In 2018, two seasonal workers at an inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia set out on a hike and only one returned alive. The reality of who was behind the demise of Sara Ellis is incomprehensible and to this day remains a horrific case for investigators and the victims’ family to relive.
Sara Ellis
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway Map
Pisgah Inn
Derek Pendergraft Mug Shot
Episode Source Material
- “Possible suspect in Parkway assault arrested in Asheville” Jennifer Saylor, May 29, 2016
- “Authorities confirm hiker tied to tree was sexually assaulted” Tonya Maxwell (Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times, June 6, 2016
- “Blue Ridge Parkway Murder: What The Suspected Killer Told The FBI” by Asheville Citizen Times, July 25, 2018
- “Woman found dead near mountain inn where she worked was homicide victim, FBI says” by Carla Field for WYFF (Greenville, SC), July 25, 2018
- “FBI calls death of Pisgah Inn employee a homicide” by Karen Wynne for WLOS (Asheville, NC), July 25, 2018.
- “Blue Ridge Parkway Murder: What The Suspected Killer Told The FBI, by Asheville Citizen Times for WFMY, July 25, 2018
- “FBI: Man accused of killing coworker at Pisgah Inn says he ‘blacked out’” by Dal Kalsi, Amanda Shaw, Brookley Cromer, and Matthew Ablon, Fox Carolina, July 25, 2018
- “Killing at Pisgah Inn leaves staff shaken” by Kimberly King for My 40 (Greenville, SC),July 26, 2018.
- “As family gathers, fundraiser appears for funeral expenses of murdered Pisgah Inn worker” by Kimberly King for ABC 13 News (Asheville, NC), July 27, 2018,
- “Man charged in death of co-worker at Pisgah Inn, by Lavendrick Smith for The Charlotte Observer” July 27, 2018.
- “Seminole woman killed in North Carolina national parkway” by Justin Trombly for Tampa Bay Times, July 27, 2018,
- “Twin speaks out, remembers sister’s life, after tragedy along the Blue Ridge Parkway” by Brookley Cromer for Fox Carolina, July 31, 2018,
- “A Central Florida woman was killed while working a summer job in N.C. Her last words: ‘This is a safe place’” by Jonathan Drew for Orlando Sentinel, July 27, 2018
- “Pisgah Inn slaying victim had ‘a very trusting soul’” by Sam DeGrave for Asheville Citizen-Times, July 29, 2018, via Newspapers.com.
- “Pisgah Inn murder suspect indicted” by Sam DeGrave for Asheville Citizen-Times, August 10, 2018, via Newspapers.com.
- “United States Department of Justice: Superseding Indictment Charges Asheville Man With First Degree Murder And Aggravated Sexual Abuse Resulting In Death” December 6, 2018
- “Prosecutors: Sex assault was motive for Blue Ridge Parkway killing” by Jonathan Drew for WHSC 3 (Harrisonburg, VA), December 6, 2018
- “Autopsy: Pisgah Inn worker Sara Ellis died of strangulation” by Associated Press on Blue Ridge Now, April 1, 2019
- “Asheville man pleads guilty to murder of Pisgah Inn co-worker” by Katie Wadington for Asheville Citizen Times, August 26, 2019
- “Man pleads guilty to charges in killing at Pisgah Inn” by Kimberly King, August 26, 2019
- “United States Department of Justice: Federal Judge Sentences Asheville Man To Life In Prison For Co-Worker’s Murder” February 27, 2020
- “Pisgah Inn murder: Pendergraft gets life term” by Mackenzie Wicker for Asheville Citizen-Times, February 28, 2020, via Newspapers.com.
- Blue Ridge Parkway Information
- Blue Ridge Parkway Bloom Calendar
- Blue Ridge Parkway Information #2
- Bureau of Prisons Inmate Lookup
- Sara Ellis Obituary
- Sara Ellis Funeral Gofundme
- Pisgah Inn Information
- Pisgah Inn Guest Handbook
- Mountains to Sea Trail Info
- Pisgah National Forest Info