Images in the case of Meredith Emerson

Metro Atlanta

Images in the case of Meredith Emerson

Meredith Emerson, 24, of Buford went hiking with her dog, Ella, on New Year's Day. Her body was found Jan. 7.

Meredith Emerson disappeared New Year's Day in the North Georgia mountains.

About 100 volunteers converged at Vogel State Park on Thursday, ready to look for the 2005 Georgia graduate who majored in French and grew up in Longmont, Colo.

"[Emerson] struggled to live," Keenan said. "She's very much a hero."

Among the searchers: Doug Bailey (right), his wife Peggy and son Stephen, all from Athens. The Baileys are Emerson's godparents. "She's responsible and bright," said Peggy Bailey. "Her parents are tremendously worried."

Volunteers who knew the 20,000-acre park and its mountains best and could give medical attention were sent out first in "hasty teams, " said 1st Lt. Brad Niebrand of the Union County Fire Department.

Helicopters searched the new 401-square mile area in the North Georgia mountains from above, volunteers from below.

As volunteers hiked to search for Emerson, Hilton set up camp in Dawson Forest, where the pair hiked for several hours. He insisted she was free but he also said he told her he would shoot her and anyone around if she tried to get away.

An aerial view of Vogel State Park where the search for Emerson seemed endless.

On Friday, things started to change. DeKalb police detained Gary Michael Hilton at a north DeKalb gas station after receiving two calls at about 7:40 p.m., reporting possible sightings of the "person of interest" in the disappearance of hiker Meredith Emerson.

When officers arrived, they found Hilton and confirmed his identity. They also found a dog in Hilton's white van, which was taken to an animal shelter in DeKalb County.

Then, Emerson's dog Ella was found in the parking lot of Kroger on Freedom Parkway in Cumming. Across the street at a QuikTrip, Emerson's wallet, which held her driver's license, and three blood-stained fleece tops were discovered in a dumpster.

WSB-TV reported that officials dusted a pay phone for fingerprints and had removed the receiver from the phone at a Quik Trip on Keith Bridge Road in Cumming.

Later that day, Hilton was escorted back to Union County for booking.

As Hilton was being questioned there was still no sign of Emerson. Her family and friends remained hopeful. "She's athletic, very athletic, " said her roommate, Julia Karrenbauer. "She runs all the time, walks all the time, hikes all the time. If faced with a situation, I'd be confident in her abilities."

By Saturday, Emerson still had not been found. Missing hiker flyers and posters adorned the doors of the usually tranquil visitor center porch at Vogel State Park.

On Sunday, the fog lifted from the lake at Vogel State Park and authorities gathered to resume the search.

GBI director Vernon Keenan told reporters just outside of command headquarters on Sunday that a lot of hard decisions would be made on this day in regards to the search for Emerson. "They're still searching today but it's difficult because they don't know which direction to look."

On Monday, the Georgia State Patrol continued to be on hand at Vogel State Park to help with the 10-team search. Yet authorities announced on Wednesday, normal operations would resume, significantly reducing the number of searchers.

Dave Emerson, Emerson's father (seen here next to Kimberly Verdone of the Union County Sheriff's Department), pleaded for people to "search their hearts and memories for anything they can remember and do" to help find Meredith.

He walked away with Verdone at his side.

As searching for Emerson continues, Susan and Dave Emerson walk with Ella, their missing daughter's dog, at Vogel State Park on Monday.

Susan Emerson walks Ella on Monday.

Shortly after Emerson's father made his appeal, Hilton appeared in court for his first hearing where he was denied bond.

GBI director Vernon Keenan (left) and GBI Special Agent in Charge John Cagle talk Monday night in Dawsonville about the discovery of Meredith Emerson's body.

Authorities Monday were checking to see whether three North Georgia missing persons cases -- two from recent weeks and one from nearly four years ago-- were linked to Hilton.

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Meredith Emerson disappeared New Year's Day in the North Georgia mountains.

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