OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The 1960s were a time of great fear in Fayette County. A suspected serial killer known as the “Mad Butcher” was on the loose.
The victims’ bodies were often mutilated and dismembered, and their remains were found scattered throughout the county.
The Mad Butcher was never caught, and his or her identity remains a mystery to this day.
The case of the Mad Butcher is one of the most infamous unsolved murders in West Virginia history.
It has captured the imagination of the public for decades, and there have been numerous books, articles, and podcasts made about the case.
We previously covered the first and second victims of the proclaimed “Mad Butcher,” click here to catch up.
Today, we will dive into more details about the ‘Mad Butcher’ starting with the third out of seven men assumed to be victims of the gruesome serial killer.
From the small mining town of Scarbro, West Virginia, Sammy Smith was no stranger to the transient life of a migrant farm worker.
Recently back in the Mountain State after a season’s toil, Sammy found employment as a dishwasher at Oak Hill’s Four Minute Lunch.
Aged 33, with black hair and hazel eyes, he stood at an estimated 5’8”. However, Sammy’s story takes an intriguing turn on the night of his disappearance.
After completing his shift at the Four Minute Lunch around midnight on October 20, 1962, Sammy’s trail leads to the Top Hat Drive-In, formerly situated across from a local television station in Oak Hill.
Reports suggest he hitched a ride to the drive-in, where he was spotted shortly after his shift, grabbing a cup of coffee.
Afterward, Sammy Smith was never to be seen again.
So, was Sammy Smith another victim of the so-called Mad Butcher?