When a hiker emerges from the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee claiming he murdered a woman with a hatchet, it seems unfathomable… But when investigators discover the brutal truth, they realize they’re dealing with a dangerous man who has a disturbing past in multiple U.S. states.
Janice Balza (Source) Green-Bay Press Gazette
Janice Balza (Source) Johnson City Press
Rescue recovery team on Appalachian Trail in 1975 (Source) Elizabethton Star
Paul W. Bigley at crime scene in 1975 (Source) Elizabethton Star
Paul W. Bigley after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 1976 (Source) Elizabethton Star
Appalachian Trail Vandeventer Shelter Image (Source) Wikitrail
Appalachian Trail Vandeventer Shelter Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- Green-Bay Press Gazette: Campus Notes. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Kingsport Times-News: Appalachian Trail Hatchet Murder Confessed By Hiker. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Elizabethton Star: Wisconsin Girl Slain On Appalachian Trail. By staff Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Elizabethton Star: Wisconsin Girl Slain On Appalachian Trail. By staff Via newspapers.com. (2)
- Johnson City Press: Identification of woman listed as Janice Balza. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Green-Bay Press Gazette: Green Bay Woman Slain In Tennessee. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Oshkosh Northwestern: Man confesses to murder. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Leaf-Chronicle: Man charged By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Knoxville News-Sentinel: Hiker charged in hatchet death. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Tennessean: Arizona Man Charged With Murdering Hiker. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Sheboygan Press: Green Bay Woman, 22, Slain on Hiking Trip. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Elizabethton Star: In A Story. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Green-Bay Press Gazette: Murder Victim Services Held. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Green-Bay Press Gazette: Miss Janice Balza. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Elizabethton Star: Hearing Set Friday For Paul Bigley. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Green-Bay Press Gazette: Tennessee Murder Suspect Charged. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Elizabethton Star: Appalachian Trail Murder Suspect Bound To Grand Jury. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Johnson City Press: Bigley bound to Carter County Grand Jury on murder charge. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com.
- Johnson City Press: Arizona man indicted for murder. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com.
- Johnson City Press: Hatchet murder suspect to be given mental exams. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com.
- Green Bay Press-Gazette: Mental Exam Likely In Balza Murder. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Green Bay Press-Gazette: Man To Be Tried In Balza Murder. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Green Bay Press-Gazette: Murder Case Trial Slated. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Elizabethton Star: Appalachian Trail Slayer Receives 20-year Sentence. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Stevens Point Journal: Sentenced for killing woman.
- Johnson City Press: Arizona man pleads guilty to Appalachian Trail murder. By Kay Wilkins Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Johnson City Press: Arizona man pleads guilty to Appalachian Trail murder. By Kay Wilkins Via newspapers.com. (2)
- Green Bay Press-Gazette: Guilty Plea In Slaying Of City Girl. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Johnson City Press: Murder on Iron Mountain. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Johnson City Press: Murder on Iron Mountain. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com. (2)
- Johnson City Press: Murder on Iron Mountain. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com. (3)
- Johnson City Press: Convicted hatchet murderer dies of broken blood vessel. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Johnson City Press: Violence gives ominous tone to Appalachian Trail. By Joe Ledford Via newspapers.com.
- Strange Outdoors: True Crime in the Great Outdoors. By unknown.