352: The National Forest Serial Killer

In the mid-2000s, hikers began disappearing from national forests across the southeastern United States, with their bodies later found in remote areas of the parks. When investigators compared timelines and locations, a pattern emerged. The disappearances were connected by a man who moved easily through public land, blending into trail culture and exploiting the trust shared between strangers in the outdoors. When a woman vanishes, investigators race against time to find her and the identity of the perpetrator to stop further killings.

Sources: 

• Wild Crime: Blood Mountain
• https://www.detpress.com/abcnews/shows/wild-crime/episodes
• People.com | Celebrity News, Exclusives, Photos and Videos
• National Forest Serial Killer Confesses to 2007 Dismemberment and Murder of Nurse in Florida: 'It's Time'
• https://www.ajc.com/news/local/crime-scene-photos-request-sparks-privacy-debate/JR2QrnIXxk5ht6UDxX3DAO/
• https://www.rcfp.org/georgia-rushes-pass-crime-photo-exemption-records-law/
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/gary-michael-hilton-sentenced-four-life-sentences

For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to the week’s partners!
Smalls: Smalls New Year’s Special - get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/NPAD.
Quince: Use our link to get free shipping and 365-day returns.
IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.
Soul:  For 30% off your order, head to GetSoul.com and use code NPAD.