Officials: Hiker was alive for days; suspect now faces murder charge

CNN ^ | 1/8/2008 | AP

[Red in Blue PA]

BLAIRSVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- A young hiker whose body was found in northern Georgia was probably alive for three days before she died from blunt force trauma to the head, authorities said Tuesday.

Meredith Emerson was last seen hiking with her dog on Blood Mountain in Georgia on New Year's Day.

1 of 3 Meredith Emerson, 24, was decapitated after her death, an autopsy also found.

Investigators believe she was killed January 4, said Lee Darragh, district attorney for Hall and Dawson counties.

That's the same day suspect Gary Michael Hilton, 61, allegedly made a phone call from a pay phone at a convenience store in Cumming, Georgia, where Emerson's black leather wallet containing her identification cards was discovered in a trash bin.

[AnAmericanMother]

That seems to be the feeling around the courthouse.

As a sheriff deputy friend of mine says, "This ain't the first time he's been to the rodeo."

They get him on this one in exchange for bargaining away the DP, then seek the DP on one or more of the other murders. AND they can use this confession/conviction as evidence of a similar transaction in the other cases, making it easier to get the DP there.

You can only kill him once, and it seems like this is a target rich environment.

Problem is, this would have been a perfect DP case, with evidence of torture/depraved mind. In the older cases it's going to be harder to pinpoint evidence of torture.

[Adder]

One place to look closely is at the murders of the two elderly hikers in Pisgah Nat’l Forest a couple months ago. Her body was found but her husband’s was not.

[A Strict Constructionist]

I agree with your type of environmentalism but for some of the hiking crowd, pepper spray for bears is going too far.

[sarasota]

Just can’t get my (gun-toting) mind around that one.

[beaureguard]

I think that the family also agreed to this in order to be able to recover the body.

[doodad]

There are several deaths being investigated regarding him. Most from the same area and the bodies, including Levi Frady’s, were found in this same patch of woods.

[wideawake]

Thanks for bringing that up. Prosecutors usually clear this stuff with the families before they propose any deals.

[LYSandra]

Did I hear that he used to be FBI? Maybe I heard wrong was in the other room...why do people go hiking etc alone all the time? With all these girls the first thing you hear is how strong they are and with this one she knew martial arts. I think in this day and age you should NEVER go any where alone especially hiking...just from getting an injury you would be all alone. This story is just horrific.

[Thank You Rush]

“blunt force trauma to the head” “autopsy found she was decapitated”

Good grief - is this a real CNN report? If so, pretty lousy reporting.

[windcliff]

ping

[krb]

And a shovel.

[vaudine]

How about they now say "we lied!?" I have two beautiful granddaughters in college and I fear for them in a world where serial killers roam the haunts of recreation for regular people in search of victims. I want him dead ASAP

vaudine

[CDHart]

Why anyone would go into the woods or any wilderness area without a weapon is beyond me. A rabid raccoon could show up, or some other vicious type, either animal or human.

Carolyn

[sarasota]

Guess she thought her dog would fend off any trouble.

[vaudine]

Forgive the anecdote, but it goes to your assertion of priors. Once started, these murderers continue.

Years ago I worked Empl.office for a little rural town twice a week and noticed a man always sitting on a porch as I drove in. One late winter day at dark time, with it snowing, and my receptionist out, the man from the porch came into my office where I had the desk and him between me and the door. I told him my boss had called and told me to get back ASAP, so he should come back next time. He prized up and insisted I take his application, so I hurried through it. In the experience column he told me he had been in prison for 20 years--for murder. I tried to keep calm, as he told me he had been watching me everyday I came in. Talk about creepy! I continued to pack up my stuff and handed some of it to him as if I assumed he would help me out to my car. I just kept talking calmly and moving. Told him to come in next time.

I got away, but never saw him again. Found out a couple of months later he was back in prison--for another murder.

I think he just got antsy and was ready to move again and was considering me as a target.

vaudine

[sarasota]

Seems many folks put a lot of stock in their dogs. Big mistake.

[Red in Blue PA]

In the name of being “civilized” we have created a system which will always protect the wicked and seldom if ever, protect the innocent.

What is more uncivilized than this?

[Red in Blue PA]

You can die from blunt force trauma, but later be decaptiated.

[A Strict Constructionist]

I figure that light weight for hiking means Scandium.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

There must be something about balding, old, un-shaven, under-employed white men that causes them to commit murder. HILTON. COUEY