Case 261
Shari Smith & Debra May Helmick
*** Content Warning: Sexual assault ***
[Part 1 of 2]
When 17-year-old Shari Smith disappeared from the end of her family’s driveway in Lexington, South Carolina, there were immediate concerns for her wellbeing. Shari had a rare medical condition that could turn fatal without her medication.
But any concerns that Shari’s illness could have caused her disappearance were quickly quashed after the Smith family received an odd phone call, prompting the largest manhunt in South Carolina’s history. As the taunting calls continued, the question remained – where was Shari? And was she still alive?
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS
VIDEOS
Cat & Mouse – The FBI Files
The Smith Sisters – I, Witness
The Execution of Larry Gene Bell – News19 Special Report
BOOKS
When a Killer Calls – John Douglas & Mark Olshaker
Murder in the Midlands – Rita Y Shuler
NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Senseless tragedy – The Columbia Record (6 June 1985)
Rare water diabetes fatal if left untreated – The Columbia Record (6 June 1985)
Coping with the pain – The Columbia Record (26 June 1985)
They could have been anyone’s children – The State (28 June 1985)
Sorting out the rumours – The State (29 June 1985)
Assaults on women part of suspects past – The Charlotte Observer (29 June 1985)
Questions remain after arrest – The State (30 June 1985)
Telephone conversations with Miss Smith’s killer – The State (15 February 1986)
Bell Case History – The State (15 February 1986)
Shari Smith’s last will and testament – The State (16 February 1986)
For the Helmicks, the hardship continues – The State (26 June 1986)
OTHER
Survivors of Capital Crimes Don’t Want the Victims to be Forgotten – Prison Fellowship
Diabetes insipidus – Better Health
SLED’s laboratory wizardry convicts SC kidnap-murderer – Criminal Justice Chronicle