Lexington, South Carolina. May 31, 1985. 17-year-old Shari Smith was excited for the future. In just a few days, she would set off on a cruise with her friends to celebrate the end of their high school years. After that, she had her entire life ahead of her. Everything came to a tragic end, however, when Shari was snatched from outside her home in broad daylight by a sadistic predator, Larry Gene Bell. For 28 days, the Midlands region of South Carolina was terrorized by Bell, who callously taunted Shari's family on the phone. Then, as the FBI expected he would if he wasn't apprehended, he snatched another girl. His second victim was 9-year-old Debra May Helmick. By the time Bell was apprehended, he had taken two young lives and shattered a community, leaving scars that would never fully heal.

Instagram: @talkmurderwithme

Facebook: @talkmurrderwithme

Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/talkmurder

Sources for this episode:

Larry Gene Bell - Wikipedia

Larry Gene Bell - Murderpedia

Forensic Files - Last Will

Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit - John Douglas and Mark Olshaker

Palmetto Predators - Mark R. Jones

Murder in the Midlands: Larry Gene Bell and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina

South Carolina serial killer forced girl to write a farewell note and tormented his victims' families after sick spree in mid-80s

In first interview since indictment, James Metts expresses regret

Midlands killer taunted victim's family in phone calls. This TV show tells the story

Keep on believing: Dawn Smith Jordan on hope after tragedy

Denise Newsom Porch

Police: We may never find missing woman

Newspaper articles about Sandee Cornett - here and here

Music from Purple Planet Music

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/talk-murder-with-me/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy