Real Estate Blog - Heartbreak in North Georgia

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Heartbreak in North Georgia

Let me say right off that I never dreamed I would be writing a post about something like this. Not here, in our beautiful, tranquil Georgia mountains. We do have many, many visitors who come to our area for the peace, beauty and sense of safety. We love our visitors but this should serve as a reminder to everyone that you must exercise prudence even in a place that seems nothing bad could ever happen.

I'm not sure how many have heard the story of Meredith Emerson who came up missing on New Year's Day while hiking in the North Georgia Mountains. It has been in the local news, of course, and I'm sure on the national news too. Meredith was first thought to have gotten injured on one of the trails, but it wasn't long before investigators realized that foul play was responsible for her disappearance. Many volunteers from local areas were trying their best to find Meredith and keeping the faith that she would be found alive. This ended very badly for Meredith and her family as we in North Georgia and surrounding towns hoped and prayed she would be found alive. We share in the grief of Meredith's family and friends and her faithful dog. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all of them. Meredith's body was found several days later, in an area that was many miles away from where she was actually hiking.

We, in North Georgia are heartsick over this despicable, evil act. This sort of thing just doesn't happen here. But the reality is, it happens everywhere and can happen anywhere. This sad tragedy has affected everyone in the mountains and no matter where you go around town; people are talking about it as a way to heal and try to make some sense of an act that is entirely senseless.

Please read some of the articles below to learn more about safety tips when hiking as well, as more information about Meredith. As Realtors, this should be another reminder to all of us to always keep up our guard and even when someone appears friendly and harmless, that may not at all be the case. Investigators feel that because Meredith had her dog with her and met up with a man who had a dog (who is now charged with her murder) caused her to have a false sense of security and let down her guard.

Below are additional links about Meredith's ordeal and murder.

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/2494/

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=109237

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/wes_side/article_wesside.aspx?storyid=109249

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/01/08/hikeroped_0109.html

http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=205517&c=10

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/09/georgia.hiker/

http://www.truecrimeweblog.com/2008/01/mysteriously-missing-from-blood.html

North Georgians extend their heartfelt sympathy and prayers for God's comfort and healing to Meredith's family and friends.

Donna Yates, Realtor
Mountain Investments of North Georgia
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
www.move2southgeorgia.net
donna@ellijay.com

Posted by Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor Georgia Real Estate,Blue Ridge Mountains on 01/09/2008 06:38 PM

Comments (35)

north georgia mountains, meredith emerson, hiking, safety, realtors

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35 Comments on Heartbreak in North Georgia

JAN

2008

This truly is a sad story.

DY,

I never allow our Realtors to go out on appts. without some proof of ID from the prospect.

Each Realtor always asks for a drivers lic.we make a copy and give it to the front desk to assure our saftey.

You're right. It can happen anywhere. It's not the place but the people who reside in it. Good and bad.

This tragic story was followed closely in the news here in the New York area.

This is such a sad story. It's easy to think that "dog lovers" are going to be good people, but you know bad guys that like to lure kids away sometimes use dogs too as a gimmick - "Come pet my puppy, I'm a nice guy", "I lost my dog in the woods, come help me find him." Another reminder to watch out wherever we go and be careful not to be too trusting. Sad but true.

Hi Donna - this was on our news as well, however I had missed that her body had been found. How very sad for her family and friends, and for your area as well. Until they catch the person who did this and in jail, I would imagine folks there are feeling quite uneasy.

Very sad story.....
Ann

Donna, I have been watching this and it is a tragedy. I know you and your community are heartsick. Thanks for sharing the links.

Hey Donna,

Very nice post and it is a shame that such harm would come to a lady, or anyone for that matter.

Sean Allen

Linda: Truly weighs heavy in our hearts here.

Scott: Very smart and my broker does that too but even that does not insure safety. It comes down to trusting our gut instincts and keeping our guard up. The man who killed this accomplished, young woman had a driver's license and not only that, he had a reputation for harassing women and had had many complaints filed against him.

Robert: This wasn't done by a resident but by a visitor to our area. Still, no one is excluded when it comes to something like this.

Rosario: Thank you for letting me know it was reported in New York.

David and Lisa: You are so right. Just like with wild animals, we never really know what an animal will actually do, so it goes with people. We never really know what is going on in the mind of some that can seem so nice and yet be so evil.

Ann: They caught the man, that's how they found her body, he told the investigators. Also, he was from the Atlanta area but had hike many times in the mountains. He is in jail as I write this. He has a long history of harassing women and was known to hikers where Meredith was. Hikers have reported him many times about his odd behavior. He also may very well be responsible for some other deaths that investigators are now checking into including one in Florida. I guess, unfortunately, Meredith's age (only 24) made her more trusting that someone older. This sort of thing is very hard to grasp.

My hearts goes out for that poor girl, while doing something she loves with her faithful companion. May God comfort her now in His love and mercy.

My heart goes out to her and her family. May the Lord bring them peace and comfort.

Nicholas: It's so difficult to understand this kind of senseless brutality. Quite frankly, I can't understand it. Thank you for your comment.

Hugh: I know you will keep this family in your prayers and we both know that they need God's love and comfort and some peace in their lives now. I hope they find peace in knowing that Meredith is wrapped in God's arms now. Thank you for praying for them.

JAN

2008

Nancy: It will take a long time to get past this. We hope justice will prevail.

Sean and Pilar: I hope people everywhere who hear this story will give more serious thought to their own personal safety. Just a horrible way for 2008 to start off.

Yes, I believe God has a place for one's who were senseless and brutally abused here on earth. Thank God He sent the one who seeks and saves that which are lost and undone.

Yes Donna, the news about Meredith is National. What happen to her is a sad tragedy and her family has my condolensces.

Donna, What a tragic story, I feel anguish for all those that are left behind. A senseless act is truly unexplainable. I wish her family many blessings for their horrible loss.

Nicholas: If I didn't believe that God is in control and although His ways are hard to understand, I would not be able to deal with all the cruelty, evil and pure injustices in the world. It is enough for me to believe and trust that God has all things well in hand. Thank you for your comment.

Derrick: If we could only turn back the clock and know then what we know now. But isn't that true about anything in life. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Carole: I just hope for her family and for all those who have suffered as result of this terrible murder, that justice will prevail and the family can at least have some sense of fairness and closure.

Donna...as always you have done a great job. As you, I am from this area and we always feel safe here in the mountains, but then something like this happens and it really reminds us that we are not immune to terrible things as this and that it can happen anywhere. I hope this will remind us to be more careful and watchful. I have always felt safe here and that is because we have alot of wonderful, caring people here in our small town community.

Let us all keep her family and friends in our prayers and thoughts. Her memorial service is tomorrow and I can not even begin to imagine what pain her loved ones are feeling.

Donna,

When our family heard the story of this beautiful young lady and the horrific way her life was taken made us all still and solemn. I have 4 daughters, could not imagine this, but for the Grace of God, could be one of ours. I had to think that God wanted this evil person/spirit to get caught and bring all his darkness to light. It was tragic that Meridith had to be the slain lamb for this to happen.

Prayer for the families and belief that evil will not continue for long is in order.

Tarenia

Donna, how sad! You're right it can happen anywhere and that's unfortunate. The days of feeling safe, leaving the front door unlocked and letting your kids walk to and from school are really over...there are just too many foul people out there.

Glad to see that you have provided a reminder to Realtors to be diligent when it comes to their safety and some great tips for all those hiking.

JAN

2008

Patty: Well said ! I feel safe in our area too, and I know many of our visitors come here for that very reason. They want to escape some of the violence that goes on in metro area and the mountains offer peace and quiet and for the most part safety. Still, like you said, there is really noone or any place that is immunie to something like this. Thank you for your thoughts.

Tarenia: I really appreciate what you've written. I haven't thought of it this way and it actually helps. It is so difficult to make any sense of something like this but thank God this killer was caught right away. I trust God will provide the comfort and healing that Meredith's family needs and blessings will come from this tragedy. Thank you for your thoughts.

Gena: Believe it or not, some of us do leave our doors unlocked in my area and we can leave car keys in our cars for the most part. That's one reason this has hit so hard, because we really do have a safe environment here in the mountains for the most part. Also, it's just too difficult to comprehend how such a beautiful, young woman just getting started in life can be taken so brutally. I'm so thankful they caught her murderer right away.

I've always told my daughters to always be aware of their surroundings. This is a scary world we live in.

Robert: Thank you for your comment. I hope your daughters will always exercise great caution. This young lady had a black belt in karate and as I understand it, could have protected herself very well. There's just not anything anyone can do if someone attacks from behind and delivers such a blow that there's no chance of being able to put up a defense. It is a very scary world unfortunately, but there is still great beauty in our world too. If there is any good to come out of this, let it be a reminder and warning to everyone to be more careful.

JAN

2008

"My" Donna...

I am so sorry to hear this. It really sucks that no matter where we go there will always be this kind of evil and senseless crime.

I am not very good with this sort of thing. But...My heart goes out to all and my prayers are lifted.

P.S. It's stories like this that keep my .38 on me at all times.

TLW...ROAR!

I've been reading the articles with absolute horror. My prayers are with the family.

Kathy

TLW: I can't say that I blame you at all about the .38 I keep a handgun handy as well as pepper spray. My son wants me to have a shotgun. I guess it sounds like a wild and scary place here, but it's not at all. It's just a wild and scary world. Our mountains have been rocked by this tragedy. Thanks for your comment. Stay safe.

Kathy: It's just one of those things that you wish with all your might you could have done something to have prevented it. The best we can do now, is pray for the family and learn what we can to try our best to keep it from happening again. Stay safe. Thank you for your comment.

A very sad story. We can never let our guard down. If we acknowledge the goodness in people we must also acknowledge evil. Self defense, and awareness are key to preventing things like this from happening again. Remember what your mom used to tell you when you were a kid? "Don't talk to strangers, don't accept rides, don't get in the car of a strange person, no candy from strangers...!" Moms were right! We must instill this in our kids and loved ones!

Jim: Mother knows best! It is too sad that as fellow human beings, we have to be so suspicious of one another but that is the reality. Thank you for your comment.

Thanks but we must acknowledge that evil people really do exist!

JAN

2008

I have spent a lot of time in the N Ga. mountains and I can't believe thAt this happened there either.

Jim: Absolutely and it seems it gets worse or maybe we are just bombarded with so much of it on the news. Still, it's out there and that's all the more reason to be very careful. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes something this horrific to be a reminder.

Gayle: We have a lot of visitors come to our area and so, we really do have to watch out for one another, especially on these hiking trails. This young girl's killer shows absolutely no remorse and the arrogance is beyond comprehension just as is his depraved mind. Authorities now think he is responsible for the murder of an elderly woman who was hiking with her husband and the husband has not been found.

Gayle: Just a follow up to my comment. The elderly woman and husband were hiking in North Carolina and this killer may be responsible for a murder that happened in Florida.

MAY

2008

He should be made an example of! A REAL example. Life in prison is too good and is NO deterrent for people like him. You cannot rehabilitate a brutal animal!

God Bless her family and friends. My heart still aches for them.

Furthermore, what a rotten time to try to raise kids! Goodbye to riding bikes all over the neighborhood like the good old days! Really Sad.

Donna- can you believe that this happened so close to our small town with no major crime? I have always felt safe around here and never think that such a monster could be close by. I hate the heart ache that family has endoured.

MAY

2008

Bo: He's worse than a brutal animal. He's plain evil and where I find comfort is knowing that God will be the final judge. Thank you for your comment.

Sharon: It makes me shudder to think this was not the first time this man has passed through our town. It's just so tragic that this demon was not caught much, much earlier. Thank you for your comment.

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