Break in missing hiker case

There has been a break in a murder case thought to be linked to Gary Michael Hilton, sentenced last week to life in prison for murdering a Georgia hiker. Police in North Carolina say skeletal remains found over the weekend are those of missing hiker John Bryant. Police believe Hilton is responsible for murdering Bryant and his wife Irene this past fall, after they disappeared while hiking. Hilton pleaded guilty to murdering 24-year-old Meredith Emerson last month after kidnapping her from Blood Mountain in North Georgia.

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.