Man Who Killed Female Hiker Gets Life

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By Associated Press

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Man Who Killed Female Hiker Gets Life

Published: Thu, January 31, 2008 - 2:35 pm

Drifter pleads guilty, sentenced to life in death of hiker

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Gary Michael Hilton was sentenced today
to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to murder in
the beating-death of a young woman hiker in the north Georgia
mountains.
During a hearing in Dawson County Superior Court, District
Attorney Lee Darragh said the plea agreement was signed earlier in
the day.
Hilton attended the hearing in an orange jumpsuit and a
bulletproof vest.
Judge Bonnie Oliver asked Hilton how he pleaded. He replied,
"Guilty."
He had been indicted on a single count of murder today in a
specially called session of the Dawson County grand jury. The
indictment charges he killed Meredith Emerson by blunt force trauma
to her head on January 4th.
Oliver told Hilton that she agreed with the plea deal because
the 61-year-old Hilton likely would have died in prison of natural
causes before the state would be able to execute him even if he
were sentenced to death.
Emerson's father, David Emerson, said no punishment for Hilton
is too great.
Darragh said Hilton intended to abduct Emerson to take money
from her bank accounts but eventually he knew he would take her
life. Darragh said on January 4th Hilton told Emerson he was going
to let her go and then struck her several times with a jack handle
until she died.
Authorities have said Emerson was believed to have been
kidnapped in Union County and killed in Dawson County have said.
Emerson's body was found nearly 50 miles from where she vanished
during a New Year's Day hike.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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