In September 1990, a brutal double murder on the Appalachian Trail shocked the nation and left haunting questions about violence and motive. Read more: The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park. Ralph asked about the next road crossing to the north and the men replied it was a long hike before heading off. This does not impact how we review products. He was wearing suede crepe-soled desert boots, and didnt have any proper gear. At 1 pm, Johnston had been fishing for trout all morning in Dismal Creek, just below the Appalachian Trail, and had driven his Ford Ranger pickup truck the nearly 4 miles to Trent's Grocery to pick up some supplies. Type of movie: Documentary. Farmer put the vehicle in gear, gunned the engine, and sped out of the campground, with no shot. The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost 2,200 miles (3,540 km) between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states. The clerk at the visitors center recommended the Lost Pond Trail on route 16, a short trail, that started nearby. They did but didnt focus on it as they were in a hurry. As they ate, Ralph left the shelter and headed into the trees before returning with food for fire. https://www.greenbelly.co/pages/appalachian-trail-murders#:~:text=The%20book%20Murder%20on%20the,for%20troubled%20adolescents%20in%20Maine. Hikers are advised to plan ahead and prepare for their journeys, be self-reliant, and use situational awareness with a back-up plan in case they encounter the unexpected. He asked whether Joel had any money. On Saturday, May 11, GBI special agent Stanley L. Thompson was woken and headed with the Sheriff to the Low Gap Shelter to investigate. The Cove Mountain Shelter replaced the Thelma Marks Shelter in 2000. However, as reported by Treehugger, it is the longest marked hiking. Murder is sadly a common, everyday occurence in civilized society. More tips on crime prevention can be found atwww.appalachiantrail.org/crime-prevention. - Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It was a miraculous escape, from a man who had already killed two people, 27 years earlier. The trail continues on to Hog Camp Gap. While out on parole he broke into Anns apartment and lay in wait for her. Therefore you are many times more likely to die from foul play in a typical US city than on the trail. Louises dark blue Kanuk sleeping bag, a blue backpack with a Canadian insignia on it, and also her car keys which had an S pendant were missing from her pack and car. He ordered her to her feet, then guided her up the narrow path that led into the woods. There really is no NEW information on crime statistics, because there hasn't been a murder on the trail in a long time. In 2006, Crews agreed to drop his appeals in exchange for two life sentences without the possibility of parole. [12] The 1981 murders and 2008 attacks were depicted in the Investigation Discovery series Dead Silent: The Curse of Dismal Creek, season 1, episode 1, broadcast on October 25, 2016. Earl Swift was hiking the route and knew the victims. Conserve your phone battery when youre in areas without cell service. Randall Lee Smith, convicted murder photographed in 1973. Myron Avery was reportedly the first person to section hike the trail. One of Scotts interests was Civil War history and that was what brought him to Virginia, and to hike the trail, starting June 15, 2011. All Votes Add Books To This List. Then after a tense wait, her own bus arrived a short time later. According to my research (references included at end of post) there have been 11 people murdered on the AT since 1974. 10 days following the attack, Carr was arrested and sentenced to life without parole. At this point, Jordan began stabbing him in the upper torso, as the woman looked on. They were lifelong friends. Bigley was tried and convicted of murder and spent the rest of his life in prison. Hilton, a believed sociopath, said he targeted Emerson because she was a woman. Two days later on November 22, around Thanksgiving, hikers would find Louises body. Instead, he walked a few feet farther until he was standing outside the Jeep just behind Farmer's left shoulder. He was pronounced dead at 6 pm, May 10 at a Pulaski County hospital. A Massachusetts man charged with fatally stabbing an Iraq War veteran on the Appalachian Trail and severely wounding another hiker is not mentally fit to stand trial, a judge has ruled. At 6.14 am the next morning, the team arrived at the campsite where the first attack occurred. As he hit the dirt road leading out, Johnston stepped out of the woods and into the road and he was picked up. The victims and their stories are in order as follows. Investigators have never said publicly if they made a. He was last seen and heard from on July 31st after climbing The Priest in Nelson County. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims the Appalachian Trail to be the longest hiking-only trail in the world. Ralph, he replied. So she phoned the Columbia police and told them about Joel. Emerson was a fast hiker, so Hilton soon fell behind and she continued her ascent alone. Sean, a coal-truck driver, and Scott, a layer of ceramic tiles, from Bluefield, Va, were on a fishing trip. At 52, Louise Chaput drove from Quebec to Pinkhams Grant where she stayed at a lodge at the Appalachian Mountain Club visitors center for the weekend. by Barry Yeoman on November 1, 1996. He had been wearing jeans and work boots and was described as not looking like he belonged on the trail. A bullet remains in Scotts back, and his neck had a bullet wound and a surgical scar. In June 2003 he was transferred to the state prison hospital. (The Patriot-News) But Hood, 26, and LaRue, 25, were brutally murdered . They were resting not far into the hike when two men with chainsaws came into view, one of them the same forester she and Joel had spoken with the day before. He then led her back into the woods, around 200 yards from the shelter. The Appalachian Trail or A.T. is an iconic hiking trail in the Eastern United States, that is said to be the longest in the world. On May 9, he was released from the hospital and taken by deputies to the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Twenty-five years ago, two young female hikers decided to do what many people do for exercise, relaxation, and sporthike through the Shenandoah . He jumped into the Jeep, grabbed his keys from the console, and started the engine. Ralph appeared harmless, though certainly down on his luck and it looked like he hadnt had a shower for a good while. Although murder does not often occur on the trail, there are several notable historical incidents: Though horrific, incidents of murder on the Appalachian Trail are extremely rare. The motive for her murder is unknown, and her killer is still at large. He died there the following month from lung cancer. Man arrested for Appalachian Trail machete attack. If you choose to carry a gun, be sure to check out the concealed carry laws for each state youll be passing through and have any essential permits. James Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Mass., was arrested . AUGUSTA, Maine -- An Appalachian Trail hiker whose remains were discovered last year survived at least 26 days after getting lost, kept a journal of her ordeal and ultimately resigned herself. He retrieved a trail map from Joels pack and was surprised to find that the next road crossing was less than three miles away. In theory, this means you are 10X more likely to be murdered in Chicago than the Appalachian Trail. He told Margaret that if she wanted to keep a memento of Joel, she was welcome to go through his pack. Get A Copy Amazon Stores Libraries Unknown Binding, 401 pages A woman played dead so she could fend off a knife-wielding man accused of killing a hiker and threatening others in two separate incidents along the Appalachian Trail, according to . Since 1974 there have been nine murders near or on the A.T. and two attempted murders, some involving serial killers. Ralph Fox was eventually arrested for the murder. when they arrived, he wasnt home, but inside they found Joels backpack, his clothes and camping gear, and a revolver containing four live rounds and one empty cartridge. Smith made efforts to conceal evidence of the murders. The original Thelma Marks shelter on the Appalachian Trail where Molly LaRue and Geoff Hood were murdered on Sept. 13, 1990. It is estimated that more than three million hikers visit the Trail annually; in the Trails history, 11 hikers have been murder victims. Margaret asked his name. The original Thelma Marks shelter on the Appalachian Trail where Molly LaRue and Geoff Hood were murdered on Sept. 13, 1990. He didnt like to be around people, wouldnt even go to the grocery store in the daytime. The AT/Hotel Trail Loop in the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area is 7.5 miles long. Margaret said, Travelers checks. He had been on Floridas most wanted list since 1986 when he was indicted for a murder he committed in Bartow. Read more about our, Jiaqian AirplaneFan via Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0), Where: Thelma Marks Shelter, Duncannon, PA. He then blindfolded her and then walked off. Still nervous Margaret and Joel, they decided should leave first thing in the morning and theyd have breakfast when they were a mile or two up the trail to the north. In this post, were taking a deeper look into such dark encounters, along with sharing tips on how to stay safe while out on the trail. The Appalachian Trail community was shocked when one hiker was killed and another critically wounded in a recent pre-dawn attack on the trail. SOBO refers to South Bound hikers starting from Mount Katahdin in Maine and NOBO to northern bound hikers heading from Springer Mountain in Georgia. Police issued a nationwide alert and two days later, he was arrested in Skagit County, Washington, as he tried to break into a parked car. She had made a reservation at the lodge at the Appalachian Mountain Club but never returned. The trail sees an annual average of about 4 million visitors which makes the murder rate on the trail substantially lower than that of regular society. Lilly was a 30-year-old SOBO hikerwho began his journey in Maryland and was planning to end at Springer Mountain. His belongings were missing, although the FBI did not say they believed robbery was the motive. He returned to Ingram to live with his mother and wore an electronic monitoring anklet as part of his ten years of supervision. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a homicide. When they tried to leave, he attacked them, killing Sanchez and wounding another. She left it as it was. She was attacked with a hatchet wielded by Paul Bigley, 51, from Tucson in Arizona after breakfast. The home of serial killer Randall Lee Smith in Pearisburg, Va., near the Appalachian Trail. He stayed at the Priest shelter about 0.6 miles east of the A.T. along the Old Hotel Trail, which loops around and rejoins the A.T. again about two miles north. Louise crossed the border at Norton, Vermont at 11.45 am. Although you are still more likely to run into problems on the trail because of inclement weather or slipping and falling, violent crime on the trails is not an uncommon occurrence. Sean Farmer arrived at the campground at 4 pm and was setting up his tent at 5 pm when the dog and stranger walked in. The Vandeventer shelter is sometimes believed to be haunted by Balzas ghost. Sanchez and Jordan started arguing and then Sanchez tried to phone 911 from his cell phone. Their murderer has never been found, and the FBI is still investigating the case. After Jordan left the scene, the female hiker got up and continued to run down the trail, eventually coming upon some other campers who were just off the trail, who then helped her hike six more miles to a trailhead. Before driving off, Johnston told the man he was camping just up the road at the Lions Den Campground. The two women encountered Carr again later that day while they stopped to look at their map. https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/true-crime-in-the-outdoors/2020/5/4/scott-lilly-unsolved-murders-on-the-appalachian-trail, https://medium.com/true-crime-addiction/true-crime-murder-on-mount-isolation-8a89ff71dfc9, https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/05/fatal-appalachian-trail-attack-resurrects-memories-of-double-murder-on-the-trail-in-pennsylvania.html, https://medium.com/true-crime-addiction/true-crime-murder-on-cove-mountain-b7f52a3b542d, https://www.outsideonline.com/2011326/murder-appalachian-trail, https://www.wistv.com/story/5842730/appalachian-trail-killer-to-be-resentenced/, https://mpora.com/outsiders/the-gruesome-truth-behind-those-murders-on-americas-famous-appalachian-hiking-trail/, https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Randall_Lee_Smith, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8224118/janice-balza/, https://www.outsideonline.com/2359316/appalachian-trail-shelter-first-murder-1974, https://scnow.com/lifestyles/pair-encounters-killer-lives-to-tell-about-it/article_5c9de749-d8bb-5031-bcc9-e781a6639e58.html, Tagged: Murder on the Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Murders, What is the Appalachian Trail (the AT)?, Ronald S. Sanchez Jr murder, James jordan Appalachian trail, Scott Lilly murder, Louise Chaput, Lost Pond Trail murder, Geoffrey Hood and Molly LaRue murders appalachian trail, Paul David Crews murders, Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay murders, Randall Lee Smith serial killer, Janice Balza Vandeventer Shelter murder, Joel Polson, Low Gap Shelter murder, Ralph Fox appalachian trail murder, Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer attempted murder, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer, Scott Lilly - unsolved murders on the Appalachian trail, Geoffrey Hood and Molly LaRue murders appalachian trail, Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay murders, Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer attempted murder, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The frightening case of the Trailside Killer David Carpenter, The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, The Yosemite National Park Sightseer Murders and the two faces of evil, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. He began his trek early in the season, figuring hed average a slower pace than most due to knee and shoulder injuries. ABINGDON, Va. (WDBJ) - A federal judge has accepted a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity from a man charged with killing an Appalachian Trail hiker and attacking . Murders on the Appalachian Trail are rare on a year-to-year basis but they are not unheard of. Margaret was lacing her boots when there came a loud, sharp noise, a blast, and when she looked up, Joel had fallen down to the floor near the fire ring. Later, he attempted murder again in the same location. Sanchez had served three tours in Iraq and 16 years in the U.S. army in total. He was likely dead around 12 days before his discovery. 1990: Geoffrey Hood and Molly LaRue were killed by Paul David Crews near Duncannon, PA. 1996: Julianne Williams and Lollie Winans were killed in Shenandoah National Park near the Skyland Resort, but not on the Appalachian Trail. Margaret bought a $10 ticket for Columbia. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates that around 3 million people hike a portion of the trail every year. Ralph practiced Joels signature, so he could cash his travelers checks. Police tricked him into identifying himself via signature, by claiming the bug bites on him were serious and that he required medical attention. They later divorced. Agent Thompson and Sheriff Baker drove to Atlanta, where police obtained a search warrant. Case. They thought it was a little unusual, said Wythe County sheriff Keith Dunagan at a press briefing. He confessed to stealing Joels gear and to kidnapping Margaret but said he had no intention of harming her. After they were laid off, to decided to hike the Appalachian Trail together over a six-month period, starting in Mount Katahdin in Maine on June 4, 1990. These are far from the only killings on the trail. They were found later that day on September 13 by Cindi and Brian Bowen, A.T. hikers who used the trail names The Lone Moccasins. After they were murdered, their bodies were placed in their own sleeping bodies and then buried. She had multiple stab wounds on her body. After a quick lunch at a restaurant around the corner, they returned to the bus station, where the manager appeared and unlocked the door. Randall Lee Smith Randall Lee Smith (1954 - May 10, 2008) was a convicted murderer from Pearisburg, Virginia. Crews DNA was linked to semen found on Mollys body. 6) Beauty Beneath the Dirt. If you plan on being in an area with low cell coverage, consider opting for a satellite messengerlike the Garmin InReach, which allows you to send out message to cell phones and other InReach devices no matter where you are. Ralph ordered her to eat and drink while he went through Joels pack. They were shot and stabbed by Paul David Crews, a wanted killer on the run from Florida police. He told Margaret she could stay where she was or hike out of the mountains together and reach a highway for help. Hiking with a partner is always recommended for safety purposes. The first known murder on the Appalachian Trail took place in 1974. The Forest Service Says "Yes", "Wheelchair-accessible paths on the Appalachian Trail", "What's In Your Pack? Twisted ankles, getting turned around on the trail, run-ins with dangerous people or animalsit doesnt take much to turn these minor mishaps into life-threatening events. When they arrived, Ralphe asked for a room, handed over $10, and signed the register as Mr. and Mrs. Joel Polson. In the meantime, the stranger had driven off in Johnston's truck, but a state police trooper alerted to the shootings, saw the vehicle, and gave chase. As Johnston banged on the door and pleaded for help, Farmer staggered out of the Jeep. WWII vet Earl Schaffer is generally believed to be the first person to thru-hike the trail in 1948. They called 911 at 2.30 am, saying that they were being chased by a madman with a knife. He attempted to flirt with her but was interrupted by Mountford. The most recent being in 2011, when Scott Lilly was found dead with evidence leading to foul play. Bigleys motive for the murder apparently was that he coveted her backpack.. Ralph stepped up to the counter and purchased a $3 ticket to Atlanta. Largay survived for 23 days on her own before she passed of exposure and starvation. and this, together with the weapons and other evidence found or near the shelter, meant the authorities had a strong case against him. Margaret now led Ralph over a narrower, more difficult path, with roots and rocks, on a ridge high above the Chattahoochee River. Heather "Anish" Anderson completed the trail southbound on September 24, 2015, in 54 days, 7 hours, and 48 minutes. Margaret worried that the two men would notice she was hiking with another man to Joel. On the morning of May 11th, the group encountered 30-year-old James Louis Jordan, nicknamed Sovereign, from Yarmouth Mass. Later that evening, the four friends set up camp a few miles from where they first met him on a site in Wythe County, Virginia, near Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. How safe is the Appalachian Trail? James Jordan ran, his feet pounding the dirt, his hunting knife ready. Then out of the blue, the man stood up and smacked his hand against his thigh to wake the sleeping dog, saying, Come on, boy. He was sentenced to life in prison, later being charged with three additional murders. He went by the trail name Stonewall, most likely a reference to Thomas Stonewall Jackson, a commander in the Confederate Army in the Civil War. Mountford had been shot three times in the face, while Ramsay was stabbed repeatedly with a long nail. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting statistics, a total of 15,696 murders occured within the United States during the year of 2015 alone. An even more widely-recognized title was that of "Appalachian Trail Murderer." Decades earlier, Smith had pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder in connection with the May, 1981 . Joel talked nonstop about a great adventure he had in the works. The idea of the Appalachian Trail came about in 1921 and it was completed in 1937. To date, there have been 13 total murders recorded. The killer was never found. The body was identified by the F.B.I. The Appalachian Trail is usually known as a quiet, serene, and blissful place where ordinary people can go to escape the rigors of urban society. flag. To date, there have been 13 total murders recorded. We had our whole tac team up there, so he wisely surrendered himself, said Dunagan. Read the full story at: Scott Lilly - unsolved murders on the Appalachian trail. 15 minutes later, Ralph returned saying he was worried she wouldnt be found.. Hilton eventually kidnapped Emerson and held her captive for three days before killing her with a handle from a car jack. click here. Always carry a map. The Appalachian Trail spans 14 states. Read more on the story at: James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. Ralph changed his plans again, saying theyd find a bus station in Cleveland, and then theyd go their separate ways from there. A search was started by the authorities and Louises silver Ford Focus was found at the Glen Falls Parking Area on November 20. Molly was face down in a pool of blood, with her hands tied behind her back, and Geoff was partially naked with a white shirt in his hand. The shelter was a lean-to on concrete pilings in a glade with a brook. Randall Lee Smith, convicted murder photographed in 1973. They hitched a ride to Clevelands Trailways station where Margaret asked the man at the counter for a ticket to Columbia, via Atlanta first. RICHMOND, Va. - A Massachusetts man charged with killing an Appalachian Trail hiker and attacking . Chaput was never heard from again, and on the following Monday, her family and friends filed a missing persons report with local police. On September 21, two hikers saw another hiker on A.T. that was wearing Geoffreys backpack and boots. A Massachusetts man faces a murder charge for allegedly attacking two hikers on the Appalachian Trail with a machete, leaving one dead and the . He was a former mental patient. Another theory was that Smith was motivated to attack Mountford and Ramsay because they, as social workers, saw how troubled he was and tried to draw him out, provoking anger and murder instead. Keep your loved ones minds at ease by checking in and communicating regularly. The murders of Julianne Marie Williams and Laura "Lollie" Winans 20 years ago in Shenandoah National Park remain unsolved today, though at one point federal officials thought they had their man. Once in the car, Ralph told her they had travelers checks but had lost their IDs. He began his trek early in the season, figuring hed average a slower pace than most due to knee and shoulder injuries. She tried to text her husband many times, but the text wouldnt send because of no cell service. The ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) and NPS (U.S. National Park Service) say heart attacks or other health-related issues are the leading cause of death while hiking. It was the first double homicide on the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. He had the trail name Stronghold, and told his ex-wife hed found peace and clarity on the trail. While camping near the Wapiti shelter, fishermen Scott Johnson and Sean Farmer met Randall Smith (who said his name was Ricky Williams) and invited him to join them for dinner. Whilst waiting for the bus, they walked to a nearby bank to cash more travelers checks. In 1963, he went to New Mexico with a 15-year-old girl called Ann and was arrested for statutory rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She hadnt intentionally exercised a day in her life and the long hike didnt sound like fun. Bill Bryson. The shelter is directly on the A.T. up on Iron Mountain between TN91 and Watauga Dam Road. He also said he had a master's degree in engineering from Virginia Tech. As with any congregation of people in the world, undesirable elements of society eventually make their way to the trail and sometimes commit terrible acts. It was a three-sided lean-to, around 30 feet from the trail, surrounded by trees. Which was close to the Appalachian Trail but not actually on it. Sean then turned and ran toward his Jeep Cherokee, 20 feet away, and parked on the other side of Johnston's pickup, seemingly oblivious he had been injured by the bullet. The murders sent paroxysms of terror up and down the 2,144-mile trail. Ted's Bio; Fact Sheet; Hoja Informativa Del Ted Fund; Ted Fund Board 2021-22; 2021 Ted Fund Donors; Ted Fund Donors Over the Years. He said he had been in the woods for two weeks, hunting turkey with an uncle. The autopsy found that a .38-caliber bullet had entered Joels skull just behind his left ear. BRIAN Laundrie, a person of interest in the murder investigation of his vlogger fiance Gabby Petito, remains at large more than a week after vanishing from his parents' home in Florida. Investigators searched Smiths home and found a note claiming he had been abducted by two people who were going to kill him. As the podcast has grown we decided to combine our feeds, join forces with Jam Street Media for season 3. The first recorded murder on the trail occurred in 1974, and about a dozen people have been killed since that time. (The Patriot-News) Geoff and Molly most likely died between five and. Margaret picked Ralph out during a police lineup. From unpredictable weather to animal encounters, to dehydration to infections, theres a slew of threats hikers should always keep at least one eye out for. Armed with a knife and baton, he threatened her and tried to take her money. After a few days, Fox released McFaddin, who reported the incident to the police. Geo resource failed to load. The following morning, Fox shot Polson, stole his gear, and kidnapped McFaddin who was 18 years old at the time. [13] A moment later, he began firing shots at the two men. White Mountain National Forest, home to theLost Pond Trail inNew Hampshire. The dogs owner was carrying a fishing rod and a bag, walked up, and said he recently had found the dog. . On September 11, 1990, they had hiked to Duncannon, Pennsylvania, and stayed in the trailside Doyle Hotel, not far from the halfway mark of their trip. Drowning and falling also rank high, and these numbers have increased in recent years because of people taking unnecessary risks to get that perfect social media shot. Tennesse authorities said that Bigley surrendered to the Carter County sheriff after calling in at a nearby house owned by Mrs. Ethel Whitehead and confessed that he killed Janice as she sat near his campfire at the shelter on the Appalachian Trail. It would be the first of many lies he told. More than three million people hike segments of the . Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both murdered in 1981 on the AT. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The call was relayed from South Carolina to Georgia and Sheriff Frank Baker summoned backup from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Instead, they would hitch to the nearest town and get a motel room, and hed let her go in the morning. He was tried in Lapeer that November and Ralph denied the murder charge. After 10-15 minutes, Ralph returned and removed her blindfold, untied her, and led her back to the shelter. Jordan was later reported to have been acting unstable, alarming fellow hikers on the trail. She went for the second option. He filled Joels pith helmet with water and placed it beside her and left behind a bag of granola in her lap. The man detained by the police said he was David Casey Horn.