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
Randall Lee Smith in 1982 (Photo Source) The Roanoke Times
Randall Lee Smith in 2008 (Photo Source) Richmond Times-Dispatch
Scott Johnston’s pickup truck after Randall Smith crashed it (Photo Source) Scott Johnston
Appalachian Trail, Wapiti Shelter Image (Photo Source) Virginia Trail Guide
Crime Map of 1981Murders and 2008 Attempted Murders (Source) Richmond Times-Dispatch
Appalachian Trail, Wapiti Shelter Map (Photo Source) Google Maps
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.