Cops: Man Who Killed Hikers Strikes Again

Va. Man Who Murdered 2 Hikers In 1981 Charged With Shooting 2 More On Appalachian Trail

(AP)  A convicted murderer is suspected of shooting and wounding two men on the Appalachian Trail a few miles from the spot where he killed two hikers in 1981, authorities said.

Randall Lee Smith, 54, will be charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, grand larceny and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Lt. Ron Hamlin of the Giles County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Smith was taken to a Roanoke hospital after police said he crashed a pickup truck belonging to one of Tuesday's shooting victims while being followed by a state trooper. Investigators said Smith was in stable condition Thursday and being guarded by deputies.

Smith was released from prison in 1996 after serving 14 years for the deaths of two social workers from Maine who were hiking the Appalachian Trail. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Police have not released the names of Tuesday's shooting victims, but friends and family identified them as Sean Farmer, 33, of Tazewell, and Scott Johnston, 37, of Bluefield. A hospital spokesman said Johnston was in serious condition. Friends said Farmer has been released.

State police said a 2000 Ford Ranger driven by Smith ran off the road and overturned after a trooper pulled up behind it Tuesday night. They had been asked to be on the lookout for the truck, which belongs to Johnston, after the shooting.

On Thursday, authorities removed the crime scene tape that had cordoned off a 28-mile stretch of the trail during their investigation, and hikers began trekking through.

"Man, I'm out here having the time of my life," said Nathan Adcock, 31, of Asheville, N.C. "And then somebody's out there shooting."

Although the trail was reopened, investigators were still trying to find clues in the case, including a campsite where Smith may have stayed in the two months since he went missing from his home near Pearisburg, about 50 miles west of Roanoke.

[longtree-2009]

Justice system is terrible. The man should have been executed for the two previous murders instead he gets out of prison in 14 years to kill again. Two more people dead, thanks to the Criminal Justice system.

[pollroller1]

I don''t understand our justice system. We have people in prison for smoking crack cocaine. We lock people up if they get paid for s-e-x, but we let killers, rapist
thugs and people that break into our homes and businesses go free.

[kevinm7742]

Read the article again... two more men WERE shot... NOT KILLED... I''m glad the guy is gonna get the book thrown at him, but I also am grateful that the two men who were shot are alive and on the way to recovery.

[blazercoach1]

zoe,

Why do you assume that he acquired the gun through legal means?

Me, I''m curious to know if these two were shot at close range or from far away. I wonder if the two victims had been armed, IF the outcome would have been different. Maybe not....but maybe. I feel badly for them that they felt safe in a world that isn''t..and their trust in their fellow man was betrayed.

[poedude99-2009]

Read the article? He killed two social workers and pled guilty to 2 counts of 2d degree murder and did 14 years (the judge was probably his inred brother); these backwoods cuntry f***ks need to be taught lessons-- never turn your back on a hick and the second they start that backwoods intimidation stuff, you should just punch them in the mouth and knock their 3 remaining teeth down their throats.

Gerald Clough
http://www.savagerun.com

[pollroller1]

Also, the lack of gun control is at fault, no criminal should be able to get a gun; a full background check should have been done.Posted by zoe2006 at 09:30 AM
The problem is that anybody can buy a gun on the street just like buying drugs. If you have the money, I''m sure there is someone out there that will sell you a gun.

[blazercoach1]

Exactly, pollroller. Passing a law that says it''s illegal doesn''t stop it from happening. If it did, there wouldn''t be ANY crime!

[excoachken]

When will this country consider saving lives by making the ease for a criminal to get a deadly weapon just a little more difficult? The poor control of war weapons will only cause more death and destruction, and you could be the next victim.

guyfrompa45 , I understand your anger, but you know they needed to make room for all the pot smokers.

[docadams3]

Too bad he didn''t get the needle the first time.

[jackp32]

Way to go Virginia. Your stupid assed parole system released a man who plead guilty to murdering 2 people and served 7 yrs for each killing. Does anyone else see something wrong with this situation? Is this the way you protect your citizens from predators?

[closethippy1]

If all Americans were to be completely disarmed with all their guns and ammunition taken away and the only ones left with guns were criminals, the number of gun deaths a year would be a fraction of what it is today.
So, yes, I''m willing to live in a country where guns are illegal even if that means that only criminals can have them.
After all, I rather trust our superb police force for law enforcement and security.
Thank you.

[shawnp1968]

closethippy1............ WHAT????????? Are you kidding me???? Are you talking about the same police that shot a man 50 times on the night of his bachelor party because he was reaching for his wallet? Are you talking about the same police that are shown beating 3 men in Philadelphia?????? What police are you talking about...... because the only police I trust has a front man named Sting!!!

[godseyesore-2009]

Right on, shaunp!

[incog-nito]

People should have known that this is bound to happen. This guy should never have been released in the first place. Murderers belong in prison for life, or worse.

[pollroller1]

Closethippy1, you are joking aren''t you?

[extremophil]

If he gets out of prison again this time, he''s still young enough to shoot a couple more hikers.

[timetrips1]

SHAWNP1968: Grow-up. There are bad elements in all parts of society. If you think you can do better then the police serving today then why are you not out there doing it? Do you really believe we would be better off with no police and everyone having a gun? Some people are such idiots. Give me a world where they don''t let idiots like you have a gun!

[luvny-2009]

Wait the guy kills 2 people and is back out on the streets in 16 years? What the heck''s that VA? I know someone that''s in jail for 30 years for selling dope! R u going to send him back out again, my God just get rid of people that that!

[guysdigdirt]

People should have known that this is bound to happen. This guy should never have been released in the first place. Murderers belong in prison for life, or worse.
Posted by incog-nito

Don''t you mean "or better"? You kill someone you deserve to be sent to IRAQ as a suicide bomber to kill the bad guys. Strap a bomb on them, give someone with a remote control a paif of field glasses and tell them if they come back toward you you will shoot them. Drop them in a terrible neighborhood and tell them to find the bad guys.

[guysdigdirt]

If all Americans were to be completely disarmed with all their guns and ammunition taken away and the only ones left with guns were criminals, the number of gun deaths a year would be a fraction of what it is today.
So, yes, I''''m willing to live in a country where guns are illegal even if that means that only criminals can have them.
After all, I rather trust our superb police force for law enforcement and security.
Thank you.
Posted by closethippy1

Then I invite you to move to england. The criminals have the guns and the law abiding citizens know how to bend over and kiss a$$ so they do not get shot.

Then if someone kills an intruder who came into their home the home owner will go to prison. Please go to that bass ackward nation, please.

[guysdigdirt]

So, yes, I''''m willing to live in a country where guns are illegal even if that means that only criminals can have them.
After all, I rather trust our superb police force for law enforcement and security.
Posted by closethippy1

Moron, your wife or daughter are attacked by a rapist and you want them to wait for the police to come? I can see it now.

You dauigher is being attacked and raped in front of you and screaming for you to help and you say...
"Wait a moment punkin, lets just wait for the police to come."

Dipstick!!

[guysdigdirt]

When will this country consider saving lives by making the ease for a criminal to get a deadly weapon just a little more difficult? The poor control of war weapons will only cause more death and destruction, and you could be the next victim.
Posted by excoachken

How do you propose weapons are made harder for criminals to get? You spout off a lot but have no back up to what you say.

[jboxton]

My question is how the heck did this guy get out in only 14 years for killing two people? Dumb liberals.

[bestillandno]

Let me get this straight. The lives of 2 social workers from Maine were worth 7 years each. And there are still people who can''t understand when people take the law into their own hands.

[bestillandno]

Read the article? He killed two social workers and pled guilty to 2 counts of 2d degree murder and did 14 years (the judge was probably his inred brother); these backwoods cuntry f***ks need to be taught lessons-- never turn your back on a hick and the second they start that backwoods intimidation stuff, you should just punch them in the mouth and knock their 3 remaining teeth down their throats.

Gerald Clough
http://www.savagerun.com

Posted by poedude99 at 09:40 AM : May 09, 2008



And here it is folks...7 whole posts into the thread before some idiot that thinks he is clever because he pulls out all of the stereotypes his pea brain can muster, gives his explanation for all to enjoy. Nice job man. If you have disdain for the killer, fine. We all do, but don''t be so ignorant as to think that his evil mind has anything to do with where he is from. Google all of the ax murdering, serial killers you can think of and see where they are all from. Evil comes from all walks of life just as good does.

[glock4me]

The first 2 murders was just a couple of yankees. Now this Bubba''s in a whole steamin'' pile of trouble.

[bobnjersey]

[After all, I rather trust our superb police force for law enforcement and security. Thank you.]
[Posted by closethippy1 at 10:53 AM : May 09, 2008]

i got just the guys for ya ... they specialize in rapid discharge of their weapons whenever they see something questionable (and not neccesarily illegal):

Officers Michael Oliver, 36, and Gescard Isnora, 29, stood trial for manslaughter while Officer Marc Cooper, 40, was charged only with reckless endangerment. Two other shooters weren''t charged. Oliver squeezed off 31 shots; Isnora fired 11 rounds; and Cooper shot four times." [AP via MSNBC]

[bobnjersey]

[My question is how the heck did this guy get out in only 14 years for killing two people? Dumb liberals.]
[Posted by jboxton at 02:01 PM : May 09, 2008]

is this another case of all the worlds issues are the fault of liberals?

well ... since you can''t see the absudity of your own view ... i''ll help you out.

the reason why murders and rapist are ''out on the street'' is because all the ''throw them all in jail and throw away the key'' types (not liberals) insisted on all the people growing/possessing/tranporting/combusting certain types of plants (cannibas sativa) are incarcerated w/ mandatory minimums leaving no discretion for the judge to define appropriate sentences in veiw of circumstances. this also applies to other generally non-violent infractions involving other types of drugs ... where people w/ no criminal history at all are sent to prison for 10, 20, 30 or more years.

[closethippy1]

I repeat, even if criminals were the only ones to have guns in this country the number of gun deaths would be a fraction of what it is today.
Get it?
That way the only people I need to worry about are criminals who are mainly concern about turf wars and revenge killings.
That way I wouldn''t have to worry about anyone having a bad day and taking out their rage on fellow workers, or someone who cut them off on the road, or kill their own family, or commit suicide, or like that 63 year old i.diot who shot a nurese dead becuase his Mommy passed away at the hospital and then get into his car and shot dead this person who happened to park next to him, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, and freaking etc!!!
You gun owners have lost your minds! You just want to have the freedom to show your gun to anyone who gets you pissed and give them a dirty look, you neanderthals.
You don''t even care we''d be saving over 10,000 lives a years by banning guns.
It''s all about you, you and you and to hell with the rest of the country.

closethippy1, here is a little gun history lesson for you:

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million ''educated'' people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded u p and exterminated.

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still
possess their guns!

It will never happen here? I bet the Aussies said that too!

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.

There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.

And are you going to answer the question guysdigdirt asked you?

[kaffirboetie]

Hey guysdigdirt, go easy on closethippy, the poor little "lambkin" has probably spent his whole life living in some "love and flowers" commune making homespun and eating yoghurt

[fabrat1]

closethippy1 Hey I''m with you all the way but of course that will never happen. More and more people are owning guns every year.Right here in my home town a 65 yo man got mad at his wife (of 10 years) children because he thought they wanted to take over on her medical care so he shot one killing her and shot the other in the arm. If he hadn''t had the gun in the first place that NEVER would have happened! My X brother in-law wouldn''t go anywhere without his gun and I used to tell him that since he has such a small p.e.n.i.s. I can understand why he needs the gun to feel like a man.

[downsteamjim]

Capital punishment prevents repeat murders.

[rhs648]

dome200q - Even *********** facts such as those which you posted are unlikly to change the minds of anti-gun proponents. They do help the rest of us understand why con-control laws are dangerous.

[rhs648]

corrected

dome200q - Even horrifying facts such as those which you posted are unlikely to change the minds of anti-gun proponents. They do help the rest of us understand why con-control laws are dangerous.

[atlanta30326]

Yikes! This board looks like it has been taken over by a bunch of NRA skinhead militia men. Numbers get very skewed and twisted.


MYTH:Gun ownership is a protection against political tyranny.
TRUTH: Private ownership of guns was very common under Saddam Hussein''s regime. It certainly didn''t protect the Iraqi people against political tyranny. Gun ownership was legalized in Germany in 1928, five years before Hitler rose to power. Despite the claims of pro-gun activists, gun ownership did nothing to stop a tyrant like Hitler from seizing power. In 1938, Germany''s gun laws were relaxed except in the case of Jews. Although the gun lobby has tried to associate racism with gun control, white supremacists have often praised the Nazis for being pro-gun and have opposed gun control. An example of that is this quote: "If you register your gun with anybody, you''re a nut! When the conspiracy comes for your firearm, give it to ''em like this grand dragon is going to - right between the eyes." -Klu Klux Klan (Richmond Times- Dispatch, July 5, 1967)

[jackp32]

There is no such thing as life without parole. State governors and/or parole boards have the power to commute all sentences. When a death sentence is carried out, that is finality. At any time during a life without parole sentence, that person''s sentence may be commuted so that the inmate becomes eligible for parole or is immediately released. During the Bill Clinton pardon scandal, he could have issued a pardon, or commutation of sentence for Tim McVey. If the price had been right like it was with other cases, he may have done it.

[algoresarse]

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated."

Hahahaha! That''''s royal. Gen. Ydmgoras Fuentes was a CIA creation and had US weapons and money to do that killing.


Posted by Nancy_Naive at 06:47 AM : May 11, 2008
+ report abuse
*************

and?? i miss your point..all those mayan killings are justified because it was a cia creation blah blah blah?? or are you just being a typical bleeding heart liberal who seems to derail the issue..

[algoresarse]

So does life without parole.

Regards,


Posted by Nancy_Naive at 06:42 AM : May 11, 2008
+ report abuse

***************

which does not work..each and every year these death row inmates tend to murder us again (financially)..care to donate some of your money for your cause???

thought so..

atlanta30326, I am no fan of the NRA, they go too far the other way. Neither am I a fan of someone who tries to talk around facts to make their point. You are right about Saddam, but you forgot to mention that it was HIS faction that had the weapons. Also, Hitler%u2019s brown shirts didn%u2019t give up theirs, but my grandfather had to give up his hunting rifle.

[milesbrown49]

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated."

Hahahaha! That''''''''s royal. Gen. Ydmgoras Fuentes was a CIA creation and had US weapons and money to do that killing.


Posted by Nancy_Naive at 06:47 AM : May 11, 2008
______________________________________________________

I am curious too as to what point you are making. Gen. Ydmgoras Fuentes was president from 1958 till 1963 when he was overthrown in a coup. What did he have to do with the murders???? What is your point????

Also I want to say that gun control was enacted in the US in 1968 in answer to the Black Panther movement. The Black Panthers who exercised their rights to bear arms were considered by the FBI to be the number one enemy by J. Edgar Hoover the director of the FBI. Gun control would not have stopped this nut. Guns are merely a tool. If that man was going to attempt to kill someone to steal or what ever his passion, he would have found a way.