In 1979, two young women vanished in Reno, Nevada. Their bodies were later discovered in Hungry Valley — less than a mile apart — sparking fear and mystery that haunted the community for decades. Julia Woodward was 21, and Jeannie Smith only 17, when their lives were cut short. For forty years, their murders remained unsolved.
Then in 2019, advances in DNA technology pointed investigators toward Charles Gary Sullivan, a man in his seventies living in Arizona. Was he a hidden serial predator in Reno’s past?
This episode unpacks:
The cases of Julia Woodward and Jeannie Smith, and how their murders were finally tied to Sullivan.
Other suspected victims, including Linda Taylor, a 23-year-old who disappeared in March 1979 — her car was abandoned near Reno, and although Sullivan admitted dating her, her fate remains unknown. investigationdiscovery.com+1
Sullivan’s earlier brushes with the law, such as the 2007 case involving a woman hitchhiker in California, which helped investigators build a pattern. https://www.kolotv.com+2investigationdiscovery.com+2
We’ll dig into what investigators found, how new forensic tools finally cracked open the cold cases, and ask: how many more victims might still be waiting for their stories to be told?
Resources & Further Reading
KOLO 8 News Now – “Arrest in 40-Year-Old Reno Area Cold Case Murder” (2019)
Read here
Las Vegas Review-Journal – “Man Arrested in Reno Murder May Be Serial Killer” (2019)
Read here
Investigation Discovery – “Arizona Man Charged in Cold Case Slaying Could Be a Serial Killer” (2019)
Read here
KTVN 2 News – “DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest in 1979 Cold Case Murder” (2019)
Read here
RGJ (Reno Gazette Journal) – Local reporting on Julia Woodward & Jeannie Smith murders (archival, paywall may apply).
Disclaimer & Listener Warning
This podcast discusses sensitive and potentially disturbing topics, including murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. All information presented has been compiled from publicly available records, news reports, archival sources, and historical accounts. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy, details may vary depending on source material.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help through your local crisis hotline or support services.
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