The Kidnapping

Delia D'Ambra· Host0:00

Hi, park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia D'Ambra, and the case I'm gonna share with you today hit me in a profound way. It's more than just revisiting a murder that took place in a national park. It's a uniquely heartbreaking example of just how serious and deadly the crime of stalking is. You'll hear me list some resources and information about stalking towards the end of this episode, because after researching today's case, I'm more convinced than ever that this type of criminal behavior is happening far more often than any of us realize, and in some situations, it can and does escalate to murder. The story of what happened to 25-year-old University of Tennessee student Sandy Jeffers is unimaginable, and I knew that I couldn't even begin to try and cover her case without the participation of someone who knew her well, someone who's continued to advocate for her and other victims of violent crime ever since Sandy's life was taken in 2003. A lot of the information you'll hear in this episode is sourced from court documents and news coverage, but you'll also get an inside perspective of the tragedy from Sandy's older sister, Angelia Jeffers Smith. She's been a part of this case every step of the way, and I'm so thankful she did an interview with me to help paint the most complete picture of her sister's life and round out my reporting. The case takes place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, more specifically, the Look Rock Tower Trail, which is a less than a mile round-trip