Cold Case Files – "Smoky Mountain Mystery"

Podcast: Cold Case Files
Host: Paula Barros (with guest narration)
Original Air Date: September 23, 2025
Summary by A&E / PodcastOne

Episode Overview

This episode, “Smoky Mountain Mystery,” explores two cold cases from 1979 in the mountains of North Carolina: the disappearances and murders of Harriet Simmons and Betty Sue McConnell. Both cases stalled for nearly two decades until a key witness broke his silence, leading investigators to link their murders—and more—to a serial offender. The story details the heartbreak of the families, detective work through decades, and the final pursuit of justice through the testimony of survivors and witnesses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance of Harriet Simmons

• April 1979: Harriet Simmons, a mother of seven, disappears en route from Raleigh, NC, to Nashville.
• Initial Response:
  • Family members lead search efforts, frustrated by what they see as police inaction and stereotypes about runaway mothers.
  • Simmons’ car is found at a strange angle at a rest stop, with a flat tire, missing keys, and purse.

    “There was nothing else to do but to go look for mom.” – Jeff Jones, her son [01:15]

• Investigation Lapses:
  • No usable prints or evidence; no body found; family feels dismissed by police.

    “They just really basically treated us like we were a bunch of little kids crying, hey, I want my mommy.” – Julia Jones Tharington, Simmons’ daughter [03:16]

2. Discovery of Harriet’s Body and a Second Victim

• February 1980: A skull and skeletal remains are discovered near the Blue Ridge Parkway, later identified as Harriet Simmons.

  “A passing motorist had found a skull in the woods.” – Mike Wright, Crime Scene Investigator [03:52]

• Autopsy Findings: Four stab wounds are present, matching cuts in both clothing and bone; cause of death: homicide.
• Case Goes Cold: Despite the reclassification as murder, there are no suspects or leads for years.
• Shortly After: Another body is found in Asheville, NC, 18 miles away. The victim, Betty Sue McConnell, was stabbed and left for dead by the French Broad River.

3. The Murder of Betty Sue McConnell

• Details:
  • McConnell worked night shifts at a donut shop frequented by railroad workers.
  • Her body is found by a resident who attempts to save her after hearing her cries; she dies in his arms but reveals she was stabbed and thrown in the river.

    “She told him that she had been stabbed and thrown in the river and left for dead.” – Dave Bussard, Investigator [06:38]

• Scene Investigation: Her car is found submerged eight miles upriver.
• No Evidence: Forensic analysis yields no prints or blood; despite suspect interviews among railroad workers, no charges are filed.
• Legacy:
  • “I can’t explain how we felt, how, you know, it’s the most terrible thing I’d ever gone through.” – Margaret McConnell [07:54]
  • Both cases go unsolved for 19 years.

4. Break in the Case: Witness Confession

• Gerry Harmon’s Revelation: Gerry Harmon, known locally as the "Smoky Mountain Gypsy," struggles with guilt for almost two decades before coming forward with information about the 1979 murder.

  “The most devastating thing that ever happened to me was a story that I felt I couldn’t tell.” – Gerry Harmon [11:25]

• Confession: Harmon describes how, at 19, he witnessed his friend Terry Hyatt abduct, rape, and murder Betty Sue McConnell.

  “I said, you killed that girl, didn’t you? And then he told me, yeah, he had.” – Gerry Harmon [14:45]

• Impact: Harmon’s detailed account prompts investigators to reexamine both cold cases.

5. Linking the Murders: Patterns & New Evidence

• Investigative Team: Detective Ann Benjamin and Agent Tim Shook of the State Bureau of Investigation take on the cases.
• Corroboration:
  • Harmon mentions Hyatt’s former best friend, Lester Dean Helms, who corroborates the murder story and inadvertently connects Hyatt to Simmons’ murder as well.

    “He said, oh yes, yes, he killed that girl, didn’t he?” – Lester Helms [17:32]

• Pattern Recognition: Both Simmons and McConnell were abducted from highways, stabbed, and left in remote areas.
  • “Like McConnell, Harriet Simmons was abducted from her car. Like McConnell, Simmons was stabbed multiple times.” – Ann Benjamin [18:46]

6. A Surviving Victim: Carolyn Brigman

• Cold Case Connection: Hyatt’s only living victim, Carolyn Brigman, had survived a knife-point kidnapping in 1979.
  • “He told her when they crossed a bridge, 'I’ve thrown a lot of people in there.'" – Joseph Brigman, Carolyn’s son [21:48]
• Brigman’s Testimony: Provides critical evidence by recounting an attack nearly identical to the others; agrees to testify in court despite decades of fear.
  • “She was very willing to go ahead and testify in court, which we…desperately wanted, and she agreed to.” – Ann Benjamin [22:45]

7. Confronting the Killer and Prosecution

• Confrontation:
  • Warrants are issued; Hyatt is questioned. He admits being present but denies killing McConnell, and requests a lawyer when asked about Simmons.
• Prosecution:
  • Even without DNA, testimony and circumstantial evidence enable prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.

    “Lots and lots of pieces of the puzzle that when assembled, painted a clear picture that this guy is the one that committed these murders.” – Rodney Hasty, Assistant DA [23:48]

• Trial:
  • Witnesses Harmon, Helms, and Brigman all testify. Brigman's bravery in court is highlighted as especially moving.

    “I have not seen more chilling testimony come from the witness stand than I did that day…” – Ann Benjamin [24:39]

• Outcome: Hyatt is convicted and sentenced to death.

  “It has been a long road for us…we were just glad to have the moment.” – Jeff Jones, Simmons’ son [25:19]

8. Aftermath: Confession and Closure

• Additional Crime: DNA from Hyatt connects him to a 1987 rape and murder; he confesses and pleads guilty to avoid an additional death penalty.

  “I basically pushed her into the back of the truck before she even knew what was going on… I grabbed her and stabbed her at the same time.” – Terry Hyatt [26:13]

• Family Reflections and Lingering Pain:
  • Family members speak to bittersweet justice and the pain that never truly leaves.
  • “Some days I think he should sit there and suffer, but I don't think he’s doing that…so I think he should just be put to death, I really do.” – Unnamed family member [27:00]
  • “She has her personality, her laugh…she’s a lot like her mother.” – Margaret McConnell [27:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Pain of Waiting:

  “It was totally out of character for a mom not to call…her kids, you know, were her life.” – Ronnie Dement [01:26]

• Family’s Frustration with Police:

  “They just really basically treated us like we were a bunch of little kids crying, hey, I want my mommy.” – Julia Jones Tharington [03:16]

• Moral Weight for Witnesses:

  “I lived in a bottle for a long time…I sat him down…and he began talking about a case from 1979.” – Gerry Harmon [11:45], Pat Hefner [12:06] “No one could ever be as hard on me as I have been on myself.” – Gerry Harmon [14:11]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:30–03:40] – The disappearance of Harriet Simmons and early family efforts
• [03:50–05:30] – Discovery of the body, autopsy details, and frustration as the case stalls
• [05:50–09:25] – Introduction of the McConnell case and discovery of similarities
• [11:15–15:20] – Gerry Harmon’s confession and reconstruction of Betty Sue McConnell’s last night
• [17:00–18:45] – Connecting Lester Helms’ corroboration to the Harriet Simmons case
• [21:10–22:40] – Carolyn Brigman’s ordeal, providing a living connection to the killer’s pattern
• [24:00–25:40] – Trial testimony and victim family reactions to verdict
• [25:50–27:10] – Hyatt’s further confession, family reflection, and final moments of closure

Episode Tone & Language

The tone is somber yet doggedly hopeful, highlighting perseverance in the face of decades-long grief and the grit of families and investigators. The episode features first-person reminiscences, emotional testimony, and understated but impactful narration. Dialogue remains authentic, letting victims’ and families’ voices drive the empathy and urgency throughout.

Conclusion

This episode is a poignant journey through two families’ pain, the failings and resilience of law enforcement, and the strange dance of chance and conscience that finally cracked the case open. It stands as a testament to the human cost of unresolved crimes—and the rare, precious outcome when justice does finally prevail.