S6 Ep12: Above Suspicion: The FBI Informant Who Disappeared
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In 1989, Susan Daniels Smith vanished after a final meeting with FBI agent Mark Putnam at a Pikeville, Kentucky motel—just days after promising to drive her back home. What followed was a year-long cover-up by the FBI, a system that failed a woman who had risked everything to become an informant. Putnam, a newly minted agent with a flawless exterior, had seduced Susan, promised her a new life in Witness Protection, and then murdered her when she demanded child support and threatened to expose their affair. The truth emerged only after a grueling internal investigation, a failed polygraph, and a confession in Miami—where Putnam admitted to strangling her in his rental car and dumping her body in a coal-mining ravine. The case exposed a culture of unchecked power within the FBI, where a lone agent in a remote office operated without oversight, while colleagues ignored red flags and superiors shielded him. Susan’s family was left in the dark, the media silent, and the justice system reduced to a plea deal that spared Putnam murder charges. Her death wasn’t just a crime—it was a systemic failure of accountability, trust, and humanity. The episode reveals how a vulnerable woman, trapped in poverty, abuse, and addiction, was lured by the promise of safety and escape—only to be betrayed by the very institution she believed would protect her.
Mark Putnam murdered Susan Daniels Smith in 1989 after she demanded child support and threatened to expose their affair, dumping her body in a coal-mining ravine nine miles north of Pikeville.
The FBI failed to investigate Putnam despite multiple red flags, including his partner Ron Poole’s observations, Kenneth Smith’s recordings, and Susan’s repeated claims of being in danger.
Putnam was the first FBI agent in history convicted of homicide, pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in 1990 after a three-week plea negotiation.
Susan had been promised protection and a new life in Witness Protection by Putnam, but he never intended to follow through—she was used, then eliminated.
The FBI’s internal investigation only began after public pressure, and even then, investigators were misled by Putnam’s rehearsed, overly detailed timeline.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Disappearance of Susan Daniels Smith
Susan Daniels Smith vanishes after a final meeting with FBI agent Mark Putnam in June 1989. Her sister Shelby reports her missing, but local authorities dismiss the case, suggesting she ran off. The FBI claims she was unreliable and had no motive to leave.
The Legacy of the Hatfield McCoy Feud
The episode explores the violent history of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, which shaped the cultural and economic landscape of eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. This legacy of violence and distrust helps explain the isolation and poverty Susan grew up in.
Susan’s Life: Abuse, Drugs, and a Desperate Escape
Susan’s childhood in Freeburn, Kentucky was marked by poverty, family dysfunction, and a father with black lung. She became entangled with Kenneth Smith, a drug dealer, and later fell into a cycle of abuse, drug use, and failed relationships.
The Rise of Cat Eyes Lockhart and the FBI’s Target
Cateye Lockhart, a bank robber with a history of violent crimes, becomes the FBI’s prime suspect. His return to the Smith household in 1986 brings danger and chaos, setting the stage for Putnam’s infiltration.
Mark Putnam: The Agent Who Became the Predator
Mark Putnam, a newly assigned FBI agent to Pikeville, Kentucky, is portrayed as a charming, hardworking professional. But behind the facade, he begins a secret affair with Susan, using her as an informant while manipulating her emotionally.
“Mark Putnam put his hands around her throat, but the FBI gifted him the conditions that made it possible.”
“She asked him point blank if he had killed Susan. He said yes. She hit him so hard, he fell out of the chair.”
“She told Shelby that Mark was gearing up to leave Kathy and marry her. Meanwhile, Susan was still dealing drugs. She said Mark not only had no problem with it, he encouraged it.”
Host
Susan Daniels Smith
person
Mark Putnam
person
FBI
organization
Shelby Ward
person
Kenneth Smith
person
Kathleen Putnam
person
Cat Eyes Lockhart
person
Freeburn Kentucky
place
Jim Huggins
person
Pikeville FBI Office
organization
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