August 4, 2008
Prosecuting attorney: Drifter to Plead Guilty in Slain Hiker Case
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. A vagabond charged with snatch and defeating a tramper will plead guilty in the example at a getting wind Thursday good afternoon, a public prosecutor said.
Gary Hilton, 61, is scheduledded for a 1 p.m. discoverring in Dawson County Superior Court in the expiry of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson.
Union County District Attorney Stan Gunter says he was said by his opposite number in Dawson County, Lee Darragh, that Hilton “is coming in a shamefaced plea.”
Gunter says Darragh made not supply details and that he didn’t enquire for any.
It’s non clear what charge Hilton will plead guilty to or what sentence he mightiness receive as part of any supplication agreement.
Government have informated they conceive Emerson was abducted in Union County and shot down in Dawson County.
Her body was launched nearly 50 stat mis from where she vanished during a New Year’s Day hike near Blood Mountain in Union County. An autopsy report says Emerson was beaten to expiry and then beheaded.
Investigators in North Carolina and Florida besides have seemed at Hilton to realise whether he was mired in violent deaths in those states.