FINAL REMAINS

June 4, 1990: FBI Agents Smith and Adams, accompanied by Kentucky State Police Sergeant Fred Davidson and his search dog, arrived at the remote area of Harmon’s Branch, nine miles outside of Pikeville, Kentucky. They had specific instructions about where to search for the body of twenty-seven-year-old Susan Daniels Smith, but the ravine on the side of the road was so heavily overgrown, they were useless. As their grisly work began, the men who had gone down the steep embankment all but disappeared in the thick brambles and trees.

Then, just before nightfall, one of the searchers spotted what appeared to be a human skull. Upon further scrutiny, the team uncovered the remains of the dead girl — a skeleton, the rib cage intact, partially concealed by leaves. The arm and leg bones had been shifted around, most likely by wild animals. Her jawbone lay near the skull, missing two molars.

A tiny gold chain and cross was found next to the skeleton. This was the jewelry Susan had borrowed from her sister the day she had left to meet her lover, FBI Special Agent Mark Steven Putnam, nearly one year before.