Podcast Summary: National Park After Dark

Episode 352: The National Forest Serial Killer
Release Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Danielle & Cassie
Podcast by: Audioboom Studios

Episode Overview

This episode of National Park After Dark explores the chilling true crime case of Gary Hilton, also referred to as the “National Forest Serial Killer.” Hosts Danielle and Cassie guide listeners through Hilton’s crime spree across public lands in the early 2000s, detailing how he preyed on hikers, evaded law enforcement, and left lasting scars on wilderness-loving communities. Woven throughout are reminders of the importance of compassion in the face of darkness and the visceral, ripple effects of tragedy across families and communities.

Content Guide

• [Introduction & Context] (#introduction-context) — 00:01
• [Setting the Stage: Fear in the Wilderness] (#setting-the-stage-fear-in-the-wilderness) — 03:59
• [Victims & Investigation Begins] (#victims-investigation-begins) — 09:36
• [The Crimes of Gary Hilton] (#the-crimes-of-gary-hilton) — 24:06
• [Connecting the Cases & The Search for the Serial Killer] (#connecting-the-cases-the-search-for-the-serial-killer) — 39:49
• [Capturing Hilton & Aftermath] (#capturing-hilton-aftermath) — 48:31
• [Legal Outcomes & Survivor Advocacy] (#legal-outcomes-survivor-advocacy) — 65:21
• [Ongoing Suspicions & Community Impact] (#ongoing-suspicions-community-impact) — 74:39
• [Reflections, Advocacy, and Ending on a Positive Note] (#reflections-advocacy-positive-note) — 79:48

Introduction & Context [00:01–03:51]

• Danielle and Cassie begin by addressing recent social turmoil in the U.S., emphasizing empathy, compassion, and the responsibility of creators to acknowledge injustice.
• Danielle shares a timely quote from Patches (Morbidly Curious Book Club):

  “Curiosity without accountability is just consumption. Curiosity, curiosity paired with empathy can be a catalyst for change.” [02:45]

• The hosts affirm their podcast’s mission: to research and truthfully recount stories, even when uncomfortable—a responsibility especially poignant when discussing dark history and true crime.

Setting the Stage: Fear in the Wilderness [03:59–05:38]

• Cassie introduces the episode’s theme: how a violent tragedy in a small town or cherished wild space has ripples far beyond direct victims.
• The loss of safety changes entire communities—residents become hyper-vigilant, spaces lose their innocence, and first responders carry trauma with them.
• Quote:

  “There is no punishment severe enough to restore what has been taken because something fundamental has been undone. Like a shattered plate, it can be glued and pieced together again. But it can never be the same as it once was.” [04:28]

Victims & Investigation Begins [09:36–24:06]

The First Known Victims: Jack and Irene Bryant — Pisgah National Forest, NC

• Elderly couple, avid hikers; disappeared October 21, 2007, after heading into Pisgah National Forest.
• Their son Robert discovers their absence after neighbors notice piling mail; car found at a trailhead.
• Irene’s remains found off-trail; killed by blunt-force trauma. Jack remains missing; a failed 911 call from Jack’s phone is discovered.

Notable Moment:

• Cassie reflects on the Bryants’ vibrant retirement:

  “Retirement did not slow them down. It expanded their world, which is my goal when I am in my 80s.” [12:53]

Next Victim: Cheryl Hodges Dunlap — Apalachicola National Forest, FL

• Disappeared December 1, 2007. Devoted mother, nurse, Sunday school teacher, active in her church.
• Car found with slashed tire; purse disturbed but wallet missing; body found decapitated and mutilated two weeks later.
• No clues in her personal life to suspect anyone; investigators strongly suspect abduction/murder by a stranger.

Notable Reflection:

• Danielle on Cheryl’s legacy:

  “It sounds like she, you know, not only being kind and loving and all of those positive attributes, but also... really living how you project yourself to be to everybody... it’s just how you move through life.” [24:06]

The Crimes of Gary Hilton [24:06–39:49]

Meredith Emerson — Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, GA

• 24-year-old hiker goes missing on January 1, 2008 (“First Day Hike”) with her dog, Ella.
• Massive search effort; dog people and outdoor community feel especially vulnerable.
• Multiple witness sightings: Meredith with a man (50s/60s, white hair, yellow & black jacket, duct tape on shoes, police baton and knife).
• Man behaving strangely—crouching behind rocks, interacting with lone women, repeatedly asking if they’re alone.

Notable Moments:

• On trail safety and paranoia:

  “You see stuff like that on the trail, it’s not uncommon for people to have a weapon... but when they’re being depending on what it is...” [33:12]

• “A police baton is weird to have on [a] trail... Bear spray, a knife, you know, even a gun... But the police baton is really standing out.” [34:08]

Building the Pattern

• Similar MO in all three cases: targeting women alone (often with dogs), approaching as a fellow hiker, ATM withdrawals using victims’ cards, wearing yellow jacket, presence with a dog.
• Multiple states, common behaviors = emergence of a possible serial offender.

Connecting the Cases & The Search for the Serial Killer [39:49–48:31]

• Investigators from different states note the pattern—coordinate their investigations.
• Clues from ATM surveillance: distinct yellow jacket, efforts to mask face, matching descriptions across incidents.
• John Tabor, former employer of Hilton, identifies him to police after seeing news coverage.
• Revelations from Hilton’s past: history of scams and involvement in a film about a killer hunting women in the woods, chillingly close to his real crimes.

Chilling Quote:

“He offered detailed thoughts about how a serial killer would think, behave and operate. He helped select filming locations, suggested what types of weapons should be used, and even proposed that the women should fight back.” [44:09]

• Hilton’s behavior escalates as he is pressured by law enforcement; manipulates his former boss for cash while being surveilled.

Capturing Hilton & Aftermath [48:31–65:21]

• Hilton is finally apprehended at a Georgia gas station after a tip—caught dumping evidence.
• Evidence: blood-soaked clothing, women’s hiking gear, and other physical evidence in his van.
• Meredith’s dog is found alive, thanks to her efforts at marking ATMs with failed withdrawals, narrowing the search area.

Meredith’s Final Days

• Hilton describes her resistance:

  "[Meredith] managed to disarm him because remember, she's trained in martial arts... she fought like hell." [55:15]

• He holds her captive for three days, sexually assaults her; she repeatedly gives wrong PINs to ATM to create a digital trail.
• Ultimately, Hilton murders and beheads her, leaving her remains in the forest.

Investigator Trauma

• The officers are visibly shaken in later interviews, describing the horrific crime scene and emotional toll of the case.
• Danielle:

  "I think that we understand what happened, and I think that's enough. Yeah, it's horrifying." [58:13]

Legal Proceedings

• Hilton is tried and convicted in Georgia (life sentence). Meredith’s family testifies about the irreparable damage done.
• Subsequent trials in NC (Bryant murders—four consecutive life terms) and FL (Cheryl Dunlap—sentenced to death).

Legal Outcomes & Survivor Advocacy [65:21–74:39]

Hilton’s Psychological Profile & Further Investigations

• Hilton confesses and boasts about details ("I killed for money"—hosts dispute motive; [60:50]).
• FBI studies his psyche; enjoys notoriety, recounts history of violence and his deliberate fitness for predatory purpose.
• Refuses to discuss some cases, uses knowledge of evidence as leverage.

The Meredith Emerson Memorial Privacy Act

• After Hilton’s conviction, Hustler magazine makes a disturbing attempt to access and publish Meredith’s nude/death scene photos.
• Outrage leads to legal action—Georgia passes a law restricting release of graphic crime scene images, prioritizing victims’ families’ rights.
• Danielle (expressing outrage over Hustler’s actions):

  "Who in good faith and conscious and as a human being, can stand on that other side and be like, no, actually, we're appealing this because we really want to publish the photos of your deceased, dismembered, and murdered daughter?" [71:33]

• Cassie: "It’s just like... It’s disgusting and it’s despicable." [72:44]

Ongoing Suspicions & Community Impact [74:39–79:48]

Are There More Victims?

• Hilton likely linked to additional disappearances (Pisgah National Forest, Table Rock State Park, Georgia, Florida, etc.), but never charged due to lack of hard evidence.
• Similarities in method and location keep multiple old cases open, including hikers and even young children.

Meredith’s Legacy

• Law enforcement credits Meredith’s resistance and strategic thinking for Hilton’s capture and for preventing more murders.

• “Her presence on the trail and her kindness made her memorable to witnesses, allowing them to describe not only her, but the man who was following her... she knowingly narrowed the areas where [Hilton] was operating, drawing public attention that ultimately led to his arrest.” [74:39]

Call to Listeners

• The FBI and local agencies encourage anyone with information, however small, about unsolved wilderness crimes from the late 1990s through the 2000s, to come forward.

Reflections, Advocacy, and Ending on a Positive Note [79:48–End]

Safety & Empowerment

• Both hosts express a desire for better personal safety training for women, referencing this case and their own experiences ("if anyone attacks me in the woods, I want to...murder you back.").
• Danielle shares advice from her father:

  “Act like you’re insane. Kick, scream, bite, claw their eyes out. Scream, act like you’re insane. You know, draw attention, flip the out and make this person scared of you.” [82:09]

Uplifting Community Announcement

• Hosts announce an exciting collaborative trip to Svalbard with Tooth and Claw in June 2027—with more seats than ever for their adventure-loving community. [83:58]
• Cassie’s dream of Norway comes true; details available to Patreon members and soon the public.
• Joyful, humorous banter about seeing polar bears and the midnight sun, ending with:

  “Enjoy the view, but watch your back.” [89:35]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Curiosity without accountability is just consumption. Curiosity paired with empathy can be a catalyst for change.” — Patches (Morbidly Curious Book Club) [02:45], read by Danielle.
• “Once you take someone, you’re either killing them or you’re getting caught.” — Gary Hilton (spoken during police interrogation) [62:02]
• “It's not normal for you to go on social media and to see someone being killed in the streets. This is not normal. What's happening…is not normal. These are human beings and just keep compassion at the forefront.” — Cassie [02:51]
• “I want to take all of our listeners and go to like a group defensive training... so we can just up for people who try to do stuff like this.” — Cassie [79:48]
• “You fight like hell.” — Danielle (recounting father’s advice) [82:10]

Tone & Style

• Conversational, candid, often irreverent with respectful solemnity where appropriate.
• Deep empathy for victims and families, advocacy for resilience, survivor rights, and public awareness.
• Feminist and trauma-informed, without sensationalizing violence.

Key Takeaways

• The wilderness, while a refuge for many, can also conceal human dangers, not just environmental ones.
• Gary Hilton exploited isolation in national forests to commit shocking crimes, evading capture by moving across state lines and blending in as a fellow outdoorsman with a dog.
• Community vigilance, survivor resistance, and inter-agency collaboration were crucial in solving the case.
• The aftermath fueled important privacy legislation for victims and prompted the outdoor community to advocate for safety, self-defense, and one another.
• The legacy of the victims—especially Meredith Emerson—remains: through sacrifice, memory, and improved protections for others.

For information on unsolved cases possibly linked to Gary Hilton, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or local authorities.

Enjoy the view, but watch your back.