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The Appalachian Trail, like most parks and hiking areas in America is
relatively safe. With over 3 million hikers visiting various sections of
the trail per year, there have only been 9 murders along the trail since
1974, and according to the ATC an average of about 1 rape every 3 years.
One unusual aspect about the Appalachian Trail murders is that three
incidents have been double murders. In two of those cases one of the
victims was male. |
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Georgia - May 1974, Joel Polsom, 26, of
Hartsville, South Carolina was murdered and his
female companion kidnapped by the killer at the Low Gap Trail Shelter
in White County Georgia, which is in the Chattahoochee National
Forest. Michigan fugitive Ralph Fox was later captured
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Tennessee - April 1975, Thru-hiker Janice
Balza, 22, of Madison, Wisconsin was killed by a hatchet at
Vandeventer shelter in northeast Tennessee. Hiker/tree surgeon Paul
Bigley, 51, was convicted of her murder and died in prison .
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Virginia -
May 1981, Susan Ramsay
murdered while hiking along the AT with Robert Mountford Jr. Murderer Randall Smith was paroled after only 15 years for
this double murder. After his release Smith tried to kill to two more
people in the same area.
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Virginia -
May 1981, Robert Mountford Jr. (and Susan Ramsay) were
murdered while hiking along the AT. Murderer Randall Smith who was paroled after only 15 years
and years later returned to the same area and tried to kill two more
people.
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Pennsylvania - May 12, 1988, Rebecca Wight was
shot dead and her partner, Claudia Brenner, was seriously wounded.
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Pennsylvania - September 12, 1990, Molly LaRue,
25, of Shaker Heights, Ohio and her fiancé from Tennessee were killed at
the Thelma Marks Shelter on the AT south of Duncannon, Pa
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Pennsylvania - September 12, 1990, Geoffrey
Hood, 26, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee was shot to death as he
slept in the Thelma Marks Shelter on the A.T. south of Duncannon, Pa
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - May 28, 1996, Julianne Williams,
24, (and Lollie Winans) were bound and had their throats cut
while hiking and camping near Bridle Trail and the Appalachian Trail. There bodies
were found less than 1/4 mile from the road. This crime remains
unsolved.
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - May 28, 1996, Lollie Winans,
26 (and Julianne Williams) were bound and had their throats cut
while hiking and camping near Bridle Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
This crime remains
unsolved.
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Random thoughts about the murders that have happened along the Appalachian
Trail.
- Of the 9 murders listed above
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Female or solo hikers should not go into an empty
shelter and unpack all your gear for the evening. Wait to see who
else shows up. If you feel uncomfortable, leave and set up camp
somewhere else.
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Related Links & Resources:
● After Rice: New questions in Park murders
● Vogel State Park Map
● Vogel State Park
● Killer Of Georgia Hiker May Have Other Victims
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Man Held in LaRue, Hood Murders
●
Trail of a Killer: Second of Two Parts
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Trail of a Killer: Second of Two Parts
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Safe hiking: Trust your instincts
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hunting can be found in our
Hunting Discussion Forums. |
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