Hiker
Long distance hiker
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2008
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 14
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.
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.
