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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Killer: Georgia Hiker 'Wouldn't Stop Fighting'

Drifter tells cops she very nearly bested him in 3-day ordeal

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(Newser) – The Georgia hiker kidnapped on New Year’s Day used every ounce of her formidable strength, martial arts training, and wit to stay alive for 3 days, her killer told authorities. Gary Michael Hilton said Meredith Emerson fought back tenaciously when he demanded her ATM card, and managed to stall him for days, amid several brushes with authorities, by giving him false PIN codes.

"She wouldn't stop fighting. And yelling at the same time. So I needed to both control her and silence her,” said Hilton, who said he accosted her because he thought she would be easy prey. "She was doing everything she was supposed to do to stay alive, and we didn't get there in time," said an investigator.

Meredith Emerson is seen with her dog Ella, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Emerson used her wits and martial arts training when she was attacked in the north Georgia mountains by a drifter.
Meredith Emerson is seen with her dog Ella, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Emerson used her wits and martial arts training when she was attacked in the north Georgia mountains by a drifter.   (AP Photo/Courtesy of Pat B. Mitchell)
Gary Michael Hilton is escorted from the Dawson County Courthouse after pleading guilty to killing hiker Meredith Emerson Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in Dawsonville, Ga.
Gary Michael Hilton is escorted from the Dawson County Courthouse after pleading guilty to killing hiker Meredith Emerson Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in Dawsonville, Ga.   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Gary Michael Hilton is led into Dawson County Superior Court where he plead guilty to killing hiker Meredith Emerson Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in Dawsonville, Ga.
Gary Michael Hilton is led into Dawson County Superior Court where he plead guilty to killing hiker Meredith Emerson Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in Dawsonville, Ga.   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
A woman who did not wish to identify herself arrives at a memorial service for Meredith Emerson with Emerson's dog Ella Friday, Jan. 11, 2008 in Athens, Ga. Emerson's body was found Monday near Dawsonville Ga., after she and Ella went missing during a hike New Year's Day.
A woman who did not wish to identify herself arrives at a memorial service for Meredith Emerson with Emerson's dog Ella Friday, Jan. 11, 2008 in Athens, Ga. Emerson's body was found Monday near Dawsonville...   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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martial arts • Meredith Emerson • Georgia hiker • Gary Michael Hilton • ATM card • Ella • kidnapper • drifter

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