As reported Monday night on DawsonTimes, the body of missing hiker, Meredith Emerson was found in Dawson County yesterday evening. 

According to the GBI in a Monday night press conference, Emerson's body was found in the Dawson Forest Woodlands Management area at about 7:30 p.m. Monday night. 

Crews had been searching the 25,000-acre Dawson Forest Woodlands all day Monday without success. The Dawson County Sheriff's office had been receiving calls since Friday with reports of sightings of suspect Gary Hilton and his van in the area.  Late Monday, Hilton led authorities to Emerson's body.

The area where Emerson's body was found is about 10 miles away from the Kroger parking lot in neighboring Forsyth County where Emerson's dog was found. 

Hilton remains in the Union County Jail.

According to authorities, three bloody fleece tops and a bloodstained piece of a car's seat belt were found in a trash bin beside a convenience store where Hilton had used a pay phone. Hilton had tried to vacuum and wash portions of his 2001 Chevrolet Astro van, which was found without the rear seat belt.

The GBI has obtained much evidence from Hilton's van and from the gas station dumpster where they said he tossed her bloody clothing. The GBI is having evidence analyzed.

Crime scene work will continue today, and Meredith Emerson's body is being transported to the GBI Crime Laboratory in DeKalb County today.  Dr. Kris Sperry, chief medical examiner for the state of Georgia, will conduct an autopsy.