The story

A man accused of abducting and killing a hiker who vanished New Year's Day in the north Georgia mountains was seen at a restaurant one day before investigators believe she was killed, the eatery's owner said Thursday.

Jim Barkley, owner of a Huddle House in Marble Hill, Georgia, told CNN he saw Gary Hilton there around 4:30 p.m. January 3.

The restaurant is about 8 miles from where the decapitated body of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson was found Monday evening, Barkley said. Read full article »

CNN's Rusty Dornin contributed to this report.

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