When a Virginia outdoorsman fails to return from a day of hunting in the woods behind his home,

authorities suspect an accident and hope to rescue him quickly.

When no trace of him can be found, the investigation that follows explores the possibility of foul play in the Appalachian Mountains in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Music Appalachian Mountains in this episode of Last Seen Alive. Thanks for listening to Last Seen Alive. I'm your host, Leah, crime analyst by day and true crime storyteller by night.

As always, I'm your co-ist, Scott.

Before we begin this episode, I want to give a special thanks to Alicia, a friend of mine who is a native of Southern Virginia who told me about this case.

If not for her, we never would have done this episode.

And for the record, she's also the one who put the short family case B in my bonnet.

So if you enjoyed that episode and if you enjoy this one, you have heard to think.

Eric Smith was last seen alive on November 8, 2013.

41 years old at the time, Eric lived in rural Taswell County, Virginia,

a place located in the southern corner of the state in the Appalachian Mountains.

It's a place known for outdoor pursuits.

For example, its roads are so scenic that they're considered some of the best for motorcycle

riding in all of Appalachia. Besides its beauty, the area is also well known for its industry.

When you think of coal fields, chances are you think of states like West Virginia or Kentucky.

But Taswell County, Virginia, which isn't far from the West Virginia state line, has a long

history of coal mining too, so much so that one of its enormous coal mines has been turned into a museum.

Is that the big ride?

I don't know. I know you go into the mines, so I'm not really sure. But gosh, how could I forget

about Pennsylvania and Scranton City when it comes to discussing coal mining? What a fool I am.

Can't leave out the electric city. Anyway, in fact, coal mining was exactly

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