Gary Hilton Indicted In Florida Woman's Murder

Florida authorities said the man who admitted to murdering 24-year-old Georgia hiker Meredith Emerson has now been indicted in the death of Cheryl Hodges Dunlap.

Hilton was indicted on first degree murder, kidnapping and two counts of theft late Thursday afternoon.

Dunlap disappeared December 1, 2007 and her body was found December 19, 2007 in the Apalachicola National Forest, southwest of Tallahassee. Sheriff's Major Mike Wood said in January that authorities confirmed that Gary Michael Hilton was in the area at the time of Dunlap's disappearance.

Cheryl Dunlap IM Cheryl Hodges Dunlap

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

Leon County investigators named Hilton the prime suspect in Dunlap's murder in early February and recently brought two truck loads of evidence from Georgia to Tallahassee.

Hilton Responsible For NC Murders?

Skeletal remains found in western North Carolina in early February were identified as a missing hiker whose wife's body was found near a hiking trail.

Transylvania County Sheriff John Mahoney said the medical examiner confirmed a body found Saturday by a hunter in Macon County is John Bryant, 80.

The hunter found the remains near a Forest Service road in the Nantahala National Forest. They were sent to the state medical examiner in Chapel Hill who made the indentification Monday morning.

The body of 84-year-old Irene Bryant was found in November.

Mahoney has said he believes 61-year-old Gary Michael Hilton is responsible for the deaths.

The Associated Press reported Friday that Mahoney said there is "no question" Hilton is responsible for the North Carolina case.

Mahoney said his office had collected enough evidence to bring charges, though officials in North Carolina must resolve if the state or the federal government will prosecute him. Mahoney said the evidence was enough to meet North Carolina's minimum standards to seek the death penalty.

"There are a lot of people up here that want it to happen," Mahoney said. "We're ready to go."

Mahoney said North Carolina authorities tried to interview Hilton, but he declined and asked for an attorney.

Hilton pleaded guilty to murdering hiker Meredith Emerson in Georgia late January and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Previous Stories: February 13, 2008: Hack Saw, Porn, Needles, Bong Found In Hilton's Van February 4, 2008: Skeleton Identified As Missing Hiker; Hilton Suspected January 31, 2008: Hilton Admits Killing Meredith Emerson January 24, 2008: Authorities Searching N. Ga. For Body Of N.C. Man January 20, 2008: Hilton Could Be Linked To Missing Student January 18, 2008: Hilton's Missing Van Found January 15, 2008: Hilton Suspected In Fourth Hiker's Disappearance January 15, 2008: Hilton Named Suspect In N.C. Murder January 14, 2008: North Carolina, Florida Investigators To Interview Hilton January 13, 2008: Hilton's Ex-Boss Speaks Out January 12, 2008: Gary Hilton Employer Speaks Out January 11, 2008: Duluth Police Encountered Hilton January 11, 2008: Memorial Service Held For Meredith Emerson January 11, 2008: Missing Woman's Glasses Found In Park January 11, 2008: Murder Suspect Involved In Other Deaths? January 10, 2008: Waitress: 'We Could've Saved Her' January 10, 2008: Florida Murder Victim Decapitated; Hilton Named 'Prime Suspect' January 9, 2008: Family Suspects Hilton In Levi Frady Murder January 9, 2008: Dashcam Video Shows Gary Hilton January 8, 2008: Suspect Leads Officials To Missing Hiker's Body January 7, 2008: No Bond For Emerson Kidnap Suspect January 7, 2008: Hiker's Father Makes Plea For Help January 7, 2008: Kidnapping Suspect In Court Today January 5, 2008: Police Charge Hilton With Kidnapping Hiker January 5, 2008: Police: Missing Hiker Likely Dead; Suspect Charged