randall Lee Smith died mere days after being taken into custody in Giles County of a blood clot in 2008 (via btdonline.com). He had told them his campsite was an hour away. Scott and Sean were near the trail on brushy mountain, miles away from civilization, heading for a creek alive with rainbow trout. And it was even more corroded and damaged. I couldn't hear any other gunshots because inside my head was, like, waaaah, just as loud as you can possibly imagine. Select this result to view Randall Lee Smith's phone number, address, and more. He began serving the prison term in 1981, and after spending fifteen behind bars, Randall was paroled in 1996. Chris Hansen: Did you think there was a chance they wouldn't make it? Chris Hansen: You've both been shot twice. And they were fishing together. Sean Farmer: It couldn't have turned out any better for us. He served 14 years total before being released from prison. She said residents told them about Randall Lee Smith, about the murders he committed in 1981 and about the most recent allegations. Blogger Mark Kelley suggests bearing in mind that most violence comes from people crossing paths with the Appalachian Trail, not other hikers. Both men were shot twice, but survived. and I see his arm stuck out towards Sean. Tom Lawson: From a law enforcement perspective we had a excellent case. It does not store any personal data. You have permission to edit this article. Retired FBI profiler Mary Ellen OToole wrote a book calledDangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us. But god damn, one of my faves, season 2 of Marcella is on Netflix and its way better than season 1 and way darker. And the road curves in S turns you know turns. When April Fools Goes too Far! After Randall Smith's arrest, neighbors wondered what happened to Bo. He had-- a nickname: Sherman Smith: Oh, L.R. Scott Johnston: And-- we were sitting around the campfire, talkin' about sports, and fishing. Just a day after arriving at Tom Lawson's jail, Randall Lee Smith diedalone in his cell. Here are the list of Appalachian trail murders since 1974: Scott Lilley, a hiker from Indiana, died on the Applachian Trail on 12 August 2011. As a rule of thumb, youre more likely to encounter troublesome people within a mile or two of crossroads, rather than in the deep, dark forest. True to form, that note about being kidnapped was just another lie. And the wheels probably come within a foot of going over like a - a 20 or 30-foot embankment. Eight foods that will boost your brain health, Nine ways restaurants sneak extra calories into meals. For seven and a half years for two people's lives, he died where he should a died. I mean--. Scott Johnston: That-- that is a picture of the bullet that's in my back. 2001 - A Canadian woman was murdered in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Sean Farmer: So, I was-- to me, I was just trying to maintain just-- I guess the pain and-- ya know, just won-- wondering about him. The positive identification of "Boulder Jane Doe" was an 18-year-old woman from Phoenix, Arizona named Dorothy Gay Howard. "What the hell just happened?" The murders triggered a wave of horror and outrage, and national headlines. [13] Smith was also referenced in season 12, episode 4 of Criminal Minds. And ironically, Smith's jailer would be the same man who put him behind bars 27 years ago -- Tom Lawson. (laughter). Chris Hansen: Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Homeowners struggle with discriminatory homeowners association Q: I read the article you. And I mean, he just punched it. As he hit the dirt road leading out, a bloody Johnston stepped out of the woods and into the road. On May 9, he was released from the hospital and taken by deputies to the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Chris Hansen: That he's comin' to for shootin' two other people on the Appalachian Trail. Read More: Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive? I could hear him say, "Come on, boy. IE 11 is not supported. Randall Lee Smith was arrested and charged with the 1981 Appalachian Trail murders. But, it just didn't happen. Rebecca Wight and Claudia Brenner were having sex in the woods in a Pennsylvania State Park while hiking the trail. Both men were shot at point blank range and critically wounded. And they come to the door and they see me, and I'm soaked in blood - I mean from head to toe. On Tuesday, Smith allegedly struck again, shooting and wounding two fishermen at a spot eerily close to the site of the 1981 murders. Tom Lawson: The cloth sLeeping bag was lying out this way. This time, however, the pair survived the attack, despite numerous gunshot wounds to the head, neck, and chest. And I said, "You just listen to me and I'll tell you when to work the pedals." them before opening fire. You can cancel at any time. You weren't gonna gain any girlfriends. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Wright died from the shots. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Chris Hansen: What do you think saved you guys that night? Until I actually went to the door and seen him holding his neck, and blood was running down. Sean Farmer: I guess, you know, the saying, "Hammer down. On May 6, 2008, Sean and Scott set out individually for Dismal Creek, and while Sean was the first to reach the campsite, he soon came across a stranger who introduced himself as Ricky Williams of Newport. Smith, meanwhile, had driven off in Johnston's black truck. Ron Hamlin: And another investigator and I went I've and we pulled him out from under the truck. Sean Farmer: Yeah, pretty much the way it is. Go." Scott Johnston: And then I realized, then, that I was shot in the neck. I said, "Either I'll swallow, or I'll die." OBITUARY: Randall Scotte Thompson - The Richmond Observer [2] A third victim, Shirley Ann Bridgeford, was met through a Lonely Hearts ad in the newspaper. Then the killer turned his attention to Susan Ramsay. Scott wanted to take us back to Carillion Roanoke hospital to meet some of the team that saved his life. Glatman also is a suspect in the slaying of "Boulder Jane Doe," a victim whose corpse was discovered by hikers near Boulder, Colorado in 1954. "If I had to ask him one question," Johnston said, "it would be, Why? And I- and I started running this direction, ducking down. And with Randall Lee Smith now in his jail, Lawson hoped he finally would get answers to questions he's wanted to ask for 27 years. At one point during the flight, Johnston thought he must have died. Tom Lawson: That's the first stories that started circulating. You can cancel at any time. How'd you accept that? Later Glatman began committing robberies, burglaries, and eventually escalated to sexually assaulting the women of the homes he targeted. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really Chris Hansen: Now, this would freak me out. After serving only 15 years, Randall went on to shoot two other men on the Appalachian Trail, but through sheer determination, those two men survived. "The next thing I knew boom, boom, boom! Chris Hansen: I mean, it had to be massive fear out there that some kind of a killer, perhaps a serial killer, was stalking hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Smith, carrying a fishing rod and a bag, walked up and said he recently had found the dog.
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