In May 1996, hikers Julie Williams and Lollie Winans set out for a backcountry camping trip in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, a place they considered safe. When they failed to return home, a missing-persons report sparked a massive search across hundreds of miles of trails. Days later, park rangers made a devastating discovery that would change Shenandoah forever.

Episode 2 retraces the women’s final days: their hike through Whiteoak Canyon, their last photos atop Hawksbill Mountain, and the moment a peaceful national park became the scene of a double homicide. Through ranger accounts, archival audio, and survivor perspectives, The Discovery explores the beginning of an investigation that would haunt the FBI for decades.

Read full source notes, photos, and case materials at SequesteredPod.com.

Original music: “Shenandoah” by Andrew Golden