DAWSONVILLE, Ga. -- The Leon County, Florida, sheriff's office said the man charged with murder in the death of 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson can be considered a prime suspect in the death of Cheryl Hodges Dunlap.

Her body was found December 19 in the Apalachicola National Forest, southwest of Tallahassee. Sheriff's Major Mike Wood said today that authorities have confirmed that Gary Michael Hilton was in the area at the time of Dunlap's disappearance.

A state law enforcement source told WSB-TV that Dunlap also was decapitated, as was Emerson.

Memorial Service For Emerson

The memorial service for Meredith Emerson will be open to the public.

Friends and family will gather at Central Presbyterian Church in Athens Friday afternoon. Emerson's godparents are members of that church.

Reverand Bob Bohler said they're preparing for a large crowd because so many people loved Meredith. "One of the things we'll do is remember Meredith. We'll talk about things in her we remember that were wonderful and cherished by so many people," said Bohler.

Bohler said Emerson will be cremated. Her parents are also planning a smaller service in Colorado.

Hilton Denied Bond

Hilton appeared in a Dawson County court Wednesday.

The magistrate judge denied bond for Gary Michael Hilton. Hilton said little in court, only confirming his name, age and education -- two years of college and he graduated from high school. Hilton was informed of the charges, denied bond and escorted out of the courtroom.

Authorities said Tuesday Emerson was beaten to death and then decapitated while search parties frantically looked for her three days after she disappeared on New Year's Day in the north Georgia mountains.

Details of the killing were uncovered during an autopsy after Emerson's body was found Monday night nearly 50 miles from Blood Mountain, where she was last seen with her black Labrador retriever, Ella.

Authorities believe she was killed Friday but aren't saying much else about how she met drifter Gary Hilton -- the 61-year-old charged in the case.

Hilton is being held in the Dawson County jail after being transferred from Union County. Authorities located him Friday and later charged him with kidnapping with intent of bodily injury. The arrest warrant says he was the last person seen with Emerson on the hiking trail near Blood Mountain and had tried to use her credit card.

District Attorney Stan Gunter in Union County says Hilton led authorities to the body in exchange for an agreement not to seek the death penalty against him.

Dawson County DA Lee Darragh said today that he was not involved in or made aware of discussions between Hilton and other jurisdictions or the U.S. attorney. He said he does plan to work with other jurisdictions involved in the case.

Hilton's attorney, Neil A. Smith, declined comment, other than to say "there are significant mental health issues, I would think" involved in the case.

GBI Investigating What Happened

Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead told Channel 2 the GBI Crime Lab is awaiting the results of a rape kit administered during the autopsy of Meredith Emerson to confirm or refute suspicions she was sexually assaulted.

The GBI has asked other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to assist in putting together a timeline of suspect Gary Hilton's whereabouts in recent years.

Also, Channel 2 has been told human remains identified as those of Emerson were found in two different locations -- each off a different road in Dawson County. Both scenes have been completely processed by GBI crime specialists.

GBI Director Vernon Keenan told Channel 2 everything that happened between Emerson's abduction and her murder is critical to their investiation. That is believed to be a period of between three and four days.