A Killer Returns to the Appalachian Trail a True Crime Story [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. Scott Johnston: I took off and I made it down through the woods. No one has been arrested in the homicide. The pressure was on to find the killer, but police had just one solid piece of forensic evidence -- from a book belonging to murder victim Susan Ramsay. 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. Randall Smith was injured and apprehended when he wrecked a pickup he allegedly stole from one of the fishermen. "I think he got what he deserved," Stafford said. And I was sitting there thinking, well, you know, he can't see. Saturday Morning Serial - Murders in the Wild - Mix 105.1 Similarly, a bullet also remained lodged in Scotts back, and both men endured multiple bullet wounds and surgical scars, which they bear to this day. And I say, "Call 911. The Gruesome Truth About The Climbers Who Die on Mount Everest, The Darwin Awards: 10 Of The Worst Stupid Death Stories Ever. Sean Farmer: I was already in shock for almost bein' killed. When Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer were shot near the Appalachian Trail last may, former deputy Tom Lawson immediately had a suspect in mind-- Randall Lee Smith. He said he had been in the woods for two weeks, hunting turkey with an uncle. Farmer said he then crouched down in his seat, waiting for the inevitable shot to the back of the head. You can decide at anytime to exercise your rights, not make any statements, not make any answers, okay? asked Virginia Smith, a neighbor who is not related to Randall 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. So, I couldn't really speak after that. Lawson was immediately suspicious of Randall Lee Smith. And, I mean, I was-- I was scared, ya know, that- that he was gonna die or something. Johnston, a 38-year-old layer of ceramic tiles, said his brush with Smith began at 1 p.m. Johnston had been fishing for trout all morning in Dismal Creek, just below the Appalachian Trail, and had driven his Ford Ranger pickup truck the nearly 4 miles to Trent's Grocery to pick up some supplies. Farmer held up his hand through the rolled-down window to block the bullet, but Smith didn't fire. Just us bein', you know, young, healthy guys. He later died in prison. Johnston was shot in the neck and back. Both survived. Just a day after arriving at Tom Lawson's jail, Randall Lee Smith diedalone in his cell. Brenner now crusades against violence aimed at gay people. And weeks after the murders, police still didn't have one. Almost immediately, Smith crashed the truck, suffering head injuries that required a helicopter to take him to a Roanoke hospital. Lt. Ron Hamlin says Smith left the road, drove up an embankment and flipped the truck on its roof. [9] Smith was arrested that day after attempting to escape in Johnstons truck and subsequently crashing. Thank you very much in advance. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Randall Lee Smith, completed his earthly mission June 22, 2007 at the age of 59, after a year-long struggle with Leukemia. Chilling details emerge in fatal machete attack on - ABC News DISMAL CREEK The killer, wearing camouflage clothing and expensive-looking boots, walked into Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston's campsite around 5 p.m. Of course, at the time, the two fishing buddies from Bluefield, Va., didn't know the gaunt, frail man with the snowy white beard was a killer, or that he intended to shoot them. Randall was born in Duluth, Minnesota on October 16, 1946 to Basil E. and Bernice M. (Gidbout) Smith. "Well, if I did, it wasn't my gun, it was theirs," is what he said. A battered Ford Ranger pickup parked Sunday at Bear's Garage, a business owned by Sherman Smith's brother, was the vehicle involved in the accident, according to Sherman Smith. And I'm telling him, I'm like, "Slow down. Scott Johnston: It was really creepy. Like most everyone in this mountainous part of the state, Johnston and Farmer had heard about the 1981 murders. Ironically, it was the gunman who did not survive that encounter at the dismal creek campground. We just talked about trivial stuff, nothing in-depth or personal.". 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. Ron Hamlin: And I said, "Did you shoot him?" Sean Farmer: This is it, right here. By the grace of God, they're not dead. Smith as he appeared in his 1973 driver's license photo. My Favorite Murder - 125 - Bedside Astrologer! "The Randall I knew was not the cold-hearted person the outside world makes him out to be," she said. An autopsy will be performed. But I mean, all of a sudden we just take off again. That's the-- that's the round that killed him. He would then strangle them and dump the bodies in the desert. And-- and we just skid sideways in the road around that curve. Contents 1 Background 2 1981 Murders and Release 3 Later Crimes and Death 4 Modus Operandi 5 Known Victims 6 On Criminal Minds 7 Sources Background I said, "I know you did." The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Both Smith's sentence and his early release were met with anger by the victims' families as well as the hiking community. Sean Farmer: I'm just thankful that, you know, the beat goes on. Scott Johnston: And then I realized, then, that I was shot in the neck. And it comes to a really sharp curve in the road. Authorities allege Smith used a .22-caliber pistol Tuesday night to shoot Sean Farmer, 33, of Tazewell and Scott Johnston, 37, of Bluefield. Chris Hansen: How are you gonna get down this mountain? Meanwhile, Scott Johnston has taken refuge in the woods. Sean Farmer: And the thing was, ya know-- we communicated, but, like-- like I said, my mouth was swollen. This page uses cookies and other similar technologies to improve your experience on our services. I mean, it was just pulsing out of me. Chris Hansen: What's it like to see these gals here today? Smith, a convicted felon, was also known locally. There was a handgun laying outside the truck, right in the-- within his reach. Authorities at the Wythe County joint dispatch center received the first 911 call around 2:30 a.m. Saturday from two hikers, presumably from the initial group, saying that they were being chased by a man with a machete, the complaint states. And Scott and Sean -- who somehow survived Smith's brutal attack -- will never get any answers . Thank y'all so much. Scott Johnston: Oh, I mean, the blood was just squirting out of my neck. Randall "Randy" Lee Smith, 60, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Tuesday, September 07, 2021, at Carolinas HealthCare System - Blue Ridge. He left prison in 1996 and was released from probation in 2006. He served 14 years total before being released from prison. 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. All of a sudden we came upon Kevlar bag. Two of the hikers chased him away, but Jordan allegedly returned and began stabbing the male victim in the upper body after they began arguing, the complaint states. At one point the Jeep hit an embankment and nearly flipped, but the two kept on. I said, "Let me steer." 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. Chris Hansen: Did you think there was a chance they wouldn't make it? I mean, we're both healthy, still here. Bo has been adopted. While the two friends were fighting for their lives at the Roanoke hospital, 30 miles down the road, a retired sheriff's deputy, Tom Lawson, heard about the shooting. But mystery has long surrounded the trail from disappearances to murder. The book that now was stamped with a bloody fingerprint. Not only did his disappearance come shortly after the double murders, but police quickly learned the kidnap note was left by Smith himself. The next day, they brought in search dogs to comb the woods. Incidentally, the same area in Dismal Creek witnessed a terrifying murder in 1981, where hikers Bobby Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay were stabbed and shot to death by a man they met while hiking the Appalachian Trail. Sean Farmer: Once I saw what was happening, I went towards him again. We just kept staring down at her, and it was almost like we were in denial of what we just found. Did Randall Smith return to his old haunts, near the Wapiti shelter, and Dismal Creek? Tom Lawson: Saying-- yes-- "You all need to make a statement saying that there's no serial killer walkin' the Appalachian Trail. Can he take him down before he pulls the trigger again? And a study from the journal Nature published last. Sitting with her granddaughter, Virginia Smith and her husband, Sherman, were neighbors of Randall Smith (not a relative of theirs). And, you know, patted his leg. Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer at the campground where they were shot by killer Randall Lee Smith. When some killers kill, we sit back and wonder how this happened. When browsing or using our services, the user accepts the use of "cookies". After, you know, a couple hours of conversation, some dinner, this is where we found ourselves, right here. "It was his second time doing this," he said. We need to get back to camp.". Those murders took place back in 1981, and yet Tom Lawson had a gut feeling that there was a connection between that crime, and the attack on Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer. "Lyin' Randall.". Once back in Virginia, Randall was offered a plea deal where he would plead guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in exchange for 30 years in prison. But just a few hours later, that picture postcard day turned into a night straight out of a horror movie. You know, they-- they just let him roam free. He had told them his campsite was an hour away. But the Miller's home is about forty miles from the nearest hospital. Tom Lawson: I think his motive with Susan was sexual. I was going to go down to the road. "Ol' Bo was beside him all the time. We never found the weapon. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Tom Lawson: The flooring, which was brand new, was very black, like someone had rubbed a substance on the floor. ", "I wasn't even looking at him, and the next thing I know, I didn't see him pull a gun or anything, I just had this ringing in my head where he shot me right in the side of the face," Farmer said. Tom Lawson: We-- we had absolutely no idea. 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. Tom Lawson: Oh, yeah. Eight foods that will boost your brain health, Nine ways restaurants sneak extra calories into meals. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). And the next thing I know is-- is we hit it too fast. And at least 40 miles from probably a hospital. In the trees, though, "I saw the blood squirting a foot long out of my neck.". Well, when we veer left, the next thing I know the jeep just runs up on the side of the embankment. Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos, Waiting for Impact: A Dave Holmes Passion Project. Although it was an extremely remote area, the police reached the location as fast as possible, and the survivors were airlifted to a nearby hospital, where they underwent medical care. 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. They both needed immediate medical attention, and were Medavac-ed to a hospital in Roanoke. And basically what we found out about Randall was-- is that-- he was very-- shy. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Hikers protested outside the courtroom the day after his sentencing, and a spokesman for the Appalachian Trail Conference said Smith is the "first person convicted of murdering a hiker who has had the opportunity to leave prison". And then I'm sitting there thinking, well, maybe I am dead right now. Tom Lawson: Why did you do it? Go." Read the transcript here. It devastated people. (laughing). 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. Later Glatman began committing robberies, burglaries, and eventually escalated to sexually assaulting the women of the homes he targeted. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Scott Johnston: --and one on the steering wheel. PEARISBURG -- News of Randall Lee Smith's death Saturday afternoon elicited little sympathy Sunday in Giles County. Bobby Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This wasnt the case with Randall Lee Smith or Lyin Randall as the locals had taken to calling him. Tom Lawson: The book belonged to Susan, and the fingerprint belonged to Randall Smith. Sean, six-foot five and 380 pounds, decides to charge the man. On Tuesday, Smith allegedly struck again, shooting and wounding two fishermen at a spot eerily close to the site of the 1981 murders. Two fisherman were shot on the Appalachian Trail by Randall Lee Smith. And - and I bang on the door. Smith, carrying a fishing rod and a bag, walked up and said he recently had found the dog. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. A motive for the alleged attack is under investigation by the FBI's Richmond, Virginia, division. Tom Lawson: Well, we were getting calls from the Department of the Interior--. 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. Murder on the Appalachian Trail - Adventure Possible Sheila called the rescue squad, then Johnston's mother and girlfriend, then Farmer's mother. But as he crossed a narrow bridge, Farmer began to drift in and out of consciousness behind the steering wheel. We were about five miles from any house. Her identity remained a mystery for 55 years. Mountford had been shot three times in the face, while Ramsay was stabbed repeatedly with a long nail, authorities said. Incidentally, the stranger even appeared helpful as he took responsibility for collecting dry firewood, and Sean was only too happy to welcome him into their group. 17 Grisly & Outdoorsy Murder Cases - Investigation Discovery Because, I mean, he came up from at a angle behind execution style and popped me. Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston say Randall Lee Smith befriended them before opening fire. I just want to thank you for it, it was the funniest fucking thing. Jordan was arrested on the trail around 6:14 a.m. Saturday. Roberts said locals had told them about Smith, about the murders he had committed in 1981 and the most recent allegations. When Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston decided to spend a day fishing and camping out in Dismal Creek, Virginia, in 2008, they had no idea of the terror awaiting them there. They sounded convincing, she said. Randall Lee Smith was sentenced to 15 years in prison -- just seven and a half years for each of the murders. Residents of Bluefield, Virginia, Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston are longtime buddies who often go out fishing and camping together. Sean Farmer: Scott sat right here on this stoop, and I was over here on this corner. You can cancel at any time. No one had kidnapped Smith, he had just left town and had driven to South Carolina. You have permission to edit this article. Smith apparently abandoned his home sometime in February or March, leaving with Bo. Chris Hansen: How much pressure was on you to solve this case and get that Appalachian Trail back open? On May 9, he was released from the hospital and taken by deputies to the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Randall Lee Smith (center) leaves the Giles County courthouse in You are much more at risk by getting caught out by the weather or not having the right kit than you are being attacked by someone, says Phoebe Smith, an award-winning travel writer who has spent hundreds of nights wild camping alone. He was executed in the gas chamber of San Quentin State Prison on September 18, 1959". And then I run up, and I get down behind this clump of trees, to protect myself. And survived it. He said he'd spoke to Scott. They knew his history and sometimes worried about what he might do to them, their children and grandchildren. 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. And then, you know, like, you know, the next day, you read that in the newspaper. Bland County Youtuber believes he's found Appalachian Trail killer's Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. I was just out of it. In the spring of 1981, hikers Susan Ramsay and Robert Mountford were murdered at the Wapiti shelter -- then buried in sleeping bags by their killer. "He said, 'Come on, boy. Mike Reed found a killer campsite in the Giles County national forest. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Wright died from the shots. Randall Lee Smith. Rebecca Wight and Claudia Brenner were having sex in the woods in a Pennsylvania State Park while hiking the trail. The only leads were items the police found near the murder sceneincluding items belonging to victim Susan Ramsay. Melissa Miller: I thought it was one of my son's friends playing a joke. These are the deadliest national parks in the U.S. Biden vows banking system is 'safe and sound', Iconic TV sets and artifacts up for auction. So, we talked a little while. Chris Hansen: And one on the steering wheel. Paul Bigley murderedJanice Balza with a hatchet. Scott still carries some grim reminders of that shooting. And once the boards came up-- we saw that there was a large puddle of blood. Sherman Smith: He would walk in the mountains just about -- just about everyday when it was pretty, but I didn't know how far he went. Comes right back to Pearisburg, right back to his mother's house, right back to the community like it-- like-- like he never missed a beat. This United States biographical article related to crime is a stub. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. One of the paperback books, when we were thumbing through the-- the pages, we found a fingerprint-- bloody fingerprint in the book. The man who tried to murder the two lifelong friends was 54-year-old Randall Lee Smith, a Pearisburg native who killed two Appalachian Trail hikers in 1981, a crime so outrageous to the trail town's residents that they all but shunned him when he returned from prison in 1996. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was released in 1996 on mandatory parole after serving 15 years. (laughter). Tirzepatide could become the most effective drug in an arsenal of medications transforming the treatment of obesity. Ron Hamlin: Do you wish to talk to us about this? Tom Lawson - who is still pained by those 1981 murders - will never get his chance to ask Smith why he killed those two hikers. Randall Lee Smith Motor Vehicle Anatomy Weaponry Transports Get local news delivered to your inbox! "You can't feel bad for somebody like that.". He was born June 30, 1967, in Mecklenburg County, son of Kay Harding Thompson and the late Jackie W. Thompson Sr. Scotte was a caring, loving father, son, and friend. Louise Chaput, a 51 year-old Canadian,was stabbed to death in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. Four miles down the road at last, they stopped at the brick home of Sammy and Pearl Miller, who were home with daughters Sheila and Melissa and son Chris. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Scott Johnston: I would have bled to death within five minutes. He began serving the prison term in 1981, and after spending fifteen behind bars, Randall was paroled in 1996. Randall Lee Smith - Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Home And the wheels probably come within a foot of going over like a - a 20 or 30-foot embankment. 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. He's taking the spike nail that was on the ground, he's stabbing her. In 2008, Randall Lee Smith shot two fishermen on the trail with intent to kill them. Tom Lawson: When we shut that trail down, we caught holy "you know what.". Ya know, and-- and I told myself, I'm, like, hang on, hang on. Scott Johnston: That-- that is a picture of the bullet that's in my back. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. That's what I did.". Hotel rooms near Something in the Water are still available but they wont be cheap. Chris Hansen: And you know you had to get that wound plugged? Scott Johnston: And I jumped up. February 9, 1954 - March 5, 2022. Scott Johnston: By the time I was loaded in the helicopter, I was starting to, like, spit up blood. Susan Ramsay, 27, and Robert Mountford, 27. We can only guess what the reason for this would be. Farmer stopped and Johnston jumped in. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Appalachian Trail Murders - Should You Hike With A gun? - Wild West Trail 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. Tom Lawson: That's the first stories that started circulating. This crime-related article is a stub. 1982. And it was even more corroded and damaged. We found two paperback books that belonged to her. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). And he went about a mile from where they saw him and he wrecked his truck. For fishermen like Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer, days don't start any better than this. He could talk fine. I mean, that's the main thing I was wondering about. After Scott made the ID, police launched a manhunt for Randall Lee Smith. Bowles believes Smith probably camped for a time somewhere in the mountains above his home. And when Randall Lee Smith went on trial for his latest crimes on the Appalachian Traileveryone hoped they finally would get some answers. You can barely see. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But help is miles away from their Appalachian Trail campsite - a long, dangerous drive down a dark mountain road. He was found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. Melissa Miller answered the door, and couldn't believe what she saw. Ever. [7], On May 6, 2008, Smith attempted to kill Scott Johnston, 38, and Sean Farmer, 33, on a fishing trip near Dismal Creek, less than two miles from the site of the 1981 murders. And I mean we're flying down the road. The slayings became the subject of the 1984 book "Murder on the Appalachian Trail" by author Jess Carr. But it's actually inside my sinus cavity. Both survived. Not until the helicopter landed and the doors were opened and he felt the fresh air, though, did he know that he was still alive. Chris Hansen: Now, this would freak me out. "The next thing I knew boom, boom, boom! Chris Hansen: 15 years? She died in 2000. The enormous vat of nacho cheese that you brought to my birthday party last weekend. And then my vision in my right side went bad. "He was a good friend and a good neighbor.". The beauty of this wilderness can mask its danger. As the planet warms, researchers say allergy season is starting earlier and lasting longer. And I- and I started running this direction, ducking down. She believes he probably has found peace. His two known model victims were Judith Dull and Ruth Mercado. You can cancel at any time. I hammered them. He would contact them with offers of work for pulp fiction magazines, take them back to his apartment, tie them up and sexually assault them, taking pictures all the while. They seemed so normal. On the other hand, when cops approached Ricky Williams, he attempted to escape in Scotts truck but ended up in a fatal accident that claimed his life. Scott and Sean were still a long way from medical help. Farmer was shot in the face and chest. Chris Hansen: What did you think you had on your hands in terms of a-- a profile of a killer? On top of it, in 2008, Randall was already out on parole and was reported missing by his neighbor, which further increased worries. To keep creating 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. True to form, that note about being kidnapped was just another lie. Gary Stafford's reaction to the killer's death was typical. However, Sean did appear in the Investigation Discovery episode, where he provided a first-hand account of the terrifying attack. He said he had a master's degree in engineering from Virginia Tech, another lie. Smith introduced himself as Ricky Williams of Newport. He charged the shooter, and then. Sean Farmer: He turned back towards me. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Smith was arrested that day after attempting to escape in one of the victim's trucks and subsequently crashing. Mustang Wanted Dead?? We have many His probation ended in 2006. They each drank a Bud Light but didn't offer Smith one. The murder today still seems to be unsolved. The enforcement action involves the same Chemours Co. plant that has been linked to water pollution in the Roanoke Valley. "Can you imagine having no friends, no family, nobody visiting you?" Make sure someone knows where you can. [8] He was befriended by the two men, who shared their dinner with Smith, before he opened fire on them without warning, shooting Farmer in the head and chest and Johnston in the neck and back; both would survive their wounds. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Sean Farmer: I was - I guess - so drained. Sean Farmer: I was beyond the point of thinking I wasn't gonna make it. And they were fishing together. Smith came around the front of the Jeep and pointed the gun at Farmer.