#13
The National Forest Serial Killer
aka Gary Michael Hilton
Gary Michael Hilton is an American serial killer who committed his crimes from 2005-2008 in the states of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. He has been definitively linked to 4 murders but could possibly have committed many more.
Gary Michael Hilton was born on November 26, 1946 in Atlanta, Georgia to William Hilton and Cleo Reynolds. He was an only child. His parents separated when Hilton was young and he experienced a pretty rough childhood. He was laying in a murphy bed as a young child when the bed collapsed, essentially scalping him. He required 200 stitches and an extensive hospital stay to heal. At age 13, he shoots his stepfather (accidentally? who knows? but stepdad doesn't press charges) and is admitted to a psychiatric hospital. After this incident, his mom no longer wanted him in the home and he is sent to live elsewhere...and then his mom moves to Argentina. Adios.
He joins the United States Army in 1963 and is sent to Germany as part of a unit that was solely responsible for launching the Davy Crockett missile--a lightweight, semi-portable nuclear missile. This missile only had a range of less than 1.5 miles so if they were to ever fire it, it would essentially be a suicide mission. The President of the United States had the ultimate authority in deploying Hilton's unit; fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) they were never deployed. While he was deployed, he earned his GED. He also has a full schizophrenic breakdown while overseas--voices, paranoia, the whole shebang. He was hospitalized by the Army and was shortly after honorably discharged in 1967 at age 21. He married a young woman named Ursula and brought her back to the US with him; they divorced soon after. Due to his specialized unit, Hilton was "better" than your average soldier: he was an excellent long distance runner (you had to know how to run far away in a hurry if you're shooting nuclear missiles) and had tested with an extremely high (i.e. genius) level IQ of 120.
After discharge, Hilton bounces around the southern US. In 1969, Hilton marries Sue in DeKalb County, GA. They move to Florida where Hilton obtains his chauffeur's license in the State of Florida. He divorces Sue in 1971 and continues working as a chauffeur until 1973 when he was convicted of a DUI in Miami, FL. They revoke his license and he moves on to find other work.
In August 1977, he marries Dina Baugh in DeKalb County, GA. This marriage (#3 if you're counting) also ends in divorce in May 1978 at the ripe age of 31.
He bounces back quickly and marries Betty Sue Galloway in March 1979. Divorce #4 occurs in October 1979. Fortunately for the universe, Hilton never has children with any of his partners.
In 1982, Hilton is arrested on suspicion of arson but is never convicted.
In 1983, Hilton's luck runs out and he is convicted of carrying a gun without a license & drug possession in Clayton County, GA. When asked why he was illegally carrying a gun, he said it was for his own protection (eye roll--criminals don't need protection).
In July 1987, Hilton is charged with possession of marijuana and theft by deception in DeKalb County, GA. He is convicted of both charges in November 1987 on a guilty plea.
Hilton manages to stay under the radar until January 1994 when he is charged with 21 counts of solicitation (I'm assuming they mean utilizing the services of a sex worker but it's not specified) in Cobb County, GA. He pleads guilty of all charges in June 1995 and is sentenced to 10 years of probation. Throughout all of his convictions, he never spent time in jail. How lovely.
October 1995: Hilton is convicted of theft and is sentenced to an additional 5 years on probation.
If you haven't gotten the picture, the guy is a creepy thief who needed to be locked up a long time ago. But ya know, this is our justice system at it's best work *heavy sarcasm*
What is possibly Hilton's first murder occurred on December 1, 1994. 19 year old Melissa Witt disappears from Fort Smith, AR. She was supposed to meet her mother at a local bowling alley but never showed up. Her car was in the parking lot with blood present and signs of a struggle, but no Melissa. Her body is found a month later in a rural area near her home. She was nude when she was found but no statement has been made about possible sexual assault. Police did state that DNA was able to be collected from the scene. Officials have never officially linked her death to Hilton but there are striking similarities in the crimes, leading officials to believe that she might have been Hilton's first victim. As of 2018, her murder is officially listed as unsolved.
On October 22, 1997, 11 year old Levi Frady was last seen walking down a fairly busy road in Forsyth County, GA. His body was found in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area the next day. Witnesses claim to have seen a possible suspect in the same area around the same time as Levi's disappearance. The below sketches were done of the suspect. Once again, Hilton has not been officially linked to Levi's death but it's certainly a possibility. As of 2018, his murder is officially listed as unsolved.
April 12, 1998. 20 year old Jason Knapp disappears from his apartment near Clemson, SC. His vehicle was located 10 days later in a parking lot at Table Rock State Park near Pickens, SC which was about 30 miles from his home. He has never been located, dead or alive. His disappearance has been loosely linked to Hilton because of the State Park aspect but Hilton has never been officially listed as a person of interest on the case. As of 2018, his disappearance is officially listed as unsolved.
In the meantime, Hilton has landed a job selling siding for Insulated Wall Systems which was located in Duluth, GA. His boss also gave him a place to live. He worked for this company on and off for about 10 years starting in 1997.
In 2007, his boss files a complaint against him & Hilton threatens to kill him unless he pays him $10,000. Now that's what you call a salary negotiation.
April 15, 2004. 38 year old Patrice Endres disappears from the salon that she owns in Cummings, GA. Money was missing from the salon but her car & car keys were still there. Her body was discovered behind a church on December 6, 2005 in Dawson County, GA. Once again, her murder has been loosely linked to Hilton because of his geographical closeness to this crime. Her murder is officially listed as unsolved as of 2018.
August 2004: Hilton is witnessed beating a dog in a park in DeKalb County, GA. (This alone convinces me that he's a terrible person!)
December 7, 2005. Rossana Miliani disappears while on a hiking trip in Bryson City, NC. She was last seen at a local hotel. Her suitcase, laptop, camera, cell phone, and other personal items have never been recovered. Her body has never been recovered. Hilton is linked to her crime due to it's similarity to his others but he has never been officially charged. Her disappearance is officially listed as unsolved & she is an endangered missing as of 2018. A sketch was released of a suspect; a store clerk stated that Rossana was with a gentleman near the time of her disappearance that introduced himself to the clerk as a traveling preacher.
October 21, 2007. Irene and John Bryant, a lovely elderly couple, go hiking in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville, NC. Hilton has confessed to his actions on this date. He waited out for the couple in a parking lot, where he approached their car. He beats Irene Bryant using blunt force. Irene attempts to call 911 around 4 pm but the call doesn't go through. Her body is later discovered nearby on November 9, 2007. He kidnaps John Bryant and forces him to give over his PIN information on his debit card. He takes John to the Nantahala National Forest where he fatally shoots him in the head. Hilton goes to an ATM several days later in Tennessee & withdraws $300 from the couple's account. John Bryant's body is found in the Nantahala National Forest in NC in February 2008.
November 21, 2007. Michael Scot Louis is reported missing from Port Orange, FL by his girlfriend. Michael's body is discovered near Tomoka State Park in 3 separate garbage bags on December 6, 2007. As of 2018, his murder is officially listed as unsolved. Hilton is a suspect in this crime due to the body being located in a state park.
On December 1, 2007, 46 year old Cheryl Dunlap is abducted near Tallahassee, FL. Her car is later located with a flat tire. On December 14, 2007, Cheryl's decapitated body is found in the Apalachicola National Forest by hikers. Surveillance cameras later show Hilton using Cheryl's card at several ATMs withdrawing funds.
Things get dicey (no pun intended) at this point.
On January 1, 2008 (new year, new me), Hilton abducts 24 year old Meredith Emerson during a hike in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia. She had her dog Ella with her. Witnesses recalled that she was talking to a man in his 60s with a dog named Dandy. Coincidentally (or not), Hilton was in his 60s with a dog named Dandy. Her friends went searching for her the next day when she did not return home as expected. Meredith valiantly fights off her attacker for almost 4 days but suffers a fatal blow to the head on January 4, 2008. During this time, Hilton admits to chaining Meredith in his van and beating her several times. He also robs her and steals her ATM card. Ella wanders into a store almost 60 miles away on the same day. A gas station clerk calls the police on January 4, 2008 (busy day) to report that a man matching the sketches of the suspect was outside cleaning out his van. Law enforcement arrived just in time and caught Hilton attempting to bleach the interior of his van. He was arrested then and there. Police also found blood-stained clothes and Meredith's ID in the garbage. He was charged with her murder.
Meredith's decapitated body is located on January 7, 2008. Hilton agreed to tell police where they could find the body if the death penalty was taken off of the table. He appears in court on this date and is denied bond.
Hilton is indicted on Meredith's murder on January 30, 2008 and pleads guilty on the same day. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 with the possibility of parole in 30 years; he was convicted of first degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
But it's not until April 4, 2008 that Hilton confesses to Meredith's murder and details what happened to her. Hilton says that "he could not bring himself to kill her dog and that when it came to the woman herself, "It was hard ... you gotta remember we had spent several good days together." (source: wikipedia.org) GROSS.
But the good news? Ella was ok.
In June 2006, Hilton is extradited to Florida to face trial for the Cheryl Dunlap murder. He had fought extradition for a while but lost his battle.
In February 2011, Hilton is convicted of first degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery of Cheryl Dunlap. The jury recommends the death penalty & the Judge concurs.
In April 2011, Hilton is placed onto death row in Florida. He remains on death row as of June 2018 due to numerous appeals & the State delaying all capital executions pending Supreme Court rulings.
In June 2011, Hilton is charged federally with the murders of John & Irene Bryant. He pleads not guilty. He eventually changes his plea to guilty in March 2012. He is sentenced to 4 consecutive life sentences for the Bryant murders.
Here's an awesome summary of Gary Hilton in all of his glory (ugh). You can also find the legal opinion by the Supreme Court of Florida about Hilton's sentencing on this page.
So all in all, Hilton has been sentenced to a total of 5 life sentences: 1 in Georgia & 4 in North Carolina. He has been sentenced to death in Florida. Odds are not looking good for him.
What's interesting (at least to me) is that Hilton's various defense attorneys tried to use the fact that Hilton had a shitty childhood as a defense. It didn't work out for him but it's fascinating that they tried to link crappy childhood to serial killer tendencies. Not everyone that has a bad upbringing is a serial killer but it seems like every serial killer has had a bad upbringing. Ponder that one.
He joins the United States Army in 1963 and is sent to Germany as part of a unit that was solely responsible for launching the Davy Crockett missile--a lightweight, semi-portable nuclear missile. This missile only had a range of less than 1.5 miles so if they were to ever fire it, it would essentially be a suicide mission. The President of the United States had the ultimate authority in deploying Hilton's unit; fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) they were never deployed. While he was deployed, he earned his GED. He also has a full schizophrenic breakdown while overseas--voices, paranoia, the whole shebang. He was hospitalized by the Army and was shortly after honorably discharged in 1967 at age 21. He married a young woman named Ursula and brought her back to the US with him; they divorced soon after. Due to his specialized unit, Hilton was "better" than your average soldier: he was an excellent long distance runner (you had to know how to run far away in a hurry if you're shooting nuclear missiles) and had tested with an extremely high (i.e. genius) level IQ of 120.
After discharge, Hilton bounces around the southern US. In 1969, Hilton marries Sue in DeKalb County, GA. They move to Florida where Hilton obtains his chauffeur's license in the State of Florida. He divorces Sue in 1971 and continues working as a chauffeur until 1973 when he was convicted of a DUI in Miami, FL. They revoke his license and he moves on to find other work.
In August 1977, he marries Dina Baugh in DeKalb County, GA. This marriage (#3 if you're counting) also ends in divorce in May 1978 at the ripe age of 31.
He bounces back quickly and marries Betty Sue Galloway in March 1979. Divorce #4 occurs in October 1979. Fortunately for the universe, Hilton never has children with any of his partners.
In 1982, Hilton is arrested on suspicion of arson but is never convicted.
In 1983, Hilton's luck runs out and he is convicted of carrying a gun without a license & drug possession in Clayton County, GA. When asked why he was illegally carrying a gun, he said it was for his own protection (eye roll--criminals don't need protection).
In July 1987, Hilton is charged with possession of marijuana and theft by deception in DeKalb County, GA. He is convicted of both charges in November 1987 on a guilty plea.
Hilton manages to stay under the radar until January 1994 when he is charged with 21 counts of solicitation (I'm assuming they mean utilizing the services of a sex worker but it's not specified) in Cobb County, GA. He pleads guilty of all charges in June 1995 and is sentenced to 10 years of probation. Throughout all of his convictions, he never spent time in jail. How lovely.
October 1995: Hilton is convicted of theft and is sentenced to an additional 5 years on probation.
If you haven't gotten the picture, the guy is a creepy thief who needed to be locked up a long time ago. But ya know, this is our justice system at it's best work *heavy sarcasm*
What is possibly Hilton's first murder occurred on December 1, 1994. 19 year old Melissa Witt disappears from Fort Smith, AR. She was supposed to meet her mother at a local bowling alley but never showed up. Her car was in the parking lot with blood present and signs of a struggle, but no Melissa. Her body is found a month later in a rural area near her home. She was nude when she was found but no statement has been made about possible sexual assault. Police did state that DNA was able to be collected from the scene. Officials have never officially linked her death to Hilton but there are striking similarities in the crimes, leading officials to believe that she might have been Hilton's first victim. As of 2018, her murder is officially listed as unsolved.
On October 22, 1997, 11 year old Levi Frady was last seen walking down a fairly busy road in Forsyth County, GA. His body was found in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area the next day. Witnesses claim to have seen a possible suspect in the same area around the same time as Levi's disappearance. The below sketches were done of the suspect. Once again, Hilton has not been officially linked to Levi's death but it's certainly a possibility. As of 2018, his murder is officially listed as unsolved.
April 12, 1998. 20 year old Jason Knapp disappears from his apartment near Clemson, SC. His vehicle was located 10 days later in a parking lot at Table Rock State Park near Pickens, SC which was about 30 miles from his home. He has never been located, dead or alive. His disappearance has been loosely linked to Hilton because of the State Park aspect but Hilton has never been officially listed as a person of interest on the case. As of 2018, his disappearance is officially listed as unsolved.
In the meantime, Hilton has landed a job selling siding for Insulated Wall Systems which was located in Duluth, GA. His boss also gave him a place to live. He worked for this company on and off for about 10 years starting in 1997.
In 2007, his boss files a complaint against him & Hilton threatens to kill him unless he pays him $10,000. Now that's what you call a salary negotiation.
April 15, 2004. 38 year old Patrice Endres disappears from the salon that she owns in Cummings, GA. Money was missing from the salon but her car & car keys were still there. Her body was discovered behind a church on December 6, 2005 in Dawson County, GA. Once again, her murder has been loosely linked to Hilton because of his geographical closeness to this crime. Her murder is officially listed as unsolved as of 2018.
August 2004: Hilton is witnessed beating a dog in a park in DeKalb County, GA. (This alone convinces me that he's a terrible person!)
December 7, 2005. Rossana Miliani disappears while on a hiking trip in Bryson City, NC. She was last seen at a local hotel. Her suitcase, laptop, camera, cell phone, and other personal items have never been recovered. Her body has never been recovered. Hilton is linked to her crime due to it's similarity to his others but he has never been officially charged. Her disappearance is officially listed as unsolved & she is an endangered missing as of 2018. A sketch was released of a suspect; a store clerk stated that Rossana was with a gentleman near the time of her disappearance that introduced himself to the clerk as a traveling preacher.
October 21, 2007. Irene and John Bryant, a lovely elderly couple, go hiking in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville, NC. Hilton has confessed to his actions on this date. He waited out for the couple in a parking lot, where he approached their car. He beats Irene Bryant using blunt force. Irene attempts to call 911 around 4 pm but the call doesn't go through. Her body is later discovered nearby on November 9, 2007. He kidnaps John Bryant and forces him to give over his PIN information on his debit card. He takes John to the Nantahala National Forest where he fatally shoots him in the head. Hilton goes to an ATM several days later in Tennessee & withdraws $300 from the couple's account. John Bryant's body is found in the Nantahala National Forest in NC in February 2008.
November 21, 2007. Michael Scot Louis is reported missing from Port Orange, FL by his girlfriend. Michael's body is discovered near Tomoka State Park in 3 separate garbage bags on December 6, 2007. As of 2018, his murder is officially listed as unsolved. Hilton is a suspect in this crime due to the body being located in a state park.
On December 1, 2007, 46 year old Cheryl Dunlap is abducted near Tallahassee, FL. Her car is later located with a flat tire. On December 14, 2007, Cheryl's decapitated body is found in the Apalachicola National Forest by hikers. Surveillance cameras later show Hilton using Cheryl's card at several ATMs withdrawing funds.
Things get dicey (no pun intended) at this point.
On January 1, 2008 (new year, new me), Hilton abducts 24 year old Meredith Emerson during a hike in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia. She had her dog Ella with her. Witnesses recalled that she was talking to a man in his 60s with a dog named Dandy. Coincidentally (or not), Hilton was in his 60s with a dog named Dandy. Her friends went searching for her the next day when she did not return home as expected. Meredith valiantly fights off her attacker for almost 4 days but suffers a fatal blow to the head on January 4, 2008. During this time, Hilton admits to chaining Meredith in his van and beating her several times. He also robs her and steals her ATM card. Ella wanders into a store almost 60 miles away on the same day. A gas station clerk calls the police on January 4, 2008 (busy day) to report that a man matching the sketches of the suspect was outside cleaning out his van. Law enforcement arrived just in time and caught Hilton attempting to bleach the interior of his van. He was arrested then and there. Police also found blood-stained clothes and Meredith's ID in the garbage. He was charged with her murder.
Meredith's decapitated body is located on January 7, 2008. Hilton agreed to tell police where they could find the body if the death penalty was taken off of the table. He appears in court on this date and is denied bond.
Hilton is indicted on Meredith's murder on January 30, 2008 and pleads guilty on the same day. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 with the possibility of parole in 30 years; he was convicted of first degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
But it's not until April 4, 2008 that Hilton confesses to Meredith's murder and details what happened to her. Hilton says that "he could not bring himself to kill her dog and that when it came to the woman herself, "It was hard ... you gotta remember we had spent several good days together." (source: wikipedia.org) GROSS.
But the good news? Ella was ok.
In June 2006, Hilton is extradited to Florida to face trial for the Cheryl Dunlap murder. He had fought extradition for a while but lost his battle.
In February 2011, Hilton is convicted of first degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery of Cheryl Dunlap. The jury recommends the death penalty & the Judge concurs.
In April 2011, Hilton is placed onto death row in Florida. He remains on death row as of June 2018 due to numerous appeals & the State delaying all capital executions pending Supreme Court rulings.
In June 2011, Hilton is charged federally with the murders of John & Irene Bryant. He pleads not guilty. He eventually changes his plea to guilty in March 2012. He is sentenced to 4 consecutive life sentences for the Bryant murders.
Here's an awesome summary of Gary Hilton in all of his glory (ugh). You can also find the legal opinion by the Supreme Court of Florida about Hilton's sentencing on this page.
So all in all, Hilton has been sentenced to a total of 5 life sentences: 1 in Georgia & 4 in North Carolina. He has been sentenced to death in Florida. Odds are not looking good for him.
What's interesting (at least to me) is that Hilton's various defense attorneys tried to use the fact that Hilton had a shitty childhood as a defense. It didn't work out for him but it's fascinating that they tried to link crappy childhood to serial killer tendencies. Not everyone that has a bad upbringing is a serial killer but it seems like every serial killer has had a bad upbringing. Ponder that one.
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