Podcast Summary: Two Girls One Ghost

Episode 336 – The Appalachian Trail’s Wapiti Shelter Murders & Haunting
Air Date: August 24, 2025
Hosts: Corinne Vien & Sabrina Deana-Roga
Podcast: Two Girls One Ghost (Sony Music Entertainment)

Overview

In this episode, Corinne and Sabrina dive deep into the chilling true story of the Wapiti Shelter murders along the Appalachian Trail, discuss the trail’s haunting legacy, cryptids, and listener experiences from Appalachia. The episode weaves together historical tragedy, paranormal encounters, and warnings about both the horrors found in nature and those brought by humanity itself. The conversation balances heavy true crime content with personal anecdotes, listener emails, and moments of humor and empathy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Spooky: Listener Encounter & Appalachian “Flesh Pedestrian”

Timestamps: 01:22–11:45

Listener Vera’s Story: Vera, a regular contributor, sends in a chilling photo reportedly from an Appalachian hunting trail cam capturing a possible “flesh pedestrian” (a euphemism for the skinwalker/slang for Appalachian cryptids).
- After saving the photo, Vera experiences strange phenomena, believing moon water helped protect her.
- Co-host Corinne: “If you open this email, make sure you’ve got something protective with you.” (03:02)
- Sabrina and Corinne examine the photo, debating if it shows a cryptid, a person “transitioning into a werewolf,” or simply a very odd trespasser (“The legs are very hoof-like.” – Corinne, 07:09).
The discussion segues to TikTok creator Chelsea Rule, who shares disturbing stories from her nursing work in rural Appalachia—including local customs to ward off spirits.
- “In the comments I was reading…this is something people do in Appalachia to show the creatures and spirits...that this was a welcomed guest.” — Corinne (10:21)
The hosts highlight Appalachian folklore’s pervasiveness and leave the audience with an unnerved but amused warning: "Hopefully that picture we showed you did not haunt you."

2. Main Story: The Wapiti Shelter Murders

Timestamps: 11:47–45:47

a) Background & Hiking Culture

(13:15–15:56)

The Appalachian Trail is romanticized as ancient (“Older than Pangea!”–Corinne, 13:55), mysterious, and teeming with cryptids and hauntings.
Sabrina admits a “sick fascination” with Appalachia but would only go in New England parts, not the “really scary cryptid” sections.
Corinne frames the episode as a warning: “...question whether we should be so obsessed with this place.” (12:45)

b) The Murders

(15:56–34:11)

Victims:
- Robert “Bob” Mountford Jr. and Laura “Susan/Sue/Suzu” Ramsey, social workers from Maine, hiking to raise money for at-risk youth.
- May 19, 1981: They camp at remote Wapiti Shelter in Giles County, Virginia, with a third man.
The Crime:
- After sharing dinner, Bob and Sue are brutally attacked at night.
  - Sue is stabbed over a dozen times (with a knife and a nail); Bob is shot in the head three times.
  - Both are found in shallow graves, eleven days later, after missing a scheduled check-in.
- Scene suggests attempted cover-up: burned floor, missing register, stolen belongings.
Investigation:
- Witnesses recall a suspicious “bearded, dark-haired man” (identified as Randall Lee Smith); they spot Sue interacting with him.
- Smith is soon tracked: his fingerprints on Sue’s bloodstained book, a confession is found in an abandoned truck. Ultimately, he feigns amnesia but is found competent and pleads guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.
- Justice fails: Smith serves just 15 years due to a lenient plea deal (“Double homicide…15 years…what?!” – Sabrina, 31:38).

c) Smith’s Release & Second Attack

(34:11–40:02)

Released in 1996, Smith returns to the same area in 2008 and attacks two campers, Scott Johnston and Shawn Farmer, shooting both multiple times.
- Amazingly, both men survive, flee to safety, and Smith is apprehended after a car chase.
Smith dies in custody from a blood clot, finally ending his threat.
“The monster is dead, and good riddance.” – Corinne (52:52)

d) Trail Dangers & Haunting Legacy

(40:02–51:05)

Measured against trail use: 13 murders since the 1970s, with over 3 million annual hikers; most dangers are weather or accidents, not crime.
The region also holds many unsolved mysteries, like “The Woman in the Lake” (2000)—a Jane Doe still unidentified.
Discussion of insufficient National Park Service funding and trail safety (“...the National Park Service is not given the resources that it should.” – Corinne, 45:27)

3. Hauntings, Urban Legends, and Listener Tales

Timestamps: 50:07–61:59

a) Haunted History of Wapiti Shelter

Hikers’ reports from Wapiti:
- The Hog: “I don’t believe in ghosts, but that place may be haunted. It’s beyond creepy…” (50:24)
- Attorney at Large: recounts awakening to unseen hands touching their head (51:05).
- John (2023): describes hearing a baby crying and sighting a mysteriously vanishing man before reaching Wapiti (“my hair stood on end for a full minute.” – 51:43)
Common themes: overwhelming dread, feelings of being watched, unexplained noises, and poltergeist-like activity in the shelter.

b) Listener Story (Amanda) – Another Flesh Pedestrian Encounter

(54:28–58:51)

Amanda, returning to West Virginia, sees a skinless, “human-sized thing…sitting like a cat” on a neighbor’s roof—matching her mother’s earlier sighting.
“All I got to say is trust your gut. And it’s Appalachia, so I don’t trust it.” – Sabrina (59:49)
The hosts speculate on cryptid/familiar explanations and reference other eerie rooftop encounters.

c) Comic Relief—“Healing Scream” & Unintended Public Trauma

(45:48–47:17)

Sabrina shares a viral TikTok: a woman’s cathartic scream in the woods unintentionally traumatizes a nearby hiker relieving himself, offering some needed levity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Appalachian Lore:
“Cue the banjos, the fog, and generational ghost stories. Some that science can’t explain and some that leave even the most grounded among us saying, nah, that’s something else.” – Vera’s letter, read by Sabrina (04:11)
On Fear in Nature:
“My biggest fear when it comes to camping…is other people and humans and like, what ill intent do they have?” – Sabrina (24:32)
On Justice & Failure of the System:
“Did Bob and Sue plead for their lives? Did Randall Lee Smith give them a bargain?” – Warren Doyle Jr. (as quoted by Corinne, 33:03)
On Survival:
“He literally has his finger plugging the hole in his neck to stop [the bleeding]. It's incredible. These men survived, which is absolutely incredible.” – Corinne (36:33)
On the Absurdity of Evil:
“The monster is dead, and good riddance.” – Corinne (52:52)
Comedic Relief:
“All I got to say is trust your gut. And it’s Appalachia, so I don’t trust it.” – Sabrina (59:49)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |:----------------------------------------------|:-------------------| | Listener Flesh Pedestrian Story & Pic | 01:22 – 11:45 | | Appalachian Trail Lore & Personal Fascination | 13:15 – 15:56 | | Wapiti Shelter Murders: Story Begins | 15:56 – 34:11 | | Release, Second Attack, & Aftermath | 34:11 – 40:02 | | Statistics, Crime vs. Accidents, Jane Doe | 40:02 – 45:47 | | Hauntings Reported at Wapiti Shelter | 50:07 – 53:11 | | Listener Cryptid Encounter (Amanda) | 54:28 – 58:51 |

Language, Tone, & Flow

The episode is delivered in the hosts’ characteristically warm, empathetic, and often humorous voices—even while tackling heavy and upsetting subject matter. They balance horror, skepticism, and curiosity, often breaking tension with jokes or personal asides.

Takeaways

The Appalachian Trail attracts legends, cryptids, and tragic true crime.
Its remoteness offers both escape and danger—from the paranormal and from humans.
The Wapiti Shelter murders scarred a community; the site remains haunted and evokes discomfort for hikers decades later.
Listener tales and folklore keep the mystique and warnings of Appalachia alive.
Despite the fear, the odds of danger are small—but always listen to your instincts.

Podcast Summary: Two Girls One Ghost

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Spooky: Listener Encounter & Appalachian “Flesh Pedestrian”

Timestamps: 01:22–11:45

Listener Vera’s Story: Vera, a regular contributor, sends in a chilling photo reportedly from an Appalachian hunting trail cam capturing a possible “flesh pedestrian” (a euphemism for the skinwalker/slang for Appalachian cryptids).
- After saving the photo, Vera experiences strange phenomena, believing moon water helped protect her.
- Co-host Corinne: “If you open this email, make sure you’ve got something protective with you.” (03:02)
- Sabrina and Corinne examine the photo, debating if it shows a cryptid, a person “transitioning into a werewolf,” or simply a very odd trespasser (“The legs are very hoof-like.” – Corinne, 07:09).
The discussion segues to TikTok creator Chelsea Rule, who shares disturbing stories from her nursing work in rural Appalachia—including local customs to ward off spirits.
- “In the comments I was reading…this is something people do in Appalachia to show the creatures and spirits...that this was a welcomed guest.” — Corinne (10:21)
The hosts highlight Appalachian folklore’s pervasiveness and leave the audience with an unnerved but amused warning: "Hopefully that picture we showed you did not haunt you."

2. Main Story: The Wapiti Shelter Murders

Timestamps: 11:47–45:47

a) Background & Hiking Culture

(13:15–15:56)

The Appalachian Trail is romanticized as ancient (“Older than Pangea!”–Corinne, 13:55), mysterious, and teeming with cryptids and hauntings.
Sabrina admits a “sick fascination” with Appalachia but would only go in New England parts, not the “really scary cryptid” sections.
Corinne frames the episode as a warning: “...question whether we should be so obsessed with this place.” (12:45)

b) The Murders

(15:56–34:11)

Victims:
- Robert “Bob” Mountford Jr. and Laura “Susan/Sue/Suzu” Ramsey, social workers from Maine, hiking to raise money for at-risk youth.
- May 19, 1981: They camp at remote Wapiti Shelter in Giles County, Virginia, with a third man.
The Crime:
- After sharing dinner, Bob and Sue are brutally attacked at night.
  - Sue is stabbed over a dozen times (with a knife and a nail); Bob is shot in the head three times.
  - Both are found in shallow graves, eleven days later, after missing a scheduled check-in.
- Scene suggests attempted cover-up: burned floor, missing register, stolen belongings.
Investigation:
- Witnesses recall a suspicious “bearded, dark-haired man” (identified as Randall Lee Smith); they spot Sue interacting with him.
- Smith is soon tracked: his fingerprints on Sue’s bloodstained book, a confession is found in an abandoned truck. Ultimately, he feigns amnesia but is found competent and pleads guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.
- Justice fails: Smith serves just 15 years due to a lenient plea deal (“Double homicide…15 years…what?!” – Sabrina, 31:38).

c) Smith’s Release & Second Attack

(34:11–40:02)

Released in 1996, Smith returns to the same area in 2008 and attacks two campers, Scott Johnston and Shawn Farmer, shooting both multiple times.
- Amazingly, both men survive, flee to safety, and Smith is apprehended after a car chase.
Smith dies in custody from a blood clot, finally ending his threat.
“The monster is dead, and good riddance.” – Corinne (52:52)

d) Trail Dangers & Haunting Legacy

(40:02–51:05)

Measured against trail use: 13 murders since the 1970s, with over 3 million annual hikers; most dangers are weather or accidents, not crime.
The region also holds many unsolved mysteries, like “The Woman in the Lake” (2000)—a Jane Doe still unidentified.
Discussion of insufficient National Park Service funding and trail safety (“...the National Park Service is not given the resources that it should.” – Corinne, 45:27)

3. Hauntings, Urban Legends, and Listener Tales

Timestamps: 50:07–61:59

a) Haunted History of Wapiti Shelter

Hikers’ reports from Wapiti:
- The Hog: “I don’t believe in ghosts, but that place may be haunted. It’s beyond creepy…” (50:24)
- Attorney at Large: recounts awakening to unseen hands touching their head (51:05).
- John (2023): describes hearing a baby crying and sighting a mysteriously vanishing man before reaching Wapiti (“my hair stood on end for a full minute.” – 51:43)
Common themes: overwhelming dread, feelings of being watched, unexplained noises, and poltergeist-like activity in the shelter.

b) Listener Story (Amanda) – Another Flesh Pedestrian Encounter

(54:28–58:51)

Amanda, returning to West Virginia, sees a skinless, “human-sized thing…sitting like a cat” on a neighbor’s roof—matching her mother’s earlier sighting.
“All I got to say is trust your gut. And it’s Appalachia, so I don’t trust it.” – Sabrina (59:49)
The hosts speculate on cryptid/familiar explanations and reference other eerie rooftop encounters.

c) Comic Relief—“Healing Scream” & Unintended Public Trauma

(45:48–47:17)

Sabrina shares a viral TikTok: a woman’s cathartic scream in the woods unintentionally traumatizes a nearby hiker relieving himself, offering some needed levity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Appalachian Lore:
“Cue the banjos, the fog, and generational ghost stories. Some that science can’t explain and some that leave even the most grounded among us saying, nah, that’s something else.” – Vera’s letter, read by Sabrina (04:11)
On Fear in Nature:
“My biggest fear when it comes to camping…is other people and humans and like, what ill intent do they have?” – Sabrina (24:32)
On Justice & Failure of the System:
“Did Bob and Sue plead for their lives? Did Randall Lee Smith give them a bargain?” – Warren Doyle Jr. (as quoted by Corinne, 33:03)
On Survival:
“He literally has his finger plugging the hole in his neck to stop [the bleeding]. It's incredible. These men survived, which is absolutely incredible.” – Corinne (36:33)
On the Absurdity of Evil:
“The monster is dead, and good riddance.” – Corinne (52:52)
Comedic Relief:
“All I got to say is trust your gut. And it’s Appalachia, so I don’t trust it.” – Sabrina (59:49)

Timestamps for Major Segments

Language, Tone, & Flow

Takeaways

The Appalachian Trail attracts legends, cryptids, and tragic true crime.
Its remoteness offers both escape and danger—from the paranormal and from humans.
The Wapiti Shelter murders scarred a community; the site remains haunted and evokes discomfort for hikers decades later.
Listener tales and folklore keep the mystique and warnings of Appalachia alive.
Despite the fear, the odds of danger are small—but always listen to your instincts.

Episode 336 - The Appalachian Trail’s Wapiti Shelter Murders & Haunting

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

Podcast Summary: Two Girls One Ghost

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Spooky: Listener Encounter & Appalachian “Flesh Pedestrian”

2. Main Story: The Wapiti Shelter Murders

a) Background & Hiking Culture

b) The Murders

c) Smith’s Release & Second Attack

d) Trail Dangers & Haunting Legacy

3. Hauntings, Urban Legends, and Listener Tales

a) Haunted History of Wapiti Shelter

b) Listener Story (Amanda) – Another Flesh Pedestrian Encounter

c) Comic Relief—“Healing Scream” & Unintended Public Trauma

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Major Segments

Language, Tone, & Flow

Takeaways

Further Reading & Resources

Summary

Podcast Summary: Two Girls One Ghost

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Spooky: Listener Encounter & Appalachian “Flesh Pedestrian”

2. Main Story: The Wapiti Shelter Murders

a) Background & Hiking Culture

b) The Murders

c) Smith’s Release & Second Attack

d) Trail Dangers & Haunting Legacy

3. Hauntings, Urban Legends, and Listener Tales

a) Haunted History of Wapiti Shelter

b) Listener Story (Amanda) – Another Flesh Pedestrian Encounter

c) Comic Relief—“Healing Scream” & Unintended Public Trauma

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Major Segments

Language, Tone, & Flow

Takeaways

Further Reading & Resources