Who is Gary Michael Hilton? The convicted blood mountain killer set to appear on Court TV
Gary Michael Hilton, also known as The National Forest Serial Killer, has made a shocking confession about one of his unsolved murders, revealing for the first time details about the killing of Cheryl Dunlap, a case that had remained open for years.
Gary Michael Hilton, known as The National Forest Serial Killer, is a name that sends chills through Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. His gruesome crimes, committed on hiking trails and in national parks, left a trail of horror and devastation.
Hilton, who has spent years behind bars for his horrific killings, is now revealing details about his dark past in a new interview. After years of silence, he finally admitted to the murder of Dunlap, which had previously been a mystery.
Who is Gary Michael Hilton, the National forest serial killer?
Born on November 22, 1946, Hilton was arrested on January 4, 2008, and charged with the murders of four people. While he confessed to three of the killings, he denied involvement in one of the cases. However, in April 2025, Hilton admitted to the fourth murder during an interview with Court TV.
Hilton received separate life sentences for his crimes in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
In October 2007, retired couple John and Irene Bryant went missing while visiting Pisgah National Forest. Their family reported them missing after they didn’t hear from them for two weeks. A search was launched, and in November, Irene’s body was found, bludgeoned to death. A few months later, a hunter discovered John’s skull in the Nantahala National Forest. Hilton received four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for their murders in 2013.
On December 3, 2007, Cheryl Dunlap was reported missing after failing to show up to teach Sunday School. Her body was discovered decapitated in Apalachicola National Forest by a hiker on December 16. A green truck was seen in the area around the time of her death, but it wasn’t until later that Hilton was linked to her murder. He was sentenced to death in Florida in 2011 for the crime.
Meredith Hope Emerson’s case followed a similar pattern. She went missing after a hike in Vogel State Park on January 1, 2008, with her dog. After several days, Emerson’s dog was found, and her belongings were discovered in a dumpster. Hilton eventually led authorities to her body in exchange for a deal involving his dog. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Georgia in 2008.
Hilton confesses to Dunlap's murder in 2025 on Court TV
The 78-year-old Hilton, also known as The National Forest Serial Killer, sat down for an interview with Court TV's investigative reporter, David Scott.
To recap, Hilton was convicted of killing four people during his 2007-2008 killing spree across Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. He committed these murders in national parks, admitting to three of them, but never took responsibility for the fourth — the 2007 murder of nurse Cheryl Dunlap in Leon County, Florida. Until now.
In the video, Scott begins by discussing Hilton’s reputation as a danger to women, a sentiment Hilton clearly enjoys as he basks in the media attention. Scott then moves to the case of Dunlap, a devout Christian, focusing on her kidnapping and dismemberment. Hilton, who claims the case is under appeal, eagerly confesses to the murder, offering Scott an exclusive scoop.
In another segment of the interview, Hilton, claiming to be in poor health due to congestive heart failure, mentions that he doesn’t have much time left to live. He explains that this is why he agreed to the interview, promising to answer any question Scott asks. After 17 years on Florida's Death Row, Hilton assures Scott that this will be a "Lollapalooza" interview, revealing himself as a "different breed" of serial killer, partly a sociopath.
The full interview will air on Court TV on Sunday, April 13.