When a gun-wielding man emerges from the Smoky Mountains and menaces visitors on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, a dedicated park ranger responds…only to discover he will have to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect innocent lives and the parkland he swore an oath to.
Joseph “Joe” Kolodski (Photo Source) Officer Down Memorial: Park Ranger Joseph David Kolodski
Jeremiah Locus Sr. (Photo Source) Asheville Citizen-Times
Map of the important locations at the crime scene on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Source) Asheville Citizen-Times
Funeral for Joseph Kolodski in Bryson City, NC (Photo Source) The News and Observer
Rendering of the rifle used by Jeremiah Locus Sr. (Source) Asheville Citizen-Times
Memorial for Joseph Kolodski (Photo Source) Preston Farabow for WBIR TV-10 News
Blue Ridge Parkway Image (Photo Source) Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Blue Ridge Parkway and Big Witch Overlook Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- Rocky Mountain Telegram: Ranger fatally shot on Blue Ridge Parkway. By staff via newspapers.com.
- National Park Service: Morning Report.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Ex Parte Motion For Immediate Testing.
- National Park Service: Morning Report.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Victim loved by all who knew him. By Sandy Well via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Gardener at Cherokee center charged with ranger’s death. By Susan Dryman via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Kolodski remembered as professional, family man. By Quintin Ellison via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Neighbors call accused killer of ranger quiet, church-going. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- The Herald-Sun: No bond for suspect in murder of ranger. By staff via newspapers.com.
- National Park Service: Morning Report.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Big Witch, Big Cove: rough country – Suspect hid from officials for hours in rugged backwoods. By Mark Blaine via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Anatomy of a tragedy: From 911 to ranger’s death. By Quintin Ellison via newspapers.com.
- National Park Service: Morning Report.
- The News and Observer: Sad goodbye follows ‘senseless tragedy.’ By Bob Williams via newspapers.com.
- The Herald-Sun: Ranger’s killing shows parks not immune from violence. By staff via newspapers.com.
- National Park Service: Morning Report.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Grand jury indicts man in ranger slaying: Suspect faces 4 criminal counts. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Mental tests ordered for Locust. By Susan Dryman via newspapers.com.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Ex Parte Motion for Expert Services.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Locust ruled competent for trial. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Cherokee man pleads not guilty. By Susan Dryman via newspapers.com.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Ex Parte Motion for Expert Neurological Services.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Ex Parte Motion for Witnesses.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Sealed Order.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Ex Parte Motion for Issuance of Subpoenas.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Ex Parte Motion for Issuance of Subpoenas.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Locust defense: Eric Rudolph may have killed ranger, Government to seek death penalty. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Order.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Witness says Locust was gunman in ranger death. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Prosecution rests in Locust trial after visit to site of ranger slaying. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Locust: Day ranger died cloudy; Accused killer takes stand in trial. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Slain ranger’s family may have saved Locust. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Slain ranger’s widow finds some closure after conviction. By Tracy Davis via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Parkway ranger recognized for valor. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- Asheville Citizen-Times: Locust gets life sentence in slaying. By Sandy Wall via newspapers.com.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Government’s Motion to Authorize Payment from Inmate Trust Account.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Defendant’s Motion for Reduction of Sentence Compassionate Release.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Government’s Motion in Opposition for Reduction of Sentence Compassionate Release.
- United States District Court For the Western District of North Carolina. USA v. Jeremiah Locust Sr. Order Denying Reduction of Sentence Compassionate Release.
- Discover Life America: 20 Years Discovering: Neophylax Kolodskii. By staff.
- WBIR TV-10 News: Smokies memorial honors ranger killed in 1998. By staff.
- U.S. Bureau of Prisons Inmate Profile: Jeremiah Locust Sr.
- Officer Down Memorial: Park Ranger Joseph David Kolodski