Meredith Emerson was alive for three days after she disappeared from a Georgia hiking trail New Year's Day before she died from a blow to the head and was later decapitated. The man accused of her death led authorities to her body in exchange for not facing the death penalty.
Gary Michael Hilton was charged with murder Tuesday in connection with Emerson's death. In the affidavit for his murder warrant, authorities said Emerson did not die until Jan. 4 in Dawson Forest, three days after she disappeared from Vogel State Park.
Union County District Attorney Stan Gunter told reporters that Hilton led police to Emerson's body in exchange for prosecutors agreeing not to seek the death penalty in the case. Authorities still believe Hilton may be involved in other deaths.
Emerson's family went into seclusion after learning more of the details of her death, asking the media to give them privacy.
See Also:
Hiker Was Alive for Three Days, Affidavit Says
Earlier Articles:
Suspect Leads Police to Hiker's Body
Man Arrested in Missing Hiker Case
Police Seek Clues in Missing Hiker Case
Forum:
Discuss The Emerson Case
Photo: Family Photo
Comments
The Killer’s is an identity theft.
He holds the victims alive, makes them to talk about the where abouts of their money. Takes the victims wallet and uses their clothing to conseal his identity.
He could have done it to a lot of victims.
It makes me sick that he won’t get the death penalty. He deserves to die or be tormented just as he did to this poor girl. There will never be justice for this family- I pray for them and for her soul.
They could have turned him over to me. I would have found out where he placed the body without making any wicked plea deals with him. Now his only punishment will be watching TV and playing basketball the rest of his worthless life. May he be murdered in prison.
He will eventually be tried for a murder that happened 40 miles away from my home. The State of Florida will NOT give him a deal! He will receive the death penalty in florida, but it will be too EASY for him. He should die in the same way his victims died, and let the relatives do it. If some of the relatives dont have the stomach for it, I will do it for them, free of charge!
torture and kill him. this is a man of evil
This man should not have recieved any sort of deal. He was in no position after killing an innocent young woman. I have three daughters and this sort of thing happens too often in these times. What this lady and her family went through is horrible!!!