Pearisburg memories

The hike yesterday brought back 1982 as I distinctly remembered some parts of trail, especially the open meadows and old orchards at Symms Gap. I didn't stay at the Catholic church hostel this time since it was closed for the season. But I remember our stay there, since the trial of the local man accused of murdering 2 AT thruhikers the previous year was underway and a reporter showed up to ask for hiker reactions. The 2 hikers were social workers raising money for a special needs kids camp. They were at a shelter 20 miles south of here, and were shot and stabbed during the night. I remember Rodney telling the reporter that we hikers shouldn't be be too quick to judge what might have happened. "We're the outsiders here," he said, not to excuse this tragedy but because so little was known and the trial was still underway.
The accused man, Randall Lee Smith, was found with some of their hiking gear. He was convicted of 2nd degree murder, sentenced to 30 years, paroled after 15. In 2008 he tried to kill 2 fishermen in the same area, with the same pistol (not found after the 1981 murders). They were seriously injured but escaped, and Smith was immediately suspected. He was injured in a car chase, and died a few days later in jail.
I stayed at this motel hostel with K-dog (coonskin hat), and Smith's cousin Jerry, seated on cot, down on his luck waiting for his SS check. He said he had played his guitar in front of the grocery and got enough to pay for the night. Jerry said he remembered playing with his cousin as kids, and said he guessed that he just wasn't right in his head. Never know who you'll meet on the trail.