A Break In The Missing Georgia Hiker Case?

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is declaring Gary Michael Hilton a "person of interest."

BLAIRSVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- The man last seen with missing hiker Meredith Emerson in the north Georgia mountains is in custody and is being questioned by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, authorities announced Friday evening.

Gary Michael Hilton, 61, was detained after a police officer spotted his van at a convenience store in suburban Atlanta.

Investigators also have another piece of the puzzle: Emerson's black Labrador retriever, Ella. The dog walked into a grocery store about 30 miles north of Atlanta hours before Hilton was spotted Friday.

Earlier Friday, a Georgia State Police helicopter and search dogs joined in the effort to find 24-year-old Emerson, which now spans 400 square miles. She was last seen hiking along the Freeman Trail on Blood Mountain on New Year's Day. (H/T - CNN)

Okay, a few thoughts on this case:

• As a police detective, I have to be honest: the term "person of interest" is the most singularly annoying/overused term in the English language.
• Why does the media always refer to a suspect by his first, middle, and last name? Is that the Lee Harvey Oswald theory?
• I hate to break out the physiognomy argument - how's that for a twenty-five cent word? - but Hilton just looks guilty.

I hope Meredith Emerson is found safe and sound, but I have a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The missing hiker - Meredith Emerson.

UPDATE: Damnit.

BLAIRSVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- Investigators found IDs belonging to missing hiker Meredith Emerson along with blood-stained clothes, leading authorities to charge Gary Michael Hilton with kidnapping with intent to cause bodily injury, according to a criminal warrant filed Saturday. (H/T - CNN)