When a couple is viciously murdered in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail in 1981, their killer is caught…However, two best friends on a fishing and camping trip more than 20 years later discover in the worst possible way that he returned to a familiar hunting ground.
Laura Susan Ramsay (Photo Source) - Sims Family Cemetery
Robert Mountford Jr. (Photo Source) SouthCoast Today/ The Standard Times
Scott Johnston (left) and Sean Farmer (right) (Photo Source) Scott Johnston
Episode Source Material
- Dead Silent: Season 1, Episode 1. The Curse of Dismal Creek. By Gustavo Tiburon and Pat Rogers Via Prime Video.
- The Roanoke Times: Search planned for two overdue trail hikers. Published May 30, 1981 Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Dogs join search for missing hikers.. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Body discovered on hiking trail. By staff Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Body discovered on hiking trail. By staff Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Roanoke Times: Hikers’ bodies discovered near trail. By Roland Kidwell Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Murders raise fears among trail’s hikers Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Daily Progress: More Clues Sought in Hikers’ Deaths. By staff Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Associated Press via The Daily Progress: More Clues Sought in Hikers’ Deaths. By staff Via newspapers.com. (2)
- Suffolk News-Herald: In The News; clues Sought in Murders. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Richmond Times-Dispatchs: Search Concluded on Trails. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Roanoke Times: Hikers urged to bypass part of trail. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Police seek suspect in trail deaths. By Roland Lazenby and Chuck Burress Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Police seek suspect in trail deaths. By Roland Lazenby and Chuck Burress Via newspapers.com. (2)
- United Press International via Martinsville Bulletin: Suspect sought for questioning in Trail Deaths By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Roanoke Times: 300 attend Mass in Maine for hiker slain along trail. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via The Daily Progress: Police ‘Just Fishing’ In Trail Killings Probe. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Progress: Fear on the Trail After Sundown, Hikers Stay Away. By Richard Prior Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Progress: Fear on the Trail After Sundown, Hikers Stay Away. By Richard Prior Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Associated Press via The Daily Advance:Man sought for questioning in hiker’s deaths. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Virginian sought in hiking deaths. By Estes Thompson Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via Daily Press: Man sought For Murders of 2 Hikers. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Suffolk News-Herald: Murder Warrant Issued. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Man charged with murder in trail deaths. By Chuck Burress and Cheryl Downey-Laskowitz Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Man charged with murder in trail deaths. By Chuck Burress and Cheryl Downey-Laskowitz Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Roanoke Times: FBI enters search in S.C. for suspect in trail killings. By Chuck Burress Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: FBI enters search in S.C. for suspect in trail killings. By Chuck Burress Via newspapers.com. (2)
- United Press International via Richmond Times-Dispatchs: FBI Joins Search In Slayings. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via Daily Press: Suspect In Hikers’ Slaying Elusive. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The News and Advance: Hiker Suspect may have killed himself. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Arrested. By staff Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Arrested. By staff Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Man arrested in hikers murder. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Martinsville Bulletin: Murder suspect caught Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via Daily Press: Virginia Man Arrested. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Daily News Leader: Lengthy hearing expected. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Martinsville Bulletin: Suspect Fights Extradition Via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Progress: Hikers Feel ‘Wave of Relief’ Following Arrest of Suspect. By Robert Brickhouse Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Progress: Hikers Feel ‘Wave of Relief’ Following Arrest of Suspect. By Robert Brickhouse Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Jailers watch Smith to prevent suicide. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The News-Virginian: Extradition Proceedings Begun. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Papers Are Sent For Extradition. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Pearisburg man’s return forthcoming. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Charged ‘doesn’t know who he is…’. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Progress: Trail Murder Suspect Ordered Extradited. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Bee: Hikers’ Slaying Trial Set By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Lawyers Named to Aid Hiker Case Suspect. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Daily News-Leader: Prosecutors won’t reveal theories’ By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Exam Ordered in Hiker Case. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Suffolk News-Herald: Smith’s Memory Questioned. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Richmond Times-Dispatch: Hearing Delayed in Hikers’ Deaths. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Daily News-Leader: Suspect competent to stand trial. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Martinsville Bulletin: Man Competent To Stand Trial in Hikers’ Deaths By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The News-Virginian: Trail Protection Increased. By Estes Thompson Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Separate trials planned in hikers’ deaths. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- United Press International via Martinsville Bulletin: One Murder Charge Sent to Grand Jury. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via Culpeper Star-Exponent: Second Charge Levied. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Indictments returned in two deaths. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Defense gets to see trail slaying evidence. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Danville Register and Bee: Motion to suppress evidence to come in hikers’ murder case. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Doctors to Test Smith. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Giles judge allows trail slaying evidence. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Daily Advance: Giles County Man Pleads Guilty to Hiker Murders. By Estes Thompson Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Smith admits to killing two trail hikers. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Smith admits to killing two trail hikers. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Associated Press via The Daily News-Leader: Smith pleads guilty to killing 2 hikers. By Staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Killer’s 30-year sentence satisfies hikers’ parents. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Hiker protests murder trial plea bargain & The hiker; murders without motive. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Hiker protests murder trial plea bargain & The hiker; murders without motive. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Roanoke Times: Hiker protests murder trial plea bargain & The hiker; murders without motive. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (3)
- The Roanoke Times: Southern Lawyer. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Happier Trails; Dark shadows cast by murders fading quickly among hikers. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Happier Trails; Dark shadows cast by murders fading quickly among hikers. By Pam Chesser Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Press: Book Reviews; Murder on The Appalachian Trail by Jess Carr. By Tim McCloud Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Killers’ parole eligibility disturbs families of victims. By Laurence Hammack Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Killers’ parole eligibility disturbs families of victims. By Laurence Hammack Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Roanoke Times: Trail killer denied bid for parole. By Laura Moyer Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Trail killer denied bid for parole. By Laura Moyer Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Roanoke Times: Trail hikers’ killer denied parole for 8th time. By Kathy Loan Via newspapers.com.
- The Roanoke Times: Hikers’ Killer Going Home. By Lisa Garcia Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Hikers’ Killer Going Home. By Lisa Garcia Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Associated Press via The News-Virginian: Man convicted of murder of AT hikers to go home. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Woman laments killer’s parole. By Rex Bowman Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Woman laments killer’s parole. By Rex Bowman Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Roanoke Times: Suspect in AT shootings reported dead & Randall Lee Smith remains a mystery. By Anna Mallory, Jessica Marty and Mike Gangloff Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Suspect in AT shootings reported dead & Randall Lee Smith remains a mystery. By Anna Mallory, Jessica Marty and Mike Gangloff Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Associated Press via The News and Advance: Suspect in trail shootings dead. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Suspect in Giles shooting is dead. By Rex Bowman and Rosa Duarte Via newspapers.com.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Crossing paths with a killer. By Rex Bowman Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Crossing paths with a killer. By Rex Bowman Via newspapers.com. (2)
- Media General News Service via The News and Advance: AT killer led isolated life, known for lies. By Rex Bowman Via newspapers.com.
- SouthCoast Today/ The Standard Times: Blood on the mountain, Part 1. By Wil Haygood.
- SouthCoast Today/ The Standard Times: Killer strikes again, at scene of first crime, Part 2. By Wil Haygood.
- Bluefield Daily Telegraph: Shooting survivors share incredible story with ‘Dateline NBC’ By Bill Archer.
- NBC News: Escape from Brushy Mountain. By Chris Hansen.
- Strange Outdoors: Murder on the Appalachian Trail.
- Phone interview with Scott Johnston. By Delia D’Ambra. January 2, 2025.