Officials to probe Bryant murders

CHARLOTTE -- The U.S. Attorney's Office is investigating the murders of Horse Shoe hikers John and Irene Bryant, federal authorities announced Tuesday.

Gretchen C.F. Shappert, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said her office is coordinating its work with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. The bodies of the elderly hikers were found almost three months and about 40 miles apart in two North Carolina national forests.

Authorities in Transylvania County discovered the body of Irene Bryant, 84, Nov. 9 in the Pink Beds area of Pisgah National Forest where she and her husband had gone missing almost three weeks earlier. John Bryant, 81, remained missing until Feb. 3 when his skeletal remains were discovered in an illegal dump on the Nantahala National Forest in Macon County.

Federal jurisdiction

The bodies were found in both instances in national forests, which are a federal jurisdiction.

Shappert said a host of state, local and federal law enforcement agencies in multiple jurisdictions -- including North Carolina, Georgia and Florida -- are working to follow every credible lead and fully investigate every piece of evidence.

"There are many tasks yet to be accomplished in this investigation, including complete and detailed forensic examinations of evidence obtained in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida," she said. "Any announcements of decisions made before this investigation is complete could damage any future prosecution. Only with a full investigation can we guarantee the Bryants that justice will be fully and finally dealt to the perpetrator of these heinous crimes."

Federal authorities said they won't release any further information in the case and have directed local authorities to do likewise.

"With gratitude to the public for its patience, neither the U.S. Attorney's Office nor law enforcement agencies involved in this ongoing investigation will entertain further media inquires, make any independent public reports or make themselves available in any way regarding this investigation at this time," the news release said.

Interview with a suspect

Transylvania Sheriff David Mahoney said on Feb. 4 that investigators believe the Bryants were killed by Gary Michael Hilton.

"He's the man. We've got a good case," Mahoney said.

The 61-year-old drifter pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to the Jan. 4 bludgeoning death of a young woman hiker in the North Georgia mountains, but has not yet been officially charged in the Bryants' deaths. He is also a suspect in a slaying in Apalachicola National Forest in Florida.

Mahoney said last month the investigation has uncovered a "positive link" that connects Hilton with the Bryants. The van Hilton was driving in Georgia had a set of license plates stolen from Transylvania County.

Mr. Bryant's remains were found at a location that is on a direct route between Pisgah National Forest and Ducktown.

The Bryants' ATM card was used in Ducktown, Tenn., the day after their disappearance. Two residents of Ducktown told a reporter from the Times-News that they had seen Hilton in the town around the time the murders occurred.

Transylvania County authorities attempted to interview Hilton last week after his guilty plea but he refused to talk and asked for an attorney.