I don't care that he had a troubled childhood. I had a troubled childhood. A lot of people had a troubled childhood and do no harm to anyone. A troubled childhood does not make a monster.
I don’t think it’s important so much because it mitigates his responsibility, but understanding how society makes people like Hilton, is a better way to try to prevent and identify - before murder happens.
A troubled childhood only makes things worse for those who have a genetic predisposition to be a psicopath. We are the result of genes+environment. In your case a troubled childhood was not enough to make you bad.
Like they say, his dance card is full in prison. Men’s prisons can be outrageously loud. The inmates take care of their own. The guards are outnumbered. They let the inmate enforcers punish their own and they do.
Sleep well Meredith, your free now, never to feel horrific pain again, may you sleep with angels darlin’ , your free to travel where you want to go , to travel the stars, the galaxy’s , your free never to be hurt again -RIP dearest one your loved by the angels , by all who knew you, and all who didn’t know you , you rest easy sweetheart.
What a tragic end to a young life. She trained in martial arts, she had her dog with her....but it all came down to crossing paths with the wrong person. Be so careful out there people. My condolences to Meredith's family and friends.
@@JoeSmith-zv9my Dear Joe: Who should get "disemboweled" are the people who discharged her killer from the military as a young man with a diagnosis of "paranoid schizophrenia". The US Military knowingly let a man with a severe mental illness onto the streets of America with NO Supervision and NO Follow UP whatsoever. Mental illness is not a crime, Joe. It's a medical condition. What's a REAL Crime is how America ignores its mentally ill citizens until they seriously hurt someone, and then they just throw them into prison. There are literally more mentally ill people in America's prisons today than there are in its mental hospitals. That adds up to many victims of crimes, and their families who could have been spared unnecessary suffering had this nation done its job and took care of its mentally ill citizens as it should have. It's definitely cheaper to house a mentally ill person in a prison than in a mental hospital, but what a way to save a buck !!! ... jkulik919@gmail.com
@@JosephKulik2016 The army did the same thing to my nephew....Thankfully my sister was able to get him proper help-though it took YEARS-and he has continued on his meds and has had no issues since. *not the same diagnosis as this creep, but it's the same point none the less.
Training in martial arts is fine for fitness and teaching women how to hit/grapple with an opponent, but in classes safety measures are taken so nobody gets injured and your opponent isn’t some guy with screws loose intent on hurting you ANY WAY HE CAN. In real life attacks you may have to keep fighting with a broken hand, broken jaw, broken eye socket, kicked guts, cracked ribs, or after a big fall where the wind gets knocked out of you...or all of the above. They just can’t duplicate that in a class setting. Even in competitive fighting like UFC there are rules and a referee who will stop things if someone is bleeding too much or can’t continue fighting effectively.
Her martial arts experience was REALLY hammed up by her family and the media. She was a beginner with only two years of training, far from being the "trained martial artist" the media made her out to seem.
I had hiked that same trail, alone, the week before she went missing. This case was heartbreaking. I never met Meredith, but I've thought about her hundreds of times over the years. And I've never again hiked alone without a way to protect myself. Meredith and her case will always haunt my thoughts.
Don't trust any old man, no matter how polite them may seem. I am a younger guy, and the things older men say about women are crazy to me. Looking at women younger than there daughters in a sexual matter. The things they say. There are so many disgusting people on this planet. Men and women
Same. I was raised to see these things as none of my business, but as an adult I've struggled with that because I know it's wrong. There were plenty of times where I stepped up and did something, but also times when I didn't. I don't regret for one second the times where I took action...even when I ended up being wrong. I *will* regret for the rest of my life the times when I didn't do anything.
I appreciate the spirit of what you're saying but sometimes fighting gets you killed. He probably would have killed her no matter what she did, but there are many cases, including my own, where acting like a friend and staying calm has kept the perpetrator from going all the way. In my case, the police believed he had killed before in the same spot the year before. I could see he was on the edge of gutting me and, if I fought, I know he would have gone through with it. People like this are like wild animals; it can go either way. I never got justice, but I am here decades later so I guess in a way I did.
To the man that spotted him and said “ I can take him down “, I believe he would rather risk his own life than let this monster get away. THANK YOU SIR! (and I have no doubt you would have taken him down.)
That trial really isn’t remote, though. There’s a popular store/visitor center at the bottom. I hiked it on Memorial Day one year and the parking lot was packed. Lots of people and kids. It’s a decently strenuous hike but a popular one.
It's always necessary to practice situational awareness and to have an equalizer with one. Dogs are great companions, and much more aware of sounds, scents, and movement than we are, but shouldn't be relied on for protection.
On the trail you can be killed by a fall, a bear, a mountain lion or a weirdo with three names. Randall Lee Smith 1981 Appalachian trail murders; Stephen Roy Carr 1988 Appalachian trail murders; Paul David Crews 1990 Appalachian trail murders, Gary Michael Hilton 2007 Appalachian trail murders; James Lee Jordan 2019 Appalachian trail murders; if you would see one, you would wish to God that you were encountering Big Foot. Sadly, mine is an incomplete list.
The reason killers are often referred to by their full three names is to differentiate them from everyone else with the same first & last name. How many Randall Smiths would you estimate there are on earth?
There’s so many facets of law-enforcement that we don’t even really look at and that man who investigated this deserves the utmost respect. God bless him and all the families involved.
A friend of mine was at a dinner party six months to a year before she went missing. She was open about hiking alone. My friend Dwight, warned her of the dangers of being alone in the woods. She took it as an insult to women. He tried to explain that it is dangerous for anyone alone in isolated areas. She was adamant that she can take care of herself. Women HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIKE ALONE but it is not a good idea. If you have to, carry a gun.
It *is* an insult to women when you single them out and say that they can't hike alone (but men can). Anyone hiking solo can be a target so I don't get why gender is always mentioned regarding women's hiking accidents but not men's...
I have hiked, biked, ran, trail rode (horse) by myself, with dogs, for 40+ years. Way more people are likely to get hurt when leaving bars UI in the early morning hours, or if they have to work nights. Situational awareness, force multipliers, cell phones or emergency beacons, dogs, etc. help keep one safe. But two women together frequently become crime victims, or even a woman and a man. Hiking isn't a particularly dangerous activity. However, trails close to urban areas are always more dangerous than more remote trails. The more remote, the better.
@@evelynwaugh4053 You have simply been extremely fortunate, not in the path of someone who wanted to do harm to you. However, it's apparent to anyone reading your comment can clearly see you are stubborn and in a form of denial. Dogs can be shot. You are insane if you insist on hiking alone and should at least be carrying a firearm. An emergency beacon will only let someone know where to find your body.
A good lesson is that if you meet a stranger coming towards you or coming up from behind, to stay on high alert. What a great story of how that piece of shit got caught.
The risks are the same as everywhere else. There are more stabbings on the streets of London and more shootings in most American Cities than abductions and murders in isolated places. It’s a risk worth taking. But best to have some kind of protection.
911 caller: "I can go take him down if you want." This guy was ON IT, I love it! Thank goodness for him, and the dispatcher and Officers quick movement. My heart goes out to her family.
@@katieakin9397 Death penalty is no different than jail sentence in a sense that it is used only when there is substantial evidence of guilt. The state doesn’t “kill who they want” just like they don’t put in jail who they want. Lmao, how stupid can you be?
I think every high-schooler should be educated ( with an introductory course or two ) about basic human mental disorders -sociopathy, psychopathy, narcissism, so that they may be AWARE of the potential dangers that exist out in broader society. There are extremely dangerous, cunning predators out there -who are quite adept at sensing vulnerability and naivete in a potential victim. Also, if she had had at least a small pistol or revolver on her, ( along with some training ), she would have had a fighting chance to save herself.
I find it incredible that the above mentioned subjects are not taught to children in school and that self defense is not taught to youngsters. What good is an education if you don't live to use it?
A knife would have helped her as she was kicking his ass but HE had a knife and she didnt. Condolences to the family. I still dont understand why he decapitated her head. May she rest in peace.
If she even had a good knife, it could have given her another chance. I don't care what gun haters say. I always take at least my 45. It could stop a predatory animal, as well as a predatory human (animal). I keep my head on swivel and try to pay attention to what's around me just like I do in the city. Nature has a way of lulling people into complacency by it's beauty, and that's what predators take advantage of.
Will never forget ME! This was the 1st year on New Years that my husband & 2 boys did not hike Blood Mountain. We haven’t hiked it on New Years Day since. We still section hike, always assist other hikers when we can & we still feel safer on the AT than most urban areas but will forever be cautious. RIP ME!
I’ve been hiking Blood Mountain since 2016 alone and sometimes with my two dogs , but i never knew about this case until a Eleanor Neale covered it. It’s very unfortunate what happened to this young woman and i pray her family and friends have found some sort of closure. After hearing about this case, I’ll be very hesitant to go alone next time. I probably won’t ever go alone again, which sucks because I LOVE hiking this mountain...
If you're a woman or smaller man, it's essential to go with someone. It's always a good idea to never be alone in the woods or the sea. People have gotten too relaxed. The world is both a beautiful and dangerous place.
Learn to use a pistol. Grab some friends who are armed and know how to use guns too. Always be friendly to people you meet but make sure your guns are visible. It will be a good deterrent.
Too many bleeding hearts out there willing to ‘Cut a deal’ with scumbags who commit horrific crimes, so they can be spared the death penalty. As far as I’m concerned, if you deliberately kill someone then your rights to life & freedom are void. An eye for an eye!
They don't cut a deal because they have empathy for the killer. They cut a deal to get info on where the body is located, otherwise it may never be found. It's for the benefit of the family and their closure... But, yes, makes me angry, too.
Whenever I am in the backcountry at trail heads I always film the parking lot to catch the make and model and licenses of every vehicle parked there before heading out in case anything happens.
Absolute most important 2 items to carry on a hike- a handgun and a personal locator beacon. Press the button that's ALL you do. Dog isn't much help, in fact, my dogs were always what I worried about. I'd have to save them first. Sad how much total evil is in this world.
My Pitt Bull would be a huge help. In fact, when a person started to break into my home while I was home my Pitt bull was the one that scared them off before I had to shoot them. Had I brought her and my german shepherd on the hiking trail with me, I'm nearly positive that when the creep saw us they'd wait for the next woman to come along. Your dogs are glad to give their life for the pack. If you care for them good all their life, then risking their life becomes their gift to you. I mean, yea, if you have a couple of teacup poodles with you yea you will be concerned about them they're gonna have not a chance of helping you...but if you are responsible enough to own protection dogs you rarely worry for their safety. I always worry about others safety. They're ALWAYS on a leash if we are walking, no one is allowed to pet them, they do not go to dog parks unless muzzled, they're in an electrical reinforced fence when they're outside and they're padlocked inside the fence to prevent an unsupervised child from wandering in. It is a huge responsibility, but they do keep the creeps away and they do it well. When we go on walks alone men do not walk up to me for any reason without quickly regretting that decision.
My Rottie would take down a man quick. He does not like strangers at all. Carry a gun, Rotties and bear spray all three could save your life, and do not go alone.
Dogs don't do shit if they arent trained by a professional handling company. Tired of the Linda Lies and Karen Crap. And if your dog was not trained appropriatly by a reputable dog handler you just have a vicious untrained dog beat into violent fallback reactions.
My little sister was engaged to her brother when this happened. She was still grieving from the loss of her own son. I remember it destroyed her even more and eventually their relationship. I never met Meredith but this couldn't have happened to a nicer family. They didn't deserve this. This whole thing is the reason my 14yr old daughter carries pepper spray everywhere she goes. It was close enough to me to make me realize it really can happen to anyone. Teach and prepare your children to defend themselves. I hope their family has found some peace and I hope they know how Meredith's story has helped other parents like me when preparing our children to be out in this cold, cruel world. My daughter is more safe because of Meredith.
@Lavern Because there are some people, like the man who killed Meredith, that nobody would give a damn if it happened to them. Not everyone is loved and cherished. There are plenty that deserve it. Meredith was far from one who did. Apparently common sense missed you.
@Lavern YOU are the jackass! Your comments to the original poster were uncalled for, unnecessary, inappropriate. Take your stupid potty mouth elsewhere!
The dilapidated house that he took her to was minutes from my home. It shook our community that such a monster was lurking in our area. I remember when he was in the Dawson County jail, I'd drive by going to work and there was tons of news vans and reporters outside of our courthouse. Just driving by knowing he was in there, it felt like I was driving by some serious evil force. I grew up in Dahlonega and moved to Dawson and just knowing such evil had occurred in two places I dearly love absolutely broke my heart. She was just trying to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and he destroyed her. That's pure evil. Rest in Peace beautiful lady.
I remember he let her dog live because he just couldn’t kill the dog because-he love animals.... ha........ he had no problem with torturing and murdering her..... twisted
Yes, that was weird. Her parents adopted Ella and took her to Colorado. The murderer actually had a dog named Dandy that he made part of a plea deal, so his dog was adopted and has a new life somewhere.
Well, dogs are pretty great, and people, well, not so much. Hilton beheaded her in the forest. A dog wouldn't of done that. There are no dog hitlers in history. Dogs are so great not even serial killers want to kill them.
Jesus. How casually the monster talks about it. I love that Meredith almost kicked his arse. I just wish she had won. I couldn’t care less about his troubled childhood. Loads of people have troubled childhoods- they don’t all turn into killers. Rest in peace Meredith. 🙏🙏
One can truly explore their sick side in the deep wilderness. There’s little to zero chance of getting caught. If you don’t carry a firearm on the trail, you’re an easy target.
I highly doubt that this man did anything "nice" for this poor woman, ie, giving her the warmer sleeping bag, etc. Not only is he a cold blooded killer, but also a narcissist & like all narcissists, they love to make people think that they have a heart of gold & like to make people believe that they are kind people, but it's nothing but empty lies.
Don't hike alone, and carry a weapon that you are skilled with. Then you would likely be safer than in most cities. The wilderness is a beautiful place.
I lived in Ga during this and was SO sad. It affected my area hard. This for me is another argument to pack heat while you are on a trail, and especially alone. I would sooner shoot him while he was driving, than not, and take my chances. I hate this. SO much. There is an annual walk honoring Meredith. I was trained only shoot when in "imminent danger". This would apply.
Women need weapons for self-defense, lethal weapons, yes that will do, but if there is a better non-lethal weapon, or weapons that are sure to take down a potential adversary, that is even better, because then you are more likely to use it right away, rather than to hesitate, because it does not kill it disables. This way you don’t have to be so sure about what a potential Attacker really has in mind, You can be more proactive.
@@steveperreira5850 May be that would work in a better world. Consider how often tazers are not effective when used by law enforcement. We need to pack heat, nothing else has such a high probability of success.
@@gr8flyerfan People like you and me don’t need to be told not to murder. But there’s evil in the world, and we need to accept it and do our best to protect ourselves
Her martial arts didn't help her either. That's why I tell EVERYONE to keep a good blade, or a reliable handgun on their person at ALL times. Even a small child, woman, or handicapped person can pull a 5lb trigger and get a 300lb man to back up. Any human on Earth has the natural inclination to survive. When pushed to preserve ourselves, we can do thing's we'd never imagine. All good people need to carry something to equalize a bad situation. Period.
This is so heartbreaking. I will never again go hiking alone. I hiked at Vogel State Park last fall, it was my new favorite but I’m not sure I’ll ever go back.
I went hiking many times on a trail near me alone without a worry. Often there was absolutely no one else on the trail. But one day only about a mile into my hike I was overcome by an awful feeling where I KNEW I was being observed (I had the skin stands up response). I knew I was in someone's field of vision, tried to act natural but headed for the first bend and bolted! I NEVER went back. I still love hiking but will not go alone.
@@bernadette573 I watch so many stories like this, and I, too, always tell myself I'll never hike alone again. But then I always do. It's just so peaceful and I feel like I notice so much more of what's around me when I'm by myself.
Hiking trails are a S,killers playground and I bet he’s done it b4,he’s statement I don’t want to kill someone to day.just my opinion people should never go camping or hiking alone.
@@reagan6743 agreed. I've been hiking all my life all over the country and never heard of anything like this happening on any trail i like. Dont live in fear of the extremely rare and unlikely or you'll never leave your house
My heart goes out to her family, especially finding out he had mutilated her body! Wherever you are Meredth, way to go girl for putting a good beating on him before he overpowered you!!
I wish I would of come across the monster hurting her!!! I would of dispatched him in silence. Don't mess with hikers or you might bite off more than you can chew. I'm an avid hiker if I come across someone hurting somebody I will go almost all the way and put him in a tin can to share with the monsters in Prison were these monsters deserve to be!!!
I was hiking blood mountain with my scout troop back then we came across him on the trail. He looked distress and had her dog who looked scared. Luckily for us we were all grouped up and outnumbered him and he didn’t try anything. We found out about him weeks later it shocked me. I still think about it to this day
I've hiked that trail several times. On pleasant weather during the weekends, you will encounter several others but during winter and week days in spring and autumn, you might not encounter another person. Avoid being alone and you should be okay.
Never get into a vehicle in these circumstances; you've got a better chance of surviving by running, even if you risk being shot. Overwhelmingly, people who comply and get into a strange car are rarely seen again.
Yup. It's the #1 rule of abduction. Do anything possible to not end up in the vehicle. You basically seal your fate if you do. What bothers me tho is that he turned around to go get her dog. The dog was obviously still on the trail. Did he leave her alone in the van to get the dog? Did she accompany him on the trail to find the dog??
The man at 9:36 speaking about the situation: just by looking at him I can tell how much he carries with him. The trauma that entails with dealing with these things. It's like the soul has been drained. Bless his heart. Rest in peace for the girl ❤
"She had her dog with her." Honestly and sincerely, I think a lot of women are naive about the amount of protection they can expect from their dog. And Ella was obviously the kind of dog that would lick you to death... Dogs can only be relied on to provide effective protection if they are TRAINED to do so; otherwise, they are just another potential victim. RIP Meredith. :(
While your dog might not protect you per se, guarantee you that it will notice changes in the environment (movement, scents, sounds) way before you will. I have always ran, trail (horseback) rode, biked, and hiked by myself with 2 or 3 large dogs and never had any problems. I have a CCW permit now, so I carry when hiking, but pepper spray, a stun gun, and a knife would also be better than nothing.
I think it depends on the breed as well. I purposefully got 2 Labradors mixed with pit because I knew they would be super protective. If they don't know you they will try to attack. They both take off in unison & go for the legs. Imagine 2 big black Hell hounds coming full speed barking & sliding. Poor neighbors just be trying to get in their cars for work. I have the utmost faith in my dogs because I didn't get a soft breed.
You are assuming that she relied on her dog for safety. No, she was taking her dog on a hike. No one sets off thinking "i'm gona find a murderer so let me take my dog"
@@crism3lo Hope for the best-expect the worst.......I (and probably lots of others) do carry emergency equipment for life threatening events. I have no doubt that my two large (well behaved, but not friendly) dogs are a good first line deterrent to malefactors, but I do carry other stuff as well. One doesn't expect to break down on the road, but in case one does, a cell phone and AAA membership are handy to have. Sh#t happens.
This is why the disparity in strength between man and woman must never be understated . If you women believe in movies and fairytales you can be in for a rude awakening . If she originally outpaced him on the hike up she should have waited for another person to escort her on the way down, but being over confident and believing in social falsehoods could make a person think they can handle themselves.
@@wamemasilo7546 yeah I ain't tryin to shit on her or nothin but a woman who dabbles in martial can easily be over powered by a kid who's 15 and has zero training . It's common sense or it used to be.
You are right. I've been followed on several occasions while out hiking, or just walking to the store. I never counted on my own ability to get out of the situations on my own. As a young teen, I was out on a trail alone when a big burly dude walked out of the woods next to me with a fishing rod. I was already walking fast, and the dude started gaining on me. I thought maybe I was just being paranoid, so I started jogging, and when I glanced back he was still gaining on me. I was lucky enough to have a couple walking towards me, and I instantly turned and walked right behind them (I felt like a weirdo, but an alive weirdo).
Yes. He did the same to the woman in Florida (Cheryl Dunlap), and supposedly to the elderly couple in North Carolina. He claimed he beheaded them so they couldn't be identified, but that doesn't wash. He knows about modern forensics. He just got a kick out of mutilating the bodies. He's suspected of killing several more people.
I wish we lived in a time where women can walk on trails alone, but sadly we don't. 😔 As a 38 yr old single mom - I keep my gun on me. If you're a woman, and can legally own and carry a gun - DO IT!!! Take the classes, get trained, target practice, and learn how to protect yourself and others. Im sorry, but martial arts is rarely beneficial when approached like she was. God Bless that 911 caller! Wish everyone would do the right thing!
Sorry but martial arts will not really help many people. I was in a class with a black belt female. A white belt male over took her immediately and shook her like a rag doll. She knew it was coming because it was set up for class but this did not help. Now imagine not knowing it is coming. Same thing with a gun. The person with evil intent always has the upper hand. With my kids we almost had a very bad situation on a river fishing alone. I'll never, ever forget looking into the eyes of evil that day. The thing I learned that day was to teach my kids to scatter. No matter what they hear don't come out. Go for help.
Women shouldn't hike alone. "Strong woman" narrative doesnt prove out. Hilton was 60, type 1 diabetic, and still overpowered her martial arts. Bear spray with 20 ft of spray could have saved her life.
This is why the disparity in strength between man and woman must never be understated . If you women believe in movies and fairytales you can be in for a rude awakening . If she originally outpaced him on the hike up she should have waited for another person to escort her on the way down, but being over confident and believing in social falsehoods could make a person think they can handle themselves.
@@theurbanloner8879 You can't even come up with a different comment than the one you made as your own? You're copy/pasting this shit now? Fuckin' STOP.
It is not enough to be alert. It is unwise to go hiking or camping in a rural area alone. You could be on a killer's human hunting ground. Even going with someone you should always go with weapons, prepared to defend yourself from a subhuman predator.
Unfortunately, men LOVE to trot out Merideth as evidence that training in martial arts is worthless for women because....look at Merideth Emerson! A seasoned, TRAINED martial artist with years under her belt was overpowered by a small, untrained man!!! Media outlets stress how she was " A trained martial artist." They make it sound like she was the female version of Bruce Lee when some weak Joe Blo took her down with ease. Something about this whole scenario always bugged me as not adding up, so I did some research. Merideth was NOT a "trained martial artist." She was a beginner. And had been training in Judo for two years, tops.That is still a beginner level. A TRAINED martial artist has many years of experience and is considered an expert in fighting. They are definitely not beginners. At a beginner level, IF she was even advanced enough to be sparring yet, which I doubt, she would have been partnered with only women. This would NOT prepare her for a throw-down fight with a man. I'm not trying to make less of the amazing and fierce fight she DID put up, and my heart breaks that she had to fight at all. But I DO wish people would stop calling her a "trained martial artist" when she had studied for only two years and was still only a beginner. Rhonda Rousey is a " trained martial artist." She has YEARS of experience, does strength training, and trains with men. I just wish more people knew the difference, and stop calling a beginner a "trained martial artist." It makes female martial artists look bad, which Merideth would never have wanted.
What an ugly man in every way. Probably impotent and super unattractive.. wonder what his mother was like? . But I get tired of he did this because of his childhood. Plenty of people have bad childhoods and turn out awesome. This is evil and a bad seed. May he get what’s coming to him. Hell!
@@bettyjo6144 I call BS on any of those lame excuses. This sack of dog doo was just evil and wanted to kill an innocent beautiful young woman because he couldn’t get a woman to give him the time of day otherwise but didn’t have balls enough to own that
I remember when he killed the nurse here in Tallahassee FL. Scared me so bad. I still am very cautious while I'm in town. He's a nasty human. My heart goes out to this family and the investigaters.
They never said what happened with Ella. Did he kill her too or let her go? This type of situation frightens me. I would be afraid to be in a remote area by myself. Poor woman.
I remember this story like yesterday.... she crosses my mind from time to time because I like to walk/ hike but am super careful since Meredith was murdered... I will only walk in areas were there’s people . .... never at dusk .... and no backcountry.... need to get a gun
There are several lightweight pistols you can carry. Be careful you know the rules in your state. I personally like to carry a 22. Go to an indoor range if there is one around you and rent different ones and they will teach you how to use it. It would also be a good idea to take a class with a licensed instructor. Get to feel comfortable using it and carrying it.
@@adonnaprice6028 I had a pretty good childhood but I learned from hearing stories that people are capable of everything. I am the most cautious person you’ll meet, always carry pepper spray, always on high alert and rarely leave my home. Your theory is not true.
Folks, I don't care what 'they' say ... learn how to use a handgun confidently, and carry it with you EVERYwhere. If you never need it, great, but it is far better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Never hike alone either - man or woman. Protect yourself.
The *power girl* narrative needs some serious grounding in reality. For a minute, I thought that the baton was her's, but nope, she came empty-handed. I'm a dude, and when I camped alone along the desert of SW Nevada/SoCal, I came ready for problems and was willing to go all the way. At the time, I was cycling to California with 30lbs of supplies and water. The second night, I slept in a gulley with trip wires, glass, and metal cans as an impromptu alarm. Came to learn later on that flare guns are legal and are good enough to set an opponent on fire. Stuff some pebbles and loose shot and you're good to go. Never stop learning, which is why I watched this video. (Hey *Dateline* don't drag things out as if the internet doesn't exist. No wonder broadcast TV is dying.)
I can learn a lot from Meredith Emerson murder. She died because of her over self confidence/ poor judgement. Her fight/flee/freeze response made the difference between life and death. Practically , she could easily have outrun him and flee. My takeaway from this film: Even if you are a master fighter, fighting a much heavier armed opponent, is a mistake. You never know what he is armed with. Running away is not a matter of honor, rather, a prudent survival act. You avoid close contact altogether.
I've always been flabbergasted that the former officer didn't report the signs of a struggle right away. He had encountered Meredith and Hilton walking together and recognized the dog leash on the ground as the one that was on Ella.
I've never forget that 911 call and that whole situation playing out and I'm not even in Atlanta or Georgia, I'. in St Louis and I remember that to a T! The man on that 911 call, he's one of them heroes that doesn't wear a cape. Good looking out dude, awesome catch!
I used to hike by myself with no weapon. Now I have a daughter. I never go anywhere without a Glock and will be teaching her to do the same. That dude or anyone like him would have been be toast.
December 10th 2007. I was hiking alone and when I reached Preacher’s rock trailhead I stoped at the parking spot for a break and there was an old grandpa wearing a bright and old green sweater that stinked kinda bad. He was sitting on the back of his van with a golden retriever so I asked him if I could pet his dog ( as I have 2 golden retrievers and they’re the best dogs) he said yes and he started asking me where I was from and what do I do for a living? And if I was hiking alone or in a group? He also asked me if a have any guns or knifes because last week there was a mountain lion attack that almost killed a hiker. I told him not I don’t have a gun but I have a small pocket knife that I showed him. He said that’s not enough to kill a mountain lion. I was like well I hope I don’t encounter one. Then we chatted for a little bit and he started ranting about the federal government. And before I was leaving he told me If he could join me on the trail because he really wanted to hike up but he being an old man and suffering from heart conditions so if something happens to him at least I could tell police where he was. I felt something, a strange sensation in my gut by the way his eyes looked. He had some really penetrating gaze and he would always make direct eye contact that I couldn’t hold so I would look away for some seconds. After thinking what should I say this old grandpa I told him “I’m sorry but I’m in a hurry and I really want to walk fast to get to the top before sunset” he kinda looked mad and said aight I’ll just wait for someone else. I proceeded to hit the trail but I could never forget his gaze. Even tho he was an old man his gaze gave me a bad vibe and I was thinking about it the whole trail. 25 days later when I was at home I watched this same guy in a mugshot on the news channel so I turned the volume up because I was intrigued I thought he died on the trial (because he told me he had heart problems) to find out he kidnapped and killed a girl about 15 miles on another parking lot. The guy I interacted with was fcking serial killer Gary Michael Hilton. I think he asked the same questions and told the same story to Meredith Emerson and she was kind and good hearted so she agreed to hike with the “old grandpa with heart problems”. So now I don’t trust anyone even if they have good intentions and they greet me I just say hi and continue my hike without stopping and if they ask me to stop to ask me a questions I just say sorry I’m in a hurry and keep going. I also carry a 9mm Glock 43x. It’s small and concealable. Another crazy experience happend another year before when I was hiking and at the distance I saw a naked old guy just walking around. So I freaked out and stopped before he was gone. Stay safe guys. Never trust anyon
Troubled childhood!?! Who hasn’t ?! What a coward and to watch him sit and calmly discuss this brutal murder at his hands like he’s telling a fishing story……. He will never get what he deserves…I feel for the parents they will always feel her loss….
His turn needs to hurry up!!!!!! HE DOES NOT DESERVE ONE MORE BREATHE!!! I know someone in his family and when I spoke to her after hearing this on the news she LAUGHED!!! said "yeah. I know..we have a couple killers in this family and a couple real mentals....one day they will get caught...till then I'd watch yourself" then she hung up!!
Technically can a homeless person live in the National Forest 16 days at one site and move 5 miles away and come back and keep doing this over and over?
Depends on how vigilant the surveillance is. The "harmless" homeless are all over the place in the forests, especially those within reasonable distance of a town or city
Hiking has and always will be dangerous - there are so many drifters, outlaws, and shady types on trails-nobody should go alone. This is a sad story that has happened timeand time again
What makes me especially sick is that this woman only wanted to do what she had done probably hundreds of times before: Go for a hike with her dog. But this ONE time, there was a predator lying in wait. So many times I read about stories of people in the wrong place at the wrong time, but my God, how is it there are so many predators out there just waiting to strike? He also killed another couple, in their freaking 80s! who went for a hike. What a warped and sick monster. To listen to him, he is proud and egotistical about his intelligence and his crimes. The bastard is still alive too.
I don't care that he had a troubled childhood. I had a troubled childhood. A lot of people had a troubled childhood and do no harm to anyone. A troubled childhood does not make a monster.
I don’t think it’s important so much because it mitigates his responsibility, but understanding how society makes people like Hilton, is a better way to try to prevent and identify - before murder happens.
I get so tired of the "troubled childhood crap ". I had a troubled childhood. I didn't kill anyone,!!!
We all have a choice to choose tight and wrong.
A troubled childhood only makes things worse for those who have a genetic predisposition to be a psicopath. We are the result of genes+environment. In your case a troubled childhood was not enough to make you bad.
@@dehartfamily3091 society doesn’t make monsters, they create themselves.
@@dehartfamily3091 They have known for decades now but not been able to prevent a single murder, family annihilation, rape, child abuse.....
"I'll take him down if you want" this makes me so proud of humans.
Vanguard
Could you please express your feelings of pride regarding the duck bill platypus?
@@Brucev7 what's the chance that you ment 'vigilante'?
@@MusicLeeSarah czcams.com/video/xkxkkllPE3g/video.html
@@MusicLeeSarah cero
What a coward……he didn’t think she needed to live but he wants to live? How arrogant can a murderer be? Coward.
Like they say, his dance card is full in prison. Men’s prisons can be outrageously loud. The inmates take care of their own. The guards are outnumbered. They let the inmate enforcers punish their own and they do.
Sleep well Meredith, your free now, never to feel horrific pain again, may you sleep with angels darlin’ , your free to travel where you want to go , to travel the stars, the galaxy’s , your free never to be hurt again -RIP dearest one your loved by the angels , by all who knew you, and all who didn’t know you , you rest easy sweetheart.
That always seems to be the case, the killer enjoys killing but his own life is too precious to endure the same as the victims
Parasites are not Human.
Wants it both ways!!! How crazy's that!!!
What a tragic end to a young life. She trained in martial arts, she had her dog with her....but it all came down to crossing paths with the wrong person. Be so careful out there people. My condolences to Meredith's family and friends.
@@JoeSmith-zv9my Dear Joe: Who should get "disemboweled" are the people who discharged her killer from the military as a young man with a diagnosis of "paranoid schizophrenia". The US Military knowingly let a man with a severe mental illness onto the streets of America with NO Supervision and NO Follow UP whatsoever. Mental illness is not a crime, Joe. It's a medical condition. What's a REAL Crime is how America ignores its mentally ill citizens until they seriously hurt someone, and then they just throw them into prison. There are literally more mentally ill people in America's prisons today than there are in its mental hospitals. That adds up to many victims of crimes, and their families who could have been spared unnecessary suffering had this nation done its job and took care of its mentally ill citizens as it should have. It's definitely cheaper to house a mentally ill person in a prison than in a mental hospital, but what a way to save a buck !!! ... jkulik919@gmail.com
@@JosephKulik2016 The army did the same thing to my nephew....Thankfully my sister was able to get him proper help-though it took YEARS-and he has continued on his meds and has had no issues since. *not the same diagnosis as this creep, but it's the same point none the less.
Training in martial arts is fine for fitness and teaching women how to hit/grapple with an opponent, but in classes safety measures are taken so nobody gets injured and your opponent isn’t some guy with screws loose intent on hurting you ANY WAY HE CAN. In real life attacks you may have to keep fighting with a broken hand, broken jaw, broken eye socket, kicked guts, cracked ribs, or after a big fall where the wind gets knocked out of you...or all of the above. They just can’t duplicate that in a class setting. Even in competitive fighting like UFC there are rules and a referee who will stop things if someone is bleeding too much or can’t continue fighting effectively.
@@JosephKulik2016 I agree with you completely.
Her martial arts experience was REALLY hammed up by her family and the media. She was a beginner with only two years of training, far from being the "trained martial artist" the media made her out to seem.
I had hiked that same trail, alone, the week before she went missing. This case was heartbreaking. I never met Meredith, but I've thought about her hundreds of times over the years. And I've never again hiked alone without a way to protect myself. Meredith and her case will always haunt my thoughts.
Oh My Gosh! This was chilling.
I’ve been thinking of hiking alone but I need to buy me a hand gun after reading crazy hiking and camping stories on Reddit.
Don't trust any old man, no matter how polite them may seem. I am a younger guy, and the things older men say about women are crazy to me. Looking at women younger than there daughters in a sexual matter. The things they say. There are so many disgusting people on this planet. Men and women
Thankful for the 911 caller who was paying attention!
I’m thankful for those who take the time to make those calls...who do not tell themselves “it’s not my business”
Same. I was raised to see these things as none of my business, but as an adult I've struggled with that because I know it's wrong. There were plenty of times where I stepped up and did something, but also times when I didn't. I don't regret for one second the times where I took action...even when I ended up being wrong. I *will* regret for the rest of my life the times when I didn't do anything.
At least she went out fighting. Don't ever just give in. Fight with all your might. Don't make it easy. Rest in peace, girl.
I appreciate the spirit of what you're saying but sometimes fighting gets you killed. He probably would have killed her no matter what she did, but there are many cases, including my own, where acting like a friend and staying calm has kept the perpetrator from going all the way. In my case, the police believed he had killed before in the same spot the year before. I could see he was on the edge of gutting me and, if I fought, I know he would have gone through with it. People like this are like wild animals; it can go either way. I never got justice, but I am here decades later so I guess in a way I did.
To the man that spotted him and said “ I can take him down “, I believe he would rather risk his own life than let this monster get away.
THANK YOU SIR! (and I have no doubt you would have taken him down.)
I love that the guy that called 911 said if you want me to take him down I will .... I love that
On the trail a woman's best friends seem to be Smith & Wesson.
Or Sig
My 2 best friends
.357 is my true ❤️
On the trail and everywhere else.
And/or pepper spray ! The only dog you should take on a hike is an American Pit Bull 🐕
Take him down dude! That guy is the reason I love America. Good on you sir.
It is nice to see humanity coming from an FBI agent. Wonderful man.
Hiking trails in remote areas and rest stops terrify me. Too many sickening individuals lurking around. May this woman rest in comfort and peace🙏
That trial really isn’t remote, though. There’s a popular store/visitor center at the bottom. I hiked it on Memorial Day one year and the parking lot was packed. Lots of people and kids. It’s a decently strenuous hike but a popular one.
It can happen at Walmart. You have no perspective of the world, just what you watch on CZcams.
Eh well then you’ve got an irrational fear then because those places are generally pretty safe. Safer than a lot of other places.
It's always necessary to practice situational awareness and to have an equalizer with one. Dogs are great companions, and much more aware of sounds, scents, and movement than we are, but shouldn't be relied on for protection.
You can never stop the lurkers, Auto Mattic. They're always around whether you want them to be or not!
On the trail you can be killed by a fall, a bear, a mountain lion or a weirdo with three names. Randall Lee Smith 1981 Appalachian trail murders; Stephen Roy Carr 1988 Appalachian trail murders; Paul David Crews 1990 Appalachian trail murders, Gary Michael Hilton 2007 Appalachian trail murders; James Lee Jordan 2019 Appalachian trail murders; if you would see one, you would wish to God that you were encountering Big Foot. Sadly, mine is an incomplete list.
That’s very few murders for how many years between them compared to most cities 🤷♂️
The reason killers are often referred to by their full three names is to differentiate them from everyone else with the same first & last name. How many Randall Smiths would you estimate there are on earth?
@@MatanuskaHIGH Well that's ok to say if you're not the victim dude🤦
@@MatanuskaHIGH
So....What's your point. Even 1 death is too many.
Never hiking the Appalachian mountains....
There’s so many facets of law-enforcement that we don’t even really look at and that man who investigated this deserves the utmost respect. God bless him and all the families involved.
True! So much science..forensics are involved..we need to REFUND the police
A friend of mine was at a dinner party six months to a year before she went missing. She was open about hiking alone. My friend Dwight, warned her of the dangers of being alone in the woods. She took it as an insult to women. He tried to explain that it is dangerous for anyone alone in isolated areas. She was adamant that she can take care of herself.
Women HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIKE ALONE but it is not a good idea. If you have to, carry a gun.
It *is* an insult to women when you single them out and say that they can't hike alone (but men can). Anyone hiking solo can be a target so I don't get why gender is always mentioned regarding women's hiking accidents but not men's...
@@Elladajosie This was no accident!
@@Elladajosie ok.....
I have hiked, biked, ran, trail rode (horse) by myself, with dogs, for 40+ years. Way more people are likely to get hurt when leaving bars UI in the early morning hours, or if they have to work nights. Situational awareness, force multipliers, cell phones or emergency beacons, dogs, etc. help keep one safe. But two women together frequently become crime victims, or even a woman and a man. Hiking isn't a particularly dangerous activity. However, trails close to urban areas are always more dangerous than more remote trails. The more remote, the better.
@@evelynwaugh4053 You have simply been extremely fortunate, not in the path of someone who wanted to do harm to you. However, it's apparent to anyone reading your comment can clearly see you are stubborn and in a form of denial. Dogs can be shot. You are insane if you insist on hiking alone and should at least be carrying a firearm. An emergency beacon will only let someone know where to find your body.
Interesting that he doesn`t mind taking a life, but wants a plea deal, so that his life is not taken. I just do not understand the mind s of killers.
Narcissistic
They're sociopaths that are incapable of considering the feelings of others, just their own.
It's about power/control they have over everyone involved and it's about the thrill.
He’s on death row in Florida anyway now.
Most killers are plagued by a narcissitic personality as well.
A good lesson is that if you meet a stranger coming towards you or coming up from behind, to stay on high alert.
What a great story of how that piece of shit got caught.
Do not go out hiking alone!!!
It is just too dangerous.
Agree I am lucky to be alive. I had several close calls. Some are fortunate to still be here. Some are not. 😫
….unless you are walking a pack of Pitt bulls as your friends.
You can never go hiking or Walking in secluded places alone ever
@@myunknownland9272 several close calls while hiking? I don't buy it.
The risks are the same as everywhere else. There are more stabbings on the streets of London and more shootings in most American Cities than abductions and murders in isolated places. It’s a risk worth taking. But best to have some kind of protection.
911 caller: "I can go take him down if you want." This guy was ON IT, I love it!
Thank goodness for him, and the dispatcher and Officers quick movement. My heart goes out to her family.
Yes what a great man to suggest taking him down.
He decapitated this young woman, why is he still alive?
When the death penalty is legal, the state has a legal justification for killing who they want. How could that ever go wrong?
@@katieakin9397 Gtfo of here with your “death penalty is bad bad” bullshit.
@@katieakin9397 Death penalty is no different than jail sentence in a sense that it is used only when there is substantial evidence of guilt. The state doesn’t “kill who they want” just like they don’t put in jail who they want. Lmao, how stupid can you be?
Good question, Coni. He shouldn’t be allowed to live after doing something like this.
@@katieakin9397 thats not how that works
i just want 5 minutes alone with that man. young beautiful angel rest in heaven
No.... 5 minutes wud'nt even get me started! More like 5 days!!!! Then they can have wuts left of him!!!!
Was he given death penalty?
It wouldn’t take me 5 minutes.
@@paulym5814 that's what your bird said..
@@IanP1963 no. He exchanged location for her body to take the death penalty away
I think every high-schooler should be educated ( with an introductory course or two ) about basic human mental disorders -sociopathy, psychopathy, narcissism, so that they may be AWARE of the potential dangers that exist out in broader society. There are extremely dangerous, cunning predators out there -who are quite adept at sensing vulnerability and naivete in a potential victim. Also, if she had had at least a small pistol or revolver on her, ( along with some training ), she would have had a fighting chance to save herself.
I find it incredible that the above mentioned subjects are not taught to children in school and that self defense is not taught to youngsters. What good is an education if you don't live to use it?
They are taught in freshman health classes now
In today’s world these would be great for young people to study.
A knife would have helped her as she was kicking his ass but HE had a knife and she didnt. Condolences to the family. I still dont understand why he decapitated her head. May she rest in peace.
If she even had a good knife, it could have given her another chance. I don't care what gun haters say. I always take at least my 45. It could stop a predatory animal, as well as a predatory human (animal). I keep my head on swivel and try to pay attention to what's around me just like I do in the city. Nature has a way of lulling people into complacency by it's beauty, and that's what predators take advantage of.
Will never forget ME! This was the 1st year on New Years that my husband & 2 boys did not hike Blood Mountain. We haven’t hiked it on New Years Day since. We still section hike, always assist other hikers when we can & we still feel safer on the AT than most urban areas but will forever be cautious. RIP ME!
Will you be out there this year? I will be starting my thru-hike on March 23rd. Thanks for everything, Trail Angel!
I’ve been hiking Blood Mountain since 2016 alone and sometimes with my two dogs , but i never knew about this case until a Eleanor Neale covered it. It’s very unfortunate what happened to this young woman and i pray her family and friends have found some sort of closure. After hearing about this case, I’ll be very hesitant to go alone next time. I probably won’t ever go alone again, which sucks because I LOVE hiking this mountain...
If you're a woman or smaller man, it's essential to go with someone. It's always a good idea to never be alone in the woods or the sea. People have gotten too relaxed. The world is both a beautiful and dangerous place.
@@adriennem3168 🙌
Learn to use a pistol. Grab some friends who are armed and know how to use guns too. Always be friendly to people you meet but make sure your guns are visible. It will be a good deterrent.
Please don't go alone
And bear spray , Lysol, bleach spray
Too many bleeding hearts out there willing to ‘Cut a deal’ with scumbags who commit horrific crimes, so they can be spared the death penalty. As far as I’m concerned, if you deliberately kill someone then your rights to life & freedom are void. An eye for an eye!
I sort of agree. But I think being raped and eventually likely murdered in prison is a much more just punishment.
Or just like he told his victim she would be let go but then killed her our justice system should, too.
Killed the same way too
They don't cut a deal because they have empathy for the killer. They cut a deal to get info on where the body is located, otherwise it may never be found. It's for the benefit of the family and their closure... But, yes, makes me angry, too.
@@KennyRider137 I AGREE 200%.
Whenever I am in the backcountry at trail heads I always film the parking lot to catch the make and model and licenses of every vehicle parked there before heading out in case anything happens.
That's actually a great idea. Do you send it to a friend, who knows where you are going and when to expect you back?
Smart.
I thought I was the only one.
Good idea but this guy was a homeless drifter...no car
@@kristinessTX They had a dmv photo of him and when spotted and arrested at the gas station he was driving a van. 06:22
Absolute most important 2 items to carry on a hike- a handgun and a personal locator beacon. Press the button that's ALL you do. Dog isn't much help, in fact, my dogs were always what I worried about. I'd have to save them first. Sad how much total evil is in this world.
My Pitt Bull would be a huge help. In fact, when a person started to break into my home while I was home my Pitt bull was the one that scared them off before I had to shoot them. Had I brought her and my german shepherd on the hiking trail with me, I'm nearly positive that when the creep saw us they'd wait for the next woman to come along. Your dogs are glad to give their life for the pack. If you care for them good all their life, then risking their life becomes their gift to you. I mean, yea, if you have a couple of teacup poodles with you yea you will be concerned about them they're gonna have not a chance of helping you...but if you are responsible enough to own protection dogs you rarely worry for their safety. I always worry about others safety. They're ALWAYS on a leash if we are walking, no one is allowed to pet them, they do not go to dog parks unless muzzled, they're in an electrical reinforced fence when they're outside and they're padlocked inside the fence to prevent an unsupervised child from wandering in. It is a huge responsibility, but they do keep the creeps away and they do it well. When we go on walks alone men do not walk up to me for any reason without quickly regretting that decision.
My Rottie would take down a man quick. He does not like strangers at all. Carry a gun, Rotties and bear spray all three could save your life, and do not go alone.
Excellent comments..
Dogs don't do shit if they arent trained by a professional handling company. Tired of the Linda Lies and Karen Crap. And if your dog was not trained appropriatly by a reputable dog handler you just have a vicious untrained dog beat into violent fallback reactions.
Depending on the dog
My little sister was engaged to her brother when this happened. She was still grieving from the loss of her own son. I remember it destroyed her even more and eventually their relationship. I never met Meredith but this couldn't have happened to a nicer family. They didn't deserve this. This whole thing is the reason my 14yr old daughter carries pepper spray everywhere she goes. It was close enough to me to make me realize it really can happen to anyone. Teach and prepare your children to defend themselves. I hope their family has found some peace and I hope they know how Meredith's story has helped other parents like me when preparing our children to be out in this cold, cruel world. My daughter is more safe because of Meredith.
@Lavern Because there are some people, like the man who killed Meredith, that nobody would give a damn if it happened to them. Not everyone is loved and cherished. There are plenty that deserve it. Meredith was far from one who did. Apparently common sense missed you.
@Lavern You are being an insensitive ass just because you apparently ARE an insensitive ass. Perhaps you should direct your venom elsewhere.
@Lavern YOU are the jackass! Your comments to the original poster were uncalled for, unnecessary, inappropriate. Take your stupid potty mouth elsewhere!
Very sad indeed may she RIP
@@ontherockswithsalt560 your attempt at snark or insult makes no sense...
The dilapidated house that he took her to was minutes from my home. It shook our community that such a monster was lurking in our area. I remember when he was in the Dawson County jail, I'd drive by going to work and there was tons of news vans and reporters outside of our courthouse. Just driving by knowing he was in there, it felt like I was driving by some serious evil force. I grew up in Dahlonega and moved to Dawson and just knowing such evil had occurred in two places I dearly love absolutely broke my heart. She was just trying to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and he destroyed her. That's pure evil. Rest in Peace beautiful lady.
I remember he let her dog live because he just couldn’t kill the dog because-he love animals.... ha........ he had no problem with torturing and murdering her..... twisted
Yes, that was weird. Her parents adopted Ella and took her to Colorado. The murderer actually had a dog named Dandy that he made part of a plea deal, so his dog was adopted and has a new life somewhere.
Yeah he said he was worried the dog had a chip in it but he couldn’t cut it out Bc it would kill the dog. And as he said “ he just couldn’t do that “.
Sadly, I've known a lot of people who are just plain awful to others, but they can relate to animals.
Your comment is twisted because ppl that kill animals are also twisted. in fact, lots of serial killers start wtih animals.
Well, dogs are pretty great, and people, well, not so much. Hilton beheaded her in the forest. A dog wouldn't of done that. There are no dog hitlers in history. Dogs are so great not even serial killers want to kill them.
Jesus. How casually the monster talks about it. I love that Meredith almost kicked his arse. I just wish she had won. I couldn’t care less about his troubled childhood. Loads of people have troubled childhoods- they don’t all turn into killers. Rest in peace Meredith. 🙏🙏
One can truly explore their sick side in the deep wilderness. There’s little to zero chance of getting caught. If you don’t carry a firearm on the trail, you’re an easy target.
I highly doubt that this man did anything "nice" for this poor woman, ie, giving her the warmer sleeping bag, etc.
Not only is he a cold blooded killer, but also a narcissist & like all narcissists, they love to make people think that they have a heart of gold & like to make people believe that they are kind people, but it's nothing but empty lies.
This is one of the reasons I never hike. This story traumatized me.
Don't hike alone, and carry a weapon that you are skilled with. Then you would likely be safer than in most cities. The wilderness is a beautiful place.
Do you drive a car? Your chances of dying in a car are 1,000,000 times more likely than being stabbed or shot on hiking trails....
Freudian Trialogue stop being a victim. Let me guess. Liberal?
I've hiked my whole life. Never had a problem.
Bring protection.
@The Aphotic Cacophony of Merry Epiphanies Egad, your username, what a delicious word salad!
I lived in Ga during this and was SO sad. It affected my area hard. This for me is another argument to pack heat while you are on a trail, and especially alone. I would sooner shoot him while he was driving, than not, and take my chances. I hate this. SO much. There is an annual walk honoring Meredith. I was trained only shoot when in "imminent danger". This would apply.
Women need weapons for self-defense, lethal weapons, yes that will do, but if there is a better non-lethal weapon, or weapons that are sure to take down a potential adversary, that is even better, because then you are more likely to use it right away, rather than to hesitate, because it does not kill it disables. This way you don’t have to be so sure about what a potential Attacker really has in mind, You can be more proactive.
🇨🇦Pack heat.. So American!
@@steveperreira5850 Oh, like pepper spray? It can blow back and be worse than useless.
@@pamhunter8834 if she had a gun she'd still be alive.
@@steveperreira5850 May be that would work in a better world. Consider how often tazers are not effective when used by law enforcement. We need to pack heat, nothing else has such a high probability of success.
Heart wrenching. A beautiful life taken by ....that ..... And this happens to so many women and children .......
evil people like him lurking around anywhere...... must be alert....
Very true.
I live in Georgia and I remember when this happened. It shook many communities.
Stories like this piss me off to no end, DO NOT hike without protection!!!
Right Gregg. Common sense but they think some Lord will protect them. Well there is just as much evil as good in the. World.
Here's a novel idea: DON'T murder people! Way to victim blame. 🤦♀️
@@gr8flyerfan People like you and me don’t need to be told not to murder. But there’s evil in the world, and we need to accept it and do our best to protect ourselves
@@gr8flyerfan Victim blame? how about you take responsibility for YOU, no one is protecting YOU BUT YOU!!!
@@gregknutson8524 so then, why don't we ask what she was wearing? Was she drunk? High? I am DONE with that bull!
She fought to the end, but he was too powerful. God Bless Her!!!!
Elf Owl i just want 5 minutes alone. with that p.o.s. save taxpayers money. rest in heaven Young Angel
Her martial arts didn't help her either. That's why I tell EVERYONE to keep a good blade, or a reliable handgun on their person at ALL times. Even a small child, woman, or handicapped person can pull a 5lb trigger and get a 300lb man to back up. Any human on Earth has the natural inclination to survive. When pushed to preserve ourselves, we can do thing's we'd never imagine. All good people need to carry something to equalize a bad situation. Period.
She could have taken him down if it was strictly hand-to-hand. But he had weapons.
Oh Gary said that she fight like a Man. And it was really hard fir him to overpower her....
@@lexusvip4003
Wise advice. Thank you! ❤
You could tell that this case severely impacted the detective. God, I feel his sadness
This is so heartbreaking. I will never again go hiking alone. I hiked at Vogel State Park last fall, it was my new favorite but I’m not sure I’ll ever go back.
I went hiking many times on a trail near me alone without a worry. Often there was absolutely no one else on the trail. But one day only about a mile into my hike I was overcome by an awful feeling where I KNEW I was being observed (I had the skin stands up response). I knew I was in someone's field of vision, tried to act natural but headed for the first bend and bolted! I NEVER went back. I still love hiking but will not go alone.
The missing 411 stories will make you think twice about hiking alone..
Never go alone and even then carry a gun.
@@bernadette573 I watch so many stories like this, and I, too, always tell myself I'll never hike alone again. But then I always do. It's just so peaceful and I feel like I notice so much more of what's around me when I'm by myself.
Cities are so much more dangerous
Hiking trails are a S,killers playground and I bet he’s done it b4,he’s statement I don’t want to kill someone to day.just my opinion people should never go camping or hiking alone.
That’s a sad opinion, you’re missing out on a lot due to unrealistic fear
@@reagan6743 agreed. I've been hiking all my life all over the country and never heard of anything like this happening on any trail i like. Dont live in fear of the extremely rare and unlikely or you'll never leave your house
English much? "his" "today"
My heart goes out to her family, especially finding out he had mutilated her body! Wherever you are Meredth, way to go girl for putting a good beating on him before he overpowered you!!
I wish I would of come across the monster hurting her!!! I would of dispatched him in silence. Don't mess with hikers or you might bite off more than you can chew. I'm an avid hiker if I come across someone hurting somebody I will go almost all the way and put him in a tin can to share with the monsters in Prison were these monsters deserve to be!!!
I was hiking blood mountain with my scout troop back then we came across him on the trail. He looked distress and had her dog who looked scared. Luckily for us we were all grouped up and outnumbered him and he didn’t try anything. We found out about him weeks later it shocked me. I still think about it to this day
That must’ve been an absolute shock finding out that it was him your group passed. I can’t imagine being in the presence of such evil.
Sincerely condolences for the tragic loss of your beautifull daughter. Love from South Africa
I remember this. So sorry for her families loss. Thanks to law enforcement and civilians for getting this guy. May she rest in peace.
I feel so horrible about it. It's hard to ever be prepared enough for unpredictable people. I feel so bad for her and her family.
I've hiked that trail several times. On pleasant weather during the weekends, you will encounter several others but during winter and week days in spring and autumn, you might not encounter another person. Avoid being alone and you should be okay.
Never get into a vehicle in these circumstances; you've got a better chance of surviving by running, even if you risk being shot. Overwhelmingly, people who comply and get into a strange car are rarely seen again.
Yup. It's the #1 rule of abduction. Do anything possible to not end up in the vehicle. You basically seal your fate if you do.
What bothers me tho is that he turned around to go get her dog. The dog was obviously still on the trail. Did he leave her alone in the van to get the dog? Did she accompany him on the trail to find the dog??
The man at 9:36 speaking about the situation: just by looking at him I can tell how much he carries with him. The trauma that entails with dealing with these things. It's like the soul has been drained. Bless his heart. Rest in peace for the girl ❤
"She had her dog with her." Honestly and sincerely, I think a lot of women are naive about the amount of protection they can expect from their dog. And Ella was obviously the kind of dog that would lick you to death... Dogs can only be relied on to provide effective protection if they are TRAINED to do so; otherwise, they are just another potential victim.
RIP Meredith. :(
While your dog might not protect you per se, guarantee you that it will notice changes in the environment (movement, scents, sounds) way before you will. I have always ran, trail (horseback) rode, biked, and hiked by myself with 2 or 3 large dogs and never had any problems. I have a CCW permit now, so I carry when hiking, but pepper spray, a stun gun, and a knife would also be better than nothing.
I think it depends on the breed as well. I purposefully got 2 Labradors mixed with pit because I knew they would be super protective. If they don't know you they will try to attack. They both take off in unison & go for the legs. Imagine 2 big black Hell hounds coming full speed barking & sliding. Poor neighbors just be trying to get in their cars for work. I have the utmost faith in my dogs because I didn't get a soft breed.
You are assuming that she relied on her dog for safety. No, she was taking her dog on a hike. No one sets off thinking "i'm gona find a murderer so let me take my dog"
@@crism3lo Hope for the best-expect the worst.......I (and probably lots of others) do carry emergency equipment for life threatening events. I have no doubt that my two large (well behaved, but not friendly) dogs are a good first line deterrent to malefactors, but I do carry other stuff as well. One doesn't expect to break down on the road, but in case one does, a cell phone and AAA membership are handy to have. Sh#t happens.
@@crism3lo
Thats pure naivete, and it's not fair to the dog, or the people who love you.
Meredith was trained in martial arts and had her dog with her, I would've felt so secure in her shoes. Thank God for the person who called 911!
Just listening to him talk so calmly is sickening 😔
Sometimes it's good to have a dog that bite ppl
A few dogs are even better.
To bad she didn't have a little friend with her. Wish she could have said "Say hello to my little friend" and ended that SOB right there..
This is why the disparity in strength between man and woman must never be understated . If you women believe in movies and fairytales you can be in for a rude awakening .
If she originally outpaced him on the hike up she should have waited for another person to escort her on the way down, but being over confident and believing in social falsehoods could make a person think they can handle themselves.
She was trained in some martial art. I guess that's where the confidence was from.
@@wamemasilo7546 yeah I ain't tryin to shit on her or nothin but a woman who dabbles in martial can easily be over powered by a kid who's 15 and has zero training . It's common sense or it used to be.
You are right. I've been followed on several occasions while out hiking, or just walking to the store. I never counted on my own ability to get out of the situations on my own. As a young teen, I was out on a trail alone when a big burly dude walked out of the woods next to me with a fishing rod. I was already walking fast, and the dude started gaining on me. I thought maybe I was just being paranoid, so I started jogging, and when I glanced back he was still gaining on me. I was lucky enough to have a couple walking towards me, and I instantly turned and walked right behind them (I felt like a weirdo, but an alive weirdo).
@@aylastone4061 that was a very smart move. Better to be safe and seem like a weirdo when you feel something is off then to end up a victim.
Exactly.
8.14 "The head will be missing"..... wtf? What a monster this girl ran into.
Yes. He did the same to the woman in Florida (Cheryl Dunlap), and supposedly to the elderly couple in North Carolina. He claimed he beheaded them so they couldn't be identified, but that doesn't wash. He knows about modern forensics. He just got a kick out of mutilating the bodies. He's suspected of killing several more people.
She was so close, so close to escaping, so very close. Hard to imagine someone so determined to kill.
I wish we lived in a time where women can walk on trails alone, but sadly we don't. 😔
As a 38 yr old single mom - I keep my gun on me. If you're a woman, and can legally own and carry a gun - DO IT!!!
Take the classes, get trained, target practice, and learn how to protect yourself and others.
Im sorry, but martial arts is rarely beneficial when approached like she was.
God Bless that 911 caller! Wish everyone would do the right thing!
Sorry but martial arts will not really help many people. I was in a class with a black belt female. A white belt male over took her immediately and shook her like a rag doll. She knew it was coming because it was set up for class but this did not help. Now imagine not knowing it is coming. Same thing with a gun. The person with evil intent always has the upper hand. With my kids we almost had a very bad situation on a river fishing alone. I'll never, ever forget looking into the eyes of evil that day. The thing I learned that day was to teach my kids to scatter. No matter what they hear don't come out. Go for help.
Women shouldn't hike alone. "Strong woman" narrative doesnt prove out. Hilton was 60, type 1 diabetic, and still overpowered her martial arts. Bear spray with 20 ft of spray could have saved her life.
This is why the disparity in strength between man and woman must never be understated . If you women believe in movies and fairytales you can be in for a rude awakening .
If she originally outpaced him on the hike up she should have waited for another person to escort her on the way down, but being over confident and believing in social falsehoods could make a person think they can handle themselves.
Glock.
@@theurbanloner8879 May have just trusted people, period...
Saw. Off shotgun might have heleped
@@theurbanloner8879 You can't even come up with a different comment than the one you made as your own? You're copy/pasting this shit now? Fuckin' STOP.
People that hike/ camp have to stay alert. To many crazies out there.
Yes that sounds like a fun camp trip..constantly staying alert because of psycho killers stalking camp sites looking for victims.
It is not enough to be alert. It is unwise to go hiking or camping in a rural area alone. You could be on a killer's human hunting ground. Even going with someone you should always go with weapons, prepared to defend yourself from a subhuman predator.
Unfortunately, men LOVE to trot out Merideth as evidence that training in martial arts is worthless for women because....look at Merideth Emerson! A seasoned, TRAINED martial artist with years under her belt was overpowered by a small, untrained man!!! Media outlets stress how she was " A trained martial artist." They make it sound like she was the female version of Bruce Lee when some weak Joe Blo took her down with ease. Something about this whole scenario always bugged me as not adding up, so I did some research.
Merideth was NOT a "trained martial artist." She was a beginner. And had been training in Judo for two years, tops.That is still a beginner level. A TRAINED martial artist has many years of experience and is considered an expert in fighting. They are definitely not beginners. At a beginner level, IF she was even advanced enough to be sparring yet, which I doubt, she would have been partnered with only women. This would NOT prepare her for a throw-down fight with a man. I'm not trying to make less of the amazing and fierce fight she DID put up, and my heart breaks that she had to fight at all. But I DO wish people would stop calling her a "trained martial artist" when she had studied for only two years and was still only a beginner. Rhonda Rousey is a " trained martial artist." She has YEARS of experience, does strength training, and trains with men. I just wish more people knew the difference, and stop calling a beginner a "trained martial artist." It makes female martial artists look bad, which Merideth would never have wanted.
So sad...rest in peace.people,please don't hike alone...there are too many crazies out there!
And carry a gun .
Most wear a suit and tie and aren't in the woods though
@@useyourillusion6996 lol
@@useyourillusion6996 BS
This will forever haunt me,every New Years- and I will never forget Meredith Emerson,
were u related to her?
crowleysridgegirl does she haunt us if we watch it? But in a good way to like protect us?
What a piece of SHIT.
What an ugly man in every way. Probably impotent and super unattractive.. wonder what his mother was like? . But I get tired of he did this because of his childhood. Plenty of people have bad childhoods and turn out awesome. This is evil and a bad seed. May he get what’s coming to him. Hell!
@@bettyjo6144 I call BS on any of those lame excuses. This sack of dog doo was just evil and wanted to kill an innocent beautiful young woman because he couldn’t get a woman to give him the time of day otherwise but didn’t have balls enough to own that
I remember when he killed the nurse here in Tallahassee FL. Scared me so bad. I still am very cautious while I'm in town. He's a nasty human. My heart goes out to this family and the investigaters.
Please ladies never go alone hiking. Always go with a group even men should go with others.
They never said what happened with Ella. Did he kill her too or let her go? This type of situation frightens me. I would be afraid to be in a remote area by myself. Poor woman.
The dog is ok. He spared its life and was adopted by her meridiths parents.
@@patsyhodge9071 🙏❤️thank you for telling us. Trusting that Ella brings some comfort to have her beloved dog around🙏❤️
I remember this story like yesterday.... she crosses my mind from time to time because I like to walk/ hike but am super careful since Meredith was murdered... I will only walk in areas were there’s people . .... never at dusk .... and no backcountry.... need to get a gun
There are several lightweight pistols you can carry. Be careful you know the rules in your state. I personally like to carry a 22. Go to an indoor range if there is one around you and rent different ones and they will teach you how to use it. It would also be a good idea to take a class with a licensed instructor. Get to feel comfortable using it and carrying it.
@@sillylilly4794 thank you for the advice
Always take a gun into the woods if you're alone. Especially if you're female.
Never have and never needed it. That’s ridiculous
@@reagan6743 so don't carry one. It's that simple
@@captaincake4331 a bit hypocritical when you just said “always carry one”
If you have an ideal childhood, you can’t understand evil.
@@adonnaprice6028 I had a pretty good childhood but I learned from hearing stories that people are capable of everything. I am the most cautious person you’ll meet, always carry pepper spray, always on high alert and rarely leave my home. Your theory is not true.
Folks, I don't care what 'they' say ... learn how to use a handgun confidently, and carry it with you EVERYwhere. If you never need it, great, but it is far better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Never hike alone either - man or woman. Protect yourself.
No matter how “strong” you are as a woman, you are NO MATCH for the strength of a man.
I could have missed it in the video, but I did some research and Ella was adopted by Meredith’s parents.
The *power girl* narrative needs some serious grounding in reality. For a minute, I thought that the baton was her's, but nope, she came empty-handed. I'm a dude, and when I camped alone along the desert of SW Nevada/SoCal, I came ready for problems and was willing to go all the way. At the time, I was cycling to California with 30lbs of supplies and water. The second night, I slept in a gulley with trip wires, glass, and metal cans as an impromptu alarm. Came to learn later on that flare guns are legal and are good enough to set an opponent on fire. Stuff some pebbles and loose shot and you're good to go. Never stop learning, which is why I watched this video. (Hey *Dateline* don't drag things out as if the internet doesn't exist. No wonder broadcast TV is dying.)
I dont blame her , but a young attractive woman going hiking alone on blood mountain. It was a mistake, but she didn't deserve this.
Girl probably thought she was protected because she had her dog with her.
Thanks for the tip about carrying a flare gun. I will get one.
@@irenemax3574 Or just trusted people...
I agree with you 100%. Do you stuff the pebbles in before loading the flare gun?
@@IanP1963 or both
I can learn a lot from Meredith Emerson murder.
She died because of her over self confidence/ poor judgement.
Her fight/flee/freeze response made the difference between life and death.
Practically , she could easily have outrun him and flee.
My takeaway from this film:
Even if you are a master fighter, fighting a much heavier armed opponent, is a mistake.
You never know what he is armed with.
Running away is not a matter of honor, rather, a prudent survival act.
You avoid close contact altogether.
That’s basically what they teach in Krav Maga. And if you change your mind and you need to fight, be quick and always think ahead
@@mathildewesendonck7225 thank you for your comment. "Krav maga" is a concept in the hebrew language.
Are you an israeli?
Do You speak hebrew?
@@yoramalon5273 No, I don’t, unfortunately. But it’s true, Krav Maga is originally from Israeli. Do you know it?
I've always been flabbergasted that the former officer didn't report the signs of a struggle right away. He had encountered Meredith and Hilton walking together and recognized the dog leash on the ground as the one that was on Ella.
Some people really are heartless..rip to anyone who died
I've never forget that 911 call and that whole situation playing out and I'm not even in Atlanta or Georgia, I'. in St Louis and I remember that to a T! The man on that 911 call, he's one of them heroes that doesn't wear a cape. Good looking out dude, awesome catch!
Monsters are real
That sucks to know she was still alive when the boss waited 3 hours to call. Shame 🙏🏻
Hilton "is waiting his turn".
Let's not keep him waiting any longer.
I used to hike by myself with no weapon. Now I have a daughter. I never go anywhere without a Glock and will be teaching her to do the same. That dude or anyone like him would have been be toast.
December 10th 2007. I was hiking alone and when I reached Preacher’s rock trailhead I stoped at the parking spot for a break and there was an old grandpa wearing a bright and old green sweater that stinked kinda bad. He was sitting on the back of his van with a golden retriever so I asked him if I could pet his dog ( as I have 2 golden retrievers and they’re the best dogs) he said yes and he started asking me where I was from and what do I do for a living? And if I was hiking alone or in a group? He also asked me if a have any guns or knifes because last week there was a mountain lion attack that almost killed a hiker. I told him not I don’t have a gun but I have a small pocket knife that I showed him. He said that’s not enough to kill a mountain lion. I was like well I hope I don’t encounter one. Then we chatted for a little bit and he started ranting about the federal government. And before I was leaving he told me If he could join me on the trail because he really wanted to hike up but he being an old man and suffering from heart conditions so if something happens to him at least I could tell police where he was. I felt something, a strange sensation in my gut by the way his eyes looked. He had some really penetrating gaze and he would always make direct eye contact that I couldn’t hold so I would look away for some seconds. After thinking what should I say this old grandpa I told him “I’m sorry but I’m in a hurry and I really want to walk fast to get to the top before sunset” he kinda looked mad and said aight I’ll just wait for someone else. I proceeded to hit the trail but I could never forget his gaze. Even tho he was an old man his gaze gave me a bad vibe and I was thinking about it the whole trail. 25 days later when I was at home I watched this same guy in a mugshot on the news channel so I turned the volume up because I was intrigued I thought he died on the trial (because he told me he had heart problems) to find out he kidnapped and killed a girl about 15 miles on another parking lot. The guy I interacted with was fcking serial killer Gary Michael Hilton. I think he asked the same questions and told the same story to Meredith Emerson and she was kind and good hearted so she agreed to hike with the “old grandpa with heart problems”. So now I don’t trust anyone even if they have good intentions and they greet me I just say hi and continue my hike without stopping and if they ask me to stop to ask me a questions I just say sorry I’m in a hurry and keep going. I also carry a 9mm Glock 43x. It’s small and concealable. Another crazy experience happend another year before when I was hiking and at the distance I saw a naked old guy just walking around. So I freaked out and stopped before he was gone. Stay safe guys. Never trust anyon
Thanks for sharing. Glad you made it out safe.
omg
Troubled childhood!?! Who hasn’t ?! What a coward and to watch him sit and calmly discuss this brutal murder at his hands like he’s telling a fishing story……. He will never get what he deserves…I feel for the parents they will always feel her loss….
So sad she was a beautiful young woman
Never ever go with someone against your will. Start thinking about when to run but you have to do it..run like hell even if there is a gun.
Love that dude that called in
His turn needs to hurry up!!!!!! HE DOES NOT DESERVE ONE MORE BREATHE!!! I know someone in his family and when I spoke to her after hearing this on the news she LAUGHED!!! said "yeah. I know..we have a couple killers in this family and a couple real mentals....one day they will get caught...till then I'd watch yourself" then she hung up!!
This is why you can't be to nice Ladies, when out for a hike...listen to your instincts, attack first then run like hell.👍
why does even such a maniac go free in society?
Technically can a homeless person live in the National Forest 16 days at one site and move 5 miles away and come back and keep doing this over and over?
Depends on how vigilant the surveillance is. The "harmless" homeless are all over the place in the forests, especially those within reasonable distance of a town or city
Yes, they can. Has nothing to do with diligence or surveillance, or how close they are to a town. It's federal law. It's what makes it public land.
Yes
Jesus… That’s an awful story. Never hike alone!
Hiking has and always will be dangerous - there are so many drifters, outlaws, and shady types on trails-nobody should go alone. This is a sad story that has happened timeand time again
RIP Meredith. God Bless
Can anyone give me a timestamp where they mention what happened to the dog Bella? Maybe I missed it
What makes me especially sick is that this woman only wanted to do what she had done probably hundreds of times before: Go for a hike with her dog. But this ONE time, there was a predator lying in wait. So many times I read about stories of people in the wrong place at the wrong time, but my God, how is it there are so many predators out there just waiting to strike? He also killed another couple, in their freaking 80s! who went for a hike. What a warped and sick monster. To listen to him, he is proud and egotistical about his intelligence and his crimes. The bastard is still alive too.
why we hike armed. been cautioned to do that by many cops and rangers.. and never without another person.
A troubled childhood is NO EXCUSE for killing people! 👎👎👎