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Appalachian Trail Killer
In 2008, Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer were camping and fishing in Giles County, Virginia, along the Appalachian Trail. They met a man on the trail who introduced himself as Ricky. They invited him to have dinner with them and he accepted. After dinner, as it was getting dark, the man suddenly pulled out a hand gun and started shooting at them. Scott was shot in the neck and back. Sean was shot in the face and chest. They were both badly injured but they were able to escape in one of their vehicles and made it to a nearby house where they called 911. However, the nearest hospital was 40 minutes away so they had to wait for help to arrive.
Both men ended up being airlifted to a hospital in critical condition, but both survived. Law enforcement immediately suspected 55 year old Randall Lee Smith of committing this crime because he had done this before.
Twenty-seven years earlier, Randall Lee Smith had murdered two hikers on the Appalachian Trail and only served 15 years in prison before being released on parole. By 2008, his parole was over and he just couldn’t stay away from the Appalachian Trail or stop himself from attempting to commit more murders.
Come along with Hannah and her mom as they discuss Applebee’s, Gracie Abrams, and why are concurrent sentences a thing?
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of homicide and gun violence. Listener discretion is advised.
—
Please subscribe, rate, and review. Follow us on Instagram @spookybitchwalk and Facebook at Spooky Btch Walk for all the updates. Email us at [email protected] to share all your spooky stories and case suggestions.
Sources:
Garcia, L. (1996, September 26). Hikers’ killer going home Smith to be free after 15 years behind bars. Roanoke Times. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1996/rt9609/960926/09260065.htm
Hansen, C. (2009, February 15). Escape from brushy mountain. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29187510
Legal Clarity Team. (2026, July 1). Randall Lee Smith: The Appalachian Trail killer. Legal Clarity. https://legalclarity.org/randall-lee-smith-the-appalachian-trail-killer/
Mitra, S. (2023, January 20). Sean Farmer & Scott Johnston: Where are Randall Lee Smith’s survivors today? The Cinemaholic. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-are-sean-farmer-and-scott-johnston-now/
UPI Archives. (1982, March 24). Murderer pleads guilty to double slaying. UPI. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/24/Murderer-pleads-guilty-to-double-slaying/4925385794000/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Randall Lee Smith. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Lee_Smith
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By SpookyB*tchWalkIn 2008, Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer were camping and fishing in Giles County, Virginia, along the Appalachian Trail. They met a man on the trail who introduced himself as Ricky. They invited him to have dinner with them and he accepted. After dinner, as it was getting dark, the man suddenly pulled out a hand gun and started shooting at them. Scott was shot in the neck and back. Sean was shot in the face and chest. They were both badly injured but they were able to escape in one of their vehicles and made it to a nearby house where they called 911. However, the nearest hospital was 40 minutes away so they had to wait for help to arrive.
Both men ended up being airlifted to a hospital in critical condition, but both survived. Law enforcement immediately suspected 55 year old Randall Lee Smith of committing this crime because he had done this before.
Twenty-seven years earlier, Randall Lee Smith had murdered two hikers on the Appalachian Trail and only served 15 years in prison before being released on parole. By 2008, his parole was over and he just couldn’t stay away from the Appalachian Trail or stop himself from attempting to commit more murders.
Come along with Hannah and her mom as they discuss Applebee’s, Gracie Abrams, and why are concurrent sentences a thing?
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of homicide and gun violence. Listener discretion is advised.
—
Please subscribe, rate, and review. Follow us on Instagram @spookybitchwalk and Facebook at Spooky Btch Walk for all the updates. Email us at [email protected] to share all your spooky stories and case suggestions.
Sources:
Garcia, L. (1996, September 26). Hikers’ killer going home Smith to be free after 15 years behind bars. Roanoke Times. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1996/rt9609/960926/09260065.htm
Hansen, C. (2009, February 15). Escape from brushy mountain. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29187510
Legal Clarity Team. (2026, July 1). Randall Lee Smith: The Appalachian Trail killer. Legal Clarity. https://legalclarity.org/randall-lee-smith-the-appalachian-trail-killer/
Mitra, S. (2023, January 20). Sean Farmer & Scott Johnston: Where are Randall Lee Smith’s survivors today? The Cinemaholic. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-are-sean-farmer-and-scott-johnston-now/
UPI Archives. (1982, March 24). Murderer pleads guilty to double slaying. UPI. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/24/Murderer-pleads-guilty-to-double-slaying/4925385794000/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Randall Lee Smith. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Lee_Smith