On December 7, 2020, Richard L. Graham and Dusty William Oliver were sentenced for aggravated sexual abuse arising out of incidents occurring in 2012 and 2015 within the park. Investigators are seeking information related to additional incidents, if any, that would have occurred prior to their arrest on September 9, 2019.
“I want to express my thanks to ISB investigators, park rangers, and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office for their perseverance and hard work that led to the conviction and sentencing of these two men responsible for heinous crimes within the park,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “To ensure that we’ve heard the voices of all victims, investigators continue to welcome any information about additional assaults that may be associated with Graham and Oliver.”
Blount County Sheriff’s Office and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers assisted ISB in the investigation.
Investigators are seeking additional information from anyone who may have been a victim of sexual assault crimes during this general time period. Respondents are asked to contact investigators through any of the following means:
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| Look Rock Tower |
According to WATE-TV, documents filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville say that a homeless man, referred to as RP, was walking along Chapman Highway while intoxicated in June 2012 when Oliver and Graham approached in a vehicle asking if he wanted a ride to the Bristol, Tenn. for the races.
RP realized once inside the vehicle that it was headed the opposite way from Bristol and the three soon arrived at a trailhead of the Appalachian Trail. The three began hiking and Oliver and Graham soon overpowered RP and raped him, according to court filings.
RP feared the two would kill him and leave him on the trail but was later dropped off by the two at a nearby gas station, according to the court documents. A rape kit was conducted at UT Medical Center.
In November 2015, another homeless man, called CN, accepted a ride from Oliver and Graham after meeting the two while walking on Chapman Highway toward Seymour, the court documents said. They stopped at Look Rock Trail and hiked to Lookout Tower where CN was raped by the two.
After the assault, Graham and Oliver dropped CN at the intersection of Alcoa Highway and Kingston Pike in Knoxville. He then walked to UT Medical Center where a rape kit was performed.
CN told investigators that they stopped at two gas stations that night. Surveillance footage from the two gas stations showed a man with tattoos on his left arm and a Jeff Dunham T-shirt which matched the description given by CN.
CN was able to photograph Graham, who was riding in the passenger seat of the car, with his phone. The photos were distributed by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office which led to the identification of Graham and Oliver.
RP realized once inside the vehicle that it was headed the opposite way from Bristol and the three soon arrived at a trailhead of the Appalachian Trail. The three began hiking and Oliver and Graham soon overpowered RP and raped him, according to court filings.
RP feared the two would kill him and leave him on the trail but was later dropped off by the two at a nearby gas station, according to the court documents. A rape kit was conducted at UT Medical Center.
In November 2015, another homeless man, called CN, accepted a ride from Oliver and Graham after meeting the two while walking on Chapman Highway toward Seymour, the court documents said. They stopped at Look Rock Trail and hiked to Lookout Tower where CN was raped by the two.
After the assault, Graham and Oliver dropped CN at the intersection of Alcoa Highway and Kingston Pike in Knoxville. He then walked to UT Medical Center where a rape kit was performed.
CN told investigators that they stopped at two gas stations that night. Surveillance footage from the two gas stations showed a man with tattoos on his left arm and a Jeff Dunham T-shirt which matched the description given by CN.
CN was able to photograph Graham, who was riding in the passenger seat of the car, with his phone. The photos were distributed by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office which led to the identification of Graham and Oliver.
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| Richard Graham (L) and Dusty Oliver |
The two men were positively identified through their DNA.
The men plead guilty on Dec. 2 and the case has yet to be heard by a judge for plea acceptance and sentencing. The two men could face life in federal prison for their crimes
The men plead guilty on Dec. 2 and the case has yet to be heard by a judge for plea acceptance and sentencing. The two men could face life in federal prison for their crimes
“I want to express my thanks to ISB investigators, park rangers, and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office for their perseverance and hard work that led to the conviction and sentencing of these two men responsible for heinous crimes within the park,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “To ensure that we’ve heard the voices of all victims, investigators continue to welcome any information about additional assaults that may be associated with Graham and Oliver.”
Blount County Sheriff’s Office and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers assisted ISB in the investigation.
Investigators are seeking additional information from anyone who may have been a victim of sexual assault crimes during this general time period. Respondents are asked to contact investigators through any of the following means:
CALL or TEXT the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009ONLINE at www.nps.gov/isb and click “Submit a Tip”EMAIL nps_isb@nps.govMESSAGE on Facebook @InvestigativeServicesNPS or Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS
--compiled reports--
