A Union County magistrate judge denied bond Monday for Gary Michael Hilton during an arraignment hearing for the 61-year-old man charged with kidnapping and bodily injury in the case of missing hiker Meredith Emerson.

Magistrate Judge Johnie Garmon added that Union County District Attorney Stan Gunter, who is prosecuting the case, would take the case to the grand jury. Emerson, 24, went missing New Years Day at Vogel State Park while hiking with her dog. Not long after Monday's hearing, police said the search for Emerson would continue until Wednesday when officials would go back to "normal operations."

Ben Gray/AJC (ENLARGE)

Union County Sheriff's Deputy John McCoy leads Gary Michael Hilton out of Magistrate Court following Hilton's first hearing.

Ben Gray/AJC (ENLARGE)

Gary Michael Hilton, glances up while talking to his public defender Neil Smith during his first appearance.

Hilton made his first court appearance about 2 p.m. but did not speak during the hearing, which lasted only about 10 minutes. Looking stern, though weathered and frail in appearance, Hilton was shackled at the feet and hands and was wearing a bullet proof vest under his orange jail uniform.

Assistant public defender Neil Smith, Hilton's court-appointed attorney, answered the judge's questions to Hilton. Smith said he was not prepared to comment on the case, but that he would continue to represent Hilton, as far as he knew.

Following the hearing, Gunter said that based on Hilton's and Smith's limited responses, he expects Smith to enter an insanity plea for Hilton.

Asked if he could prosecute Hilton for murder without Emerson's body being located, Gunter said "it's been done before. We do have blood evidence. If we can match it to [Emerson's] DNA, essentially we do have a body."

The grand jury meets Tuesday but Gunter said he will not likely turn the case over at that time. He said he would the case to the grand jury within 90 days.

Though Hilton did not comment during the hearing, he could be heard before he entered the courtroom saying "they got me three blankets and they're taking good care of me." He thanked his attorney after the hearing, where about 45 spectators looked on, including press from all over.

Hilton, whose last known address was in DeKalb County, continues to be held in Union County jail. He was taken into custody Friday in DeKalb County and charged Saturday with kidnapping and bodily injury.

Meanwhile, officials at the state park announced that 10 teams would continue searching for Emerson until dusk Monday. On Wednesday, normal operations would resume, significantly reducing the number of searchers, said Kimberly Verdone, a Union County Sheriff's Office investigator.

Emerson's parents made a brief appearance to reporters Monday afternoon. They had Meredith's black Labrador mix Ella with them.

Susan Emerson, Meredith's mother, said they wanted to bring the dog out so that people would know Ella was alright. The dog turned a year old Dec. 30.

"We're hoping that these images will help keep Meredith in people's minds," said Susan Emerson.

Asked how they doing: "We're holding up," said Dave Emerson, Meredith's father.