Search Resumes Today For Missing Georgia Hiker - News Story - WSB Atlanta

Super cold and windy to be exposed for two nights but she's a Colorado girl. It's not mentioned in the article, but last night on the news they reported a witness saw a man with a police baton following her out of the woods. The baton was reportedly found on the ground w/ the dog's leash near her car.

Search resumes today. The wind kept the choppers from flying yesterday.
Search Continues For Missing Hiker - News Story - WGCL Atlanta

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If I didnt have interview today.... but I know where I'll be tomorrow! Thanks for posting this Kip.

CNN has picked it up. It's their top banner for cnn.com live right now. The news conference does not make it sound promising. They seem to be focusing on the guy with the baton, now a "person of interest": weathered white male, bad teeth, 50-60 yrs-old, 160 lbs., yellow jacket, large older backpack, had a dark red retriever with him named "Danny". He was seen talking to her multiple times on the trail the day she vanished.

CNN TV is carrying the news conference live now. GBI is involved. Sketch is forthcoming. This is not sounding like she just got turned around.

Hey guys,

Just got back from Vogel which has become a primary staging area for the rescue effort. A friend of mine and I went to assist. After talking over the phone with those help leading the rescue I was under the impression that they had enough for the search effort and to my dismay didn't dress appropriately because they did in fact need folks ready in every sense of the word. If the search continues tomorrow please be advised to dress warmly, wear hiking boots, backpack, water - the whole nine yards. I would refrain from 'cottony' clothes as it tends to hold moisture. They are being rather discriminating in terms of saying who goes and who doesn't. Those ready in the true sense of the word were first. Also, I would encourage much patience and willingness to adapt as it is a very fluid situation with multiple agencies on the ground, ie., GBI, DNR, local Fire and Rescue, etc., etc. Also, be advised that they are doing a grid search which requires going off trail and if you know anything about the Blood Mtn. area there is some nice, rugged terrain available.

I was hearing much of what you all have stated about the person of interest with nothing more to report. Saw a couple of helicopters flying over. It's just a very, very unfortunate situation. What got me out of my chair was thinking what if that was one of my boys. I'd want as many people out in force looking.

I hope and prayer is that God would bring much, much peace to her parents, family and friends and that closure would be brought today.

Nothing beats hearing it from someone that's been there, skydog, thanks.

Now they're looking for a white minivan. If she was taken, a van with another person helping makes the baton left on the ground & no wandering dog more understandable. I don't see how he could have taken her and the dogs (on foot by himself) without the leash and baton. This is looking just horrible.

Four videos regarding today's search in the middle sidebar here. They're now saying the man was calling his dog "Dandy", he's around 5'10", driving possibly a white Chevy or an Astro van, 2000 or 2001.

www.helpfindmeredith.com

UPDATE: Police have named the 'person of interest' they're looking for: Gary Michael Hilton

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_...storyid=109059

So that little dog did 20+ miles/day straight towards where someone that lives in DeKalb County would head home (GA 400)? This is looking awful.

Unconfirmed reports they found some of her belongings in a QuikTrip dumpster near where her dog was found. Another bad indicator is that apparently Mr. Hilton was vacuuming his van when police caught him, see photo #3

UPDATE: the sheriff confirmed that some of her belongings were found with an uncooperative Mr. Hilton in ATL:
In another twist, investigators are looking into a connection w/ this case and a man in a yellow jacket using a murdered hiker's ATM card at a Ducktown, TN bank:

Status changed from search & rescue to search & recovery. They must have that coward dead-to-rights with DNA/blood in the van:

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_...storyid=109094

Hmm, fits the same MO as the creep using the murdered couple's ATM card. I hope it's him so those families can find closure too and he will definitely "fry".

I am new to the forum, just need to say how badly I feel about this trajedy, we were in the Blue Ridge area for two weeks and left right before this happened, my husband and I grieve for the family and friends of this young woman, we hope everyone walking and hiking in the mountains remain safe and are extra careful.