All her life, Susan Smith felt trapped in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Surrounded by skeletons of coal mines and cemeteries of empty businesses,

living a life plagued with violence and addiction, Susan was searching for hope.

And then, in 1987, hope arrived in Pikeville in the form of FBI agent Mark

Putnam. Mark was a clean-cut man from Connecticut who had just moved to Pikeville with his wife,

Kathy, and their newborn daughter. Having just completed his training in Quantico, Virginia,

the young family stuck out in their

new home.

Susan found herself attracted to the married FBI agent, but the two were from different worlds.

Soon enough, however, those worlds would collide.

Mark was looking to establish himself in the agency, hoping to take on high-profile crimes in the area involving drugs, bank robberies, and kidnappings.

To rise above the ranks, he sought the help of Susan Smith.

Susan became an informant, and before long, the relationship turned sexual.

But on June 8, 1989,

the glimmer of hope Susan saw and Mark disappeared and took a deadly turn.

I'm Emily Campano, and this is the Fox True Crime podcast.

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The During her time as an informant, Susan provided Mark Putnam with key information about chop shop operations, drug rings, bank robberies, and other serious criminal activities taking place not only in Kentucky, but also in Ohio and West Virginia.

She received $5,000 for her contributions to the cases.

But even after the cases were closed and arrests had been made, Susan and Mark continued to see one another, beginning a dangerous affair.

Mark knew the implication such a relationship could have on his career and family and tried to keep the relationship a secret.

However, Susan saw more than that. In 1989, she revealed to Mark

...