(renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "He loved that dog and that dog loved him," Sherman Smith said. Scott Johnston: This is what it feels like to be dead. This wasn't gonna make you popular. 3. Friends Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer say they've hiked the trails and fished the streams here most of their lives. Authorities allege Smith used a .22-caliber pistol Tuesday night to shoot Sean Farmer, 33, of Tazewell and Scott Johnston, 37, of Bluefield. "I commend local law enforcement in Wythe and Smyth Counties for mobilizing successful rescue and tactical operations in this remote region. Scott Johnston -- criticially wounded by a gunman on the Appalachian Trail -- would see that poster as he was being rolled into surgery. Something evil happened at this lonely campground years ago, a crime so gruesome that its memory seemed to linger in the damp, forest air. And when we got down to where there's three or four houses, for some reason, you know, we passed the first or second house. This year, the guy running the Roanoke Kiwanis Clubs annual pancake breakfast is a character who spent 33 years working for the Central Intel. Randall is survived by his wife of 48 years, Janice (Kniffin) Smith; children, Trudy Skalicky, Twyla Hofer, Derick Smith and Dustin Smith; eight . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. They ran his tag number. He died in jail four days later as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. "I think he got what he deserved," Stafford said. More from Medium A.W. And they come to the door and they see me, and I'm soaked in blood - I mean from head to toe. I guess behind my nose in-- in here. On Friday, Jordan allegedly approached four hikers near the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday at the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. Scott Johnston: And - and we make it down to the botTom of the mountain. . He basically had no friends to amount to anything. A patrolman saw him struggling with a woman at the side of the road and arrested him. Following his release from prison, Randall . Knowin' how we were both gonna react. You can only imagine the heartbreak the families of the victims had to go through. Chris Hansen: What's it like to see these gals here today? As a rule of thumb, youre more likely to encounter troublesome people within a mile or two of crossroads, rather than in the deep, dark forest. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Smith served a 10-year prison term for those killings, was released in 1996 and returned home to live with his mother in Pearisburg, Va. His mother died in 2000. . But they're alive, thanks to good luck, and some outstanding medical care. Smith as he appeared in his 1973 driver's license photo. Paul David Crews was responsible for the double murder of Molly LaRue and Geoff Hood in 1990. In May of 1981, social workers Susan Ramsay and Robert Mountford had been hiking the Appalachian Trail. Police began combing the woods surrounding the shelter, and one searcher noticed something peeking through the leaves: a sLeeping bag. And it was so close too. Read More: Randall Lee Smith Now: Is The Killer Dead or Alive? Go." And I - and I'm worried, like, you know, he's shot in the brain, or something that, you know. Chris Hansen: You've both been shot twice. And live life. In fact, as the flight went on, Scott himself thought he was not going to make it. And all I could see were, you know, shots of what's looked like fire, which were bullets discharging towards Scott. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. We're both bLeeding. How'd you accept that? And-- and we just skid sideways in the road around that curve. Scott Johnston: Oh, I mean, the blood was just squirting out of my neck. Naves in Doing Crime Iowa. Pleads guilty. The two men sat in a small brick home on Dismal Creek Road the same home to which they had fled after being shot and told the tale of how they barely escaped with their lives after inviting a hungry man and his seemingly starving dog into their camp in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. I couldn't hear any other gunshots because inside my head was, like, waaaah, just as loud as you can possibly imagine. I said, "We're both shot and we gotta get outta here." Ricky claimed that he had fished with Scott all afternoon, and the latter had invited him to join them for dinner. I feel like I'm just re-living it all over again. And he's not. Scott wanted to take us back to Carillion Roanoke hospital to meet some of the team that saved his life. Then, seemingly out of the blue, the police got a break. Lawson had his suspect. If you are intrigued to know more about the details surrounding the crime and want to find out where Sean and Scott are at present, we have you covered. [5], Smith's sentence and his early release were both met with anger by the victims' families as well as the hiking community. And my mouth swollen immediately. 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. Sean Farmer: I'm just thankful that, you know, the beat goes on. 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. The legal dispute over the pipeline's use of eminent domain was sent back to district court for a trial. On the way back, he saw a dog that looked famished, so he stopped the truck. No one has been arrested in the homicide. Smith pleaded guilty to the double homicide and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, due to lack of evidence. His public water was cut off April 28. Scott Johnston: Well, it's-- it's cost me a small fortune. And on this day, there was something else hunting out there among the towering hardwoods and tangled brush: Another, even more deadly predator. And I jump out. [2] A third victim, Shirley Ann Bridgeford, was met through a Lonely Hearts ad in the newspaper. And at least 40 miles from probably a hospital. Sean Farmer: And the thing was, ya know-- we communicated, but, like-- like I said, my mouth was swollen. Community reacts to Randall Lee Smith's death. Bowles believes Smith probably camped for a time somewhere in the mountains above his home. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Tom Lawson: I don't know. Is Randall Lee Smith Dead or Alive? They each drank a Bud Light but didn't offer Smith one. She then turned to face Jordan, raising her hands "as if to surrender," and Jordan allegedly stabbed her multiple times. Chris Hansen: Who do you think, at the end of the day, is most responsible for Scott and Sean's survival? "Well, if I did, it wasn't my gun, it was theirs," is what he said. Retired FBI profiler Mary Ellen OToole wrote a book calledDangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us. Another lie. Sean Farmer: Yeah, pretty much the way it is. Scott Johnston: I - I knew then I was sort of in trouble. He was worried about Scott, he says, and wondering who just shot them, and why? Authorities say they don't know yet why Smith died. Then, Smith stood up and smacked his hand against his thigh to wake his sleeping dog, Johnston said. And I- and I started running this direction, ducking down. At some point during the evening, Randall Lee Smith abruptly pulled out a .22 caliber revolver and shot Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston. Sitting with her granddaughter, Virginia Smith and her husband, Sherman, were neighbors of Randall Smith (not a relative of theirs). Both survived. Louise Chaput, a 51 year-old Canadian,was stabbed to death in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. And the wheels probably come within a foot of going over like a - a 20 or 30-foot embankment. For seven and a half years for two people's lives, he died where he should a died. Luckily the pair survived, but Smith was charged for attempted murder and murder of two hikers back in 1981. 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. You can read the details of the case here. Sean Farmer: I'm just lucky. In fact, Randall Lee Smith apparently became so obsessed with the trail that sometime in March of 2008, he walked up into the wild and never came back. You know, I hear that boom. A True Crime Publication that looks into both new crimes and long lost forgotten crimes. Tom Lawson: I was just thinking how useless this murder was, how uncalled for. For him, it is still sacred ground. His probation ended in 2006. Chris Hansen: What do you think his motive was in this crime? Farmer and Johnston plan to watch. Chris Hansen: Did you think there was a chance they wouldn't make it? 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. "It happened so fast, I was just thinking, I've got to get out of here.". (laughter). This page uses cookies and other similar technologies to improve your experience on our services. I used to be a Web Developer in the Newsroom, now I spend my time in coffee shops researching murder. Sean Farmer: He just, you know, walked up. And - and I bang on the door. Tom Lawson: The flooring, which was brand new, was very black, like someone had rubbed a substance on the floor. A motive for the alleged attack is under investigation by the FBI's Richmond, Virginia, division. Lyin' Randall was lying again. And the pieces were up above the leaves. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. "Saves the taxpayers some money.". Sheila called the rescue squad, then Johnston's mother and girlfriend, then Farmer's mother. And when Randall Lee Smith went on trial for his latest crimes on the Appalachian Traileveryone hoped they finally would get some answers. He jumped into the cab, grabbed his keys from the console, placed them in the ignition and turned. He described having been in the bathtub, placing a rope around his neck, running it through the tub drain, and pulling it tight against his neck," achieving some kind of sexual pleasure from this act." They have also lived in Fort Myers, FL and Fargo, ND. We-- because the trail is so very well-marked, and most of the people who walk that trail are-- are experienced hikers. I mean, it was just pulsing out of me. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Melissa Miller: Yeah, it crossed my mind. "He talked about his dog. PEARISBURG -- News of Randall Lee Smith's death Saturday afternoon elicited little sympathy Sunday in Giles County. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". He was the son of Randall Ray Smith and Virginia Mae (Rubin) Smith, both survive him. Chris Hansen: That's the end of the story? Randall Lee Smith was suspected of shooting two fishermen near Dismal Creek. Lawson found those murder weapons. Chris Hansen: You had to be thinking, "Wait a minute. 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. Chris Hansen: Twenty-seven years later you're assistant superintendent of the jail--. 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. [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. Smith was arrested that day after attempting to escape in one of the victim's trucks and subsequently crashing. We never found the weapon. Sean Farmer: The first thing was just to get away from this guy. Smith was still trapped in the truck when Hamlin arrived. Scott Johnston: It's just a beautiful, relaxing place to me. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And when the door opened up, I felt that cold air, like, whish across my body. It devastated people. Scott Johnston: The-- the doctor told that the bullet that went in my neck missed my carotid artery by one millimeter. After Scott made the ID, police launched a manhunt for Randall Lee Smith. His neighbor didn't know. He looked just like a normal camper. Chris Hansen: Where are the bullets now inside your body? Randall Lee Smith is an American murderer who was active along the Appalachian Trail in southwestern Virginia. Chris Hansen: 15 years? Once Sean, Scott, and Ricky completed their dinner, they sat around the campfire, swapping stories when things took a sudden dark turn. The Appalachian Trail slices through the rugged mountains of southwestern Virginia, and is a magnet for nature lovers. Send Flowers. And weeks after the murders, police still didn't have one. I just want to thank you for it, it was the funniest fucking thing. Chris Hansen: So, in 1996,he walks outta prison. Tom Lawson: Basically that Randall was gonna serve 15 years. Chris Hansen: So, you got one-- one hand on your neck--, Scott Johnston: Yeah, one hand on my neck--. He died in police custody in 2008. Tom Lawson - who is still pained by those 1981 murders - will never get his chance to ask Smith why he killed those two hikers. And I was, like, "Oh, you know." He had told them his campsite was an hour away. Scott Johnston: And-- we were sitting around the campfire, talkin' about sports, and fishing. Smith declared the trout delicious but didn't eat with the relish Farmer and Johnston expected from a man who looked as if he'd missed many meals. But I guess he figured out he and Bo weren't going to make it up there," she said. Sean Farmer: I was beyond the point of thinking I wasn't gonna make it. Chris Hansen: Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I was, like--. Nevertheless, from the looks of it, both friends still seem to reside in the state of Virginia and often go fishing together, despite their past experiences. It really did. "Ol' Bo was beside him all the time. Just to get him. Bowles' concern for Smith, a Pearisburg resident who was 54 when he died, led her to file a missing-person report April 30 with the Giles County Sheriff's Department. 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. Scott Johnston: They weren't sure if I would ever talk or swallow again. Sean and Scott wanted to know those very thing about the attack on them. 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. And-- and luck. After Randall Smith's arrest, neighbors wondered what happened to Bo. Sean Farmer: And I stood up, staggered back. Glatman moved to Los Angeles, California in 1957 and started strolling around modeling agencies looking for potential victims. "What the hell just happened?" But just a few hours later, that picture postcard day turned into a night straight out of a horror movie. Blogger Mark Kelley suggests bearing in mind that most violence comes from people crossing paths with the Appalachian Trail, not other hikers. Pow." plans and enthusiasm Randall Lee Smith eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case and was sentenced to two 15-year sentences. I mean, you know, we were good to the guy. If you must, fight for your life. My body was, like, paralyzed. I mean-- and luckily, I mean, he tried it with us. There's some shrapnel right here that I can feel. When Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer were shot near the Appalachian Trail last may, former deputy Tom Lawson immediately had a suspect in mind-- Randall Lee Smith. Lawson was immediately suspicious of Randall Lee Smith. Though Tom Lawson may have done everything he could to keep Randall Lee Smith from roaming free, he says he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself if Smith had killed again. "He loved that dog and that dog loved him," said Sherman Smith, who is not related to Randall Smith. Farmer recalled saying. Roberts said men at a small country store had insisted they'd have found and "taken care of" Smith if he hadn't been arrested. On May 9, he was released from the hospital and taken by deputies to the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Johnston and Farmer recalled that they sensed the stranger was taking liberties with the truth, but they didn't hold it against him. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Randall was born December 10, 1977in Forsyth County, NC. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I mean, we're both healthy, still here. In 2008, Smith shot two fishermen on the trail with the intent to kill them. Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston say Randall Lee Smith befriended You have permission to edit this article. Smith infamously murdered two people along the Appalachian Trail in . Lt. Hamlin read Smith his rights. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. "I kept telling myself, you're tough, hang on, you're going to make it," he recalled. He's blacking out. The slayings became the subject of the 1984 book "Murder on the Appalachian Trail" by author Jess Carr. Once back in Virginia, Randall was offered a plea deal where he would plead guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in exchange for 30 years in prison. Scott and Sean were still a long way from medical help. Smith, meanwhile, had driven off in Johnston's black truck. Many people in Giles County believe Smith got off easy for the murders of the two promising young people from Maine. Scott Johnston: It was really creepy. Tom Lawson: I haven't accepted it in 27 years. DISMAL CREEK The killer, wearing camouflage clothing and expensive-looking boots, walked into Sean Farmer and Scott Johnston's campsite around 5 p.m. Of course, at the time, the two fishing buddies from Bluefield, Va., didn't know the gaunt, frail man with the snowy white beard was a killer, or that he intended to shoot them. Johnston jumped up and dashed away from Smith, trying to get to a stand of cedar trees 20 feet away. And I was coming back up the mountain. So, we talked a little while. The male victim was found dead at the scene, and the female victim was taken to the Bristol Regional Medical Center in Tennessee, where she gave a statement to investigators and named Jordan as the man who attacked them, according to the complaint. Ever. Carlie Roberts (left) of Bethany Beach, Del., and Jordan Price of Atlanta hike toward Pearisburg on Sunday. When he was twelve years old, his parents noticed that he had a red, swollen neck. First off there is the standing fucking hooray that is Steve Buscemi in Ghost World. Medical examiners still are trying to determine the cause of death. Well, I- I felt around my neck. Karen brought a crockpot, like a family sized crockpot filled to the fucking brim of nacho cheese thank you for doing that. Why were you so brutal? That's the-- that's the round that killed him. And I mean we're flying down the road. Tom Lawson: The book belonged to Susan, and the fingerprint belonged to Randall Smith. "That's what I'm asking for. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Randall Lee Smith, completed his earthly mission June 22, 2007 at the age of 59, after a year-long struggle with Leukemia. Tom Lawson tracked Smith down, brought him back here to his home in Pearisburg, and noticed something -- you could walk out Smith's back door and be up on the Appalachian Trail in minutes, and it was just a short hike from the murder scene. You can cancel at any time. Chris Hansen: How did you learn that he had been in prison for killing two other people? 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. I said, "Either I'll swallow, or I'll die." Moreover, although both followed terribly busy schedules, it wasnt out of the ordinary for them to plan a day of fishing and relaxation. On May 6, 2008, Smith attempted to kill two fishermen less than two miles from the site of the 1981 murders. Farmer, a 33-year-old coal-truck driver, still has a bullet in his skull and a nasty wound in his chest. Tom Lawson: Go on record, give it to the media. As he gets in, the gunman runs alongside, and lines him up for the finishing shot. It shouldnt stop you from hiking the trail yourself. Lawson and his team went to check the Wapiti shelter -- near where Scott and Sean would camp years later --- because it was the closest campsite to Pearisburg. Sean is now face-to-face with a gunman who wants to kill him. Because we just trying to convince ourselves this is not going to happen. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. I mean, we're both in a panic. Randall Smith was injured and apprehended when he wrecked a pickup he allegedly stole from one of the fishermen. What were you gaining by this?". 1996- Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were found both with their throats cut in the Shenandoah National Park in the Virginia. Judy Snipes: To be real honest, the two of them initially. Chris Hansen: Dark out. That round goes in, up, and into the brain. On top of it, in 2008, Randall was already out on parole and was reported missing by his neighbor, which further increased worries. We'll hear some-- some more music. He was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, a sentence that he accepted willingly. They then drove the vehicle down the rocky mountain road until they reached the residence of Melissa Miller. I mean, you know--. 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. This might be why, How to Increase Your Social Network as You Age, Wendy's will start selling canned chili in grocery stores, Parents consider options for only daughter to inherit their home. Scott Johnston: And then I realized, then, that I was shot in the neck. I mean-- just, you know, us. I said, "Randall, you did shoot them guys." Susan Ramsay was dead. 2008-Two fisherman were shot on the Appalachian Trail by Randall Lee Smith. He was born June 30, 1967, in Mecklenburg County, son of Kay Harding Thompson and the late Jackie W. Thompson Sr. Scotte was a caring, loving father, son, and friend. Can he take him down before he pulls the trigger again? [1][11], The novel Murder on the Appalachian Trail (1985), by Jess Carr, is a fictionalized account of the 1981 murders.[12]. And a study from the journal Nature published last. No matter what. The two fishermen were in their camp when an unexpected visitor showed up. Now, the police had some solid evidence, but no suspects. Their pulling together as a team, how they pulled off two of them trying to drive a truck over a road that's as windy as the road you saw, is to me almost an amazing feat. Later, the police determined that Ricky was none other than Randall Lee Smith, who had already returned to his murderous ways after being paroled from prison. Scott Johnston: And- and the next thing I know, I mean, I just hear, "Pow. I mean--. Ron Hamlin: And another investigator and I went I've and we pulled him out from under the truck. Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, 27 year old social workers from Maine, were both also victims of theAppalachian trail murdersby Randall Lee Smith. We crossed that and then the road veers left. You know, I mean 'cause every day I think about the story and I mean it's always on my mind.