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Atlanta, GA hiker missing on Freeman Trail – murder suspect in custody

Update:  It now appears Ms. Emerson may have been murdered by the man police sought and now have in custody.   

Meredith Emerson is lost after hiking on Tuesday with her dog in the Atlanta GA area: on Freeman Trail near Blood Mountain.

Police want to talk to a man who was seen with Emerson on the trail before her disappearance. 

More about this disappearance is HERE

January 3, 2008 - Posted by JoeDuck | Missing Person, wilderness | , , | 5 Comments

5 Comments »

  1. This is a homicide investigation. The initial views were more of probable crime than “missing hiker” anyway. The suspect, ooops,,, “person of interest”, is thought to have been involved in another rural disappearance and murder, although in that case the stolen ATM card was used.

    It would be extremely unusual for a dog owner to remove the dog’s collar on the trail. Remove the leash? Sure. But not the collar.

    She may have been physically fit, feisty, etc. but she would not be alert enough to trouble until it was too late.

    Comment by FoolsGold | January 4, 2008 | Reply

  2. Yes, probably a tragic end to this story soon.

    Comment by JoeDuck | January 5, 2008 | Reply

  3. Consider some of the other Search and Rescue missions that have involved experienced hikers. They were treated as SAR missions but this one, right from the start, had considerable doubt surrounding it and was being viewed more and more as a probable homicide. Once blood soaked clothing was found near the discarded identification papers, the family was quietly informed that “it was a corpse-recovery mission” and then public announcements were made.

    Facing difficult decisions in the early hours of a case is very important. Marshalling assets and having a concern for the consequences of decisions is important whether the case is a ’search’ or a ‘homicide case’. Sure, we all wish things had been different, but kudos to those who made the difficult decisions when they had to.

    Comment by FoolsGold | January 6, 2008 | Reply

  4. It seems that a number of police agencies are looking at this man as a possible suspect in any case that involves a crime near a park or that involves decapitation.

    Comment by FoolsGold | January 18, 2008 | Reply


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