The Killer and The Philosopher: Two Legendary NC Hermits

In this episode, we examine the lives of two legendary North Carolina hermits: David Greer, the Hermit of Bald Mountain, and Robert Harrill, the Fort Fisher Hermit. David Greer became a hermit due to unrequited love and became famous for the murder of Holland Higgins.Robert Harrill left a state mental institution in 1955 and hitchhiked to Fort Fisher, where he lived for 17 years. His mysterious death in 1972 may have been a murder. Some saw him as a modern-day Henry David Thoreau.00:00 Intro01:36 The Murder of Holland Higgins03:50 A Deranged Trial05:48 David Greer Facts and Folklore06:30 The Poll Tax Incident07:18 Greer’s  Life on the Mountain09:17 The Death of David Greer11:25 The Fort Fisher Hermit13:53 Surf, Sand, and the Wild Man15:15 Hurricanes 16:16 People Problems17:46 The Hermit Business19:40 The Hermit’s Mysterious Death22:13 Harrill’s Legacy23:16 EpilogueShout out to Listener Cheryl W for suggesting the change in intro music.SourcesBlue Ridge True Crime Sources & LinksFor more info, click the links below:William Holland Higgins Find a Grave MemorialThe Fort Fisher Hermit: Enigmatic Life and Mysterious DeathExplore More ContentBlue Ridge True Crime SubstackBlue Ridge True Crime YouTube ChannelMy Book Blood on the Blue Ridge on Amazon (written with Scott Lunsford)