Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Man who killed hikers in '81 suspected in shootings (Giles County, VA)
The Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 05/08/2008

Posted on 05/08/2008 8:05:14 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands

A Giles County man paroled from prison after serving 14 years for killing two hikers on the Appalachian Trail in 1981 now is suspected of shooting two campers just off the trail in Giles on Tuesday.

Randall Lee Smith, 54, was in a Roanoke hospital yesterday after crashing a pickup truck in Giles, Sgt. Michael Conroy of the Virginia State Police said.

(Excerpt) Read more at inrich.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: appalachiantrail; at; gilescounty; hikers; hiking; roanoke; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
My home county. I remember when the SOB did this the first time. He was a classmate of my sister.
1 posted on 05/08/2008 8:05:16 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: EDINVA; iceskater; xyz123; Corin Stormhands; jla; Flora McDonald; GeorgeW23225; GottaLuvAkitas1; ...

SW Virginia Ping


2 posted on 05/08/2008 8:06:10 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (What if Tony Almeida is the 12th Cylon?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Corin Stormhands

The only thing that works is the death penalties. Killers almost always kill again. They kill somebody in jail, or they kill somebody as soon as they get out.

Prevent recidivism. Support the death penalty. Save (innocent) lives.


3 posted on 05/08/2008 8:07:14 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: livius

14 years for two murders ?


4 posted on 05/08/2008 8:08:39 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Corin Stormhands

Why in heaven’s name wasn’t this man executed or put away for life? What is wrong with our judicial system?


5 posted on 05/08/2008 8:08:53 AM PDT by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Corin Stormhands

I used to pass through the area all the time, Married a Princeton WV. girl.

Giles county the biggest speed trap on rt 460.


6 posted on 05/08/2008 8:09:11 AM PDT by vin-one (REMEMBER the WTC !!!!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: livius
>Prevent recidivism. Support the death penalty. Save (innocent) lives...

Prevent recidivism. Support the death penalty. Carry a weapon and use it!

7 posted on 05/08/2008 8:12:13 AM PDT by bill1952 (I will vote for McCain if he resigns his Senate seat before this election.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Corin Stormhands
Ties in with this thread:

Chattanooga: Hikers packing concealed heat

"384 incidents including killings, rapes, robberies, kidnappings and aggravated assaults occurred in national parks in 2006, according to the National Park Service."

Liberals are against defending yourself from bandits in national parks and are fighting against a bill in Congress that will allow you to do so.

These are the same people who let a double murderer out of prison after 14 years for his crimes that occurred in a national park.

When it comes to your very life, never compromise with a liberal.

8 posted on 05/08/2008 8:12:16 AM PDT by The KG9 Kid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: livius

Hate to disagree but most people murder out of rage at an individual, the so called crime of passion. Most won’t repeat unless exposed to a very simmilar situation. Some are serial killers who get off on it, this guy sounds like one of them.


9 posted on 05/08/2008 8:12:23 AM PDT by east1234 (It's the borders stupid!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

Exactly.

But even if he had been in jail for life, I bet he would have killed somebody else (such as a guard or a more vulnerable prisoner).


10 posted on 05/08/2008 8:12:43 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: livius

Capital offenses should be punished with short life sentences. Imprisonment shouldn’t last longer than 6 months.


11 posted on 05/08/2008 8:13:44 AM PDT by arthurus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: east1234

Probably a rabid environmentalist who doesn’t like people sullying his precious trail.


12 posted on 05/08/2008 8:14:10 AM PDT by ichabod1 (I know the diff between right and wrong. Right: What I Am. Wrong: What You Are)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: vin-one
Giles county the biggest speed trap on rt 460.

I suspect you've met Trooper Allen. I've had a few conversations with him myself.

13 posted on 05/08/2008 8:14:50 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (What if Tony Almeida is the 12th Cylon?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ichabod1

Nope. Lunatic. Always has been


14 posted on 05/08/2008 8:15:01 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: east1234
Hate to disagree but most people murder out of rage at an individual...


That is a very bold statement. Do you want to back it up with some facts?

15 posted on 05/08/2008 8:15:20 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: livius
But even if he had been in jail for life, I bet he would have killed somebody else

That is why life sentences should be solitary and short.

16 posted on 05/08/2008 8:15:26 AM PDT by arthurus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: east1234

How was his crime a crime of passion? A crime of passion usually results in the a very mitigated charge, btw; somebody who gets in a fight with his buddy and knocks him off his bar stool with the result that the buddy hits his head and dies is never judged by the same standard as a person who randomly kills people unknown to him (or kills them in the commission of a crime).

This guy’s first murder was of two hikers who were actually hiking to collect money for a charity. They were from Maine, and he did not know them and it was not a crime of passion.


17 posted on 05/08/2008 8:18:21 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks; livius

According to various internet sites (google “Randall Lee Smith”, “Appalachian Trail” ) he “pleaded guilty to lesser charges”, so he probably was never convicted of the murders he did.

Damn.


18 posted on 05/08/2008 8:18:46 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (The women got the vote and the Nation got Harding.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: arthurus

Good idea! Then it’s over and out...


19 posted on 05/08/2008 8:19:10 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN; east1234; AppyPappy
That is a very bold statement. Do you want to back it up with some facts?

It's also a very wrong statement. Additional sources tell me that he spent some time chatting with them around a campfire (also suspected in the 1981 murders, but I don't believe confirmed). He met them on the trail.

This was cold and calculated. I suspect he went there knowing exactly what he was going to do, and didn't care who the victims were.

20 posted on 05/08/2008 8:19:14 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (What if Tony Almeida is the 12th Cylon?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson