Emerson and her dog, Ella, disappeared Jan. 1, 2008, on Blood Mountain in Union County in the northeast Georgia mountains. Her body was found a week later in a wooded area of Dawson County.
Friends who started the Right to Hike Foundation raised money through a restaurant promotion, a 5K race and a banquet. The foundation donated $5,000 to UGA to help endow a scholarship to study in France, as Emerson did. The group also bought 15 GPS units and distributed them to hiking outposts in north Georgia.
Gary Michael Hilton is serving a life term for killing Emerson, who was from Buford.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/1/205685