Cold Case Files Season 5 Episode 2
Cold Case Files
Season 5

Ep 2. Smokey Mountain Mystery; A Drop of Blood

  • December 6, 2006

Smokey Mountain Mystery; A Drop of Blood is the second episode from the fifth season of the true-crime documentary series Cold Case Files. In this episode, we delve into an unsolved murder mystery that took place in 1969 in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

The episode starts with a flashback to the day of the murder, where we see a young couple, Earl Smock and Mary Alice Anderson, walking in the woods near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They were on a camping trip together when they stumbled upon a group of hippies camping nearby. What happens next is shrouded in mystery, but it is known that Mary was brutally murdered and Earl was left for dead. The case remained unresolved for years, but investigators never gave up on the case.

We then fast forward to the present day, where we meet the lead investigator in the case, Rusty Lovelady. With the help of modern technology and forensic science, he is determined to bring justice to Mary's family. We see him dissecting the evidence from the crime scene, including a drop of blood that was found on a rock near the scene of the crime.

The investigation takes us on a journey through the local community, where we learn about the subculture of hippies who lived in the Smoky Mountains during the late 1960s. We meet some of Earl and Mary's friends, many of whom have never spoken about their involvement in the case before. We also see how the sense of isolation in this rural area made it easier for criminals to get away with their misdeeds.

We are taken through the twists and turns of the investigation, including a suspect who was initially thought to be the killer but was later exonerated, as well as an intriguing new lead that points to a possible motive for the murder. The drop of blood found at the scene of the crime proves to be a significant clue, and we watch as forensic experts conduct DNA tests on the blood to identify its source.

The episode also touches on the racial tensions that existed in the South at that time, with some locals suspecting that the hippies in the area were associated with the civil rights movement. This adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, as the motive for the murder may have been influenced by racial tensions.

Overall, Smokey Mountain Mystery; A Drop of Blood is a fascinating episode that takes us on a journey through a small rural community and the subculture of hippies that existed in the area during the 1960s. Through the use of modern technology and forensic science, the team is able to bring new light to an old case and provide some closure to Mary's family.

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Description
  • First Aired
    December 6, 2006
  • Language
    English