Showing posts with label Meredith Emerson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meredith Emerson. Show all posts

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, Gary Hilton and Charles Manson Family

Maria Lauterbach's charred remains and those of her fetus were found January 12, buried in a backyard fire pit of fellow-Marine Cesar Laurean.

Laurean, the main suspect has been on the run and is believed to be in Mexico.

Initial reports stated Lauterbach died from blunt-force trauma to the head, however the final autopsy report issued this week, appears to refute Lauren’s version of how Lauterbach died.

CNN reports: A gaping 4-inch wound was found on the left side of Lauterbach’s neck, according to autopsy results released by the office of the chief medical examiner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The wound is "incised," meaning it is a clean cut such as that made by a sharp instrument. However, the wound itself would not have been fatal, as there was only minimal damage to the underlying muscle, the results said.

"The autopsy confirms that there was a superficial incision to the neck that appears to have been made post-mortem," said a statement from Merle Wilberding and Chris Conard, attorneys representing Lauterbach's mother, Mary Lauterbach. "If so, that incision may have been made to have the body conform to Cesar Laurean's story that she had 'killed herself by slitting her throat.' "

"It looks like that incision was done to try to conform with the story he tried to present through his note and through his wife," Wilberding said. "The autopsy would support the criminal investigation conclusion that Laurean's story is not supported by the evidence."
Gary Hilton shocker!
A bizarre twist in the murder of Meredith Emerson, the 24-year-ol
d Georgia hiker; Gary Hilton, who confessed to killing Emerson may have gotten the plan from a 1995 murder movie that he helped write and produce!
CNN says: When attorney-turned-movie producer Samuel Rael decided he wanted to make a film about a serial killer in 1995, it was former legal client Gary Michael Hilton who he says came up with the plot.

Rael claims Hilton thought it would be a good idea to have the killer be out in the woods.

"Go ahead and let some beautiful women out in the woods, and then they could be hunted down like prey," Rael says Hilton told him.

Rael was shocked when he discovered that Hilton had been arrested and had confessed to Emerson's murder. Quickly, investigators hinted that Hilton might be a serial killer, linking him to three murders in two other states. In all three, the bodies were dumped in the woods.

It’s been almost 4 decades since Helter Skelter held our fascination, but
were additional murders committed by the Charles Manson Family?

Forensic investigators have been searching Barker Ranch, Death Valley National Park, CA for possible graves.

Spahn Ranch is where Charles Manson and his “family” were living during the Tate and LaBianca’s murder sprees. After a raid at the Spahn ranch, Manson moved to Barker Ranch, where he was eventually captured.

The search team includes researchers using instruments that detect chemical markers of decomposing bodies. A cadaver dog has also made a positive hit.

What led to this search after so much time?

FoxNews.com reports: The same jailhouse confessions that helped investigators initially connect the band of misfits living in the Panamint Mountains to the gruesome killings that terrorized Los Angeles hinted at other deaths. Manson follower Susan Atkins boasted to her cell mate on November 1, 1969, that there were "three people out in the desert that they done in." Other stories surfaced. In the absence of bodies, they were forgotten.

"We prosecuted Manson and the family for all the murders we could prove. But you know, could he have killed someone else? Possibly. Could another member of the family have killed someone? Sure," said Steve Kay, a former deputy district attorney.
Busy weekend in the news!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Gary Hilton prime suspect in Cheryl Dunlap murder

Interesting news about other possible murders and the negotiations with Hilton to recover Emerson's body.

According to Tallahassee.com,

Maj. Mike Wood of the Leon County Sheriff's Office has told the Tallahassee Democrat that Gary Michael Hilton is the prime suspect in the slaying of Cheryl Dunlap. Hilton has been charged with murder in the death of Georgia hiker Meredith Emerson.

"We have identified that he was in our county, and he is the prime suspect in a murder in Georgia where an ATM card was used," Wood said. "That makes him the focus of our investigation right now."

I agree with fellow crime blogger Steve Huff who posted in his comments section:

"Y'all, the removing of a murder victim's head (or hands, or any body part, for that matter) strikes me as the act of a person who is quite comfortable with murder. Someone I'd strongly believe has done this before."

I don't believe for a minute that the murder of Meredith Emerson is Hilton's first killing, and I would imagine that authorities in neighboring counties and states will be knocking on the GBI's door.

Meanwhile, Gainsville Times.com reported:
Dawson County District Attorney Lee Darragh was left out of the loop when prosecutors struck a deal with Gary Michael Hilton in order to locate the body of slain hiker Meredith Emerson. Darragh told reporters after an initial court appearance for Hilton today that neither he nor any member of his staff spoke with anyone in the offices of Union County District Attorney Stan Gunter or United States Attorney David Nahmias until after Hilton led authorities to Emerson's body in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area Monday night.

What's going on in the Union Co. DA's office? Why wouldn't they bring this other county DA office into the loop? Is there something going on in Georgia that no one is talking about? Who knows. We do things pretty strange out here in Cali, too.

CNN.Crime
updated story.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The Amazing Steve Huff on Gary Hilton

Updated2
Do you read Steve Huff? You should. Steve is amazing. His latest entry on True Crime Weblog talks about the murder of Levy Frady, 11, in the Dawson Forest back in October, 1997. There are some interesting coincidences that could link Gary Hilton to that murder. Here is an excerpt from Huffs most recent entry:

Perhaps it is pure coincidence that Gary Hilton looks so much like Frady witness number 2. Perhaps it is a coincidence that Hilton is about the age witness number 2 was said to be. And it may be a coincidence that Hilton is near the height given for the mysterious man sought in connection with Levi's murder.
Steve Huff is one of the most respected bloggers I know, and he never disappoints. His Internet research is outstanding and he's often the first to show connections that others have missed. It doesn't hurt that he's also a phenomenal writer to boot. Hey, Ann Rule thinks he is and so do a ton of his readers. Check out Steve's blog. It's definitely worth your time.
Latest report from CNN.Crime on this case.

Updated: 11:30 AM
According to WSBTV.com Meredith Emerson's family plans public statement later today.

According to 11alive.com, "Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that a weapon was used to kill 24 year old Meredith Emerson, but they would not provide any details on the type of weapon." In addition, the news source states an autopsy was started on Emerson's body at the GBI crime lab in Decatur, around noon today.

Updated: 12:15 PM
CNN.Crime is now reporting that Meredith Emerson was decapitated. What a horrible thing to learn about your loved one. Send some prayers to Meredith's family and friends.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Gary Hilton led police to missing hiker, Meredith's Emerson's body

In a press conference moments ago, police revealed that Gary Hilton described to LE the exact spot and physically led officers to Meredith Emerson's body. Emerson was found in the Dawson Forest Management Area, in Dawson County, which officials said is now a crime scene. According to John Cagle of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, "Witnesses had seen Hilton's van in that area and plans were made to further search that area. The location of the body was given by Gary Hilton." When a reporter asked how long until they released the crime scene, Cagle replied, "Until we're through."

Cagle would not comment at this time what the manner of death was, or how long she had been in that location. Even the District Attorney of Union County would not state whether or not Hilton's charges would be upgraded to murder. Hilton is currently held in the Union County jail.

It's a sad end to a life cut short.

CNN's report on this latest development.