Gary Michael Hilton

Case record: Gary Michael Hilton

Gary Michael Hilton was a drifter previously convicted of killing and beheading hikers in Florida and Georgia. He pleaded guilty in March 2012 to killing John and Irene Bryant in 2007. Hilton camped out for victims before he ambushed the Hendersonville couple, who were in their 80s, as they hiked in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. He also pleaded guilty to robbery and firearms offenses.

A U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger ordered that Hilton's federal life sentences be served consecutively with an earlier life sentence for murdering 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson in northern Georgia in 2008. Federal sentences did not include the possibility of parole. Hilton was already on Florida's death row for killing Cheryl Dunlap, 46, of Crawfordville, Fla., who was found dead in north Florida's Apalachicola National Forest where Hilton had camped. Emerson and Dunlap were beheaded. The bodies of four victims were found over a span of several months starting in late 2007.

Hilton’s death penalty in Florida was recommended by a jury and imposed by a circuit judge after the jury’s deliberations. His defense attorneys sought to persuade the jury that his unhappy childhood, a lifetime of emotional abuse, and drug abuse contributed to the killings. Hilton’s defense also included that he had an unhappy childhood.

Timeline

• January 4, 2008 — Meredith Emerson was last seen alive hiking with her dog; murder warrant described her as murdered on this day in Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in Dawson County, Georgia.
• January 31, 2008 — Hilton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison in Georgia for killing 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson.
• April 21, 2011 — Hilton was sentenced to death in Florida.
• March 2012 — Hilton pleaded guilty to killing John and Irene Bryant and to robbery and firearms offenses.
• April 25, 2013 — Hilton was sentenced to four additional life sentences in North Carolina.

Background

Gary Michael Hilton was 66 at the time of the federal sentencing in North Carolina in 2013. He was described as a drifter and as a suspected serial killer. He was identified as the killer in multiple killings involving hikers and a nurse.

There was also information presented about his personal history and background, including enlistment in the Army, marriages and divorces, and criminal case information. The material included that he was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to father William E. Hilton and mother Cleo M. Reynolds, and that he enlisted in the U.S. Army. It also included that he was honorably discharged in 1967 and that he was briefly confined to a mental hospital after an attack on his stepfather and later released.

The material also stated that, in 2011, he had a federal and state death penalty posture and later received additional life sentences in North Carolina.

The offence

Victim: Meredith Emerson

Meredith Emerson (June 20, 1983 – January 4, 2008) was a 24-year-old woman who was murdered in January 2008 by drifter Gary Michael Hilton. The material stated she was last seen alive hiking with her dog on Blood Mountain in northern Georgia on New Year's Day 2008.

The material stated that Hilton attacked Meredith Emerson with an army knife. It described that Emerson fought him and was screaming. The material stated that Hilton gave her two black eyes and later asked Emerson to give him her pin number to her credit card, but that she kept giving him the wrong number. The material stated Hilton got mad and killed her and that Emerson fought to save her life for four days. It also stated she was decapitated after death and that the autopsy concluded she died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Meredith Emerson’s dog, Ella, was found on January 4, 2008, in Cumming, Georgia, approximately 60 miles away. Emerson’s belongings were found nearby in Forsyth County, Georgia.

Victim: Cheryl Dunlap

Cheryl Dunlap, 46, was a Sunday School teacher and a Florida State University nurse. The material stated her body was found dismembered in a national forest in Florida’s Panhandle, where Hilton had camped. The material also stated she was found dead in north Florida’s Apalachicola National Forest in a state where the body was beheaded and dismembered.

The material described that authorities found her body and noted that both hands had been cut off and the head was missing. It also stated that a portion of Dunlap’s thigh muscle was used to identify her.

Victims: John and Irene Bryant

John and Irene Bryant were killed in 2007. Irene Bryant’s body was found near the couple’s car after they disappeared while taking a hike in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.

The material stated that on October 21, 2007 the body of Irene Bryant was found a little ways from the couple’s car. It described that John was found and said to have died from a gunshot wound to the head. The material also stated that Irene tried to call 911 at 4 pm but the call did not go through.

Hilton pleaded guilty in March 2012 to killing John and Irene Bryant in 2007.

Investigation

Witness and calls described in the material

The material stated that a witness at a Chevron gas station called DeKalb police and said: "the guy you are looking for is cleaning out his van." The police arrived and stopped the accused before he could bleach the interior of the van.

The material stated that crime scene analysts obtained blood evidence that was matched to Emerson's DNA.

The material also included that authorities traced calls and later found Hilton after he was seen removing items out of his van and tossing them into a dumpster.

Medical findings and cause of death described

For Meredith Emerson, the material stated that Dr. Kris Sperry, the state's chief medical examiner, concluded Emerson died of blunt force trauma to the head and was decapitated after death.

Suspicions and linkages described

The material stated that Hilton was suspected in multiple killings, including the October slaying of Irene Bryant and the presumed death of her husband, John, in Transylvania County, North Carolina, and the death of Cheryl Dunlap.

It also stated that the bodies of the four victims were found over a span of several months starting in late 2007.

Arrest

The material stated that on January 4, 2008 DeKalb County police took Hilton into custody. It also described a 911 call: "The guy you’re looking for is cleaning out his van," and stated deputies rushed to the scene and that Hilton offered no resistance.

The material also stated that Hilton was turned over to the GBI after being placed in an interview room.

Trial

Florida: death penalty proceedings for Cheryl Dunlap

In Florida, a jury unanimously recommended a death penalty after deliberations of one hour, and Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson said he would give "great weight" to the jury's recommendation.

The material included a prosecutor quote and a judge referenced statement:

• Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman told CBS affiliate WCTV as she left the courtroom: "We are extremely pleased with the death verdict and even more so that it was unanimous. Obviously the jury saw what needed to be done to bring justice and that's what Mr. Hilton got today and Ms. Dunlap and her family got," prosecutor Georgia Cappleman told CBS affiliate WCTV as she left the courtroom.
• State Attorney Willie Meggs said: "I was surprised by the unanimous verdict," but said if there were ever a case for it, this was it.
• Gloria Tucker said: "I don't think any family members got justice," Tucker said.
• Gloria Tucker said: "He's no equal for Sherri. She grew up with a bad home life and grew up to be a lovely person."

The material stated Hilton was found guilty in Florida of killing 46-year-old Cheryl Dunlap, a Sunday School teacher and Florida State University nurse, who was found dismembered in a national forest. The material also stated that Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson gave "great weight" to the jury’s recommendation.

Georgia: guilty plea proceedings for Meredith Emerson

The material stated that Hilton pleaded guilty to killing hiker Meredith Emerson and was sentenced to life in prison in Georgia. It stated he was charged with kidnapping with intent to harm and malice murder in Emerson's January 4 death.

The material included remarks from Emerson’s family:

• David Emerson said: "I feel that no punishment for Mr. Hilton is too great," said her father, David Emerson.
• David Emerson said: "I only pray that he suffers immensely for his heinous acts."
• Susan Emerson said: "I feel like he should stay alive and slowly rot,"
• Susan Emerson said: "As far as I am concerned, there is no such thing as justice in this case. Nothing will bring our daughter back."
• Lee Darragh said during a news conference following Hilton's plea: "Anyone's emotional reaction would have appropriately be that this defendant deserved the penalty of death,"
• Lee Darragh said: "The most appropriate course was to have this defendant take responsibility for the death of Meredith Emerson through his guilty plea today,"
• Lee Darragh decided a life sentence "in practical terms" is a "death penalty in and of itself." The material included: "in practical terms" and "death penalty in and of itself."
• Lee Darragh explained: "He explained."
• The material stated Hilton would not be eligible for parole until he was 91 years old.
• Lee Darragh said: "He will most likely die in prison and most certainly never see the light of day again,"
• Peggy Bailey told reporters: "Today is the last day of a very long month, but January on its last day is a safer place than January on its first,"
• Peggy Bailey said: "There are sources of joy that will lead our families through the suffering and on to healing."

The material stated that the prosecution agreed to take the death penalty off the table if Hilton would lead investigators to Emerson’s body, and that Hilton agreed and led investigators to Emerson’s body.

Sentencing

Georgia: life in prison

Hilton pleaded guilty to the murder of Emerson and was sentenced to life in prison in Georgia on January 31, 2008. The material stated he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility for parole in 30 years.

Florida: death sentence

In Florida, Hilton was sentenced to death. The material stated the jury unanimously recommended death after deliberations of one hour and that Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson sentenced him to death.

North Carolina: four additional life sentences

Hilton was sentenced to four additional life sentences in federal prison for kidnapping and murdering a North Carolina couple in Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. The material stated this occurred on April 25, 2013. It also stated the sentences were ordered to run consecutively with an earlier life sentence for murdering Meredith Emerson in northern Georgia in 2008, and that federal sentences did not have the possibility of parole.

The material stated that U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger ordered the federal life sentences to be served consecutively with an earlier life sentence for murdering Meredith Emerson.

Appeals

No appeal outcome was included in the provided material.

Outcome

Hilton was sentenced to life in prison in Georgia for the murder of Meredith Emerson on January 31, 2008. Hilton was sentenced to death in Florida for killing Cheryl Dunlap on April 21, 2011. Hilton was sentenced to four additional life sentences in North Carolina on April 25, 2013 for kidnapping and murdering John and Irene Bryant.

Other details

Crime scene photo controversy

The material included that on February 25, 2010 Hustler magazine reporter Fred Rosen asked for the Meredith Emerson crime scene and autopsy photos as part of an open records request filed with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). It stated that the victim's family requested the request be denied according to attorney Lindsay Haigh.

The material stated that in March 2010, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Daniel Coursey issued a temporary order restraining the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) from releasing "any and all photographs, visual images or depictions of Meredith Emerson which show Emerson in an unclothed or dismembered state."

The material stated that the Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee passed "The Meredith Emerson Memorial Privacy Act" and that House Bill 1322 stopped the dissemination of images of victims whose photos appear "nude, bruised, bloodied or in a broken state with open wounds, a state of dismemberment or decapitation."

The material included a Rep. Jill Chambers quote:

• Rep. Jill Chambers said: "We have to walk the line between open record laws and the constitutional provisions that allow women to be able to be photographed nude or in pornography when they knowingly and willingly offer their bodies for dissemination,"

Rep. Jill Chambers also said:

• "Meredith isn't in a position to give that kind of permission to have her exploited in that kind of venue...we're not only protecting future victims of crime, we're protecting the integrity of what happened to Meredith."

The material included an email from Hustler that said:

• "Hustler is aware of the GBI's refusal to honor its reporter's request for copies of the Emerson crime scenes photos, which were to be used in a news story about this crime. Hustler and Mr. Flynt disagree with the GBI's position, and are currently exploring all legal options available to them should the decision be made to go forward with the story."

Atkins, ATM and locations described for victim timeline (as stated in the material)

For Irene Bryant, the material stated that on October 22, 2007 Bryant’s bank card was used at 7:35 pm to withdraw $300 from a machine at a bank in Ducktown, Tennessee.

For Cheryl Dunlap, the material stated that her card was used:

• December 2, 2007 — first time at an ATM, Tallahassee, Florida.
• December 3, 2007 — second time at an ATM, Tallahassee, Florida.
• December 4, 2007 — third time at an ATM, Tallahassee, Florida.

Listing of other named individuals and role-based details

The material named Rossana Miliani as having disappeared from hiking in Bryson City, and described a witness who saw her enter a store nervous with an older man who looked to be in his 60’s; it stated Hilton stole her bank card and tried to use it and that Rossana died from being beaten to death by Hilton.

The material named Patrice Endres as having disappeared from her hair salon and stated her remains were found behind a church in Dawson County, Georgia.

The material named Michael Scot Louis as having been found killed and described as decapitated and dismembered body parts.

The material named Cayle Bywater as missing from Athens, Georgia.

The material also named Sheriff David Mahoney of North Carolina’s Transylvania County as speaking about jurisdiction to prosecute Hilton for Irene Bryant’s murder, and the material stated that he spoke to the interviewer, including the quote:

• "Well, Florida does have a fast track on the death penalty, doesn’t it," he mused.

The material named Deputy and officers in general terms, but only one clearly identified prosecutor and judge were quoted in the provided excerpt:

• Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman.
• Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson.
• State Attorney Willie Meggs.
• U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger.
• DeKalb Superior Court Judge Daniel Coursey.

Additional charge and statement details included in the material

In Georgia, the material stated Hilton was charged with kidnapping with intent to harm and malice murder in Emerson's January 4 death.

The material stated Hilton claimed that he had asked Emerson for her debit card PIN and that when she failed to give him the correct number, he kept her for four days before killing her. The material stated Hilton stated he could not bring himself to kill her dog and that, regarding the woman, "It was hard ... you gotta remember we had spent several good days together."

The material included a statement attributed to Hilton during police interview about burial:

• "I buried it nearby," Hilton told police. It also included Hilton’s statement about beheading:
• "He had beheaded Emerson in an attempt to obscure identification."

Prison and parole details

The material stated federal sentences did not include the possibility of parole.

The material stated in Georgia that Hilton would not be eligible for parole until he was 91 years old and that he would most likely die in prison and never see the light of day again.