In a story this morning, the Atlanta newspaper wonders whether or not we have a serial killer on our hands in the form of Gary Hilton. He’s the guy charged with killing a woman found dead in a north Georgia forest. Transylvania County cops say he’s a suspect in the death of Irene Bryant, found dead in Pisgah National Forest last October.
From the story:
While some media have tried to apply the “serial killer” label to describe Hilton, investigators have not gone that far. They say he hasn’t exhibited all the specific qualities of a serial killer.
But retired FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt said it’s possible Hilton is a serial killer.
“There is a strong chance this guy … is responsible for multiple homicide,” Van Zandt said. “He’s 61 years old. He didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. This guy may be strange and bizarre but that’s [decapitation] pretty far out. Is there a chance he is a serial killer? I think there is a strong possibility he is. The question is how long has he been doing this and how many homicides is he responsible for?
“This guy is way out there on the ‘Silence of the Lambs’ scale,” Van Zandt said, comparing Hilton to a central character in a movie about a killer who ate his victims.