A 30-year-old man disappears into the Jefferson National Forest, leaving his beloved dog behind in his car. His body is found at a popular swimming hole and pieces of critical evidence are placed beneath his missing posters months after his murder. Turns out, he isn’t the only 30-year-old man to suffer a fatal fate on this section of the Appalachian Trail. The stories of Scott Lily and Chad Austin point to a predator who’s gone undetected in the mountains of Virginia for decades.
Episode Source Material
- Scott Lilly Sources
- “Local Man’s Body Found” By Joe Dits for The South Bend Tribune
- “FBI IDs Body Found Near Appalachian Trail As Indiana Man” by Staff for Tipton County Tribune
- “Identification of Body Located in George Washington Forest” by Staff for The Progress-Index
- “Trail Hikers Undeterred by ‘Suspicious Death’” by Amy Trent for The Daily Press
- “Scott Lilly Obituary” by staff for The South Bend Tribune
- “Identification of Body Located in George Washington National Forest” by Media Coordinator Dennette Rybiski for The FBI
- “Update on Investigation Into Suspicious Death in the George Washington National Forest” by Media Coordinator Dennette Ryviski for The FBI
- “FBI Seeking Hikers In ‘Suspicious’ Trail Death” by Chris Dumond for The Daily Progress
- “FBI Needs Your Help in App. Trail Death Investigation” by Staff for WSET ABC13 News
- “FBI Stymied by Appalachian Trail Killing” by Courtney Ridenhour for Rockbridge Report
- “Man Found Dead on Appalachian Trail Ruled Strangled” by Staff for The Associated Press
- “Appalachian Trail Hikers’ Death Ruled Homicide” by Chris Dumond for The Richmond Times Dispatch
- “Childhood Pastor Talks About Hiker Found Dead” by Staff for WSET ABC13 News
- “Sister of Murdered Hiker Pleads for Tips” by Rachel Schaerr for ABC13 News
- “Family Offering 10K Reward For Answers In Son’s Death” by Staff for WWBT News
- “Public Safety Reward Offered In Death of Hiker” by staff for The South Bend Tribune
- The Unsolved Podcast Episode 2 “Scott (Stonewall) Lilly”
- “FBI Offers $10,000 Reward for Information leading to the Conviction of the Death of A.T. Hiker Scott Lilly” by The Appalachian Trail Conservancy via The Smoky Mountain Hiker Blog
- “Appalachian Trail: Trials and Tragedy”
- “Who Was Scott Lilly?” by David Rough for Hike It Forward
- “Scott Lilly – Unsolved Murders On the Appalachian Trail” by Strange Outdoors
Chad Austin Sources
- “Buena Vista Police Department Searching For Missing Man” by Colin Schwager for WSET ABC13 News
- “Search Called Off For Missing Man Near Amherst County Area” by Elizabeth Tyree for WSET ABC13 News
- “Family Organizes Search Party For Missing Buena Vista Man” by Lindsay Cayne for WHSV News
- “Crews To Search For Missing Buena Vista Man Around Amherst/Rockbridge County Line” by Thomas Coleman for WSET ABC13 News
- “Massive Search For Missing Buena Vista Man Takes Over Portion of Blue Ridge Parkway” by Taj Simmons for WSLS News
- “One Month Later, Family of Missing Buena Vista Man Not Giving Up Hope” by Staff for WFXRTV News
- “Reward Now Offered For Information Leading to Chad Austin” by Staff for WFXR News
- “Family Continues To Search For Missing Buena Vista Man” By Lindsay Cayne for WDBJ News
- “Wallet Believed To Belong To Missing Man, Found Sunday” by Staff for WDBJ News
- “Family Offers $4,000 Reward to Help Bring HOme Missing Buena Vista Man Last Seen in May” by Laura Taylor for WSET ABC13 News
- “New Tip Leads Crews to Search Panther Falls area for Chad Austin” by staff for WDBJ News
- “Open Case Virginia: “Buena Vista Couple Anxious for Answers, Nine Months After Son’s Disappearance” by Tim Saunders for WDBJ News
- “Remains of Hiker Who Vanished in 2019 Are Found in Va. Woods, as Police Investigate Homicide” by Chris Harris for People.com
- “Remains of Missing Buena Vista Man Found After Nearly A Year of Searching” by Shayne Dwyer and Jeff Williamson for WSLS News
- “State Police: Chad Austin’s Remains Found in Panther Falls Area” by Kathlynn Stone for WFXRTV News
- “‘We Don’t Want Chad Forgotten’ Police, Family Ask for Answers in Buena Vista Man’s Death by Annie Schroeder for WSLS News
- “Mother of Chad Austin Makes Plea For Information in Son’s Death Near Panther Falls” by Parker King and Staff for WFXRTV News
- “Police provide update on death of missing Buena Vista Man” by WSLS 10
- “Chad Austin, 31, of Buena Vista Has Entered His Heavenly Home” by The News Gazette
- Justice For Chad Austin Facebook Page
- Outdoors and Sports Panther Falls by Virginia Is For Lovers