I sure hope this girl is found alive, but the older hiker guy does not sound good.
No he certainly does not sound good!
New Years day is also a day to beware of in my experience. You have alot of people that have been drinking/drugging all night and then the next day where in most parts everything is closed, banks, pawn shops, shopping centers, bottle shops- not only is it a lonely day where people are more isolated/vunerable to attack but desperate/strung-out people are put in despeate situations to raise money with all the usual avenues unavailable. Ive expereienced a home invasion, been robbed by meth heads and attempted sexual assult all on seperate New Years days.
This sounds more like a case of the wrong place at the wrong time and most likely has nothing to do with New Years oppurtunists ....but yikes! I wouldnt go hiking alone on a New Years day.
I pray shes okay and found safe and well VERY soon- and ella too!
Thank you for this Steve, I'm a big fan of your site and Meredith is one of my best friends. We just got back from our second day at the mountain. Please just be on the lookout for that van if you are anywhere in the Atlanta area. If anyone can survive this, she can. She is the healthiest, most in-shape person I know and she's an expert in martial arts. The sooner we find that van, the better the chances of her being found safe.
My thoughts are prayers are with Meredith and her family.
I hope that she will be found safe.
Hilton has old theft charges in Dekalb and solictation in Cobb County.
Hilton was in Miami in 1972 and got popped for buying stolen property. So he's had sticky fingers most of this life. I verified that by his DOB and the middle initial.
All those solicitation arrests are disturbing, in light of his being a POI in Meredith's disappearance.
I wonder where else he has a rap sheet. Possibly Fulton Co. but those records aren't online.
Anyone see what the AJC is reporting now? About the "yellow jacket" and the elderly couple hiking in NC. Ugh. Scary.
The only reason I can think of that a young girl might be talking to this man is if she wanted to let her dog play with his dog. This also fits with the collar and leash being removed- perhaps she and this man let their dogs off their leads to have a play before they left the trail to go home in their cars. It says the batton, leash and sunnies were found near the car- perhaps the man, seeing the rest of the carpark empty, found an oppurtunity to attack her with noone else around. I HOPE NOT!
I really hope they find this girl! I live maybe 5 or 10 miles from where she went missing!! Just pray for her!!! I know i will!!
This is just so awful. A woman can't even go hiking with her dog without having to worry anymore. I pray that she and her dog are found safe.
How sad....
By what I am reading here, that one man has something to do with her missing and he knows where she is dead or alive. I point a finger to him.
steve,
I join in prayers.
i am so sad for her and her family, but hopeful and prayerful for a joyous outcome.
CNN:
Gary Michael Hilton, 61, was detained after a police officer spotted his van at a convenience store.
Investigators also have another piece of the puzzle: Meredith Emerson's black Labrador retriever, Ella, who walked into a grocery store Friday. The animal was positively identified through an embedded microchip.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/04...iker/
index.html
Sh*t. They need to get some search dogs out there.
Listening to Greta. IMO, he dumped the dog and drove back into Atlanta.
Diane, I agree. Listen, I'm actually 22 miles from the center of Atlanta. So Ella showed up only a few miles further north from my location, sounds like.
Ella was carried down Rt. 400, the main road coming down from those mountains, and dropped off before the abductor reached Alpharetta, from the sound of things. (I'm in Roswell -- Alpharetta is the next municipality north along 400.)
Steve
"Emerson's white van was found near the car vacuum cleaners at the station. A passerby noticed the van, thought it seemed out of place, and called 911."
http://www.wxia.com/news/article...?
storyid=109059
Very bad news.
The dog and POI both appear on the same evening?
If he's behind her disappearance, he's stupid or really loves animals. Why not kill the dog if you've kidnapped the owner or worse.
Steve, if you ran out earlier tonight you might have passed him on the road.
Hmmm...I was thinking Meredith was ambushed on her way back to her car and Ella ran off...
9news.com said Ella was found in a Kroger's in Forsyth County, 50 - 60 mls north of the search area.
If what you, Steve, and Diane say is true, that means search dogs would be pointless in Vogle State Park.
Loves dogs, hates people.
I have to map this.
I think I read somewhere that her mittens were found nearby. She might have needed them if she had any idea where she was going.
I'm sorry -- the word "north" did not appear in the 9news.com story regarding where Ella was found. This is why I am not good with directions!
I love that photo of Melinda with Ella.
Melinda's family, friends and coworkers are in my prayers.
Anyone else having trouble with Websleuths loading?
Yes, it must be on overload with the breaking news.
It's loading slow for me too, Steve. Maybe there's alot of traffic on it and the server's slow. I'm praying for a good outcome too but it doesn't look real promising right now.
Being a dog owner, I remove the LEASH only at a park or trail for dog to run free. I was curious if they found the LEASH AND/OR THE COLLAR. Finding a COLLAR would indicate some sort of foul play in my mind, although I could not explain the reason for removing it, even during a crime. I carry the leash and leave the collar (or harness in my case) on the dog. Most dog owners do this. Anyone know if it was collar or leash?
Ugh, my mind is slipping! Meredith, not Melinda, my apologies!
I read an interview with a neighbor of Gary Michael Hinton who said he had MS. She ordered the baton for him online (but what was the baton for?). He told her he was going to move into the woods. I can't find the link to the news story at the moment--I'll keep searching for it.
Just a post script, I know they found the dog, thinking more on it, if someone ripped his collar off - there could be dna on the dog. Or even on it's paws? Hoping this is not needed of course. The whole baton thing creeps me out.
Here is the link in question: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149834...460/
detail.html
http://tinyurl.com/38no27
"Forsyth County investigators said that some of Emerson's personal effects were found in a dumpster outside a Quik Trip gas station across from the Kroger store, which is on Keith Bridge Road, just off Georgia 400.
Paxton said the area around the Kroger store has become a major investigative focus."
This is in the area where Ella turned up.
He says he has MS, doesn't make it true. If he has this disease why in the hell would he retreat to the woods? To be more miserable? Obviously not, since he drove back to Atlanta.
This man has a criminal history back to the 70s, not a trustworthy person. Older man with harmless gab makes one feel safe.
I won't be surprised when it all washes out, that he has history that's not in the books.
Older, wiry man who does a lot of hiking and walking, with a long criminal record that includes the classic psychopathic crime of choice, arson.
Diane & I are in complete agreement on this one. This guy's crimes, all seemingly minor when compared to kidnapping and worse, are probably just the tip of the iceberg.
And where has he been for the last decade or so? It's odd. Even the most current info the media found was an address from 1999. Someone at WS asked if anyone else had heard that he was a psych patient (paraphraising). I did some extensive investigation last night and the most current info I found was a release from probation in 2001. Incarcerations can be found online for the most part. But hospitilizations can't be. Or shouldn't be.
Steve, I was really struck by that map you created. Emerson basically disappeared from right smack in the middle of the two Bryant case locations. According to a friend, Hilton headed to live in the woods two months ago, around the same time the Bryant's were attacked.
He probably has a record in Fulton County, but I doubt they'll ever be digitized. As for being a psych patient, that wouldn't be a long term lock-up thing unless he had been determined to be dangerous. It would be an easy way for him to get welfare (SSI)if he does not really have MS.
""Forsyth County investigators said that some of Emerson's personal effects were found in a dumpster "
HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED IN THE MEDIA ANYWHERE?
My thoughts and prayers go out to Meredith's family. If more law abiding honest people became trained in the safe use, permitted, and safe carry of a firearm there would be a lot less incidences like this. No one is safe anymore. My daughter and her fiance were hiking near this place the week before. My daughter was ahead on the trail and rounded a bend and came upon someone that her dog alerted her on. The dog surely read something from this person. It was a young man acting suspiciously.
Keats,
Yes, here: http://www.myatltv.com/news/arti...?
storyid=109059
The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Hilton won't cooperate with authorities, but that Forsyth County investigators have surveillance video showing him in the area where the dog was found.
Just popping in for a quick moment. Meda is reporting that Hilton is not cooperating and that he was spotted on surveillance tapes.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149834...460/
detail.html
Sorry for the crosspost M234
No problem, Suzi. I wonder why they're still focusing so much manpower on searching the mountain. They must have some reason to believe that she's up there, but to me it seems like the evidence suggests otherwise. The fact that Hilton disposed of some of her belongings in Cumming, 50 miles from the mountain, and then his van was found by the vacuums at a gas station, as if he were trying to get rid of evidence...it seems to me that she was probably in the van with him at some point and driven away from the mountain. I'd be combing the backroads between the mountain and Cumming, if I were those investigators.
Not good news. Nobody has a good feeling, and I hope we're all wrong. But level-headed young women rarely disappear by their own will. This guy was picked up on the same road I work off of. And per the AJC this morning, he is "not cooperating".
I've said it so many times on Steve's many, ever-changing blogs (I can't keep up - honestly), that it's so scary for young women. Can we not do anything alone? Go for a walk? Go to Target? Or the mall? It's incredibly disheartening.
Meredith is my age, athletic, a graduate of a very similar university, arguably at the same exact place in life... and that really hits close.
I hope she just got lost and is safe somewhere... but I doubt it.
I've only been in Atlanta for a little over a year - so I don't know much about these mountain state parks. Are they the type of place that you "don't go to alone"? Where I'm originally from, we had the Ocala National Forest... nothing good ever happened there, and we knew not to ever go. I'm sure the Georgia trails are a little safer, right? I don't understand... there seemed to be other people on these trails, did they not see anything beyond this man walking with Meredith?
Now the AJC is reporting that a new development has led investigators to narrow the search area down to a 5 square mile area around where Meredith's car was found. They're not reporting what the new development is. Is Websleuths still not loading for everyone else?
http://www.ajc.com (it's the main headline)
Has anyone else seen the blip that he (hilton) was picked up on svc. video somewhere near Ella was located?
That he is being uncooperative with police?
I'm hoping if he did do something with her, she's just being held and we'll hear from her very, very, soon.
Steve did you get my email?
Still no WS for me either. Frustrating.
TGIR
M234,
Sorry I didn't see your posting prior to doing so. And yes, many still cannot get into WS. Christine is in chat right now and is aware, but can't contact anyone because all the numbers are on the board LOL!
IMO, narrowing the search to five miles is pretty specific. Poor Ella, I wonder where she is this morning. Any news of the presser?
Steve, what are you hearing locally?
I'm wondering if Hilton could have some bunker type place to hold her prisoner. I realize that is unlikely, but it is strange that if he did kill her, he did not kill Ella too. Makes me think maybe he intended to keep the girl alive too, and maybe the dog just got away from him.
If he buried her near the hiking area; alive or dead, he wouldn't want to leave the pup to dig her up or lead investigators to her.
I think LE was just being politically correct when they denied any connection to the earlier Bryant case. Strange that they found the woman but her husband is still missing. I'm thinking maybe the killer had intended to take the couple somewhere away from their hiking area, but the plan went awry and he had to kill her and leave her but still took the husband.
Wonder if Hilton's dog Dandy could lead them to his hidey spot.
TGIR
Not to say that Hilton is connected in any way. But Tara Grinstead is from Forsyth County isn't she? She was a big dog lover too. Hilton would have been passing through Forsyth to get to the AP Trail from Atlanta, right? Maybe Dandy was bait, I know I assume animal lovers are good people.
Jinxie, I've lost my bookmark for the chat link. can you post it for my? I'm gettin' the WS shakes. Help a girl out?
Thanks!
(TGIRecovered)
Nothing locally, but then again, I just woke up (insomnia) and haven't turned on the news on radio or TV yet. The Web sometimes lags behind those two by as much as a half-hour.
I have two people I could call, but they may be in the mountains, and I'm not sure I'll get through.
Steve
Here is the link TGI, but oddly, hardly anyone has been there.
http://www.stormdancing.net/netw...java/
chat1.html
@SuziQ -- while it still may not be a stretch to wonder about Tara at this point, geographically she's in the complete opposite direction -- Ocilla is many miles south and east of the Atlanta area. Almost equidistant between here and Savannah.
TY SuziQ!
@Jinxie -- which e-mail? If I didn't respond, please know it wasn't to intentionally ignore the message. I've just got stuff to do offline and online that consume my energy. We're cleaning the house here, which is a mightier chore than it should ever be for a house this small, and I'm trying to do some research and writing for Radar.
Steve, thanks! I could not remember where Tara is from. Like you I'm sleep deprived and my house took a big hit from the wind. I am mentally not with it this morning.
@ M -- historically, the GA parks have had little crime. A woman was brutally murdered last year on a running trail by a sexual predator, and I think there have been disappearances, but I'm familiar with the bad stuff that's happened in the Ocala, and no, there's never been much of anything like that here, that I can recall. People who have lived here longer may be able to tell you about some things I'm not familiar with.
Steve,
No problem, I know you're very, very, busy. I've been having trouble with email not sending out, is all. The email where Cindy is mentioned is the one I was referring to.
OT: Grinstead could be another victim of Buck Inman. He was released from Florida prison in Sept. 2005, and made his way to Tennesse weeks later. He's been connected to crimes in all the states surrounding Georgia..South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Susan,
Here you go
http://www.stormdancing.net/netw...java/
chat1.html
sorry for the delay!
"No problem, Suzi. I wonder why they're still focusing so much manpower on searching the mountain. They must have some reason to believe that she's up there, but to me it seems like the evidence suggests otherwise. The fact that Hilton disposed of some of her belongings in Cumming, 50 miles from the mountain, and then his van was found by the vacuums at a gas station, as if he were trying to get rid of evidence...it seems to me that she was probably in the van with him at some point and driven away from the mountain. I'd be combing the backroads between the mountain and Cumming, if I were those investigators.
m234 | 01.05.08 - 11:48 am | #"
At first, I thought Meredith was still in Vogel State Park. I thought she wa s ambushed on her way back to her car and Ella took off. But after reading Diane and Steve's posts, looking at maps, and reading more about the Bryants, I changed my mind.
Irene Bryant was bashed on the left side of her skull 20 or so yards from their SUV. The husband was abducted.
Irene Bryant was older than her husband. She was, I think, 83 and her husband, John, was 79. He was a big guy, too, from pictures and her son's statement. The Bryants were both longtime experienced hikers and supporters of the AT. They were killed for $300.
Did Meredith have $$ or her ATM card on her? Were her financial records checked?
From http://snipurl.com/1wo28
"In Forsyth County, authorities are searching a wooded area in the northern part of the county. The area is near the shopping center where Emerson’s dog was found.
In a dumpster at a gas station in Forsyth County, authorities found items belonging to Emerson including her driver’s license and wallet."
Prayers for Meredith and her family. I have been to Vogel and it is such a beautiful area.
How much taxpayers money is wasted, how many volunteers donate so much time, how much grief is given families - because some low life scum won't tell where someone is? Democracy is great and everything, but couldn't we sometimes go back to the old west where they knew how to make violent criminals talk? So many lives have been ruined because some guy is sitting somewhere excercing his "right to remain silent". I hope Meredith is alive somewhere, I pray for a miracle.
Per Fox. Case is now search and recovery. Hilton charged with kidnapping w/bodily harm. Evidence leads LE to believe Meredith is no longer alive.
Fox is reporting breaking news that he's being charged with kidnapping with bodily injury. Search is continuing. 
http://www.foxnews.com/story/
0,2...,320309,00.html
fox news live on tv is saying they have charged hilton with kidnapping and bodily injury - the search has gone to search and recovery - they won't say what the evidence is, just that they have enuf to take these steps from the evidence they have found - he is still not co-operating - @2:15 here in the pac. nw -
so sad -
Bodily harm means? I understand they're saying they don't believe she isn't alive, but bodily harm just means injured doesn't it? So doesn't that leave some hope no matter how vague that she is still alive?
I've been wondering where he's been since Tuesday. Since he let the dog loose on Friday outside of Atlanta and found hours later in Dekalb county, it sounds like he was just then coming back into town.
Up in the mtns the entire time?
Maybe he's talking a little bit and admitted to taking her somewhere but "she got hurt" and now he doesn't know where she is. (He'd be lying, of course) Maybe they have evidence of her or the dog being in his van...blood? Who knows.
I'm just so pissed right now that nobody can take an innocent walk with their dog anymore.
I live one street over from the home on Clairmont Rd. where he lived and worked over the last few years. It upsets me to think how close this man was to me and my kids!
another E. Smart situation?
I live about a mile or so from where he was picked up. I use that Chevron station frequently. It is so upsetting that someone who basically was a neighbor could do something like this. My prayers go out to this family in this terrible hour of need.
I hope they find her remains soon as nothing could be worse than not being able to pay your respects to a loved one. Other than they being murdered I should say. This is terrible news all the way around.
Put him in a police cruiser with a doctor in case he passes out. Smash his f*ing fingers one by one. He said he hurt her... so now he shows them where he left her.
I stayed on the whiteblaze hiking forum - after almost 1000 posts the mods shut it down cuz people who were saying where he could have hid her body were being 'insensitive' - surely her family were aware that she poss. could be dead -
somebody on there said they were helping with the food for the searchers and were all talking about his cabin in wolf creek - don't know wherewolf creek is - also were talking about how creepy he was whenever he was at murphy-cantler park -
Awful, but expected news. These things never, ever turn out well. With the exception of the very weird Elizabeth Smart case, I can't think of any story like this ever having a "decent ending".
Meredith's facebook is open if you're in the Atlanta network. Four of the five photo albums are dedicated to her doggie Ella. She also has the Georgia Football Fans application. So sad and devastating.
Here's something interesting.
1/5/2008 6:44:53 PM
(excerpt)
Hilton is already in federal custody near Atlanta, held on a warrant for failure to appear in federal court for a charge of abandoning property in a national park.
http://www.11alive.com/news/arti...?
storyid=109094
I just got done reading an updated report that says that some of the items recovered in the dumpster were three fleece tops, covered in blood, and Meredith's wallet and ID.
This being in the same proximity as where Ella was recovered is enough for Hilton to be charged with kidnapping and bodily harm.
My prayers are with Meredith's friends and family...I hope that they find her soon, poor girl.
Man charged with kidnapping missing hiker
Officials say she probably isn't alive
By TIM EBERLY, JEFFRY SCOTT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/05/08
Blairsville — The man police say was the last person seen with missing Buford hiker Meredith Emerson was charged Saturday with kidnapping with bodily injury, and authorities say it's not likely the woman is alive after finding three blood-soaked shirts.
A Union County Superior Court judge signed an arrest warrant late Saturday afternoon against Gary Michael Hilton, 61, in connection with the New Year's Day disappearance of the 24-year-old woman in the North Georgia mountains.
Authorities told the family Saturday "the chances are slim to none that she's alive," family spokeswoman Peggy Bailey said. As GBI spokesman John Bankhead broke the news at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, family and friends of the missing 24-year-old broke into tears. They huddled together, crying and consoling each other.
The search, which included 100-plus volunteers Saturday, was called off at dusk, as it had been the past four days. Authorities said they'd pick it back up after daybreak, even after Saturday's disturbing news.
"They still want to find her," Bailey said of Emerson's family. "They're not going to have any closure until she's found."
The case has drawn national attention since Wednesday when other New Year's Day hikers reported seeing Hilton walking with Emerson along a trail on Blood Mountain the day of her disappearance. Both Hilton and Emerson had dogs with them at the time.
Friday night, while puzzled searchers continued their hunt for Emerson 90 miles away, her dog, a black labrador mix named Ella, turned up at a Cumming-area Kroger. Later Friday, after two days of searching, DeKalb County police found Hilton at a convenience store along Ashford-Dunwoody Road and brought him in for questioning. He has not been cooperative, authorities say.
In a dumpster beside a nearby QuikTrip where Emerson's dog was found, police also discovered Emerson's wallet and three fleece tops — all covered in blood — according to Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton.
Paxton said authorities won't know for certain whether the garments are Emerson's until blood tests come back from the GBI, but they served the warrant because Emerson's wallet and driver's license were in the same dumpster.
"There were no signs of trauma to the clothing, but it was covered with blood," Paxton said.
Hilton was to be transferred from the Fulton County Jail, where he has been in the custody of U.S. Marshals, back to Union County either Saturday night or today, according to Stan Gunter, district attorney for the Enotah Judicial Circuit.
Gunter said Hilton's first hearing will be Monday before a judge in Blairsville.
"The family is devastated by the news," said Bailey, the family spokeswoman. "It hits home that this has turned into a recovery effort."
DAMN. I cannot believe that a woman cannot even take her dog for a hike without being killed. When will these killings stop? When?
. . . [I]t's so scary for young women. Can we not do anything alone?
M, I am going to suggest you go to http://www.corneredcat.com and read the text at that link. There is another link there that will take you into the web site, which deals with women and guns. Clicking on that other link is completely your choice.
Al
--
Al ias Always In Flyover Country
When will these killings stop?
When it becomes too dangerous for the predators to prey on their selected victims.
Al
--
Al ias Always In Flyover Country
While reading all of the above comments I noted that many asked why one can no longer take a walk without feeling danger.
Whether we like it or not there are people in this world who are mean, dangerous and down right evil. We can not change that about society. All we can do is to be aware of our surroundings , travel in pairs and always beware of strangers regardless of how "safe" they may seem. And give the ones who commit these crimes just punishment in a rapid manner.
If what they are reporting is true and they do not find Meridith alive then the "person of interest" should be held accountable and be made to pay for what he has done. Not over the period of years like our system dictates but within a short period of time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and her friends.
My prayers are with Merideth and her family. Hope they hang the SOB responsible. I wonder what will happen to Ella, I'd be willing to adopt her!
Folks, please don't quote so much of news articles. Link the article and quote only a choice paragraph.
Thanks,
Steve
It makes you wonder how many people this guy might have attacked. Carrying a retractable baton would be unusual in a usual situation, but since he was out hiking!! If he is responsible for other hiking incidents, he must take his victims totally unaware with a blow to the head. It would be the only explanation for someone as well trained and physically fit as Meredith. What would be his motive? Money, Thrill????
It's also apparent from photos of Ella's obedience diploma that Meredith took being a good citizen seriously since she worked hard with her dog to make her one as well. It seems others on the trail were enough concerned for her safety to get his license plate or we could have more unsolved incidents on the trials in the future.
Thanks should go to these individuals so that her family might find closure to this nightmare.
I wonder if those alarmed individuals regret not getting more involved. I know that I will try and get involved in the future when I take the time and effort required to take a tag number for good measure.
Man, I'm really torn up about this. Meredith lived in my town, Buford, we went to UGA at the same time, and I've hiked Blood mountain 100 times. I pray if she is dead that she didn't not suffer. It is horribly tragic that such a beautiful woman might have been snuffed out by that piece of garbage, Hilton. If he did it, I hope his death is very long and very painful. Pray for her and her family and friends. What the hell is wrong with this world?
Additionally, don't most serial murderers start in their twenties or thirties? Makes me wonder if he's killed before. Evidence against that, though, is that this killing has the hallmarks of a disorganized offender. It seems like a crime of opportunity. Evidence left behind, hasty disposal of bloody clothes. Allowing himself to be caught on several cameras, and then having police catch him in the act of vacuuming his van out. God, I recently got back from Afghanistan, and this bothers me much more than anything there did. I guess it hits too close to home. I went and looked at her facebook and myspace profiles; she had entries on the day before she disappeared. It was really spooky, thinking that that was the last anyone will ever here from her. God save us.
Al, as a 24 year old woman, I have no reservations about properly owning a gun. In fact, I should. But as we've seen... young women aren't just being attacked in home, at night by the boogeyman. Kelsey Smith was kidnapped in broad daylight, in a Target parking lot, with people around. Dru Sjodin was walking out of a mall.
I'm sick of hearing about girls my age going missing. We always know the outcome. Kidnapped, probably raped, and brutally murdered - and not by jealous boyfriends, or family, but by completely random, evil people.
I'll never understand how a "man" can see a woman (or kids), in a random moment, and decide to harm her/them. I don't get that heinousness. Life is scary.
Oh, and this guy (if he did indeed harm Meredith) must be the biggest mother f'ing psychopath we've seen in a long time. Attempting to use Meredith's bank card? Dumping little Ella off, the bloody clothing outside the QuikTrip, Meredith's ID, and then returning to metro Atlanta? If it's him, I hope he gets exactly what he deserves.
Did he try and use Meredith's bank card?
Yes, it appears he did and he cut out a bloody seat belt from his van that was found with her other belongings.
"Investigators said they have photos of Hilton at an ATM in Canton, trying to use Meredith's credit card."
http://www.11alive.com/news/arti...?
storyid=109094
Thanks Diane for the link, using the ATM card is another link to the Bryant case, IMO.
thefirstdiane,
Thank you for the latest link. What a nightmare for family and friends. Seemingly harmless elderly man not so harmless to a kind dog loving young woman. I hope that she didn't suffer. I do wonder what he has been doing for the last few days since it appears he was just returning from the mountains yesterday afternoon. If only Ella could talk.
I agree, SuziQ.
Dear cmc, that was a sweet comment and I mean no offense. Sixty years old is not elderly. It's not even old enough to collect Social Security benefits, if the sorry scumbag ever worked. I guess you must be really young.
I'm 40, 6'0", 220, and reasonably strong, and I know a number of 60 year old men I'd take very seriously in a confrontation. It's simply not as old as some of you think.
Has anyone else seen this?
Gary Michael Hilton, committed to the institute in 1989 after he was found not guilty by reason of impaired mental condition of charges of robbery and kidnapping, among others.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/c...news/
ci_5587358
scroll down to where they are talking about the other parties.
Sorry I couldn't edit on the comment above. I Understand this MAY NOT be him..but pretty darn weird coincidence with the name and charges eh?
I, too, wonder where he's been the last few days. It seemed like he was just coming out of the mountains yesterday, the media, but this new piece of info about his attempted use of her ATM card in Canton makes that less likely. The trail is east/northeast of where Ella was found, and Canton is west/southwest of where Ella was found. So he must've made it all the way to Canton, then backtracked to the north Cumming area before heading down 400 to Atlanta, where he was found.
sorry Steve,
But WS is still not loading for me, here's something else I found....
An autopsy on Friday revealed that 20-year-old Stephanie Nicole Salazar, of Walsenburg, died from strangulation and may also have been raped. Salazar’s body was found in a field behind the Mystic Cabaret on the north side of Pueblo early last Wednesday. According to the autopsy report, Salazar’s killer most likely used his hands to choke her to death. Salazar also suffered a savage beating to the face and head, which was also inflicted by hand, however, the beating alone was not likely what caused her death. Saturday, Pueblo police executed a search warrant at the apartment of Gary Michael Hilton, 38, a man with a history of mental illness, seeking clues in the Salazar murder. Police consider Hilton a “person of interest” in Salazar’s death. He was arrested Saturday on an unrelated kidnapping charge. The woman involved in the unrelated kidnapping charge works at the Mystic Cabaret. Hilton is being held on a $250,000 bond in the kidnapping case.
www.kspk.com
Dear Old Codger, Your right 60 is not elderly. They say "Elderly is 15 years older than you are" and that is closer to my age. He just looks elderly compared to Meredith. Sorry about that. Bad usage of words.
Very strange indeed, jinxie.
Could be a father-son thing, I guess.
Nice find!
TGIR
Thanks the age thing threw me off - not sure if it was a misprint, but I cannot find an age on the story...going to check google on her name in a second.
The top one though is from 1989..would explain why noone was able to find him for those periods of years....maybe...maybe not...Still thought it was weird!
cmc- I was thinking he might pretend to be older or in more fragile health in order to appear harmless then catch his prey off guard with a blow from the baton.
(TGIR)
The Colorado thing is a different Gary Michael Hilton. As to a relationship... who the heck knows, at this point.
Thanks Steve,
Can you delete them then please?
Susan, he must have seemed friendly and harmless with his dog along on the hike. I have read how smart and aware of her surroundings Meredith was. I hope that she was not fearful before she was injured and that she did not suffer.
I have been aware of this site since the Kelsey Smith murder, and have since been following up on other incidents. This is a great service you provide, Steve, and all other 'sleuths' and justice trackers - thank you. This is my first post here, - I have gotten increasingly involved with this sort of stuff after providing some info to the police in a local case.
I feel a little uncertain here, though, because I live in Oregon, but really feel I have seen this guy before. Can anyone provide info or use tools to see if he has been in these parts in the last 10 years? The last few months have been highly disturbing with stranger-to-stranger incidents (Leah Hickman, Katherine Olson, etc). My heart and most sincere prayers go out to family and friends.
I am also curious about the most recent post about Colorado activity...Unlikely the same guy, right? But given the situation, and other unsolved cases in the South, perhaps he's been actively harming people for a while? Is there any way to map similar cases in the 200 mile radius?
Thank you -
It's the orange eyebrows.
I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the Emerson family and friends! I hope and pray that she is found quickly. What a tragedy!!!
As a born and raised Coloradan, I never feared hiking, camping, fishing, walking, biking, etc., on any of Longmont, Loveland, Lyons, or Ft. Collins trails or back country (Denver is a different story). Of course, one should always be aware of their surroundings, but both my husband and I have befriended many folks doing just that, who we still communicate with and visit after 15 years. The only fear I ever had was encountering some of the wildlife and not having a weapon to defend myself, other than our dogs.
I hope you all can find some comfort in the community support that I know to be there, as well as from family and friends. What a beautiful girl . . . what a senseless loss!!! You all will be in our prayers, and that of our families!
Not understanding the comparison of what happened to Ms. Emerson to the Smart case . . . there is no comparison, in that Elizabeth was a target, abducted, and it was for an intended purpose. Is it because of the age of the perpetrator or that they both "appeared" to be homeless?
One of the saddest things is that because of these types of crimes, it causes so many to be less inclined to want to help those that look like they need it (and do), have less compassion, are leery of intervening, and as women we have to live in constant "watch-out" mode to do the simplest of things or things that we've done our entire lives! Oh, I won't even mention children . . . our children appear to 'never' be in a safe-zone!
Just to clarify, I was referring to the Gary Michael Hilton/Stephanie Nicole Salazar post, not Elizabeth Smart - unfortunately, cases like the Smart miracle seem to be far too rare.
God bless this family.
Could he have really wanted possession of Ella the dog? I have read where he was very taken with his dog Dandy and it was very well trained. He got into confrontations at a dog park with other dog owner's and ranted about how their dog's weren't trained well. Ella was trained well...maybe he hung around Meredith because of Ella. Later,he may have heard/read where Ella was microchipped and had to dump her. I note that he dumped her in a congested area where she would be found instead of in a less populated area. I think that shows that he had some kind of consideration for Ella.
Anyone else had this thought cross their minds?
M, when I was carrying a firearm I carried it all the time. That was so if trouble found me I would be able to answer Just WHY I Happened To Have A Weapon When I Was Attacked with the truth that I always had it instead of trying to justify having it because I thought I might need it that day. And no, my carrying my pistol didn't mean I was looking for trouble any more than my fastening my seat belt meant I was looking for another vehicle to crash into or my carrying a first aid kit in my vehicle meant I wanted somebody hurt or my carrying a fire extinguisher in my vehicle meant I wanted somebody's automobile to burst into flames.
Al
--
Al ias Always In Flyover Country
What a sad and tragic outcome..my heart and prayers go out to Merdith's family.
I will be very surprised if Hilton isn't connected to the missing NC couple. Just too many similarities not to match up.
WS is still down ..and I can't get into chat.
Just MHO
Delta
I feel he dropped her off before he dumped the stuff in the dumpster. She is somewhere off ga 180 before you get to SUches...On a map on this link there is across from where it says Blood mt cabins to GA 180 her body is over there...this is just a gut feel...I have had since the day she came missing...
Anyone else notice a few interesting things on Meredith's myspace page which she last signed into on 12/31/07:
The tag beside her name is: "HIDE THE CRAZY"
Her mood is set to: PISSED OFF
It strikes me as a little ironic.
geewriter....you are wiggin' me out.
I am not sure we are meant to understand why someone would randomly seek out someone like Meredith (or any other unsuspecting you woman) to commit harm. That would bother me even more if we could understand that type behavior or "evil" .
Al,
I agree we should be prepared for what ever we encounter to defend ourselves.
But we must also be educated and willing to use the weapon if needed otherwise it can and will be turned and used on the victim.
I sincerely hope that are able to break this animal within a short period of time so that they can find her and bring her home.
AJC has his mugshot online.
LE DOES NOT have surveillance of him or his van at the Quik Trip. A couple of local TV websites keep reporting they do.
Also, Hilton made a phone call on Friday from that convenience store.
http://tinyurl.com/35lhe7
Anyone know where Hilton's dog Dandy is? Was Dandy with Hilton when he was arrested?
What about Hilton's family? Surely he has someone...siblings, ex-spouse, grown kids etc.
Regarding the online searches for Hilton's past. I can do the average State and County searches providing the info is available online. Others better at this than I am or have access to a paid people search have contacted me. They are stumped. Nothing on Hilton or his residences after 2001.
The dog was with Hilton and was taken to a shelter, I would assume in DeKalb county. I have not heard one peep about family.
Sounds to me as if Hilton must have been incarcerated, committed to a mental institution, living with relatives, or homeless since 2001.
According to the acquaintance Barbara, he'd been living in the building he worked in for 7 years. Then 2-3 months ago headed to the woods to live.
"Barbara said
61-year-old Gary Hilton lived and worked inside a two-story building near
her office for almost 7 years."
He's been in the Atlanta area since at least 1979 and in 1972 he was in Miami.
He lived in Cobb, Dekalb and Fulton county.
Susan, That would be the only explanation. So did this guy suddenly turn good after the felony conviction in the 90's? Or did he just get smart and not get caught?
Any word on what day and time Hilton tried to use Emerson's ATM Card?
Thanks Suz!
I wonder if LE would refrain from using Dandy to lead them to a body due to the possibility of contamination of the crime scene. I hope they combed the dog and scraped it's nails for evidence such as Meridith's blood.
Thanks Diane! So who's building was he living in? The guy who's flyers he distributed?
Yes, Suzie, the siding business.
IDK when he used the ATM. Wonder if hehad the correct pin?
In the Bryant case, was he sucessful at the ATM withdrawal? I was thinking maybe he kept the man alive for the purpose of obtaining the pin number.
Tara,
Yeah, I noticed the "pissed off" and "hide the crazy" things on facebook or myspace. Wierd, indeed. It also said she liked to hit things with her bokken. What's a bokken, and, damn, why didn't she have one that day. As i said, we went to UGA together and lived in the same small town. This hits too close to home. It's too strange that he started a killing spree (if he also did the NC couple) at this age. His record shows drug abuse and theft. Antisocial behavior. And the need to carry a police baton? I own two of them from the Army, and its the last weapon I would pull out in a fight. It speaks to a level of comfort with up-close, personal violence. Studies of soldiers show that the closer violence occurs (i.e., a gun at distance or a bayonet up close), the faster and deeper psychological trauma occurs. Then there are those whose lack of a conscience means killing becomes more comfortable and rewarding. I can't wait to read a psych profile of this asshole. I can't decide if he's done this before. Statistics say yes, but his sloppy modus operandi and carelesness with evidence says this was a hasty, opportunistic crime. Any thoughts on these things?
Dave, he's also got an arson rap. Anne Rule writes about psychopaths and her subjects almost always have arson in their past. I am confused about the sloppy behavior by Hilton. It goes against someone who's a career criminal who's managed to stay out of trouble for the past decade. So far as we know anyways.
I wonder if Hilton and the siding guy had a falling out? That's a sudden decision to leave a roof over your head and go live out of your van in the woods. He is suddenly really homeless and without the income he had before. He was probably pissed off and in need of money. That would explain bumping someone off over 300.00.
Hi Dave.
I have read that mental illness left untreated will progress with age. He may have had better control of his actions 30 years ago than he does now. You might want to look up "decompensation" if you are interested. I believe that this term is used to describe what happens when a person "falls apart".(Something like that.) Also, drug abuse can make a person overly confident. Could be he just got careless due to being drug impared.
One more thought and I'll quit hogging up the board. I wonder if there had been a rise in thefts of cars at trailheads and camps set up in that area? And what did he abandon that warranted the ticket he recieved?
Suzi, maybe the 1996 van?
Has anyone found any property records on this guy? relations? That may have property?
Couldn't he have holed up in someone's primitive type cabin/fishing hut etc? I'm not familiar with the area, are these types of things found in the "deep woods" there?
Someone earlier stated that he had a cabin in the woods. Does anyone have any info on that.
A crime of opportunity is more likely the case as he was very sloppy with getting rid of the evidence. Evil to me is a better adjective than mentally ill, sure they are ill they are down right sick to commit these type of crimes.
There are no excuses, justifications for what he has done and he should not be given and special treatment. Of course as our society and system always dictates they will give him all the test and then declare he is mentally ill...which is what really make me angry. That is only one reason we have these people ( or maybe more appropriate) animals out there in the first place.
The left side of Irene Bryant's skull was crushed by a blow to her head. Her husband was abducted. His body has never been found. For $300.
Irene Bryant's body was found around 20 yards from their SUV. The surrounding area of the parked cars looked pretty heavily forested.
The surveillance tape of the Bryant debit card transaction can be viewed I think at just about any of the news articles about the Bryants. Steve has some links up above.
The perp was wearing a yellow jacket. This is another link to the Bryants and it's mentioned in the early news articles about Meredith posted above.
The guy preyed and killed for $$.
The area around Meredith's car did not look heavily forested. It looked like the land around it was more open.
The water bottle, leash, baton and sunglasses was reported as being found around 100 yards from her car. Was she ambushed returning to her car? Running away from him? Leaving him to return home?
BTW, thanks firstdiane for your posts. You've been on this since day 1.
True about the huts/etc. Adds to my question about the car/camp break-ins. Cabin break-ins are a big problem for anyone who owns one.
One thing I am not clear on is when did he use the ATM card in Canton? Was it Thursday or Friday? If it was Thursday he may have had her tied up somewhere and when the card didn't work came back and killed her then. He was definitely on the way back from the mountains on Friday with the first stop in Cumming before driving into Atlanta. I really can't see him driving into Atlanta with a body in his van as traffic stops are common as well as accidents.
Susan,
Thanks, I'll check decompensation out. The arson rap is new on me. Part of the triad of sociopathy. Arson with sexual arousal, age inappropriate enuresis (bedwetting) and torture of animals leading into people. I guess he loved animals, or at least his dog. Who knows. Nice blog here, very intelligent, informative folks. I'm still holding out hope for a miracle. Then again, there area some things that make you womder if they are worth living through. Like someone else said, if scumbag did hurt her, I hope it was painless and quick.
I think Hilton may have used a ruse to get Meridith away from the main part of the trail. Maybe he encouraged her to let the dogs play then offered to go get the dogs when they strayed...called to M from just out of sight;"Help-I've fallen and I can't get up" or something similar then thwacked her on the back of the head when she came to help. That would explain the water bottles left on the trail...she thought she'd be right back. Just speculating.
CP, I haven't seen any reports yet stating what day he tried to use her card at the ATM. Wish one of the news outlets would link the arrest warrant.
Was the collar found by the car? I change my dogs collar at the finish of a hike. Sometimes he wears two collars so I can work on obedience during the hike by switching the leash clasp. The training collar always comes off when we enter the car.Her dog is young, photos look like obedience diplomas. The type of collar might indicate what happened by the car.
Absolutely, Tammy. The self-defense firearm is not a magic wand to be waved at problems so they will go away; instead, it is a tool whose use will result in one losing everything one has worked for over one's lifetime and is to be used only when the alternative is worse.
Al
--
Al ias Always In Flyover Country
So who did Hilton call from the convenience store on friday?
I'm pretty liberal on some things, but I'm a strong believer in the right to bear arms.
That said, I hope no one diverts discussion in these comments to the issue of whether or not Meredith would be alive & well right now if she'd been armed. We just don't know what would have happened, and this really isn't the place to speculate. Further discussion would bring out people who are really fired up about the subject pro and con, and we wouldn't be discussing the subject of the blog entry anymore, which is what blog comments are for.
Thx,
Steve
BTW -- in GA, the chances of this guy being found mentally ill are pretty damned slim. Especially in a case like this. He's already shown too much calculation for a sensible defense lawyer to even try that tack, but ya never know.
I don't know... the "large amounts of human blood" on not one, but three fleece tops leads me to believe this will be a very gruesome find... What could have done that? Knife or gun? I doubt that blood loss could be from putting up a fight.
The elderly couple in NC, I know the man has yet to be found, but the woman was killed by blunt trauma to the head right? That doesn't yield massive amounts of blood loss.
All this for a robbery? For money? And how much money could a young girl have in her bank account... The evidence is mounted against this "man" and he seems like a raging sociopath, not a robber.
have you seen this & is this the same hilton Gary Michael?
http://www.ojs.dekalbga.org/serv...&
dcms.page_no=2
Actually headwounds bleed alot. Anything from the chest up does. And if IIRC, her clothes didn't show any signs of trauma. Does that indicate no struggle as well?
Hilton cleaning up the van with bleach pretty much negates any possible insanity plea IMO.
Shel, what I think you found is the felony charges. The page won't open correctly from a link. I have sent the rap sheet to Steve. I haven't posted the info because no one else has. Maybe Steve will publish it? I guess it would be ok since Hilton has now been charged. His rap sheet is lengthy and I have copied it to word. Way to long to post to comments.
I don't often do this, but let me ask everyone to be as delicate as possible in discussing this. This is a case where I know for a fact that at least one of Meredith's friends (this person had Meredith in her top 8 on MySpace, hung out each weekend, etc) reads this blog.
Meredith was close to enough people at my church that the minister mentioned this case in morning announcements before all 3 services this morning. Certainly the first time ever that a case I've written about has been mentioned by people I go to church with, too.
Folks will have to discuss the realities of what may have happened, and should. If I didn't want that, I'd take the blog entry offline. But be sensitive. It's probably a good admonition in general, and one I should make for many blog entries.
Thanks, very much.
The fact is, she may very well be alive. Even if Hilton told police that he kidnapped her, it's possible she was savvy enough to fake death, hide, etc. There is a glimmer of hope so everyone pray for Meredith.
Aha! Found a PDF of the arrest warrant.
http://media.myfoxatlanta.com/
PD...restWarrant.pdf
My question is why would they be concentrating on looking for Meredith around the mountain if his car had blood in it...wouldn't that point to him taking her or her body somewhere else? Also, I tend to be leaning to the side of it being more than coincidental that Hilton has done this to Meredith and the other hikers in North Carolina were murdered and it is so close to where Meredith went missing from. Also, didn't Hilton move into the woods shortly before the time that the Murder in the North Carolina occured? Then the "coincidence" with the yellow jacket, and then now the ATM attempt. Very striking similarities. Sorry if this is a repost!
According to the warrant, Hilton tried to use Meredith's bancard on Saturday, January 5th.
Thanks, SuziQ.
I think he used that card in Canton on Friday before he let the dog loose and threw away Meredith's belongings.
The phone call, wonder if it was someone out of state or not in the immediate area. Surely someone local would have mentioned the cops were looking for him.
SuziQ he was in custody on Sat. They picked him up Friday night.
You are correct, the agents viewed the bank info on Saturday.
Gary Michael Hilton shows up with one civil case & 2 criminal cases in DeKalb records.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/27s4ga ; select login category "other individual"
search under Case ID 87C34780 & 95CR3990 for the closed criminal cases; search Case ID 01V75298 for the closed civil case.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/2r82sx for info on Cobb County Superior Court indictment
on 5 counts of solicitation Case # 94900196-07
Miami-Dade County shows a nolle pros for buying stolen property
http://tinyurl.com/34v3ga
his DOB is listed as 11/22/46
Where is the history of arson allegations coming from ?
In the Dekalb county links click on the SPN link, takes you to the older cases.
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 12-NOV-79 7918331 122925 M - CHARGE Y
117508 F - CHARGE Y
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 28-MAY-82 8210583 177723 M - Hit and run; duty of driver to stop at or return to scene of Y
176776 F - ARSON 1ST DEGREE Y
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 31-JUL-87 8717115 M - THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS-/FEL/MISD/- Y
M - VIOL GA. CONT SUBST ACT Y
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 21-JUN-95 9519007 95W70962 F - SHOPPING CART - REMOVAL/LARCENY/ABANDON -/MISD/- Y
Under 176776, there is Arson listed.
Jail Search Results
Last Name First Name / MI SPN # Booking Date Booking # Warrant # Charge Type and Description Released
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 12-NOV-79 7918331 122925 M - CHARGE Y
117508 F - CHARGE Y
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 28-MAY-82 8210583 177723 M - Hit and run; duty of driver to stop at or return to scene of Y
176776 F - ARSON 1ST DEGREE Y
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 31-JUL-87 8717115 M - THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS-/FEL/MISD/- Y
M - VIOL GA. CONT SUBST ACT Y
HILTON GARY MICHAEL 00120663 21-JUN-95 9519007 95W70962 F - SHOPPING CART - REMOVAL/LARCENY/ABANDON -/MISD/- Y
* Click on the SPN number to view the details about the inmate like Detainer Information, Bonds, Physical description, Related cases, etc.
Page No : 1
OOPS, sorry Diane, you beat me to it!
After all of this on the news, I was a little scared at the gas station up the street from me. And just because a couple of guys were being friendly- but I was a bit suspicious because the guys were so friendly...it is a shame it has come to this. Unfortunately we have to be aware and alert to our surroundings. I know I have had men seem really "scary" and try to intimidate me...years ago when I was younger. But you just do not ever know. I ama super friendly person and do not meet a stranger. I do tend to talk to everyone and have run into some weirdo's but I will be more guarded now- it seems that you are hearing this more and more!
thefirstdiane & SuziQ-
Thanks !
This WSB article indicates that the blood found was fresh, from a source. If this is true she could be injured somewhere. Has anyone thought to check cabins up in the mountains? Lots of them could be vacant this time of year.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149872...205/
detail.html
CAROLINE the arson rap first appears on this page in a comment by Steve H as above. SuzieQ then asserts this is true. Using "find", howerver, I saw no further elaboration on the charges but something about early 1970s in Florida??? Could be very wrong. SUZIEQ: please post link to the arson rap. Thanks.
EVERYONE OF US is at risk to a Blitz-attack if attacker is using a weapon, no matter how much smaller the attacker is. Our first reaction if so blind-sided would be "Huh?" & by then the 2nd, 3rd & 4th blows would be delivered. Reference was made above to the young Missouri woman who was putting packages into the back seat of her car when blundgeoned and pushed into the car. This was in a large mall parking lot and just early twilight.
If Meredith was alive by Friday, he wouldn't have taken the dog Ella to let her out. He didn't realize there was a microchip embedded in her neck. And to Dave, yes, he's done this before, & perhaps before last October too.
Diane, I had read or heard on the local news here in Ga. that whoever he made that call to at the gas station, called the police and let them know the number showed up on their caller ID. I can not remember the source I got that from though.
And there are 21 charges for solicition aren't there? How is that possible? And their are several victim impact statements, though non viewable. Isn't that all unusual? Hilton plead guilty under an agreement, so the original charges were probably worse and pled down, IMO.
Robert, he was busted for buying stolen property in 1972. Dade County. He lived in Miami during that time period. 90 143rd St.
SuziQ, I found it unusual that a solicitation charge was a felony. I thought trying to pick up a hooker would have been a misdemeanor. So I suspect it was something more serious.
Robert, I really really wish I had a link that worked. They usually don't, and it's hundreds of characters long. It's under the Dekalb county site and explained by a poster above. It appears that he was arrested for many different crimes and wasn't brought to trial for some. That's the only reason I can see for the descrepancy. You know how DA's work.
BTW, good morning Robert! It is so good to see you here. Your comment on the Blitz-attack is so very true.
Speculation...Possibly he used the Canton bank location because he was familiar with that branch. He lived in Marietta at one time and his solicitation arrests are in Cobb County.
Brandy, after reading your comment I felt prompted to say don't be "scared" when you see someone intimidating. They pick up on that right away. Be intimidating back. I think it's ok to be suspicious and guarded, but don't show fear.
His mugshot shows eyes with no soul.
Caroline, good find on the Miami connection. I hope you don't mind. But I added it to my list. Let us know if you find anything else.
Brandy, I have to agree with you regarding Emerson's location. Why put her in the van if he did what he did at the trailhead area.
Anyone know where he lived in Cobb County? I lived in M'tta 10years and just moved to WNC, near the Bryant's abduction site- they lived in Hendersonville where I live. I have a stinking suspicion that these might be related.
1995 arrest:
HILTON, GARY MICHAEL
01746 RUSTIC DR
MARIETTA, GA
Thanks Diane! Yikes- I'll have to google as I'm not sure I know where it is- I lived off the square, but I swear he looks familiar to me.
Just thinking with the solicitation charges, maybe he was not trying to solicit prositutes, but just regular people, middle aged women, young, women,teens and even a young boy or two? That certainly would have an impact on a regular person so to speak..enough they might go to the police possibly..and then these people were able to ID him ? Then many may have wanted to write an impact statement on how that had made them feel.
JMHO
Regarding the Miami felony theft charges. Notice the entries from November 2007. What do they mean?
00006 11/09/2007 ORDER QUASHING WARRANTS AND CAPIASES
00005 11/09/2007 CLOSING JUDGE BLAKE, STANFORD
Taximom,
Thanks! I actually just feel fear deep down. I laughed with the guys, joked around told them to have a good night, looked around at my surroundings and quickly got into my car and locked it. My mom always told me to pay attention to my surroundings. If someoene is watching me to make eye contact- to let them know that I am aware they are there. I always try to park under street lights at night. Mom always said to not be fumbling in my purse or to be talking on my cell phone when exiting or entering my vehicle. I also do not sit in my parked vehicle looking through my purse or sitting on the phone- just leaves opportunity open for those looking for one. I also try to look like I am on a mission if I am headed into a store at night- paticularly if I am by myself. I have my head up and walk quickly- but try to appear confident and sure of myself. I try to maintain that posture when I am out. Although, not always able to be completly aware of surroundings when I have my two small children with me- they keep me occupied!
The Miami felony theft charges were THROWN OUT by the judge, it looks, re using phrase "quashing" -- me not being a lawyer so not precisely sure, just having had to spend time with them re civil stuff. However, if you have WESTLAW or Lexus-Nexus on your library computers, Florida procedures can be checked.
Whatever this guy's issues were in the early 1970s, aged 23-26, since at least the mid-1980s its been a down hill slide into the wrong mind set.
Note on the ARSON charge: that might have been QUASHED too as there is no follow-up, i.e. plea or trial. [Is that correct re the record, SuzieQ?] If so, NOT applicable to the psychopath precursors list as by then he's just turning 40. Fire-starting is something to watch for between 5 to 15 years of age. Also, he's clearly an animal lover. His anti-social behavior has been building since the mid-1980s then to where his (1) need for money to survive, and (2) his rage at his lost life/persecution (pick a word) have mixed to the point that people are now mostly "donors" of credit cards. "Its due me" + Paranoia. Perhaps he could have gamed the system for disability benefits but to do so he'd have to less paranoid. He's developed into a sociopath.
Thank you Robert, Interesting that theft charges from 1972 were quashed in 2007. Were the charges/warrants open and not dealt with all of those years? Their time for prosecution expired? Seems like this guy slid by the system...quite often.
It's nice to chat about all this like nice folks, but let me add something since I've followed this case now for 3 days:
1. As of this Sunday morning I read Hilton still not cooperating and wants a lawyer.
2. No innocent person would not cooperate. All evidence points to him.
3. In the unlikely event that she is still alive, what the f*** are they waiting for?
4. They should kick this guy's a** along the freeway until he leads them to her. I don't give one crap about his rights.
5. We are killing ourselves with PC and "legal" crap. This case is not traffic violation, or even a bank robbery, or even a crime of passion.
6. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS A**HOLE TO WASTE ANY TIME!
(snip)
Keenan said the evidence gathered from Hilton's minivan has already led investigators to search some locations where they thought they might find her.
Having eliminated those, Keenan said her body could be anywhere, from Union and Lumpkin Counties, across to Cherokee County, over to Forsyth County and down to DeKalb County, and all points in between.
http://www.wxia.com/news/article...?
storyid=109105
The GBI has determined that the blood on the clothes found is human blood. More tests will show whose it is.
This is so horrible.
Well, I learned something new, quashing.
I thought that Dade County 2007 entry might have been some kind of internal file housekeeping lingo. I also attributed a lack of info on some of the Dekalb charges to the age of case and plea deals.
I hope for the best but at this time don't see a good outcome at all. Though I do think she was attacked somewhere near her car, I haven't heard that any blood evidence was found at that spot. Could he have stunned her with a blow to the head with baton and then put her in his van. I also believe once she was put in his van, he didn't go very far to get rid of her. So to me the search should be centered around the area just outside the park grounds. Hopefully she is still alive as The Good Lord works miracles every day.
They should tell him they have his dog and to save Dandy's life, he must tell them where Meredith is.
Do you think that there could be a connection between the Bryants' case and Meredith's as GMH was seen trying to use her credit card?
I am also wondering if between Dandy and Ella they can help LE find where Meredith is at..
Does anyone know if Websleuths is down? I can't get into the forums (error loading page)
Though I live far away from this tragedy, I still feel so much pain for Meredith, her family, and friends. It's unfair that some "low-life" has the ability to change so many lives in just a matter of moments. I pray that she will be found so that everyone involved in this misfortunate event, especially family and friends, can find closure.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149872...205/
detail.html
New updates and a connection with Patrice Endres' murder.
Does this mean that the lady who was charged with filing a false report in the Endres case really did see a white van outside her salon?
There have been a few cases of serial killers that have no history of abusing or hurting animals; yet they are still sociopaths.
My prayers for Meredith's family.. i really think between Dandy and Ella they could help LE find the body..
Things not looking to good. Pray that if he is the one reponsible, that he will confess. Pray too for peace or her family and friends.
He used her card twice on Tuesday and LE just looked at the video tape on Saturday???
I thought a convicted serial killer confessed to the Patrice Endres murder.
Seems maybe Ella could lead the police to Meredith.
Joe and Kate,
Hell yeah, that's what I'm saying. Waterboard him, hogtie him, beat him to a pulp. The dog threat is a nice touch, too.
According to Crime Library, the serial killer that confessed to Endres' murder is only a suspect.
Tess- I do think there might be a connection between the 2- I know authorities here in WNC are saying they are looking into it, but they don't seem to be saying much more than that. The Bryant's son thinks more than 1 person was involved, but I don't know why, other than he doesn't think one person could have abducted them both. I still think (by just a gut intuition) that Hilton could be involved.
Webslueths is still down- I got on last nite uber-late for @ 5 minutes and it went down again- I hate that cause even tho I have never posted there (or here, for that matter) it is my fave reading forum!
I truly feel for all of this poor girl's family and friends and the agony they must be going through right now. I will certainly hold out my hopes that Meredith will be found alive and keep her in my prayers.
It may not look good right now, but miracles do happen.....
I usually try to keep up with these crimes as they are being updated and offer any type of insight that I may have, but truthfully, I had to recharge my batteries for a week. All of this death and destruction gets to be a bit much....
I'm truly tired of having to hear about these incredible young people falling prey to psychopathic/sociopathic degenerates with no future. Lately it makes me more angry than it does sad.
The Bryant's son thought his dad was too big and strong to be overpowered. Irene Bryant was not abducted; John Bryant was. If you look at photos of the couple, he was a big guy.
The dogs were let loose & went up Blood Mt. Meredith & Hilton followed.
Hikers were on hyper-alert probably because of the Bryants. They not only noticed everything about him, one of the hikers took down the license plate number on his van.
"Hilton made a phone call from a pay phone at the same convenience store Friday, the warrant also alleges."
Link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/0.../missing.hiker/
Was it ever determined who he was calling and do you think it likely he had an accomplice that could possibly link him to the Bryants' case also?
Galvino, thank you for letting me know WS is still down, hopefully it is up and running again soon.
I'll speculate that this f*** has been getting chances to take naps and have a few nice hot meals while he is "questioned". They should let her dad question him with a baseball bat; no hits above the neck though. For the love of christ, they should have this guy talking. He's healthy and sane enough to live in the woods, work, speak to people, and keep a dog.
Trust me I am sure they are questioning him with every legal method they can but see there is part of the problem IMO these people are put under a protective shield these days and the investigators can not do what needs to be done with these animals.
Exactly. How can they know she is dead? It's HIS responsibility to the world to lead them to her now. If he won't, make him die trying because he is ACTUALLY committing the murder while we all watch. Real time, right now.
I'm not just ranting here. It is literally unknown if she is dead, however likely. Therefore, the case should be treated as if she needs to be rescued. He knows where they were. He leads, or they make pain until he does or he dies. It is simple. It really is.
A truth serum drug could work. Only ask the question where is she and nothing else to violate his "rights" but at least her family would have some peace of mind. The military uses all kinds of methods why not GBI...AND who would have to know, just say a tip/source gave them the info. They have so much evidence they can convict without a body just give her family some peace.
I'm able to get into Websleuths now.
I totally agree with you Joe. If this guy is uncooperative (and they have said that he is) then those trying to find Meredith should be allowed to use unconventional methods to try forcing this guy to talk. She needs to be found!
Law enforcement officials announced Sunday they have expanded the search for Meredith Emerson to a five-county area extending from metro Atlanta to the North Georgia mountains.
Also on Sunday, officials for the first time acknowledged there could be a connection between the Emerson case and the disappearance and presumed slayings last October of John and Irene Bryant, an elderly couple from North Carolina.
-snip-
When he was first arrested, Hilton reportedly refused to cooperate with investigators. Authorities would not say Sunday whether he was still uncooperative.
-snip-
Union County Sheriff's Investigator Kimberly Verdone said the search in North Georgia will continue, but if there are no new developments by close of business Wednesday, the Blairsville command center would be closed and investigators would reassess what to do next.
http://tinyurl.com/37gfpy
I just read the search will now be scaled back?!?!?!?
The article said the search would be scaled back since it is considered a recovery and not a rescue.
Only law enforcement and professionals will join in the search according to the article.
Could it be possible that he slipped
her a daterape type drug before or
after he possible hit her?
We all want the best outcome for this
precious young woman, and the ability
for her family and friends to deal with this situation. None of us will ever forget Meredith and Ella.
from Denver station coverage- includes info on Meredith Emerson's visit home (CO) for Christmas:
http://tinyurl.com/335ted
http://mfile.akamai.com/12930/
wm...989702.200k.asx
fyi- this is another forum with a discussion on this case:
http://tinyurl.com/2prspo
Did anyone see that in addition to Meredith and the NC couple, the GBI is looking at Douchebag Hilton for the disappearence of a hair stylist who worked right next to the Quiktrip where police arrested him. This happened in Cumming, GA 8 months ago.
This man also had a white dog. There has been no mention of finding his dog and this may be the missing link in finding Meredith.
Tara, Don't mean to wig you out. I am a bit strained myself at my conclusions. I did some remote viewing the first day I heard of her disappearance. (I have been an intuitive and a websleuth fan for years).....During my session I drew a picture of a line going up on the paper had no idea at the time what this meant. I then drew with a line going over to GA hiway 180 near Suches. I had no idea what a Blood Mt. map looked like...So I started searching google for maps on Blood Mt. Here is the map I found http://www.sherpaguides.com/
geor...d_mountain.html To my amazement this map almost exactly fits my self drawn map. The difference is my X is on the diagonal across from the X on the map to the point where it says 180.
I also have learned since that Hilton had a cabin in Wolf Creek and to my amazement while searching for info on wolf creek I found this website..
http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaunion...on/
hilphoto.htm which is talking about a Reverend that was killed in Wolf Creek in the 1800's.
Scroll down to the picture that says SUCHES and read under the picture. " To the right of the Suches directional sign, about 150 feet down into a small ravine, lies Wolf Creek and the actual site of the murder of Reverend John H. Lance. To the left of the sign and about a mile up the mountain is Lance Cove, the site of the original Lance homeplace. This is at the intersection of Highway 180 West and Highway 129. These two roads did not exist at that time (1890)."
My feeling from the beginning was he took Meredith to Ga 180 near Suches
…maybe he knew about the past and the horrible blood shed that took place on this mountain and knew about the Reverend and felt that was the place to put her.
There are no coincidences
…everything happens for a reason…I am getting these messages for some reason…Soon we will all know what happened to Meredith…God bless her….and her family.
Tara, Don't mean to wig you out. I am a bit strained myself at my conclusions. I did some remote viewing the first day I heard of her disappearance. (I have been an intuitive and a websleuth fan for years).....During my session I drew a picture of a line going up on the paper had no idea at the time what this meant. I then drew with a line going over to GA hiway 180 near Suches.. I had no idea what Blood MT. map looked like...So I started searching google for maps on Blood Mt. Here is the map I found http://www.sherpaguides.com/
geor...d_mountain.html To my amazement this map almost exactly fits my self drawn map. The difference is my X is on the diagonal across from the X on the map to the point where it says 180.
I also have learned since that Hilton had a cabin in Wolf Creek and to my amazement while searching for info on wolf creek I found this website..
http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaunion...on/
hilphoto.htm which is talking about a Reverend that was killed in Wolf Creek in the 1800's.
Scroll down to the picture that says SUCHES and read under the picture. " To the right of the Suches directional sign, about 150 feet down into a small ravine, lies Wolf Creek and the actual site of the murder of Reverend John H. Lance. To the left of the sign and about a mile up the mountain is Lance Cove, the site of the original Lance homeplace. This is at the intersection of Highway 180 West and Highway 129. These two roads did not exist at that time (1890).
My feeling from the beginning was he took Meredith to Ga 180 near Suches
…maybe he knew about the past and the horrible blood shed that took place on this mountain and knew about the Reverend and felt that was the place to put her.
There are no coincidences everything happens for a reason. I am getting these messages for some reason
…Soon we will all know what happened to Meredith…God bless her….and her family.
geewriter, I've read several references to the cabin in Wolf Creek. But no one has posted a link or stated their source. I am very interested in this info. Can you provide a link or source? Thanks!
In one of the articles it does stat that they have Hilton's dog.
Also they are looking into the case of the haristylist that was murdered as a link.
"Plus they are investigating possible links between Hilton and the kidnapping and murder of Patrice Endres."
link http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149872...205/
detail.html
One of the articles did say they have Hilton's dog.
Another says they are looking at other murders in connection with him.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149872...205/
detail.html
WSB-TV Channel 2 that his investigators are looking into possible links between the Patrice Endres murder and the Emerson case.
Endres was abducted in April, 2005 from her hair salon, which Paxton said is close to where Emerson's wallet was found.
Police found Endres' body eight months later in a church yard.
On Sunday Paxton had detectives and deputies checking every church yard in Forsyth County; in case there is a link and Hilton disposed of Emerson in the same fashion.
Police are also looking into similarities in the case of a missing North Carolina couple. John and Irene Bryant disappeared in October while hiking in the mountains in the Pisgah National Forest
Does anyone think Meredith's dog could help find her if it were let out near a familiar area? I just wonder how the dog would react if she were let out at the trail near Meredith's car?
Maybe the dog could help but i do not think she is still in the area of the trail with all the other evidence being found close to the Atlanta area.
I think that it's a nice thought that Ella could find Meredith, but she hasn't been trained to track. No offense to anyone out there with this theory, but I just don't think it would work. I could be wrong, though
In reference to how they may have determined to switch this to a recovery effort - I will speak generally so as not to upset her friends or family - but in a case where blood is found, forensics CAN decide if the amount of blood found was enough to indicate that life could NOT be sustained in relation to the size and weight of the possible victim. That's why - among other reasons, this was sadly switched to a recovery.
My dogs aren't trained to track either. Interestingly though, I have a very large yard and my friends buried me in leaves last fall. They made no mention to my dogs that I was outside and let them out. Surprisingly, my most enthusiastic little nose hound followed my scent, nose to the ground and was only out for a couple of minutes before she literally was on top of me digging me out of the leaves. Hey - us dog owners do goofy things.
Do you think Hilton may have traveled the back way to Canton? I was looking at the map and if he was living in his car I think he would have drove through BlueRidge, Ellijay, and Jasper to get to Canton, then went to Cumming. It just seems like someone would have spotted his van earlier he went through strait to cumming.
Hey guys! I have been suffering since WebSleuths's went down, and now I have found my way back here.... my real true home anyway!! Steve, you are the absolute best man!!! I just have to give kudo's out to LE for the work thus far in this case. It would appear we have an acceptable murder from a total stranger, and we already have his name, and he is incarcerated. Why can't that happen with more "connected" cases like the Tori and Dean case? Justice is my goal for the New Year!!!
I am sure the authorities have other information that they are not releasing to the public because some things have to remain close to the vest in order for them to build and make their case against this idiot.
All the details will come out in time and my only hope is that he pays for this ten times over...
I was looking at a map and to me It seems like Hilton would have traveled the back way to Canton, traveling though Bluie Ridge, Ellijay, and Jasper then through Canton to the Cumming area. It just seems like if he was living in his van, he would have been found sooner if he traveled strait to Cumming. And if he spent alot of time driving he would have had to buy gas so I think he could have a lot of time parked going the back way and nobody notice his van.
SUZIEQ
...the wolf creek cabin reference was on the -whiteblaze hiking forum- that steve referred us to - they were helping with the food for the searchers and apparently they were talking about his cabin in wolf creek and figured if they all knew about it surely the police did - so I posted it here - thats all I know - all those posters are hikers in that whole area -
Not to sound insensitive or anything but, the mob mentality here is quite prevelant. I know we all want this scum-bag to rot in hell, but to say he should be tortured without him being even convicted in anything else then in our public opinion is quite distraughting.
so, should law enforcment, just because they dont beleive your story, be allowed to break your damn bones or worse just 'cause? *shakes head*
I hope Hilton will rott in hell, if he is the culprit of this cowardly crime. However, I wish more that Meredith by some miracle is found alive.
Peace.
Are there cabins or areas of shelter at Neels Gap (walasi-yi)?
It would seem to me that she may still be in this area. I am praying for Meredith, her family and friends that she is found safe, today we may get the answers we have been seeking.
Acutally, while a "mob mentality" might seem quite prevelent, the fact remains that vigilante killings or crime are pretty much unheard of. Unfortunately we have let our political correctness bring us to a place where untold thousands are made to suffer because we go to absurd extremes to protect murderers. I know of a pastor and his wife who never got to bury their little girl, Sarah Ann Wood, but the guy who knows where her little body is has been sitting in prison FOR 14 YEARS being pampered and cared for. Dru Sjodin's murderer lives the life of Reilly while sitting quietly in his prison cell. He has the RIGHT not to talk, but her family has no RIGHT to collect their daughters body for a proper burial. No my friend, this is not "mob mentaltiy", this is common sense and a sense of wanting justice for unspeakable crimes. One has to feel it to understand. Honestly, this country could do with a little more mob mentality. Would innocent people suffer with mob mentality - or are countless thousands already suffering now? The fact is our laws are broken to the point of being impotent. Sorry to harp on the subject, I will stay on focus on Meredith in the future. The system will continue to protect Hilton, feeding him and treating him delicately, while searchers look willy nilly here and there with no clue as to where poor Meredith really is. And that - is not right.
JOe2-
I think that if you will take a second look at the previous posts, you will find that one poster in particular has suggested torturing the suspect to get info about Meridith. The rest of the posters' comments are comparitively tame.
Steve is pretty particular about what he allows on his blog comments, and it is my opinion that most of the regular posters civil and well-spoken.
I can understand how, if one were to read all of the above posts without realizing that the posts suggesting torture are written by the same person, it could give the impression of a mob mentality.
You'll notice that the usual response to that type of post is simply to ignore it. This does not mean we agree with the post. Bickering (not suggesting that you are) is counterproductive and can earn us a time out if it poses a problem.
For the record, I think people exaggerate when they feel strongly about a crime. A person might say that they advocate torture while realizing that it is not a reasonable option.
(TGIR)
Iread that when the dog was found, it did NOT appear as though it has been running lose in the woods for days. I assume that Hilton kept the dog with him in the car--correct? thus there would be lots of dog hair as additional evidence.
Here is an interesting link from a poster at WS. It gives local insight into Hilton's personality. If the info is true that is. IMO, he is one mean SOB. Another possible case is mentioned.
Link to local board comments:
http://tinyurl.com/27k92r
(snips from the above link)
He screamed for us to call our dog off and began swinging this huge baton type stick at our dog. As we approached closer, it became immediate clear something was amiss about this man. He had white foam coming from the sides of his mouth and continued ranting that our dog "did not mind" and that he would hurt him.
***
He demeanor is rather gruff and if you are walking with a dog, he seems to have had issues with several of my neighbors and their animals
***
Yep, thats him. Used to see him jog at night with his dog, and he always had a stick, cane, staff or something like that in his hand. Creepy
***(MUCH MORE AT THE LINK)
******
Here is a link to the other case discussed at the above site. Check out the composite sketches!:
http://tinyurl.com/2c6393
(snip)
Eleven-year-old Levi Frady was last seen on Wednesday, October 22, 1997, on Little Mill Road in Forsyth County. His body was found the next day in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in Dawson County. Little Mill Road is a well-traveled road between Highway 306 and 369. The Dawson County Sheriff's Office, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and the GBI Regional Office in Gainesville are investigating the murder
concernedperson | 01.06.08 - 2:56 pm |
This post mentions that the blood is very fresh on the shirts. Maybe she is still alive.
I would not give up hope.
My prayers are with her.
This comment is snipped from the local board as well.
What happened to the story about how the crazy man who lived next door would run out and attack peoples cars who happened to drive down the driveway shared between the two businesses? Now all of a sudden she claims she never felt any reason to be on guard? Tell us the truth Barbara S.,
http://tinyurl.com/27k92r
I so agree with those that think Ella could prove useful in finding Meredith.
True, she hasn't been trained to track, but the instinct to rejoin the pack( Meredith) would be overpowering with just a few molecules of scent being enough. If those were her clothes in the dumpster, it would explain why Ella stayed right around the immediate area instead of wandering the neighborhood. And I don't think GMH was a caring animal lover to let Ella loose in a high traffic area to get hit! Just opportunistic and desperate.
http://www.11alive.com/news/arti...?
storyid=109157
Her father gave a statement this morning. He is still hoping to find her alive. I sure hope he is correct. If I was out there , I'd be helping in the search.
Thank you all who are doing so.
This is a peice written by the woman at the store who found Ella.
http://tinyurl.com/2vbzkh
I usually just stand on the sidelines to read, but something is bothering me that I had to ask...first, I hope to GOD, that people who love Meredith do not read these boards, I personally couldn't take it. That said, I am cringing at what I am about to write for fear that a loved one might read it, so I'll try to be delicate. I am so sorry. Please for your good, do not read these message boards filled with questions and speculations (including mine). I am only hoping to drum up analysis so we can bring this wonderful human being home.
Here is what's bothering me....why would there be shirts in the dumpster? If there was blood on them, it is likely this beautiful girl had them on IF/when she was hurt. Why dispose of them separately? Why not leave them on her person IF/when disposing of it? I have been envisioning what would have happened and I believe she got knocked out by surprise right beside his van. he is an old man..not in age, but in appearance. Not a lot of strength or opportunity to pull her to his van. Thus, this happened right at his van. Ella got in the van too. He needed her to tell him her pin for the ATM. Drove to the 2 ATM's and stayed in the vicinity for Tue, Wed, Thurs and Fri. probably camping in his van and maybe at another park along Lake Lanier (I live out west and have no idea the geography, just what I've gleaned from looking at the maps posted). He likely inflicted last harm earlier Friday/Thurs night again IN THE VICINTY and that's why he was cleaning on Fri. and let dog go then too. "Crime" was over in his mind and let dog go and cleaned. Getting back to shirts in dumpster....why dump those, why not leave on her? Also, if she did pass, he is not stong enough nor opportunity enough to bring her somewhere. He likely disposed right out the van off a remote road/ravine. No carrying. Just my 2 cents...I am shaking now from how eerie this is and pure unfettered horror/sadness. I am so so so sorry for her family. May she be at peace or safe somewhere.
I am so saddened by this situation, and I hope for the best for Meredith, her friends, and her family.
The stained shirts have me puzzled, too. Especially the fact that they were not torn or punctured anywhere, just stained. I hope I'm not crossing any lines, and I hate to say this, but that leads me to believe that she wasn't wearing the shirts when she, (if it's her blood),was hurt...
It would seem that he may have used the shirts to clean the blood from his van and, I presume, clean an additional location. I'm sorry, it is difficult to be delicate when addressing this. I'm wondering how he came to possess 3 fleece shirts. They are very thick and can get overly warm on hikes,so it doesn't seem that she would wear 3 at once. I think he had access to her car.
I never hike with a wallet-I leave in car trunk or at home and just bring a couple bucks for gas that I hide out of sight. I do carry my keys. Where were hers? All serious hikers I know do the same.
Do we know for sure that all 3 shirts are fleeces? She could have been dressed in layers. It was cold, and many layer tops are thin.
GMH just made his first court appearance. Here's the update from Channel 2 Action News.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149952...289/
detail.html
I just wanted to reiterate, for those who may have missed it, why I asked for commentators to be especially considerate when discussing this -- this is a very rare instance where I know for a fact that a regular reader of this blog was close to the victim of the crime and where I also will run into people who knew Meredith at church. Mind you, I do go to a fairly large church (by no means one of those mega-churches you hear about -- it's Presbyterian, after all, and "Presbyterian mega-church" sounds like an oxymoron, to me), but Meredith was well-known enough to some at my church that the minister mentioned her disappearance in announcements prior to all 3 services.
I'm not doing a lot of in-depth writing or blogging as to what may or may not have happened to Meredith because of this. In the end, I own this blog and this address, and it is my own thing, so that's a choice I can make.
I'm not trying to dictate precisely what anyone says. I just ask that you treat your commentary here as if you were making it in person, in front of Meredith's best friend or her closest co-worker. If you can't put yourself in that mindset, please, don't comment on this entry.
Steve,
I am so sorry. I was afraid of this and why I hesitated for so long b/f writing. Now I feel absolutely awful. I wouldn't want anyone's family to go thru this. Done posting now and probably forever. I am so sorry. I hope and pray they find Meredith for she certainly was a wonderful person. Anyone's special sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece and mommy to Ella. May Ella bring some if any comfort to those who loved Meredith.
@bluebirdskidays -- you really shouldn't feel that way. There was nothing wrong with your comment. Feel free to stick around, and please know that I was in no way directing what I just wrote to you, but to anyone who might want to leave a post. Like I said, I just wanted to reiterate for people who may have missed it when I explained earlier on.
I apologize if anything I've said has hurt or offended anyone in any way.
AJC: http://tinyurl.com/2qf3qr
-snip-
"Following the hearing, Gunter said that based on Hilton's and Smith's limited responses, he expects Smith to enter an insanity plea for Hilton."
-snip-
"Though Hilton did not comment during the hearing, he could be heard before he entered the courtroom saying "they got me three blankets and they're taking good care of me."
(snip)
Athens on the afternoon of Dec. 29, according to Athens-Clarke County police.
Bywater did not show up for work later that evening, and her dog was seen unattended and running loose in the park on Gran Ellen Drive in Athens the next day, police said. No family members or friends have reported any contact with Bywater since Dec. 29.
"Presently, we have not made any connection in our case with that of the Meredith Emerson case in Union County," Athens-Clarke County police Lt. Greg Paul said Monday morning.
However, Paul said an Athens-Clarke County detective "will be speaking with the GBI today about any possible similarities in the incidents."
http://tinyurl.com/2lo6ex
There are places in Dawson County you could hide a body- ravines along roads and there is even a whole subdivision of new and vandalized houses.
Sorry if things we've said/speculated on here has hurt anyone closely related to Meredith. Obviously that is NOBODY'S intent. I think Steve's readers are, for the most part, well-read and sympathetic. We all feel awful.
I do disagree with those who said this guy used the "friendly old man" angle with Meredith. Sixty-one isn't old, nor does he LOOK like a friendly old Mr. Rogers. She's a head-smart, intelligent girl. If I saw this guy in a park, even if he had a cute dog, I wouldn't stop to chat for long. She may have tried to be polite to him (which is maybe why witnesses said they were "walking together"), but I'm sure she had her guard up - a smart 24 year old girl would. There are times when an attacker looks nothing like a threat (Ted Bundy comes to mind), but I definitely feel as though sometimes the boogeyman very well looks like the boogeyman (Duncan, Devlin, this guy, etc).
I feel so sad and upset over this. Like others have said, there IS a chance she is alive, albeit injured, or something. I want this guy to start talking. I can't remember the last time a suspect was held, without bond, and the kidnapped still missing.
In regards to Hilton having a cabin in Wolf Creek, would it be feasible to let his dog, Dandy, loose around that area? Dogs tend to have a natural "homing instinct" and i'm wondering if Dandy would head towards where Hilton's cabin is, if he has one.
Steve,
I realize that you have good personal reasons for not delving in to gory details of Meridith's possible demise, and I respect that.
Some of the other cases which have been speculated to be connected are vaguely familiar to me, and I have a question as to whether the victims seem to have been placed where they were found soon after they died or if they appeared to have been moved at a later date. I am thinking of the woman in the churchyard...why did she lay there undetected for 8 months? Mr. Bryant is still missing. The woman who went missing in Athens has yet to be found.
Would it be okay with Meridith's loved ones if you were to explore these other possible links a bit further? These other cases have me wondering if Hilton may have some secret place where he may hold someone alive for a period of time. Isn't this something that Meridith's loved ones could be hoping for?
I realize it is a long shot...but it seems to me that since Hilton knows that LE has so much evidence which connects him to this possible murder and his attorney has surely advised him to better his chances at avoiding a harsher sentence by leading police to a body, he would be cooperating more unless he has something further to hide. I think he gets a kick out of having a secret. What if his secret is that he has not killed her yet?
I don't want to raise false hopes. If she was my sister, I would not want to leave any possibility un-explored.
(TGIRecovered)
Susan,
That's a good point. I
s there a way LE could trace who he called at the payphone? I keep wondering who he was calling on it, since he doesn't appear to have any known friends. He wasn't calling a lawyer since a public defender was appointed to him..
If a criminal is running and he knows people are looking for him, and he may only get the chance to make one phone call before he is caught, and he has no known family that we know of, is it possible whoever he was calling, he was warning about his predicament and having them hide something that could further incriminate him (whether or not related to Meredith's case or something different)?
@Susan -- Exploring what else this guy may be connected to is a totally valid line of discussion. I, for one, think that for every crime this guy got arrested for, he committed another we don't know about. Not a master criminal, no -- a lucky one, one just savvy enough to know when to keep his mouth shut and move along, perhaps.
Who said torture? I said get his sorry a** out of the nice warm cell, splash the coffee in his face, shoo away the reporters and get on the road with him leading them to the body. While in the car they can do whatever they want to coerce him to talk, tazer him, threaten his dog, don't feed him.... Who cares? He obviously hasn't presented himself with any alibi that they think worth a grain of salt. He IS involved in this by EVERYONE'S (EXPERT'S and AMATEUR'S) RATIONAL analysis. It is a kidnap situation until proven otherwise.
I'll repeat:
It is a kidnap situation until proven otherwise.
I'll repeat:
It is a kidnap situation until proven otherwise.
OK; so they want him healthy enough to frame him with other murders. Fine, but this girl comes first now. Now.
For the love of christ, he should be FORCED to assist in the search.
Grow up. Joe. That's assault & battery, and the civil suit growing out it would be worth several millions, not to say those actions would taint ANY subsequent criminal trial(s) against Hilton.
For those reasons alone, doing anything remotely as you suggest is NOT a good thing. Very counter productive. Candy always works better than a cane, and with patience they'll get the crimes out of him with corroborating detail. Meredith is dead and the body will be found.
Then too the person who did those things you suggest would actually be "ajudicated" faster than Hilton will be. Why is easy, all those cameras around, to prove ACTIONS. No prosecutor needs motive, really with enough physical evidence such as film. Bingo. 30 days in county jail for 3rd A&B.
Finally, there's the Cook County problem, where the Chicago finest were notorious for beating truly false confessions out of people, including white people. They just lost a case, civil damges, over a false murder confession.
So just grow up Joe and try to act like a functioning citizen instead of a thoughtless Jack-Bauer wannabee. Ya gotta remember, Joe, that's just a TV show. In real life, all the CIA people directly involved with "interrogation" are lawyering up Big Time -- as should Bush & Cheney on Jan. 22.
If you have a problem with this Steve, you can pull it.
I certainly see where you're coming from , Joe. There should be a way they can make him talk, legally. NOW.
Grow up. Joe. That's assault & battery, and the civil suit growing out it would be worth several millions, not to say those actions would taint ANY subsequent criminal trial(s) against Hilton.
For those reasons alone, doing anything remotely as you suggest is NOT a good thing. Very counter productive. Candy always works better than a cane, and with patience they'll get the crimes out of him with corroborating detail. Meredith is dead and the body will be found.
Then too the person who did those things you suggest would actually be "ajudicated" faster than Hilton will be. Why is easy, all those cameras around, to prove ACTIONS. No prosecutor needs motive, really with enough physical evidence such as film. Bingo. 30 days in county jail for 3rd A&B.
Finally, there's the Cook County problem, where the Chicago finest were notorious for beating truly false confessions out of people, including white people. They just lost a case, civil damges, over a false murder confession.
So just grow up Joe and try to act like a functioning citizen instead of a thoughtless Jack-Bauer wannabee. Ya gotta remember, Joe, that's just a TV show. In real life, all the CIA people directly involved with "interrogation" are lawyering up Big Time -- as should Bush & Cheney on Jan. 22.
If you have a problem with this Steve, you can pull it.
The body of Buford hiker Meredith Emerson, missing since New Year's Day in the North Georgia mountains, has been found by authorities, her family's spokeswoman confirmed Monday night.
"We did find out just now, not that it was unexpected," Peggy Bailey said.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/
content..._0108_web2.html
WXIA's banner says there will be a press conference at ten.
Joe, I think you can rest assured that LE is as desperate as we are to find Meredith. Unless there is evidence that we do not know about yet, they have to have a glimmer of hope in their minds that she is being held somewhere also. I am confident that LE is not giving him backrubs and making him feel like he is in a 5-star resort. As much as I would personally like to break each finger, one joint at a time, I sort of think that this guy would martyr up under that kind of harsh treatment. I think a savvy cop can get him talking about his dog, and hiking, and the beauty you find in nature....and then get him talking about Meredith's dog, and then....maybe; he opens up. This guy is frustrating because he doesn't have a web presence. It is hard to know where he has been, or what he has done. I sure hope LE is working their azz off on that angle.
Oh, I didn't see that they had found the body until after I had posted. How sad. Now, we can start breaking his fingers one at a time. Bastard.
Sounds like they found her in Dawson County. WXIA-
"Dawson County officials along with the GBI have called a 10 p.m. news conference to announce that her body has been located."
Unfortunately we knew this would no doubt be the outcome. It is just so very sad to see such a wonderful young woman with her whole life ahead taken like this. My niece moved south (from the midwest) and now lives in the Buford, GA area. She is 26 years old, outgoing, determined with a promising career. It just shakes me to my core to think if she had taken her dogs hiking on New Years day we could be talking about her.
From over at the Whiteblaze webiste:
"Just got word from a friend who owns a cadaver dog involved in the search that the missing hiker's body has been found in the Dawson Forest. Not sure which part."
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/...ead.php?
t=31494
"So just grow up Joe and try to act like a functioning citizen instead of a thoughtless Jack-Bauer wannabee. Ya gotta remember, Joe, that's just a TV show. In real life,... "
Yea, Mr. Due Process, that's a TV show. Well, Mr. Law Books, this WAS real life. Hope the coroner says she wasn't possibly just wounded when he left her. I wouldn't want you to have to live with that thought. If it was my daughter, they would have had to keep me in cell.
And if I killed him, no jury would convict me; maybe only you.
Think what you want about me.
I'm wondering if anyone has seen a photo of G.M.H's dog, Dandy. Unaware of Meredith Emerson missing,I was at the Walasiyi on Wednesday 01-02-08. It was a particularly frigid and snowy day in Georgia. Upon stopping in the stores parking lot I was stunned to find the store and area barren..? To my knowledge, inclement weather was never a reason for the store to be closed. I had been hiking Neels Gap and Blood Mountain for 14 years..? I never remember the store being closed or the area unoccupied.
While with my father and 7 year old daughter, we climbed out of our car that was parked in the stores parking lot (The base of Blood Mountain and on the Appalachian Trail). Upon bewilderment towards the desolution of the area, we redirected our thoughts upon shopping at the store into making snow balls out of the untouched snow along the edge of the parking lot. The only thing that joined our snowball fight was a lonely golden retriever mix with (I think) a red collar. My thoughts were, "Where is anyone this dog may belong too?" My daughter played with the well mannored dog for a bit and then cold, we all piled back into the car and headed for a friends house in nearby Blairesville.
My point is that if this dog is "Dandy" then I can certainly place Dandy-and probably G.M.H at the base of Blood Mountain on 1-2-08 at 2:00pm..??
My prayers for her family and loved ones at this time..
Just terrible news. Just terrible. I was truely holding out hope that yes she was able to overcome this terrible, disgusting, unforgiveable assualt on her life.
I am so sorry if these latest reports are true.
The one solice in this could be that maybe her death has stopped many others from happening in the future.
my prayers.
Any idea how far it is from Blood Mtn to Dawson Forest?
Looks like it doesn't bother Hilton to transport a kidnap victim in his van a good distance.
From the Atlana Journal--they found her body.
http://tinyurl.com/2dh63q
Of course, we don't know where in the forest they found her body, but from a quick Mapquest of Blood Mountain to Dawson's Forest, it looks like about a 35 or 40 mile drive.
I read on some forum yesterday that Hilton had tried to use her card at an ATM in Gainesville before he tried the ATM in Canton. I think she was with him until he made certain the pin number was correct.
Same case with the elderly NC man and Ducktown TN.
Pinecone, I tend to agree with you. If that is the case, then his apparent plans to cop an insanity defense are a huge waste of time, and a freaking major sick joke. This guys was a calculating, cold-blooded killer. His driving around disposing of evidence, and trying to clean his vehicle with bleach blows an insanity defense out of the water IMHO.
If ya a praying person, please say a prayer for her family and friends that the Lord will bless them with peace and comfort.
Suspect Leads Officials To Missing Hiker's Body
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149983...360/
detail.html
WSBTV got the jump on the presser. Lots of info in the link I just posted.
...I was just coming here to post that - thank-you pinecone for posting the url - I'm not good at that - will be a press conf. at 10pm EST -
I feel so sorry for her family and friends - I know what it feels like to lose a daughter at that age -
pdx,
I am sorry that you lost your daughter when she was so young.
(TGIR)
Prayers for the Emerson family in this time of terrible grief.
11Alive.com and MyAtlTV plan to carry the news conference live.
Not sure where to find the streaming for either site.
I though this blog article was interesting - it was written from the perspective of a cashier that was working at the Kroger when Ella came walking in.
http://
www.associatedcontent.com...to_missing.html
This case is just tragic. My sympathies to all family and friends of Meredith.
(((pdx-77))) hugs to you!!! You are a regular here, and I consider you "family". I also consider you a hero. I work in health care, and I see parents loose children all too often. I think about the people who founded this great country, and they buried their children, wives, husbands, etc. all along the way as they made their way west. They had a strength and courage that most people do not have in our society today.....except for some of the posters I have grown to know here at Steve's site and over at WebSleuths. Amazingly good people, who hate the amazing presence of evil. God bless you.
Anyone else getting the idea that this guy is quite possibly a cold-blooded psycho who has managed to run under the radar for decades?
Don't tell me it isn't possible. Remember Albert Fish, a far more monstrous and probably truly insane killer who wasn't popped for murder until he was 65.
Something about this case makes me think of Fish. Perhaps it's the man's age and the idea that some might think him harmless as a result. Fish had that going for him, too. Otherwise, probably very different circumstances, but I had to say it.
I wonder if police are looking into unsolveds going back to South Florida in the '70s.
Hilton described the area and led them to it at 7:30. They had been searching that area earlier today due to tips from citizens. It's an active crime scene and her body will be taken to the GBI lab.
Refused to answer most of the questions.
That's all, Greta went on to another subject.
No freaking way is this guy going to cop insanity. Drug-induced maybe, but not insane. This creep is someone who we may be speaking of for a long time; about many other cases.
In my personal belief, we will see Meredith again on the other side. That's when we get all those questions answered, like why bad things happen to good people. I prayed fervently for the safe return of both Meredith and Ella. I believe Meredith is with the Lord, and Ella has a cherished family to look after her. (I guess the GBI does know how to get things done. Kudos to them.)
God Bless,
Keats
The Union Cty Sheriff said they believe he travels around to REMOTE counties. Which is somewhat suspect.
Thousands of tips poured in placing him all over the map. Trucking around in his vans. He sorta reminds me of Couey except he's got wheels.
There is a LOT about this guy that reminds me of Couey, and I can't say why!!! His physical appearance is one thing, but there is something more.... He is disgusting, like Couey - that is for sure.
The exact opposite of what he is about, is what Meredith is about. She was an amazing young woman. One that I would have been proud to call a friend. Here is a link to some great photo's of her, her dog, and her friends.....to her life.
http://www.wsbtv.com/slideshow/1....lide=0&
taf=atl
I'm so sorry that this has happened to anyone. The area of Neels Gap and Blood Mountain being my stomping grounds and backyard (Helen, GA.), this is very haunting.
As for anyone-anywhere.
LMS, I grew up in the upstate of South Carolina, but my father was born in Toccoa, Georiga. I know Helen because I could go there for the day to visit. The only time I ever got to play hookey from school was to go with my father to the horse sale in Toccoa! I was born an Apalachian American, and I am proud of my heritage.....even if it does involve moonshine and trailers. Most of my family are strong, down-to-earth HONEST people who would join me in tearing GMH limb from limb.
Reannan- you know the area. When i hiked the A.T. Trail I carried an exposed gun on my knee and my daughter on my back. Other hikers were offended. They may no longer be offended since this haunting and terrible happening.
I mean that I carried a gun b/c I am a woman carrying my child on my back. No fast escape with child on my back- a woman alone in the woods.
Are there any pictures of G.M.H's dog "Dandy" out there? If it matters at this point..?
LMS - YOU and I would probably be GOOD friends. About 6 months ago, I went to bed late - 1:00 am - I decided my family needed to go thru a home invasion drill. I woke my husband up. I told him that we were doing a drill. We had just heard an intruder in the home - what would we do? Of course, all of the lights were off. I thought all of the kids were asleep! We retrieved our guns. I carry a 9mm, my husband has a 38. We decided to go thru my youngest child's room, get her, and move to the oldest child's room for staging a "safe room" where we would call LE, and wait for backup. We traipsed thru the youngest child's room and pretended to pick her up to carry her onwards. We went thru the shared bathroom to the oldest child's room, who I thought was asleep. She was on the phone with her boyfriend - at 1:00 am as we came thru the door with weapons drawn!!!! You can imagine her surprise at this hour when Mom and Dad enter the room with weapons drawn. She told the boyfriend...."Ah.....I have to call you back!". The real thing happened last week. My security alarm went off at 5:30 am. We have had a lot of burglaries in our area, so I wasn't really surprised. I grabbed the 9mm, my husband got his 38, and we went into action. My oldest daughter called 911 while my husband and I "guarded" the front and back stairs. It ended up being the heavy wind which passed through our area had blown a rocking chair on my front porch into the window and the security alarm was tripped. A good drill, however. I highly suggest everyone have a plan for being attacked - in your home - or from your car. Be aware and be prepared.
LMS, ther are pix of Dandy- Beautiful Dog. Looks alot like my Setter mix. So sad.
"The Union Cty Sheriff said they believe he travels around to REMOTE counties. Which is somewhat suspect."
Wonder if he's ever been as far south as Ocilla, GA, where Tara Grinstead disappeared?
National parks down there, too.
Good connection Steve!!! I can't believe I had not already thought about Tara!!!
Steve, glad you're familiar with the area.
OH........NO........this is just beyond words... when are these guys going to start getting each other.. I have a 17 year old who is a senior and wants to go on spring break, I trust her but it's the rest of the danger that is out there I can't bring myself to let her go. I've turn this over to GOD and looking for an answer. Sorry I know this isn't about me or my stuff... Prayers to all of meredith's family and friends. I just had so much hope for her. When they found her dog. What is next? My buckeyes are really doing sh**ty.
Thought I remembered a campground in the Ocilla area.
Steve-
I think there are going to be MANY places LE will check- Gosh, I would love for Meredith's death to lead us to answers in other high profile cases.
Unless he has decompensated so rapidly with Meredith's case, I would think he would have left more clues behind in other murders because this seems so sloppy, but... We can only hope!
I have loved your website(s) for several years- this 'case' is my first time posting. I lived in Atl, then moved here to WNC near the Bryant's home 5 yrs ago, adopted my 1st dog 3 mos ago (11 yr old stray)and take him hiking alone in Pisgah Nat'l, which makes this hit close to home.
Every sunset I see from a trail, every impatient nuzzle in the palm of my hand from Barley will remind me of Meredith & Ella- and the joy of a girl and her dog.
As corny as it sounds, Meredith Emerson's life and death will stay with me for a long time. I'd rather Meredith and Ella's memory be with me than the crapster Hilton's legacy of fear and depravity.
Thanks for your blog and incredible writing. I know this has been difficult and I wish you good health and happiness.
What about Levi Frady found there in 1997.
See the link below and the "sketch" in the article.
http://www.ganet.org/gbi/homicid...ides/
frady.html
Galvino. Where might the pics of G.M.H's dog "Dandy" be?
"What about Levi Frady found there in 1997."
I think the first sketch looks like Hilton might have at the time. A little meatier than now. It also says he walked hunched over, which is what I noted about his photo at the police station, where the kid seemed to be laughing at him.
I am relieved Meredith's body was found.
Hilton may have operated under the radar but it seems many of his neighbors knew him and his van and were quick to phone 911. The citizens of Georgia were awesome.
I once read that a criminal did time for 1 out of 8 crimes.
Hilton's dog Dandy is at the county animal shelter and was described as being reddish.
A PIN is not required for cash withdrawals on a credit card, is it? I thought a PIN is just for debit cards.
RIP Meredith. My prayers for your family, friends and coworkers.
LMS- I think I saw them on webslueths, which has been down for days. He is sooo pretty, and I hate that this bastard had him. You know that this idjet is loved by his dog... bless the animals b/c they can not discern between good and bad unless they are abused. Even then, they are loyal to a fault...
http://nganews.com/arrest.htm
Photo of Hilton hunched over at booking.
I just got home and saw the news. I can't bring myself to be PC at this time. I say torture the bastard...slowly....If that offends anyone...to dang bad.
Steve, I have been trying to not rise this case to more of a level of sinister than it already is. But I'm having a hard time. There is absolute evil in Hilton's eyes. I've been combing through the cases listed at GBI. There are a couple of interesting ones there.
Pinecone, there is also a pic of Hilton at court today. He carries himself like the guy in the Bryant case ATM pics.
Since this happened in 1997, which was ten years ago that would put him at 51 years old at the time. Aging and less weight and I can see the resemblance.
I know the vehicle is different but since that was ten years ago that would be possible.
I am sure that LE is checking out any unsolved cases to see if there may be a link to him.
http://nganews.com/arrest.htm
Photo of Hilton hunched over at booking.
Pinecone | 01.07.08 - 11:51 pm | #
Boy, he doesn't have ANY teeth, does he?
Tammy, I posted about that case earlier. I really think Hilton looks like the composite of the man that was seen leaving the area the little boys body was found in. BTW, he went missing on what appears to be Hilton's favorite route of travel.
The little boy was found in the same forest as Meredith too. I see GBI has a number of unidentified remains also, in addition to missing people and unsolved murders.
Folks on this blog have spoken of G.M.H being sloppy with his dispersal of the victims belongings and effects as "sloppy," and therefore-possibly not the work of a repeat offender. I have to wonder if G.M.H. expected a (correct if wrong about the retirement)retired police officer to be hiking the trail the same day and time as G.M.H. and Meredith.
Apparently the retired police officer, while hiking the same trail, found the relationship between the disheviled G.M.H. and the fresh Meredith alarming. It was this same officer that was alarmed enough by the pairing that he thought to write down the license plate information regarding G.M.H's van--Thus G.M.H and his van being a press released person and vehicle of interest so soon after Merediths' reported absence...Thanks to the vigialante and alarmed (maybe retired) officer.
Meredith may have put an end to a very long string of murders, maybe even dating back before she was born. Meredith was obviously very outgoing, so much so that she turned out to be the wrong girl for him to try and get away with something this appalling! It seems that her journey ended not in vain, but in victory over this reign of personified evil! This was the job for a very special person; she came here to for this purpose and was victorious! Now her mission is complete, her journey is over and she has returned to her home. Her frieneds and family should consider themselves very blessed to have been entrusted with the Love, care and rearing of this beautiful soul. She… was an Angel.
It would be interesting to know where Hilton got Dandy. I think he may have intended to keep Ella but she got away while he was cleaning up. Killers sometimes keep souveniers...
There have been several, if not many, near-idiot, serial killers. The ones I know of have been mobile, like Hilton.
LMS
I have not seen where the person that wrote down the tag number was a retired police officer. I would wonder what caused him to write down the number?
Emily
As for the Pin number it is required for cash withdrawals but can be used as a credit without a PIN. However, they are supposed to ask for id when the PIN is not used. (never happens) .
As for him being sloppy he may have been spoked for some reason and was very hasty in his attempts to destroy the evidence.
Note the dates.
Levi Frady, 11 years old, disappeared from Forsyth County after leaving a friend's house on Oct. 22, 1997. His body was found the next day in Dawson Forest; he had been shot three times. Here is a link with the timeline: http://www.websleuths.com/forums...ead.php?
t=34135
Tara Grinstead, 31 years old, disappeared from her home in Ocilla, GA, on October 22, 2005.
John and Irene Bryant, 79 and 84 years old respectively, disappeared from Pisgah National Forest, NC, on Oct. 21, 2007, after a 911 call was attempted from their cell phone.
It's hard to believe we haven't found records of any marraiges or kids, military service or rejection, family of any kind.
Didn't vans just begin to be marketed for personal or family use rather than just for business in the late 60's-early 70's? Hilton would have been about 20 yrs. old. Who would have thought that a particular type of vehicle could provide a unique opportunity for a new kind of murderer. Talk about a portable crime-scene. I wonder how long it took Hilton to realize how handy a van could be?
There has been a poster or 2 on Greta's wire with some pretty good info I don't think has been mentioned. He says he saw the white van parked in the woods that Thurs. near Amiocola (sp?) River near his house? 300 yds away was an abandoned house with door knocked down. People stuff there (wet wipes, dr pepper, clorox) 3 mattresses and dog feces. Sounded like he was on the search team? dunno. Also said LE had been there with cadaver dogs but to no avail but that it was felt Hilton was definately there post crime.
There is a place to send condolences to the family on the AJC LINK.
http://www.ajc.com/
Under the story , says Read, Send Condolences.
Here is the exchange on Gretawire:
Comment by Glenn Adams
January 7th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Glenn Adams
January 7th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Just Curious, I think it was prior to making the phone call from the Huddle House. A waitress of the HH went to her car at the same time Hilton did. She said he gave her an evil look that gave her chills. She had no idea who he was. I feel that he was afraid she would see the body in his van as she was parked next to him.. He purchased the duct tape and saran wrap 3 hours later….
Comment by Jerry in Atlanta
January 7th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
in a 5 mile area from where made the phone call to his X-boss at the Marble Hill Huddle House, and bought the duct tape and plastic wrap and dog food at the $ store.
These locations are only a block apart, with a 3 hour window. This along with spotting a white vehicle backed into the woods off a large field, 300 yds from a vacant house, 3 days after deer season ended, that would be on his route if he traveled back roads, is why I searched this area Sunday. Without my knowlege, when I called the Tip Line, they informed me the GBI & K9 units were searching 2 miles down river from my location. Officials have much more info than I do, but we were on the same wavelink.
__________________________________________________
______________________________
Glenn, Is this the area they found the body…Dawson County Management Area??
Comment by Jerry in Atlanta
January 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Jerry in Atlanta, that’s exactly what I did yesterday afternoon, looked like a LE convention; GBI K9’s, the works. Dawsonville, GA, on Amicacola River GBI knew about HH phone call and $ store..find name a website for Merideth, please.. It is it true that they found her? I can’t find that info,,
__________________________________________________
_______________
Glenn, theink you were right on…and probably helped find her..in Dawson County Manangement Area
Le is looking into Levi's case:
Dawson County deputies told Channel 2's John Bachman Emerson's body was found just a mile and a half away from where 11-year-old Levi Frady's body was found in 1997. His murder was never solved. The Georgia Amber Alert system -- Levi's call -- was named after him.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149983...360/
detail.html
I have tried to write so many things, but at this tragic time, the only appropriate post would be to urge everyone to pray for Meredith's soul, and for swift justice. Her murder has reminded me that nowhere--even the North Georgia Mountains, which I consider a paradise, is anyone safe. God bless her soul.
Thx Tammy!
Hilton was living in his van, too. I read somewhere he had a wife but he doesn't seem the type. He had such a marginal existence. But, who knows?
SuziQ posted a link to a really interesting website called a wikizine, basically the neighbors posting their encounters with Hilton. It's here:
http://tinyurl.com/27k92r
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/149983...360/
detail.html
Now, Florida agents will be heading to the GBI's office to discuss the case of a woman found murdered last month in a north Florida forest. Tallahassee officials said someone found Cheryl Dunlap's body in the Appalachicola National Forest two weeks after her car was found with a flat tire.
Tammy, thank you for pointing that out about the Frady case. The sketch of "witness" no. 2 on that page... well, I had to write another blog entry:
"Who is Gary Michael Hilton?"
You all can comment there, if you like.
Steve
Pinecone wrote: "There have been several, if not many, near-idiot, serial killers."
Too right, Pinecone. In fact, most of them are idiots. This is a big myth: the brilliant, genius serial killer. Sure, some very smart men have been serial killers, but probably more of them have been complete idiots on the IQ scale. People constantly seem to confuse fact and fiction here. The genius serial killer makes awesome fiction. But most of the time, that's all he or she is -- fiction.
Not being caught doesn't take intellect so much as it takes a highly mobile lifestyle and an ability to live "off-the-grid." And plenty of dumb people are able to do that.
Dennis Rader was a stiff-necked, petty little civil servant with OCD, working a low-level job at the age of 60 until his idiocy about computer evidence outed him as BTK. Serial killer uncaught for 3 decades, bright in some ways, but overall, still a dumbass. Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole? The pair that claimed 600 victims and got law enforcement the country over to believe them? WORLD-CLASS idiots, by most standards. In the end, it looks like Lucas only killed 6 at best. Still, he fooled cops into thinking he'd done a lot more.
Hilton may be a complete cipher, a bonehead, and maybe some of his bonehead actions got him caught this time. But don't let that make you think he's not capable of having done much more in the past. Pinecone was right -- I'd just amend that from "near-idiot" to idiot. It's about self-preservation and staying mobile, much of the time, not how smart the killer is. If anything, a "marginal" existence is perfect for a person who has no problem killing anyone whom they please. If you're on the margins all the time, you don't get noticed, all that much.
And THAT is what serial killers really prize -- the ability to keep on killing, if they want.
REANNAN - thank you for your caring words - I also lost a 10mo old g-son and 2yr g-daughter at the same time - I had the 4yr g-daughter with me and then raised her she is 38 now - I too was in the med. field for over 40 yrs. so much pain and sadness -
SUSAN - thankyou - and I too think he was going to keep Ella - he got so angry at the parks with people who had not trained their dogs - Ella was trained and well behaved - can't see him just dumping her out - like you said maybe she just got out and ran - he would have called attention to himself trying to catch her -
Terribly sad news. I have been following this story on here from the UK hoping she would be fond alive. One can only think of her family and friends at this time.
Just when I think that I have been hardened by all the true crime I read.
A story like this one comes along, makes me cry and I realize I am still human.
My heart breaks for her, her family and friends and my mind still cannot fathom the senselessness of crimes like this.
http://www.ajc.com/shared-gen/co...?
cxntlid=inform
They found her.
It is a good question, where did he get Dandy from? and was he intending on keeping Ella? I wish some foster group would go bail Dandy out, as he may be able to lead LE to different areas Hilton had squatted at. It sounds far fetched, yet is worth a shot.. if only dogs could talk.
I wonder if Levi Frady was making fun of Hilton and that pissed him off to the point of murdering the boy?
i kinda hope this is the person who killed cheryl dunlap so all of us in wakulla can drive and know were safe exspecialy us young teens and adults!! my prays are with the family!!
this is awful. Let him fry.
Sorry here is the link to the autopsy results:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/150015...573/
detail.html
Autopsy Results:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/150015...573/
detail.html
I hope GA has and uses the death penalty because Hilton deserves it. Why would he decapitate her? To obscure her identity? Or for the perverse satisfaction? The mind reels at the existence and persistence of these psychos in America
This is really really sad. in this case, Im kind of glad the death penalty exists in the States.
Being around the same age etc this really hit home.
I bet this isnt his first crime, by a long shot, judging by how he treated her body - it's an escalation on murder, like the crime itself wasnt really enough for him.
RIP Meredith, my prayers go to her family, friends, and of course Ella who was there at the time
I just came across this on comcast news: Gary Michael Hilton, 61, agreed to help investigators in exchange for an agreement that they not seek the death penalty against him, Union County District Attorney Stan Gunter told The Associated Press.
This latest news of an agreement not to seek the death penalty is disheartening, to say the least.
I read an article in which Hilton said that he has been treated well, and had been given three blankets.
Not sure why the creep gets such nice treatment after the treatment he gave to Meredith, bless her.
My thoughts are that those on "death row" have it much, much worse on a daily basis with being in their cells 23 out of 24 hours a day, and that those who are sentenced to life without parole have certain privilages...and that just does not seem right. At least if he had been sentenced to death, he would have been on death row. And miserable.
This is so sad. I was just sick reading how he killed her. There seems to be much in common with other murders I have read about recently linked with this case.
To my detractors on the torture question,
Is this true? "In another development WSB-TV Channel 2 has learned the arrest warrant for Gary Michael Hilton said that Emerson, who disappeared on New Year's Day, was not killed until Friday. It appears Emerson was alive and held captive for three days."
If so, it proves my point that she was held alive. Therefore, under that assumption, EVERYTHING POSSIBLE should have been done to get to her. The POS should have been tazered every mile down the road until he led them to her, AS SOON AS IT WAS OBVIOUS he was involved, which any sane person new by the time he was being apprehended.
So, think I'm crazy, but there was no reason under heaven to let this POS rest or waste one minute. It doesn't matter if they though she was already deceased or not.
So, just rest easy that the next time something like this happens and some poor soul is laying hurt in a ravine or chained in a cellar; we can have our DUE PROCESS. When someone is out to hurt the innocent, they have abandoned ALL their rights.
keep in mind that if they can connect him to any of the other cases he can still get the death penalty - there may be evidence of more cases where he kept her for 3 days -
I also feel sorry for the guy who took down his license plate because of his suspicions re: hilton with meredith as he prolly feels really bad now that he maybe could have followed up on his suspicions -
omg i just read where she was kept live for 3 days. its unthinkable.
all points to a repeat offender i think, i hope if he's immune to the death penalty in Meredith's case that they get him for someone else.
RIP Meredith
This only gets more sad. How is it possible that such a useless life takes such a beautiful one? I am very sad for Meredith. I hope there is a better place and she is there. Barry from Canada.
If he is guilty of other similiar crimes, the MO was to kidnap them and extract their PIN number. The people that knew and loved Meredith respected her strong determination and convictions. It makes you wonder if he didn't punish her by the violent nature of his last act upon her physcial body. She held to her beliefs of right and wrong even until the end and refused to give him what he wanted from her. I am so glad that she had her best friend Ella with her for those 3 days.
Some people die as heroes. Meredith sure did. Some people live their life to fill the world with light. Meredith's light is shining into lots of dark and gruesome murders that now might be solved because she lived. It doesn't make her death any less horrible or devastating, but it.....I even hate to write "but" after "horrible and devastating", but Meredith will have her last word and bring closure to many other unsolved cases. I firmly believe that. My deepest condolences to those who loved her and knew her.
Just feel so terribly horrible for Ms. Emerson's family and friends! The newly revealed details are just about more than I can even read! Prayers are being sent, and hope there is some type of donation fund set-up in Meredith's honor (if not for burial expenses or travel, then maybe for seeing-eye dogs in Colorado, a no-kill shelter there, etc.). Horrific beyond words!
I cannot get over how many times I've taken my fishing pole to work to go fishing after work by myself . . . muchless hiked to some, and all by myself. Of course, at these times, I never had one of our dogs with me either. I used to speed walk at night until my husband made it such a grand issue out of it that it was not worth arguing over, and that was after we moved to even a more conservative state. Colorado is such a friendly and athletic place in many parts, and it is not uncommon to see single women hiking, fishing, or even walking alone in many cities. Meredith appeared to be doing the very same thing that she felt comfortable doing, and obviously, from the sounds of her, would never have put herself in a questionable place alone. She felt comfortable, confident, and this sick evil being crossed her path. That poor poor beautiful soul ~ tragic!
I, too, trust ~ with me (I also used to feed the homeless men that lived under the train crossing breakfast until one of them followed me to my office, and my husband freaked ~ I'd been familiar with him for over 3 years and I was never scared of him - it was horrible that they were freezing and needed food). I trust no one with my children, as working in the legal world and living in this world has taken that. However, what can you do when they reach the age of majority??? Where is the fine line that says it's not healthy to 'hold them back' from enjoying life like I did or any of you did at that age? You simply can't. I am so sick of the killing, pedoes, kidnaping, marital disputes that hurt children . . . VIOLENCE period!!!
He is evil, had a plan, and he is comfortable as he has done this times before, as I stated above (my GUT). I saw a clip from his court appearance today, and he was nothing short of feeling confident, ordering, in control, etc. Please, please, please let him live in the general population . . . I would be to sad to see him spending his time alone in a jail cell and not subjected to the usual. Having said that, at his age, I would think he would not enjoy that playground as much as a younger man would or could adapt too! HE NEEDS TO BE ERASED, and sorry if that is offensive to anyone! Not my nature, but I am a mother, and this is horrific . . . let him pay the prison way!!!
I felt when I posted on the 6th that she was dead and it would be very soon when they would find her. I felt he had put her down someplace. near 180 and SUches..It was a such a strong feeling maybe that is where he took her before he killed her for those several days in the abandoned place. On the 3rd I sent an email to the tv station in atlanta saying she was taken from the area and I felt strongly she was alive at that time...My regret is I didn't do more....Also wonder if the police have searched that area around highway 180 and Suches...Since I got such strong vibes from that area wonder if maybe Hilton hung out there or maybe hid something else in that area...Guess we will have the whole story in a couple of days if the law allows..
Where was she kept for three days and why?
I live near Atlanta, am a rock climber and trail runner too. I volunteered to help with the search for Meredith beginning on jan 2. The police told people not to come search, that only Law enforcement personnel were allowed to search.
I eventually went to vogel state park and directly offered to help anyway.
This is my conclusion:
1. The police did not solve this, the public and the media solved this.
2. The police were too focused on treating this as a crime investigation, rather than a search and rescue effort, for too long, and Meredith could easily have been found and saved while the cops held the public at bay so they could ponderously, slowly, and ineffectively proceed as if Meredith was already dead. They acted as if she was already dead from the beginning.
3. The police had all the info they needed to have found Meredith, alive, during the three days that Hilton had her. They also had literally hundreds of volunteers that could have checked roads in every state park in North Georgia, had they simply told people to go look.
a. They knew Hilton was the prime suspect (thanks to the public and Meredith's friends) but only called him a "person of interest".
b. They knew Hilton favored driving his van deep into state parks and forests (they have a 20 minute video of him being evicted from a forest 2 months ago..posted at:http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/content/
multimedia/video/index.html?clip=55847
c. They knew they had two unsolved abductions and murders in which the victims bodies were dumped in this same forest. One body was dumped less than a mile from where Meredith was found. They knew that the clues in those murders matched Hilton (witness description, same white van).
d. They had reports from the public saying that Hiltons van was seen in the area of the Dawson wildlife refuge.
e. They knew all this ON OR BEFORE MEREDITH WAS KILLED.
..and yet, they didn't encourage the public to look in other state parks. They prohibited the public from even driving into the area for 2 days. They didn't publish the info that they had about Hilton. Why? Because they didn't focus on saving Meredith...they focused on getting a conviction.
Meredith's body was found ON A DIRT ROAD 2 MILES OFF THE MAIN ROAD....had anyone at all driven down that road in the 3 days that Hilton had her, she would have had a chance.
How is it that the focus and expertise of the public is so disregarded by the police department during missing person's cases? The cops set themselves up as the communication hub for tips, but then didn't share what they were told, and didn't act on the info that was given to them.
They didn't even find the bloody clothes and wallet UNTIL THE PUBLIC TOLD THEM TO GO LOOK IN THE PARTICULAR DUMPSTERS: http://
www.associatedcontent.com...to_missing.html
This is, in my opinion, a loss that was caused by the police department's own mistrust of the publics usefulness beyond phone calls, and by the police department's ineptitude in using the information and resources which was given to it by the public.
In the future, if someone I love goes missing, I will insist that information about my loved one, and about potential locations for my loved one, get broadcast. Saving the life of a loved one should be more important than proceeding so slowly and restrictively that you guarantee their death, in the name of 'preserving evidence'.
Wow, to think that poor Meredith was alive while law enforcement was discouraging the public's help. That is CRAZY. I also agree with the poster, Joe, who said cops should have done anything and everything to compel Hilton to tell all, self-incrimmatioo clause be damned. Meredith's life is more valuable than a constitutional defect in procedure.
I never knew Merideth but this story has changed my life. Seeing the serene, peaceful pictures of her with Ella makes me appreciate life more. My husband an I have 2 small kids and a golden retriver we love as much as Merideth loves Ella. Thank you Merideth, I hope I have the honor of meeting you someday, maybe in a different lifetime...God bless you and may He keep you by His side always. Rest in peace Merideth.
Amen, brother. As I stated before, they spent their good 'ol time escorting the f*** up and down the hallways and getting him blankets. He should not have had any food until he took them to her in a vehicle. IT IS B*LL CR*P that they took this long. Up here in PA, we have Amber Alert. They don't waste time.
This link (http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Home/
Detail?contentId=5439187&version=1&locale=EN-US&
layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1)shows a pic of Hilton from 1995,the same picture is attached, how about comparing that to the Levi sketch, can't get much closer than that.
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/...NGNEWS/
80109051
GBI nearly misses Hilton..title of the article.
Tried to post this and it did not take ..hope it does not double post.
http://www.11alive.com/news/arti...?
storyid=109301
The system is what it is and the reason is because we have to be politcally correct.
Tammy,
I am almost sick reading this article that said Hilton was SITTING IN A HUDDLE HOUSE, DRAWING MAJOR ATTENTION TO HIMSELF, FOR AN HOUR, but the cops hadn't released his info, so the public didn't know to restrain, report him.
Meredith would be alive today if the cops had acted to save her, rather than to 'pursue evidence of a crime'.
This is just sickening.
Timeline states they did realease on Thursday that Hilton was a person of interest. What time i do not know. What time was he at the Waffle House and would the workers have seen the information released if they were at work and did not have a tv or radio there listening to the updates.
I will not say that the LE did not do what they should have to try and save her..i think that is somewhat unfair.
What happens so many times in cases such as this especially when there are multiple agencies involved, the coordination of information or the authority of what is going to be done when gets skewed. I am not sure who would have had the say so at that point (which LE agency).
However, with that said it is still very sad...that she may have been in the van and noone knew that could have done anything to try and save her from this animal.
A memorial fund has been set-up in Meredith's honor at the Longmont Humane Society, which is in her hometown in Colorado. From what I understand, they are building a new facility and will have a memorial for Meredith and Ella there.
Here is the link, or just google the shelter's name.
http://www.firstgiving.com/
mered...meredithemerson
Thanks Kathryn.
FYI
we are blogging about this case on the most recent thread of Steves concerning this case--It is the main thread at this home page
http://tinyurl.com/28u7so
join us
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