Smith was arrested that day after attempting to escape in one of the victim's trucks and subsequently crashing. Tom Lawson: She runs, he chases, grabs the-- the wrought iron poker as she's running. PEARISBURG -- News of Randall Lee Smith's death Saturday afternoon elicited little sympathy Sunday in Giles County. At that point, she's at his mercy because she's out of it. Just us bein', you know, young, healthy guys. Scott Johnston: And then I realized, then, that I was shot in the neck. Tom Lawson: How-- how in the world could a person's life not be worth but seven and a half years? Naturally, the friends had to stay under medical care for over a month and could only share their experience with the press in June 2008. Authorities at the Wythe County joint dispatch center received the first 911 call around 2:30 a.m. Saturday from two hikers, presumably from the initial group, saying that they were being chased by a man with a machete, the complaint states. No one has been arrested in the homicide. He's shot in the face. And Scott and Sean -- who somehow survived Smith's brutal attack -- will never get any answers . 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. As we uncovered it, that's when we saw the torso. On May 6, 2008, Sean and Scott set out individually for Dismal Creek, and while Sean was the first to reach the campsite, he soon came across a stranger who introduced himself as Ricky Williams of Newport. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Smith was arrested that day after attempting to escape in one of the victim's trucks and subsequently crashing. Tom Lawson: The dog comes over to this big stump, this big trunk of the tree --and he just sit. Randall Lee Smith was arrested in the double homicide. And the next thing I know is-- is we hit it too fast. Hollywood film A Walk In The Woods was released in cinemas across the world earlier this month. Another lie. Glatman was arrested in 1958, caught in the act of kidnapping what would have been his fourth known murder victim, Lorraine Vigil. It devastated people. You are much more at risk by getting caught out by the weather or not having the right kit than you are being attacked by someone, says Phoebe Smith, an award-winning travel writer who has spent hundreds of nights wild camping alone. Randall Lee Smith was born on 1954 in Virginia, United States. Police say the notes and symbols are consistent with a religion called Wicca -- a pagan group that worships nature, and considers its leading members witches. Friends Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer say they've hiked the trails and fished the streams here most of their lives. Sean is now face-to-face with a gunman who wants to kill him. And Scott and Sean -- who somehow survived Smith's brutal attack -- will never get any answers, either. ABC News' Julia Jacobo and Ben Stein contributed to this report. Chris Hansen: And how was the fishing that day? Chris Hansen: Is that a good thing or a bad thing? "I hope before he passed away that he had a chance to make things right with the good Lord," she said. In May 1981, he brutally murdered two Appalachian Trail hikers, both 27, and buried their bodies near an AT shelter close to the boundary of Giles and Bland counties. A native of McDowell County, he was born. Scott Johnston: That's a good question. Eric Earnhart, a spokesman for Carilion Clinic, could not be reached for comment Sunday. We found two paperback books that belonged to her. The fast food chain is partnering with Conagra to bring Wendy's "beloved chili into homes across the country" in canned-form for $4.49 when it, Q: My husband and I want to give or sell our house to our newly married daughter, who is our only child. Smith, a convicted felon, was also known locally. Read More: Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive? I mean, you know, we were good to the guy. 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. Dont be afraid to stomp on the instep of an attacker or slam a knee into a male attackers groin. Jordan was acting "disturbed and unstable" and was playing his guitar and singing when he approached the group, the complaint states. And I would have been dead. "If I had to ask him one question," Johnston said, "it would be, Why? Lawson had his suspect. I woulda died right there. Although each man had two serious gunshot wounds, they both survived the harrowing ordeal. Lying Randall. You can read more about the murder here. But as Farmer put his Jeep in gear, the shot he was expecting didn't come. Shot me in the chest. 17 Grisly & Outdoorsy Murder Cases - Investigation Discovery They even came to me, and-- and mentioned putting a feeding tube in. Scott Johnston: --with the pedals, gas, brake --down the mountain. Tom Lawson: We found a fingerprint-- bloody fingerprint in the book. The man threatened to "burn them alive" in their tents, authorities said. Smith was paroled in 1996 after serving 15 years of a 30-year prison sentence. Although it was an extremely remote area, the police reached the location as fast as possible, and the survivors were airlifted to a nearby hospital, where they underwent medical care. Bigley was allegedly coveting the backpack Balza was carrying. them before opening fire. Randall Lee Smith (June 29, 1953 - May 10, 2008) was a convicted murderer from Pearisburg, Virginia. February 9, 1954 - March 5, 2022. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The most infamous murder on the Appalachian Trail occurred in May 1981 near Pearisburg, Virginia, when the bodies of two hikers, Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both of Maine, were found in their sleeping bags. At trial, Carr claimed he had been enraged by the sight of the two women having sex. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Both survived. Until I actually went to the door and seen him holding his neck, and blood was running down. In life Randall received his education from South Davie schools.  He is survived by his mother Virginia Mae Smith, his father Randall Ray Smith, a son Brandon L. Smith of Mocksville, daughters Monica Weatherman and . However, Sean did appear in the Investigation Discovery episode, where he provided a first-hand account of the terrifying attack. Because we just trying to convince ourselves this is not going to happen. Smith was pronounced dead at a Pulaski County hospital about 6 p.m. Hamlin said officers found no external evidence of suicide. Almost immediately, he saw something suspicious. Tom Lawson: I think his motive with Susan was sexual. I guess behind my nose in-- in here. And he's not. Not until the helicopter landed and the doors were opened and he felt the fresh air, though, did he know that he was still alive. Comes right back to Pearisburg, right back to his mother's house, right back to the community like it-- like-- like he never missed a beat. She brought him meals and stayed to chat. That was - I was just going through pain -. Scott Johnston: And-- and we drive down about two or three miles. Jordan was arrested on the trail around 6:14 a.m. Saturday. Moreover, although both followed terribly busy schedules, it wasnt out of the ordinary for them to plan a day of fishing and relaxation. Order Flowers for the Family. Chris Hansen: Now, this would freak me out. A Killer Returns to the Appalachian Trail a True Crime Story And I - and I'm worried, like, you know, he's shot in the brain, or something that, you know. Once more it has brought the2,160 mile path that stretches from Georgia to Maine, USA to the publics attention. Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive. Randall Lee Smith (center) leaves the Giles County courthouse in I said, "Let me steer." Scott Johnston: Oh, I mean, the blood was just squirting out of my neck. Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer at the campground where they were shot by killer Randall Lee Smith. Check in with them regularly. And it was even more corroded and damaged. But one hiker they met on the trail here last may turned on them without warning. Plant Trees. 1.7K Followers True Crime Writer in Las Vegas. Sean Farmer: Once I saw what was happening, I went towards him again. Bowles visited Smith occasionally, even after she left the neighborhood. Virginia Smith learned at church Sunday morning about Randall Smith's death. Glatman was released in November that same year. I mean--. In the trees, though, "I saw the blood squirting a foot long out of my neck.". Tom Lawson: The flooring, which was brand new, was very black, like someone had rubbed a substance on the floor. But it's actually inside my sinus cavity. Smith introduced himself as Ricky Williams of Newport. Based on the forensic evidence, Lawson and his colleagues believe the killer attacked after the two hikers went to sLeep. And the two friends say as painful and as frightening as the shooting was, they have learned some life lessons from their brush with death. 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. 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. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. 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". "Saves the taxpayers some money.". Randall Lee Smith: No. Meanwhile, Scott Johnston has taken refuge in the woods. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. So, I couldn't really speak after that. He left prison in 1996 and was released from probation in 2006. He befriended the two fishermen, who shared their dinner with Smith, before opening fire on them without warning. And Sean Farmer's doctors told him the same thing about the bullets he took in the head and chest. But as he crossed a narrow bridge, Farmer began to drift in and out of consciousness behind the steering wheel. Smith came around the front of the Jeep and pointed the gun at Farmer. Chris Hansen: What do you think his motive was in this crime? There is a full article about the tragedy here on Outside Online. They knew his history and sometimes worried about what he might do to them, their children and grandchildren. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "Double-shooting suspect dies in custody", "Community reacts to Randall Lee Smith's death", "Pearisburg man never shook reputation as AT killer", "Randall Lee Smith's death ruled accidental", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Randall_Lee_Smith&oldid=1148589098, American people who died in prison custody, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 April 2023, at 03:04. He was worried about Scott, he says, and wondering who just shot them, and why? Police could not determine if she had been sexually assaulted, because of the condition of the body. Can he take him down before he pulls the trigger again? Retired FBI profiler Mary Ellen OToole wrote a book calledDangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us. Sean and Scott wanted to know those very thing about the attack on them. You can decide at anytime to exercise your rights, not make any statements, not make any answers, okay? You have permission to edit this article. And then my vision in my right side went bad. "That's what I'm asking for. 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.". That's it: Why?". Randall Lee Smith - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages He served 14 years total before being released from prison. I mean-- and luckily, I mean, he tried it with us. Then, seemingly out of the blue, the police got a break. Scott Johnston: By the time I was loaded in the helicopter, I was starting to, like, spit up blood. This guy kills two people. Tom Lawson: It was the most brutal thing I'd ever seen. Sean Farmer: I was already in shock for almost bein' killed. Go." Shes $, The suspect, a Connecticut man who may have been working with others, has been convicted in Botetourt and Roanoke counties and awaits trial in. He loved [Virginia] Tech football.