Hilton appealing Florida decapitation murder

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A drifter convicted of killing a North Georgia woman and a Florida nurse, as well as an elderly North Carolina couple is appealing his conviction and death sentence in one of the cases.

The Georgia and Florida victims were beheaded and all were killed in forested areas. The Florida Supreme Court heard Gary Hilton's appeal on Thursday in the death of Cheryl Dunlap.

The 46-year-old Crawfordville nurse was killed in north Florida's Apalachicola National Forest.

Hilton also is serving a life sentence in North Georgia, where he pleaded guilty to killing 24-year hold Meredith Emerson of Buford.

He also pleaded guilty to ambushing and killing John and Irene Bryant, both in their 80s, while they were hiking in a national forest, in exchange for another life sentence.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/9/252601