The 1975 murder of Walter T. Smith in Lobelia

 

The 1975 murder of Walter T. Smith in Lobelia had a significant impact on local life in Pocahontas County, according to John Dean, a native of Watoga who was 14 years old at the time. Dean is now writing a true crime series based on this and another linked cold case.

Smith was an 18-year-old lifeguard at Watoga State Park during his summer break from West Virginia University. One day, on his off day, he left the park on his bike and ended up in the Lobelia area, where his body was later found in a cave near Peter Hauer’s home. 

Hauer was initially considered the main suspect in Smith’s death, and the FBI even launched a nationwide search for him after he disappeared. Several months later, Hauer’s body was found hanging in a tree near his home in Lobelia. While ruled a suicide due to guilt, many believed Hauer was murdered and framed.

Dean explains that Smith's disappearance and subsequent murder drastically changed life for him and his brother, Ronnie:

• Before the murder, they were never restricted from going anywhere by themselves.
• After Smith’s murder, they were no longer allowed to go anywhere alone. If they wanted to ride their bikes through the park, they had to do it together, and their parents preferred an adult to be nearby. Dean's father always ensured they reached the pool safely.
• Dean states that "everyone's life changed".
• Prior to the murder, people never locked their doors or car doors, but afterward, they began to lock them.

Dean decided to write about this case to illustrate how life could be instantly altered by such an event and to show the public how differently people lived in West Virginia at that time. He aims to capture the atmosphere of the 1970s in his prequel, including tales of helping his grandfather on the farm and the innocent way of life before the murder occurred. He notes that the review team for his book felt it was crucial to understand this heritage to properly contextualize the impact of the crime.