In the spring of 1988, two women set out for peace, adventure, and freedom on the Appalachian Trail. But only one would make it home. Rebecca Wight and Claudia Brenner were hiking through Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest when their journey turned into a nightmare. After being stalked by a stranger in the woods, the couple was ambushed in a shocking act of violence fueled by hate. Rebecca was shot and killed. Claudia, injured and alone, had to survive—and fight to tell their story.
In this episode, Arlene and Leah revisit one of the most devastating and pivotal hate crimes in LGBTQ+ history. They explore the timeline of events, the harrowing survival of Claudia Brenner, the manhunt for shooter Stephen Roy Carr, and the courtroom drama that followed. Was this a random act of madness or a calculated hate crime ignored by too many for too long? How did this brutal murder shape the conversation around LGBTQ+ safety and justice in the wilderness and beyond?
Join Arlene and Leah as they examine the victim, the evidence, and the ripple effects of a case that left a permanent scar on the Appalachian Trail.
Show Notes:
Rebecca Wight Murder Case – Roanoke Times Archive
Stephen Roy Carr Kills Hiker on Appalachian Trail
LGBTQ Hate Crime on the Appalachian Trail
Killed for Being Gay: The Murder of Rebecca Wight
Criminal Discourse Podcast: Rebecca Wight
BBC Podcast on Rebecca Wight's Story
1995 Testimony on LGBTQ Hate Crimes in PA Legislature
Washington Post: The Target That Shot Back
YouTube: Appalachian Trail Hate Crime Coverage
UPI Archives: Murder on the Appalachian Trail
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