The body of missing 24-year old Georgia hiker Meredith Emerson has been found.
At a 10 p.m. press conference Monday night, Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials announced that Emerson's body had been found in the Dawson Forest on Blood Mountain, shortly after 7:30 Monday night. Georgia Bureau Of Investigation Cleveland County Field Director John Cagle said that suspect Gary Hilton told him Sunday night that Emerson's body was at the location and then led them to it early Monday evening.
Hilton, who was described by Union County, Georgia Sheriff Scott Stephens as a "drifter" was in court on Monday for an initial appearance and was denied bond in Emerson's murder. Smith also said that Hilton has been spotted in numerous counties across North Georgia.
Emerson disappeared on New Year's Day and was last seen with Hilton. Her disappearance has been the subject to much speculation into the case of missing Hendersonville County couple, John and Irene Bryant.
The Bryant's went mising last October in the Pisgah National Forest. The body of Irene Bryant was found in the Pisgah National Forest in November, while her husband has not been found and is presumed dead.
The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and Prosecutors met with Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials on Monday to determine whether a link between both cases was possible.
According to Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina officials were provided with a detailed briefing and analysis.
"We had a meeting with investigators and prosecutors from North Carolina regarding a double homicide," he said. "We provided them with a detailed briefing and analysis of the Emerson case, so they can make their own determination into whether or not this could be a possible suspect."
"After the meeting, no determination or conclusion had been made and there was no linkage to the cases made at the meeting. They continue to investigate their case and we’ll provide them with any further information they may request.”
Speculation between the two cases continue to surround Hilton. He was last seen wearing a yellow jacket with Emerson and a person wearing a yellow jacket was last seen using the debit card of the Bryant's in a small Tennessee town, almost 100 miles north of where Emerson disappeared.
The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office tells NewsChannel 7 that they have received "numerous" phone calls from people who believe they saw Hilton in the area and they will continue to follow-up on the leads they have received. However at this moment the investigation remains ongoing and no other further updates have been made available.
www.wspa.com/midatlantic...07-0014.html
At a 10 p.m. press conference Monday night, Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials announced that Emerson's body had been found in the Dawson Forest on Blood Mountain, shortly after 7:30 Monday night. Georgia Bureau Of Investigation Cleveland County Field Director John Cagle said that suspect Gary Hilton told him Sunday night that Emerson's body was at the location and then led them to it early Monday evening.
Hilton, who was described by Union County, Georgia Sheriff Scott Stephens as a "drifter" was in court on Monday for an initial appearance and was denied bond in Emerson's murder. Smith also said that Hilton has been spotted in numerous counties across North Georgia.
Emerson disappeared on New Year's Day and was last seen with Hilton. Her disappearance has been the subject to much speculation into the case of missing Hendersonville County couple, John and Irene Bryant.
The Bryant's went mising last October in the Pisgah National Forest. The body of Irene Bryant was found in the Pisgah National Forest in November, while her husband has not been found and is presumed dead.
The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and Prosecutors met with Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials on Monday to determine whether a link between both cases was possible.
According to Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina officials were provided with a detailed briefing and analysis.
"We had a meeting with investigators and prosecutors from North Carolina regarding a double homicide," he said. "We provided them with a detailed briefing and analysis of the Emerson case, so they can make their own determination into whether or not this could be a possible suspect."
"After the meeting, no determination or conclusion had been made and there was no linkage to the cases made at the meeting. They continue to investigate their case and we’ll provide them with any further information they may request.”
Speculation between the two cases continue to surround Hilton. He was last seen wearing a yellow jacket with Emerson and a person wearing a yellow jacket was last seen using the debit card of the Bryant's in a small Tennessee town, almost 100 miles north of where Emerson disappeared.
The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office tells NewsChannel 7 that they have received "numerous" phone calls from people who believe they saw Hilton in the area and they will continue to follow-up on the leads they have received. However at this moment the investigation remains ongoing and no other further updates have been made available.
www.wspa.com/midatlantic...07-0014.html
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Washington, D.C.
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Re: Body Of Missing Georgia Hiker Found
Tue, January 8, 2008 - 3:34 PMBlood Mountain? Transylvania County? This story has the makings of a Steven King novel.
