Appalachian Trail killer may be suspect in double shooting - WSLS.com

[hopefulhiker]

There was Meredith earlier this year who was killed and now these people shot.. How many people in all in the trail area this year?

[Locutus]

I cant access the original article, but I don't think the people he is suspected of killing were related to the trail at all.

[wilconow]

It was a half mile from the trail and the victims were Fishermen

Here's hoping that they are okay.

[wilconow]

I cant access the original article, but I don't think the people he is suspected of killing were related to the trail at all.

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The shooting victims are in the hospital

While authorities haven’t released any details of the incident, Muhly said the word at the local store is that the victims are two men who were fishing at a popular spot known as the Muhly long hole, and that one was shot in the neck and the other in the chest. Authorities haven’t confirmed this, but she said the story going around the area is that the shooter took the victims’ car, leaving them to walk 3 ½ miles back down the mountain in the dark to get help. She said she figures the victims probably weren’t local or they would’ve known that the Muhly home was just a quarter mile away.

The Appalachian Trail is now blocked near Virginia 606, and state police have been searching for clues, Muhly said.

[SGT Rock]

I cant access the original article, but I don't think the people he is suspected of killing were related to the trail at all.

Depends on how you define related. Id figure any outdoorsman that was out at Dismal (a side trail from the AT) is a brother.

[Locutus]

I meant to say "suspected of shooting" not killing, sorry about that.

Rock, I meant they were not AT hikers, that is all.

[wilconow]

no message sorry

[SGT Rock]

I meant to say "suspected of shooting" not killing, sorry about that.

Rock, I meant they were not AT hikers, that is all.

Roger that.
I just camped there in March. It isn't too far from the Wapiti Shelter where he did the first murders.

[Pokey2006]

Jesus, how could he only have served 14 yrs for a double murder???? Great system we have.

Even worse -- he was eligible for parole after only four years! Found an article that mentioned him being denied parole eight times.

[Pokey2006]

Oh, and I just noticed this: MANDATORY parole. What kind of show are they running down there in Virginia????

[Pokey2006]

http://www.fred.net/kathy/at/parole.html

[sofaking]

How many does that make for this year? This just makes me sick... My question is if this guy was arrested before how did he get a gun to begin with?

criminals only use legal weapons? c'mon thimk!

[weary]

It is people like this that lead this Dino to reconsider her stance on guns on the trail and to welcome the pending change to the rules against carrying a weapon in national parks. The victims in this case were cooking this guy a meal when he shot them and stole their vehicle. Perhaps they need to look into exactly where this guy has been since 1996 just as they are doing with Gary Hilton.

Yep. the victims had plenty of warning. INstead of cooking supper for the guy, they could have just shot him and asked questions later.

I wonder where Smith got a gun. Do you suppose he might have stolen it from the two fishermen? I await the investigation with interest.

Weary

[weary]

Oh, and I just noticed this: MANDATORY parole. What kind of show are they running down there in Virginia????

The 15-year sentences were concurrent.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Weary, while it is possible he got the gun from the fishermen, I seriously doubt it. Certainly, a gun isn't going to stop all incidents, but I believe that it could well be the difference between we Dinos ending up like the Bryants and we Dinos going on to frolic another day. While I felt my off-set canes were enough in the past, characters like this guy and Hilton have changed my mind.

[Locutus]

I wonder where Smith got a gun. Do you suppose he might have stolen it from the two fishermen? I await the investigation with interest.

Weary

You can only hope, right?

[bloodmountainman]

One other thing.. Dismal Falls is such a pretty place...A heck of a place to get shot..I feel bad for the victims, but now the place will have a reputation for violence that might detract from the enjoyment of the place...

Bloodmountain has that reputation after the Emerson murder. You can't be up there without thinking about the horror that happened there.

[Hikerhead]

I asked for a current picture of Smith about a year ago on another thread, since he had returned back to his old stumping grounds and no one knew what he looked like.

I finally got my picture.

[rickb]

Seems rather odd that they would close 25 miles of Trail after this incident. Can't help but wonder why.

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site...il_Closure.htm

[SGT Rock]

I can only imagine that they didn't know where the guy could be and just went by close, well-known roads in the area as boundries.