Five so-called friends go camping together in the Trinity Alps in California, but only four return. The 1998 slaying of Lora Sinner is a case that made headlines for years because of its brutality, but in this episode, Delia explores more about the sweet young woman whose life was ripped away from her and the web of bad decisions amongst a group of young people that led to cold-blooded murder.
Lora Sinner (Photo Source) The Sun
Lora Sinner (Photo Source) The Sun
Lori Smith, Eric Rubio, and Paul Smith Jr. in court in 1998 (Photo Source) Record Searchlight
Mug shots for Paul Smith Jr, /Lori Smith / Eric Rubio (Photo Source) Oxygen
Trinity Alps Wilderness Image (Photo Source) Jaclyn Cosgrove, The Los Angeles Times
Trinity Alps Wilderness Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- IMDB: Murder Among Friends. Law of the Wild. Season 2. Episode 10.
- Record Searchlight: Trio charged in brutal slaying. By Anne Hart and Julia Kennedy via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Redding trio deny guilt in torture-slaying. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Suspects in Ono killing deny guilt. By Julia Kennedy via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Death ends sad stretch of troubles. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Girl pleads innocent in murder case. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Girl may be tried as adult in homicide. By Julia Kennedy via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Slain woman was intoxicated. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Deputies describe woman’s torture slaying. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Deputies describe woman’s torture slaying. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: DA calls for death penalty. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Lover blamed in torture case: Girl could face life term. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Trials separated. By R-S news services via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Testimony sickening for accused. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Ruling on girl’s fate expected. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Sly plotter or victim? Ono case ruling near. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Killing suspect ruled juvenile. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Adult trial urged for girl in killing. By Anne Hart via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Trial set. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Death in Ono. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Girl guilty in torture death. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Teen cries as her tape recounts torture, killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Teen’s confession played in murder trial. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com\
- The Sacramento Bee: Redding teen’s confession played during murder trial. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Oakland Tribune: Teen tells of torture, death on excursion. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Merced Sun-Star: Teen describes fatal torturing of rival. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Redding teen’s confession played during murder trial. By Associated Press Accessed via Newspapers.com
- Enterprise Record: 15-year-old describes torture murder. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Spotlight: Lonely teen calmly sits through her murder trial. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- The Fresno Bee: Teen charged in killing recalls woman’s torture and death. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Teen’s trial continues. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Witnesses: Girl faces threats. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Siblings plead the fifth in court. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Redding man pleads the Fifth in trial. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Testimony continues in girl’s murder trial. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Defense: Friends lie about girl in killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Prosecutor: Girl started attack. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Girl guilty in torture death. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Murder sentence for teen postponed. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Young murderer faces CYA term. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Girl gets maximum juvenile term. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Redding woman pleads guilty in sadistic killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Guilt is admitted in killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Rubio wants to change plea. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Accused killer gets trial date. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Murder suspect denied plea retraction. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Spotlight: Trial postponed for bait shop killing defendants. By Maline Hazle via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: 2001 trial set for ‘98 killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Murder defendants set for sentencing. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Death penalty strain. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Jury selection begins in killing. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Jail beating spurs probe into security. By Maline Hazle via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Access to hearing denied. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Charges filed in jail assault. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Two inmates indicted in jail assault. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Inmate denies beating guard. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Ruling on court file imminent. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Judge refuses to keep transcript sealed. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Details of jail attack revealed. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Murder suspect denies assault. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Witness: Ex-boyfriend struck murder victim. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Ex-girlfriend recounts murder suspect’s role in 1998 killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Sister: Suspect vowed killings if anyone talked. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Witness admits role in ’98 torture killing. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Murder witness has more to say. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Reporter testifies in murder case. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Video of confession shown in court. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Suspect claims he’s sole killer. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Smith jurors shown taped interviews. By staff via Newspapers.com
- The Los Angeles Times: Man says he convinced slaying victim to die. By Times Wire Reports via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Car called murder motive. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Arguments continue in Smith case. By Alex Breltler via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Smith trial goes to jury. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Visalia Times-Delta: Jury convicts murderer. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Smith guilty of murder. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Enterprise-Record: Redding man convicted of 1998 slaying of Washington woman. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Oakland Tribute: Jury convicts man in torture-slaying. By Wired Reports via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Man guilty in Shasta torture-slaying. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Execution urged for killer. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Prosecutor says killer deserves to die. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Expert claims Williams unable to get fair trial. By Maline Hazle via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Jury views jailhouse weapon. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Killer’s mom says spouse molested son. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Killer’s fate in jury’s hands. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Murder-trial juror dismissed. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Jurors vote execution for Smith. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Death urged in torture-killing. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Inmate found dead. By Maline Hazle via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Killer Smith sentenced to die. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Smith to face escape trial. By staff via Newspapers.com
- The Sacramento Bee: Another trial for killer. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- The Union: Ambushed corrections officer to be honored in ceremony. By Associated Press via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Redding woman sentenced to prison for slaying. By Kimberly Bolander via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Killer’s trial being delayed. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Convicted killer is back in court. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Jailer thought he’d die. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Inmate denies jailhouse beating. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Jailbreak try nets attempted murder conviction. By Maline Hazle via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Smith handed life sentence. By staff via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: The beating was just the beginning. By Lauren Brooks via Newspapers.com
- SCOCAL Stanford Law School. Docket No. S112442A People vs. Smith, Jr.
- Metropolitan News-Enterprise. High Court Overturns Death Sentence, Says Judge Wrongly Excluded Expert of Prison Conditions. By MetNews Staff Writer.
- Record Searchlight: Redding man’s death penalty reversed. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com.
- The Sacramento Bee: Convict’s sentence overturned after 13 years on death row. By Denny Walsh via Newspapers.com
- ABC 7 KRCR. Officer talks attack as murderer’s death sentence overturned. By Madison Wade.
- Record Searchlight: No retry on Smith’s death penalty. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com
- Record Searchlight: Resentence: Life without parole. By Jim Schultz via Newspapers.com
- The Cinemaholic: Lora Sinner Murder: Where are Paul and Lori Smith Now? By Viswa Vanapalli.
- The Sun: How Sadistic couples tortured & killed pal on camping trip with chilli bean can for terrifying and petty reason. By Miranda Knox.
- California Incarcerated Records and Information Search: Paul Gordon Smith Inmate Profile
- The Cinemaholic: Lora Sinner Murder: Where are Eric Rubio and Amy Stevens Today?
- Oxygen: Camping Trip Turns Into Night of Terror After 2 Teen Couples Torture and Kill Friend. By Benjamin H. Smith.
- Find A Grave: Lora Ann Sinner
- Documenting Reality. The Murder of Lora Sinner in Redding, California.