Scott Johnston: And I jumped up. Jordan then allegedly tried to approach the hikers with a knife as they tried to leave the campsite, the complaint states. James L. Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, was arrested early Saturday following the deadly attack in Wythe County, Virginia, that a federal prosecutor described Sunday as "senseless and brutal.". He jumped into the cab, grabbed his keys from the console, placed them in the ignition and turned. The shocking crime drew national attention, and for the first time, a large portion of the trail was closed to the public. The beauty of this wilderness can mask its danger. He said he had a master's degree in engineering from Virginia Tech, another lie. But as far as this one, I mean, ya know, that-- you can't even really tell that's a bullet-- wound right here. His probation ended in 2006. Hollywood film A Walk In The Woods was released in cinemas across the world earlier this month. On top of it, in 2008, Randall was already out on parole and was reported missing by his neighbor, which further increased worries. Sean says he thought he was going to be okay. And it was so close too. Once more it has brought the2,160 mile path that stretches from Georgia to Maine, USA to the publics attention. . Randall Lee Smith | Photos | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers Sean Farmer: It couldn't have turned out any better for us. Neither had medical insurance, and Scott's truck was a total loss. There was a handgun laying outside the truck, right in the-- within his reach. Cops: Man Who Killed Hikers Strikes Again - CBS News He was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. May 10 at a Pulaski County hospital. Now, the police had some solid evidence, but no suspects. Space Rabbit Coffee among the latest to hop into changing part of Christiansburg, Pearisburg man never shook reputation as AT killer, Analysis: Mom and pop safe as First Republic Bank fails. "The Randall I knew was not the cold-hearted person the outside world makes him out to be," she said. Sean and Scott say an unwritten rule of the trail is to offer aid and friendship to fellow hikers and fishermen. Many people in Giles County believe Smith got off easy for the murders of the two promising young people from Maine. Although a local resident named Randall Lee Smith was arrested and convicted for the murders, residents generally avoided the area since that incident. We never found the weapon. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Farmer, feeling no pain, turned and ran toward his Jeep Cherokee, 20 feet away and parked on the other side of Johnston's pickup. My first thing that I thought about was, you know, how far we are away. Sean and Scott wanted to know those very thing about the attack on them. Randall Lee Smith: No. Randall Lee Smith was suspected of shooting two fishermen near Dismal Creek. Former deputy Tom Lawson says the Giles County sheriff's office closed the trail for safety's sake, while they investigated the murders. He served 14 years total before being released from prison. He died in jail . First, he shot Robert Mountford in the head. They ran his tag number. Authorities allege Smith used a .22-caliber pistol Tuesday night to shoot Sean Farmer, 33, of Tazewell and Scott Johnston, 37, of Bluefield. Johnston jumped up and dashed away from Smith, trying to get to a stand of cedar trees 20 feet away. But it turns out, violentcrime on hiking trails is more frequent than I initially thought. Johnston was shot in the neck and back. So I went and run to the phone and called 911. Randall Lee Smith (1948-2007) - Find a Grave Memorial I mean, we're both healthy, still here. We have many Scott had to have extensive surgery on his neck, and was in the hospital for six days. Scott Johnston: That's a good question. Hikers frequently stop in Pearisburg for resupply or rest, as did Carlie Roberts and Jordan Price on a rainy, miserable Sunday. And Sean Farmer's doctors told him the same thing about the bullets he took in the head and chest. Call 911." I see the-- the shelter as I did then. He's shot in the face. And I just says - I said, "Stop here." Chris Hansen: 15 years? Scott Johnston: We went down that dirt road doing like 40 miles an hour - 50 miles an hour - on the road that you can normally do like 20. Bowles said her sadness about Smith's death is tempered by gratitude that his tortured life is done. And - and I can look over, and I can see he's shot in the face. And they come to the door and they see me, and I'm soaked in blood - I mean from head to toe. May 6, 2008 dawned a sunshine perfect spring morning, and Scott, a cook, and Sean, a truck driver, grabbed their gear and headed up the Appalachian Trail for a few days of fishing and camping in the lush and tranquil woods of southwestern Virginia. Randall Lee Smith <p> Randall Lee Smith, 43, of Mocksville, NC passed away on March 29, 2021 at his home . Put the gas to the floor. Because we just trying to convince ourselves this is not going to happen. He's blacking out. Glatman was arrested in 1958, caught in the act of kidnapping what would have been his fourth known murder victim, Lorraine Vigil. I could hear him say, "Come on, boy. Sean is now face-to-face with a gunman who wants to kill him. Chilling new details have emerged how a Massachusetts man allegedly attacked a pair of hikers with a machete on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, killing one and severely injuring the other. Farmer, meanwhile, had staggered back and watched as Smith fired at Johnston running to the trees. "Well, if I did, it wasn't my gun, it was theirs," is what he said. Chris Hansen: Now, I'm not a radiologist, (laughter) but that looks awfully darn close to the spine. A state police trooper, alerted to the shootings, prepared to chase him. Melissa Miller answered the door, and couldn't believe what she saw. them before opening fire. Because when I got out of the car I was almost - I almost fell down. Four miles down the road at last, they stopped at the brick home of Sammy and Pearl Miller, who were home with daughters Sheila and Melissa and son Chris. As she went down, he hits her in the back of the head. This wasnt the case with Randall Lee Smith or Lyin Randall as the locals had taken to calling him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. The man was reported missing, and police discovered a note in his truck saying he had been kidnapped. We just talked about trivial stuff, nothing in-depth or personal.". Chris Hansen: What did you think you had on your hands in terms of a-- a profile of a killer? The experienced hiker was foundnear the Glen Boulder Trailhead, just south of the Appalachian Mountain Clubs Pinkham NotchHQ. "He was a good friend and a good neighbor.". That was - I was just going through pain -. As Mountford turns over and starts to get up, he shoots him in the cheek. He would then strangle them and dump the bodies in the desert. Both men were shot twice, but survived. Scott wanted to take us back to Carillion Roanoke hospital to meet some of the team that saved his life. Smith was paroled in 1996 after serving 15 years of a 30-year prison sentence. Randall Lee Smith was arrested in the double homicide. Skydiving, Wingsuit Flying & BASE Jumping, Dangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was released in 1996 on mandatory parole after serving 15 years. After his parents bailed him out Glatman was arrested again a month later when he abducted and sexually assaulted another woman. [5], Smith's sentence and his early release were both met with anger by the victims' families as well as the hiking community. Chris Hansen: You had to be thinking, "Wait a minute. Lawson thought Randall Lee Smith was his man -- and he had one sure way to prove it. He willingly confessed to the other three murders and eventually led the police to a toolbox containing pictures that he had taken of the victims. The victim's names were not immediately released. Murder in the Mountains: Black Magic - bdtonline.com Hence, people did not think much when Sean and Scott decided to travel to Dismal Creek in May 2008. And live life. Chris Hansen: Now, you thought you had a pretty good case goin'. And when Randall Lee Smith went on trial for his latest crimes on the Appalachian Traileveryone hoped they finally would get some answers. As 8:30 p.m. approached, darkness began to creep over the campground. And the road curves in S turns you know turns. [6] His probation ended in 2006. On May 9, he was released from the hospital and taken by deputies to the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Scott Johnston: Well, it's-- it's cost me a small fortune. [13] Smith was also referenced in season 12, episode 4 of Criminal Minds. PEARISBURG -- News of Randall Lee Smith's death Saturday afternoon elicited little sympathy Sunday in Giles County. Sean Farmer: I just had this ringing in my head, where he shot me right in the side of the face. Johnston and Farmer recalled that they sensed the stranger was taking liberties with the truth, but they didn't hold it against him. As he gets in, the gunman runs alongside, and lines him up for the finishing shot. Rebecca Wight and Claudia Brenner were having sex in the woods in a Pennsylvania State Park while hiking the trail. There-- there's a small bridge that you have to cross the creek. Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. And with Randall Lee Smith now in his jail, Lawson hoped he finally would get answers to questions he's wanted to ask for 27 years. Pow." For him, it is still sacred ground. If you must, fight for your life. The police became concerned, and missing persons flyers were posted around the area. Shot me in the chest. (laughter). Meanwhile, Sean got out of the car and tried to stagger to the house. After prison, Smith moved back to Pearisburg to live with his mother. Police began combing the woods surrounding the shelter, and one searcher noticed something peeking through the leaves: a sLeeping bag. This page uses cookies and other similar technologies to improve your experience on our services. Lying Randall. Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive? Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston say Randall Lee Smith befriended And Tom Lawson points out that gun was a .22 caliber revolver - the same type of gun Smith used 27 years ago. Sean Farmer: One is over by my rib area here, the one that went into my chest. His parents were unable to bail him out and he was incarcerated. Chris Hansen: Are you gonna blow your nose one day and it comes out or--, Sean Farmer: --that is a possibility. By the powers of mother and earth hear meshow me thy gloryI invoke thee oh, ancient one.". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Sean Farmer: And miraculously, he could, even though had a hole in his neck. After Scott made the ID, police launched a manhunt for Randall Lee Smith. That's the-- that's the round that killed him. Tom Lawson: And this went on for several weeks and we kinda got to a point where we basically just were kind of at a stalemate. I mean, we're both shot. Tirzepatide could become the most effective drug in an arsenal of medications transforming the treatment of obesity. And I said, "Here, you can have these.". In early spring of 2008, concerned neighbors reported Randall Lee Smith suspiciously missing from his Ingram Street residence in Pearisburg. Medical examiners still are trying to determine the cause of death. Scott Johnson and Sean Farmer had just pulled off something of a miracle: They escaped a gunman, drove down a mountain road while wounded and bLeeding, and found help. Tom Lawson: Why did you do it? The Appalachian Trail Killer - Randall Lee Smith Ever. The man who tried to murder the two lifelong friends was 54-year-old Randall Lee Smith, a Pearisburg native who killed two Appalachian Trail hikers in 1981, a crime so outrageous to the trail town's residents that they all but shunned him when he returned from prison in 1996. But I mean, all of a sudden we just take off again. Lawson was immediately suspicious of Randall Lee Smith. Incidentally, the stranger even appeared helpful as he took responsibility for collecting dry firewood, and Sean was only too happy to welcome him into their group. Following his release from prison, Randall . Mountford had been shot three times in the face, while Ramsay was stabbed repeatedly with a long nail, authorities said. Dangerous people are often impulsive, display explosive bursts of anger, narcissistic, hold grudges and lack empathy. The pressure was on to find the killer, but police had just one solid piece of forensic evidence -- from a book belonging to murder victim Susan Ramsay. Sean Farmer: Scott sat right here on this stoop, and I was over here on this corner. Whittaker said Randall Smith "was always a good neighbor to us.". It's still there. That they were just going to walk up anytime and say, hey, you all looking for us? The two fishermen were in their camp when an unexpected visitor showed up. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, who were killed while hiking the Appalachian Trail, in May 1981. Hikers protested outside the courtroom the day after his sentencing, and a spokesman for the Appalachian Trail Conference said Smith is the "first person convicted of murdering a hiker who has had the opportunity to leave prison". Soon, Scott and Sean would find out that what happened to them had happened before in circumstances that were eerily similar: two campers attacked for no apparent reason, in the same woods, at virtually the same location. Sean Farmer: Just a blank look. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Those who know Sean and Scott said they were often spotted hanging out together in Bluefield and described them as generous and kindhearted individuals who never hesitated to help out others in need. And I- I just stuck my finger in the bullet hole to plug the wound, to- to keep the blood, you know- from squirting out. On top of it, in 2008, Randall was already out on parole and was reported missing by his neighbor, which further increased worries. It does not store any personal data. Chris Hansen: And you know you had to get that wound plugged? Investigation Discoverys Dead Silent: The Curse of Dismal Creek chronicles the terrifying attack and even portrays how the police investigation soon linked the incident to a horrific 1981 double murder that occurred in the same area. As we uncovered it, that's when we saw the torso. Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos, Waiting for Impact: A Dave Holmes Passion Project. He was the son of Randall Ray Smith and Virginia Mae (Rubin) Smith, both survive him. 981-3324. And-- and luck. And and - and I'm like, you know, "Go, go, go." Dont be afraid to stomp on the instep of an attacker or slam a knee into a male attackers groin. At one point during the flight, Johnston thought he must have died. It really did. Not only did his disappearance come shortly after the double murders, but police quickly learned the kidnap note was left by Smith himself. Sitting with her granddaughter, Virginia Smith and her husband, Sherman, were neighbors of Randall Smith (not a relative of theirs). She played a massive role in saving Scott and Seans lives as she tended to their injuries, offered them first aid, and even called 911 for help. [8] He was befriended by the two men, who shared their dinner with Smith, before he opened fire on them without warning, shooting Farmer in the head and chest and Johnston in the neck and back; both would survive their wounds. Luckily, the pair survived. I think about 'em all the time. Sean Farmer: Once I saw what was happening, I went towards him again. Ironically, it was the gunman who did not survive that encounter at the dismal creek campground. Sean Farmer: Yeah, pretty much the way it is. Scott Johnston: Oh, I mean, the blood was just squirting out of my neck. Tom Lawson: Go on record, give it to the media. The next day, they brought in search dogs to comb the woods. And-- and we just skid sideways in the road around that curve. Police could not determine if she had been sexually assaulted, because of the condition of the body. He was willing to help anyone in need. As Johnston cleaned the fish by the creek, then placed them on a grate over the fire, along with a pot of beans, Smith talked about football and music and himself. "Harvey Murray Glatman (December 10, 1927 September 18, 1959) was an American serial killer active during the late 1950s. I said, "I know you did." Randall Smith was injured and apprehended when he wrecked a pickup he allegedly stole from one of the fishermen. Sean Farmer: He just, you know, walked up. Ron Hamlin: And another investigator and I went I've and we pulled him out from under the truck. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive. Like most everyone in this mountainous part of the state, Johnston and Farmer had heard about the 1981 murders. Randall Lee Smith: Yeah. Appalachian Trail Murders - Should You Hike With A gun? - Wild West Trail But then a bizarre incident drew Tom Lawson's attention to a local man. Scott Johnston: And - and we make it down to the botTom of the mountain. She then fell to the ground and played dead, and Jordan "left to find his dog," the complaint states. And survived it. Randall Lee Smith (center) leaves the Giles County courthouse in It's-- it's possibly, you know, it's about a quarter inch from my spine or less. She brought him meals and stayed to chat. Can he take him down before he pulls the trigger again? And weeks after the murders, police still didn't have one. Jordan was charged with one count of murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., and one count of assault with the intent to murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., authorities said. [10] He died in jail four days later as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Scott Johnston: One millimeter. They sounded convincing, she said. We found two paperback books that belonged to her. For years, Sherman Smith -- no relation -- lived across the street from Randall Lee Smith in Pearisburg, Va. Sherman Smith: The tales he'd tell, and-- they were just kinda outrageous, and-- and I-- I think he-- he expect people to believe him, but-- I don't think anybody believed any of it. Go." On the other hand, when cops approached Ricky Williams, he attempted to escape in Scotts truck but ended up in a fatal accident that claimed his life. When Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston decided to spend a day fishing and camping out in Dismal Creek, Virginia, in 2008, they had no idea of the terror awaiting them there. ABC News' Julia Jacobo and Ben Stein contributed to this report. Slow down." Sean Farmer: So, I was-- to me, I was just trying to maintain just-- I guess the pain and-- ya know, just won-- wondering about him. Tom Lawson: Don't tell me-- don't tell me that he's done it again. He charged the shooter, and then. Sean Farmer: He turned back towards me. "I didn't even know I had been shot," he said. He began serving the prison term in 1981, and after spending fifteen behind bars, Randall was paroled in 1996. Chris Hansen: You've both been shot twice. Although each man had two serious gunshot wounds, they both survived the harrowing ordeal. Sean Farmer: And then it was dark by that time and then, he walked over to get his dog, right in front of Scott's tent. [7], On May 6, 2008, Smith attempted to kill Scott Johnston, 38, and Sean Farmer, 33, on a fishing trip near Dismal Creek, less than two miles from the site of the 1981 murders.
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