Her body has been found. Sounds like Dawson County. Rest in peace Meredith.

I just heard they found ms. Emersons body,my heart , and I think I can speak for the good people of the world we all feel the loss and feel for the Emersons.
Gods speed
CARVER

As a Union County resident I want to extend a word of thanks and appreciation to all gov't and non gov't folks who gave so willingly of their time and energy in efforts to locate Meredith Emerson. You guys are awesome and are to be commended in whatever role you played, big or small. I hope and pray that we never have to encounter something like this again.

I'm with you skydog. Once law enforcement & the citizenry caught the scent on this predator, it became a perfect storm. If only Natalee Holloway had had this sort of support and professionalism from the community and law enforcement, those 3 scumbags wouldn't be walking around free and her family might have realized some form of closure by now.

Sucked into a tragedy

This sickens and makes me sad.
This guy needs to be put to death.
Public defender Smith needs his head examined if he defends this animal.
Would hope the DA goes after the death penalty.

I would agree with regards to the death penalty, especially when there is admission and evidence of his guilt. Unfortunately with our judicial system this guy will plead "insanity" and spend the rest of his life in prison. They should give Meredith's dad the extreme pleasure of spending 10 minutes in a room with this creep!!!... I believe justice would then be truly served.

There is a front page story in the New York Times today about the growing concern among women in the Atlanta metro area regarding self defense and classes are forming as we speak!
Also in the article is a discussion of North Georgia and it's trails and the "dark mood" that is settling over everyone in the aftermath of this tragedy. Most people asked are deciding not to walk or hike alone and the discussion of carrying a weapon on NF trails is open again. For myself I am seriously thinking about learning to handle a firearm, something I never really considered before but I have a cabin very near NF land and my feeling of safety has certainly diminished.
Let us all hope that we have caught the man who is singlehandedly disturbing the peace of our beautiful land but let us be vigilant in the future.

Below is an e-mail sent by a member of an Atlanta hiking group about her encounter with Gary Hilton on the same trail the day before Meredith Emerson went missing.

Subject: We, as women, are known for being too nice even when our gut tells us otherwise!

Hey everybody- I am sure you have all heard about the hiker who went missing on New Year's Day and the guy who is in custody for kidnapping her. Her body was found today and I am sure they will be charging him with her murder. He is also suspected in several other murders in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia.

I wanted to tell you all about what happened to me so that you will all be aware of who you talk to and to pay attention to your "something is weird here" radar. The day before the girl, Meredith Emerson, went missing, I was hiking on the same trail on Blood Mountain. I saw the man who is suspected of killing her and I talked to him for about 10 minutes. He asked me if I was alone and if I had a cell phone. It wasn't particularly odd that he asked me those questions, because he worked them into the conversation. My radar did go off because he is very strange. I didn't feel like I was in danger because I was with a group that I was hiking ahead of when I encountered him on the trail.

I'd like to think I wouldn't have talked to him if I was alone, but I probably would have- just to be polite. He was most likely 'shopping' me as a victim. He was walking very quickly ahead of me as we talked and I walked more quickly to be able to hear him and continue the conversation. I kept looking back to make sure I could see or hear my group. When the trail split, he went the other way than we did. My husband noticed that when we got to the bottom of the trail, the suspect, Hilton, was behind us. I don't know if he doubled back to see if I was alone or not.

That encounter was a little too close to home. I always try to be friendly and polite, but I've found that is not such a good idea. Who cares if a stranger thinks you snubbed them?

Just keep in mind that the world is full of bad people and that they are very good at manipulating situations to get you involved with them. Be safe and listen to your gut! "Stranger Danger" applies to grown-ups, too.