John and Irene Bryant-NC

[Reader]

http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Ga..._125237644.htm

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of North Carolina says as it stands now, Hilton will remain in North Carolina until federal court proceedings there are complete.

The man accused of killing a Henderson County couple pleads not guilty this morning in federal court.

Convicted murderer Gary Hilton appeared in the U.S. District Court in Asheville to make the plea. He was brought to Buncombe County from Florida.

He's facing five counts including the charges for murdering John and Irene Bryant back in 2007.

Hilton has already been convicted of killing a woman in Georgia and was given the death penalty for murdering a woman in Florida.

His initial trial date is set for September 6th.

The United States Attorney says they will seek the death penalty.


More at link

[watcher9]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_908516.html

The case is being handled in federal court because the Bryants were killed in a national forest.

Hilton, 65, wore a white Buncombe County jail jumpsuit and said nothing during his brief appearance. One of his lawyers entered his plea for him. A trial date of Sept. 6 has been set.

[sweetmop]

On Dateline Friday night...

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/...110829885/1151?
Title=-8216-Dateline-NBC-to-air-segment-on-convicted-murderer-Hilton-

[less0305]

Watching Dateline. Very interesting. Very sad.

[watcher9]

Originally Posted by Reader

http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Ga..._125237644.htm

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of North Carolina says as it stands now, Hilton will remain in North Carolina until federal court proceedings there are complete.

The man accused of killing a Henderson County couple pleads not guilty this morning in federal court.

Convicted murderer Gary Hilton appeared in the U.S. District Court in Asheville to make the plea. He was brought to Buncombe County from Florida.

He's facing five counts including the charges for murdering John and Irene Bryant back in 2007.

Hilton has already been convicted of killing a woman in Georgia and was given the death penalty for murdering a woman in Florida.

His initial trial date is set for September 6th.

The United States Attorney says they will seek the death penalty.


More at link

BBM
That's today.
Has anyone heard anything?


ETA - Sorry about the above. The trial has been rescheduled to October 31 (Halloween).

http://www.goupstate.com/article/201...wire/110829888

[watcher9]

I was planning to bump this up for tomorrow, but found that the Federal judge has decided to postpone trial again to give GMH's attorneys more time to prepare. The case is now on the calendar for Jan 4.
Will there be any justice at all for the Bryants?

http://www.citizen-times.com/article...s-Hilton-trial

[stillwatersc]

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/...wire/111219834

...attorneys for 65-year-old Gary Michael Hilton said they need more time for trial preparation. Prosecutors said they plan to seek the death penalty.

[watcher9]

Originally Posted by stillwatersc

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/...wire/111219834

Thanks.
Putting this up from your link for an easy reminder.

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger set Feb. 27 for the next court appearance.

[watcher9]

Just checked and the trial has been postponed again. It is now scheduled for April 30.

Apparently his attorneys are needing more time to formulate a defense for Hilton and securing appropriate expert witnesses. They also have been in plea negotiations.


http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/...NEWS/120219980

[Mustang Sally]

News Flash......

Gary Michael Hilton Pleads Guilty to Killing NC Hikers in 2007
A man convicted of murder in Florida and Georgia is accepting a life prison sentence without parole after pleading guilty in North Carolina to ambushing and killing an elderly couple hiking in a national forest.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - March 27, 2012 -

A man convicted of murder in Florida and Georgia is accepting a life prison sentence without parole after pleading guilty in North Carolina to ambushing and killing an elderly couple hiking in a national forest.


U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins says 65-year-old Gary Michael Hilton pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing John and Irene Bryant in 2007.

Prosecutors say Hilton camped out waiting for victims before he encountered the couple who were both in their 80s as they hiked in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County.

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Ga...125237644.html

[Mustang Sally]

Local Info...

Hilton admits he killed John and Irene Bryant of Horse Shoe

Published: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:25 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:25 p.m.
Page 3 of 3

“Hilton knowingly, intentionally, willfully and unlawfully took John Bryant's automatic teller machine card, a thing of value, from his person and coerced him into providing his PIN through the use of force, violence and intimidation,” the resume says.

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/...1151?p=3&tc=pg

[mysteriew]

Serial killer pleads guilty to murdering Henderson couple

Serial killer Gary Michael Hilton pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to the 2007 murders of hikers John and Irene Bryant, offering no explanation and showing no remorse.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article...CFrontpage%7Cs

Article contains the family reaction to the plea deal.

[watcher9]

Even though there is no satisfaction in a plea deal, at least this case is now over and the family and community can begin to heal.

Hopefully investigations will continue throughout the south into finding evidence to connect GHM to more suspected cases in order to bring resolutions to them also.

I sometimes have qualms about executing a perp when there are still cases out there that could be solved with one more piece of info. I am specifically referring to the Levi Frady case as one of them.

[watcher9]

I guess I was thinking when GMH pleaded guilty, it was over, but then I wondered what was his sentence?
Did they ever have the hearing? I can't find anything about it.

I did find this -

Hilton remains in local federal custody. A sentencing date for the defendant has not been set yet.

http://www.fbi.gov/charlotte/press-r...murder-charges

[watcher9]

The last release on the FBI site is the same one that was on my above post which was dated March 27 2012.
How long does it normally take to set a sentencing date?
I am beginning to wonder if maybe they are trying to negotiate with him on other cases?

[watcher9]

The reason I was checking this thread is I was looking for a picture of GMH. The FBI picture of the unknown person wanted in connection with the child pornography case sure looks a lot like GMH.

I rechecked the FBI site for any updates and it was still the same article.
I reread it and found that he got life without chance of parole but sentencing date was not set. I guess I missed it first time around.

Hilton’s plea agreement provides that he will receive a sentence of life in prison without any possibility for parole for his crimes.

Hilton remains in local federal custody. A sentencing date for the defendant has not been set yet.

http://www.fbi.gov/charlotte/press-r...murder-charges

[neesaki]

I just watched the Dateline I.D. episodes of "Mystery on Blood Mountain". It is about the abduction and murder of Meredith Emerson by Gary Hilton, and also goes into the murders of these two victims, John and Irene Bryant of NC, as well as Cheryl Dunlap of Florida.

Hilton was convicted for Cheryl's murder in Florida and received the death penalty, this after being convicted of Meredith's murder in Georgia and receiving life w/o parole.

My question is, how can this man now receive a lesser sentence in NC, life in prison w/o parole after already being sentenced to the death penalty in Florida? TIA to anyone for any help on this.

BTW, for anyone who hasn't seen it, this documentary is excellent with some actual live video of Hilton showing him as nothing less than a completely narcissistic, evil psycho-maniacal killer with no conscience whatsoever. This man, I should say, this "It", is a totally repulsive, creepy, scary non-human being. Imo, whatever he gets is better than he deserves.

[neesaki]

I did find this:

[UPDATE] Gary Michael Hilton Transferred to Death Row
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Ga...120345189.html

Convicted killer Gary Hilton appealing Florida murder sentence
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/72371/

[stillwatersc]

Originally Posted by watcher9

The reason I was checking this thread is I was looking for a picture of GMH. The FBI picture of the unknown person wanted in connection with the child pornography case sure looks a lot like GMH.

I rechecked the FBI site for any updates and it was still the same article.
I reread it and found that he got life without chance of parole but sentencing date was not set. I guess I missed it first time around.

Hilton’s plea agreement provides that he will receive a sentence of life in prison without any possibility for parole for his crimes.

Hilton remains in local federal custody. A sentencing date for the defendant has not been set yet.

http://www.fbi.gov/charlotte/press-r...murder-charges

With beard:

profile:

[watcher9]

Originally Posted by neesaki

I did find this:

After he was put on death row in FL last year, they transferred him to NC for the trial on the murder of both John and Irene Bryant. This was to be held this past April but he pleaded guilty in March thereby avoiding another trial and the death penalty again.

Since then, as far as I can find, he is still in the custody of the FBI local facility in NC and has not been transferred back to the death row cell in FL.

[watcher9]

Originally Posted by stillwatersc

With beard:

profile:

Thanks for posting these pictures.
I had looked at them before, but was trying to find the ones where he was talking to the game warden down in FL where he was acting real crazy. IIRC I thought his hair coming out from under his cap was more curly. But comparing these pictures again to the ones posted by the FBI, I don't believe they are the same person now. The man in the FBI pictures looks to have more of a bubble nose and GMH has a pointed one. But then again, I know I wouldn't make a good witness.. LOL

If anyone is interested in this search, WS has a thread in the Crimes - Spotlight on Children. Hopefully, this is the link to it.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sho...=191224&page=8

[Foxfire]

Originally Posted by watcher9

Thanks for posting these pictures.
I had looked at them before, but was trying to find the ones where he was talking to the game warden down in FL where he was acting real crazy. IIRC I thought his hair coming out from under his cap was more curly. But comparing these pictures again to the ones posted by the FBI, I don't believe they are the same person now. The man in the FBI pictures looks to have more of a bubble nose and GMH has a pointed one. But then again, I know I wouldn't make a good witness.. LOL

If anyone is interested in this search, WS has a thread in the Crimes - Spotlight on Children. Hopefully, this is the link to it.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sho...=191224&page=8

http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=86342&bw=
The cherokee county, ga dashcam video Oct 21, 2007

http://www.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=84209

[Foxfire]

"Silence & Misinformation by Investigators via MS Media is the Predators most Lethal Weapon".. "If not for the heroic actions by Meredith Hope Emerson, prolific serial killer Gary Michael Hilton would still be preying on unsuspecting innocent victims, imo"...

http://www.prod.myajc.com/news/news/...-haunts/nTyq3/

(Snipped- Read More/Much More)
After 5 years, notorious crime still haunts
Witness, authorities left asking, 'What if?'
Posted: 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013

Meredith Emerson's tragic tale ignited national concern. The fate of her killer, however, is in the hands of Florida judicial system. Gary Michael Hilton is appealing a death sentence for the murder of a nurse in the state.
By Bill Torpy

Eerie and disturbing is how Seth Blankenship recalls the scene he encountered on Blood Mountain on the afternoon of New Year’s Day 2008.
The hiking trail before him was torn up like there had been a fight. Water bottles, a leather dog leash, sun glasses, a police baton and a women’s hair barrette littered the ground.

Blankenship did not know exactly what had just transpired or the horror that was about to unfold. At this moment, he was what an excruciating number of others would soon become — one step behind serial killer Gary Hilton.

[watcher9]

Originally Posted by Foxfire

"Silence & Misinformation by Investigators via MS Media is the Predators most Lethal Weapon".. "If not for the heroic actions by Meredith Hope Emerson, prolific serial killer Gary Michael Hilton would still be preying on unsuspecting innocent victims, imo"...

http://www.prod.myajc.com/news/news/...-haunts/nTyq3/

(Snipped- Read More/Much More)
After 5 years, notorious crime still haunts
Witness, authorities left asking, 'What if?'
Posted: 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013

Meredith Emerson's tragic tale ignited national concern. The fate of her killer, however, is in the hands of Florida judicial system. Gary Michael Hilton is appealing a death sentence for the murder of a nurse in the state.
By Bill Torpy

Eerie and disturbing is how Seth Blankenship recalls the scene he encountered on Blood Mountain on the afternoon of New Year’s Day 2008.
The hiking trail before him was torn up like there had been a fight. Water bottles, a leather dog leash, sun glasses, a police baton and a women’s hair barrette littered the ground.

Blankenship did not know exactly what had just transpired or the horror that was about to unfold. At this moment, he was what an excruciating number of others would soon become — one step behind serial killer Gary Hilton.

Thanks for posting this. So many "if only"s that could have saved Meredith's life. Who would have ever believed a serial killer was in area? It still gives me the chills reading this after all this time.

[sweetmop]

Originally Posted by Foxfire

"Silence & Misinformation by Investigators via MS Media is the Predators most Lethal Weapon".. "If not for the heroic actions by Meredith Hope Emerson, prolific serial killer Gary Michael Hilton would still be preying on unsuspecting innocent victims, imo"...

http://www.prod.myajc.com/news/news/...-haunts/nTyq3/

(Snipped- Read More/Much More)
After 5 years, notorious crime still haunts
Witness, authorities left asking, 'What if?'
Posted: 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013

Meredith Emerson's tragic tale ignited national concern. The fate of her killer, however, is in the hands of Florida judicial system. Gary Michael Hilton is appealing a death sentence for the murder of a nurse in the state.
By Bill Torpy

Eerie and disturbing is how Seth Blankenship recalls the scene he encountered on Blood Mountain on the afternoon of New Year’s Day 2008.
The hiking trail before him was torn up like there had been a fight. Water bottles, a leather dog leash, sun glasses, a police baton and a women’s hair barrette littered the ground.

Blankenship did not know exactly what had just transpired or the horror that was about to unfold. At this moment, he was what an excruciating number of others would soon become — one step behind serial killer Gary Hilton.

Thank you so much for posting this ajc article,Foxfire!
It's extremely disturbing. I am still haunted by this case and by the murders commited by the monster! And makes such a sad and senseless crime even more so! Thank God the monster is behind bars!