Police to search Georgia for missing NC man

Authorities say they’ll search in Georgia for a North Carolina man whose disappearance could be linked to Gary Michael Hilton, who is charged with murdering a Georgia hiker earlier this month. They will search Towns and Union counties for the body of 80-year-old John Bryant. He and his wife, 84-year-old Irene Bryant went missing in October after setting out for a hike in western North Carolina Irene Bryant was later found dead from multiple blows to her head. Hilton has been charged in the beating death and decapitation of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson, whose body police found Jan. 7 in a Georgia state forest with Hilton's help. Authorities also are looking at whether Hilton was involved in two murders in Florida.

Wildfire burns in north Georgia

Officials say it could be several more days before a wildfire in north Georgia’s Towns County is completely put-out. About 100 firefighters are battling the fire, which is on U.S. Forest Service land between Hiawassee and Young Harris. Officials say the blaze has charred around 800 acres. There have no reports of injuries or damage. The fire is said to be about 80-percent contained.

Election set to replace Towns County sheriff

The date of November 6th has been set for a special election to fill the post of Towns County sheriff. The former sheriff, Rudy Eller, resigned August 21st after pleading guilty to lying to investigators and hiding evidence to protect two deputies in his department. An earlier drive-by shooting on the home of a Hiawassee man involved deputies Jessie Gibson and Eddie Osborn. Charges are in place against Osborn--Gibson was found dead early this month of suicide. Until the election, 73-year-old Neil Dover, a former chief deputy, will serve as interim sheriff.

Sheriff pleads guilty, resigns

Today a north Georgia sheriff resigned and pleaded guilty to lying to state investigators and hiding evidence. Rudy Eller appeared in court today in Towns County. Eller admits he did not tell state investigators that two of his deputies were involved in a drive-by shooting. Eller is also charged with hiding the gun used in the shooting. He says he made a serious mistake.

Sheriff to plead guilty

A north Georgia sheriff accused of covering up a shooting will plead guilty. Sheriff Rudy Eller’s attorney says Eller will enter his plea tomorrow in Towns County Superior Court. Investigators say Eller lied and hid evidence that one of his employees drove by the home of his wife’s lover and shot into his home. Governor Sonny Perdue has named a three-person panel to investigate
charges and recommend whether Eller should resume his duties.

Panel to investigate arrested sheriff

Governor Sonny Perdue has named a three-member panel to investigate a North Georgia sheriff. Towns County Sheriff Rudy Eller was arrested for allegedly covering up a shooting by his deputy, who was embroiled in a love triangle. The panel investigating him will be made up of Georgia Attorney general Thurbert Baker along with Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison and Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson. The panel will report back to Perdue within 30 days on whether Rudy Eller should be suspended.

Three law officers face charges

A Georgia sheriff faces allegations of trying cover up a shooting. Towns County Sheriff Rudy Eller has admitted to lying to Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents about the July 9th shooting in Hiawassee, along the North Carolina border. The GBI says Eller pretended not to know anything about it, when in fact his Chief Deputy was responsible and told him about it. Investigators say Eller was protecting his Chief Deputy, who had fired shots into the home of his wife’s lover. Towns County Chief Deputy Eddie Osborn and another deputy are charged in the shooting.