John and Irene Bryant-NC

[SuziQ]

Authorities say there is a "strong possibility" they will be able to place Gary Michael Hilton in Pisgah National Forest at or near the time an elderly North Carolina couple disappeared.
While unwilling to label Hilton, already charged in the murder of Buford hiker Meredith Emerson, a suspect in the presumed double murder of John and Irene Bryant, Transylvania County Sheriff's Office Det. Brian Kreigsman said the case is rapidly developing, with calls pouring in from people who say they spotted a white van or a man matching Hilton's description. (more at link)

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/01/10/hiker0111.html?cxntlid=inform

[SuziQ]

http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080111/NEWS01/80110134

(snip)
In Western North Carolina, authorities also think they have information that could place Hilton in the region around the time a Henderson County couple disappeared in Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said Thursday.
Mahoney stopped short of naming Hilton as a suspect in the slaying of 84-year-old Irene Bryant and disappearance of her husband John, 80, who remains missing.
“At this point, we’ve not been able to corroborate any of them (tips) where we could absolutely, definitively say he was in our county on this day or that day,” Mahoney said. “But I think there are some leads that we will be able to corroborate and put him here. That’s my hope.”

[SuziQ]

Transylvania (N.C.) County Sheriff David Mahoney told the AJC, "At this point, I'm willing to say he's a suspect" in the unsolved October disappearance John and Irene Bryant. Until now, North Carolina authorities only described Hilton as a "person of interest."

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/01/11/missing_0112_web3.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newsta b

[SeriouslySearching]

I realize they have to be cautious, but it makes me wonder if they found the yellow jacket and other items. If they have physical evidence in the Bryant case...it would seem they could go ahead with a case. Perhaps they are waiting on the lab to confirm DNA etc.

[DixiePeach]

Woman places Hilton in Tennessee soon after Bryant murder

A woman who delivers Coca-Cola to a gas station in Ducktown, Tenn., said she saw a man charged in Georgia with murder several times in the area, even around the time a man used the ATM card of murdered Horse Shoe resident Irene Bryant.

A woman who delivers Coca-Cola to a gas station in Ducktown, Tenn., said she saw a man charged in Georgia with murder several times in the area, even around the time a man used the ATM card of murdered Horse Shoe resident Irene Bryant.

Stephanie Johnson, who lives just outside Ducktown, said she saw 61-year-old Gary Hilton smoking cigarettes and walking with a dog outside a BP gas station she delivers drinks to. The BP gas station Johnson placed Hilton at is about 150 yards from the ATM someone used to withdraw $300 from the Bryant's account.

“I am positive it was Mr. Hilton,” Johnson said.

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080111/NEWS/375593915/1151/NEWS/Woman_places_Hilton_in_Tennessee_soon_after_Bryant _murder

[raindrops300]

From same link (bolding is mine):

""Johnson said the first time she saw Hilton was during the summer of 2007.
“He would just sit on a milk crate at the corner with a black mutt that had brown splotches,” she said. “I did see him around this area in October. I have had this same route for eight years.”""

Has anyone heard mention of a black dog before this article? Did anyone ever figure out where/when he got Dandy, the red retriever?

[close_enough]

there's no doubt in my mind that Hilton murdered Irene & her husband....wish they could find his body:(

[close_enough]

good place here, for the link below....

http://www.wyff4.com/news/14585002/detail.html

Photo Released From Trailhead Parking Lot

[gardenmom]

From same link (bolding is mine):

""Johnson said the first time she saw Hilton was during the summer of 2007.
“He would just sit on a milk crate at the corner with a black mutt that had brown splotches,” she said. “I did see him around this area in October. I have had this same route for eight years.”""

Has anyone heard mention of a black dog before this article? Did anyone ever figure out where/when he got Dandy, the red retriever?

Yes, there was mention of a black dog in one of the trail blogs that I read, yesterday. I will try to find it. It doesn't make sense, though, because people seemed to be reporting that he had Dandy for awhile.

[raindrops300]

........that he had Mack for awhile.

Do you mean Dandy/Dandie? Mack is Hilton's nickname. I did see something regarding Levy Frady last being seen near a black dog, but that was in 1997. I've read so much stuff in so many different places the last few days I can't remember what I read where...

[gardenmom]

I found this on another thread here, I guess this is what I was thinking of. It doesn't sound like him, but you never know.



skate's 2002
Appalachian Trail Journal

First Previous Next Last
Sunday, March 17, 2002
Destination: Hiawassee, GA
Starting Location: Cheese Factory Site
Today's Miles: 12.70
Trip Miles: 66.80
Wow! Actually slept last night. Had to turn my sleeping bag 180 degrees so my head was at the foot of the tent to avoid the incline. I don’t quite have the knack down for selecting the perfect tent spot yet. Rained all night, but broke long enough at 6:30 AM for us to pack up our gear. Today was a body climate control challenge – wind, rain, countered by body heat and sweat had me switching fleece hat to bandana and back, rain jacket on/off, fleece jacket on/off. Finally I gave up and settled for T-shirt drenched in sweat and damp from rain. One of the great features of a thru-hike is the “Great Unknown.” Every day is truly a new day and it is fun to see what unfolds as the day progresses. Hawkeye and I stopped briefly at Tray Mountain Shelter to enjoy the luxury of a latrine and discovered a bag of fresh oranges hanging at the shelter - Trail Magic. Also met – a Vietnam Vet, and his black Lab, Tucker. He is quite the conversationalist. In the course of 15 minutes, he covered the crusades, life on the line at General Motors, the Vietnam War and the 101st Airborne Division, Hanoi Jane, and the Palestinians and Israel! Pickle joined us and we took off for Deep Gap. Walking, walking, walking the AT, walking the AT north, walking the AT north from Georgia to Maine… With that cadence in mind, I climbed the never, never, never ending climb up Kelly Knob. The descent led to the Blue Blaze Trail to Deep Gap Shelter. I reached the shelter first and it was already crowded – Turkey Bacon, Yankee Joe, Eric (Ohio), Tinman and Godiva, and Greg. With more hikers pouring in, it would be a sardine can tonight. I walked back to the water source and met Hawkeye and Pickle. A quick pow-wow and we decided to move on. Boy, did we move! It was 4 PM and we knew if we covered 3.5 miles we could catch a ride to Hiawassee. Hot bath, hotel – enough said. We booked up, over and down those mountains and hit Dick’s Creek Gap in 1.2 hours. I swear we were practically running those ridges. Several cars and trucks passed us at Dick’s Creek before a retired couple pulled over and took us into town (11 miles). The best Trail Angels we’ve met thus far. Hot bath, a real bed, food, glorious food…. Life is good. We’ll take a day tomorrow to do laundry, stock up on food supplies, and plan our next week on the Trail. -skate

[gardenmom]

Do you mean Dandy/Dandie? Mack is Hilton's nickname. I did see something regarding Levy Frady last being seen near a black dog, but that was in 1997. I've read so much stuff in so many different places the last few days I can't remember what I read where...

Yes, sorry! My friend's dog's name is Mack. I went back and changed it.

[sweetmop]

Hilton is named a suspect in the Bryant case.



http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

[SeriouslySearching]

Finally!!! I think we all knew he was a suspect tho.

[DixiePeach]

Sheriff: Stolen North Carolina license plate tag on Gary Michael Hilton's van from vehicle registered in Brevard
by Mike McWilliams
published January 14, 2008 1:49 pm

The license plate found on accused killer Gary Hilton’s van was stolen off a broken down vehicle registered in Brevard, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said Monday.

However, Mahoney declined to reveal additional details about the plate, including the owner of the vehicle it belonged to. The owner has been contacted and is OK, Mahoney said.

<snipped>

http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880114032

[sweetmop]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS01/80114096




Today Transylvania County investigators are going to Georgia to talk to Hilton.

[DixiePeach]

Hilton van tied to Transylvania

<snipped>

Mahoney confirmed that the van was stolen, but would not comment on who the van or plate was registered to in Transylvania County.

"Until we approached the people about the tag, they didn't know the van was even missing," Mahoney said of the van's owners.

When asked if the stolen car with local tags was enough to link Hilton to the area and the Bryant murder, Mahoney said it was not.

"That in itself is not enough," he said. "Someone else could have stolen the vehicle and later been stolen by Hilton. The tag is a small piece in the big picture. We are working to put it all together to sure up our timeline and place Hilton in our county."

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080115/NEWS/801150327/1151/NEWS/Hilton_van_tied_to_Transylvania

[DeltaDawn]

Wow..so now we know the van was stolen..wonder what Hilton liked about the Ford Astro Vans..he had two, both white....I wonder if the other one is also stolen? And how do people not know they are missing a van? They didn't know it was stolen, hadn't reported it stolen...yet both vans are fairly new wasn't one a 2002 and the other a 2005 model?
So if the van was never reported stolen that is how he could register it in GA without the vin number showing up as a reported stolen vehicle...hm..

[jipc]

IMO it may be another case of media errors concerning this case. I have seen quite a few errors in their stories regarding this case (even so far as reporting Hiltons van as Emerson's van). They may have meant to say van plates not "van" as being stolen.

[MeoW333]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS01/80114096

From what it sounds like in this article, Hilton (or someone) stole the plates off a vehicle that was probably sitting in a repair garage lot or the like. The plates came off a vehicle that wasn't on the real owners' property. I'm glad to hear the real owners of the plates are okay.

IMO, for Hilton to be able to get out to NC, my guess would be he already had a vehicle to drive out there. After that, he stole some plates off another. The best place for plates to take without having them noticed quickly would be from a repair garage with cars in the lot that needed fixing.
Given his criminal history, i do wonder if he stole some cars also. In that one atm video (not sure offhand which case) there was a pickup truck in the camo wrap in the background. If it was Hilton, maybe he stole that. I really think this guy has some "home bases" in different areas he frequented; either to stash his souvenirs whether they be plates, victim's belongings. I hope LE are checking into abandoned cabins. There are ones out there, and i'm sure Hilton would find them with his hiking experience.
It may even be a type of run down cabin in the woods not accessable by a car or vehicle that could be hiked to. (doubtful Hilton has an atv or quad).

[panglossian]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS01/80114096

From what it sounds like in this article, Hilton (or someone) stole the plates off a vehicle that was probably sitting in a repair garage lot or the like. The plates came off a vehicle that wasn't on the real owners' property. I'm glad to hear the real owners of the plates are okay.

IMO, for Hilton to be able to get out to NC, my guess would be he already had a vehicle to drive out there. After that, he stole some plates off another. The best place for plates to take without having them noticed quickly would be from a repair garage with cars in the lot that needed fixing.
Given his criminal history, i do wonder if he stole some cars also. In that one atm video (not sure offhand which case) there was a pickup truck in the camo wrap in the background. If it was Hilton, maybe he stole that. I really think this guy has some "home bases" in different areas he frequented; either to stash his souvenirs whether they be plates, victim's belongings. I hope LE are checking into abandoned cabins. There are ones out there, and i'm sure Hilton would find them with his hiking experience.
It may even be a type of run down cabin in the woods not accessable by a car or vehicle that could be hiked to. (doubtful Hilton has an atv or quad).
Although Hilton has been confronted camping in the open areas of the woods, he may have camped in caves as well. I'm sure he spent more time off trails than on, judging by the amount of time he spent in the parks. Those would be additional areas to search besides cabins. Is the area where the plates were taken adjacent to woods?

[Native New Yorker]

http://tiny.cc/qRZTH

[SuziQ]

The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office has scheduled a news conference in the John and Irene Bryant case.
It will be held Wednesday, January 16, at 2:00pm.

http://www.wspa.com/midatlantic/spa/news.apx.-content-articles-SPA-2008-01-15-0033.html

[SeriouslySearching]

Could someone please give us a report on the news conference since I won't be here?! Please!! I hate to miss this one!

[DixiePeach]

Sheriff tries to connect Hilton links


By John Harbin
Times-News Staff Writer

BREVARD -- Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. today about the murder of Irene Bryant, one day after the department's investigators met with law officers from two other states about suspect Gary Michael Hilton.

The sheriff said he will make a brief statement but take no questions.

"The reason I said that was because I know the first question that you will ask and I can't answer that question," Mahoney said.

It was not clear what Mahoney was referring to but a significant remaining question is what happened to Irene's husband, John, and, if he was killed, where is his body.

<snipped>

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080116/NEWS/801160336/1151/NEWS/Sheriff_tries_to_connect_Hilton_links

[gardenmom]

http://tiny.cc/qRZTH

That is so sad. They sound like wonderful people. It's such a shame some monster came along and took them away. They sound like the kind of people anyone would love to know. They lived a wonderful, long life, and had the kind of love we all just dream about. It's just so sad...

[Jade]

http://tiny.cc/qRZTH

So Irene Bryant was a vet. I missed that fact previously. Animal lover connection again.

snip>>>took her doctorate from Washington State College and opened a veterinary practice concentrating on large animals, becoming one of the first women vets in Montana. >>>snip


Wonder who started the encounter? Hilton or Bryants. Pretty nervy for Hilton to take on two people even if they were older. Poor Irene. Wonder if she bent over to pet the dog and was hit with the baton.

[Aleph]

I found this on another thread here, I guess this is what I was thinking of. It doesn't sound like him, but you never know.



skate's 2002
Appalachian Trail Journal

First Previous Next Last
Sunday, March 17, 2002
Destination: Hiawassee, GA
Starting Location: Cheese Factory Site
Today's Miles: 12.70
Trip Miles: 66.80
Wow! Actually slept last night. Had to turn my sleeping bag 180 degrees so my head was at the foot of the tent to avoid the incline. I don’t quite have the knack down for selecting the perfect tent spot yet. Rained all night, but broke long enough at 6:30 AM for us to pack up our gear. Today was a body climate control challenge – wind, rain, countered by body heat and sweat had me switching fleece hat to bandana and back, rain jacket on/off, fleece jacket on/off. Finally I gave up and settled for T-shirt drenched in sweat and damp from rain. One of the great features of a thru-hike is the “Great Unknown.” Every day is truly a new day and it is fun to see what unfolds as the day progresses. Hawkeye and I stopped briefly at Tray Mountain Shelter to enjoy the luxury of a latrine and discovered a bag of fresh oranges hanging at the shelter - Trail Magic. Also met – a Vietnam Vet, and his black Lab, Tucker. He is quite the conversationalist. In the course of 15 minutes, he covered the crusades, life on the line at General Motors, the Vietnam War and the 101st Airborne Division, Hanoi Jane, and the Palestinians and Israel! Pickle joined us and we took off for Deep Gap. Walking, walking, walking the AT, walking the AT north, walking the AT north from Georgia to Maine… With that cadence in mind, I climbed the never, never, never ending climb up Kelly Knob. The descent led to the Blue Blaze Trail to Deep Gap Shelter. I reached the shelter first and it was already crowded – Turkey Bacon, Yankee Joe, Eric (Ohio), Tinman and Godiva, and Greg. With more hikers pouring in, it would be a sardine can tonight. I walked back to the water source and met Hawkeye and Pickle. A quick pow-wow and we decided to move on. Boy, did we move! It was 4 PM and we knew if we covered 3.5 miles we could catch a ride to Hiawassee. Hot bath, hotel – enough said. We booked up, over and down those mountains and hit Dick’s Creek Gap in 1.2 hours. I swear we were practically running those ridges. Several cars and trucks passed us at Dick’s Creek before a retired couple pulled over and took us into town (11 miles). The best Trail Angels we’ve met thus far. Hot bath, a real bed, food, glorious food…. Life is good. We’ll take a day tomorrow to do laundry, stock up on food supplies, and plan our next week on the Trail. -skate

Hi there,

I did some investigating in the hiker thread. M is not GMH, just so you know.

[SuziQ]

Could someone please give us a report on the news conference since I won't be here?! Please!! I hate to miss this one!

Presser is 10 minutes away and there is no link.

[SuziQ]

So Irene Bryant was a vet. I missed that fact previously. Animal lover connection again.

snip>>>took her doctorate from Washington State College and opened a veterinary practice concentrating on large animals, becoming one of the first women vets in Montana. >>>snip


Wonder who started the encounter? Hilton or Bryants. Pretty nervy for Hilton to take on two people even if they were older. Poor Irene. Wonder if she bent over to pet the dog and was hit with the baton.

IMO, Dandy was to Hilton as a cast was to Bundy.

[Native New Yorker]

That is one of the many reasons that this case has hit me so hard....

I have a dog who spends a lot of time with me....I used to go to dog parks, every day as a matter of fact, but had some bad experiences, though nothing dangerous....still enough to make me aware that not every dog owner is a kind or nice person...
also ran into several injuries caused by not-so-nice dogs....

BUT I can see that if I were a lot younger, I might not see things this way...
clearly, there were many who were taken in by Hilton/ Dandy...
the Bryants, as far as I know were not dog owners....so they likely did not know that owning a dog does not ipso facto make a person a trustworthy one....

[SuziQ]

Sheriff David Mahoney said investigators have established a positive link between the murder of Irene Bryant, the disappearance of her husband and Gary Michael Hilton. At a press conference today, Mahoney said because of the complexity of the investigation that he couldn’t discuss details and that he said, “details regarding the timing or venue of criminal charges will not be released at this time.” (more at link)

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/NEWS01/80116072

[DeltaDawn]

Interesting article, thank you SuziQ for placing that here for us to read.

I wonder what the piece of evidence is that ties Hilton to them? It looks like LE will take their time here before letting more info out of the bag. I wish they would have been able to speak with/ have Hilton give them a location for Mr Bryant's body..so their family could have a service and some closure.

[Tallytowngirl]

I wonder what the piece of evidence is that ties Hilton to them?

I recall that Hilton dumped several garbage bags while that 911 caller had him in sight. I would suppose that there were things in those bags that Hilton knew would convict him... Something like Mr. Bryant's yellow jacket? (or at least the same yellow jacket that is in the Ducktown ATM pictures)

Also, how many fleeces do you think Meredith had with her when she was hiking? One for sure, possibly two - but three? He was found with three blood covered fleeces... I wonder if any of those belonged to the Bryant's?

[Pure Maple Syrup]

Also, how many fleeces do you think Meredith had with her when she was hiking? One for sure, possibly two - but three? He was found with three blood covered fleeces... I wonder if any of those belonged to the Bryant's?
Just to clarify here, the police stated that "three blood-soaked fleece tops" were found in the dumpster in Cummins a few hours earlier.

The warrant for searching the van mentions a purple zip-up fleece.

Most hikers will wear a wicking base layer plus a warm fleece layer. They may also carry a second fleece or shell layer to put on anytime they stop moving and get chilled. My guess is she wore two, maybe had the 3rd tied around her waist.

Re: the purple one...who knows? Agreed that for Meredith to have had FOUR fleeces with her would have been odd.

[Pure Maple Syrup]

Just to clarify here, the police stated that "three blood-soaked fleece tops" were found in the dumpster in Cummins a few hours earlier. Also, immediately upon finding these, police stated that they did not believe Meredith was still alive. They were apparently soaked in so much fresh, wet blood that police concluded that no one wearing those could have lost that much blood and still be alive. There may also have been other, er...stuff on them, like brain matter or bone fragments that indicated that the former wearer was deceased.

[Tallytowngirl]

Just to clarify here, the police stated that "three blood-soaked fleece tops" were found in the dumpster in Cummins a few hours earlier.

My bad - I've read so much, I forget half of it! I just remembered thinking "three fleeces? how odd..." and forgot they were in the dumpster, not the van.

The warrant for searching the van mentions a purple zip-up fleece.

hmm... sounds like somebody (witnesses, boyfriend?) knew Meredith was wearing a purple zip up fleece, since they were looking specifically for that in connection with her. Not to belabor the point - the warrant didn't mention several fleeces, right? just the one?

I've done a bit of hiking in the cold myself (even if I'm from Tallahassee), and certainly will wear one fleece and a windbreaker, and possibly carry a second fleece along... I haven't personally carried two with me and worn a third. So I just thought that 3 would be more than she'd have had with her (but I can see she might have taken second extra along, since it was snowy, so you're right - guess I've been in the far south too long. We don't have snow down here)

My thinking was - Hilton, being homeless, might have wanted to keep things like warm fleeces - like ones he'd taken from say, the Bryants. But maybe he was really dumb and kept the Bryant's ATM card or something really incriminating. We can only hope...

The blood probably was Meredith's... sounds like he killed her in the van, and if his van was as junked up as witnesses have said, her blood probably got on all of the stuff inside it.

I wonder about the purse? I'm looking forward to hearing more when our LE gets back in town - see if it was Cheryl's purse they found in the dumpster. Of course, they've been so closed mouth about the whole thing, I wonder if they'll tell us.

[panglossian]

Don't forget Meredith was a runner who had regularly run this trail with her friends. Runners don't wear 3 fleeces. Not even in the snow belt. The clothing used in running translates to hiking, particularly on hilly trails and with a young energetic dog. At one year Ella is still considered a puppy.

[Pure Maple Syrup]

The blood probably was Meredith's... sounds like he killed her in the van, and if his van was as junked up as witnesses have said, her blood probably got on all of the stuff inside it. I've thought a lot about that. It just doens't make any sense. Why decapitate her inside the van and get blood and gore all over it and all the stuff inside it. Now everything's bloody and contaminated with her DNA. Much easier and cleaner to drag/march/carry her a few hundred yards into the woods and do it there. :confused:

And why take her dripping-with-blood clothes off AFTER death and take them with you? Where her blood and DNA will get all over everything? Just leave them there with the body...

[Pure Maple Syrup]

I've done a bit of hiking in the cold myself (even if I'm from Tallahassee), and certainly will wear one fleece and a windbreaker, and possibly carry a second fleece along... I haven't personally carried two with me and worn a third. So I just thought that 3 would be more than she'd have had with her We also gotta remember that he held her captive for three days in the van in winter. Early on, he might have lost or thrown away the purple fleece that she had been carrying/wearing that day, that's why the warrant mentioned it. But in the days that followed, she must have been cold lying in that van so, to keep her alive, Hilton dressed her in other victim's fleeces that he had lying around the van.

Note that it was never reported that the clothing found in the dumpster WAS Merediths, only that it was "consistent with what she was thought to have been wearing".

[panglossian]

I wonder if he rifled through her car before moving her from area. She may have brought extra fleeces to change to after a strenuous sweaty hike. We know he had a comfort level with stealing. He had her ATM card and I find it hard to believe she was hiking on a trail with that. Probably grabbed things of value quickly and didn't realize he lost his baton .

[Pure Maple Syrup]

I wonder if he rifled through her car before moving her from area. She may have brought extra fleeces to change to after a strenuous sweaty hike. We know he had a comfort level with stealing. He had her ATM card and I find it hard to believe she was hiking on a trail with that. Probably grabbed things of value quickly and didn't realize he lost his baton .I am a very experienced backpacker and dayhiker and have hiked the AT in this area extensively. I would NEVER leave my wallet in my car at a trailhead. NEVER. I don't know anyone else who would either. Break-ins happen all the time at trailheads, hikers are very aware of this.

Now, if I were going trailrunning, er, maybe, and only if I were going to be gone a short time. But Meredith was carrying all kinds of heavy stuff, multiple water bottles, dog leash, dog treats, mittens, etc. The warrant mentions a fanny pack she might have had. So, if ya got a fanny pack, you have room to tuck your wallet in. Or at least take out your DL and credit cards and take them with you, they barely weigh a thing and are small...

[DeltaDawn]

The peice of evidence that would link the Bryants positively would be more like DNA. A driver's license, atm card, etc could be said to be found on the street..but I think there may have been a piece of DNA transferred from Mr Bryant to the van. It will be fascinating what they found that is proof positive he alledgedly was involved with the Bryants murders.

[Pure Maple Syrup]

The peice of evidence that would link the Bryants positively would be more like DNA. I think they're only talking about the fact that the plate was confirmed stolen in Trans Cty. Notice the language. They're only talking about a "link between Transylvania County, GMH and the Bryants. A link, not "evidence". It's just the stolen plate, IMO.

Possibly someone saw Hilton in a white Astro van w/NC plates near where the Bryants went missing. There is the "link". Again, they did not use the term "evidence", as they most certainly would have if they'd been referring to DNA.

I think the NC sheriff was just being beseiged by media inquiries and felt he had to do a press conference.

[SeriouslySearching]

I think he lost the baton and his sunglasses in a struggle myself. I don't think he even realized it until later.

[Tallytowngirl]

We also gotta remember that he held her captive for three days in the van in winter. Early on, he might have lost or thrown away the purple fleece that she had been carrying/wearing that day, that's why the warrant mentioned it. But in the days that followed, she must have been cold lying in that van so, to keep her alive, Hilton dressed her in other victim's fleeces that he had lying around the van.


If it is true that he kept Jack Bryant's yellow coat and had the temerity to wear it (did he think he'd look like Jack Bryant at the ATM?), I wouldn't think he'd have thrown away the purple fleece, either. I mean, if he's got a kidnapped girl tied up in his van, why throw away the fleece? She's more evidence than the fleece would be.

[Tallytowngirl]

But I totally agree with you about the blood in the van. It makes no sense that he'd decapitate her in the van. My guess is that the blood was from other things (not nice to think about, at all...) and that he hadn't realized that there was blood inside his van until he looked at the stuff later on.

Or was he really that confident that his van would never be searched? Until he heard about the newsflashes. Then he decided to clean out the van... (ok, bad memory again - the fleeces were NOT at the car wash, right? So he'd stopped and dumped stuff twice?)

[sweetmop]

This is such a very very sad story. The whole ordeal of Merdith Emerson at the hands of that evil SOB.

I did see a news report ( and I am trying to locate it so I can post it ) where the investigator was being interviewed by a reporter and he states that Meredith was murdered at the site where her remains were found.
He went on to state that he couldn't give any details of how they knew that, but they knew that as a fact in this case.

[felder]

http://tiny.cc/qRZTH

This is an amazing article. Lots of wonderful information about the couple. What amazing people. What a loss. Hilton seemed determined to take our best.

[Tallytowngirl]

Brevard, N.C. – Investigators have evidence linking Georgia drifter Gary Michael Hilton with the killing of a Henderson County woman and presumed death of her missing husband, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said Wednesday.

http://www.wxia.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=109658

[DeltaDawn]

Glad to see this article said evidence linking GMH to the Bryants. When the sheriff said postive link I took it to mean evidence. We knew they already had links with the stolen car plate, the LE car videocam of him speaking with the agent in NC, we knew they had links..hoping it is something like a receipt from the ATM or an article of clothing belonging to one of the Bryants. Their family needs closure and to know where Mr Bryant's body is now.

[sweetmop]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22700174/



I notice there may also be a link to a missing young woman in Swain county NC.

I believe this Hilton devil is responsible for more missing murdererd persons than we can imagine!!!

Creepy scarey monster!

[panglossian]

Creepy, indeed!!! I hiked four states on the AT alone with my dog. It took me 1 month. I was extremely fortunate not to find this guy on my path. It occurred to me that from what we know at this point he targeted day-hikers. Perhaps he knew day-hikers hike with their guard down compared to through- hikers and most likely would be weaponless. We know he did not consider a dog or a companion to be sufficient protection.

[SeriouslySearching]

I hope they can locate John Bryant, too. Right now, his is the only body missing in this case.

The other cases they are seriously considering they have the bodies, but no perp. (I wonder when they are going to dive into the cases where there are no bodies yet to find out if they are related to GHM. We know the probability exists that he is responsible for so many more.)

[Tallytowngirl]

Here's another story about the link between the Bryants and Hilton. The story doesn't have any new information in it, but I thought the AP video included on the page was good.

Hilton officially connected to Bryant murder; charges must wait (http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080117/NEWS/801170348/0/SPORTS)

[sweetmop]

I know ya'll have seen the dash cam video from a Gerogia Sheriff's car.

Very chilling, and notice how " hyper " (THINK NERVOUS ) the monster acts!:mad:


http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15005616/detail.html


The date of this confrontation was 10/26/2007. 5 days after the death and disappearence of Irene and John Bryant!

I think LE should be seriously searching this area for poor John's body! And they well may be as I post this!
Who knows, Hilton could of had the poor man in the van at that time!:furious:

And I guess that the Sherrif here is also very frotunate he didn't become a victim as well!

[drumstick]

I would most certainly be looking for Mr. Bryant's remains in and around where the dash cam video was recorded.

:(

[sweetmop]

Autopsy on Irene confirms that she was bludgeaned in the head.
And it's believed that she attempted to defend herself against the attacker.
Her left hand and forearm was broken!

So sad.


http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS01/80121038

[Native New Yorker]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/NEWS01/80121081

[panglossian]

It is my hope that she and all of his victims fought against him in some way.

[sweetmop]

God, what this sweet lady must have gone through! And I'm sure her husband, John too!

And poor John, where is John???

LE needs to MAKE that scum Hilton talk and tell them where he put John Bryant's body!

[DeltaDawn]

What kind of monster repeated beats on an 84 year old women until she is dead? They should do whatever they need to do to make Hilton Talk and tell them where her husband's body can be found.

[Karole28]

Authorities plan to search Thursday and Friday in two North Georgia counties for John Bryant, an elderly North Carolina hiker who disappeared last fall along with his wife, Irene.

Irene Bryant's body was discovered in November, three weeks after the couple disappeared, and police have named Gary Michael Hilton, the man charged with murdering a North Georgia hiker, as a suspect in the North Carolina couple's disappearance and Irene Bryant's death.

On Thursday and Friday, the GBI will be joining local, state and federal authorities from Georgia and North Carolina in searching an area that includes Towns and Union counties in northeast Georgia, GBI spokesman John Bankhead said.

"Numerous sources have identified Gary Michael Hilton as being in this area of Georgia in late October, 2007," Bankhead said. "The GBI is seeking input from the public on any sightings of Hilton in this area of northeast Georgia."

Bankhead asked that anyone who recalls seeing Hilton, or his white Chevrolet Astro van, in Towns County in late October call the GBI's Cleveland office at 706-348-4866.



Link to article (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/01/23/search_0124.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab)

[panglossian]

Let's hope this leads to progress in this case.

[concernedperson]

I certainly hope with this united effort that Mr. Bryant will be found so his family can have some closure. It is terrible not to know what happened to your loved one and have a place to visit.

[drumstick]

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/

Authorities will search N. Georgia for missing N.C. Hiker

Union County, Ga. (Fox5)

Authorities will search NE Georgia Thursday for signs of a missing N.C. man.

80 year old John Bryant and his wife disappeared in October while hiking in N.C..
She was later found dead, and police say they have linked Gary Hilton to her death. Click on video for more information ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The video describes the locations that le will search for Mr. Bryant.
I hope they include the woods where the dash cam video was recorded.

~

[sweetmop]

I know ya'll have seen the dash cam video from a Gerogia Sheriff's car.

Very chilling, and notice how " hyper " (THINK NERVOUS ) the monster acts!:mad:


http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15005616/detail.html


The date of this confrontation was 10/26/2007. 5 days after the death and disappearence of Irene and John Bryant!

I think LE should be seriously searching this area for poor John's body! And they well may be as I post this!
Who knows, Hilton could of had the poor man in the van at that time!:furious:

And I guess that the Sherrif here is also very frotunate he didn't become a victim as well!


This is where they need to search!

This video was 5 days after the murder of Irene!

Look how suspicious Hilton is acting!!! He got rid of John's body somewhere near here!!!

[panglossian]

I think they may find something there, unless GMH came back to move the body and he had plenty of time.

[SeriouslySearching]

I wish he would just TELL THEM what he did with John instead of them having to search.

[sweetmop]

I wish he would just TELL THEM what he did with John instead of them having to search.


Me too!! And can't they make him tell them?
It sure seems like they'd have some ways to make him talk, huh?

[panglossian]

I wish he would just TELL THEM what he did with John instead of them having to search.
Wouldn't he lose his leverage if he did that? Well, what little he has, or thinks he has.

[SuziQ]

Two days searching the forest around Hiawassee were not productive, and searchers are unlikely to return to that area without additional leads that could take them to the body of a 79-year-old North Carolina hiker, authorities said. (more at link)
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/01/25/search0126.html

[panglossian]

Two days searching the forest around Hiawassee were not productive, and searchers are unlikely to return to that area without additional leads that could take them to the body of a 79-year-old North Carolina hiker, authorities said. (more at link)
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/01/25/search0126.html

Thank you SuziQ. Another letdown.

[SuziQ]

Thank you SuziQ. Another letdown.

I had been hoping that GMH had given them some info. I feel so sorry for John's family.

[sweetmop]

I had been hoping that GMH had given them some info. I feel so sorry for John's family.

I can't imagine losing elederly parents, or anyone for that matter, to an atrocious, vicious attack and kidnapping. Thank God that Irene's body was found!

Can you imagine the torment of thinking about poor John, what he must have gone through and never locating his whereabouts? !!!
What an uniamaginable nightmare!

My thoughts and prayers continue for the Bryant's family.

[sweetmop]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/NEWS/80131023




Hilton plead GUILTY in Meredith's murder today. A plea deal.
Eligible for parole in 30 years.

Hope he talks regarding Irene and John's murders.

[dragonfly]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/NEWS/80131023

From this same article that sweetmop just posted above:

“Once I heard about the plea, we rallied up the posse and I said get down there and wait for him to get back from the courthouse,” Mahoney said.
Authorities in Georgia had asked North Carolina law enforcement officials to hold off on talking to Hilton until they finished with the Emerson case, the sheriff said.

Wonder if he did get to question Hilton after the trial?
Haven't heard a thing...

[SeriouslySearching]

I think with GMH providing such detail in Meredith's murder, he has no reason not to tell them about the other murders. The plea of guilty gives me a lot of hope that he will continue to talk and brag, if you will, about all the people he has killed along the way. I think the remorse is fake that his atty mentioned.

I expect him to confess to John and Irene's murder then lead them to his body. Hopefully, this will come out very soon.

[sweetmop]

Well, the monster wouldn't talk! Not without a lawyer! :mad:





http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080201/NEWS/902216265/1151/NEWS/Transylvania_County_Sheriff_Interview_with_Hilton_ not_productive_

[felder]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/02/01/nchikers_0202.html

[ShowerSinger]

Or is it someone else?
www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59770

[Truly]

Bumping to make sure people have a chance to read ShowerSinger's link. Skeletal remains found in Nantahala National Forest today, as well as the body of a woman found between her car and a trailhead near Highlands, NC on Friday. Police are investigating a link to Hilton in the skeletal remains.

[jantel74]

I think it's probably someone else. Nantahala is a long way from where Irene was found.

[Truly]

I think it's probably someone else. Nantahala is a long way from where Irene was found.

Quite true, jantel, but remember that Hilton drove all over the place with Meredith in his van for days trying to access her bank account. I know that the Bryant's account was accessed in Ducktown, Tn, but there's no telling where Mr. Bryant may be. I hope for their children's sake that he is found soon.

[Pure Maple Syrup]

I think with GMH providing such detail in Meredith's murder, he has no reason not to tell them about the other murders. The plea of guilty gives me a lot of hope that he will continue to talk and brag, if you will, about all the people he has killed along the way. I think the remorse is fake that his atty mentioned.

I expect him to confess to John and Irene's murder then lead them to his body. Hopefully, this will come out very soon.Interesting, I was thinking just the opposite. The info that was given to the grand jury last week was the stuff he admitted to the day he led them to Meredith's body. He admitted to all this in order to swing the "no death penalty deal".

Afterwards, he undoubtedly found out that the "no DP" thing was thin ice, and that maybe even Dawson County wouldn't honor it. They did end up doing so, but I think the "scare" of either being "tricked" or just having been given bad advice by his defense atty has him clammed up for good now.

If he admits to any other killings, he WILL face the DP. We know for a fact that he is terrified of dying, otherwise why did he cry and spill the beans about Meredith the minute he found out that kidnapping w/bodily injury itself, carried the DP for him?

[SeriouslySearching]

Does he want to spend the rest of his life in prison?! I guess that is the question now. Then again...if he keeps talking...and talking...and talking...they will insure his "safety" from the DP because they want to bring home as many bodies to families as they can.

[concernedperson]

Does he want to spend the rest of his life in prison?! I guess that is the question now.

He isn't going anywhere. NC seems to believe he is their perp for the Bryant's so all deals are off. He still has Cheryl in Florida who the detectives there aren't giving him a break either.One of these DP states will get him even if Georgia made a deal.

[sweetmop]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS01/80203024


Just watched the local news here.
And while they are not saying that these are John Bryant's remains, they are heavily hinting at that.
They said that the Bryant's family members were notified of the findings.
And also said that Hilton was reported as being seen in Macon county area!

[Pure Maple Syrup]

He isn't going anywhere. NC seems to believe he is their perp for the Bryant's so all deals are off. He still has Cheryl in Florida who the detectives there aren't giving him a break either.One of these DP states will get him even if Georgia made a deal.
Right, but I think what we're discussing is the fact that he now has NO reason to divulge info on other victims. They might still get him on evidence, but he has no reason at all to confess anything else. EXCEPT maybe to get some privileges that a prisoner of his high-security (no privilges) rank would not ordinarily get.

[sweetmop]

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080204/NEWS/15440103/1151/NEWS/Remains_found_in_Macon_County_identified_as_John_B ryant




Remains found Saturday evening, positively identified as John Bryant's

[sweetmop]

John's remains were identified through dental records and his cardiac pacemaker.

[MCDRAW]

I wondered how they identified him so quick.

[Native New Yorker]

I doubt that LE was troubled by the call...they probably just think we are a bunch of silly little old ladies on these boards....

[WindChime]

We have spoken with the real sgt.rock's wife,he is a well known legit person. There is to be NO MORE post posted, regarding him being connected to Hilton in any way,
Thank You
Windchime

[Native New Yorker]

Thanks, WC...for clearing this up...I went back and read some of his trail journals, and he seemed like a nice hiker...
I guess it is too easy to get too wrapped up in this sort of case.
I have said it before, but will repeat...Hilton worked with NO ONE...he thought he was superior to everyone...the monster did all his work alone...

[Tallytowngirl]

Feds might be the prosecutors in the Bryant case:

Because the Bryants' remains were found on federal forest service properties in two different counties, officials are sorting out whether the cases will be prosecuted at the county level or by the U.S. Attorney's Office. http://www.wyff4.com/news/15241095/detail.html

Also, there's been a request (http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080206/NEWS01/80206060) by authorities in Macon County GA for anybody who thinks they may have seen Hilton around the time of the Bryants' disappearance to please come forward.

[Jade]

My thought on Hilton giving the information he did on Meredith is in his grotesque way he was comforting her survivors by saying she thought she was going to be set free. In other words that her last thought was she was going home.

Maybe he didn’t form that connection with the Mr. Bryant.

[Native New Yorker]

I really do not see what comfort it would give a family to know that
a. their beloved daughter spent her last night on earth tied to a tree in the freezing cold
b. that the last thing she saw was a tire iron coming at her from the demon who had made her last days a hell on earth...AFTER he told her she would be freed
Comfort? Being kind?? No. Grotesque, oh yes.

[Jade]

I was being sarcastic. I will change my post to make myself clear.

I was trying to say he was providing some details that in his mind might make sense in that she didn’t ever know what hit her. Which might give a family some comfort.

I thought he stated he hit her from behind but I stand corrected

[MeoW333]

Hilton needs to make a public service announcement that any of things he is going to be charged with, don't bother to try and gain a with him rapport with him, he won't talk without a lawyer. That way they can save time or assign him a lawyer in time. I don't think he'll fall for anymore LE tactics to question him on things.

[Hiker]

Hello, I'm new to the forum. As my user name indicates, I'm a member of the hiking community.

Gary Hilton was a loner when out on trails. He did not go to events frequented by other hikers, nor did he befriend other hikers. Hikers who have seen him at various places have said that his behavior was different enough to alert them to a potential problem. Some have said that he has a special connection to dogs and would completely ignore them while engaging their dog.

Members of the hiking community have been cooperating with LE from day one in telling them when and where they have seen Gary Hilton or someone they believe may have been Gary Hilton. Hikers more than anyone have a real stake in getting Hilton and his kind off our trails and out of the woods. Our lives literally depend on it.

It is legal to live in shelters in the National Forest for up to 14 days. Because of this, it is not uncommon for those who are homeless or are experiencing domestic difficulties (ie: thrown out of the house with nowhere to go) to take up residence in shelters that are near roads. Hikers see such people on a regular basis. Some are mentally ill. This is why Gary Hilton - even though odd - did not cause too much concern among hikers.

Many members of the hiking community are very familiar with the area where Meredith Emerson was kidnapped and where John Bryant's remains were found. Many saw a man living at Rock Gap shelter near where John Bryant's body was found, but it appears the man was younger than Hilton and friendlier.

My guess is that Hilton had stay at Rock Gap in the past, knew the area and used it to dispose of John Bryant's remains for that reason. I believe he was probably camped in the Transylvania County area in the Pisgah National forest before killing Irene Bryant and abducting John Bryant because he appears to have been staying somewhat near the area where Emerson was abducted prior to that incident and staying in the area where Cheryl Hodges Dunlap was abducted prior to that incident. In each case, he took the victim to an area where he had previously camped to kill them and dispose of the bodies.

[InterestedNHelping]

Welcome to websleuths! Your information is very helpful here, and thank you. What you said about him finding victims and taking them where he previously camped, should be very very helpful to law enforcement. If you see this pattern, they should know about it, either by you or someone here, however you feel comfortable reporting it. The hikers will give a history of Hilton, and maybe a sad trail of people that he killed, in those places. You are a great service to this case, and we would like your input wherever you feel it is relevant. thanks for joining

[Hiker]

The LE are aware of this pattern and the hiking community has been providing them with when and where Hilton was.

[christine2448]

The LE are aware of this pattern and the hiking community has been providing them with when and where Hilton was.

Welcome to WS! Thank you for joining this dicussion. Sad to have to meet this way :(

Your information/input/hiking experience could be very valuable to sleuthing this case.

[aj1020]

Welcome, Hiker! Your input is VERY helpful as we piece together these mysteries.

[SeriouslySearching]

Welcome to WS, Hiker! I never thought about him taking them back to places he previously camped, but it makes sense. Thanks!

It is good that the hiking community is taking this seriously and helping LE piece his whereabouts together. Without that information, they would have little to go on with his transient lifestyle. Bravo!

[indigomood]

Feds heading Bryant death investigation

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080212/NEWS01/80212041

[sweetmop]

http://wlos.com/newsroom/nc/topstory/topstory1.shtml




This evening's report from WLOS TV , in Asheville NC.

At the end of the article, there's a link to the search warrant, including the warrant for Hilton's van!

[concernedperson]

http://wlos.com/newsroom/nc/topstory/topstory1.shtml




This evening's report from WLOS TV , in Asheville NC.

At the end of the article, there's a link to the search warrant, including the warrant for Hilton's van!
According to the link they found numerous blood samples from a variety of donors. How many people did this monster kill?i

[sweetmop]

Good grief, pornographic magazines, condoms, personal lubricant!

Plus ALOT of clothing, that sure doesn't sound like his clothes, does it?

Evil a*****e!!!

[Native New Yorker]

I am just beyond horrified at the amount of stuff they found....
and all of those dog leashes, makes me wonder if he had gotten many dog owners, or just the dogs? I am just overwhelmed by this, always figured he just had a bunch of garbage in his van.
Now it seems as if he might have been Jack the Ripper on wheels.

[panglossian]

Throughout the Hilton threads there has been speculation on his eating habits, dog care, you name it and here's a lot of information. I guess you have to take the good with the bad when reading the van's contents.
Yeah, the condoms:eek: the hypodermic needles :eek:!! This inventory seemed like it wouldn't fit in the van and yet he was seen throwing so much into the dumpster.

[panglossian]

An item listed is Frontline- a flea and tick control medication usually only available from a vet. So from this I assume he took Dandy to the vet.
Thanks for finding and posting this, Sweetmop! :clap:

[Hiker]

Given the variety of sizes of the clothing and very large amount of clothing,I would say some of this stuff belonged to others originally. I hope they will thoroughly test the following items for DNA not belonging to GMH:
#32 - Sierra Designs tent (http://sierradesigns.com/tents.tents.php) - these aren't cheap tents and they are pretty much only used by serious backpackers and mountain climbers.
#47 Ex-officio pants (http://www.exofficio.com/product_results.aspx?category%7Cmens_pantsshorts_p ants=Pants&canned_results_trigger=&category_id=mens_pantsshorts_pants&sort_option=Price%20%28Descending%29) - size XL. Another brand only used by serious backpackers and outdoorsmen
#48 REI Pink Nylon jacket - REI's men's line (http://www.rei.com/Search.do?storeId=8000&query=Men%27s+Jackets&cat=4500008_Outerwear+and+Rainwear&vcat=REI_SSHP_MENS_CLOTHING_TOC&cm_re=toc*toc*jackets&origin=men&brand=REI&hist=query%2CMen%27s+Jackets%5Ecat%2C4500008_Outer wear+and+Rainwear%5Ecm_re%2Ctoc*toc*jackets%5Eorig in%2Cmen%5Estart%5Ebrand%2CREI) doesn't come in pink
#77 Pink gloves - unlikely to be men's gloves
#96 Snowstar Gloves - these are high-end ski gloves - way out of GMH's price range
#131 another Sierra Designs tent
#178 Yellow raincoat - size L - the coat in the Ducktown, TN, ATM pictures is a rain jacket of the type worn by kayakers and whitewater rafters.

[sweetmop]

This is sickening to read, isn't it?
And the amount of clothing in the van! Pink gloves! Purple hat! And all of the Rei clothing! That's an expensive name brand.
I think this proves there are many victims! Many!

Plus the sling blade and hack saw! Good grief!
Unbelievable! A monster!

You've said it Native New Yorker, " Jack the Ripper on wheels"!!!

[sweetmop]

An item listed is Frontline- a flea and tick control medication usually only available from a vet. So from this I assume he took Dandy to the vet.
Thanks for finding and posting this, Sweetmop! :clap:


You're Welcome panglossian!

It is some creepy, sickening reading though!

[Hiker]

An item listed is Frontline- a flea and tick control medication usually only available from a vet. So from this I assume he took Dandy to the vet. Or he stole it from one of the victims.

[panglossian]

Or he stole it from one of the victims.
I considered that scenario, too, No one hiking would carry it- it's a once a month liquid application to the withers, kinda messy so you would do it at home until it was absorbed in a day or 2. But with this guy anything is possible.

Native-there's the medical records you've been chasing!

He sure liked hats-wonder if they were trophies.

[Native New Yorker]

Thanks again, Sweetmop, for finding this....

Pan, what did I miss about medical records?/ ( I was so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff!)

[panglossian]

Thanks again, Sweetmop, for finding this....

Pan, what did I miss about medical records?/ ( I was so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff!)

Native -
Page 5 #165 medical bills

[indigomood]

Thank you for posting this sweetmop, I can't help but wonder what is on the videotapes(#162)?? Porn? could he have filmed his gruesome deeds? Was there a camera noted or videoplayer? I don't recall reading that, I only remember reading re: videotapes. There was a ton of stuff in there. :confused:

[sweetmop]

Thank you for posting this sweetmop, I can't help but wonder what is on the videotapes(#162)?? Porn? could he have filmed his gruesome deeds? Was there a camera noted or videoplayer? I don't recall reading that, I only remember reading re: videotapes. There was a ton of stuff in there. :confused:

I'll have to reread through the lists to check for a camcorder or camera!
At this stage, nothing would surprise me about what he( Hilton ) did. Filming his crimes or taking pictures of the victims or anything else.
Thank the Good Lord this pos is in prison! :furious:

I truely believe that he is responsible for many many deaths and I hate that so many met up with him!

[Truly]

Wow, no kidding, sweetmop. Thanks for that link.

I totally agree with hiker and others about the high quality of the clothing and items found. Definitely serious backpacker stuff. NorthFace, Columbia, REI, etc are only sold in quality outdoor stores. (I wonder what degrees the two NorthFace sleeping bage were rated for? That could say a lot about time of year and latitude if they turn out to have been stolen.) Hopefully some stores have already id'd Hilton to LE if he actually purchased the stuff.

Remember that none of the people he is suspected of killing were out for long hikes. Meredith and the Bryants were out for day hikes, and wouldn't be carrying tents, sleeping bags, etc. So I think either Hilton tried to make himself look like a legitimate backpacker, or he has stolen (or worse) from people who were doing some real long-distance hiking. Yikes!

Couple of items that stood out for me (in addition to the sheer volume of expensive hiking gear) are:

#134 Black polycarbonate baton
#135 black baton
#152 remote control??
#156 2 brown bottles containing an unknown substance (strange)
#158 2 cell phones (traceable!)
#162 numerous maps (hope they're marked!)
#165 lottery tickets (Bet these can be traced to a precise store location and time of purchase, hopefully surveillance video as well!)
#172 bags of tobacco??

[indigomood]

I'll have to reread through the lists to check for a camcorder or camera!
At this stage, nothing would surprise me about what he( Hilton ) did. Filming his crimes or taking pictures of the victims or anything else.
Thank the Good Lord this pos is in prison! :furious:

I truely believe that he is responsible for many many deaths and I hate that so many met up with him!

Agree, I'm sure there are other deaths that will be linked to him. The clothing sizes were allover the place... clearly his weight doesn't fluctuate from a size S to XL's on peanut butter, jujubees, rice and beans. Most likely clothing from his victims. What a tragedy.

I'm still unsettled from reading about hacksaws, duct tape etc....

Sick!! :behindbar

[sweetmop]

Me too indigomood! I've been reading and pondering these lists all evening and now I don't know if I'll be able to sleep!

It is suspicious for clothing sizes from small to XL alright!

And I know a purple hat is mentioned, and I'm sure that Irene Bryant had a purple hat she sometimes wore! I think I've even seen a picture somewhere with her wearing one.

I'd say the majority of the things in that van , he didn't buy!

[Hiker]

I'm not so sure the REI clothing is from victims. Purple and teal aren't the best selling items in men's wear - he may have gotten some of these at the clearance sale REI has twice a year - really deep discounts. There are at least two REIs in the Atlanta area. Having the various pieces all be from REI and all be purple and teal just doesn't make sense if it came from victims - nor does the amount of clothing found in the van. Is there any chance this guy was setting up at flea markets someplace to make extra cash by selling the REI clothing?

The number of hats is also puzzling. Hats are one of the most common items lost as you hike. It is possible he picked some of these up while hiking.

I'm sure LE has already looked at the video tape and where the lottery tickets were purchased and studied his maps for clues.

[Truly]

Me too indigomood! I've been reading and pondering these lists all evening and now I don't know if I'll be able to sleep!

It is suspicious for clothing sizes from small to XL alright!

And I know a purple hat is mentioned, and I'm sure that Irene Bryant had a purple hat she sometimes wore! I think I've even seen a picture somewhere with her wearing one.

I'd say the majority of the things in that van , he didn't buy!

You are all so right about the sizes! Somehow, I scrolled through the brands and completely missed that. There is so much! (I also suspect most of it was taken, I was just thinking that if he did make purchases, then the storekeepers could identify him. Or maybe he stole from the stores?)
I think it is noteworthy that he KNEW to keep these high quality items. He's definitely been doing this for awhile; he's not just some guy who suddenly became homeless when Tabor kicked him out in October. You know, he didn't have a duffle bag and some flannel shirts, he had the best stuff out there. Creepy to think that more people may be missing who were fulfilling their life adventures.

[Native New Yorker]

Hiker, I think that some of the clothing and paraphernalia may have been purchased, some found ( the hats), some stolen, and a great amount of it was from victims.
This collection may have represented what he viewed as his proudest achievements, items taken from victims, found, stolen, or perhaps purchased at a deep discount.
Though really, I cannot see this guy interacting with the many people who attend flea markets....just cannot see it at all....

[Truly]

I'm not so sure the REI clothing is from victims. Purple and teal aren't the best selling items in men's wear - he may have gotten some of these at the clearance sale REI has twice a year - really deep discounts. There are at least two REIs in the Atlanta area. Having the various pieces all be from REI and all be purple and teal just doesn't make sense if it came from victims - nor does the amount of clothing found in the van. Is there any chance this guy was setting up at flea markets someplace to make extra cash by selling the REI clothing?

The number of hats is also puzzling. Hats are one of the most common items lost as you hike. It is possible he picked some of these up while hiking.



It IS odd that there are duplicates in terms of size and color. Good catch.

Hiker, do you think that Hilton was actually out there hiking, or more of a lurker in the parking lots?

[Hiker]

It IS odd that there are duplicates in terms of size and color. Good catch.

Hiker, do you think that Hilton was actually out there hiking, or more of a lurker in the parking lots?He climbed Blood mountain on the the Freeman trail the day he abducted Meredith Emerson - that isn't a difficult trail, but it would wear out someone who wasn't in shape. I think he probably did some day-hiking - even if it was only to case his next crime scene. I don't believe he has been doing any backpacking - at least not on the Appalachian Trail. Some of the members of the hiking community would have seen him out there if he had.

I noticed another pattern in his behavior. He seems to drive about two hours from where he does something before he makes his next move. He abducted Meredith Emerson near Vogel State Park, but she was found in Dawson County - about a two hour drive on the backroads in the area. He killed Irene Bryant in the pink beds area near Brevard, then drove two hours away to Franklin to kill John Bryant and then drove two hours to use the ATM card in Ducktown. I think LE should be looking for the woman missing from Bryson City about a two hour drive from there.

[MeoW333]

According to the link they found numerous blood samples from a variety of donors. How many people did this monster kill?i

I hope LE checks his "abandoned" van also, he may have some blood samples in that as well that Luminol will bring out..

[Tallytowngirl]

Wow, amazing! All of that in the Van... Thanks so much for that link!

I noticed the array of sizes, too. Yes, very alarming! How many people did he kill? On the other hand, the hopeful side of my thinking says he may have stolen a lot of that stuff. I gather that he stayed in AT shelters at times, so perhaps he was around when through hikers camped there or nearby, and just lifted stuff from them. But definitely, the quality of the stuff - REI, Sierra Designs, North Face... makes it look like he at least stole it, if not worse.

The different boots are what are really making me anxious - what sizes are they? He wouldn't be able to just steal boots from through hikers, I don't think (although I tend to leave my boots under the fly, outside the tent, so he may have...)

I buy Frontline at Petco without having to give any information at all. It probably isn't the way they're supposed to sell it, but I've never had to talk to a real vet or anything to get it, just a sales clerk.

I'm still wondering about the stuff he was dumping into the dumpster at the car wash. Is any of that admissible, since it wasn't actually in his van, but in a public dumpster? What with all the stuff in the van, I'd think the stuff he was trying desperately to get rid of was really incriminating. And I haven't seen a full list of that, I don't think...

[panglossian]

Wow, amazing! All of that in the Van... Thanks so much for that link!

I noticed the array of sizes, too. Yes, very alarming! How many people did he kill? On the other hand, the hopeful side of my thinking says he may have stolen a lot of that stuff. I gather that he stayed in AT shelters at times, so perhaps he was around when through hikers camped there or nearby, and just lifted stuff from them. But definitely, the quality of the stuff - REI, Sierra Designs, North Face... makes it look like he at least stole it, if not worse.

The different boots are what are really making me anxious - what sizes are they? He wouldn't be able to just steal boots from through hikers, I don't think (although I tend to leave my boots under the fly, outside the tent, so he may have...)

I buy Frontline at Petco without having to give any information at all. It probably isn't the way they're supposed to sell it, but I've never had to talk to a real vet or anything to get it, just a sales clerk.

I'm still wondering about the stuff he was dumping into the dumpster at the car wash. Is any of that admissible, since it wasn't actually in his van, but in a public dumpster? What with all the stuff in the van, I'd think the stuff he was trying desperately to get rid of was really incriminating. And I haven't seen a full list of that, I don't think...

Thanks for the Frontline correction-I guess each state has different regulations. I have to provide my ID at my vet's for that med. I was so hoping that he kept Dandy current on shots and care. Now I don't think he did so in entirety. In our sorting of his inventory to reason what he had been doing and how, elimination is as valuable as confirmation.

I feel so bad for the victims' families who found themselves looking through that stuff to identify or reclaim (upon release)their loved one's belongings. I don't think I'd have the strength to do that.

[Native New Yorker]

As for the clothing, as some of us thought that some of the items might be new, it occurred to me suddenly in the middle of the night, that anything new would likely have tags, and might have been described as such.

Pan, you are an optimist as for the vet connection...this monster pulled his own teeth! I really, really doubt that he ever took Dandy to the vet. I would think that if he had, a vet would have spoken up by now, or the staff.

Meo, the last I heard, the abandoned van was stripped, so not sure if they could still get blood samples.

[Native New Yorker]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/02/12/hilton_0213.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

From today's AJC "Hilton lived out of his van in the months leading up to his arrest. Despite being a drifter, he had amassed an expensive array of outdoor wear and equipment, including 20 shirts, a dozen pair of pants, eight jackets -- in sizes ranging from medium to extra-large -- plus 29 hats, two pairs of boots and three sleeping bags. Most were purchased from REI, a high-end outdoor retailer. The findings were posted on the WSB-TV web site Tuesday.
Investigators also found drug paraphernalia, pornographic magazines and medication confirming Hilton's claim that he suffers from multiple sclerosis."

[panglossian]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/02/12/hilton_0213.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

From today's AJC "Hilton lived out of his van in the months leading up to his arrest. Despite being a drifter, he had amassed an expensive array of outdoor wear and equipment, including 20 shirts, a dozen pair of pants, eight jackets -- in sizes ranging from medium to extra-large -- plus 29 hats, two pairs of boots and three sleeping bags. Most were purchased from REI, a high-end outdoor retailer. The findings were posted on the WSB-TV web site Tuesday.
Investigators also found drug paraphernalia, pornographic magazines and medication confirming Hilton's claim that he suffers from multiple sclerosis."

Thanks for that link, Native
Too bad they didn't say where he was treated. A confirmation of MS kind of puts a shadow over the Tabor remark about a quack doctor.

[aj1020]

An item listed is Frontline- a flea and tick control medication usually only available from a vet. So from this I assume he took Dandy to the vet.
Thanks for finding and posting this, Sweetmop! :clap:

You can get this at pet stores, it doesn't require a prescription. heartworm medicine is the only prescription or dogs have - the Frontline we just pick up at the pet store.

[Tallytowngirl]

Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Officials to probe Bryant murders (http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080213/NEWS/802130343/1042/NEWS/NEWS/Officials_to_probe_Bryant_murders)


Federal authorities said they won't release any further information in the case and have directed local authorities to do likewise.

understandable but.... phooey!

[InterestedNHelping]

With all those hats, there is plenty of hair DNA, which will match either hikers that were stolen from, or hikers that are missing. Hopefully they were smart enough to run DNA off of every single article of clothing? Boy that is going to get expensive!

[concernedperson]

With all those hats, there is plenty of hair DNA, which will match either hikers that were stolen from, or hikers that are missing. Hopefully they were smart enough to run DNA off of every single article of clothing? Boy that is going to get expensive!

But, it will solve quite a few cases.

[panglossian]

With all those hats, there is plenty of hair DNA, which will match either hikers that were stolen from, or hikers that are missing. Hopefully they were smart enough to run DNA off of every single article of clothing? Boy that is going to get expensive!

And plenty of dog hair to sort through to get to the evidence hair. Expensive and time consuming!

[Tallytowngirl]

Published Thursday, February 14, 2008
Yellow Jacket may be a Link (http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080214/NEWS/802140337)

A yellow rain jacket seized from Gary Michael Hilton's van may be the same one caught by surveillance video of a man using John and Irene Bryant's ATM card shortly after their murders.

and

Published Friday, February 15, 2008
Case could draw death penalty (http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080215/NEWS/802150330/1042/NEWS/NEWS/Case_could_draw_death_penalty)

Gary Michael Hilton may have escaped the death penalty in Georgia to find it awaiting him in North Carolina or federal courts.
also
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would investigate the Bryant's murders. Federal authorities aren't discussing whether they will prosecute, seek the federal death penalty or any other details of the case.

Rarely invoked

Just because the murders happened on federal lands and federal investigators have started a probe does not mean they will take over prosecution. But in a handful of past cases, the United States has sought the federal death penalty for murders committed on national forests.

[MeoW333]

As for the clothing, as some of us thought that some of the items might be new, it occurred to me suddenly in the middle of the night, that anything new would likely have tags, and might have been described as such.

Pan, you are an optimist as for the vet connection...this monster pulled his own teeth! I really, really doubt that he ever took Dandy to the vet. I would think that if he had, a vet would have spoken up by now, or the staff.

Meo, the last I heard, the abandoned van was stripped, so not sure if they could still get blood samples.

Even if the van was stripped, there may be a chance Luminol will show up any traces of blood that may be there; i think it's worth a shot just in case. I'm not sure how badly it was stripped, yet there are places blood could get that would only show up with Luminol.

Hiker i am late in welcoming you to the forum, Welcome!! You are very helpful with this case, having the hiking background you do, Thank you =)

[Native New Yorker]

In Memory of John and Irene Bryant

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080330/NEWS/803300383