When a young woman witnesses the cold-blooded execution of her hiking companion on the Appalachian Trail and lives to tell the tale, her chilling story is almost too much for law enforcement in 1974 to believe. Then, as the pieces start to come together, police are faced with a human predator whose criminal career is the stuff of nightmares.
Joel Polson (Photo Source) Outside Magazine
Margaret Harritt in 1974 (Photo Source) Outside Magazine
Margaret Harritt in 1974 (Photo Source) Outside Magazine
Suspect Sketch Released in 1974 (Photo Source) The State
Margaret Harritt present (Photo Source) Outside Magazine
Margaret Harritt present (Photo Source) Outside Magazine
Ralph Fox in 1992 (Photo Source) The Flint Journal
Low Gap Shelter Image (Source) Tennessee Land Forms
Low Gap Shelter Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation: Incident Summary Reports. May 11, 1974 – May 29, 1974. Published via Luke Whelan (Outside Magazine)
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab: Autopsy Report for Joel Polson. Published via Luke Whelan (Outside Magazine)
- The State: Hikers boyfriend slain on trail. By: Steve Bailey via newspapers.com (1)
- The State: Hikers boyfriend slain on trail. By: Steve Bailey via newspapers.com (2)
- Florence Morning News: Hartsville man found on Georgia trail dead. By staff via newspapers.com
- Anderson Independent: Bizarre murder unfolds. By Billy Dilworth via newspapers.com (1)
- Anderson Independent: Bizarre murder unfolds. By Billy Dilworth via newspapers.com (2)
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation: Margaret McFadden Harritt Interview Report. Published via Luke Whelan (Outside Magazine)
- Anderson Independent: Telephone call adds to case. By Billy Dilworth via newspapers.com
- Florence Morning News: Polson Probe Stalled. By staff via newspapers.com
- The State: Georgia officials convinced of coed’s slaying account. By staff via newspapers.com
- Anderson Independent: Lead turns up. By: Billy Dilworth via newspapers.com
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation: Ralph Fox interview. Conducted May 17, 1974. Available via Luke Whelan (Outside Magazine).
- The Associated Press via The Aiken Standard: Arrest made in hiker death. By staff Via NewspaperArchive.com.
- The Salisbury Post: Michigan man charged with slaying of hiker. By staff via newspapers.com
- The Columbia Record: Police arrest man wanted in Michigan. By staff via newspapers.com
- The Charlotte Observer: Parolee arrested in student’s death. By staff via newspapers.com
- The Times and Democrat: App trail murder charge made. By staff via newspapers.com
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation: Crime Lab Report. Published via Luke Whelan (Outside Magazine)
- Anderson Independent: Man gets life term for murder. By staff via newspapers.com
- The Columbia Record: Follow up to the news, hiking murder. By staff via newspapers.com
- The Flint Journal: Suspect in area slaying caught in Washington. By B.A. Modrack Via newsapapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Police try to identify slaying victim. By B.A. Modrack Via newsapapers.com. (1)
- The Flint Journal: Police try to identify slaying victim. By B.A. Modrack Via newsapapers.com. (2)
- Detroit Free Press: Man charged in Lapeer murder. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The News Tribune: Man jailed in car break-in now awaiting extradition. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Times Herald: Lapeer. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Police still search for victim’s name. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Dead woman identified. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Times Herald: Police reveal more details on victim. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Fox arraigned in woman’s murder. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Parolee to stand trial in slaying. By Edward Ronders Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Flint Journal: Parolee to stand trial in slaying. By Edward Ronders Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Flint Journal: Murder trial set to begin on Thursday. By Edward Ronders Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: ‘Circumstantial case’ against accused killer opens in Lapeer. By Edward Ronders Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Accused killer’s fate in hands of jurors. By Edward Ronders Via newspapers.com.
- The Flint Journal: Lapeer County jury finds man guilty of murder. By Edward Ronders Via newspapers.com.
- Outside Magazine: The Stranger in the Shelter. By Earl Swift via outsideonline.com
- Park Predators interview with Margaret Harritt. Conducted by Delia D’Ambra on March 14, 2025.
- Joel Polson Find A Grave