United States of America

HILTON
Gary Michael

Active from 2007-2008 in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida

DID YOU KNOW...

Distance Fact

Irene Bryant was found about 100 yards/91.5m from her car

Weird Fact

Hilton wore a makeshift mask made of tape to avoid being seen on ATM cameras

Court Fact

Hilton had to wear a bullet proof vest for court

THE DISPATCH

The Beginning

In 1959, Gary Michael Hilton shot his stepfather, wounding him. He was angry that his step-father had taken his mother’s affections from him. Thirteen-year-old Hilton spent time in a mental hospital. Forgiven, Hilton eventually came home and tried to get on with life.

In 1995, he became a consultant on the film Deadly Run, a straight-to-video film about a serial killer who kept women in a cabin before killing them. Hilton helped to scout locations and worked on the plot. He chose one area which was 30 miles northeast from where he later dumped Meredith Emerson’s body. Hilton also held some of his victims for a time, like the film character. After his stint as a consultant, he later joined the US Army. He was honourably discharged after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The Murders

Irene & John Davis Bryant

Irene Bryant and her husband John “Jack” Davis Bryant were married for 58 years. The Bryants were avid hikers. Jack was a lawyer and Irene was a veterinarian (one of the first women vets in Montana). The couple travelled around the world, exposing their children to new adventures. They particularly loved the Southwest United States. Jack eventually hiked the entire 2,100-plus mile Appalachian Trail over the years. The couple were described as generous, adventurous and engaging.

On October 21, 2007, the couple went hiking. About 20 miles from their home, they encountered Gary Michael Hilton in the Pisgah National Forest. At some point, one of them called 911. The call did not go through.

Irene was found on November 9 off Yellow Gap Road in the Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. She was found about 100 yards/91.5m from the couple’s Ford Escape, covered with leaves and twigs. She had died of blunt trauma to the head.

Her husband was found on February 3, 2008. He was 100 miles away in the Nantahala National Forest by a hunter. His remains were found near “The Switchbacks”. He had been shot in the head after having his ATM Pin beaten out of him. Hilton crossed state lines into Ducktown, Tennessee to use the ATM. Video footage showed only a shadowy figure wearing a hooded yellow raincoat.

“My parents lived a full life and were a delight to know,” said their daughter Holly Bryant. Irene was 84. Jack was 79.

Cheryl Dunlap

On December 1, 2007, Cheryl Dunlap headed to the Leon Sinks Geological Area in Florida. She wanted to walk the area and read a book. Passersby noticed her reading. Later that day, she failed to attend a planned dinner. Passerby Celeste Hutchins saw Hilton on Crawfordville Highway, not far from the Leon Sinks Geological Area. Hutchins testified later in court that Hilton was rummaging through a white car on the side of the road.

The next day she did not show up to church. Friend Tanya Land became concerned. Land went to Dunlap’s home and found her dog, but Dunlap’s white Toyota was missing. The police were contacted.

On December 3, the same day a missing person’s report was made, Dunlap’s Toyota was found. It was on the side of the Crawfordville Highway, near the woods. A “disabled vehicle” ticket found on the car was dated December 1. The sidewalls had been punctured with what was later identified as a bayonet. The damage was done after the car was parked. Dunlap’s purse was found in the car, but there was no money.

Police investigation found that Dunlap had cashed a check on the 1st. There was ATM activity on December 2, 3 and 4 at Hancock Bank on West Tennessee Street. A total of $700 was withdrawn, and there were 2 declined withdrawals. Her daily limit had been hit. The person making the withdrawals wore a long-sleeved shirt, hat, glasses and a makeshift mask made of tape.

On December 15, 2007, Ronnie Rentz was hunting in the Apalachicola National Forest. He discovered a dismembered body near a forest road. It was covered with some brush and tree limbs. She was missing her head and hands. There was significant bruising on her middle to lower back. The bruises were not consistent with a fall. Thigh muscle was used to make a DNA match to Dunlap. She had been dismembered post-mortem. A doctor estimated she died by violent homicide between December 5th and 8th. Dunlap was 46 years old.

Meredith Hope Emerson

On January 1, 2008, Meredith Hope Emerson (24) and her dog Ella were seen hiking on Blood Mountain in northern Georgia. Her dog was found in a grocery parking lot. Hilton kidnapped Emerson, holding her in his van for 4 days before beating her to death. Although Emerson knew Kyuki-Do, a marital art, she had lost the fight with Hilton and his baton.

Hilton had been seen by a fellow hiker near Emerson. The hiker returned to the area, noticed it looked like a struggle had taken place, and searched the area extensively. When he later saw news that Emerson was missing, he contacted police with a description. The police press conference sparked a call from a viewer who knew the killer. Police then released Hilton’s photo.

Arrest and Trial

Hilton Arrested

On January 4, witness Stephen Shaw was Hilton behind a convenience store. Hilton was cleaning his van and throwing out items in a dumpster. Shaw recognized Hilton and called police. In the car, police found a citation for unauthorized camping from US Forestry. They recovered a knife, specialized Hi–Tec hiking boots, folding police baton, and chains. They also found his driver’s license, sleeping bags, a camera, BB pistols and dog food. Hilton was arrested, and was cooperative. He told police where to find his bayonet, the one used to puncture the tires in Dunlap’s car. Dunlap’s DNA was later found on many of the items.

Emerson Found, Remains of Dunlap Found

On January 7, Emerson’s body was found. She had been decapitated to make it harder for authorities to identify her.

On January 9, 2008, investigators searched a fire-pit at Joe Thomas campsite. The campsite is about 7 miles from where Dunlap’s body was found. The pit revealed the remains of Dunlap’s head and hands. The bone fragments were charred. No DNA was recoverable.

Hilton Pleads Guilty to Emerson Murder

Hilton pled guilty to beating Meredith Emerson to death. Prosecutors were concerned about the killer’s safety, and made him wear a bullet-proof vest in court. The judge accepted a plea deal from Hilton which would avoid the death penalty. Judge Bonnie Oliver said he would likely die from natural causes in prison before the state would be able to execute him.

Over the next few weeks, other jurisdictions begin to publicly state their interest in Hilton. On February 12, Sergeant David Graham and Detective Dawn Dennis with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in Florida executed a search warrant on Hilton while he was in custody in Georgia. Hilton’s DNA was collected. The entire execution of the warrant was recorded. Portions of the recording would be played for the jury.

Hilton Confesses For 5 Hours

On June 6, 2008, Sergeant Graham and two other officers drove Hilton from Georgia to Florida. Although Hilton was not questioned, he spoke for nearly the entire five-hour drive, which was recorded. The State also played portions of this recording at trial. Hilton’s ramblings included saying he was a genius. He said he “couldn’t make a living and just lost, flat lost my [expletive] mind for a while.”

Once in the Leon County Jail, Hilton told another inmate he would make a deal with prosecutors. He would reveal the location of Dunlap’s head, and the bayonet used to cut her tires. He would tell police how he “pulled it off” even though it was a busy highway. Hilton said the only regret he had was being caught.

Hilton Guilty for Killing Dunlap

Hilton’s trial for the murder of Dunlap began January 31, 2011. He had fought extradition to Florida. The Public Defender requested a postponement of the trial in June, 2010. It was granted. When the request came again in April 2010, it was denied. A postponement was denied again in December 2010. Nearly all pretrial evidence was sealed by court order to avoid tainting the jury pool.

The jury found Hilton guilty of murdering Dunlap on February 16, 2011.

During the penalty phase of the trial, experts were called in to testify. Clay Bridges of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation testified about Hilton’s conviction for the murder of Emerson. He told the jury Hilton said “you either kill them or you get caught.”

Psychiatrists and neuropsychologists were called to testify. So were psychiatric pharmacists and a specialist in psychopharmacology.

On February 21, 2011, the jury recommended Hilton be sentenced to death for the murder of Cheryl Dunlap.

On April 7, the State presented 3 victim impact witnesses: Emma Blount, Dunlap’s aunt, Laura Walker, Dunlap’s best friend; Gloria Tucker, Dunlap’s cousin. The court found that at the time of the murder Hilton was under extreme emotional distress. The courts considered his difficult childhood and possible head injuries as a child. On April 21, 2001, the trial court agreed with the jury recommendation, and Hilton was sentenced to death for murdering Cheryl Dunlap.

Hilton Pleads Guilty to Bryants

On Tuesday March 27, 2012, Hilton pleaded guilty to murdering the Bryants. In a plea deal which took the death penalty off the table, Hilton pleaded guilty to murder, robbery and kidnapping.

The Bryant’s son, Robert, told media “He should have been put to death a long time ago… The practical outcome of this is that Hilton will suffer no additional penalties for the murders of John and Irene Bryant. These two are freebies.”

Their son Terry said, “I’m glad he’s getting the death penalty in Florida.”

Hilton Sentenced to Life

Almost a year later, Hilton’s guilty plea is accepted and he is officially sentenced to 4 life sentences for the crimes against the Bryants. On April 25, 2013, Judge Martin Reidinger accepted the plea deal made in March, 2012. Hilton said he was sorry.

“He beat my mother in the head. He shot my father in the head. Sorry is not enough,” daughter Holly Bryant told media.

Hilton was returned to Florida to await execution on death row.

Murder Victims Sometimes Associated with Hilton

Rossana Miliani, a Florida woman, was last seen December 7, 2005. She was apparently spotted in Bryson City, North Carolina with a man. Miliani called her father that evening from a Cherokee Ramada Inn and said she was hoping to hike the Appalachian Trail. Miliani suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. That sometimes made her vulnerable. She had a tattoo of a lotus flower with Chinese characters. She was last seen with an unidentified male, possibly Hilton. Miliani has never been found. Her father thinks the FBI sketch of the man she was seen with, looks like Hilton. There is no evidence linking the killer to Miliani. She was 26.

The remains of Michael Scot Louis were found December 6, 2007. His leg and foot were found in one plastic garbage bag. His torso and arms were found in a second bag in Tomoka State Park in Florida. Louis was decapitated. His head has not been found. Police hoped to link his death to Michael Gary Hilton through DNA. Hilton has never been charged. Nelci Tetley, who was convicted of murdering one boyfriend, is also a suspect in Louis’s death. The pair had dated. He was 27.

Hilton’s Location

As of August 1, 2021, Gary Michael Hilton remains on Florida’s death row.

SIMILAR SERIAL KILLERS

Terry Alvin Hyatt

Hyatt also killed people in the Pisgah National Forest.

Richard Lewis Hunter

Hunter and Hilton were both born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Thomas Knight

Knight also spent time in Florida State Prison

WHERE IT HAPPENED

A non-interactive map of where things happened

BOOKS

Books about or including Gary Michael Hilton

Trails of Death: The True Story of National Forest Serial Killer Gary Hilton by Fred Rosen

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Titletown Publishing, LLC; 1st edition (Sept. 6 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0982720696
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0982720691

Trails of Death is the explosive chronicle of America’s only known national parks serial killer, Gary Michael Hilton. Hilton struck in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina before he was finally caught. The author explores the crimes in detail with full cooperation from the victims families and brings readers into what makes a late-life serial killer through interviews with those who know him. Readers will also hear from the lead investigator who finally tracked down Hilton.

At the Hands of a Stranger (Blood Mountain Killer) by Lee Butcher

Publisher: Pinnacle Books (June 1, 2012)
Language: English
Pages: 320 pages
ISBN10: 0786021934
ISBN13: 9780786021932

I didn’t kill them for any satisfaction. It was distasteful. It was dreadful. Of course, I was able to do it because of my general rage against society. Meredith Emerson was a recent college graduate who disappeared while taking her beloved dog, Ella, for a hike on Georgia’s Blood Mountain on New Year’s Day, 2008. Cheryl Dunlap was a nurse whose body was found in Florida’s Apalachicola National Forest after she failed to show up to teach her regular Sunday School class in December 2007. Vibrant, beautiful, caring women, loved by their friends and families, with everything to live for. . .until they fell into the trap of Gary Michael Hilton, a former Green Beret paratrooper and expert outdoorsman with a twisted lust for violence. What they suffered at his hands was unspeakable. Even after two convictions, the question remains–how many innocent victims were prey to his evil designs? Includes killer’s shocking confession and 16 pages of dramatic photos.

Victimized By A Serial Killer by Gloria Tucker

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lulu.com; First Edition (Dec 1 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1105283461
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1105283468

The account of serial killer Gary Michael Hilton’s trial for the murder and decapitation of Cheryl Dunlap. He was apprehended by Florida authorities after he pled guilty to the murder and decapitation of Meredith Emerson. Gloria Tucker, cousin of murder victim Cheryl Dunlap, chronicles the days leading up to the arrest and conviction of murderer Gary Michael Hilton. Includes commentaries from diary recorded by juror #7, Philip Reichert

VIDEOS & PODCASTS

Gary Hilton – Serial Killer – Full Police Interrogation from Gill Tea (pseudonym)

Trial of Serial Killer Gary Michael Hilton (Cheryl Dunlap) Prosecution Closing Arguments Guilt Phase
Crime and Justice from Mentour Lawyer

Closing Arguments – Cheryl Dunlap Murder by Serial Killer Gary Michael Hilton, with intro + openings
Crime and Justice from Mentour Lawyer

SC19-373 Gary Michael Hilton v. Florida & SC19-1766 Gary Michael Hilton v. Mark S. Inch, etc. from the Florida Supreme Court

Ep 62 Gary Michael Hilton The National Forest Serial Killer from Crack House Chronicles

THE STATS

Hilton's age when he first murdered someone

cm tall

150

Average age of his victims

siblings

Killer in a Historical Timeline

Statistical table for Gary Michael Hilton

Killer Name	Hilton, Gary Michael
Killer AKA	National Forest Serial Killer
Partnership	No
Gender	M
Arrest Date	January 4, 2008
Conviction Date	January 31, 2008
Sentence	Life term in Georgia; 4 life terms in North Carolina ; Death in Florida
Birth Location	Atlanta, Georgia USA
Birth Date	November 26, 1946
Status	Alive or Unknown
Poor	Yes
Height	178
Suffer Physical Abuse	Yes
Suffer Physical Abuse	Yes
Psychological Abuse	Yes
Sexual Abuse	Possible
School Grade	Gr. 11
Military Service	Yes
Military Service	US Army
Killer Type	Criminal Enterprise (drugs/robbery), Disorganized, Wanderer
Drug Abuse	Ritalin
Alcohol Abuse	Yes
Psychology	Yes
Institutionalized	Yes, while in the military
Psych Diagnosis	Schizophrenia, "maternal deprivation and lack of bonding between mother and child"
Fire Setting	Set some portions of victims on fire
comment1	Michael Scot Louis - Hilton was eventually ruled out as a suspect after DNA testing was completed
comment2	Rossana Miliani - Her father thinks the FBI sketch of the man she was seen with, looks like Hilton. There is no evidence linking the killer to Rossana Miliani.
Total Dead Victims	4
Victims (Convicted)	4
Victim Gender	Various
Victim Race	White
Victim Age	24, 46, 84, 79
Victim Type	Hikers
Method of Killing	Blunt force, shooting
Weapon	Bayonet, serrated knife, gun
Robbery	Yes
Overkill	Yes
Body - Dismembered	Yes
Body - Left, Hidden	Yes
Body - Moved, Not Hidden	Yes
Body - Moved, Hidden	Yes

Killer Rating

 5/5

RESOURCES

E. Kelly Hemingway | Last updated August 5, 2021