John and Irene Bryant-NC

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!
 
Published Thursday, February 14, 2008
Yellow Jacket may be a Link

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

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.
 
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 =)
 
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/20963863/detail.html

17 Sept 09

JACKSON, Ga. -- A hunter accidentally found camping supplies, clothes and books belonging to convicted killer Gary Michael Hilton in the Chattahoochee National Forest, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

It happened last Friday at a concealed campsite...

and

Hilton also is suspected in the slayings of an elderly North Carolina couple -- Irene Bryant, 84, and her husband, John Bryant, 80. Officials said the Bryants disappeared while hiking in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville. Irene Bryant had been beaten to death. John Bryant's skeletal remains were found in Feb. 2008.

The GBI turned over the items to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Officials have contacted the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and are investigating whether items can be tied to the Bryants' killings.

more at link
 
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/20963863/detail.html

17 Sept 09

JACKSON, Ga. -- A hunter accidentally found camping supplies, clothes and books belonging to convicted killer Gary Michael Hilton in the Chattahoochee National Forest, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

It happened last Friday at a concealed campsite...

and

Hilton also is suspected in the slayings of an elderly North Carolina couple -- Irene Bryant, 84, and her husband, John Bryant, 80. Officials said the Bryants disappeared while hiking in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville. Irene Bryant had been beaten to death. John Bryant's skeletal remains were found in Feb. 2008.

The GBI turned over the items to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Officials have contacted the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and are investigating whether items can be tied to the Bryants' killings.

more at link

TY, for the link happyfrog. I saw a segment on wsb tv 2 Atlanta News, concerning the GMH Campsite located in Fannin County, GA. A citizen was interviewed from the area of NC, where the Bryant's were abducted. She stated that the community is very nervous since no one has been charged with their murders, almost two years later.
 
from blueridgenow.com

Time for Hilton to face overdue date with justice

snip:
With the death sentence a Florida jury handed down Thursday to Gary Michael Hilton, it is time for federal authorities in North Carolina to finally seek justice in the murders of a Henderson County couple.

snip:
More than three years later, the Bryants’ children are expecting justice.

“The Department of Justice has said they are waiting for the outcome in Florida then plan to pursue charges in North Carolina,” daughter Holly Bryant said in February. “They have promised us they will seek charges and they plan to seek the death penalty.”

The Bryants believed strongly in the death penalty for heinous crimes, their children said. Now it is time for federal authorities to take action to bring long overdue justice and closure in this horrible case.
 
Today's update....Hilton Charged In John and Irene Bryant's Deaths!!!!

Charlotte, NC (AP) - A drifter already convicted of killing
two hikers he kidnapped from remote trails in the Southeast has
been indicted on murder charges in the killings of an elderly
couple who disappeared from a trail in the mountains of North
Carolina.

A federal grand jury indicted 64-year-old Gary Hilton for
kidnapping, robbery and two counts of murder in the deaths of
80-year-old John Bryant and his 84-year-old wife, Irene. The couple
was last seen on a trail in the Pisgah National Forest in October
2007.

Hilton was sentenced to death in April for killing 46-year-old
Cheryl Dunlap after kidnapping her from Leon Sinks in Florida. He is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to killing 24-year-old Meredith Emerson in a north Georgia forest. Both women were also beheaded.


http://www.wctv.tv/floridanews/head...with_Killing_Elderly_NC_Hikers_124310279.html
 
I heard the tail end of something about GMH on the news this morning and came here to see what had happened. It looks like it must have been a recap about the news of his indictment.

Since GMH is behind bars in FL under a death sentence, what is the procedure for a trial in NC? Do they move him up to NC and keep him in a prison on death row or does he get to be in a jail cell where he can be available to meet with an attorney to plan his defense?
 
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/G...e_to_Face_Double_Murder_Charges_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
 
Watching Dateline. Very interesting. Very sad.
 
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/G...e_to_Face_Double_Murder_Charges_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/20110823/wire/110829888
 
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/G..._to_Face_Double_Murder_Charges_125237644.html
 

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