DAWSONVILLE, Ga. -- A drifter has pleaded guilty to murder in the death of a young woman who went missing while hiking in the north Georgia mountains, a prosecutor said.

To follow the timeline of the Gary Hilton case, click here.

Judge Bonnie Oliver asked Gary Hilton, 61, how he pleaded. He replied, "Guilty."

Hilton was swiftly sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.
During a hearing in Dawson County Superior Court, District Attorney Lee Darragh said the plea agreement was signed earlier in the day.

Hilton, attended the hearing in an orange jumpsuit and a bulletproof vest.

He had been indicted on a single count of murder Thursday in a specially called session of the Dawson County grand jury. The indictment charges he killed Meredith Emerson by blunt force trauma to her head on January 4th.

Emerson disappeared on New Year's Day while hiking with her dog at Vogel State Park in Union County. Authorities have said Emerson was believed to have been kidnapped in Union County and killed in Dawson County.

Investigators found her decapitated body Jan. 7 in a Dawson County forest after Hilton led them to the area, authorities said.

Hilton was charged with murder.

Investigators in North Carolina and Florida also have looked at Hilton to see if he was involved in killings in those states.