Ep 3. Innocent Prey/Smoky Mountain Mystery

In this episode of Cold Case Files Classic season 5, episode 3 titled "Innocent Prey/Smoky Mountain Mystery," viewers are taken on a journey through a haunting case of a young woman's murder in the scenic yet dark Smoky Mountains. It is a chilling mystery that remains unsolved for over thirty years, leaving detectives puzzled and the victim's family desperate for answers.

The story begins in November of 1985, Belle was a bright and adventurous 18-year-old who had just begun to explore the world. She had left her home in Florida for a camping trip in the Great Smoky Mountains, and it was the last time her family would ever hear from her. A couple of days after Belle's departure, a park ranger found her car abandoned near a hiking trail. As the days went on, Belle's family and friends grew increasingly worried. They filed a missing persons report and helped search for her, but to no avail.

Suddenly, her father received a mysterious letter containing a confession that led them to Belle's body a few miles from where her car had been found. The killer had described in detail how he had attacked her. This discovery opened up a new lead for investigators, who hoped that the breadcrumbs left behind by the murderer would lead them to solve the case.

The detectives' journey involves a lot of forensics and analysis of the environment surrounding Belle's death. As they began piecing together evidence, it becomes clear that Belle's killer was likely a stranger who had come across her while she was camping alone in the wilderness. The autopsy report showed that she had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death. But because the killer had used unique tactics in his method of killing and disposal of her body, the case held very few obvious pieces of evidence.

The investigation soon takes the detectives back to the campground where Belle stayed before her death. Witnesses recount seeing a man who matched the suspect's description, camping alone near Belle's tent around the time of her disappearance. Composite sketches circulated across the surrounding areas, but the results were fruitless.

As the hunt for the killer becomes more desperate, detectives use a newly developed DNA technology called touch DNA that helps them extract crucial forensic evidence from the victim's clothing long after the crime occurred. As the case renews, detectives attempt to track down the killer by working through the many false leads and dead ends. They exhibit relentless determination to bring closure to Belle's devastated family and finally bring her killer to justice.

Throughout the entire episode, viewers watch Belle's story unfold through interviews with her family and friends, as well as the law enforcement officials who devoted their careers to solving her murder. Through the emotional accounts of everyone involved, the brutal reality of the crime subsides, something that producer's account for by adding only the appropriate amount of graphic details.

In the end, the twists and turns of Innocent Prey/Smoky Mountain Mystery make for a gripping and emotional must-watch episode of Cold Case Files Classic season 5. The quest for justice for Belle, combined with the stunning Smoky Mountain scenery, makes this dark tale of true crime a truly memorable program.