Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The comment about the caller being one now with Sherry physically, spiritually, all of that is a huge red flag. And listen, I feel like if Britry here, she would literally be saying full body chills right now because that is one of the most ominous sinister things I have ever heard." — Ashley Flowers
"You don't perpetrate a crime like this when it's as your first crime. You definitely, it shows too much planning, control, how he's able to get this victim away from that mailbox and controller. So he has, we'll have a criminal history." — John Douglas
"The good Larry Jean Bell couldn't have done this crime but the bad Larry Jean Bell could very well have done that." — Larry Jean Bell (as recounted by Ashley Flowers)
This episode chronicles the harrowing cases of Sherry Smith, abducted on May 31, 1985, and Deborah Helmick, abducted on June 14, 1985. Sherry disappeared from her front yard while retrieving mail, leaving behind a running car and scattered mail, which initially raised concerns due to her diabetes. Despite a massive search, no immediate clues were found. The investigation took a critical turn with ransom-like phone calls from the abductor, who eventually sent a "goodbye" letter in Sherry's handwriting. FBI profiler John Douglas was brought in, developing a profile of a meticulous, likely white male perpetrator with a history of escalating offenses. The investigation identified a payphone near where Sherry and her friends had been, and subsequent calls from the abductor provided clues, including a specific directive to search in Saluda County. Tragically, Sherry's body was found shortly after, with her cause of death undetermined but likely due to suffocation or dehydration.
The case intensified with the abduction of nine-year-old Deborah Helmick, exhibiting a similar modus operandi. Douglas suspected the same perpetrator, now potentially shifting his focus. A planned memorial service for Sherry was used as a trap, and during a phone call to Sherry's sister Dawn, the perpetrator, Larry Jean Bell, inadvertently revealed details about Deborah's abduction and location. Bell, an electrician with a history of obsession, was ultimately identified through evidence on Sherry's letter and his connection to the Shepherd family, who provided crucial information about his suspicious behavior and appearance changes.
The investigation culminated in Bell's arrest, with physical evidence including women's underwear and blonde hairs found at his temporary residence. Despite his initial denials, Bell's confession, framed as a split personality ("good Larry Jean Bell" vs. "bad Larry Jean Bell"), was enough for investigators. He was convicted of the murders of Sherry Smith and Deborah Helmick in 1986 and sentenced to death, though Douglas suspected he had more victims. Bell was executed in 1996.