http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/01/07/missing_0108_web2.html
Body of missing Buford hiker found
By JEFFRY SCOTT, GEORGE CHIDI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/07/08
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.
She did not confirm exactly where the body was found but said, "I know it was a place where they have been looking."
As search parties continued with a sixth day of scouring the mountains for Emerson, the man suspected of killing her faced a judge but made no comment.
Although the father of the young hiker went before cameras Monday to ask the public to "search their hearts and memories" for anything that might lead to his daughter, attorneys said that even if searchers had never found her body, Gary Michael Hilton still could have been charged with her murder.
Hilton was charged Saturday with kidnapping with bodily injury, felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stan Gunter said he expects Hilton will seek an insanity defense, based on what Hilton's court-appointed attorney said in a hearing Monday afternoon before a Union County magistrate judge.
During the 10-minute hearing before Judge Johnie Garmon in a courtroom packed with spectators and the press, Hilton, 61 — appearing stern-faced and almost frail — did not respond to questions from the judge.
He deferred to his court-appointed public defender, Neil Smith, who told judge Garmon that Hilton was not prepared to comment.
When asked afterward by reporters whether Hilton would plead insanity, Gunter said based on what Hilton's attorney said — and what Hilton did not say — "I would expect they would, but I don't know what they are going to do." Gunter declined to say specifically what those comments were.
The search for evidence of Emerson's whereabouts stretched from the mountains of North Georgia to DeKalb County. She was last seen in Vogel State Park about 10 miles south of Blairsville in Union County, walking with Hilton on New Year's Day. He was arrested Friday night after a passer-by spotted him cleaning out his van on Ashford-Dunwoody Road in DeKalb County.
The search also included the area around the Dumpster in the parking lot of a Forsyth County QuikTrip where her blood-stained clothes, wallet, Georgia driver's license and University of Georgia ID were found by Forsyth County Sheriff's Office investigators Friday afternoon.
Emerson's black lab dog, Ella, was found across the street, wandering through the parking lot of a Kroger on Ga. 20.
Emerson's parents, who flew in from Colorado last week to help in the seach, met briefly with reporters at Vogel State Park Monday afternoon. They had her dog with them.
Emerson's mother, Susan Emerson, said they wanted to bring the dog out so that people would know Ella was all right. The dog turned a year old Dec. 30. "We're hoping that these images will help keep Meredith in people's minds," she said.
Asked how they doing: "We're holding up," said Dave Emerson, Meredith's father.
The parents had been staying in a cabin at the state park, but the family spokeswoman said they were leaving Monday. It wasn't clear whether they would be staying elsewhere.
Officials sent out 10 teams of searchers Monday. They again focused on a five-square-mile area near where Emerson was last seen.
The case still holds national attention. The parking lot of the Union County courthouse in Blairsville was crowed with TV trucks from local stations and network affiliates as reporters and cameramen gathered outside for the 2 p.m. hearing.
About 45 spectators filled the small courtroom. Before Hilton entered through a side door with sheriff's deputies, he could be heard telling Union County Sheriff Scott Stephens that he had been treated well since he was brought to the jail Saturday night.
"They got me three blankets and they're taking good care of me," said Hilton, whose only other comment was at the end of the hearing when he turned to his attorney and said "Thank you." His attorney declined to comment on the case before the hearing and could not be reached afterward.
Gail Lynn, 64, of Blairsville, one of the spectators who lined up early to get a seat in the courtroom, said afterwards she was shocked by Hilton's appearance. "He really looked like somebody who would not be capable of such a thing," she said. "He didn't think he looked like a predator. But I still think he did it."
District Attorney Gunter said Hilton had been appointed an attorney in the hope that he might cooperate with investigators. But so far, after three days in custody, he has not cooperated, said GBI spokesman John Bankhead Monday.
Gunter declined to say whether more evidence has been found since Hilton was charged Saturday night based on three bloody fleece garments, believed to be Emerson's, found in a dumpster outside a Quik Trip in Forsyth County, along with Emerson's wallet, her Georgia Driver's license and University of Georgia ID card.
Hilton was arrested about five hours later when – acting on two phone tips – DeKalb Police found him at a business on Ashford Dunwoody Rd. Friday night allegedly attempting to vacuum his van.
Union County Sheriff Scott Stephens said after the Monday hearing his office has gotten "thousands" of phone calls from the public saying they had seen Hilton moving about in north Georgia, apparently living in his van.
"It's our belief he travels around to remote counties," said Stephens. "We've had all kinds of calls from people saying 'I remember seeing him.' He's a drifter. He kind of moves around." DeKalb County police said his vehicle has been registered to two addresses in DeKalb County, but have declined to release those addresses.
The address on the arrest warrant served on Hilton Saturday has an address on Clairmont Road in Chamblee.
Gunter said the grand jury is meeting today, but he did not have enough evidence gathered yet to take the case to the Grand Jury. "We have not received the report from the GBI crime lab," he said. He the lab reports are expected back from the GBI this week and he would take the case to the Grand Jury within 90 days.
He said "I am very confident in the case so far....I think we have a good case. I think it's a very good case." Authorities have so far declined to say exactly what led them to suspect Hilton so soon after Emerson disappeared. GBI spokesman John Bankhead said it was based on witnesses coming forward with information. Gunter decline to say whether there is video surveillance footage connecting Hilton to Emerson.
There is a videotape of Hilton allegedly trying to withdraw money from Emerson's account at an ATM machine in Canton.
— Staff reporter Christian Boone contributed to this article.
.
