Scott Johnston: --and one on the steering wheel. Just be-- our friendship saved us. We probably were the two nicest people he ran across--. You can cancel at any time. Tom Lawson: So we started interviewing people who knew him, who grew up with him. I hammered them. Sitting with her granddaughter, Virginia Smith and her husband, Sherman, were neighbors of Randall Smith (not a relative of theirs). And Tom Lawson points out that gun was a .22 caliber revolver - the same type of gun Smith used 27 years ago. Johnston, meanwhile, had not seen Smith shoot Farmer, but after hearing a bang he looked up from his seat, fashioned of two rocks and a log, and saw Smith's arm stretched out toward Farmer. Tirzepatide could become the most effective drug in an arsenal of medications transforming the treatment of obesity. Randall Lee Smith eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case and was sentenced to two 15-year sentences. Scott Johnston: --well, man. He never said a word, he just started firing at us. Is Randall Lee Smith Dead or Alive? And he told me, he says, "Oh, you know, there's no fish in this creek. Sean Farmer: At that time, I just put my hand up. They knew his history and sometimes worried about what he might do to them, their children and grandchildren. And, like I say, I mean, I just stuck my finger, ya know, probably a quarter inch down inside the wound. Scott Johnston: --with the pedals, gas, brake --down the mountain. Until I actually went to the door and seen him holding his neck, and blood was running down. As he attempted to escape, he crashed his getaway. need your help for this. At a remote mountain campsite, Sean Farmer is in a life-or-death struggle with a gunman intent on killing him. 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 . Sean Farmer: I just had this ringing in my head, where he shot me right in the side of the face. And once the boards came up-- we saw that there was a large puddle of blood. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. In 2008, Randall Lee Smith shot two fishermen on the trail with intent to kill them. I was just amazed. 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. And the road curves in S turns you know turns. And what did you think you were gonna gain from this, notoriety? 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. Lawson found those murder weapons. Smith was paroled in 1996 after serving 15 years of a 30-year prison sentence. And then, you know, like, you know, the next day, you read that in the newspaper. Upon his eventual release from prison, he would again take to the trail and attack two other campers, who miraculously survived to tell the tale of their encounter with Randall Lee Smith, the Appalachian Trail Killer.Sources for this episode:Appalachian Trail Histories - Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan RamsayMurderpedia - Randall Lee . So--. By comparison, the Pacific Crest Trail is longer (2,650 miles) althoughmarkedly younger trail has never seen a single murder. He looked just like a normal camper. 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. Scott Johnston: Actually awesome. 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. [3][4] He was sentenced to two concurrent 15 year terms, in a plea bargain negotiated by prosecutor Hezekiah Osborne, and released in 1996 on mandatory parole after serving 15 years. Wounded and bleeding, the hikers made their way down the mountain to safety, armed with their own weapon: courage. The man was reported missing, and police discovered a note in his truck saying he had been kidnapped. He graduated from the University of Utah. You have permission to edit this article. Tom Lawson: The dog comes over to this big stump, this big trunk of the tree --and he just sit. asked Virginia Smith, a neighbor who is not related to Randall Smith. Scott Johnston: Oh, I mean, the blood was just squirting out of my neck. Chris Hansen: Who do you think, at the end of the day, is most responsible for Scott and Sean's survival? Homeowners struggle with discriminatory homeowners association Q: I read the article you. Be careful when hitchhiking. Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston say Randall Lee Smith befriended But right now, the two men had one more harrowing, life and death ride to take. The third result is Randall Lee Smith age 60s in Moorhead, MN. Can he take him down before he pulls the trigger again? Scott Johnston: And-- we were sitting around the campfire, talkin' about sports, and fishing. Scott Johnston: It was really creepy. Something evil happened at this lonely campground years ago, a crime so gruesome that its memory seemed to linger in the damp, forest air. Lawson now feared the worst. He tried to kill us," Farmer said as he and Johnston granted their first interview after their May 6 ordeal. It's-- it's possibly, you know, it's about a quarter inch from my spine or less. Sean Farmer: Just to stop him from shooting us. Tom Lawson - who is still pained by those 1981 murders - will never get his chance to ask Smith why he killed those two hikers. You can barely see. I mean-- and luckily, I mean, he tried it with us. You can read the details of the case here. Hiking isnt generally thought of asa dangerous pursuit. I used to be a Web Developer in the Newsroom, now I spend my time in coffee shops researching murder. Chris Hansen: What do you think his motive was in this crime? He had told them his campsite was an hour away. Just us bein', you know, young, healthy guys. Smith, however, did not. That they were just going to walk up anytime and say, hey, you all looking for us? And they did just that before the night spun out of control. Because when I got out of the car I was almost - I almost fell down. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Balza was hoping the hike the whole trail. In 2008, Smith shot two fishermen on the trail with the intent to kill them. Tom Lawson: I think his motive with Susan was sexual. Incredibly, Sean absorbed a point blank gunshot to the chest, but somehow, he is able to turn and run for his Jeep. Chris Hansen: And what was it like when you took that first breath on your own? Tom Lawson: We-- we had absolutely no idea. Scott Johnston: This is what it feels like to be dead. Scott Johnston: I love comin' up here. Farmer recalled saying. Tom Lawson: How-- how in the world could a person's life not be worth but seven and a half years? Sean Farmer: I was already in shock for almost bein' killed. Sean Farmer: And then a pretty-- pretty big scar here. When April Fools Goes too Far! Mountford was shot in the head and Ramsay had been beaten and stabbed. The only leads were items the police found near the murder sceneincluding items belonging to victim Susan Ramsay. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. She then fell to the ground and played dead, and Jordan "left to find his dog," the complaint states. Tom Lawson: And this went on for several weeks and we kinda got to a point where we basically just were kind of at a stalemate. Jordan then allegedly tried to approach the hikers with a knife as they tried to leave the campsite, the complaint states. Those who know Sean and Scott said they were often spotted hanging out together in Bluefield and described them as generous and kindhearted individuals who never hesitated to help out others in need. We can only guess what the reason for this would be. Now, the police had some solid evidence, but no suspects. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 1982. Tom Lawson: From a law enforcement perspective we had a excellent case. (laughter). Randall is related to Bryant James Smith and Marla Jane Smith as well as 1 additional person. Read More: Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive? That's the-- that's the round that killed him. Sean Farmer: Scott sat right here on this stoop, and I was over here on this corner. He's blacking out. Sherman Smith: He's-- it's s-- almost like he's a guardian of the trail, or somethin', I don't know. 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. Scott Johnston: And he says, "Is this the guy that shot you?" I mean, you know--. I could hear him say, "Come on, boy. I woulda died right there. After Smith's arrest last week, neighbors wondered what would happen to Bo. Another lie. Tom Lawson: I was just thinking how useless this murder was, how uncalled for. And I said, "You just listen to me and I'll tell you when to work the pedals." Tom Lawson: We discovered a-- a piece of-- angle iron, wrought iron that was in the fireplace that was used for a poker to stir the ashes up. Tom Lawson: Why did you do it? It shouldnt stop you from hiking the trail yourself. I couldn't say anything. Soon, Scott and Sean would find out that what happened to them had happened before in circumstances that were eerily similar: two campers attacked for no apparent reason, in the same woods, at virtually the same location. The Victims Susan Ramsay & Robert Mountford Sean Farmer & Scott Johnston Links: Mpora Randall Lee Smith, 54, will be charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, grand larceny and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Lt. Ron Hamlin of the Giles County Sheriff's . And survived it. Chris Hansen: Twenty-seven years later you're assistant superintendent of the jail--. There in his cell the next day, officers found him unresponsive. "Saves the taxpayers some money.". Tom Lawson: I don't know. It really did. Ironically, it seems Smith's photograph on a related poster ultimately led to his identification and subsequent arrest last week on attempted-murder charges. We-- because the trail is so very well-marked, and most of the people who walk that trail are-- are experienced hikers. After Randall Smith's arrest, neighbors wondered what happened to Bo. Smith was paroled in 1996 after serving 15 years of a 30-year prison sentence. She will inherit the house when we pa. (Michael Williamson / The Washington Post / Getty Images). Randall is preceded in death by his sister Sheila Smith and his grandparents; Julia and Charles Rubin . That round goes in, up, and into the brain. To keep creating He befriended the two fishermen, who shared their dinner with Smith, before opening fire on them without warning. And I - and I'm worried, like, you know, he's shot in the brain, or something that, you know. Sean Farmer: It couldn't have turned out any better for us. And, I mean, I was-- I was scared, ya know, that- that he was gonna die or something. Although a local resident named Randall Lee Smith was arrested and convicted for the murders, residents generally avoided the area since that incident. Sheila called the rescue squad, then Johnston's mother and girlfriend, then Farmer's mother. Mustang Wanted Dead?? As Johnston banged on the door and pleaded for help, Farmer wobbled from the Jeep. The isolated shelter sits well off the trail in a dark, remote tract of woodland. 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. We need to get back to camp.". On the way back, he saw a dog that looked famished, so he stopped the truck. True Crime Writer in Las Vegas. Tom Lawson: It does not penetrate the skull. I think about 'em all the time. It's amazing what human beings can do to other human beings. James L. Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, was arrested early Saturday following the deadly attack in Wythe County, Virginia, that a federal prosecutor described Sunday as "senseless and brutal.". And I was sitting there thinking, well, you know, he can't see. However, Sean did appear in the Investigation Discovery episode, where he provided a first-hand account of the terrifying attack. A killer is allowed to return to the same trail that he killed 2 victims on before, free to attack again. Bobby Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay. 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. But just a few hours later, that picture postcard day turned into a night straight out of a horror movie. Many more murder victims lost their live on side trails near the Appalachian Trail, including Meredith Emerson in 2008. Tom Lawson: Oh, yeah. They sounded convincing, she said. The woman was stabbed to death near the Glen Boulder Trailhead just south of Pinkham Notch. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). A knife was found near the deceased victim's body, according to the complaint. "Can you imagine having no friends, no family, nobody visiting you?" Tom Lawson: Basically that Randall was gonna serve 15 years. He gunned the engine and raced out of the campground. The murder today still seems to be unsolved. And he says, "Is this the guy that shot you?". Around 3:12 a.m., the female victim called emergency dispatchers in Smyth County, detailing the attack. Almost immediately, he saw something suspicious. Because we just trying to convince ourselves this is not going to happen. Chris Hansen: What do you think saved you guys that night? Tom Lawson: The cloth sLeeping bag was lying out this way. One burglary got him arrested. Well, I- I felt around my neck. Scott Johnston: That's a good question. plans and enthusiasm And when the door opened up, I felt that cold air, like, whish across my body. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Her identity remained a mystery for 55 years. I mean--. 1996- Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were found both with their throats cut in the Shenandoah National Park in the Virginia. Randall Lee Smith: No. Because, I mean, he came up from at a angle behind execution style and popped me. Ya know, I-- I made it. IE 11 is not supported. Please subscribe to keep reading. It's still there. Go." Farmer held up his hand through the rolled-down window to block the bullet, but Smith didn't fire. And Sean Farmer's doctors told him the same thing about the bullets he took in the head and chest. We explore the famous Appalachian trail murders. "He was a quiet, humble man who didn't have much," recalled a tearful Bowles, one of Smith's former neighbors, during an interview Sunday. And we take off. Jordan was known to the hikers, who had previously seen on social media that he allegedly threatened hikers on the Appalachian Trail in Unicoi County, Tennessee in April, according to the probable cause statement. 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. I guess behind my nose in-- in here. The enormous vat of nacho cheese that you brought to my birthday party last weekend. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. In life Randall received his education from South Davie schools. He is survived by his mother Virginia Mae Smith, his father Randall Ray Smith, a son Brandon L. Smith of Mocksville, daughters Monica Weatherman and . But it turns out, violentcrime on hiking trails is more frequent than I initially thought. "That's what I'm asking for. I mean, you know, we were good to the guy. Farmer and Johnston plan to watch. Please subscribe to continue reading He was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, a sentence that he accepted willingly. It has to be noted that this is very low when compared to the 3 to 4 million people that hike the trail each year. And, you know, patted his leg. And then I'm sitting there thinking, well, maybe I am dead right now. Did Randall Smith return to his old haunts, near the Wapiti shelter, and Dismal Creek? James L. Jordan in a police booking photo. His public water was cut off April 28. he grabbed the wheel and began to steer while Farmer worked the pedals. The book that now was stamped with a bloody fingerprint. Smith returned to the Appalachian Trail in May 2008 and was arrested for shooting and wounding two fishermen near where he killed Mountford and Ramsey, authorities said. And-- and I, I mean, I'm steering from the passenger side. But we were, just, tougher than he was. Hence, people did not think much when Sean and Scott decided to travel to Dismal Creek in May 2008. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. And I run up to the-- the house. However, Sean and Scott did not think much of such issues as they were determined to enjoy the day to the fullest. "The next thing I knew boom, boom, boom! She brought him meals and stayed to chat. "Lyin' Randall.". Lawson had his suspect. Tom Lawson: We also had a hiker who had hiked with them when she purchased the book. Ron Hamlin: Do you wish to talk to us about this? And I refused. Astonishingly, he would later shoot two more individuals on the trail, although they survived his attack. 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. Melissa Miller: Yeah, it crossed my mind. I just want to thank you for it, it was the funniest fucking thing. You know, I hear that boom. 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. ", "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. ROCKINGHAM Randall Scotte Thompson, 55, of Rockingham, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at his residence. Sean walked us through what happened next. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The family put the wounded men on their porch and cleaned them with wet washcloths. Shes $, The suspect, a Connecticut man who may have been working with others, has been convicted in Botetourt and Roanoke counties and awaits trial in. Luckily, the pair survived. On top of it, in 2008, Randall was already out on parole and was reported missing by his neighbor, which further increased worries. The surroundings are all basically the same. ", Eugene Whittaker and his wife, who live nearby, have adopted Bo. Lawson was immediately suspicious of Randall Lee Smith. In early spring of 2008, concerned neighbors reported Randall Lee Smith suspiciously missing from his Ingram Street residence in Pearisburg. 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. As Johnston cleaned the fish by the creek, then placed them on a grate over the fire, along with a pot of beans, Smith talked about football and music and himself. Smith, meanwhile, had driven off in Johnston's black truck. There-- there's a small bridge that you have to cross the creek. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. And I was coming back up the mountain. ", Sean Farmer: That was just some added shock. ( Michael Williamson / The Washington Post / Getty Images) The victims Susan Ramsay, 27, and Robert Mountford, 27. And then my vision in my right side went bad. "Harvey Murray Glatman (December 10, 1927 September 18, 1959) was an American serial killer active during the late 1950s. I said, "These people are going to help us." A True Crime Publication that looks into both new crimes and long lost forgotten crimes. 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. Although each man had two serious gunshot wounds, they both survived the harrowing ordeal. Chris Hansen: Where are the bullets now inside your body? Bowles' concern for Smith, a Pearisburg resident who was 54 when he died, led her to file a missing-person report April 30 with the Giles County Sheriff's Department. The male hiker had been shot and killed, and the female hiker had been raped, tortured, and killed. I couldn't hear any other gunshots because inside my head was, like, waaaah, just as loud as you can possibly imagine. No matter what. And I said yeah.". Scott Johnston: But then I remembered the helicopter landing. Chris Hansen: How did you learn that he had been in prison for killing two other people? Pair encounters killer, lives to tell about it. Tom Lawson: Saying-- yes-- "You all need to make a statement saying that there's no serial killer walkin' the Appalachian Trail. 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Chris Hansen: So, in 1996,he walks outta prison. Randy was born February 3, 1948 in Salt Lake City to Joseph McKinnon Smith and Leone Grames Smith. He spent 15 years in prison before his release in 1996. Thank you very much in advance. Karen and Georgia cover the survival story of Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer and the Glamour Girl Slayer. And he went about a mile from where they saw him and he wrecked his truck. As he hit the dirt road leading out, a bloody Johnston stepped out of the woods and into the road. Sean Farmer: And I stood up, staggered back. And when Randall Lee Smith went on trial for his latest crimes on the Appalachian Traileveryone hoped they finally would get some answers. Polson had planned to only be out on a short trip. Farmer began cursing the stranger. . In 2011 an Indiana man who was hiking the trail was found strangled to death. Select this result to view Randall Lee Smith's phone number, address, and more. The slaying was the first murder on the Appalachian Trail, a 2,160-mile wilderness path that stretches from Maine to Georgia, since 2011 when hiker Scott Lilly, 30, of South Bend, Indiana, was slain and left in a shallow grave in Amherst County, Virginia. Scott Johnston: And live life to the fullest. "It was his second time doing this," he said. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. Tom Lawson: Go on record, give it to the media. Susan Ramsay, 27, and Robert Mountford, 27. During his appearance in federal court in Abingdon, Virginia, on Monday, a judge ordered Jordan to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, The Associated Press reported. "It kind of makes you think they pulled him out of the hospital too soon," Vaught said. Randall Lee Smith (June 29, 1953 May 10, 2008)[1] was a convicted murderer from Pearisburg, Virginia. I mean, it was-- every time my heart beat, it was just, boom, boom. Naves in Doing Crime Iowa. They were reported missing after they didn't show up as scheduled in the nearby town of Pearisburg, Va. Chris Hansen: Now, is it unusual for you here in these parts to have people reported missing hiking on the Appalachian Trail? But help is miles away from their Appalachian Trail campsite - a long, dangerous drive down a dark mountain road. But on a day as glorious as this one, that crime was the furthest thing from the friends' minds. In both shootings, the victims were attacked without warning -- and for no apparent reason. Despite these Appalachian trail murders, it has to be remembered that violent crime is in fact very rare. 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. And the wheels probably come within a foot of going over like a - a 20 or 30-foot embankment. Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. It does not store any personal data. Sean Farmer: The first thing was just to get away from this guy. Scott Johnston: And I guess, he turned and shot me in the back, at that time. Sean Farmer: And miraculously, he could, even though had a hole in his neck. No one had kidnapped Smith, he had just left town and had driven to South Carolina. 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. I was, like--. 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? Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. The enforcement action involves the same Chemours Co. plant that has been linked to water pollution in the Roanoke Valley. "Randall Lee Smith (June 29,1953 May 10, 2008) was a convicted murderer from Pearisburg, Virginia. Check in with them regularly. Two fisherman were shot on the Appalachian Trail by Randall Lee Smith. His probation ended in 2006. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. February 9, 1954 - March 5, 2022. Chris Hansen: Now, this would freak me out. Make sure someone knows where you can. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Both men were shot twice, but survived. Moreover, although both followed terribly busy schedules, it wasnt out of the ordinary for them to plan a day of fishing and relaxation. He was arrested, and taken to same hospital where Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer were being treated. Just to get him. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent.
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