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Laura Ramsay death by force case profile photo

Laura Ramsay

Case from Pearisburg, VA dated May 20, 1981

Victim Details

Laura Ramsay

Female

White / Caucasian

Pearisburg

VA

1981-05-20

27

Laura

Ramsay

07/05/2026

Case Description

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In the spring of 1981, Laura Susan Ramsay, a 27-year-old female social worker from Maine, embarked on a hiking expedition along the Appalachian Trail with her fellow social worker, Robert Mountford Jr., also 27. Their journey, intended to raise funds for a school for children with developmental challenges, took a tragic turn in the serene wilderness near Pearisburg, Virginia. It was here they encountered Randall Lee Smith, a local man from Pearisburg.

In May 1981, within the supposed tran ...
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Links to Additional Sources (3)

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  • Roanoke Times: 1981 AT killer linked to new shootings
  • Randall Lee Smith - Wikipedia
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    Forum Posts (3)

    I’ve always been deeply saddened by Laura Ramsay’s story. Beyond the obvious tragedy of losing t... ...Read More
    02/16/2024
    Did anyone else find it interesting and disturbing how Randall Lee Smith managed to avoid suspicion ... ...Read More
    12/31/2023
    I recently came across this case while diving into true crime stories involving the Appalachian Trai... ...Read More
    08/16/2023
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